Tattoos Worth the Investment

By Broadside Staff Writer Rae Palting. Photo by Courtney Erland.

A tattoo is a choice that marks you for life, literally. Despite the pain and long-term commitment, tattoos have always been popular among young adults. A 2006 study done by the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology says that 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have a tattoo.

However, tattoos are an investment for which many students do not have a lot of money.

“The baseline price for an hour-long tattoo is $150 [at Marlowe Ink],” said Travis Johnson, a junior majoring in biology, who has three tattoos. “Add any more color and detail, and it’s going to go up even more.”

Getting a tattoo has become more difficult for George Mason University students due to recent drops in the economy. Some students are putting their tattoo plans on hold due to other expenses.

“I was actually going to get another one on my left arm of Bible verse, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’ at Patriot’s [Tattoo],” said Lauryn Golden, a senior majoring in English, who has two tattoos, “But I can’t get it now because gas prices are going up, and everything is changing now.”

Getting a tattoo is not entirely out of the question for some students, but they may have to downsize their ideas for the sake of price.

“Well, [economic drops have] not necessarily changed if I’m going to get any more [tattoos] but exactly what I’m going to get,” said Johnson. “I’m still getting the breast cancer ribbon on my ribs with my sisters when I go home for Thanksgiving.”

For others, getting a tattoo has not been affected by the market situation but by not having cash in the first place.

“My lack of money in general keeps me from getting more,” said Sean Ordway, a senior majoring in theater, who has one tattoo.

Local tattoo parlors are being affected by the lack of Mason students who can afford tattoos. They, like many other businesses, are experiencing a drop in clients due to the economic crisis.

“Yeah, we’re definitely feeling it,” said Lod Granger, the manager of Marlowe Ink, a tattoo parlor in Fairfax. “Mom and Dad give their kids money to do what they want, but not everyone has as much as they had before.”