In 2008 fashion goes way beyond great clothes, shoes or bags. Even further than make-up, hair and nails and we aren’t just talking about the ladies. Being trendy these days seems to come from expression of self in body art. Tattoos are the self expressions that speak for you. Whether you are pro or against, it’s hard to miss the thriving pop culture trend of "tats".

Tattoos are nothing new, they have been around almost as long as Homo erectus. Stick it to your parents with this, Otzi better known as the Iceman was found with 57 carbon tattoos on his skeletor. Gross but true and the Iceman dates back to the fourth millennium BC.  Mummies have been found with tattoos that date all the way back to the second millenium BC. The art of tattooing has come a long way since then and is ever present throughout contemporary culture. Reality shows like TLC’s Miami Ink glorify the art and what baby boomer doesn’t remember Janis Joplin’s little heart tattoo on her left breast?  Times are changing and whatever the reason for a tattoo, albeit spiritual, memorial, friendship adorable, drunk and horrible or nasty deplorable it doesn’t matter. Tattoos are the "in" thing and no worries because thanks to modern laser technology even tattoos are permanent these days.
In 2006 a survey published by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that 24% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 had at least one tattoo. Everyone’s doing it, literally everyone and some of the Earth’s hottest celebrities (Megan Fox) have been getting inked for years now. Life is liberal, tattoos are trendy, and self expression is all the rage. Good news is that if the trend turns or you have a really bad break-up, at least you won’t have to live with your ink forever.