Tattooing has been around since ancient times and its presence in our mainstream society is not going to fade away anytime soon. In three percent of American households today, at least one of their members has one or more tattoos. At least twelve million Americans have one tattoo.

This decorative art form continues to be a growing attraction to teenagers. Teens as young as 13 and 14 are getting their first tattoos. It isn't just guys who are getting them, over the past twenty years the number of women getting tattoos has quadrupled.

The color additives used in tattooing pigments are the same as those used in cosmetics. They are monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and approved for topical application only. There are more than 100 different color variations, but the most common colors are red, green, yellow, blue and white. White is used to mix colors to make color variations.

Permanent tattoos are applied by injecting the color pigments mention above into the skin using a solid, round-tip needle. Warren uses an electrically powered, vertical, vibrating instrument to inject the tattoo pigment. The instrument injects pigment at 50 to 30,000 times per minute into the second layer of skin, at a depth of 1/64 to 1/16 of an inch. A single needle outlines the tattoo and the design is then filled in with five to seven needles in a needle bar.

Remember, a tattoo is forever. Some people may think that it is a way to express their individuality. Some people see it as an art form. But before you walk into the tattoo studio, you should know what type of design you want to put on your body - and where.

Warren will take the time to sit down with you and create an individual work of art, whereas a questionable artist might encourage you to pick a design off of his wall.

Here are the various tattoo styles;

Black & Gray Wash - This style uses black ink and various shades of black to 'round' out the design. Strong light source and subtle shading is used to render the tattoo and will usually hold up well over time. This is the preferred method for portraits (which should be done by someone adept at portrait rendering).

New School - Bright colors and bold outlines give this style its distinctive look. Based on graffiti art, New School tends to have exaggerated poses and proportions and contrasting color hi-lites. This is a very 'trendy' tattoo style.

Old School (Traditional) - Taking its roots from the early days of tattoos, this style uses simple lines and flat shading with a minimum of colors. The traditional colors are black, red, green, yellow and blue. These are the tattoos of your grandfather's time.

Irezumi - Otherwise known as 'Japanese' or 'Oriental' tattoos. The theme usually defines an Irezumi tattoo and include such things as koi fish (carp) swimming in 'finger' waves, oriental dragons, Buddha's, samurais and geishas, kabuki masks and other traditional oriental icons and images. The colors are bright and simple with a conscientious use of black areas.

Tribal - A very popular style, tribal work tends to be decorative lines and shapes that invoke a 'feel' rather than depict an object. Usually rendered in solid black but can be done with a mixture of color or shading for interesting variations. The term 'tribal' is also often misused. The term originally referred to any tattoo design taken from indigenous people from other parts of the world, in particular from the Pacific Islands and Africa. Today it is often used to refer to any solid black decorative design having a 'tribal' feel. Some artists refer to this variation as 'neo-tribal'.

Celtic Knotwork - Taken from the old Celtic manuscripts from Ireland this style can be as complex or as simple as you like. Celtic knotwork requires skill in rendering it properly and should be done by an artist that specializes in this art form. Usually done just in black but can use solid, bright primary colors for interest.

Bio-mechanical - This style became popular through the work on the 'Alien' movies by Swedish artist H.R.Geiger. This style combines anatomical flesh intertwined with some sort of mechanical parts. This style requires some rendering skill by the artist and should be done by someone who specializes in this art form.

Fine Line - A more contemporary style of tattooing, this style relies on thin tines and finer detail than the old traditional forms. Fine line is particularly good for small, feminine tattoos and realistic tattoos where line as well as form help create a more natural rendering.

• PLEASE: Do not get a tattoo if you are sick or not feeling well. Wait until you're feeling better before getting that tattoo.
• Make sure you've had food and rest. Getting tattooed on an empty stomach or drunk may cause you to feel faint, nauseated, or dizzy.
• Don't take pain killers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and anesthetics, which may possibly cause problems, such as increased bleeding.
• Do not get tattooed if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• You must be over 18 years of age with a valid ID.
• Be careful, and take some time to think about this decision. And remember, some girls and guys actually think tattoos are a turnoff! You should be getting that tattoo for YOU, not for somebody else.

As much thought should go into placement of the tattoo as to the design. Preferably the design should fit comfortably into the area where it will be tattooed. Questions to consider are visibility and the effects of longevity on the tattoo.

Visibility - Who should see your tattoo is a personal choice. If you prefer to keep your tattoo out of sight then placement should be in an inconspicuous place such as the shoulder, hip or thigh, groin area, buttocks, inner ankle, upper arm above short sleeve level or chest/breast. Otherwise, any part of your anatomy is fair game.

You should note though that most reputable parlors will not tattoo the hands or face for obvious reasons.

Longevity - Certain areas of your body take more abuse than others and sheds and replenishes its skin more rapidly. This shedding and replenishing tend to fade out a tattoo more rapidly. These areas include the hands and feet, elbows and knees, lower arms and wrists.

There are also certain areas where the skin stretches so much that a tattoo there will tend to 'move'. This includes the inner part of the elbow, the neck and backs of knees. Women in particular should keep in mind that childbirth will have a big effect on their body. Stretch marks may appear on the breasts and abdominal area. A tattoo in these areas will be affected.

