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| Almost as important as what the tattoo looks
like is where it will be placed. As with any major decision, there
are pros and cons to deciding among all the body parts.
This brief list of the most popular body parts to have tattooed and hints about those areas has been compiled by "Frequently Asked Questions.org" — faqs.org — through the help of tattoo artists from around the country. • The upper chest is a standard areas for tattoos for both men and women because it offers the artist a flat, hard area that will not be affected dramatically by weight gain or loss. Level of pain depends on how fleshy a person is. • Breasts are often a trendy place to get a small tattoo for women. Although, most artists caution large-breasted women to get ones that will still look good if the skin begins to stretch. This is not such a major concern for small-breasted women. • The rib cage can be a pretty painful place to get work done because of all the bone, but it does offer the artists a large area to work on and is easily concealed. • The stomach area has some major bonuses and some serious problems. For both men and women, stomach and abdomen tattoos are considered sexy and they can be easily displayed. But the area is difficult to work on because there's no solid backing to hold the skin down and because it is a sensitive area, it may feel uncomfortable. Then there's the problem of pronounced weight gain or loss. Tattoos stretch just as skin does and that doesn't always look good. • The thighs and hips are a popular area for women to get larger pieces done because the area is fleshy, which cuts down on pain, and is large enough to get serious pieces done. • The hands and feet are a highly visible but problematic area to get tattooed. Because the skin regenerates on these two areas so quickly, tattoos tend to fade or blur quickly and will usually need touchups. Tattoos in these locations also tend to be painful because of the lack of flesh between skin and bone. • The upper arms are by far the most common area of the body for men and women to have tattooed because it is not typically painful and can be easily hidden or revealed according to the wishes of the wearer. One concern with this body part, as with all tattoos, is keeping sun damage to a minimum. Sun block is a must. • The back is popular with men and women because it is not typically painful and offers the artists a large area on which to work. It allows the wearer to express subtle messages about the tattoo depending on where on the back it is placed. |
works to protect those organs, said Curtis Haggerty, a tattoo artist at Ground Zero.
The tattoo Morrow chose, which, according to Haggerty, is smaller than the average tattoo of three inches, had an up-front cost of $50, almost half the cost of an average tattoo.
Haggerty said that the cost of a tattoo is usually based on complexity, time and size of the design.
"(Tattoos) set me apart from other people," said Morrow, who admits this probably won't be his last tattoo.
Although Morrow believes his tattoos set him apart, Mike Prickett, a tattoo artist at Forever Yours tattoo parlor, says there are different reasons, such as to fit in and to rebel, people — especially students — are getting tattoos.
Even though rebellion is often thought of as a reason to get tattooed, Morrow, whose parents don't mind his tattoos, said he's not doing it to rebel.
"I just always wanted one," Morrow said.
But he's not the only one wanting a tattoo.
"Everyone's starting to get tattoos," said Prickett, who's tattooed men, women, police officers, factory workers and doctors.
Even professors and secretaries are getting tattoos, Haggerty said.
Morrow got his first two tattoos in his hometown of Delphi just after his 18th birthday.
When he decided he was going to get a third tattoo; however, the parlor he had gone to before had closed. That's when he decided to go to Ground Zero.
"I've just heard good stuff about this place," Morrow said.
Considering the Lafayette area is the home of approximately five tattoo parlors — which Haggerty says is a lot for a city of this size — customers should take the time to assess a parlor before getting a tattoo, especially because there are no requirements to be a tattoo artist.
There's no license required in Tippecanoe County to be a tattoo artist like there is to be a hair stylist, Haggerty said.
When choosing a tattoo parlor, Prickett recommends finding a place where the artists surgically sterilize all of the equipment, dispose of used needles and take the time to understand what the customer wants.
After about 10 minutes, Morrow's tattoo was completed.
"Keep it clean," Longoria said.
The one-inch by one-inch Chinese symbol, which stands for peace, is exactly what Morrow said he had in mind, and now he is considering adding to this tattoo by getting Chinese symbols all the way around his ankle.
"Usually, either you have one tattoo, or a lot," Haggerty said.
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Purdue Exponent 2001 |
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