Anyone who tells you that receiving a tattoo like the dragon design occupying a quarter of Rooney Mara's back in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo will not hurt is a liar. Nevertheless, he's a competitively priced liar, according to a new survey of tattoo artists asked the simple question: "How much would it cost to buy a dragon tattoo?"
Mike Ryan shopped around this week on the streets of New York, finding estimates ranging from $500 to $1,200 and three different replies to the other critical question in the process: "Will it hurt?" Ha! Of course it will hurt:
I spoke to artist Daniel Cotte, whose estimate came in quite a bit higher than those of his competitors. "You see," Cotte said as he pointed at the picture of Rooney Mara's back, "there's a tail on the dragon that snakes around and out of view." That detail, he explained, makes the dragon tattoo much more expensive -- and much more painful. He put the price of the dragon tattoo somewhere between $800 and $1,200, and he definitely recommended coming in for two separate sessions -- adding up to four hours in all.
Now you know. Find slightly more optimistic estimates at the link below. NOTE: "I AM A RAPIST PIG" tattoos remain free of charge.
ยท How Much Does Lisbeth Salander's Dragon Tattoo Actually Cost? [Moviefone]