therubygore - BLOG

What is Trauma-Informed Tattooing?

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:14:05 GMT

When it comes to getting a tattoo, the experience can be nerve-wracking for anyone – whether it's their first time or their fifteenth. For those who have experienced trauma, this anxiety can be especially intense. That's why trauma-informed tattooing isn't just a service – it's a commitment to creating a safe, understanding, and empowering environment for every client who walks through our doors.

Trauma-informed or trauma-aware tattooing recognizes that past experiences of trauma, PTSD, or C-PTSD may emerge during a tattoo session. It's an approach that goes beyond technical skill to embrace empathy, understanding, and careful attention to each client's needs. Whether you're seeking a mental health tattoo, a survivor tattoo, or any other meaningful design, Ruby's focus is on creating a safe and supportive experience.

Key aspects of a trauma-aware approach include:

Creating a stress-free, no-rush environment
Obtaining explicit consent for any adjustments
Gentle physical and verbal interactions
Active listening and clear communication
Paying attention to body language and tone
Providing detailed information about the process

Making Every Client Comfortable

The Physical Space
Ruby has carefully designed her studio to maximize comfort and security. The space includes:

Comfortable seating with clean, sterile pillows
Access to water and snacks
Private, quiet areas
Options for entertainment during sessions

The Emotional Space
Understanding that each client's needs are unique, Ruby offers:

Clear communication about what to expect
Regular check-ins throughout the session
Options for conversation or quiet time
Support person accommodation (with prior arrangement)
Flexibility with breaks and pacing

As a scar tattoo artist specializing in transformative artwork, Ruby understands the power of turning past marks into meaningful designs. Whether you're wondering "can you tattoo a scar?" or exploring options for tattoos that cover up scars, she's here to help guide you through the process.

Ruby's expertise includes:

Tattoos over self harm scars
Tattoo over stretch marks
Trauma healing tattoos
Small scar cover up tattoos for subtle areas

When working with scars, Ruby understands the sensitivity required. Her process includes:

Letting clients lead discussions about their scars
Technical assessment of scar tissue
Careful consideration of design options
Detailed healing expectations

Survivor Tattoo Project

Born from personal connections to mental health struggles, Ruby's Survivor Tattoo Project: Out of the Darkness aims to raise awareness and provide support through artistic expression. Whether you're seeking a PTSD tattoo, an abuse survivor tattoo, or any other meaningful design, we're here to support your journey. Follow the link below to visit our dedicated project page and learn more about our initiative.

My Journey With Trauma-Informed Tattooing: An Interview with The Washington Post

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 03:56:52 GMT

How I incorporate trauma-awareness into my tattooing practice and how you can too.

I recently had the incredible honor of being interviewed by journalist Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza about how I work to incorporate a trauma-aware approach into my tattooing. I was absolutely thrilled to learn that our conversation caught the attention of the Washington Post, marking a significant highlight in my journey to transform the experience of getting tattooed.

Changing perceptions within an industry known for its tough exterior is no small feat. Yet, through the cultivation of a safe space that emphasizes open communication, I aim to not only alter the way tattoos are received and perceived but also to encourage fellow artists to embrace having a more gentle and compassionate approach.

The article explores how trauma-informed care, once primarily practiced by mental health professionals, is now spreading to various fields including tattooing. This approach acknowledges that many people have experienced trauma and that these experiences can affect their behavior and understanding of the world.

Trauma is remarkably common. Research has found that up to 89.7 percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one traumatic event, and by age 16, more than two-thirds of children report at least one traumatic event.

Traumatic events can include community, school, racial and domestic violence, physical or sexual assault, psychological abuse, loss of a loved one, neglect, natural disasters, and refugee or war experiences, among many others. The effects can be profound and long-lasting, appearing in various ways including anxiety, depression, and avoidance of emotions and sensations associated with the traumatic event.

As Carol Tosone, a professor of social work at NYU, explains in the article, to be trauma-informed is to assume,

"that trauma is fairly ubiquitous, it's widespread, that anybody could be experiencing it, and you need to be sensitive to the fact that anybody could be experiencing it."

Trauma awareness is especially appropriate in settings where physical contact happens, such as during a tattoo session, where being touched can elicit a deeply painful or unpleasant response for someone who has experienced trauma.

My Journey With Trauma-Informed Tattooing

From the Washington Post article:
Ruby Gore is a Philadelphia tattoo artist educating herself about trauma. Like everyone in her field, Gore spends a great deal of time in close physical contact with others, which can be difficult for someone who has had a traumatic experience. She said that when several clients started asking her for scar coverups, often the result of a traumatic event or its long-term effects, she recognized that she needed a specialized approach.

"I was like, you know, I've never done this before. It is something that's important to me. I'd like to learn." Gore said she started by having a more experienced tattoo artist supervise and by doing her own research online. Now she's working with a friend in social work to understand how she can help clients feel safe during the tattoo process.

