NEWS: Marisa DiMattia's Erotic Ink

CULTURE: Marisa DiMattia's Erotic Ink

From ancient tribal cultures to San Francisco's leather boy scene, tattoos have been inextricably linked with sex for many. Yet, while the art form continues to reach heights of popularity, sex gets left out of tattoo talk, largely in lieu of pop culture ... like, say, Kat Von D's colon cleanse.



So, it's time to kick it old school, Salt-n-Pepa style, and talk about sex in its relation to tattoo art and the act of tattooing.



And this ain't just one conversation.



Sex and tattoos evoke an orgy of issues, and untangling the multiple limbs is surely fun but can get complicated because they range from how tattoos play a part in sexual attractiveness (whether it be the wearer's self-perception or how tattoos factor in choosing a lover) to the intimate relationship between tattoo artist and client (and the development of sexual attraction in the tattoo chair) to even people achieving orgasm during tattooing.



Yes, there are people who climax while getting needled. Not many -- otherwise there would be way more full body suits walking around -- but it does happen.



The cumming client stories, however, get passed around like myths and legends around tattoo shops and online. Nobody at our own

Calypso Tattoo studio was ever doused with sperm during a session, and though the dirty messages I've gotten at Needled.com would make even a Suicide Girl blush, none had ever provided me with empirical evidence of such pain and pleasure proclivities.



Thus, last November, my Tattoos & Sex Survey was born. Ten online questions designed for stats, anecdotes, and even the option of names and emails for confirmation and follow-up.



The result:

• 561 responses from the heavily tattooed to the dude with the one tribal arm band, the majority claiming to be "visibly tattooed."



• Gay, straight, bi, transgendered, and confused.



• From ages 18 to 54 to "old enough."



• Homeboys from Brooklyn, Slovenians and Swedes, Maori in New Zealand, US soldiers in Afghanistan, Singapore sexperts, and British and Belgian bombshells all answered, among others worldwide.



• And oddly enough, the male to female ratio was almost exactly 50/50 for those who stated their gender.

But the stats are the least sexy part of it all. The personal stories behind numbers will get you hot, or just bothered, depending on your taste.



Still, I can't give it all away at once. What kinda girl do you think I am?



SuicideGirls is letting me prolong the action in this four-part Erotic Ink column, starting today with the survey results and a nibble at some of the sexy stories, then going deeper every Wednesday this month for the three big issues:

• (1) sexual motivations behind getting tattooed,
• (2) attraction to other tattoo collectors and tattoo artists,
• (3) arousal and orgasm while getting tattooed.

You'll read the survey stories, commentary from sex experts, and maybe even think about your own experience and any subconscious motivations behind that Koi fish on your shoulder. Time to whip out your Freud, my friends.



Enough foreplay. Check the results.







Most people said that they got tattooed for no one but themselves, but feeling confident and beautiful in their tattoos, have definitely helped them attract lovers. Still, there were a kinky few who got tattooed purely for sex like the 37-year-old siren, Sarah:



"I chose the spot on the back of my neck/upper back because I knew it was an area my husband looked at (and nibbled) frequently. The eroticism of the tattoo can become overwhelming to him sometimes, and all it is is simple flowers and vine. But it's placement was in a very sexy place for him. It helps that I really love it as well."









Here the results are close on tattoos leading to more action, but a number did say that tattoos have even hurt their chances with more conservative types. Not for this 29-year-old Australian hottie Rachel, though, who explains:



"I certainly feel more attractive with my tattoos, only in the sense that they are a part of me becoming more 'myself' and more comfortable and accepting of who I am and what I feel/think. I've also found it interesting (peculiar?) to note that since I have become tattooed, all my sexual partners have also had tattoos. I was in a long-term relationship that had ended shortly before I got tattooed, and my ex-partner and boyfriends before that didn't have any. I've since clocked up experiences with You-Give-Tribal-a-Bad-Name Bartender, I-Can't-Believe-You-Tattooed-An-X-Man-On-Your-Back' Bassplayer, Hey-That-Ankh-Is-Actually-Symmetrical Goth and most disturbingly, You're-So-Gonna-Regret-That-When-You're-Thirty Lad (he was 21 and his homemade tattoo said 'Kill Me'). Bloody hell, there's a moral there somewhere."







