Tattoos of Healing: Covering Self-Harm Scars

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Tattoo needles aren't just tools for self-expression—they can be instruments of profound healing. Kelsie Shriver, owner of Luminary Tattoo in Lincoln, Nebraska, demonstrates this transformative power through her work covering self-harm scars and mastectomy sites with beautiful artwork.

Drawing from eight years of tattoo experience and her background as a portrait artist, Kelsie offers affordable $50 flat-rate cover-up sessions for self-harm survivors—services that would normally cost around $600. What began as a simple TikTok offer blossomed into something greater when community members like her neighbor Dan stepped up to sponsor free sessions. "It gives people an option to rewrite their story," Kelsie explains, shifting the narrative from painful memories to artistic expression.

The conversation delves deeply into understanding self-harm as a maladaptive coping mechanism for overwhelming emotions, where physical pain temporarily drowns out emotional suffering. For those carrying these visible reminders, daily life becomes a minefield of unwanted questions and judgments that perpetuate shame and isolation. Through Kelsie's compassionate approach, clients transform these painful markers into conversation pieces of their choosing—beautiful images that celebrate resilience rather than trauma. Beyond self-harm work, Kelsie also creates 3D nipple tattoos for mastectomy patients, marking celebratory final steps in cancer recovery journeys.

Here are the details for the scar cover-up.

“The $50 scar coverup offer will be a monthly drawing, where a name will be drawn out of a hat for that month after signing up via email.

To enter for the drawing, please email [e-mail] with the subject line “Scar Covers”.

Ideally, this will be a 4 hour tattoo or less, retail-valued at $600, and is only for one day of tattooing. Winners will be notified via email and have 3 days to reply with the requested information to schedule.”

If you're struggling with thoughts of self-harm, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by phone or text. And if you're ready to transform your scars into something beautiful, artists like Kelsie stand ready to help you reclaim your story. Share this episode with someone who might benefit from hearing that healing comes in many forms—sometimes through art permanently etched on the skin.

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