I was driving down the road here in Las Vegas on a hot spring day past one of our local High Schools. Walking on the sidewalk in the hot sun was a student dressed totally in black. Black boots, black baggy pants, black turtleneck, and all covered by a black trench coat. His hair was fashioned into five distinct spikes radiating, sun-like, across the center of his head. I am sure you have seen the same garb at your local school.
I wonder ... how hot he would have to get before he would shed his trench coat? I wonder ... how does he sleep with the spikes, is there a special pillow designed for them? I wonder ... what was he thinking? I understand that it is a rebel statement more than a fashion statement, but give me a break! This is better than something permanent however, like tattoos or piercing. I have seen dime-sized holes in teens ears, holes in noses with chains running down to nipples or ears, pins and rings through eyebrows, and much more.
Why do we do this? In the past these kind of marking and piercing meant your affiliation with a religion. I think that is not too far from the truth still today. It is not so much a fashion statement as it is a statement of your religion ... what you believe in. Some tattoos are very specific in designating their religion and some are subtler. A tattoo on your arm is different than a tattoo on the small of your back and different still from a tattoo that is in the "swimsuit area." An extra pierced ear says something different then a pierced nose, which is something different than a bone through the nose and chains. Tattoos of death and skulls say something different than those of flowers and animals.
You can tell a lot about a person by the outward appearance but not everything. Only God gets the whole picture but the picture humans get is the picture humans use to qualify, elect, hire, and sometimes judge each other. So take a look at yourself as you leave your house for your life in the morning. What does your appearance tell others about what you believe in? What does your appearance tell us about your religion?