Tattoos on the Loose
NEIRAD enilno edition
Although it isn’t surprising that not too many tattoos are seen walking down the hallway at Darien High School, what is surprising is the fact that they are a rapidly growing trend. So what is the fascination with expensive body art?
Most people who proudly don tattoos would tell you that it is a way to express something or someone significant in their lives, and today, tats are gaining a larger audience. The biker tattoo stereotype has been broken, and many different groups of people are realizing that anyone can get an amazing piece of art to display forever.
DHS Class of 2008 grad Alicia Andrianus is still thrilled with her decision to get a tattoo during her senior year to honor her friendship with Amanda Rumsey, a former DHS student.
“Amanda and I have been best friends since kindergarten. We had never spent more than a year apart from each other and her senior year of high school she moved to Africa for a year and went to boarding school there. I got it in memory of her. That year apart was hard for me, but it just brought us even closer together,” Alicia said. She is now a freshmen at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
The popularity has now spilled over into television with such shows as “Miami Ink,” “LA Ink,” and “Hart and Huntington.” These reality shows have allowed viewers to gain insight on why people choose to get tattoos, and the deeper meaning behind them. While there certainly is an increasing popularity in acquiring tattoos, the most common apprehension for getting inked is the issue of permanency. The first question that pops into mind is if the tattoo will still remain as something of significance in 20 years. Even with that in the back of their minds, people from all around the world are still rushing out to get tattooed. As a result of this frenzy, there are about 15,000 parlors currently open across the country, with a new studio opening every day.
Yet before the tat craze began, laws were set in each state to regulate the inking business. State legislators, who believe that tattoos are immoral and wrong, use their power to influence the laws against them. There are 81 registered tattoo parlors in the state of Connecticut, and state law requires that a Connecticut-licensed physician supervise those engaging in tattooing. Anyone under the age of eighteen must have a parent’s consent. Any citizen who violates any of the regulations will be fined up to 100 dollars, and could be sentenced up to 90 days in prison. Despite the legal grounds of the body art business, the most important reason that the laws are put in place is for health reasons.
The best plan of action DHS Nurse Donna Berizzi suggests is to research local tattoo parlors online, and ask your peers. “You have to make sure that the place is reputable and clean; ask the staff questions about the hygiene methods they used to clean their needles, and the types of ink they use,” Mrs. Berizzi said. She stressed the importance of going to a parlor that was well-known by friends or family, and that employed certified and talented artists.
Due to the small number of sites that provide tattooing in this area, research is very minimal. There are six locations available in Norwalk to acquire a tattoo, and only one in Stamford. For example, Ink-Side Out Tattoo in Norwalk, gives basic biographical information and an educational background for each of their artists, and a photo portfolio of the tattoos that they have created for clients. Although the website shows pictures of the parlor and lists the steps of taking care of a new tattoo, it does not go into detail about its in-shop cleanliness and the products they use. Since this important information is not given online, an in-shop consultation or walk-in visit should be made to ask specific questions of an artist. There are several students at DHS who went ahead with their decision to get a tat while abiding by the laws, and got themselves meaningful art that will never fade.
Senior Steph Sara got a tattoo of a cross on the back of her neck in February of 2008. The inspiration for the tattoo came from a cross pendant that her mom gave to her. At the time, the current senior was 17, so her dad was required to go with her to give consent, and she took two friends for moral support. “I chose to get it on my neck so that I could hide it with my hair if I wanted to,” Steph said, who doesn’t regret her decision, and wouldn’t mind getting another tattoo.
Alicia Andrianus also says she says has no regrets about her decision. “The tattoo is on my right shoulder, and I still love it so much. The reason why I still like my tattoo because I never really see it due to the fact that it's on my back. I get SO many compliments on it too. I drew the design of my tree with the help of my sister Corryn Andrianus, who is now a freshman,” Alicia said.
Henna is a semi-permanent alternative that is also seen more these days. “I get it because I think it’s really beautiful and interesting,” sophomore Julia Maloof said. Julia has traveled to India and Dubai, and has gotten henna on each trip. “Though they have henna in Dubai, I would say you really have to go to India to get ‘real’ henna. Anywhere else, it’s just not as good.”
Perhaps there are more students who are sporting “secret” body art, but whether it is henna or tattoos that are roaming through the school, you can be certain that they are walking billboards for personal expression. When is this tattoo rage going to reach Darien? Maybe it already has, or you may have to keep looking for that hidden ink peeking out of a students' or teachers' clothes!
