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Homemade Fougasse (French-Style Flatbread) – Sally’s Baking

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Fougasse is a French flatbread from Provence shaped and cut to look like a leaf or an ear of wheat. Like the French cousin of Italian focaccia, this “hearth bread” features a chewy, crusty texture and rustic savory flavor. This recipe requires making a preferment a day ahead of time (takes less than 5 minutes!), which is key for developing flavor and structure.

fougasse.

Like the French cousin of focaccia, fougasse is a rustic, olive oil–kissed flatbread meant for sharing, tearing, and dipping. Traditionally shaped and slashed to resemble a leaf or stalk of wheat, those signature cuts create extra crispy surface area as it bakes.

While we aren’t using the exact method you’d learn in a bread class in France, this streamlined version delivers consistent, bakery-worthy results in your home kitchen. It’s also a wonderful introduction to preferment breads—an impressive home baking project that you’ll feel proud to pull from the oven.

Turn on your favorite French café playlist, get out the olive oil, and let’s bake!

What Is Fougasse?

Fougasse is a crusty French flatbread from Provence with a deeply savory flavor and beautifully contrasted texture. Think of it as somewhere between rustic bread crust and a thin focaccia. Here’s what makes it so special:

  • Savory and aromatic: Olive oil richness with notes from herbs like rosemary or thyme.
  • Crispy exterior: Thanks to its thin shaping and decorative slashes.
  • Chewy interior: Especially when made with bread flour and a preferment.
  • Add-ins are welcome: Fougasse is often studded with black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and/or cheese (like Gruyère or Parmesan). But even in its simplest form—olive oil, salt, and herbs—it’s deeply satisfying.
3 shaped fougasse French flatbreads with rosemary.

How We Tested This Recipe

This fougasse went through multiple rounds of testing to get the flavor, texture, and structure just right.

My team and I experimented with:

  • Different yeast amounts
  • Warm vs. room-temperature water
  • Various ratios of bread flour to whole wheat flour
  • Baking at both 425°F and 450°F
  • Adjusting the olive oil for tenderness & flavor

Some versions turned out too dense. One was far too dry and wouldn’t even come together. Others were softer but lacked structure. The final version (below) strikes the balance we were looking for: crisp edges, a chewy interior, and enough olive oil to keep the crumb tender without losing that rustic character.

Though long and sometimes frustrating, the testing process confirmed something important: small adjustments in hydration, whole wheat percentage, and yeast make a big difference in a hearth-style bread like this.

What most fougasse recipes have in common:

  1. Bread flour (often with some whole wheat)
  2. Olive oil
  3. Decorative slashes before baking

Where they vary:

  1. Some use a preferment (like a biga or poolish), others don’t. We found the flavor improved greatly with this simple step.
  2. Some rely on stretch-and-folds instead of kneading—this is the method we prefer.
  3. Some bake on a stone for extra crispness. We use a preheated baking sheet, and both work well.
ingredients on wooden backdrop including water, flour, olive oil, salt, yeast, and rosemary.

Ingredients You Need for Fougasse

  1. Bread Flour: While you can use all-purpose flour in this recipe, I strongly recommend using bread flour. Just like when we make olive bread, pizza bread, and asiago-crusted skillet bread, bread flour produces a stronger, chewier crumb.
  2. Whole Wheat Flour: Adds depth and subtle nuttiness for a hearty flavor.
  3. Instant or Active-Dry Yeast: You can use either. Take note that you will not use an entire standard packet of yeast.
  4. Salt: You just can’t make good bread without salt—it’s essential for flavor. Use regular table salt today.
  5. Water: Some yeasted bread recipes, like my soft dinner rolls, call for warm liquid because it helps the yeast work faster. On the other end of the spectrum, bread recipes with a long rest time, like this no-knead honey oat bread, call for cool or room-temperature water. The cooler the water, the longer the dough takes to rise and, usually, the better the bread’s flavor. (This is important because there are so few ingredients to add substantial flavor!)
  6. Olive Oil: A little goes in the dough, and then you’ll need more for greasing and for brushing before baking. And for dipping!

Plus, an invisible ingredient: time. The preferment, a couple strategic rests, and proper proofing after shaping all work together to develop flavor.

Overview: How to Make Fougasse

It may seem like a long process, but keep in mind that most of the time is hands-off, while the dough rests. You also have flexibility with the timing, so you can work it into your day!

Day 1: Make the preferment.

  1. Mix together the biga/preferment. We’re using the same preferment as ciabatta bread. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 12–24 hours. It will about double in size and be very bubbly.
spatula mixing dough.

This is after 24 hours:

preferment in bowl.

Day 2: Make the bread.

In a large bowl, whisk the flours, yeast, and salt. Add the preferment, water, and olive oil. Stir by hand, or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, until a shaggy dough forms.

Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 3–5 minutes, until smooth. The dough should be slightly sticky but workable.

Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rest for 45 minutes. It’s fine if it rests a little longer.

preferment and other ingredients in bowl and another image showing finished dough.

Now we’ll build a little extra structure with one quick stretch-and-fold.

How to Stretch & Fold Sticky Dough

After the dough rests for 45 minutes, lightly grease your fingers or a silicone spatula with a bit of olive oil. Using your greased hand or spatula, lift up one side of the dough and gently stretch it up and pull it toward the opposite side of the bowl, folding it down over the dough. I like to visualize a clock on top of the dough for this. You’ll be folding it at the 12 o’clock mark and pulling it down over the 6 o’clock mark. Then, turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat. Do this until you’ve gone around the bowl once, for a total of 4 folds:

spatula pulling dough over itself.

The stretch-and-fold method is similar to kneading dough but much gentler and more precise; it’s designed to handle the dough’s stickiness without overworking it. You’re building structure and strength.

A single round of stretching and folding is enough to strengthen the dough without overcomplicating the process. When you’re done, let the dough rest for at least 45 minutes and get ready to shape.

How to Shape Fougasse

Press the dough into a rounded triangle shape, about 12 inches long and 6 inches wide at the base. Cover and rest for 30 minutes to let the gluten relax.

hands stretching dough into rounded triangle shape.

Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut one long slash down the center (leave 1 inch at each end). Add 3–4 diagonal slashes on each side. Gently stretch the openings to create 2-inch gaps.

cutting a wheat stalk-pattern into shaped dough.

Rest another 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 450°F (232°C). Place a baking stone or an inverted baking sheet in the oven so it preheats as well.

Brush dough with olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and herbs, if desired. We typically use chopped fresh rosemary. Dried Herbes de Provence is delicious, too.

brushing olive oil on and herbs added to shaped dough.

Slide the parchment (with the dough) onto the preheated baking sheet. Bake about 20 minutes, until deeply golden and hollow-sounding when tapped. Cool slightly, then serve warm!

fougasse flatbread.

Quick Lesson: Why Use a Preferment?

Preferment, sponge, biga, poolish, levain… what’s the difference? All preferments ferment a portion of the flour, water, and yeast ahead of time to improve flavor, structure, and shelf life. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Sponge: A flexible, yeast-based preferment often made a few hours (or overnight) before mixing the final dough.
  • Biga (what we use here): A stiffer sponge (about 50–60% hydration). It creates deeper flavor and a stronger, chewier structure. It’s perfect for breads like ciabatta and today’s fougasse.
  • Poolish: Equal parts flour and water (100% hydration). Thinner and more batter-like, producing a lighter, more open crumb.
  • Levain (from a sourdough starter): Naturally fermented (from wild yeast), giving sourdough bread its signature tang and chew.

For this fougasse, the biga gives us complexity and structure without making the process complicated. A little planning ahead, and your bread tastes like it came from a bakery!

Can I Use Sourdough Starter in This Recipe?

We haven’t tested this recipe with a sourdough starter, so are unsure of the results. The hydration percentage of your sourdough starter may be different than the biga, so your results may vary. If you’d like to try it, replace the biga with 1 cup, or 240g, of sourdough starter. Let us know how it goes!


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Description

This homemade fougasse is a rustic French flatbread with crisp, golden edges and a chewy interior. Made with a very easy biga-style preferment for enhanced flavor and structure, this hearth-style bread is brushed with olive oil and baked at high heat to create its signature crackly crust. Shaped and slashed to resemble a leaf or stalk of wheat, fougasse is as beautiful as it is delicious! This extensively tested version uses bread flour for chew, a touch of whole wheat flour for depth, and olive oil for tenderness. Serve with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, alongside soup or salad, or as part of a cheese board.

Biga/Preferment

For the Fougasse

  1. Day 1: Make the Biga/Preferment: In a medium bowl, whisk together the bread flour and yeast. Add the water and mix with a silicone spatula until combined. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 8–24 hours.

    spatula mixing dough.
    preferment in bowl.

  2. Day 2: Make the Dough: In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, whisk together the bread flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, and salt. Add the biga, water, and olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. If you do not have a stand mixer, mix the dough together by hand with a silicone spatula.

    preferment and other ingredients in bowl.

  3. If using a stand mixer, knead with the dough hook on medium-low speed for 3–5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky. If mixing by hand, turn the dough out (all the shaggy bits!) onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3–5 minutes, until smooth. The dough should be sticky but workable. If it’s very sticky, lightly flour your hands or the dough as needed. Avoid adding too much extra flour; the dough should remain slightly tacky.
  4. Drizzle or brush a little olive oil around the inside of the mixing bowl you were using. Place the ball of dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides of the dough in the oil.

    dough in bowl.

  5. 1st Dough Rest: Cover tightly and let the dough rest for 45 minutes, and up to 2 hours. (See make-ahead instructions if you want to extend this time.)
  6. Stretch and Fold (1 Round): Visualize a clock on top of your dough. You’ll be folding it at the 12 o’clock mark. With an olive oil-greased spatula or lightly oiled hands, lift up the dough at 12 o’clock and gently stretch it up and pull it toward the opposite side of the bowl (6 o’clock), folding it down over the dough. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat. Do this until you’ve gone around the bowl once, for a total of 4 folds. Flip the dough over so it’s seam side down.

    spatula pulling dough over itself.

  7. 2nd Dough Rest: Cover tightly and let the dough rest for 45 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
  8. Shape the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper and use your fingers to press it into a rounded triangle or egg shape, (roughly) 12 inches long by 6 inches wide at the base.

    hands stretching dough into rounded triangle shape.

