tattoo

Abby Ingwersen, a guest artist at Nice Try Tattoo, works on a client using the stick and poke method. Mengwen Cao for NPR hide caption

Tattoo artist Noemi Barajas applies a stencil onto the arm of her client, Brittany Mena, at her studio in Orange, Calif. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption

Lots of manufacturers offer a rainbow of ink colors. People can even go online and order a bottle. The Food and Drug Administration has not regulated the pigments in tattoo inks so far, but agency officials will investigate and recall tattoo inks if they hear of a specific safety concern, like bacterial contamination that could lead to infections. Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Randy MacArthur, a longtime Ninja Turtles fan, is getting a Donatello tattoo. Jill Kaufman/New England Public Radio hide caption

Shane MacLeod is covered head-to-toe in tattoos. He says he's tired of being pre-judged. Judith Kogan/NPR hide caption

Christopher Mensah, owner and tattoo artist at the Pinz-N-Needlez tattoo shop in Washington, D.C., creates the outline for Oshun Afrique's 35th tattoo. Raquel Zaldivar/NPR hide caption