 But tattoos have become popular in recent years, and the people who get them are as diverse as the styles and designs they choose.
Johor Baru has about a dozen tattoo studios that cater to tattoo work, body piercing and body art.
One of them is Soul Rebel Studio in Taman Nusa Bestari, Skudai, run by its resident artist and co-owner Alan Cheng, who specialises in black tattoos and also Oriental designs.
Cheng, who is known by his friends and associates as Goku, runs the studio with his sister Shirley Cheng, who is also the manager.
The 30-year-old, who has been involved in the tattoo and body art trade for the past seven years, said the studio has been in existence for about two years now.
"Business was not easy in the first year, but it picked up with recommendations from friends and customers," he said.
He added that the art of tattooing one's body is more acceptable to Malaysian society now.
He said people now look upon it as a form of expressing themselves and their creativity.
"It is a type of art which is also personal, as the symbols mean something dear to the one having the tattoo.
Cheng, who is also a self-taught artist, sports Oriental design tattoos on his arms. He takes pride in his work, which involves skilfully replicating designs on the skin of his customers.
"Of course, the designs will depend on what the customer wants. Usually, they will commission me to do the artwork, and I will then advice the customer based on their skin type and condition on the type of tattoo design best for them," he said.
The studio has many albums and samples of tattoo-based artwork for viewing. Some designs can take several hours, while more elaborate ones, such as the Japanese-inspired designs, can take as long as several months to finish.
Prices can be reasonable, but they depend on the designs. Typically, a simple tattoo can cost from RM150.
Cheng said having a tattoo is not something to be done on impulse or when in a drunken stupor.
"As a professional, it is my job to explain to them about the implications associated with the tattoo, as it will be a permanent feature once the machine penetrates their skin," he said, adding that he also makes sure that the customer does not suffer from any health ailments such as diabetes,
as their wounds will take a long time to heal.
Cheng said another requirement to run a successful tattoo studio is a high-level of cleanliness to avoid the risk of disease since any puncture wound has the potential for infection.
"Much of my application process focuses on safety.
"Tattoo artists use sterilisation, disposable materials and hand sanitation to protect themselves and their clients," he said.
A visit to Cheng's studio showed that most tattoo materials, including inks, ink cups, gloves and needles, were for one-time use only.
Cheng said many single-use items arrive in sterile packaging, which the artist opens when he is about to begin work on his customers.
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