  9. 3rd Dough Rest: Cover lightly and let rest for 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
  10. Cut the dough: Using a sharp knife, pizza wheel, or kitchen shears, cut the dough lengthwise down the center, stopping about 1 inch from each end. Then make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts on each side of the center cut. To create a leaf-like appearance, use your fingers to gently stretch out each cut until the holes are about 2 inches wide.

    cutting a wheat stalk-pattern into shaped dough.
    hands shaping fougasse dough.

  11. 4th Rest: Cover lightly and let rest for 30 minutes, and up to 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). If you have a baking stone, preheat it on the center rack. Otherwise, place a large flat baking sheet, or a rimmed baking sheet upside down, on the center rack to preheat.
  12. Brush the fougasse with olive oil, and sprinkle with herbs and/or sea salt, if using. Carefully slide the fougasse, along with the parchment paper, onto the preheated baking stone or baking sheet.

    brushing olive oil on and herbs added to shaped dough.

  13. Bake the fougasse until golden brown, about 20 minutes. If you give the top of the bread a tap, it should sound hollow. For a more accurate test, the bread is done when an instant-read thermometer reads the internal temperature as 190–200°F (88–93°C).
  14. If desired, brush the warm bread with more olive oil. Serve warm with dipping oil and balsamic vinegar, alongside soup or salad, or as part of a cheese board.

    french flatbread being brushed with olive oil.

  15. Fougasse is best the day it’s baked. Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. If desired, reheat in a 350°F (177°C) oven, uncovered, for 5–8 minutes to crisp back up.

Notes

  1. Make-Ahead Instructions: There are a few ways to get ahead. First, the biga (step 1) can sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours before using. Second, after the first 45-minute dough rest in step 5 (before the stretch-and-fold), you can cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours. When ready to continue, let the dough sit at room temperature for about 30–60 minutes before proceeding with the stretch-and-fold and shaping.
  2. Freezing Instructions: The best way to freeze this is to freeze the baked bread. Let it cool completely, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and refresh in a 350°F (177°C) oven, uncovered, for 5–8 minutes to crisp it back up.
  3. Special Tools (affiliate links): Kitchen Scale | Glass Mixing Bowls | Stand Mixer | Silicone Spatula | Baking Sheet | Pastry Brush | Instant-Read Thermometer | Cooling Rack
  4. Flour: For absolute best flavor and chewy texture, I strongly recommend using bread flour. You can use a 1:1 substitution of all-purpose flour in a pinch with no other changes to the recipe; however, the dough may not be as strong, and may not hold shape as well.
  5. Whole Wheat Flour: This small amount adds depth of flavor and subtle nuttiness without making the bread dense. You can replace it with additional bread flour if needed; the texture will be slightly lighter and less hearty. I don’t recommend increasing the whole wheat flour beyond 1/2 cup, as too much can make the fougasse dry and dense.
  6. Yeast: You can use instant or active-dry yeast, but I highly recommend an instant (aka “rapid rise” or “quick rise”) yeast. If using active-dry yeast, there are no changes needed to the recipe. Reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.
  7. Optional Add-Ins: In step 2, when you mix the preferment with the dough ingredients, you can add up to 3/4 cup of chopped olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or shredded cheese. Avoid adding too much, which can weigh the bread down and affect shaping. You can also add 2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs, or 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
  8. Can I Use a Sourdough Starter for This Recipe? To rely only on a sourdough starter and not yeast, I recommend looking for a specific sourdough fougasse recipe. However, if you’d like to try it, replace the biga with 1 cup (240g) of sourdough starter. Depending on the hydration percentage of your starter, results may vary.

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What They Do and Why We Need Them

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The kids, work deadlines, what’s for dinner… these are the kinds of things that often occupy our thoughts. What’s going on inside our cells? Not so much. However, our cellular health is the key to a healthy body, and enzymes play an important role in the entire process. 

This article is a deep dive into enzymes, what they really are, how I use them, and how they can help with energy, digestion, and more. While I don’t take lots of supplements or even take them every day, enzymes are one of the few exceptions. I used enzymes in my journey to recover from Hashimoto’s autoimmune disease and I still use them now for other reasons. 

After 7 years of taking them and plenty of trial and error, I’m sharing what I’ve found!

What Are Enzymes?

Enzymes are like a precision tool our bodies use to break things down and build them back up. From a scientific perspective enzymes are protein catalysts that lower activation energy and speed up our reactions, all without being consumed in the body. Different ones serve different purposes, like a key only fitting a certain lock. For example lipase helps digest fats and only fats, while amylase only digests carbs. 

They also work differently under different conditions which is why they can function differently depending on how they’re used. Things like pH, temperature, co-factors, and minerals all play a role in pulling the trigger for enzymes to do their job. 

In theory we get them from food, especially produce. Our body also makes many enzymes, like amylase in our saliva to break down carbs, or gastric enzymes for proteins in our digestive tract. These enzymes break down most of the macronutrients in our body so we can actually use what we eat. 

However with declining soil quality and nutrient density and disrupted gut microbiomes and absorption, many of us can use some extra help in this area. In hindsight I finally realized that my body wasn’t making and using enzymes well and I really wasn’t absorbing all the healthy food I was eating. Enzymes are just as important as minerals and light in my book when it comes to foundational health.

They’re especially helpful during times of stress, inflammation, and gut issues. Enzymes are also key when it comes to dealing with heavy metals, parasites, and general recovery.

The Best Way To Take Enzymes

If our bodies aren’t effectively making all the enzymes we need, then the next best thing is to take a quality enzyme supplement. How you take them though also makes a difference. When we take enzymes with food they work to help us digest, absorb, and break down the compounds of our food more efficiently. These are especially helpful for reducing bloating and gas after eating. Digestive enzymes also help with that heavy, overly full feeling when food is just sitting around and not being broken down well. 

Taking enzymes on an empty stomach works entirely differently. Away from food enzymes work in a more systemic way, like proteolytic enzymes. So while they have multiple uses, the timing matters here. Research has explored enzymes like serrapeptase and nattokinase for circulation and inflammatory support. Nattokinase has been studied for breaking down blood clots, while serrapeptase has been researched for swelling after surgery. 

You can find enzymes derived from plant and microbes that help the body fill in the gaps of what it’s already doing. I’ve learned the hard way that the best way to support the body is to work within the body’s natural systems. The idea isn’t to bypass or overload the body’s natural systems, which can lead to problems down the road. 

Different Kinds of Enzymes

I mentioned that different enzymes do different things, so what are the different kinds of enzymes? First up there are the lipases that deal with breaking down fats, like glycerol and fatty acids. Next are amylases like glucoamylase and lactase. These deal with carbs, starches, lactose oligosaccharides, and other forms of carbohydrates. There are even some enzymes that target fiber to help make it more digestible, meaning less gas and bloating. 

Specialty enzymes like serrapeptase and nattokinase perform other functions in the body. 

Deciphering Enzyme Supplement Labels 

Turn over an enzyme supplement bottle and you’re sure to see different abbreviations and lingo on the label. For example, protease may be labelled with HUT, PC, and SAPU, which are related to how much enzymes there are and their activity amounts. 

These units matter more than milligrams, which don’t tell you much about what it’s actually going to do for you. There are a lot of different terms to consider here, but the main idea is to look beyond the grams and milligrams and look at the activity units. 

Who Should Take Enzymes?

Not every supplement is the best option or necessary for every person. Those who can benefit the most from taking an enzyme supplement include anyone with compromised gut function or digestive issues. Research shows benefits for those with low stomach acid and pancreatic insufficiency, both of which can happen with age. 

And if the problem isn’t addressed we tend to make less stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes as we get older. Anyone on a high protein or high fat diet can also see benefits, since we’re asking for more digestive power from our body and it could use the extra boost.

Another time I prioritize enzymes is when I’m traveling and eating out or during the holidays. Since I’m breaking my routine during these times I’ve found enzymes are helpful for keeping my digestion on track. 

How to Make Enzymes More Effective

If there’s one theme you’ve probably heard me repeat over and over, it’s that supplements work best when they’re layered onto a strong foundation. Enzymes are no exception. Before adjusting doses or experimenting with timing, I focused on simple foundational habits that support the body’s own enzyme production and activity.

Chew More Than You Think You Need To

Carb digestion begins in the mouth thanks to salivary amylase. When we rush through meals, we skip that first important step. Digestion starts before we even swallow.

Slowing down also shifts us into a parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) state. When we eat stressed or distracted, digestive secretions can decrease. For me, something as simple as taking three slow breaths before eating noticeably improves how I feel afterward.

Support Stomach Acid (If Needed)

Low stomach acid becomes more common with age and can impair protein digestion and nutrient absorption. Having enough stomach acid is essential for breaking down proteins. Betaine HCl or bitters can be helpful for this, but check with your provider first. This is very individual, and anyone with ulcers, reflux, GI bleeding, or on certain medications should work with a professional before experimenting.

Don’t Water Things Down

Hydration matters, but large amounts of liquid during meals can dilute stomach acid and enzymes. I drink most of my fluids between meals rather than with them. For some people, that small shift alone reduces bloating and the overly full feeling after eating.

Move After Meals

Even light walking after meals has been shown to support digestion and blood sugar regulation. I’ll often go for a short walk after meals (especially in the sunshine!). Movement also supports lymphatic flow. A short walk, gentle stretching, or simply staying active can support both digestion and recovery without needing an intense workout.

Minerals Matter

Enzymes rely on cofactors like magnesium, zinc, and sodium. Zinc in particular plays a role in digestive enzyme production and stomach acid function. This is why I see minerals as foundational. When we have enough minerals, enzymes, both the ones we make and the ones we supplement, tend to work better.

Enzymes and Autoimmune Recovery: My Experience

During my recovery from Hashimoto’s, I often felt congested inside, like things weren’t moving well. Stiff joints in the morning, puffy fingers, and low energy were all too common for me. I started with the foundational basics like minerals, nervous system work, sunlight, sleep, and a focus on eating protein. I then layered in both digestive and systemic enzymes.

The changes were gradual, but over time I noticed:

  • My rings were looser in the morning
  • My joints felt less stiff
  • Digestion felt smooth instead of heavy
  • My sleep deepened

Enzymes aren’t a magic pill, but I’ve definitely noticed how using them helped my body have what it needed to reach my health goals. And the consistency helped more than doing something intensely. 

Enzymes for Performance and Recovery

While this is discussed more in fitness circles, it’s worth mentioning. Especially since more people are realizing how much better they feel physically and mentally with a focus on healthy proteins. 

