Tattooing is slowly gaining respectability, but Josh Mixer, artist at Enchanted Dragon II, wants to be sure potential tattoo recipients know what they're getting into.

Mixer said although many tattoo artists work on commission, those with high standards will only tattoo people above the knees and above the elbows unless they already have several tattoos.

"That's where being a decent (artist) comes in and working for a decent chain," he said. "I would much rather not tattoo someone because they're not sure than tattoo them because they are going to regret it."

Some career paths are more suitable than others when it comes to permanent body art.

Shelley-Dawn McDonald has five tattoos and four piercings. She is a graduate teaching assistant in the department of French and has found that her body art has helped her on some levels.

"I think that they actually helped me in a way, because when students see that I'm one of them, there's less of a barrier between us," McDonald said. "Faculty and staff sometimes mistake me for a student if I'm not wearing 'teacher clothes.' When people meet me for the first time and don't see my tattoos, they take me more seriously."

Advances in technology of dyes and machinery have increased the reliability and respectability of tattoos, Mixer said. Old dyes based on carbon would turn green over time, but new ink formulas and ingredients help to keep the color true over the years.

Many factors can affect the tattoo's appearance and longevity, such as sunburn, scratches or scars through it and natural stretching of the tattooed skin over time, Mixer added.

For added protection, Enchanted Dragon guarantees their tattoos for life. If colors ever fade or the tattoo becomes distorted, the seven-store chain will fix it for free.

But for the regretfully tattooed, several options exist.

"A lot of the work we do is cover-up," Mixer said. "No matter how many times you tell them, people want to get names tattooed. We've had people get name tattoos covered up, and the next weekend, they want another one."

People with controversial tattoos such as gang symbols can get them removed courtesy of volunteer programs located in many major cities. For example, the "X-Tattoo Gang Tattoo Removal Program" operates in Phoenix under the supervision of Dr. James M. Nachbar, FACS.

Many dermatologists offer laser removal, which focuses a laser beam on the unwanted tattoo, breaking up the ink. The body's immune system then carries the ink away. This can be a long, painful process and may not be covered by insurance. Call a hospital for referrals of board-certified dermatologists.

Mixer has hundreds of humorous tattoo anecdotes.

"We tattoo a lot of lawyers and doctors," he noted. "A gentleman at the Speedway store has even tattooed a nun!"

The strangest tattoo Mixer has done?

"I tattooed the state of Texas on an Oriental guy. I said, 'Are you from Texas?' He said 'No.' I left it at that," he said. Another artist he knows tattooed hair on a male client's head.

And what does it feel like to get a tat? Mixer likened it to the overspray from a welding torch or a severe sunburn.

Words of wisdom from a tattoo artist can prove invaluable.

Beware shoddy work in general, which you can predict based on the shop's appearance, Mixer said.

"Look for a clean store. Is the carpet vacuumed? Are they friendly? Ask to see their portfolios. Do they practice universal sterile techniques? Is the bathroom clean?" Mixer advised.

Arizona Daily Wildcat/DEREKH FROUDE AND DAVID HARDEN Whether going for a simple tattoo or a painful piercing, the options available for personal body adornment are endless.