The majority clearly feels more attractive with tattoos here, but sometimes, it's just about being badass says 29-year-old Justin:



"Tougher, not more sexual. I mean, it's painful. That's about all the bragging rights I have."







"A bad tattoo is a serious deal breaker" was common language for this question, although many clarified that it really was racist and sexist subject matter rather than shoddy linework and shading that keeps another outta their bed.



Tazmanian Devil flash work, however, is effective birth control.







The ultimate tattoo snob question, many answered honestly that bad tattoos play a role like bad fashion. Madeleine, a 35-year-old from Puerto Rico said it best:



"Unattractive tattoos have the same effect as unattractive style in clothing. It plays a part on how we do the 'blink' analysis of the person in question (the one or two seconds in which we decided Yes or No)."







More than one person called me an idiot for asking this question, but considering almost 30% of respondents clicked tattoo artist hotness as a factor, I ain't that stupid for askin. But I agree that it isn't a good idea to base your next sleeve on how sexy the person wielding the needle is, as 27-year-old Richard of England shares:



"I'm embarrassed to admit this, but when I was once given the choice of two tattoo artists who could tattoo me, I chose the attractive apprentice female over the experienced male. The woman who tattooed me was a very talented artist but she was an inexperienced tattooist and I paid the price: she tattooed too deep on me and I'm currently looking into my cover-up/repair options. I won't make that mistake again. It's one thing to get on a bus and choose to sit next to the hot girl rather than the fat guy, but a tattoo is for life."







The answers started changing once people got into the tattooist's chair and spent time with their artist. Kailei, a 23-year-old from Hawaii says:



"Getting tattooed does create an interesting kind of intimacy with your artist. I think it has more to do with the fact that you tend to spend hours and hours on end with the same person in a state of relative undress while they touch and reposition you. I quickly become comfortable with my artists, but often just spending that much time with someone who's into art and tattooing is enough to kindle an attraction."







A good number feel a tingle beyond the tattooed spot, but the majority remain unaroused. Not as many BDSM respondents as expected. It basically came down to this, as over-40 Susan from Texas puts it:



"Too busy concentrating on not moving."









Ummmm ... some of these are too hot. I'm gonna make ya wait.



Especially for the special extra anecdotes that question 10 asked for.



Want more? Check back here next Wednesday. Meanwhile, leave me dirty messages below on what your experience with tattoos and sex is like.



--

Marisa DiMattia is co-founder and editor of the multimedia tattoo site and blog Needled.com. She thinks Belgian tattoo artists are sexy.

I recently got married to a woman who has only the first letter of her name on her back because it hurt too much to finish the rest of it. When we met she put up with my tattoos (I have 6 currently) and was not thrilled that I wanted more, much less that I had plans for them and knew who some of the artists were that I wanted to do them. Anyway, it has been only 6 months since we got married and we were together for about 2 years before then. In that time she has completely changed her story. It has gone from me begging for the money to get my tats, to her asking when I will get a new one. She has actually told me that the thought of seeing a fresh tattoo on my skin gets her wet now and she has been checking out pictures of naked tattooed men online. She loves them now and can't get enough. I would love to say that it is my prowess as a lover that turned her to the tattoo side but in reality I have no idea what it is. I know that I'm not the first tattooed lover she ever had, not even close, but whatever caused it I'm happy to get more tats and get more ass for it.

Brad

Bravo and well done bringing about this fabulously enticing, enthralling and engaging survey. As a tattoo artist myself I am a firm believer in the undeniable link between tattoos, tattooing and being tattooed with sensuality and straight out lust. The level of intimacy in the act of tattooing, for both the artist and the client, is at times quite profound. While tattooing I have experienced everything from being a confidant (as with bartenders, hairdressers, etc.) to having clients become flirty and even downright suggestive whilst under the needle. From my own perspective tattoos maketh the woman, girls with ink are hot and my wife finds the right ink on a fine masculine form the icing on the cake. I think the connection between pleasure and pain is no more apparent than in the act of tattooing, for both parties, and as opposed to other forms of achieving this delectable mix of sensations, you are left with an artistic momento of the experience - and invariably it leaves you wanting more. Tattooing and sex are mutually beneficial, tattos are sexy, being tattooed feels sexy and tattooing people is definately a sensually satifying experience when the client is just as into it as you are. Buddhsy, Hunter Valley, Australia.

