Tattoos in America Today

In the distant past, tattoos had the smallest modicum of acceptance, primarily based on the people who wore them. When military men came back to the States after serving overseas, it was difficult to express too much negativity about the names of their sweethearts or “Mom and Dad” emblazoned on their arms. It’s likely that the acceptance was more for the wearer than the tattoo, though, for tattoos had not attained a degree of respectability with the American public in general. As syphilis became more widespread, and with the less-than-sanitary tattooing procedures adding to its increase, New York City eventually banned tattooing, and did not make the practice legal again until 1997.

South Carolina lifted its ban against tattooing in 2004, which required eleven years of failed attempts before its eventual success, the state of Oklahoma remained the sole hold-out in banning tattoos until that ban also was finally lifted at the end of 2006. Currently, tattooing is legal in all states of the United States, each with its own set of laws, some of which are governed by the state itself, others which have left the matter in the hands of city or other local governments.

Laws and regulations covering tattooing are varied on a state by state basis. If you wish to get a tattoo, or if you’re considering going into the tattoo business yourself, it is wise to familiarize yourself with what is required in the state where you live. One key point is that if you have received a tattoo license in one state, it is not necessarily valid in another state.

During the last fifteen years, two distinct classes of tattoo business have emerged.The first is the “tattoo parlor” that glories in a sense of urban outlaw culture, advertises itself with garish exterior signage and offers less than sanitary surroundings. The second is the “tattoo art studio” that most frequently features custom and fine art designs, all of the features of a high end beauty and “by-appointment” services only. Today’s tattoo art studio draws the same kind of clients as a jewelry store, fashion boutique, or high-end antique shop.

As tattoos ceased to be solely connected to the counter-culture, they started to appear on everybody. One group which has grown fond of tattoos is the younger generation. This is so much true that these days most areas which have colleges and universities also have at least one tattoo studio nearby. For many in the younger crowd, visiting the tattoo studio is as much a social experience as it is about the artwork. Comparing notes about which tattoo designs they like, the costs, and even the tattooing process itself is often done with one or more friends. The popularity of tattoos amongst young people also extends to high schoolers, many of whom are not old enough to legally acquire a tattoo. Some get around this by dangerously attempting their own tattoos with homemade equipment; others go to nearby states where it is legal for artists to tattoo minors if they have their parent’s presence and consent.

On the opposite end of the spectrum you will find members of the older generation who sometimes use tattoos to either recapture or attempt to hold onto their youth. It’s questionable as to whether those in this category do so for the artwork itself, or more for the environment of the tattoo studio, as most tattoo studios are clearly designed for the younger generation. You can find quite a few older folks leafing through books of tattoo designs alongside the younger crowd who are twenty or thirty years younger than themselves. This type of situation is at its oddest when the tattoo studio also doubles as a piercing parlor.

As tattoos as a basic form of artwork and self-expression have expanded, so has another aspect of tattooing which has its roots in ancient history but until quite recently was not widespread in modern times. Many women, the famous and the average alike, are now opting for tattoos as a form of permanent cosmetics. No longer needing to apply such things as eyeliner or lipstick on a daily basis, a more permanent form of these previously-temporary cosmetics are made by tattooing in a manner quite similar to the more well-known types of tattoos. Getting these types of tattoos not only requires careful consideration on the part of the client, but skill and professionalism on the part of the tattoo artist.

Tattooing today is the sixth-fastest-growing retail business in the United States. The single fastest growing demographic group seeking tattoo services is middle-class suburban women.

Tattooing is recognized by government agencies as both an art form and a profession. As tattoo artwork is considered to be fine art, tattoo designs are the subject of museum and gallery art shows across the United States.

Tattoos in America Today

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