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Kacy Kizer Barometer Photo Editor Laura Lenkder, 19, a sophomore in business, gets a tattoo touchd up by Joey at Sacred Art Tattoo Tuesday evening. Many students frequent tattoo parlors in the fall, according to local tattoo artists. [Click to enlarge]

Just like scars, every tattoo has a story behind it. There is no better story for some than the mark left by life at OSU.

Local marks are often made at Holey Cow and Sacred Art Tattoo, since the large clientele is made up of college students. For many, it's their first tattoo, according to local tattoo artists.

Guys usually get tattooed on their upper shoulder, or back. They typically get tribal art or a cross.

Girls opt for smaller tattoos of butterflies and flowers on their lower back or bikini line, local tattoo artists said. Many come back for more.

Michelle Jolié Beriner, a junior in nursing, got her first tattoo two months ago at age 20.

It is a rose on her hip with her middle name above the stem. Jolié means "pretty" in French.

"I thought about it for about two or three years," Beriner said. "It is very easy to hide, you can't see it when I am wearing a bathing suit. I got it for me."

The busiest time of year for local tattoo parlors is the fall because of the new student population. Spring is busy as well since it's warm. People tend to wear less clothing and start showing off their art work.

Friday and Saturday are the busiest days of the week. Business picks up around noon on weekends.

During the week, the busiest time of day is late afternoon when class gets out.

The cost of a tattoo can vary. The starting price at Holey Cow is $40 and $55 at Sacred Art. The cost averages out to about $100 an hour. Cost also varies by the time, placement on the body, and complication of the tattoo.

According to Kevin Hamlin of Holey Cow, the neck, head, under the arm and stomachs take more time to do.

Tattoos take about 10 to 14 days to heal. The healing time can also vary by location of tattoo, and the person's health.

According to Hamlin, a new tattoo feels like a bad sunburn. Then it will dry out and skin flakes off. The new layer of skin looks shiny and feels waxy.

"Sun is the worst enemy of a tattoo" said Seth Agar, a tattoo artist at Sacred Art Tattoo. Tanning beds also tend to make tattoos fade quickly.

If the skin is stretched, tattoos may distort slightly. A tattoo can always be touched up or fixed.

Tattooing in Oregon is strongly regulated and overseen by the Health Licensing Office, said Hamlin.

A potential artist must perform 50 tattoos and 360 hour apprenticeship under a licensed instructor. A licensed instructor is a person who has been in the profession for four years.

Then a potential artist "must go through three hours of timed exams, and you must have a certain percentage to pass," Hamlin said.

California and Washington are not regulated like Oregon.

"It may not be regulated, but (tattoo artists) still have morals and are working to make it better. Many artists are knowledgeable to the point to be safe and sanitary," he said.

According to Hamlin and Agar, laser is the only method of tattoo removal.

"Before laser removal, people, mostly military, would use alcohol and a brillo pad," Agar said. Laser removal is expensive and significantly more painful than having a tattoo done.

Holey Cow will not tattoo any racial or prejudice art on anybody. Holey Cow and Sacred Art have no tolerance for intoxicated people.

"There are a handful of great tattoo artists in town," Hamlin said. "Tattoos are personal enough to mean the most to you, but nothing to someone else."

Tattoos are a big commitment, and should be well thought out. As for Hamlin, he's "all about it."

Shannon Salyer covers city news for The Daily Barometer. She can be reached at baro.city@studentmedia.orst.edu or 737-2231.

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