Tattoos are in; are you? Picture yourself with a tattoo
22.05.12
"I've been getting them since I was 20, so there's one for each year," said the 22-year-old, adding that he's due for another.
Repeat business is the norm for tattoo artist Lynn McNew and partner Kayla Rorarty.
Tattoos "are just more acceptable," said Lynn, 37, himself well-covered in intricate artwork. "It's all age groups. I see 18- to 80-year-olds."
What used to be a sign of rebellion -- skulls for guys and butterflies for girls -- is now also fashion for the masses: Thirty-six percent of Americans ages 18 to 35 have at least one tattoo, according to a 2007 study by the Pew Research Center.
While it's a long-held custom for soldiers and sailors to return home with tattoos to commemorate their time in the military, the list of what's important to permanently etch on your skin now covers a vast spectrum, from tiny footprints that recognize the birth of a child to the lines of a favorite song across a torso. Lynn charges $100 an hour, with a $40 minimum.
Source: Belleville News Democrat