Like Valentine [a photographer mentioned earlier in the original article], Gore's motivation is personal. As someone who has experienced trauma herself,

"seeing how [scar cover ups] brought so much hope and light to the person that I had tattooed was … so rewarding on another level that I couldn't even explain."

For those interested in reading the full article featuring interviews with other trauma-informed professionals across various fields, you can find it at the link below.

Original story published 2/21/22 • Washingtonpost.com
Article reposted with permission from Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza

Philly Talks Interview

Fri, 01 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT

My journey of learning boundaries by building a compassionate practice in a fierce industry

My name is Ruby Gore and I am a tattoo artist and founder of Black Thorne Tattoo in Portland, Oregon. I specialize in scar cover up tattoos, floral blackwork and offering a trauma informed approach to getting tattooed.

How Empathy Shaped My Career

The funny thing is, I almost didn't start tattooing because I hated the idea of hurting people—it genuinely bothered me that much. But that concern ended up shaping my entire approach to tattooing.

Having had plenty of my own terrible experiences getting tattooed, I decided that just because that was the norm in the industry, didn’t mean that’s how it should stay. I’ve taken a lot of shit over the years from other tattoo artists about how much I “princess” my clients, ignoring the haters, I’ve stayed strong on my mission to create a different kind of tattoo experience.

I want the process to feel thoughtful, and as pleasant as possible for people - I understand that I can’t make tattoos not be painful, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be “tough” and it certainly doesn’t mean that the experience has to be awful. So, I do little things like keep a heating pad that I can turn on for people who are chilly, or offer numbing spray that I can apply after we've finished the linework to try and make the shading process a little more comfortable.

These thoughtful choices might seem trivial to some, but they resonate deeply with clients who share similar values. These seemingly small decisions—whether it's providing a heating pad, choosing ethical products or offering a hug at the end of a session — create a more meaningful connection and show clients that every aspect of their experience matters. It's all part of creating a space where people feel seen and respected in ways they may not experience elsewhere.

Now I have clients that travel to me from all over because my mission resonates with them. This is especially true for those seeking scar cover-up work, which has become one of my specialties. Many come to me after experiencing trauma in their life, looking at their tattoo session as a closure point in their healing process.

A lot of the scar cover up tattoos that I do are for self harm scars which can sometimes hold a heavy weight. More often than not, sessions end with hugs, tears and sometimes even a very genuine "I honestly didn't believe that you could actually cover them" lol. That's something I didn't realize would affect me so deeply, being as empathetic as I am, but it's become one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. It's an extremely humbling experience, and I'm honored that I get to make that level of impact on people's lives.

Let it Consume You and Take No Shit

I have a to-do list that would make anybody cry and I love it... I just like getting better at what I do. I'm always finding inspiration every which way I go, it's why I like traveling so much. Even on the shittiest trip, I'm like, "this is terrible, I'm tired, I want to go home". And then as I'm on the plane going home, I'm so glad I did that because I learned this, or I met this person, or now I have this new idea to start a spin-off project.

Let what you love consume you. I mean, I definitely don't recommend going on as few hours of sleep as I do, but when you really love something you just lose track of time. Like when you realize it's 4:00 in the morning and that you should probably go to bed, but then it's like, oh wait, hold on one more thing... which is why I have a notepad on me at all times writing out all these ideas.

I never took no for an answer, I just realized that with some things I needed to get better and then come back. Learning how to take criticism was the best thing I ever could have done, art school helped with that a lot, but also just learning how to have a tough outer shell because the world's gonna be shitty regardless... not caring what other people think was probably the best thing I ever learned how to do.

Interview with Frankie Lee Von of Second Skin

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT

Discussing the journey to becoming a tattoo artist, healing trauma, covering scars, vegan practices, and creating safe spaces

How did you get your start as a tattoo artist?

Well, I've been drawing since I was old enough to hold a pencil as my parents have always been very supportive of my interest in becoming an artist from an early age. I told them when I was a teenager that I wanted to be a tattoo artist, but they were a little concerned about their sweet little girl entering such a "tough and dangerous" industry back then.

It was also not a very common thing to see women in the industry at that time. So without trying to crush my dreams, they encouraged me to go to college instead, hoping that they had steered me in the right direction towards a career that (safely) satisfied my artistic passion.

I graduated from the Art Institute of California, San Diego with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art and Design, majoring in Digital Illustration and Graphic Design, minoring in Marketing, Photography and Web Design. I stayed in the design industry for about ten years, jumping back and forth between freelancing and office jobs before I realized that that industry was just not for me. I had little to no ability as a graphic designer to do my own illustrations or express myself the way I wanted to with the body art that had always been obsessively drawn to from the beginning.

So at twenty-nine years old, I finally set out to pursue my dream career as a tattoo artist. I worked an exhausting sixty+ hours a week at my full-time Graphic Design job as I secretly snuck away four weekday nights and two full weekend days to my apprenticeship. It was not a traditional apprenticeship, as I was one of many artists at my shop, with little guidance or supervision unless requested.

