WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Tattoo Parlor to Open in Port Royal

Tattoo Parlor to Open in Port Royal

For the first time ever, people in South Carolina can get tattoos legally in the state. Right now, Myrtle Beach has the only licensed parlor in the state. But with the new law, we found more people, including one businesswoman in Port Royal, are applying for their licenses.

"I got it a year ago at California Tattoos in Savannah, Georgia," said Keith Kersey, of Lady's Island, referring to his tattoo.

And crossing the state border is something many people here in the Low Country have had to do if they wanted a tattoo. That's because up until now, temporary tattoos were the only legal kind you could get in South Carolina.

Lawmakers actually lifted the tattoo ban in 2004, and now the first legal tattoo parlor is up and running. That gives hope to Clarissa Wills. "I'm ecstatic," she said. "I'm so happy."

Wills used to own and operate Gothic Piercing in Port Royal, but had to close it because her husband got military orders. "We were the first and only one here," Wills said. "We brought a new era to Beaufort County."

Now she's trying to start another new business by opening up a tattoo parlor on the Savannah Highway in Port Royal. She's got the experience, and the land to build. Plus the town's already given her the green light to proceed with the state application for her license.

But while she's working to complete the application and get the financing, she says her advertisements have gotten a lot of attention. "We get a good 40 to 50 calls a day asking us when we're going to get our tattoo parlor up," Wills said.

And she's hoping all those people traveling across the border will soon have to look no farther than Port Royal for their body art.

Oklahoma is now the only state where you can't legally get a tattoo.

Reported by: Jaime Dailey, jdailey@wtoc.com