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.

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