*gigglesnort*

I've been lucky, but I think that awful or cliche tattoos are kind of a right off passage. I'd be curious to know how many people actually researched their artist before getting their first tattoo, or at least their shittiest one. I still love my Tigger tattoo because it has a specific meaning to me and I was lucky enough to have a friend who was heavily tattooed take me to a reputable shop for it since it was my first one.

hehe. No joke on the Taz comment!! I remember offhand at least six anecdotes -- from all over the world -- that mention it as a deal breaker.

My husband has some really bad tattoos, but you can see the evolution on his arm from shoulder down starting with eighties Cherry Creek flash found in Belgium to custom tattoo art from the masters he traveled to as he learned to tattoo. He's also in his forties. I think with all the info on tattooing there is today, there's less tolerance for really shitty work on young people.

My Tigger tattoo is 15 years old. I got it when tribal armbands were still cool.

I cannot imagine an orgasm while getting tattooed...I have never felt anything like that while getting inked, although I have definately developed crushes on my artists. I love tattoos, and artists are always covered, plus watching their hands and arms...I have a hand fetish (the gloves just make it exotic) ...plus a tattoo fetish...so go figure... But I HAVE NEVER picked an artist based on their looks, I base it on their folio, their personal work and their interaction with me...I cannot stand a dickhead artist.

I enjoyed reading this article very much and look forward to the following installments.

I agree with the bad work on younger people bit, the industry has moved forward and become so accepted...there is no excuse for a shoddy job...the design however rests purely on the person wearing it...and for anybody who would say "I didn't know it was a bad/lame design"...you shouldn't get a tattoo....cuz ya probably picked it off the wall.

Yeah, as a forty odd year old I have a particularly trashy bunch of old "tuffy stickers" on one arm that I got back when it was a right of passage for those who walked on the wild side. My wife jokes about it being a constant reminder of my misspent youth (which I am proud to say seems to be continuing into my 40s). The irony is that these days as a tattoo artist I spend a lot of time trying to convince young clients that having a tattoo of a sixpack of your favourite beer in the middle of your chest or humorous drunk or lewd crtoon characters might be regretted later in life and WILL NOT be attractive to potential partners or playfriends. It also raises the issue of people who got something stupid years ago will invariably blab the tattoo artist's or studio name, thus giving your business and reputation a bad rap, even though it was the clients choice in the first place - the motto is "THINK BEFORE YOU INK".

i am so happy to finally read something about the connection between tattooing and sex. for me they are the same thing and i always feld like some kind of alone with that. tattoos or better getting tattooed is definitely my fetish!

that is why i did not went on to get tattooed, because i want it to be integrated in heavy bdsm sessions. i would love to get a bodysuit like that, including the possibility to make a commercial video collection out of the process.

if there is anybody out there with similar ideas let me know... please!!!

I wish I would have seen this poll before you wrote the article... I would have talked a few friends into filling it out too... Ah well.

Can't wait to see the next installments! :_

I love this topic!!!

Bad tattoos will definately turn me off, in the initial " just deciding" period of meeting a partner but even us heavily tattooed types have a few first hidden gems , so I can overlook a bad decision in ones youth for the long run....

I DO feel hotter the more I get, I am not sure why, but I am sure it is this self confidence boost that attracts people not the ink itself. Confidence is sexy, plus the people that seem to be attracted to me for just being tattooed are the banker types that want a "bad girl" soo not my type anyway..

Can't wait for more.....

One aspect of tattooing that really gives me a wicked buzz is inking myself. It started when I was first learning my craft and would practice on my own body, now I try out new gear, inks etc., on myself, It's a huge rush and it gets me horny. I also do all my own piercings, I highly rate the sensual feelings you get doing it to yourself and reccommend it totally to those adventurous types out there.

After starting a new ribcage piece on Thursday...I totally understand this