" 7 Good Reasons To Get Tattooed or Pierced Today."

You have thought about a particular tattoo design you totally dig for the last 2 years. Every time you venture out beautiful-and not so beautiful-inked skin is peaking out from under clothing. Your cool tattoo concept is beckoning to you silently... "Gee- wouldn't it look great on your forearm."

Perhaps you ran in to a friend - while chatting you see her dazzling new inner ear piercings with tiny glimmering jewels. It looked so darn cute on her! The mental pictures of those piercings are on your mind for days. Wondering if a new body adornment like your friends' may attract attention to your sleek, graceful neck.

Lets go down the list of good reasons to go ahead and dip your toes into the modification of your body / your temple.

1.Enjoyment of the art form itself                                                                                                      Seems like every one of us out there in the big bad world has their own story of when they first became fascinated with tattoos or body piercing. Sometime in our childhood we caught sight of an adult rocking something cool on their skin. We become entranced, then more aware of all the folks walking around the world with these cool alterations. As we grow into teenagers the thought of having are own body mods becomes as reality. If you were one of us, kids who never stopped being attracted tho ink and metal - you get the green light to go right ahead and get some work. Safe to say you have an appreciation that hasn't waned. You won't regret getting work - as long as its GOOD work. which leads us to....

"Mom" Heart Tattoo Stencil

2.You have done your research on shops and artists / piercers                                                 

This is a HUGE, time consuming step. Yet it is the most important one you can make. First, ask friends, coworkers and peoples who have work you admire where and who does their tattoos and piercings. Then, look up those shops online. Does the shop have an over all positive online reputation? Is there an artist on staff with a portfolio of work you respect for its craftsmanship and artistry? Very good, now head on down to that shop and meet the artist. Is he into your idea, or acting moody or bored? If things go well, step up and get started. If you are not feeling the energy of the artist or the shop they work in time to go back to the computer for more research.

3.Supporting a Loved One, Cause you Care About / Altruism                                                Don't misunderstand me, you can get tattoos and piercings for no reason at all. Gods know I have a hundred of those myself. "Just because" is a good enough reason when you like ink and metal. Nevertheless coming together as a group or family to mark a life event of importance with a permanent design on you body is very fulfilling in an indescribable way. The emotional bonding can be empowering for all involved. Almost like a little high develops between all those marked for the event - no matter joyous or saddening. Pink ribbons have been a tattoo Lucky 7 has done dozens of times. Ribbons with a newborns birthday and footprints are a lovely way to symbolize your family's' growth. What great mark can you share with your tribe for a big life event?

Mother/Daughter Nostril Piercings
by Kathleen Langley-Fortier and Kindra Acker
Lucky 7 Tattoo-North Lake Tahoe

4.Covering an old scar or a tattoo you never liked 

Somewhere on our layer of dermis lies a nick, cut or surgical scar. Some folks are never bothered by these marks along life's rough road.  Others can not stand the idea of some part of their body they dislike glaring at them daily, like a toothache. Is it not wonderful that we can bury these tears in our skin with the beauty of tattooing or jewelry? Good to know you can usually tattoo over a scar after only 9 months of healing the area. With old tattoos we no longer care for, they can be re imagined into something fresh you will like much better. Or perhaps they can be completely covered with a completely different design? Please see my other blog entry on cover ups for concise information on what can be done in your case.

Cover Up Tattoo
By Russell Fortier
Lucky 7 Tattoo-North Lake Tahoe

5.Modification to Help You Embrace an Area of your body You don't Like                               

 I love when clients make a choice to ink up an area of their bodies they dislike. So empowering! I for one have a few areas of my genetic construction I have never cared for. Rather than opt for a surgeons knife I have embraced those zones with colorful,  traditional pin ups. Makes me happy every time I see those big buxom ladies of past fashions emblazoned on my hide. What a great way to reset your brain to like an area of you body that use to drive you a bit nutty.

Traditional Cowboy Pin up
 By Russell Fortier
Lucky 7 Tattoo-North Lake Tahoe

6.Sex and Sexuality Can be Better with Piercings and Tattoos                                                            Perhaps you  have glimpsed some photo erotica that displays partners with genital piercings? Or some very phallic tattoo on a mans genitals. Well, in many cases these erotic piercings and tattoos can be a turn on for the person wearing them or their lucky partner encountering the artwork. A great deal of the excitement of coupling comes from the minds eye, rather than just the physicality of the moments together. A great many of the  public would be shocked to know who among them might have something a little "extra" in their undergarments! A few of the extreme piercings can be painful. Yet most are no more painful than a nose piercing.

7.In This Day and Age, We CAN get tattooed and pierced Without Judgement  
In 1985, when I had just turned 18 I craved a tattoo like a 5 year old craves candy! Off to San Francisco I went with a friend. On Broadway, I walked into a totally 80's biker shop - somewhat scared and wary of the staff. My treatment by these folks was less than polite- with the finished work lacking the cool look I had asked for. Once I got home my mother came unhinged with anger! How dare I "desecrate the temple God gave me! Only guys in the military and easy girls get tattoos." Blah de f@#$%*n Blah.
Well that was not too fun for my first time. Lots of negatives stacking up against me just for getting a small tattoo.
Thank the GODS once again this is no longer the case. As Mickey Knox said in Natural Born Killers: "Life is about choices...."                                                 It is delightful that we have so many good choices to select from . No more do we have to choose only from bikers and foul tempered wanna be rock stars. Great tattooers and piercers reside and work near you. Or may be located in an area you love to visit. The bottom line is, you do not have to settle!

Thanks for reading kids. Remember, your loyal Lucky 7 Tahoe staff is available to help and guide you through your tattoo or piercing process. Find us everywhere online, call or email at once.