This was the first time I really learned how to assert myself because I was more in love with tattooing than I ever could have imagined, and needed to learn as much as I possibly could. Luckily when I was finished with my apprenticeship, I recognized that it was a perfect time to start an online presence as an artist, and so I used this to my advantage by creating a memorable brand name for myself and by honing in on a style that I was not only in love with, but something that would resonate with my target market at the same time.

Your tattoos have a distinct style which you describe as "dark illustrative botanical tattoos" what have been some of your influences?

My love for Naturalism Art really got started in art history class in college. My eyes were opened to artists that my work is heavily inspired by today such as Maria Sibylla Merian, John James Audubon and Ernst Haeckel. Upon entering the tattoo industry, I have quickly become inspired by tattoo artists such as Kirsten Holliday, Kelly Violence, and most recently the Murray brothers.

Illustration by Maria Sibylla Merian

It's hard not to write laundry list a mile long with everyone who has inspired me along the way, but these few I mentioned above are the heavy influencers right this moment. I also wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today if it weren't for the influence and guidance of my tattoo family: Evan Lovett, Benji Harris, Barnsey, Andrew Lally and Tomma Mueller.

How long have you been Vegan? How does that effect your tattoo practices?

I've been on and off vegan/vegetarian for about 10 years, but just recently converted to full-blown vegan again earlier this year, when I was finally successful with honing in a healthy diet that has been working really well for me. Transitioning into vegan tattooing is what finally sealed the deal on my diet back in March, but it's been so eye opening to find out what kind of animal byproducts are used in everyday tattooing supplies.

Most reputable ink companies are vegan these days, but there are so many other products used in making a tattoo than just the ink. The salves we use during the process, the tape/adhesive bandages, the stencil paper and transfer cream could all have animal derived ingredients in them. If you're interested in a full list of the certified Vegan products I use during my procedures, I have created a page specifically for it on my website here: Vegan Tattoos.

Any advice for Vegans who want to make sure they are staying ethical during the tattoo and healing process?

It's always okay to ask your artist to share with you what products they are using and what they suggest for aftercare. If they aren't willing to share this information with you, then that might be a red flag that they aren't actually using cruelty-free products. I also have a page on my website with suggestions for aftercare products that anyone can order prior to their tattoo appointment from certified vegan companies.

I’m a fan of the #qttr hashtag to find queer artists and I see you have QTTR in your bio on your Instagram. Has openly identifying as queer had an effect on the clients interested in your work?

It has! I am so happy that I have had such a positive response to not just my recent coming out as pansexual/poly, but with creating a safe space for my queer/trans clients. I proudly wear the QTTR tag on the front of my Instagram page in hopes that it creates more visibility and acceptance for our community. I also want to thank @queer_tattooers for accepting me as a tattooer in their online artist community and frequently featuring my tattoo work on their page. <3

What challenges have you faced in your growth as an artist?

Well, haha, it's never an easy job being a tattoo artist. There are so many more sides to this career than just making drawings and tattooing them on people. Many clients come to me after they have experienced trauma in their life, and are looking at this experience with me as a closure point in their healing process, and that was something that I didn't realize would affect me so much, being as empathetic as I am.

Let's just say that it gets really heavy in the studio somedays. I also do a lot of self-harm scar cover-up work, and more times that not, those are the sessions that end hugs and tears between the two of us. It's an extremely humbling experience and I am so honored that I get to make that level of impact on so many people's lives.

How has the culture of the tattoo industry changed since you started tattooing/getting tattooed?

Well, it's changed a lot in so many ways. Female tattooers are more present than ever before, and technology has really allowed us to come a long way in regards to how quickly we are able to put our work at people's fingertips.

I started getting tattooed over 14 years ago, and I ended up with some really terrible tattoos (that are now mostly covered) because I wasn't aware that there was anything past the flash on the walls that my local shop had to offer. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's nice now to see such a wide variety of styles from some seriously talented tattoo artists so that we can find artwork that resonates with us wear proudly for the rest of our lives.

Do you have a favorite tattoo (or type) you've done?

Petunia the Pig, Vegan tattoo made by Ruby Gore in Portland, Oregon

I am so madly in love with tattooing animals and bugs right now! Especially for clients that are vegan. I've got to say that my favorite tattoo so far is Petunia the Pig, she was recently featured in an article featuring vegan tattooers on ChooseVeg.com.

Do you practice your art outside of tattooing?

Yes, but not as much a I would like haha. It's most important for me right now that I spend as much time as it takes drawing every client's tattoo to perfection before moving on to working on my own personal drawings and paintings.

What advice would you give to someone starting out now?

Draw more, be resilient and learn everything that you can to make yourself successful. It's not going to be easy to jump into this game now, because of the way social media has become, but don't let that deter you. Immerse yourself and become obsessed until you succeed. And the best advice I was given was, "get as many needles in skin as you can in your first few years."

Collaboration with Montattoo

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT

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