Tattoos are making mark in Cheyenne


CHEYENNE -- The first question usually is "Does it hurt?"

But that's comparable to asking, "What does a peach taste like?," said Steven Martinez, tattoo artist and owner of Bad-Ass Tattoo Co.

He added that when he got his first tattoo 16 years ago, there was only one shop operating in Cheyenne. Now there are five.

Body art is becoming more popular, and not just in Wyoming's capital.

According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 36 percent of 18- to 29-year-old Americans have at least one tattoo.

Martinez said the practice has become more acceptable and more visible.

Sports stars like Dennis Rodman and Mike Tyson are inked. So are celebrities like Britney Spears and Drew Barrymore.

Television shows such as A&E's "Inked" and TLC's "Miami Ink" even allow people to visit a tattoo shop from home, said Jeremy Scott, a tattoo artist at Bad Ass Tattoo Co.

But it doesn't hurt that the art has gotten better, said Andy Robbins, manager and tattoo artist at Skibo's Tattoo Studio.

Tattoo artists of the past relied on stencils, while today's ink experts are trained in design, he said. Many head straight from art school into a tattoo shop as an apprentice.

"The quality of what's coming out has made (body art) more popular," Robbins said.

And when people see good artwork, they want to know more.

He added that there's also no typical customer. He has worked with doctors, lawyers and one customer who got his first tattoo at the age of 65.

While more parents are giving permission to their underage children, Mark Ray said he prefers to wait until his customers reach the age of 18.

The owner of Buka Tattoo and Body Piercing said a younger body is still growing, making it worth the wait.

"It's a form of self expression," he said. "This represents me."

Customers should look for a clean establishment with sterilized surfaces, said Roy Kroeger, supervisor for Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department.

This isn't just good sanitation, it's the law.

Tattoo shops are licensed through the department and inspected every year. Kroeger said during these visits, he'll quiz employees about how to avoid cross-contamination and dispose of needles.

Buka tattoo artist Joe Still said customers also should list their medications because some could thin the blood.

Martinez said the price of a tattoo will depend on the piece. The same is true for the time it takes to finish and to heal.

"There's an expression that cheap tattoos aren't good and good tattoos aren't cheap," he added.

But the first place to look is in an artist's portfolio.

"If you're looking for a portrait, which is difficult to do, you want to find someone who has done quite a few portraits," he said. "If you want a tribal tattoo, you want to find someone who has done a lot of tribal work."

Ray said customers shouldn't be afraid to ask questions or to see an artist at work.

It's their body, and they should look for the perfect fit.

He added that the pictures that adorn the walls often are used as examples, since most shops offer customized tattoos.

"We will work with (the customer) to find something they like," Still said. "It's the satisfaction of knowing we left them with something they want."

But it never hurts to shop around. Or double-check the spelling.

Martinez said he has heard horror stories about customers who wanted "scarred for life" and got "scared for life." It also doesn't help to misspell the fiance's name.

"If it's supposed to be Allyson with a 'y' instead of an 'i,' he's going to be in trouble," he added.

Robbins said he always asks his youngest customers if they're absolutely sure they want a devil's face on their forearm before he starts.

"You could be limiting yourself professionally, especially if it's offensive," he said. "I don't want to be responsible for someone not being able to get employment."