Digestive enzymes can support higher protein intake by improving nutrient breakdown and reducing bloating. Proteolytic enzymes (taken away from food) have also been studied for supporting muscle recovery and reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

While performance wasn’t my original reason for using enzymes, I’ve seen consistent anecdotal benefits here, especially among strength athletes. My older teen athletes now take enzymes without any prompting from me because they’ve noticed a difference too. 

The Best Enzyme Options

As with any supplement, quality and context matter. Be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider if you take anticoagulants, have a bleeding disorder, are post-surgery, or have ulcers or active GI bleeding. Children may benefit from specific enzymes, but you can always check with their provider for targeted advice. 

When choosing an enzyme look for something that has clearly labeled activity units (not just milligrams). Third-party safety testing when available is also something I reach for. I also want formulations that are designed to remain active at appropriate pH levels so my body can actually use the enzymes. 

My favorite enzymes that check all the boxes for me are these:

Practical Tips If You Want to Experiment

If you’re considering enzymes, here’s the approach that worked for me:

  1. Start low (one capsule)
  2. Track how you feel (digestion, energy, stiffness, sleep, etc.)
  3. Increase gradually if needed
  4. Be intentional about timing (with meals vs. away from meals)
  5. Keep foundations strong: minerals, protein, sunlight, movement, stress regulation

I found that timing and consistency mattered far more for me than high doses.

Final Thoughts on Enzymes

Enzymes may not be flashy or trendy, but they’re the quiet catalysts working hard behind the scenes. For me, they were a needle mover when layered onto sleep, minerals, sunlight, nervous system safety, and nutrient density.

I don’t take many supplements daily. Enzymes are one of the few I rotate in regularly because I’ve seen enough benefit to keep them in my toolkit. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent, but sometimes they just need the right support to function how they were designed. 

Have you ever experimented with enzymes before? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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The moment Cher wore the ultimate ‘revenge’ outfit

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Since then, the phrase revenge dress has increasingly been used in celebrity culture. Revenge dresses as they are understood by the mainstream have typically been flattering,  revealing, and likely a bit risqué – a reminder of what an ex is missing out on. In 2014 Rihanna arrived at the CFDA Fashion Awards in a sheer Adam Selman dress that was allegedly a message to an on-off boyfriend Drake. As she told French Vogue a few years later: “Every time a man cheats on you or treats you badly, you need a revenge dress. Every woman knows that.” In the case of supermodel Bella Hadid at the 2017 Met Gala, that was a revenge body stocking, which she wore to an event that was also attended by her ex-boyfriend The Weeknd and his then new girlfriend Selena Gomez. 

More recently, Nicole Kidman appeared post-split from husband Keith Urban resplendent in a strapless black Chanel dress by Matthieu Blazy at Vogue World 2025. And much has been made of various ensembles worn by popstar Lily Allen in the wake of her chart-busting revenge album, West End Girl, which was written in the 10-day immediate aftermath of her split from Stranger Things star David Harbour. But arguably the most striking of her looks to channel the revenge dressing spirit was the barely-there Colleen Allen design she wore to the 2025 CFDA Awards.

Alamy/ Getty Images Since Cher's show-stopping moment, Rihanna, Princess Diana and Lily Allen, among others, have worn so-called revenge dresses (Credit: Alamy/ Getty Images)Alamy/ Getty Images
Since Cher’s show-stopping moment, Rihanna, Princess Diana and Lily Allen, among others, have worn so-called revenge dresses (Credit: Alamy/ Getty Images)

But for all of the delight that audiences can feel when seeing a wronged woman in an incredible outfit, the phrase “revenge dressing” – which usually is used in relation to a woman who lives up to the beauty ideals of the mainstream straight male gaze – has its critics. It’s all about how you appear to an external source, not how you feel within. In an interview with the Guardian in 2021, Dr Angela McRobbie, a professor of communications at Goldsmiths College, University of London, said: “It’s a deeply conservative idea. Its implication being that the young woman who has been cheated on can think of no further way to punish her untrustworthy lover than by extravagant displays of fashion and the body.”

Confounding expectations

In the case of Cher, though, the revenge being had was more often against society’s expectations than any one man’s. Her bare midriff was a form of revenge, of sorts, throughout much of her earlier career, in no small part thanks to her celebrated working relationship with Mackie. Mackie, who has also worked with Tina Turner, Madonna, Bette Midler, Diana Ross and Elton John, had first met Cher on the set of The Carol Burnett Show in 1967. But, as he told the New Yorker: “It wasn’t until a little later, when we started showing a little midriff, that people started getting excited.” 

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Top 13 Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year Without the…

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Are you looking for the best places to celebrate Chinese New Year? Think affordable, stress-free, and fun! Here are my favorite Chinese New Year travel destinations for 2026. Visitors find color, culture, and a better work-life balance here. This guide helps you choose the right city based on your travel style!

Warm glowing red lanterns for the celebration

Some locations celebrate with parades, towering floats, and fireworks. Others use food, temples, paper lanterns, and rituals to welcome good luck for the year ahead.

Choosing the right destination is important for OFWs. This guide uses real highlights and practical travel advice to help you out!

Why Chinese New Year is a Great Travel Season for Digital Nomads

Chinese New Year follows the Chinese calendar. The celebration happens between late January and February. It marks the Spring Festival, often starting with Lunar New Year’s Day. It is a major public holiday across many regions.

Many offices slow down. Cities feel different. That makes it a great time to travel smart.

Why it works well:

  • Fewer meetings and deadlines
  • Cultural events everywhere
  • Easy short-term stays
  • Slower pace in many cities
  • Affordable celebrations

Planning ahead helps you enjoy the season without work stress.

China, The Most Authentic Place to Celebrate Chinese New Year

China expresses classic traditions and deep culture. Expect a festive feast, family gatherings, and symbolic customs like red envelopes, lantern lighting, and a firecracker ceremony.

Note: Some Chinese cities don’t allow fireworks. But local rules can change from year to year. There might be a chance to see them. Visitors can enjoy official firecracker ceremonies where it’s permitted.

Beijing: Best for History Lovers

Beijing’s Temple Fairs near Ditan Park and the Temple of Heaven focus on tradition.

You will see:

  • Folk performances
  • Martial arts displays
  • Dance performances
  • Traditional snacks
  • Calligraphy and crafts

Entry fee:

  • Temple fairs are free to low-cost
  • Small entrance fees at select venues

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Great for kids, daytime events, and cultural learning

Want to extend your stay? Explore exciting things to do in China beyond New Year celebrations. Find famous landmarks and cultural activities. Walk places that show what everyday life in China is like for locals.

Shanghai: Best for City Lovers

Shanghai mixes tradition with modern comfort, blending ancient rituals with glowing skyscrapers.

Highlights include:

  • Seasonal fireworks over the Huangpu River
  • Luxury shopping on Nanjing Road
  • Fast trains for quick side trips

Entry fee:

  • Public celebrations: Free
  • Fireworks viewing areas: Free (ticketed rooftops optional)

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Wide sidewalks, organized events, and stroller-friendly areas

Great internet and coworking spaces make work easy.

Guangzhou: Best for Warm Weather

Guangzhou is known for its famous Chinese New Year flower markets.

Expect:

  • Huge flower displays
  • Lion dances
  • Cantonese food tours

Entry fee:

  • Flower markets: Free
  • Special exhibitions: Low-cost if ticketed

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Colorful, relaxed, and easy to enjoy with children

This city suits travelers who want food and warmth.

Chengdu: Best for Budget Travelers

Chengdu focuses on Sichuan food and traditional opera. They remain popular cultural experiences during the New Year.

Entry fee:

  • Street events and lantern displays: Free
  • Museums or shows: Optional paid tickets

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Slower pace and fewer crowds than major cities

Both cities are slower paced and affordable.

Singapore: Easy, Clean, and Stress-Free Celebrations

Singapore is perfect if you want comfort and order.

Chinatown: Best for First-Timers

Chinatown comes alive with:

  • Street decorations
  • Night markets
  • Cultural demonstrations and stage shows

Entry fee:

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Safe, clean, and very walkable

Busy but very organized.

Marina Bay: Best for Luxury Travelers

Marina Bay offers:

  • Fireworks
  • Cultural performances
  • Scenic river displays

Entry fee:

  • Fireworks: Free
  • Rooftop or cruise views: Paid (optional)

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes, especially for older kids

Luxury hotels and smooth transport make life easy.

Heartlands: Best for Quiet Exploration

Highlights:

  • Smaller local celebrations
  • Food stalls
  • Fewer tourists

Entry fee:

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Calm and community-focused

Local neighborhoods host smaller celebrations with delicious food and fewer crowds.

Philippines: Familiar Comfort with Rich Flavor

The Philippines offers relaxed Chinese New Year celebrations with local charm.

Manila: Best for Historic Chinatown Experiences

Binondo features:

  • Dragon and lion dances
  • Chinese-Filipino food
  • Guided walking food tours

Entry fee:

  • Street celebrations: Free
  • Food tours: Paid (optional)

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Festive, lively, and welcoming

Lively but still manageable.

Cebu: Best for Culture Plus Beach Breaks

Cebu blends:

  • Taoist temple visits
  • Resort relaxation
  • Local guided tours

Entry fee:

  • Temple visits: Free or donation-based

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes, and very ideal for mixed-age groups

Perfect for culture plus rest!

Davao: Best for Peaceful and Low-Crowd Celebrations

Davao focuses on calm experiences.

Expect:

  • Integrated cultural events
  • Local markets
  • Durian farm visits

Entry fee:

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! One of the calmest options for kids

Ideal if you avoid crowds.

Vietnam: Calm, Beautiful, and Food-Focused Tết Celebrations

Vietnam celebrates Lunar New Year as Tết, known for warmth and beauty.

Hanoi: Best for Traditional Markets and Pagodas

Hanoi highlights include:

  • Quảng Bá flower market
  • Tran Quoc Pagoda
  • Traditional performances

Entry fee:

  • Markets and pagodas: Free
  • Cultural shows: Optional paid tickets

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes, educational and peaceful

Boutique hotels in the Old Quarter work well for remote work.

Ho Chi Minh City: Best for Urban Energy and Flower Streets

Nguyen Hue Flower Street transforms into a big floral display during Tết.

You will enjoy:

  • Night walks
  • City energy
  • Mekong Delta tours before or after Tết

Entry fee:

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! Lively but manageable in early evenings

Scooter rentals are common and affordable.

Hoi An: Best for Quiet Lantern Festivals and Slow Living

Hoi An is one of the most peaceful places to celebrate.