Interestingly, women and men tend to get tattoos in different locations. This, according to sociologists, is because men and women get tattoos for different reasons. Men get them to show others, while women get them for the sake of decorating their body--and often place them where they can't normally be seen, so that it doesn't prompt comments about her "reputation."

The following is a short list of areas to get inked.

Head: The "head" here refers mostly to the area where your hair grows. You'll need to shave the area for the tat to be most visible. If you need to hide your tat, you can grow your hair out. Areas more commonly inked are the sides of the head (above the ears), and above the nape of the neck in the back. There are people who have their entire heads inked.

Sides of neck: Highly visible, and not ease to hide. Use caution.

Back of neck: There are many instances of tribal pieces, animals or words done on the back of the neck. You'll need to keep your hair short or tied up to keep it visible.

Face: Various areas possible. Facial tattoos could fall into the cosmetic or standard categories. Cosmetic would include darkening of eyebrows, eyelining, liplining, etc. Getting a tat on the face is serious business and crosses many boundaries. Remember, people will never look at you the same way, and it may not always be with admiration.

Upper chest: One of the standard areas for tattoos for both men and women. It allows lots of flat area in which to get a fairly large piece. It is one of the areas where you can choose to get symmetrically inked on both sides.

Breasts (women): Used to be trendy to get a tiny tat on the breast. Women - particularly larger breasted ones - need to be careful about eventual sagging of the skin in the area. Don't get a tat that will look silly when it starts to stretch, like a round smiley face that'll turn into an oblong frown.

Nipples: Usually the artist will avoid the areolas and nipples. The omission of ink tends not to be so noticeable, and will not interfere or intrupt the flow of a large design.
There HAS been work done with tattooing a facsimile of a nipple onto a breast in leu of reconstructive surgery for those who have lost their nipples, for aesthetic and self-esteem purposes.

Rib cage: Can be rather painful because of all the ribs you work over. However it offers a fairly large area, and can be incorporated into a major back piece, wrapping around toward the front.

Stomach/Abdomen: Some people choose not to get work done on their stomachs for a couple of reasons. Area is difficult to work on because there's no solid backing to hold the skin down. It is a sensitive area that may feel uncomfortable. The tat may look horrible after your metabolism slows down and you develop a "belly."

Genitals: Yes, some people do get inked in their genital area. The idea may sound very painful, but it's really not all that bad. However, do consider that, due the to the stretchiness of the skin and the amount of movement the area experiences, it's not really possible to do anything with a lot of fine detail.

Note: Some artists refuse to do genitals. The problems with post-infections is multiplied, and the consiquenses of ANY infection in these areas are serious and long-lasting.

Thighs/hips: A popular area for women to get larger pieces (often extending from the hip area). Shows well with a bathing suit but easily concealable in modest shorts. The entire area of skin around your thighs is bigger than your back, so you can get quite a bit of work done.

Calves: Nice area to get a standard size (2" x 2"). However if you have very hairy legs, it may cut down on the visibility somewhat.

Ankles: Currently trendy. You can either get a spot piece on the inner or outer ankle, or get something that goes around in a band. Vines, flowers and other vegetation seem popular.

Feet: There has been some incredible work done on the feet. Concealable with shoes. Probably won't have as much wear and tear as hands so you might get less blurring and color loss. This however, is the TOPS of your feet. You will have trouble retaining a tattoo on the bottom of your feet.

Armpits: Usually reserved for those who want to get full coverage around the arm and chest area, & need the armpits filled. Probably not recommended for the highly ticklish.

Upper arms: One of the most common areas for men, although there has been some nice work on women as well. If you decide to get a piece done on your upper arm, consider how much sun it's going to get. Will you be able to put sunblock on it regularly? Otherwise, expect some color loss and blurring. If you want some serious work done and you want to show it off, you may want to consider getting a "half sleeve"--full tat coverage throughout your upper arm.

Inner arms: A more unusual location than the outer upper arm area, this area is often not easily visible. Be careful if your genes are prone to "bat wing" flab, however.

Forearms: Popeye sported his anchor on his forearm. Probably not as popular as the upper arm but common just the same. You can have your upper arm "sleeve" extend down for a full sleeve.

Wrists: Janis Joplin had a dainty tat on her wrist...easily concealable with a watch.

Hands (fingers and palms): Some artists receive frequent queries about fingers, palms and hands in general. Some artists don't do hands because the ink will have a tendency to blur or fade easily. Consider that you probably move your hands the most out of your entire body. Some people want to substitute their wedding bands with tat bands. Your palm doesn't retain ink well. If you decide on this area you can expect it to be a rather basic line, and that it will not last too long.

Shoulder blades: The back shoulder blade area is another popular spot for women, who can show off the work with a bathing suit or tank top, but cover it up with regular clothes. If this is the case, be particularly careful with sun because you're not going to be wearing that unless it's warm & sunny. It's a "safe" place--but may get in the way if you decide to commit yourself to a large back piece.

Back: You can get any part of your back done, or save your money for a "back piece" that encompasses your entire back. Expect to pay several thousand dollars for a full back piece (not to mention many tat sessions).

Buttocks: Again, beware of potential sagging in the area.

Contact the Tattoo Guy today, and get the quality ink you deserve.