Tattoos on the increase

IOWA CITY - TV shows such as 'Miami Ink” and 'Ink Master” have given the tattoo business a chance to show the skill and artistry put into tattoos. And as more people have opted for a tattoo, the industry itself has become more professional.

'Having people that have art degrees has definitely changed the tattoo business and the style of tattooing that can be done,” said Matthew Cooper, 10-year owner of Nemesis Tattoo Studios in Iowa City and a tattoo artist for 15.

Millennials form a large part of the tattoo clientele, as Vesania Ink owner David Rich has found.

'Customers are usually around 19 to 26 or 30. Kids are rebellious at that age, and it's the trend right now,” he said.

A 2012 Harris Poll found one in five adults has at least one tattoo.

Part of this demographic can be attributed to location. As a college town, Iowa City draws millennials into the local tattoo shops.

The types and styles of tattoos can depend on the region as well as what is being featured in magazines.

Popular tattoos that Cooper has had requested in his studio include silhouettes of birds, dandelions and infinity symbols. Rich has noticed a pattern of women requesting tattoos on their ribcages or stomachs.

'Our clientele has definitely grown substantially. Before, just a handful of people were getting tattoos, and now everyone is getting them,” Cooper said.

Each week, Cooper does anywhere from five to 25 tattoos, depending on the size and intricacy of each one. Rich, who does around 12 or more tattoos a week, said his schedule is booked through the end of November.

The permanence of a tattoo is only one part of a customer's investment. The actual price of a tattoo varies with the size, placement, detail and time each one takes.

The minimum cost for a tattoo at Nemesis Studios is $60 - that's for a small piece - with an hourly rate of $120.

Jenna Wren, a senior at the University of Iowa, has two tattoos and paid a total of $170 for them. Her tattoos, an anchor and a song quote, are both small and she plans on getting more.

'I'll probably end up with about seven to 10 tattoos in my life,” Wren said.

Future tattoos she's considering include wildflowers and three birds.

One more consideration for those thinking about getting a tattoo - the price for removal can get very expensive. Some customers end up not liking their tattoo, or decide it's in an inconvenient location.

However, some 86 percent of those who responded to that 2012 Harris Poll said they haven't regretted getting a tattoo.