You will see:

  • Floating lanterns
  • Ancient streets
  • Tết cooking classes and lantern workshops

Entry fee:

  • Lantern displays: Free
  • Workshops: Paid (optional)

Family-friendly:

✅ Yes! One of the best for kids and slow travel

Perfect for slow living and creative work. It’s often described as an unforgettable experience.

Traditional Chinese temple rooftops with colorful details

How to Plan Chinese New Year Travel Smoothly

Step 1: Book Early

Flights and hotels sell out fast. Book at least two months ahead.

Step 2: Choose Your Celebration Style

Decide if you prefer:

  • Big festivals
  • Quiet temple visits
  • Food-focused trips

Step 3: Prepare for Closures

Some shops close for a few days. Stock up early.

Chinese New Year Travel Checklist (Quick + Practical)

Chinese New Year trips are amazing—but expect crowds, closures, and long transit days. This mini checklist keeps you comfortable, connected, and ready for last-minute changes.

  1. Global eSIM for maps + bookings: Keep data working for parade routes, ride-hailing apps, and work check-ins.


    Eskimo eSIM for travel data across countries
  2. Travel health insurance for peak holiday travel: Clinics and flights are busy during CNY. Protection gives peace of mind.


    Ekta Traveling travel insurance for international trips
  3. High-capacity power bank: Your phone becomes your ticket, camera, map, and payment tool during festival days.


    High-capacity travel power bank we recommend
  4. Universal travel adapter: Especially useful if you’re hopping between China, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines.


    Universal travel adapter for multi-country trips
  5. Packing cubes for quick repacking: Makes hotel switching easier during side trips.


    Packing cubes for carry-on organization
  6. Rain poncho for sudden showers: Outdoor parades and lantern walks continue even with light rain.


    Foldable rain poncho for festivals
  7. Mosquito repellent for evening markets: Especially helpful in humid cities and riverside areas.


    Travel-friendly mosquito repellent
  8. Reef-safe SPF 50 sunscreen: Long daytime parades and temple visits mean hours under the sun.


    SPF 50 sunscreen for travel
  9. Language practice for smoother conversations: Simple greetings and polite phrases make ordering food and asking directions easier during busy festival days.


    Rosetta Stone Lifetime Subscription ($179)

OFW & digital nomad tip: during Chinese New Year week, many small businesses close—download offline maps, keep backup cash, and sort connectivity before the holiday rush.

Choose the Best Place and Go

Where you celebrate Chinese New Year depends on how you travel and work.

To sum it all up:

  • China offers tradition
  • Singapore gives comfort.
  • Vietnam brings calm beauty.
  • The Philippines feels familiar.

Pick the destination that matches your pace. Book early to enjoy the Chinese New Year without stress!

Find the Best Places to Stay for Chinese New Year

Hotels sell out quickly during Chinese New Year. If you’re planning to visit China, Singapore, Vietnam, or the Philippines, it’s smart to compare options early and stay near festival areas for easier access.

FAQs

What are the best places to celebrate Chinese New Year in 2026?

China, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines offer different styles of celebration. Hong Kong, South Korea, and even New York City can also be considered, depending on your style.

Is Chinese New Year a good time for digital nomads?

Yes. Work slows down, and cultural experiences are rich.

Are businesses closed during Chinese New Year?

Some close for a few days, especially small shops.

Which destination is best for a quiet celebration?

Hoi An and Davao City are calm and peaceful.

How early should I book Chinese New Year travel?

At least two months in advance.



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Angelė Šimoliūnienė: The Vision Beyond the Visible

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Origins of a Lifelong Visual Calling

From her earliest memories, Angelė Šimoliūnienė’s relationship with drawing has been instinctive and enduring, rooted in childhood fascination and sustained by an inner necessity to create. Born in Lithuania, she discovered early that visual expression was not simply a pastime but a natural language through which she could process the world. Even during periods when drawing receded into the background of daily life, the impulse never disappeared. Instead, it remained dormant, quietly shaping her perception and sensitivity. This foundational connection to art established a framework that would later expand into a multidimensional practice informed by education, philosophy, and lived experience, allowing her to approach painting not as a skill acquired but as a calling resumed.

Her professional path initially unfolded in the field of education, where she worked as a teacher of Lithuanian language and literature. This engagement with narrative, symbolism, and textual meaning deeply influenced her way of thinking and later resonated within her visual work. While teaching, she made the decisive choice to enroll in the Music Academy to study directing, an experience that sharpened her understanding of structure, rhythm, and dramatic tension. These elements would eventually find a parallel in her paintings, where composition and movement guide the viewer’s attention much like a carefully constructed сценa guides an audience through emotion and meaning.

Šimoliūnienė’s intellectual curiosity continued to widen over the years, leading her to sustained studies in psychology grounded in both Western and Eastern philosophy, as well as medicine, genetics, art therapy, neuroeducation, and art history. These disciplines did not exist separately in her mind; they formed an interconnected system through which she explored human consciousness, emotion, and spiritual awareness. When she returned fully to painting eleven years ago after a significant pause, she did so with a depth of understanding that transformed her artistic practice into a synthesis of knowledge and intuition. Her canvases became spaces where education, experience, and inner perception converged into a singular visual language.

Angelė Šimoliūnienė: Painting as a Conduit of Energy and Thought

Central to Angelė Šimoliūnienė’s creative philosophy is the belief that painting is an act guided by energy rather than by deliberate planning. She does not approach the surface with a fixed image in mind; instead, she waits for a physical and emotional signal that tells her the moment to begin has arrived. Sensations in her body, particularly in her hands, initiate the process, suggesting that the work must emerge immediately and without resistance. During these moments, conscious control recedes, allowing subconscious impulses to direct movement, color, and form. The resulting image is not constructed but received, carrying within it information that remains embedded in the finished painting.

Her works reflect a conviction that the visible world is only one layer of existence. Through painting, she communicates her understanding that human beings are surrounded by unseen forces that continuously interact with thoughts and actions. According to her worldview, positive intentions create a protective field of energy, while negative thoughts attract destructive influences. This ethical and spiritual dimension is inseparable from her visual output. Each painting functions as both an image and a statement, revealing how inner states shape external experience. Viewers are encouraged to stand several meters away from her works, allowing the full energetic structure of the composition to unfold and affect perception on an intuitive level rather than through close analytical inspection.

Over eleven years of working primarily with acrylic on paper, Šimoliūnienė has produced approximately six hundred paintings, each formed through this intuitive process. She often paints almost without looking, trusting the movement of her hand more than conscious observation. Afterward, she reflects on what has emerged, treating the image as a message to be interpreted rather than a product to be judged. In this sense, her paintings resemble living entities that arrive through her and then are released into the world, much like children who grow beyond their origin. This approach positions her art not as representation but as transmission, where meaning exists simultaneously within the artist, the artwork, and the viewer.

Spiritual Duality and the Human Condition on Canvas

Angelė Šimoliūnienė’s paintings consistently return to the theme of duality, particularly the coexistence of good and evil forces that shape human life. Rather than presenting these ideas in literal or narrative terms, she allows them to surface through color relationships, directional movement, and symbolic motifs. Bright, expansive areas often interact with denser, more restrained zones, creating visual tension that mirrors moral and emotional conflict. These contrasts do not resolve into simple conclusions; instead, they reflect the ongoing balance that individuals must navigate through their thoughts and actions. Her work proposes that awareness itself is a protective force, encouraging viewers to examine their inner orientation toward the world.

Her interest in psychology and philosophy informs this exploration without overwhelming it. Years of study in Third Millennium Psychology, combined with her engagement with Eastern thought, medicine, and neuroeducation, have given her a nuanced understanding of how consciousness operates. This understanding translates into paintings that address emotional states and spiritual questions simultaneously. Symbols appear layered and open-ended, allowing multiple readings that shift according to the viewer’s own experiences. Rather than dictating meaning, Šimoliūnienė creates conditions for reflection, inviting the audience into an active dialogue with the image and with themselves.

A particularly significant manifestation of this approach is the painting titled “Human Life.” Created without prior intention, the work later revealed itself as a portrait encompassing the entire life journey of her deceased husband, from childhood onward. The realization came only after the painting was complete, highlighting the depth of subconscious guidance within her process. This work gained exceptional recognition, being selected for the World Art Atlas and repeatedly awarded in international contexts. For Šimoliūnienė, its importance extends beyond accolades, as it became a tribute to a man whose contributions as a scientist and doctor of medical sciences were insufficiently acknowledged during his lifetime. Through this painting, personal loss, memory, and universal human experience converge into a single, powerful visual statement.

Angelė Šimoliūnienė: Recognition, Influence, and Continuing Purpose

The scope of Angelė Šimoliūnienė’s artistic presence is reflected in her extensive exhibition history and international recognition. She has held sixty five solo exhibitions across Lithuania and participated in sixty seven galleries and expos abroad, establishing a sustained dialogue with diverse audiences. Her paintings have been featured in forty one art catalogs, books, and magazines, confirming their relevance within contemporary art discourse. Participation in global and international competitions has further highlighted her work, resulting in prizes from twenty three competitions. These achievements demonstrate not only productivity but also consistency in artistic vision and reception over time.

Her contributions extend beyond visual art into education and cultural life. For her directing work, she received a medal from the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, acknowledging her impact within that field. Additionally, her educational activities and efforts to help people were honored with the Order of St. Princess Olga. These recognitions underline the interconnected nature of her career, where teaching, directing, and painting are expressions of a shared purpose. She has often reflected that she did not anticipate a life of continuous study and knowledge-sharing, yet this path became central to her identity and mission. Painting, in this context, serves as another form of education, offering insight rather than instruction.

Today, Šimoliūnienė views her paintings as active participants in the spiritual and intellectual growth of those who encounter them. They are intended to awaken intuition, encourage analysis, and elevate awareness, guiding viewers toward a deeper understanding of themselves and the unseen dimensions of existence. Influenced by her inner world and subconscious impulses, as well as by a spiritual affinity with the Lithuanian artist M. K. Čiurlionis, she continues to work within a distinct and personal style. Her creative journey remains open-ended, sustained by the same energy that first guided her hand in childhood and continues to flow into each new work.

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Understanding VoIP Taxes & Fees in 2026

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If you’re assessing different VoIP phone services and are particularly focused on the bottom-line price, it’s important to account for telecommunication taxes. The last thing you want, after all, is to budget carefully based on advertised prices only to be surprised with extra charges when your first phone bill arrives.

In addition to a provider’s base charges, you also need to account for costs like regulatory fees, use tax, and excise tax, and note that the taxes you pay can vary by state.

