A lot of times, the only things I hear about body modifications is why I shouldn't get them in the future, or shouldn't have done what I've already done. Aside from it being rude for people to tell each other what they should be doing with their own bodies, this is also really unfair to the people who practice the art of body modifications (and yes, it is an art). So, I've come up with 4 reasons why you SHOULD get a new hair color, a tattoo, or body and ear piercings.

1. The self-esteem boost.

I've always struggled with low self-esteem. It's not a lot of fun, and unfortunately, it's a very common thing for people to deal with. However, ever since I've started getting tattoos, I've been improving that bit by bit. There's something to be said for having a piece of your body that looks the way you really wanted it to, and about having a literal piece of art on your skin. If I usually look at my arm and think it's flabby or grossly covered in moles, but then I get a beautiful tattoo on it, it's easier to recognize the beauty. If you don't like your nose, but then you get a cute ring in it, it's easier to call your nose cute. If you think your hair is a mess, but you dye it your favorite shade of blue, it's easier to like what you see in the mirror. And there's something to be said for the way your mental health improves when you find something about yourself beautiful.

2. Reclaim your body and exercise your own autonomy.

There's a lot of forces at work telling us how we're supposed to look and what we're supposed to do with our bodies. The beauty industry, the fashion industry, media of all types, the illusion of "professionalism" in the work place, white supremacy, heteronormativity, cissexism...your parents grounding you for trying to look like a "delinquent". These forcibly shape our bodies into things we might not want them to be. Getting a body modification is a way to be intentional about how you present yourself. It can be really empowering to look at all these things telling you how to look, and do something different. That figurative middle finger is incredibly refreshing.

3. Because you want to.

Obviously, this one doesn't apply to everyone, and that's OK! You don't have to want to get a body mod, any more than you have to want to eat a certain food or sing a certain song. However, there's a popular narrative that goes around that says people get tattoos or body mods because they have some sort of deeper meaning. That doesn't always have to be true. My first tattoo was like that. It was meant to serve as a reminder to myself that it's OK to be me. My second one was a blue dragon standing on a stone that read "poet" in runes, serving as a sort of mix of a deeply resonating piece of my identity and a piece of art that just looks really badass. My third one? It's a red poppy. It's on my body because I think it looks nice, and that's it. There's no need to justify your body mod with a deeper background if you don't have one, or if you don't even want to. It's art on your body, and it's there because you wanted it to be.

4. Because they are SO. PRETTY.

There are so many beautiful things you can do with tattoos, piercings, dyes, and so much more. You can turn your body into exactly the piece of art you want it to be. It's a wonderful, unique thing on every person, and it's truly fantastic.