TATTOO artists have put the needle into a new survey that says body art has become a "turn-off" to the opposite sex.

Instead, Cairns operators say business is booming and it is women who are the bulk of their clients.

"Women are embracing tattoos with a vengeance," veteran Cairns tattooist Moe Webley said.

"It has lost a little bit of that social stigma."

The recent survey of 1000 people by UMR Research showed that more than half of Australians think that tattoos on members of the opposite sex make them less attractive while only 7 per cent think they make them more attractive.

Cairns City Tattoo owner Duane Cash said the survey didn’t stack up.

And if a visit to his premises is any guide, it is hard to refute.

In the the middle of a working day there were at least a dozen people either getting a tattoo or waiting for one when The Cairns Post arrived.

"It has never been busier," Mr Cash, a third generation tattooist, said.

"There is an upsurge worldwide. Cable television shows such as Miami Ink and Berlin Ink and Tattoo Wars are increasing the popularity of body art."

Mr Cash said female clients now made up 60 to 65 per cent of his clients.

"Generally the women go for smaller tattoos, but they definitely outnumber the guys," he said.

Moe Webley of Expert Tattooing on Sheridan St said if anything, tattoos were a turn-on that had bridged the generation gap and become more socially acceptable.

"We have been getting all ages, from young adults to women in their 60s," he said.

Mr Cash said if tattoos were a turn-off it was usually because they were not done by experienced artists.

"Shops are opening everywhere but like any industry there is good and bad," he said.

Mr Cash said making a decision to go under the needle still needed to be taken seriously despite tattoos no longer needing to be permanent with laser technology allowing almost complete removal of unwanted art.

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