Here’s the good news, though: Even with taxes, VoIP compared to traditional landlines typically saves businesses money. Large businesses can see up to 90% lower upfront costs by eliminating expensive on-site PBX hardware, while maintaining average monthly operational savings of up to 60% compared to traditional landline bills.

As Nextiva’s CEO, I understand all too well how important full cost transparency is, especially when you’re making a decision as significant as choosing a phone provider. So in this post, I’m going to break down how VoIP taxes work, what specific taxes you can expect to see on your bill, and how factors like location can impact what you’re paying.

Interconnected VoIP is regulated through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) because it connects to the public-switched telephone network and supports emergency services.

Once a service can place calls to and receive calls from traditional phone numbers, it enters the same regulatory universe as legacy telecommunications. As a result, it’s taxed as a telecom service.

One important thing to note: The associated taxes are truly taxes, not add-on fees that your provider tacks on for extra profit. They’re designed to fund public infrastructure and do not contribute to your provider’s profit. VoIP providers didn’t invent these fees, as many of them existed long before cloud communications. Tax compliance is the key.

Traditional phone vs VoIP phone, including taxes

The Core VoIP Taxes and What They Fund

Understanding what specific taxes you may pay and what they fund can help you plan appropriately when choosing a VoIP service provider. Let’s discuss the common VoIP taxes you’ll likely see on your bill.

E911 fees

E911 fees ensure that every VoIP number is associated with a physical address and callback number so emergency responders can locate callers quickly.

Emergency location (E911) setting in VoIP systems

These funds support:

  • Local emergency call routing systems, ensuring that any emergency call you place is directed to an operator geographically close to your location
  • Address databases and location verification
  • Ongoing upgrades to 911 infrastructure

And when it comes to what you’re paying, here’s what to expect:

  • E911 fees are charged per phone line, per month.
  • The typical cost is $0.20–$2.00 per line per month.
  • Your rate will be set by state or local governments, not your provider.

Note: While many areas stay at the lower end, certain major metropolitan areas have higher rates to fund Next Generation 911 infrastructure upgrades.

Federal Universal Service Fund

The Federal Universal Service Fund (USF) was created to ensure nationwide access to communication services. It’s particularly important in providing service in underserved communities.

The Federal Universal Service Fund (USF) was created to ensure nationwide access to communication services. It’s particularly important in providing service in underserved communities.
Source: NTCA on Facebook

This program helps fund the following programs:

  • Rural connectivity initiatives
  • Low-income household assistance
  • School and library broadband programs
  • Rural healthcare communications

I sometimes have to explain to our customers that the USF isn’t a Nextiva fee but a federal requirement. Here are some key details I think every business leader should know about:

  • This is a federal tax charged to your VoIP provider.
  • The exact contribution factor is adjusted quarterly by the FCC based on the fund’s needs. In recent years, this rate has fluctuated between 30% and 40% of eligible telecommunications service charges.
  • Your service provider may pass through the charge to you (though they can legally pass through only what they owe and not extra charges), even though it is charged to them.
  • Fees can and often do fluctuate throughout the year, which is why you may see these charges change if they show up on your bill.

State and local telecom taxes

Where you operate matters. In addition to the federal charges I’ve already gone over, VoIP services may be subject to a combination of the following taxes and fees:

  • State sales tax on telecommunication services, which would be based on service charges
  • Municipal utility or communication taxes
  • Franchise and right-of-way fees, which are charged by local jurisdictions if service providers use public infrastructure like poles or underground conduits to deliver service
  • State-level 911 or telecom surcharges

State and local taxes pay for local infrastructure and may help pay for programs like telecommunications relay services (TRS), which provide communications access to those who have hearing, sight, or speech disabilities.

YouTube Video

The fees and taxes vary widely by geography. They’re based on the customer’s registered service address, which is likely your business address. As a result, it’s always a good idea to look into your individual city and state policies when estimating potential costs.

What Businesses Can Expect to Pay by State

I can’t stress this enough: State and local jurisdictions can set their own taxes and fees outside of federal FCC regulations, so your total costs may be significantly different from those of other businesses with similar usage in other states, even nearby states. Organizations with intrastate branches may even have different tax rates from location to location.

Low-tax states

Examples of low-tax states include Oregon, Montana, and New Hampshire. They have minimal sales tax and limited state-level telecom-specific surcharges.

In low-tax states, you’re likely looking at $1–$3 per line per month for local charges.

Mid-range states

Mid-range states include Texas, Florida, and Colorado. They do have a combination of state sales tax (which often varies throughout the state) and telecom fees. These states also have moderate E911 and regulatory charges, which may help support infrastructure.

In mid-range tax states, you’ll likely pay an extra $3–$6 per line per month.

High-tax states

High-tax states include California, New York, and Illinois. They often have multiple overlapping state and local taxes. There may be higher utility and municipal surcharges, which can add up quickly.

In high-tax states, you may be paying an estimated $6–$10+ per line per month for state-related fees.

The bottom line: Location, not your provider, dictates what you’re paying in local fees.

One-Time and Situational VoIP Fees

We’ve talked about charges that will show up regularly on your bill, but there are also one-time or situational costs that you’ll want to plan for, too.

Local number portability

When you sign up for a new phone service, you can transfer your phone number to that new service. This is called porting, and some providers charge a fee to do so.

Porting fees cover the carrier costs to move phone numbers and typically range from $10–$20 per phone number if you’re charged.

I say “if” for a reason. Many providers will waive porting fees to minimize the friction of switching and to win new customers.

YouTube Video

Intercarrier compensation

Intercarrier compensation fees are the fees carriers pay each other to originate and terminate calls. These fees will depend on the call type and the network path.

You may not see these fees at all on your invoice. They’re usually embedded in your overall standard pricing automatically and aren’t itemized on your bill. But if you see them, this is why these costs are showing up.

The fees we’ve discussed so far are all standard and expected. There are a few fees, however, that are technically legal but that I’d raise an eyebrow if I saw them on my VoIP invoice. These are the fees that are set by providers and could potentially be negotiable.

Regulatory recovery and compliance fees

A regulatory recovery fee or compliance fee may be used to offset the following:

  • The provider’s compliance operations
  • The provider’s reporting and filing requirements
  • The provider’s fraud prevention and security costs

Less trustworthy sales reps may make these fees sound like they’re required to maintain compliance or security, but that’s not the case. If providers charge these fees, they should be able to explain them clearly, and they should keep the fees modest.

Many providers won’t charge recovery or compliance fees. Instead, they will account for their compliance costs in their overall pricing model.

Administrative and service fees

You may see vague line items listed as an admin fee or a service charge. These should raise red flags right away, because they’re likely just additional ways for providers to pad their profit.

If you see these charges on an invoice, you should ask what the fee covers. Request written documentation that explains the charges, and ask them to be specific.

Because providers may add these charges onto your invoice quietly and not disclose them upfront, it’s always a good idea to compare sample invoices across providers before committing to one provider.

Contractual and feature-based fees

Without naming names, some VoIP service providers have less-than-transparent pricing models. They might flash an impressively low monthly cost up front, but then tack on fees, hidden in the fine print, after the fact.

These fees may include:

  • Essential features like messaging, automation, or integrations that are sold as paid add-ons (even if the marketing wasn’t clear about that upfront)
  • Early termination fees that are tied to long contracts
  • Low base pricing that inflates over time

It’s important to read contracts upfront and to make sure you understand exactly what you’re paying for. Ask about cancellation processes and if there is a way to lock in your rate for a specific period of time without a long contract.

Finally, check out customer reviews on sites like G2. Look for reviews that discuss hidden fees, cancellation processes, price increases, or overall pricing transparency.

Why VoIP Still Delivers up to 60% Savings

After scrolling through a long list of fees and taxes, I’m sure you may be wondering why you’re even considering switching to a VoIP service.

Here’s the good news: If you want to reduce your telecom expenses, opting for VoIP can still deliver up to 60% savings compared to traditional telecom options.

One of the major VoIP advantages, which helps reduce costs, is that cloud-based solutions eliminate major expenses such as:

  • On-premise hardware maintenance
  • Dedicated copper lines
  • Legacy long-distance pricing (which adds up fast)
  • Fragmented vendor contracts

It’s important to note that providers of legacy systems often bury taxes inside their base rates, which are higher than the base rates of VoIP providers. This tactic just masks the true cost by making it seem like there are fewer fees associated with their service.

The actual cost, of course, depends on the individual provider you choose. Nextiva, for example, prioritizes transparent pricing through our Core, Engage, and Power Suite plans. We ensure that essential features like business SMS, video meetings, and AI-powered tools are clearly included in your tier rather than hidden as surprise add-ons.

YouTube Video

How to Evaluate a VoIP Bill Before You Buy

When you’re choosing a VoIP provider and getting budget approval, it can be frustrating to hear “it depends” when you’re asking about the cost of taxes and fees. Unfortunately, because so much is determined at local levels (including local sales tax laws), that’s the answer that’s often given.

Smart buying behavior, however, will help equip you with the information you need for evaluating providers.

The first step to smart buying is to request a sample invoice based on your expected usage and location, which should have all of the taxes and fees broken out. Take the time to separate mandated government taxes from optional provider fees and to inquire and learn more about admin or service fees.

You’ll also want to get clarity on price adjustments and additional fees, specifically:

  • Frequency of fee changes and notice periods
  • Contract length, exit terms, and fees (if any)
  • Additional fees or costs, including set-up fees and add-on features

Transparency up front prevents frustration for the end-user later. At Nextiva, we prioritize pricing transparency, but not all providers do. Ask plenty of questions and get documentation so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.

Evaluating VoIP providers and have questions? Check out our VoIP FAQ for more.

You Know What You’re Paying for With Nextiva

It’s never fun to get an invoice and see a long list of taxes and fees. Unfortunately, telecom taxes aren’t optional, but they’re also not unique to VoIP service.

What matters, though, is how clearly providers explain potential costs and how responsibly and transparently they’re passed through.

Nextiva is a UCaaS platform and VoIP phone system known for straightforward pricing. We only have transparent tax pass-throughs, so you’ll always know exactly what each line on your invoice is for. We also minimize nonessential fees, ensuring that businesses understand what they’re paying for while still benefiting from the cost efficiency of modern cloud communications.

The VoIP phone system for modern work.

Get business phone calls, video meetings, and secure messaging in one platform. Easy setup. Budget-friendly. Trusted by millions.

