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tattoo taboo? not anymore Is there one withyour name on it?
Tattoos aren't just for drunken sailors these days
BY CATHY JETT
Date published: 3/25/2007
BY CATHY JETT
Sean Kelly never knows who'll pop into Spark Plug Tattoo & Body Piercing.
One day it might be a youth minister who wants to get praying hands tattooed on his arm; the next, a 62-year-old woman who wants a butterfly on her hand.
"I've had judges, lawyers, nurses, doctors. You'd be surprised," said Kelly, who works in the small George Street shop in downtown Fredericksburg.
Tattoos, those graphic adornments inked into the skin, are becoming more mainstream thanks, in part, to athletes and celebrities as well as the TV shows "Miami Ink" and "Inked."
Wesley Moore is so convinced that college students, tourists and area residents will want them that he recently opened Sorry Mom Tattoos in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg's shopping district.
"Miami Ink has had a big impact on tattooing," said Moore, whose shop is in the former Redfern & Sons at 808 Caroline St. "That gives it a positive name. People see who is getting them and why, and it's getting socially accepted."
Most people getting tattoos today aren't sailors on a bender who wake up the next morning with a battleship emblazoned on their chest, Fredericksburg-area tattoo artists say. Instead, customers typically come in wanting to mark a significant moment in their lives or memorialize a loved one.
Several people recently went to Spark Plug to get the same fallen-soldier tattoo after a relative was killed in Iraq, for example. And a woman went in to get a portrait of her late father tattooed on her chest.
"It was really rough because she looked in the mirror afterward and started crying," said tattoo artist Jeremiah Hirsch. "She said: 'He was always in my heart. Now he's where I can see him.'"
16 percent have tattoos
According to a 2003 Harris Poll, the most recent source available, 16 percent of all adults in the United States have at least one tattoo. Americans ages 25 to 29 made up 36 percent of the total, and those ages 30 to 39 accounted for 28 percent.
Those statistics are borne out by Fredericksburg-area tattoo artists, who say the majority of their customers are in their 20s or younger. However, koi fish, which are a Japanese symbol for good luck, and other images are catching on with people in their 30s and 40s.
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If you're thinking about getting a tattoo, the Better Business Bureau offers the following suggestions to help you make a wise "dyeing" decision:
CLEANLINESS COUNTS: Tattoo parlors are becoming more mainstream, but don't take it for granted that the place is clean. Ask for a tour and be discriminating when deciding about the cleanliness and quality of the establishment. Specifically ask about the way needles and inks are used. Be sure that dirty towels, inks, needles and other items are properly disposed of.
STERILE NEEDLES: The tattoo needle will cause a little blood to be shed, and hepatitis and HIV virus can spread when needles are used by more than one person. Legitimate tattoo parlors will always use new needles. The artist should show you that he is unwrapping a new needle from a sterile, sealed packet. If he doesn't, request it.
FRESH INKS: Colors come from inks, and every ink should come from a bottle that's poured into a small cup specifically for your tattoo. Just as you don't want to share needles, you don't want to share inks. If ink remains after a tattoo has been completed, it should be thrown away.
RUBBER GLOVES: While preparing for your tattoo, and during the procedure, the artist should wear the same kind of surgical gloves worn by a physician during an exam. This helps to maintain a clean environment and is essential for your welfare.
ARTIST'S PORTFOLIO: Tattoos are works of art and should be rendered by an artist. Ask to see the portfolios of several tattoo artists before choosing one for your design. Talk directly to the artist and be sure he can illustrate exactly what you're going to be displaying for the rest of your life. A really good artist can create anything you can imagine and will often appreciate the opportunity to express himself on your canvas (skin). It's a good idea to start with a picture of something you like and then discuss with the artist how to customize it.
FOREVER IS A LONG TIME: Many reputable artists will not tattoo adolescents, even with parental permission, because a tattoo is very permanent. They feel the decision should be made after a person has reached a mature age. If you know of a teenager who "just has to have one," it's especially important to find a shop that adheres to the rules of cleanliness and safety.
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Date published: 3/25/2007
Most recent reader comments:
Congratulations!!
(posted by
madukes
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
It's about time for the 'Burg to catch up.
I think I'll visit next trip home.
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