BLOOMINGTON - Tattooing has been around since ancient times, but it is just now becoming popular to Bloomington High School students looking for ways to express their individuality.
    Today, as many as 20 million Americans are tattooed.
    What is a tattoo? A tattoo is a design on the skin that is permanent. Tattoos are made with needles. These needles are attached to needle bars that can puncture the skin at 50 to 3,000 times a minute. Professionals know how deep to pierce the skin to create a permanent line.
    Going too deep will cause pain to the person getting the tattoo, and not going deep enough will result in scratchy lines. The length of time it takes for the tattoo to be finished depends on the tattoo. Bleeding, pain, and some discomfort are expected after getting a tattoo. 
    Before getting a tattoo you should remember that it is forever. You should know exactly what you want before you get one. Many tattoos serve as an eternal beauty mark, as a sign of devotion, dedication, or a memorial to a loved one.
    Bloomington Junior Gabriel Cantu got his tattoo one year ago and doesn’t regret it one bit. On one arm he has a rosary and on the other arm is a tribal cross.
    “I thought it was cool,” Cantu said. “I like tribal crosses.”   
    Studies have shown that most students that have tattoos are religious designs, mostly crosses. Bloomington tattoo getters are no different than the norm.
    Bloomington sophomore Ricky Sheehan has a fine line of barbed wire tattooed around his arm, and junior Harvey Longoria has praying hands along with the Bible verse, Psalm 23:4, on his leg.
    Bloomington junior Eric Licerio also has praying hands with the word “PRIDE” underneath.
    All of the students agree, if you plan on getting a tattoo be sure to look for the right things like a clean tattoo shop and a licensed professional running the tattoo guns.
    Also be on the lookout for a state license and an accreditation from The Alliance of Professional Tattooing, antibacterial soap, needle baskets, proper disposal containers and disposable gloves. The risk of having a tattoo may cause infection and cancer.
    Don’t just think, “Yeah, I’m getting a tattoo, it’s awesome!” Think of the side effects, too. It’s easier to get the tattoo than it is getting it removed.
    Now you know a lot of the facts about tattoos and why students get them. The question is, “Do you still want one?”