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Transgender Shooters Commit Disproportionate Shares of Mass …

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A widely cited February 2024 report by Politifact claimed: “No evidence of rising LGBTQ+ violent extremism or ‘trans terrorism.” A follow up report by Politifact in September 2025 examined both the FBI’s definition of active shooting attacks and the notion of mass shootings concluded: “Are trans people ‘statistically’ more prone to commit gun violence? Data shows a different picture.” It looked at the period from 2018 to 2024 that we examine here when looking at active shooting attacks, though we have data through 2025 for mass public shootings.

Unfortunately, these and similar claims make a basic error: they look only at the share of attacks committed by transgender individuals and make no attempt to adjust for transgender individuals’ share of the population. That is an obvious statistical mistake. If a group makes up just 1 percent of the population but commits 10 percent of the attacks, no one would dismiss that disparity simply because the group accounts for “only” 10 percent of active shooting attacks.

Others such as the Associated Press states: “No ‘incredible rise’ in transgender shooters” and Snopes conclude: “Mass shooters are not disproportionately transgender, contrary to claims.” But they compound the problem by not only failing to adjust for transgenders’ share of the population but by also using a much broader definition of shootings than the FBI uses.

For example, the Gun Violence Archive compiles “mass shootings” that overwhelmingly involve gang fights over drug turf and, to a lesser extent, other crimes such as robberies. While those incidents may be important to study, they differ fundamentally from shootings in which an individual enters a location with the sole goal of murdering and injuring as many people as possible to generate publicity.

Mass public shooters repeatedly state their intention to murder more people so that they can obtain even more attention. Gang members and robbers, by contrast, act far more frequently and pursue entirely different motives. By lumping together gang fights and robbers they are making transgender attacks seem even rarer than they are. Transgender attackers need to be compared to other similar types of attacks. Hopefully no one would believe that gang fights over drug turf have similar motivations and solutions to mass public shootings.

The media bias on this issue can be seen in their coverage in not mentioning when these murderers are transgender. For the Rhode Island murderer, the Associated Press, CNN, ABC News, NBC News, MS Now, and the New York Times never mentioned the murderer was transgender. For the Canada mass murderer, who murdered 9 and injured 25, the Associated Press never mentioned that he was transgender. Of course, even television entertainment shows, such as CBS’s Blue Bloods, pushed the claim that the murder rate by transgender people is less than that for the general population.

Different estimates place transgender individuals at varying shares of the population, and researchers measure attacks in different ways (for example, distinguishing between active shooting attacks and mass public shootings). But regardless of how one breaks down the data, transgender individuals commit these attacks at disproportionately high rates. As we discuss below, in 2024 transgender individuals committed active shooting attacks at least 12 times their share of the population and possibly more than 16 times their share.

The FBI’s active shooting reports focus on shootings that occur in public and do not involve other crimes, such as drug gang fights or robberies. Traditionally, the FBI has  classified a “mass” killing as the murder of four or more people, and academic studies have used a similar definition. We use that same definition (more details are available here). We have now looked at the numbers for both mass public shootings (active shootings involving four or more people murdered) and active shootings.

As we have pointed out before, transgender individuals are well over-represented in terms of mass public shootings. There are three estimates of the percentage of adults who are trans (CDC’s Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) finds 0.5% between 2017 to 2020, Gallup shows 0.7% in 2021, and the Census puts it at 1% in 2023). These numbers are clearly increasing over time, so an average for 2018 to 2023 years would probably overestimate the rate, but the average is 0.73%. Trans share of mass public shootings over the 2018 to 2025 period is 6.2 times their share of the population. The Nashville Catholic School shooter in 2023 and the Club Q murderer who identified as nonbinary and used the pronouns they and them in 2022 were transgender individuals.

UPDATE: A 2025 Gallup Survey that was just released on February 16, 2026, puts the percentage of the population who are transgender at 1.1 percent (which is a year after the period we study). An August 2025 study by the Williams Institute, puts the percentage of the population who are transgender during 2024 and 2025 at about one percent for those 13 and older (though the FBI active shooting reports have a non-trans shooter as young as 12 in 2021 and there are mass public them as young as 11 and 12 years old). It isn’t clear that these estimates change any of our results for the full period, and if one wants to put more weight on the 1 percent estimate, particularly for our discussion for 2024, we have provided that below and that result is what we emphasize in the title for this post. However, as we will discuss later, transgenders shooters tend to be much younger than all active shooters, so the relevant adjustment might be for transgenders who are either under 30 or under 36, which means that the percentages used for adjustments using the Williams Institute 1% estimate should be either 0.76% or 0.65%. In other words, the 0.73% adjustment might thus be closer to the right amount.

The 2025 Annunciation Catholic Church shooter in Minneapolis, Robin Westman, who murdered two people and injured 17 others; the Canadian Tumbler Ridge shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, who murdered nine and injured 27, and the very recent Pawtucket, Rhode Island Hockey Arena, Robert K. Dorgan, who murdered two people and injured others, have once again generated additional discussions on this topic. But none of these cases are included in our analysis of the active shootings as they are after 2024 and/or in Canada.

We have now reviewed the FBI’s active shooting reports and identified which of those attacks involved transgender individuals. We conducted this analysis in two ways: first, by relying solely on the FBI’s data on active shooting cases; and second, by incorporating additional cases we compiled using the FBI’s definition of active shootings. Because this is a sensitive topic, the primary graphs we show here are based on the FBI data on active shooting cases.

The next graphs report the raw percentages of active shooting attacks committed by transgender individuals and by others, both for the entire 2018–2024 period and broken down by year. Across the full period, transgender individuals account for 2.5 percent of the total attacks, which may appear small at first glance. However, in 2024 their share rose sharply to 12 percent. Some may still describe that percentage as small, but in neither case do these raw figures adjust for transgender individuals’ share of the population.

Screenshot
Screenshot

Using only the FBI data over the entire period, transgender individuals commit active shooting attacks at 3.4 times their share of the population, and if you use the higher Census estimate that they make up one percent of the population, it is 2.5. Using the CPRC’s expanded dataset of active shooting cases, the estimate is reduced from 3.4 to 2.1 times their share of the population.

If you assume that transgender individuals make up 1% of the population, the probability of observing at least 7 cases out of 284 is 1 in 88 or 1.46%. If you assume that transgender individuals make up 0.73% of the population, the probability of observing at least 7 cases out of 284 is 1 in 1,000 or 0.10%. However, despite Genesse Ivonne Moreno using male names, her case is debatable. If exclude her and you assume that transgender individuals make up 1% of the population, the probability of observing at least 6 cases out of 284 is 1 in 17.2 or 5.8%. If you assume that transgender individuals make up 0.73% of the population, the probability of observing at least 6 cases out of 284 is 1 in 63 or 1.6%.

Screenshot

The graph at the very top of the page shows a sharp increase in the transgender share of active shooting attacks in 2024, reaching more than 16.3 times their share of the population. Even if one assumes the highest estimate of transgender individuals from the Census, that they make up 1% of the population, their share of active shooting attacks in 2024 is 12 times their share of the population.

Looking at just the data for 2024, if you assume that transgender individuals make up 1% of the population, the probability of observing at least 3 cases out of 25 is 1 in 460 or 0.217%. If you assume that transgender individuals make up 0.73% of the population, the probability of observing at least 3 cases out of 25 is 1 in 1,000 or 0.1%. Again, if you drop the Genesse Ivonne Moreno case and you assume that transgender individuals make up 1% of the population, the probability of observing at least 2 cases out of 25 is 1 in 38.5 or 2.6%. If you assume that transgender individuals make up 0.73% of the population, the probability of observing at least 2 cases out of 25 is 1 in 67 or 1.5%.

While the average age for non-transgender active shooters in the FBI database is 34.6 years old, the average age of transgender shooters is 23.6 or (21.5 excluding Moreno). This indicates that the relevant population to adjust for transgenders’ share of the population isn’t across all ages, but possibly just for those under 29 or maybe under 37. While most transgenders are clearly in that age group, it isn’t all of them, so the relevant share of the population wouldn’t be 0.73% or 1%. The Williams Institute indicates that about 76% of transgender individuals are under age 35 and about 65% are under age 30 (assuming a uniform distribution for ages 25 to 34). If that is correct and taking their estimate that 1% of the population over 13 years old are transgender, that would mean the adjustment should be either 0.76% or 0.65%.

Screenshot

Most discussions about transgender individuals dismiss it as a serious concern because they only examine their attacks as a share of total attacks and don’t adjust for transgenders’ share of the population. But once one realizes that is the only way to properly analyze the data, regardless of how one measures it—whether using only FBI data or the expanded dataset—active shooting attacks committed by transgender individuals are becoming a serious problem.

Here are the graphs using the FBI data but assuming that one percent of the population is transgender.

Screenshot
Screenshot

There is an additional complication that can be raised. Excluding Moreno, three of these trans/non-binary individuals were male at birth and three were female. Given that the survey data indicates that about 50% or trans/non-binary people are men and women, it isn’t clear that there are any further adjustments that can be made to the underlying comparison group.

As a final note, mass public shooters in particular are overwhelmingly suicidal. Given the high rates of suicide by transgender individuals, it isn’t too surprising that they may be overrepresented about mass public shooters. The Williams Institute reports that about 48% had seriously considered suicide in the past year, and ~10–12% had attempted suicide in the past year among transgender respondents. Compare with the general U.S. adult population: ~4.3% report suicidal thoughts in the past year and ~0.6% report a suicide attempt. If the survey data from the Williams Institute is accurate, the rate people were seriously thinking of suicide is about 12× higher among transgender adults compared to the general population and the attempt rate is roughly 18× higher. Not as much work has been done of the motives of active shooters, but presumably they are similar.

Here is the Excel file with all the data.

Here is a list of trans shooters.

– Nashville Christian shooter identified as transgender, Audrey (Aiden) Hale, six murdered. 28 years old.

– Colorado Springs nightclub shooter identified as non-binary, Anderson Lee Aldrich, five murdered. 22 years old.

– Denver shooter identified as transgender, Alec McKinney (transgender) and Devon Erickson, one murdered, eight injured. 16 years old.

– Aberdeen shooter identified as transgender, Snochia Moseley, three murdered, shooter also killed. 26 years old.

– Iowa high school shooter transgender activist, Dylan Butler, two murdered, six injured 17 years old.

– Lakewood Church shooter identified as transgender, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, used male names (e.g. Jeffrey Moreno-Carranza and Jeffrey G. Escalante-Moreno), two injured. This is one case that is debatable, and the results above show the statistical test with it also excluded. 36 years old.

