Bizarre new ‘pink kneecap' beauty trend taking over Asia
A bizarre new beauty trend is taking hold in Asia, with one business in Thailand saying they've received over 500 requests a day for the treatment.
Tik Ka Au shop in Bangkok has been bombarded with inquiries after offering a popular new cosmetic treatment that involves tattooing a bright pink circle on a client's kneecaps.
Footage posted to store owner Tik's social media account shows dozens of women undergoing the treatment which is believed to enhance youthful appearance.
The treatment is just the latest in a flurry of anti-ageing techniques taking Asia by storm.
'One of my regular [customers] came back from Vietnam and asked me to tattoo her kneecaps pink,' said Tik.
'I was curious, so I did some research, tested the techniques on friends, and eventually found the right procedure.'
Tik says that results 'shocked' her customers who had never seen anything like it before.
'Now, I get more than 500 messages a day in my inbox from people asking about the service.'
Each knee costs just 4,000 Baht ($186 AUD), however, unlike a regular tattoo, the ink will fade over time.
Tik's unusual procedures don't stop there though.
Her clinic also offers genital, elbow, armpit, heel and scalp tattooing for customers who are looking to maintain their youthful appearance.
Videos on the clinic's TikTok, which now has close to 200,000 followers, also show women getting pink eyeliner tattooed, as well as face contouring.
Pale skin with pink undertones has long been the beauty standard in the Far East, stretching back as far as the Geishas of Japan.
A darker complexion in Asian countries has become synonymous with working in fields whereas a pale appearance is associated with living a more comfortable, cosmopolitan life, out of the sun.
Skin colour has very much become a sign of social class.
In the streets of Bangkok, it is not unusual to see locals shading themselves with umbrellas or long sleeves even during the hottest months of the year, in an attempt to avoid the sun's tanning rays.
In 2016, Thai skincare company Seoul Secret advertised skin-whitening pills with the slogan 'white makes you win' alongside a Thai celebrity attributing her success to her pale complexion.
The 50-second clip sparked outrage and accusations of racism within hours of being posted online.
Despite societal backlash, the global skin lightening products market is expected to continue growing, with predictions reaching up to $16.42 billion USD by 2032.
The trend shows no sign of slowing down with Tik's social media page gathering hundreds of thousands of followers from intrigued viewers.
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