Melbourne-based Kelly Swift knows a thing or two about tattoos. In fact, she’s been in the tattoo removal business for almost a decade, and in that time has made quite a name for herself when it comes to erasing once permanent skin-deep fixtures — a pretty handy skill to have in a world full of bad decisions and false starts.
She currently runs her own business — Swift Tattoo Removal — which operates from within one of Melbourne’s busiest tattoo studios, Chapel Tattoo.
People like Kelly don’t just remove your ex’s name or yeet that questionable Southern Cross tattoo you got for the meme at schoolies — she does so much more: through her work, she can turn almost anything into an aesthetically-pleasing masterpiece.
We caught up with Kelly to get the goss on what it’s like to make a living erasing skin-inked memories.
PTV: Hey Kelly, so how does tattoo removal work?
Kelly: Basically, I use a machine that delivers ultra-short pulses of light energy that shatters the ink in a tattoo. The short bursts of laser light break down the ink particles in the tattooed skin and over time the immune system absorbs and eliminates the fragmented ink particles through your lymphatic system. Over a series of treatments, more and more of the ink shatters, leaving the skin free of tattoo pigment.
What is it about tattoos that intrigues you?
I’m still not sure what it is about tattoos that I’ve always been keen on. It was always fun to discover a new tattooer to go and get something off, and growing up in Melbourne with some of the best tattooers in the world, it seemed like a no-brainer that I would eventually have a lot.
And what do you love most about tattoo removal?
Definitely getting to know my clients and having a chinwag every time they come in is great for me as an extrovert. I also get so excited when my client’s come in and I get to see how much something has faded since their last session.
You’re a business owner by day and craft queen by night, do you find it hard to juggle everything you do and still find the time for self-care?
I feel like life is a constant juggling act that I’m forever trying to find the balance in. I do think I’m getting better at making time for self-care, which for me is my tufting (yarn art), yoga, running, pilates, and hanging out with my greyhound, Zuko.
What are the main reasons people choose to get tattoos removed?
There are so many different reasons why people get tattoos removed. There are a lot of styles of tattoo and where some styles stand the test of time, others are more trends that change over time. People change over time and something that resonated with them in the past isn’t always going to align with the person they are now. I have had half a dozen tattoos removed from my body so I speak from first-hand experience in that regard. For me, it’s important for a client to be able to remove something on their body that they don’t want anymore and I absolutely love that I can give them that in a safe and inclusive space that is free of judgement.
Tattooing can get quite intimate, and I’d imagine with the added layer of tattoo removal there are a lot of emotions that can come out of some people — do you have any stories from customers that still touch you to this day?
Some tattoos are quite symbolic to the individual and removing that tattoo can be an emotional journey for them, especially when the tattoo is an ex’s name or has traumatic memories associated with it. It’s important that my client feels safe and comfortable to share their experience with me if they wish to.
What kind of tech do you rely on to keep your biz running?
I need reliable technology that I can use on the go as running your own business is not a 9-to-5 kind of job. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is perfect for capturing content for my social media, taking high-quality before and after photos, responding to client emails on the tram and being able to give potential clients an instant quote when they text or DM me a photo of their tattoo. Without a fast and reliable Optus network, I wouldn’t be able to run the business with ease.