– Trump’s attempted assassin Thomas Crooks used they/them pronouns, had a deep interest in furries, and was exploring gender identity. 20 years old.

More on the Crooks case and its comparison to the Giffords assassination shooting, which the FBI counts as an active shooting incident.

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Radiohead tells ICE ‘go f**k yourselves’ for using song in i…

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Radiohead has released a joint statement condemning the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for using one of its songs in a promotional video for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

A spokesperson for the band told Variety on Friday, “It goes without saying it was without the band’s permission,” and shared a message from the group.

“We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down. It ain’t funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don’t get to appropriate it without a fight. Also, go f**k yourselves… Radiohead.”

The message came in response to the use of a version of the song Let Down, which was set to a video on ICE’s social media accounts showing footage of people the department claims are “illegal aliens” who are violent towards American citizens.

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The caption reads, “Thousands of American families have been torn apart because of criminal, illegal alien violence. American citizens raped and murdered by those who have no right to be in our country. This is who we fight for. This is our why.”

Radiohead’s condemnation of the Trump administration’s use of its songs to promote its anti-immigration agenda follows a growing list of similar responses from other musicians.

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In November 2025, Olivia Rodrigo wrote in a message to DHS after it used her song All American B–ch in a video portraying agents detaining immigrants, “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”

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The audio has since been removed.

In December, Sabrina Carpenter called out ICE after it used her song Juno as the backing track to footage of immigrants being thrown to the ground and arrested.

“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,’ she wrote on X.

She was later featured in another ICE video, which cut footage of her Saturday Night Live commercial and added an edited voiceover to make it seem as if she were arresting Marcello Hernández, an SNL cast member, for being “too illegal.”

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As of this writing, DHS has not replied to Radiohead’s message.


&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.



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Almond Flour Cookies Recipe – Love and Lemons

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These almond flour cookies are easy to make in one bowl! Chewy, nutty, and filled with melty chocolate chips, they’re a delicious gluten-free treat.


Almond flour cookies


These almond flour cookies are chewy, nutty, and filled with melty chocolate chips. They’re totally gluten-free, but you don’t have to be to love them. In fact, these almond flour chocolate chip cookies are one of the treats I make most often. The recipe first appeared in my second cookbook, Love & Lemons Every Day, and I’ve made it countless times since the book was published. I thought it was about time I shared it here too.

These cookies couldn’t be easier to make. The recipe calls for 10 ingredients and comes together in one bowl. If you have almond flour on hand, you can have a batch ready to eat in under 30 minutes. If you don’t, well, add it to your list the next time you’re going to the store. With lightly crispy edges, gooey centers, and a rich almond flavor, these cookies are too good to miss.


Almond flour cookies recipe ingredients


Almond Flour Cookies Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this almond flour cookies recipe:

  • Almond flour, of course! Spoon and level it to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup.
  • Almond butter and an egg – They bind the cookie dough together. The almond butter also deepens the cookies’ nutty flavor.
  • Unsalted butter – For richness. You only need a couple tablespoons in this recipe because the almond flour also adds fat. For a dairy-free option, melted coconut oil works well too.
  • Baking soda – It helps the cookies puff up as they bake.
  • Brown sugar – For sweetness and caramelized depth of flavor.
  • Vanilla extract – For warmth.
  • Dark chocolate chips – Or any chocolate chips you like! Milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips are totally fair game if that’s what you prefer to use.
  • And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop! I mix fine sea salt into the dough and sprinkle flaky sea salt on top. The flaky salt is optional, but highly recommended! It really highlights the toasty almond and rich chocolate flavors.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Can I use almond meal instead of almond flour?

I recommend using fine blanched almond flour in this recipe. Bob’s Red Mill is my go-to brand—it’s easy to find in grocery stores and online. You can also make your own almond flour from blanched slivered almonds.

While you technically could use almond meal here, it will give the cookies a more mealy, grainy texture. I recommend using fine almond flour for the best results.


Pouring almond flour into mixing bowl


How to Make Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are easy to make in one bowl! Here’s how to do it:

Start by combining the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, almond butter, butter, and vanilla.


Mixing cookie dough with spatula


Then, add the dry ingredients. Sprinkle the almond flour, baking soda, and fine salt over the mixture in the bowl. Mix with a spatula to combine.

Recipe Tip

If the dough feels too dry to come together, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed to moisten it. Almond butters and brown sugar can vary in moisture content, so I find that sometimes I need the extra water and sometimes I don’t!


Scooping almond flour chocolate chip cookies onto baking sheet


Fold in the chocolate chips.

To shape the cookies, use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press down lightly on the tops of the cookies (they don’t spread much in the oven), then sprinkle with the flaky salt, if using.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 350°F, or until puffed and lightly browned around the edges.

Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is key! The cookies will be very fragile when you take them out of the oven. They need those 5 minutes on the baking sheet to set up.

Enjoy!


Baked almond flour chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet


Recipe Variations

  • Make them vegan: Replace the egg with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water. Let thicken for 5 minutes before combining with the other wet ingredients. Use coconut oil instead of butter, and increase the baking soda to 1/2 teaspoon.
  • Use other mix-ins: White chocolate chips, dried cherries, or dried cranberries would be great in these cookies!

How to Store and Freeze

  • To store: These cookies keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
  • To freeze: They also freeze well for up to 3 months. Let cool completely, then seal in an airtight container or bag before stashing in the freezer. Let thaw at room temperature, or quickly defrost one cookie at a time in the microwave. About 30 seconds does the trick!


Almond flour cookies recipe


More Almond Flour Recipes to Try

If you love these cookies, try one of these recipes with almond flour next:

Almond Flour Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Serves 16

These almond flour chocolate chip cookies are a delicious one-bowl treat! They have lightly crisp edges, chewy centers, and a sweet, nutty flavor. Gluten-free and grain-free.

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  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, almond butter, melted butter, and vanilla until well combined.

  • Add the almond flour and evenly sprinkle the baking soda and salt on top. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix until well combined, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons water if the mixture is too dry. Fold in the chocolate chips.

  • Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto the baking sheet. Press each mound down slightly and sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if using. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are puffed and the edges are lightly browned. They will still be soft and seem underdone in the middle, but they will set up as they cool.

  • Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

For vegan almond flour cookies, make a flax egg: Whisk 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water. Let thicken for 5 minutes before mixing with the wet ingredients. Use coconut oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter. Increase the baking soda to ½ teaspoon.

Nutrition Facts

Almond Flour Cookies

Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)

Calories 146
Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 14mg5%

Sodium 60mg3%

Potassium 43mg1%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 59IU1%

Calcium 51mg5%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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What Really Happens to Tattoo Ink After Your Skin Heals

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That tattoo you got five years ago? Your immune system is still dealing with it today — and will be for the rest of your life. Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. has at least one tattoo, with global estimates close to 1 in 5 people.1 Numbers at that scale turn tattoos from a personal style choice into a population-level biological exposure that persists long after your skin appears healed.

Most conversations about tattoos stop at the surface. Once the redness fades and the scab falls away, the assumption is that your body has finished dealing with the process. That assumption misses a central reality: foreign material placed into living tissue doesn’t become biologically irrelevant simply because it looks healed on the outside.

Tattoos also tend to get discussed in narrow terms, usually around hygiene, needle safety, or short-term infection risk. Far less attention goes to what it means to carry industrial pigments inside your body over decades, during periods of illness, immune stress, aging, and environmental exposure.

Permanence changes everything — what’s harmless for a day becomes significant over decades. In recent years, scientific researchers and science journalists have started asking harder questions. Their work examines how tattoo pigments interact with immune function, why chemical composition matters, and how long-term exposure alters biological workload rather than remaining inert.

When something permanent intersects with immune biology and environmental chemistry, it becomes more than skin-deep. The next section breaks down what controlled research reveals about how your body actually responds once tattoo ink moves beyond the visible layer of skin.


Tattoo Ink Changes Immune Behavior

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined what happens to tattoo ink after it enters the skin and moves through the immune system.2 Researchers used controlled animal models to trace how ink particles travel, where they accumulate, and how immune cells respond over time.

Investigators tracked ink movement into the lymphatic system and into draining lymph nodes, meaning the immune hubs that filter fluid and organize immune defenses. Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes that acts like a secondary circulatory system, but instead of blood, it carries immune cells and filters fluid from your tissues.

Lymph nodes are the checkpoints where immune cells gather, communicate, and mount defenses. What the researchers found challenged the idea that tattoos only affect the skin.

• Ink consistently accumulated inside lymph nodes and stayed there long term — Researchers observed that tattoo ink traveled rapidly through lymphatic vessels and lodged inside lymph nodes within minutes to hours. Two months later, ink levels inside these nodes increased rather than cleared. This means tattoo pigment becomes a long-term resident inside immune control centers, not a short-lived exposure.

• Specialized immune cells took up the ink and paid a biological price — The ink was mainly captured by immune cells that filter debris and pathogens from lymph fluid. These cells showed clear signs of stress, structural damage, and cell death after taking up ink. In simple terms, immune cells tasked with cleanup were harmed by what they were holding.

• Cell death triggered both short-term and long-lasting inflammation — As ink-filled immune cells died, they released inflammatory signals that attracted more immune cells into the lymph nodes. Early inflammation peaked within hours to days, while other inflammatory signals stayed elevated for months.

Certain cytokines — chemical messengers that coordinate immune responses — spiked quickly after tattooing and then subsided. Others remained high for at least two months. Cytokines work like text messages between immune cells — they signal when to ramp up inflammation, when to calm down, and when to call in reinforcements. This timeline matters because chronic inflammation places ongoing demand on your immune system instead of allowing full recovery.

• The study also tested how this immune disruption affected vaccination — Researchers administered different vaccines near tattoo-draining lymph nodes and measured antibody responses. Antibodies are proteins your immune system produces to recognize and neutralize threats.

When an mRNA-based COVID shot was given near ink-loaded lymph nodes, antibody levels dropped significantly compared to controls. In contrast, a UV-inactivated influenza vaccine triggered stronger antibody responses. This shows that tattoo-related inflammation reshapes immune signaling.

• Tattoo ink persisted inside immune cells for months, continuously interacting with immune signaling pathways — This doesn’t mean immediate illness, but it confirms tattoos demand ongoing immune management. Instead of a one-time skin event, tattooing creates a durable immune alteration inside lymph nodes that influences inflammation and immune responses in measurable ways.

Understanding this equips you to make informed choices rather than reactive ones, which is the foundation of long-term health control.

