Kinesiology graduate student Michael Maspero has four tattoos, but plans on getting more. Pretty soon he hopes to get a tattoo commemorating the day he walked the stage to receive his undergraduate degree here at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
“Each tattoo means a lot to me, but the one with the most meaning would be my family’s brand,” he said. “My grandfather used to have a lot of cattle so you would have to have a brand on your cattle to identify the owner.”
In Texas, 18 is the legal age to get a tattoo. There are some exceptions for minors who want tattoos, but a cover-up of an old tattoo is allowed with parental consent.
Many students have tattoos that are easily viewable and proudly displayed. Tattoos are no longer limited to bikers and rebels, but to anyone who wants to have a permanent mark on their body symbolizing something uniquely special.
Women now get more tattoos than men, said Xavier Gonzalez, manager of Addiction Tattoo and Body Piercings, 1825 SW Military.
The shop serves people ages 18 to mid-30s. Fifty-five percent of their clients are women.
“Trends change every year,” Gonzalez said. “A couple of years ago, owls were a huge trend, now watercolor tattoos and portraits are in.”
Whether carefully planned or done a whim, tattoos are personal to each individual.
Maspero’s family brand is brandished on his ankle. It represents his family’s history and serves as a tribute to them as well.
And the pain level wasn’t Maspero’s main concern. A possible career in the health industry prompted his curiosity to learn more about the health risks.
“You always have to pay attention to cleanliness,” Maspero said. “Other than that, I wasn’t really worried about health concerns.”
The pain level was moderate in his opinion, but not uncomfortable. In fact, he described getting a tattoo as a kind of therapeutic, relaxing pain.
It has been said that getting a tattoo is addicting to many because of this feeling of relaxed and subtle pain. For many, the pain is worth it as beautiful pieces of art emerge on the body.
A tattoo can have several cultural meanings but can also tell one’s story. Now, more than ever people are getting “inked” and rapidly the taboo surrounding tattoos is diminishing.
Communications senior Destiny Castaneda decided to get a colorful tattoo of the Hindu deity, Ganesha. With the head of an elephant and four human arms, it is one of the most widely recognized deities in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal.
“I was very interested in different religions, so when I learned the Ganesha is a symbol of protection, wisdom and good luck, I fell in love with it right away,” Castaneda said.
Her piece is tattooed on her upper thigh, about seven inches in diameter. It is full of bold colors just as it is depicted in its homeland. To her, it’s art and only one of several symbols on her person.
“My arm has a breast cancer ribbon for my mom. She had breast cancer twice,” Castaneda said. “She’s better now.”
The tattoo serves as a tribute to her mother, along with another symbol on her wrist. Her strong bond with her mother inspired her to get these tattoos.
Kristina Pineault, senior psychology major, decided to get a tattoo on a whim and turned out to be wildly happy with her colorful results.
“I wasn’t really interested in tattoos until I was 20,” Pineault said. “Me and a couple of friends decided to get a tattoo one year.”
Her tattoo took about three hours to complete, but the pain level was not as high as she thought. The rose, rosebuds and vines are shaded with reds and purples.
Although many tattoos have an exact meaning for some people, to others it isn’t necessarily symbolic but a direct image of something they like. She wanted that tattoo for no symbolic reason just because plain and simple — she loves flowers.
Her physical recovery was smooth but the aftermath of showing her inked arm to her family brought her parents a startling but later accepting reaction.
“I got home after I got it done and I tried to hide it with my hair. That didn’t work,” Pineault said. “They hoped it wasn’t real.”
Although getting a tattoo is permanent, that isn’t necessarily to say they can’t be modified.It is also a trend to get a small tattoo and add on to it.
Aggie Holguin, senior generalist grades EC-6, had this idea of getting a smaller tattoo with intentions of adding more symbolic pieces to complete it.
She began with an anchor because she was so influenced by marine life when working at Seaworld for years.
“I want to add a Kraken (the legendary sea creature) holding on to it,” she said. “It is on my hip so it’s hidden because tattoos in the teaching position is frowned upon.”
Holguin also has a dog paw and a heart on her ankle to commemorate her first dog that she had for 15 years, Lucky.
For those who interested in getting tattoos but are fearful, Gonzalez encourages them to take the plunge.
“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It’s not as bad as you think,” Gonzalez said.
