In 2012, Harris Interactive found that 21 percent of American have at least one tattoo, and that number seems to be rising. You can find tattooed adults in just about every corner of the U.S., but that doesn't mean that some areas aren't more heavily inked than others.
Undoubtedly there are some cities with a bigger love for tattoos, and by using Yellow Pages, Google listings and analyzing the number of tattoo parlors compared to a city's population, Total Beauty was able to analyze which areas are the mostly heavily inked in the country.
Here are some of the tattoo hot spots in the U.S.
Los Angeles, California
Netscape reported that as much as 26 percent of adults in the city of angels have at least one tattoo. Between the movie stars, musicians and other celebrities, tattoos run rampant in Tinsel Town.
"Tattoos run rampant in Tinsel Town."
Because LA is such a massive city, the proportional number of tattoo parlors is relatively low, according to Total Beauty. Despite this, some neighborhoods, like Venice Beach for example, are full of tattoo shops and inked residents, and LA's relaxed and diverse culture caters to a very pro-tattoo scene.
Honolulu, Hawaii
One area of the country that may be overlooked by ink aficionados is Hawaii. PBS reported that tattoos have been a staple of Polynesian culture for hundreds of years, meaning that Hawaiians have been getting ink for generations.
Whether traditional or not, it seems Honolulu is one the country's premier tattoo communities, but there are many tattoo removal options for anyone returning home from vacation with some impulsive body art.
Flint, Michigan
The birthplace of General Motors, Flint may be a little rougher around the edges than other tattoo hotspots in the U.S. Regardless, Flint ranks among Total Beauty's top tattoo destinations.
One reason body art may be so popular is because of the die hard sports culture in the area. Michigan State's campus is just 50 miles away from downtown Flint, and showing support with a tattoo is very popular. Even the football team's co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner is in on the Sparty ink trend.
According to MLive, following the Spartan's victorious trip to the 2014 Rose Bowl, Warner got a celebratory tattoo on his ankle.
Richmond, Virginia
Another college town, Richmond has a very competitive ink culture. Excluding the suburbs and surrounding areas, the city has one of the highest per capita tattoo parlor rates in the country.
In Colonial Heights alone, which has under 17,000 residents, there are five separate shops.
Portland, Oregon
Harris Interactive reported that the west coast has the most tattoo-friendly communities, and Portland is no exception. In recent years Portland has become a Mecca for young people seeking an alternative or non-traditional lifestyle, and that has lead to a big population of young adults with tattoos.
"Getting ink is big in the Pacific North-west."
Self-expression and the arts are big in communities like Portland, so it comes as no surprise that getting ink is big in the Pacific North-west. Total Beauty reported that Portland as a whole has one of the highest number of tattoo parlors per capita.
Austin, Texas
While many parts of Texas are more socially conservative than the rest of the country, Austin is more similar to communities like Portland or Brooklyn when it comes to embracing the non-traditional. For that reason, Austin is one of the Lone Star state's premier tattoo communities.
Austin is home to many music and art festivals, according to Total Beauty, which may help to attract young people with body art. In fact, the New York Times reported that Austin is considered the "Live Music Capital of the World", and the music industry is very important to the city's economy.
Las Vegas, Nevada
The city of sin is known for its bright lights, indulgent attractions and impulsive "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" ethos. Not surprisingly, Vegas has a thriving tattoo culture as well.
That isn't to say the only people getting body art in Vegas are tourists looking to make memories. Plenty of parlors exist off the strip that serve the folks who call Las Vegas home and Total Beauty reported that a big portion of the tattooed population in Vegas are actually older adults, not reckless Millennials.
Las Vegas is second in the number of tattoo parlors per capita with 16 shops per 100,000 people, according to Total Beauty. Compare that to America's most tattoo-friendly city, which has on average 24 shops per 100,000 people.
Miami, Florida
Total Beauty found that folks living in Miami have the most options for getting body art, and by a wide margin. In addition to being the host of TLC's television program called "Miami Ink", the city is considered one of the country's most body-conscious.
Miami is a notorious party town, but like Vegas, there are plenty of tattoo parlors serving areas outside of the tourist havens like South Beach. Miami is also home to several stars with celebrity tattoos like Shakira and Enrique Iglesias.