Tattoos Create a Lifelong Immune Maintenance Job

An article from The Hearty Soul focused on translating emerging immunology research into real-world meaning, asking a practical question many people overlook: once a tattoo heals, what work does your immune system still perform every day?3

Rather than treating tattoos as static body art, the piece framed them as an ongoing biological process managed by immune surveillance. Most tattooed individuals feel fine and show no obvious illness, yet their immune systems remain actively involved with tattoo pigment. This matters to you because it shifts the conversation away from rare complications and toward everyday immune workload that affects almost anyone with ink.

• Immune cells around tattoo pigment have “recycling” behavior — The article described how macrophages, which are immune cells tasked with cleanup, repeatedly engulf tattoo pigment, die as part of normal cell turnover, and then get replaced by new macrophages that pick the pigment back up.

Macrophages are your immune system’s cleanup crew — specialized cells that engulf and digest foreign invaders, dead cells, and debris. Think of them as biological garbage trucks that patrol your tissues looking for anything that doesn’t belong. As noted in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, “Tattoo pigment particles can undergo successive cycles of capture-release-recapture without any tattoo vanishing.”4 This means the immune system doesn’t finish the job; it just keeps managing it.

The pigment itself doesn’t break down, so immune cells hold it indefinitely. When older cells die, pigment spills into the surrounding tissue and triggers another round of immune cleanup. This constant loop turns tattoos into a permanent immune assignment rather than a resolved injury.

• Immune activity extends beyond your skin — Pigment doesn’t remain only where you see it; it moves through immune drainage pathways into lymph nodes that coordinate immune responses. This movement has been observed in both animal and human studies, making it a real biological phenomenon rather than a theoretical risk.

• Chronic immune engagement helps explain delayed reactions some people experience — The article discussed allergic responses and granulomas, which are small inflammatory lumps that form when the immune system walls off material it can’t remove.

Granulomas are your body’s way of quarantining what it can’t eliminate — building a wall of immune cells around the offending material. While this protects surrounding tissue, it also creates a chronic inflammatory site. These reactions sometimes appear months or years later, especially with certain ink colors. This highlights why a tattoo that felt fine at first can still become irritated long after the session.

• Red inks received special attention for their immune behavior — Red pigments show a stronger association with persistent itching, swelling, and immune flare-ups. This aligns with real-world reports from dermatology clinics and explains why color choice affects long-term health, not just appearance. Ink ingredients also vary widely and are often poorly disclosed, leaving consumers without clear safety information.

• Getting a tattoo during high stress increases immune strain — Changes in immune balance, such as illness, pregnancy, or immune-modifying medications, were described as times when tattoo-related reactions become more noticeable.

Larger tattoos, multiple sessions, and diverse pigments also increase total immune burden over time. Understanding that your immune system never stops managing tattoo pigment raises a natural follow-up question: what exactly is it managing? The answer lies in ink chemistry — and it’s more industrial than most people realize.

Ink Chemistry Introduces Hidden Immune Stressors

An article published by Science Alert focused on the chemical composition of tattoo inks and how those substances interact with your immune system over time, drawing on toxicology research, laboratory studies, and regulatory reviews.5 Tattooed individuals live with long-term exposure to ink components that weren’t designed for use inside the human body.

• The industrial origin of many tattoo pigments — Numerous pigments used in tattoos were originally developed for products like car paint, plastics, and printer toner, not for injection into living tissue. Safety testing for industrial use doesn’t account for immune exposure under the skin, where clearance pathways differ.

• Heavy metals and dyes were highlighted as a recurring concern — Tattoo inks frequently contain trace amounts of metals such as nickel, chromium, cobalt, and sometimes lead. These metals are well known for triggering immune sensitivity and allergic reactions in some people. Certain chemical classes also received specific scrutiny.

The article described azo dyes, which are synthetic colorants used widely in textiles and plastics. Under conditions like sunlight exposure or laser tattoo removal, these dyes break down into aromatic amines — nitrogen-containing compounds that, in laboratory studies, damage DNA and are associated with increased cancer risk in industrial workers exposed to them.

• Nanoparticles amplify immune exposure — Many tattoo pigments exist as nanoparticles, meaning extremely small particles that immune cells readily ingest. Once inside immune cells, these particles persist and travel with them. This helps explain why lymphatic and immune tissues show pigment accumulation years later, extending exposure well beyond the skin surface.

Immune cells interact continuously with these chemicals, especially as pigments age, degrade, or shift location over time. Chronic immune engagement with metals and industrial compounds in the ink increases inflammatory signaling, which explains delayed reactions and why long-term effects remain an active area of research.

• Black inks raised a different category of concern — Black inks, often made from carbon black, contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. PAHs are the same class of compounds found in cigarette smoke, charred meat, and car exhaust — exposure routes that have long been linked to cancer risk. PAHs form during incomplete combustion and include compounds classified as carcinogenic in other exposure settings.

• Regulatory gaps were identified as a central problem — Tattoo inks face looser oversight than cosmetics or medical products in many regions, and manufacturers often don’t disclose full ingredient lists. For you, this lack of transparency removes the ability to make fully informed choices, shifting responsibility onto the consumer rather than the producer.

Tattoos represent lifelong chemical exposure layered onto immune biology, not a neutral decoration. Understanding what goes into ink helps you weigh tradeoffs, ask better questions at studios, and align body art decisions with long-term health priorities rather than impulse alone.

How to Lower Long-Term Risk if You Already Have Tattoos

The simplest way to avoid these risks? Don’t get tattooed in the first place. Once ink enters your body, it becomes a lifelong biological exposure. However, if you already have tattoos, the goal shifts to reducing the internal conditions that magnify immune stress, oxidative damage, and long-term risk.

1. Avoid new tattoos and limit cumulative exposure — The most effective risk reduction step is to stop adding new pigment. Each additional tattoo increases immune workload, chemical burden, and lymphatic exposure. If you already have ink, avoiding further sessions prevents stacking stress on immune tissue that’s already managing foreign material daily.

2. Lower excess iron to reduce oxidative damage — Metals are common in tattoo ink, with one study finding that iron, aluminium, titanium, and copper were most abundant.6 Iron oxides, which are compounds formed by iron and oxygen, are used as pigments in tattoo inks due to their stability and vibrant hues. They vary in color depending on the specific chemical composition and structure.

While it’s often suggested that iron oxides in tattoo ink are safe, tattoos may lead to high iron levels in the blood.7 Excess iron accelerates tissue injury, including in your skin. Iron reacts with damaged fats and drives oxidative stress. I view high iron as a catalyst for skin damage and cancer risk in tattooed tissue.

The most effective way to lower iron is blood removal. Donating blood two to four times per year lowers iron stores efficiently. If losing a larger volume at once feels difficult, smaller monthly blood removal at the following levels works as well:




Men Postmenopausal women Premenopausal women
150 milliliters (ml) 100 ml 50 ml

For smaller monthly blood removal, you’ll need to work with a physician who can order therapeutic phlebotomy. You can have your iron levels checked using a simple blood test called a serum ferritin test. I believe this is one of the most important tests that everyone should have done on a regular basis as part of a preventive, proactive health screen.

However, if you have tattoos, this test may be especially important. Ideal ferritin levels are 60 to 75 ng/mL. Aside from a serum ferritin test, a gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) test can also be used as a screening marker for excess free iron.

3. Reduce linoleic acid (LA) intake to limit pigment-related damage — LA, a polyunsaturated fat found widely in seed oils and processed foods, oxidizes easily. When iron interacts with oxidized LA, it forms lipofuscin, which is iron bound to damaged fat. Lipofuscin is cellular debris made of oxidized fats and proteins that accumulates when your body can’t fully clear damaged material.

You’ve seen it on aging skin as “liver spots” or “age spots.” Removing seed oils and ultraprocessed foods reduces the fuel that drives this process.

The primary sources of LA include soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and grapeseed oil. These are ubiquitous in restaurant cooking, packaged snacks, salad dressings, and fried foods. Reading labels and cooking at home with grass fed butter, ghee, or tallow significantly reduces exposure.

4. Support immune resilience instead of suppressing symptoms — Your immune system is already working overtime managing tattoo pigment. Giving it the resources it needs helps prevent low-grade inflammation from becoming a larger problem.

Focus on fundamentals that stabilize immune signaling: consistent sleep, adequate carbohydrate intake to avoid reductive stress, sufficient protein to support immune cell turnover, and regular daily movement that improves lymph flow without overtraining. Reductive stress occurs when your body lacks sufficient energy substrates, forcing metabolic adaptations that impair immune function.

5. Reduce risks if you choose to get a tattoo — Avoiding tattoos appears best for your long-term health, but if you choose to get one, remember that larger tattoos, multiple colors, and repeated sessions increase how much foreign material your immune system needs to manage. Fewer sessions, smaller designs, and longer spacing between tattoos give your immune system room to stabilize instead of staying in constant cleanup mode.

Also be selective with ink colors and complexity. If you’re planning new work, simplify. Certain pigments carry higher immune irritation based on their chemistry, especially bright reds, yellows, and heavy black saturation. Choosing simpler designs with fewer colors reduces chemical variety and lowers immune signaling demands. Your skin shows the art, but your lymph nodes carry the cost.

FAQs About Tattoos and Immune Function

Q: Do tattoos affect the immune system long after they heal?

A: Yes. Tattoo ink doesn’t disappear after healing. Research shows pigment remains inside immune tissue for years, requiring ongoing immune management. This creates a chronic workload for immune cells rather than a one-time response tied only to the tattoo session.

Q: Why does timing matter when getting a tattoo?

A: Getting a tattoo during periods of high stress, illness, poor sleep, or immune strain increases the likelihood of prolonged inflammation and delayed reactions. During these periods, immune resources are already stretched, making it harder for your body to manage additional foreign material effectively.

Q: Are certain tattoo inks more problematic than others?

A: Yes. Ink chemistry matters. Bright reds, some yellows, and heavily saturated blacks are more often linked to immune reactions. Many pigments originate from industrial chemicals and contain metals or compounds that provoke immune sensitivity over time.

Q: If I already have tattoos, what increases long-term risk the most?

A: Cumulative exposure is a major factor. Larger tattoos, multiple colors, repeated sessions, excess iron levels, and high LA intake all amplify oxidative stress and immune burden. These factors interact rather than acting in isolation.

Q: What are the most effective ways to reduce risk if I already have tattoos?

A: Avoiding additional tattoos is the most effective step. Beyond that, lowering excess iron through blood donation, reducing LA intake by eliminating seed oils, and supporting immune resilience with sleep and nutrition all reduce long-term biological stress.

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