Alex Derbyshire, at the age of 18, got her first tattoo and since then, she has been passionate about body modification. Fast forward 20 years, the mother of two has spent countless hours and thousands of pounds in tattoo parlors, estimating that she has spent around 200 hours under the needle. From her first Celtic design on her lower back to 16 more hidden tattoos, Alex has gradually covered her body in ink. Now at 38, she aims to be fully covered in tattoos by the time she hits 40. Working as a barber in Bolton, she has embraced her love for tattoos and no longer worries about society’s judgment. Her passion for body art drives her to constantly seek new pieces, with one to two large tattoos done every year.
Before getting covered in tattoos, Alex used to enjoy spending time with her son Joseph. However, she eventually decided to go for face, toe, and armpit tattoos, in addition to getting a ‘blackout work’ design on her neck, back, and arms. Despite receiving some negative comments about her ink and the money spent on it, Alex sees tattoos as a form of art and a hobby that she proudly showcases. She joined Instagram in 2013, where she found a community of like-minded tattoo lovers who share their artwork. Now boasting nearly 20,000 followers, Alex never imagined she would become so heavily tattooed.
Alex is on a mission to achieve full coverage of tattoos on her body before turning 40. Back when she first started getting inked 20 years ago, tattoos were not as widely accepted as they are today. Inspired by the artistry she saw on social media, especially from other women, Alex decided to fill her body with meaningful designs. With all the tattoo ideas already planned out, she just needs to add more blackwork on her ribs and right leg to complete her transformation. Among her collection are tributes to Pink Floyd, her favorite band, including one hidden under her left armpit. Her body also showcases Johnny Cash lyrics on her foot, a skull and butterfly on her neck and chest, and a portrait of Sweeney Todd, a reference to her profession as a barber.
Alex boasts a social media following of nearly 20,000 where she showcases her impressive tattoo collection. She credits her high pain tolerance for being able to endure the discomfort of getting inked.
According to Alex, the most excruciating spots for tattoos include her back, armpit, and toes, areas she didn’t expect to hurt as much as they did. She also has some subtle facial tattoos in white ink, describing the sensation as a strange vibration coursing through her body when the tattoo gun touches her skin.
The dedicated tattoo enthusiast once endured a six-hour session without taking a break to get a neck tattoo. Her children are huge supporters of her body art, with her youngest son Liam showing a keen interest in following her footsteps.
For Alex, every tattoo she has is cherished, representing years of dedication to her body art journey. She looks forward to completing her full-body tattoo collection, likening herself to a finished piece of artwork once she is fully covered.
