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SignatureMT | 93 of those prompting men and women choosing to opt for cosmetic taooing. "I was 59, my eyebrows had just disappeared and my eyeliner would seem to melt off. I had no lip color." Burtch sought the skills of Shelley Turk, a cosmetic taoo technician and owner of "Beyond Beauty" in Great Falls. "It used to take like 45 minutes to get makeup on," she says, noting, "It takes me 10 to 15 minutes now. I think it has improved my looks, and my friends and husband are quite impressed." Burtch echoes comments made by a number of individuals who describe themselves as, "taoo addicts." "It is relaxing and a great experience," she says. "Shelley has great music on, she is very per - sonable, friendly and very honest about what would look good." Great Falls resident, Dale Perchert, 57, figures he has, "about twenty taoos," and says he's, "been accused of being an addict." "It's artwork. It's self-ex - pression," says Perchert of his body art. "A good artist tries to prepare you, tell you to try not to move. It sort of lulls you into calm. Spending time with the artist, for hours, is like therapy." In addition to ambience, other similarities connect cosmet - ic taooing with traditional body art work, including difficulties with corrections and removals. "All taooing requires health precautions to promote good healing," says Jake Carr, tat- too artist at "e Last Best Place Taoo Shop," in Great Falls. "Sterility is the main thing," he says, noting that all city taoo artists and shops must adhere to the licensing require- ments and inspections posed by the state and local health departments. Carr counts himself among other local taoo artists who view cosmetic taooing with something akin to reverence. "With the whole cosmetic thing, looking at a person, you wouldn't know if it was done or not." He cites his grandmother, a Florida resident, who has given him a bit of grief about his work as a taoo artist. "She still thinks this work is for convicts or murderers," he quips, adding that she's had no reluctance in geing eyebrow and eyeliner taoos done. e increasing popularity of cosmetic taooing seems to be taking the "taboo" out of geing a taoo. "It's more popular today," says Tina Brataan, owner of "Mystic Rhythms' Taoo Shop" for the past 18 years. "Years ago, it was because you were a bit of a rebel. Now we taoo lawyers, nurses and even sleeved-out a Greek Orthodox minister years ago." "Every artist has their specialty," says Brataan, "and they have to make you feel that they're as excited about your choice of design as you are. Most consider their best Tattoo artists, like Jake Carr, of "The Last Best Place Tattoo Shop" in Great Falls, pride themselves on careful, technical work and the visibility of their artistry on the human body. Poised here, with his inkjecta titan, creating a floral design on a client's calf, he says he does not currently do cosmetic tattooing, which he holds in high regard: "With the whole cosmetic thing, looking at a person, you wouldn't know if it was done or not!" Great Falls' Best Kept Secret in Great Lodging! LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN GREAT FALLS 526 2nd Ave. N. 406.453.2411 • midtowngf.com RECENTLY REMODELED Ask about our special rates for: Military, AARP, corporate, medical and more

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