John Price: a junior in chemistry, receives a tattoo at Voodoo Needle by tattoo artist Conan O’Shight. Austin Nelson / PHOTO STAFF
Though the practice of tattooing dates back more than 5,000 years, the prevalence of tattoos among entertainers and athletes have made them as popular as ever in American culture.
College students are among the many who have stopped by a tattoo parlor and had their favorite image drawn somewhere on their bodies.
Kristi Prichard, a junior in marketing, got her first tattoo less than a year ago.
“I got it as a present to myself on my 21st birthday,” Prichard said. “I had thought about it for weeks, and I decided it was finally a good time.”
Her design of choice was the Latin word “spiro,” which she got tattooed in cursive writing on the inside of her left wrist.
“It means ‘to breathe, to live, to inspire, to be inspired,’” Prichard said.
Four tattoos adorn the body of Jacey Carter, a junior in business, and that’s enough for her.
“I’m probably not going to get any more,” Carter said. “I’m running out of space.”
She has one tattoo on the back of her neck, one on her wrist, one above the inside of her left ankle and another on her hip.
She is most fond of the sun tattoo she has near her ankle.
“I went to get that one with my mom and sister,” Carter said. “I got it because my mom used to always sing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ when I was little.”
It is estimated more than 40 million people, or 14 percent of the country’s population, have a tattoo, based on results from a survey released last week by harrispollonline.com.
The most common types of tattoos are tribal or abstract patterns, stars and angels, according to www.vanashingtattoo.com.
The site points out lower backs and wrists are the most frequent spots people choose for their tattoo.
For those students who have wondered whether a tattoo is right for them, one local artist provided some information that could aid in making a decision.
“As far as health risks go, you should always check with a doctor before going through with it,” said Amber Skeens, who works for Voodoo Needle in Auburn. “Unless you have some sort of blood disorder, you should be OK though.”
The tattooing process can last anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple of weeks, according to Skeens.
“If you want something really large or detailed, you may have to get your tattoo finished in sessions,” Skeens said.
She also said cost can vary quite a bit. Small, basic tattoos start off at around $40, but prices can reach several hundred dollars depending on the design.
A number of people have concerns about how painful it actually is to be tattooed.
Carter and Prichard both agreed that it’s not the best feeling they’ve had.
“It hurts a lot, but it’s a pain you can tolerate,” Carter said. “I’d rather get another tattoo than get a shot from the doctor.”
Prichard said getting a tattoo was the worst pain she has ever felt, but that’s not going to stop her in the future.
“I will get another one some day,” Prichard said. “It’s kind of addicting.”
