Tinting

Tinting is the tradition of dying one's body a color or colors to represent their family or other external ideas. It was very popular in Oqnulyiv a few hundred years ago but has slowly faded into something even adults find the practice embarrassing and cringe.

Origin

It had been humi who, due in no small part to jealousy, took up the practice of tinting. They saw cultures to the west, cultures to the south that took pride in the colors sported by lineages. Tsohtsi, Drake, and Vinsel all sport coloring patterns of their family, not by choice of course. Due to the nature-ness of it all, they swiftly designed flags, emblems, and family colors all on those sported majority down the line. Humi did not have this, and they wanted it. So, mostly arbitrarily (don't ask them, they will claim there's a methodology), humi cultures took up the practice of tining their colorless skin. Due to the nature of humi, changing the color of their skin was not easy, and took enchantments along with staining pigments to keep their tint.

Fading Practice

Due to the globalization of the past few centuries, tinting quickly fell out of fashion. It was seen as rude to mimic other cultures and untrue to ones self for dying body parts. In place, personal, rather than family, modifications are popular: piercings, implants, and tattoos are now the majority of self-actualization body modifications. Tinting went by the wayside and generally was replaced with clothing. Many families keep their emblems, flags, etc on articles of clothing, showing off through elegant dresses, suits, shawls, and the like. One would not be surprised to find a cape passed down engraved with the family's emblem in well-preserved colors.

Tattoo Replacement

Many traditionalists and nay-sayers claim that tattooing is just a permanent solution to tinting. Tinting, however, had impermanence built in as it was a means to show off, but not a means to change ones self permanently. Tinting should be reversible for any kind of reason, not the least of which is to hide one's line which may or may not be needed. Tattoos will last the person's life unless removed.

Another major difference between tattoos and tinting is artistic integrity. Sure, many families tintent in multiple colors, but it was generally to differentiate rather than express. The artistic integrity and depth of expression are far greater in tattoos. Other cultures have used tattoos to express similar ideals, but often far more complex ones as well.