This is the Short FAQ on tattooing and piercing. It was written to answer some of the more common questions without having to dig through the [large and detailed] tattooing and piercing FAQs.

maintainer: [email protected] (Dave Williams)
version: 1994.02.12
1998.07.05 additional text marked with '|'

Q1:   Is tattooing legal?
A1:   In most cases, yes.  If you're in a place where tattooing is
      unlawful you will probably have difficulty getting a tattoo.

Q2:   How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?
A2:   In most cases a minor must have parental permission.  Otherwise 
      it is up to the discretion of the tattooist.

Q3:   Will I be discriminated against if I have tattoos?
A3:   In general, no.  The US military considers extensive forearm
      tattooing "unprofessional."  Facial tattoos may make it difficult
      to obtain a job and could be a major liability if you should 
      ever become involved with the law.

Q4:   Does it hurt to get tattooed?  What does it feel like?
A4:   Yes.  It feels like someone sticking you with a buzzing needle.
     
Q5:   Can tattoos be removed?
A5:   Yes, but.  Lasers can remove some color, but usually not all.  
      Grafting is more radical.  In most cases you will be left with
      shadows or scarring.  Both processes are also rather expensive
      and typically not covered by medical insurance.

   |  When the needle pushes the ink into your skin it leaves tiny
   |  scars.  Though lasers can fade the pigments, sometimes to the
   |  point of invisibility, the scarring remains.  Most tattoos will
   |  welt up from time to time; even if the pigment is faded by the
   |  laser, the tattoo is still there, and you'll still see the
   |  reaction.  The tattoo is *forever*.

Q6:   Can tattoos be covered?
Q6:   Yes.  There are makeups available for covering scars and 
      birthmarks.  They work well with tattoos.

Q7:   How do I take care of my new tattoo?
A7:   Your tattooist should give you detailed instructions.

Q8:   Will my new tattoo fade?
A8:   Tattoos may lose some definition over years.  It appears to vary
      among individuals.  Sunlight will cause the ink to fade.  Use a
      good sunblock to preserve your ink.  Old tattoos can be touched up
      if needed.

Q9:   My tattooist messed up, and it looks horrible!  What do I do?
A9:   Assault or lawsuit may ease your mind, but you're stuck with the
      tattoo.  The best you can do is find a better tattooist who can
      figure a way to work the bad tattoo into a larger, nicer one, or
      cover it up with a new tattoo.

Q10:  I'm not sure I want a tattoo.  How about a little one to start?
A10:  Bad idea.  If you're not sure you want a tattoo, or not sure 
      where you want it, try temporary tattoos or even a pattern with a
      felt tip marker for a while.

Q11:  How much do tattoos cost?
A11:  Common designs ("flash") run from $25 to $250, depending on size 
      and complexity.  Prices may vary according to where you want the
      tattoo, with the arms and back usually the cheapest.  Custom work 
      goes either by the hour or a predetermined price.  Sometimes you 
      can dicker on the price. 

Q12:  I'm not sure what kind of tattoo I want.
A12:  Then don't get one.  Whatever you get, it's for life.
 
Q13:  I can't afford the tattoo I want.
A13:  Then wait.

Q14:  What about those glow-in-the-dark black light tattoos?
A14:  When I asked three experienced (and heavily tattooed) local
      tattooists about that, the universal reply was "not on *my*
      bod."  Make of it what you will.  Though commonly described as
      invisible in normal light, they are usually visible if you look.

Q15:  I'm black/Hispanic/Oriental/just plain have dark skin.  Can I
      still get a good tattoo?
A15:  The lighter your skin, the easier it is to tattoo and the better
      it will probably look.  As skin gets darker, the tattooist has to
      use more ink and push it deeper for the color to stand out.  Most
      tattooists can handle things down to moderately dark skin, but
      if you are extremely dark you might want to look for someone with
      experience working on your skin color.  If your skin is very dark
      you will probably have some fade and blurring after several 
      years.

Q16:  Sometimes my tattoo welts up or gets ridges.
A16:  That happens to everyone from time to time.  Nothing to worry 
      about.

Q17:  Can nipples be tattooed?
A17:  Yes, though it's not common in the US.

Q18:  Can fingers be tattooed?
A18:  Yes, but.  The skin on the palms and inner fingers wears and is
      replaced.  In time any ink on the inside of your hand will 
      vanish.  Ink on the backs of your hands will usually stay.

Q19:  Can feet be tattooed?
A19:  Yes, except the feet are similar to the hands and subject to the 
      same problems.  In addition, the feet are one of the most painful
      sites for tattoos.

Q20:  Can scars be tattooed?
A20:  Yes, though many tattooists won't do it unless it's a repair of
      a previous tattoo.  Scar tissue doesn't take ink very well.
      However, if you have surgery or are scarred, your tattoos can be
      partially or completely restored, though they might not look as
      nice as they did before.

Q21:  My new tattoo is all welted up.  Will it stay that way?
A21:  Some welting is common on new tattoes.  It usually goes away.

Q22:  Will the tattooed skin still feel normal?  Will it be scarred?
A22:  The skin will feel normal, sweat, grow hair (if it did before)
      and all the usual stuff.  If your tattooist was very heavy with
      the needles you might get some subsurface scarring, typically
      resulting in small ridges or welts.  These retain normal feeling.