Fallon tattoo shops thrive on demand for creative pigmentation

Though long an expression of rugged sailors and burly bikers, Lahontan Valley tattoo artists say residents can't get enough colorful body art.

Tattoo needles can't buzz fast enough to keep up with demand, said Rhonda Guerra, a co-owner of the Skin Sin tattoo shop at 65B S. Maine St. in Fallon.

"To be honest, we really have a variable type of clientele," she said. "We have anything from kids to those in their 50s and 60s. We do get a lot of business from the base. Right now, it's all word of mouth."

Most customers bring in artwork or have an idea they want sketched out, she said. Skin Sin artists maintain a portfolio of all their work, which includes before and after shots of tattoos. A basic tattoo is $50, while complex, full-back spreads can easily exceed $1,000, Guerra said.

Standard green ink is far from the only option. Ink quality has improved tremendously over the years and is available in nearly every imaginable color, she said.

Reputable tattoo artists should take every measure to ensure cleanliness and safety, she said. Shops should take every measure to avoid cross-contamination, which is the interaction between body fluids and other objects. Many of the needles and equipment used in modern tattoo shops are comparable to surgical or dental items, she said.

The shop will offer body piercing next week and permanent cosmetics by early June, Guerra said.

Tattoos are especially popular with those who just turn 18 years old, said Brian Smith, also a co-owner of Skin Sin. A few teens under 18 show up to get inked, but parental permission is required.

The presence of alcohol or drugs and a dingy atmosphere is a telltale sign of a shabby operation, he said.

"The main thing is to make sure it's exactly what you want," Smith said. "You'll have it for the rest of your life."

Tattoo customers are growing more diverse and numerous, said Brian Taylor, owner of B's Sting at 35 N. West St. in Fernley. Customers include elderly women, who get the butterfly or ladybug they've always wanted, he said.

He described the pain of getting a tattoo as a cat scratch, bee sting or paper cut.

"You hit both sides of the spectrum," Taylor said. "Some people get off on it, and some people barely get through it."

Cleanliness is vital for new clientele.

One customer asked to use the bathroom while pondering a tattoo, Taylor said. After they emerged, they said they would get a tattoo because the bathrooms were clean.

Fallon resident Cody Deegan owned The Tattoo Shop from 1999 to 2003. Though he no longer owns a shop, Deegan said he stays busy by freelancing designs and working for friends and old clients.

Tribal tattoos, which feature spiky, curved designs in black ink, remain very popular, he said. The lower back is the preferred ink canvas for women because it accentuates the female figure, while men prefer biceps.

The stereotype of tattoo customers as roughnecks is long gone, Deegan said.

"Sailors and bikers still get them, but tattoos have been very popular with women now," he said. " I have tattooed doctors, nurses, bankers, business owners, students, dancers, artists, construction workers, telephone company employees, store clerks ... people from all walks of life."

Potential tattoo recipients need to research artists for reputation and skill, he said.

"If a guy is known for sloppy work and the majority of his customers complain of infections, don't go to him," Deegan said. "I don't care how cheap he is, tattoos are permanent and not easy to fix. People really need to stop viewing tattooing as a fad or a fun thing to do and put some serious thought into what they are doing. Spend a lot of time deciding what you would like - something that you will enjoy forever."

Josh Johnson can be contacted at jjohnson@lahontanvalleynews.com