Jarrod McClung, a senior majoring in social science, estimated that a fourth of their body is covered in tattoos. They eventually want that to be three-fourths. McClung has spent roughly $5,000 on tattoos so far. To McClung, the tattoos symbolize control over their body and mind.

“I guess the reason I get tattoos is it just feels weird to look down at my body and see bare skin,” said McClung. “It just doesn’t feel like myself. So when I get tattoos, I start to feel more like myself, happier.”

One of McClung’s most striking tattoos is a small, three-letter word on the front of their neck that reads, “fat.” McClung grew up overweight and hearing this word repeatedly took a toll on them. Whenever they overheard it in conversation, they thought they were talking about them. Getting it tattooed on their body was their way of taking back the word.

McClung says the only problem with their many tattoos was doing it as a business major. They said they received some flack in the business school for the lack of professionalism.

One thing McClung regrets was getting a tattoo impulsively. On average, they plan out their tattoos about a year in advance. However, McClung got a tattoo of Pac-Man on their hand with only a day’s consideration, and wished that they had thought it through a bit more beforehand.

“I look at my hands a lot, so I guess I would’ve wanted something better there,” McClung said.

Rachel Elliot, a senior family and human services major, has four tattoos on her back, three which act as memorials to people in her life who’ve passed away. She considers them her guardian angels.

“It’s just my way of saying they always have my back, they’re always with me,” Elliot said.

Elliot and McClung had similar advice to offer those who are new to the tattoo game: Get to know your artist. Knowing and trusting your tattoo artist means getting exactly what you want and then some.

McClung’s favorite tattoo shop is The Parlour downtown. McClung has also gone to High Priestess in the past, but said its tattoo artists tend to change more frequently, making it harder to get to know them and their individual skills.

Elliot and McClung also advise taking some time to consider what you really want your tattoo to be. Do your research. Think about the future implications of your tattoo. Think of how it will look when you’re old. Think about how it will look on your wedding day.

Prior to getting a tattoo, you’ll want to look at the artists’ portfolios to see what their style is. For example, McClung goes to different artists depending on what kind of tattoo they want. They go to a certain artist for 2-dimensional animated types of tattoos, another for more realistic looking ones and another for text. The artists usually encourage (if not require) you to make a consultation appointment first to discuss plans for your tattoo. After that, you’ll have to make another appointment or two to get the actual tattoo. So plan accordingly.

“Think about it quite a bit before you get a tattoo,” said Elliot. “Yes, you can get a tattoo removed, but it’s a more painful experience than getting a tattoo itself.”

Although piercings aren’t as permanent, you’ll still want to do thorough research before getting one done. The method of piercing and the instructions the piercer gives you to promote proper healing are all vital to quick healing, preventing infection and migration of the piercing. Don’t risk any of these things for a cheap piercing. It’s always a good idea to ask around before choosing a place. McClung, who has several body piercings, highly recommends High Priestess because it is sanitary and does everything by the book.

In Eugene, there are several spots to get tattoos and piercings, each offering different selections of artists and atmosphere. Prices vary from artist to artist when it comes to tattoos, usually depending on their experience. Typically, you can expect to pay somewhere around $80-$100 an hour. According to High Priestess employee Tania Reed, they charge a $60 deposit during your consultation appointment, which is also its minimum charge for a tattoo. (Spots that may heal differently, such as hands and feet, may be a minimum of $80.) As for piercings, the prices can be different depending on the type of piercing and the location, but they usually hover around $40 per piercing.

Here’s a list of piercing and tattoo parlors to check out in the area:

High Priestess
525 E 13th Ave.
541-343-3311

Black Lotus
1011 W 6th Ave.
541-434-8282

Eugene Tattoo and Body Piercing
539 E 11th Ave.
541-485-7109

Parlour Tattoo
1097 Willamette St.
541-345-6465

Tattoo by Design
671 Lincoln St.
541-485-5520