Friends and I recently stopped in at a local restaurant and chatted with the 20-something bartender. In shorts and a T-shirt, it appeared that his tattoos had spread farther afield than the last time I had seen him. He said he was scheduled for the final touches to his "sleeve" this week, a tattoo that covers the arm from shoulder to wrist. I half jokingly asked if he planned to do his neck next as there was little skin left to cover.

He firmly replied, "Until I own my own business I have to be able to wear a dress shirt with no tattoos showing."

Tattoos in an etiquette column you ask? First impressions, employee dress codes and overall self-presentation link etiquette and tattoos together. Etiquette is not about placing judgment but rather adapting to and accommodating the needs of the environs you place yourself in.

Writing this story required more ink than would fit on a sleeve especially when considering discrimination, the First Amendment and the unwritten right to bare arms — tats and all.

In recent American history, tattoos were often reserved for sailors and bikers, but Generation X, Y and Z are getting inked three times more than baby boomers — 36 percent of those born between 1975 and 1986 have tattoos.

Basketball players, musicians and celebrities are showing off their tattoos like fashion accessories. Even Barbie jumped on the trend when Mattel released a doll with 40 removable tattoos. But would "Business Barbie" go to the office sporting an orange butterfly on her ankle? And would the office allow it?

Among the multiple colors of tattoo ink lies a gray area of what is and is not appropriate in the workplace. HR directors carefully define nondiscriminatory codes for dress and grooming. The majority dictate that tattoos should not be visible. But are corporate appearance codes keeping up with the times? In my research, the answer favors those with a blank canvas.

A research and development worker at a globally recognized snowboarding company says, "I see lots of ink but none all over the face. And if there are neck tats, they are usually concealed by hair. When you run ink up your neck, clearly you're closing many doors with that kind of commitment."

A Manhattan-based corporate head hunter offers that "tats are a big no-no in the corporate world. It will ding you from a job in a heartbeat. Any visible tat should always be covered and never, ever, uncovered, even when out socializing with colleagues. It is still taboo in the work world."

A banquet manager at a Sedona-based four-star resort says: "If you want to get hired anywhere, work in any atmosphere, keep the tats within the area of a short sleeve shirt and pants.

On the flip side, a 20-something legislative aide shares, "We youth are now the most tattooed generation in history. It should be an interesting transformation of the appearance of the working world."

I often wonder what design I would choose for myself. A fish fork? A tea cup? Indecisiveness along with lifestyle changes, breakups and maturity often lead to regret and removal. For the hundreds you'll spend getting inked, you'll spend thousands getting lasered. Tattoo removal is costly, lengthy and painful.

Think before you ink. Would a tattoo affect your chances for future employment or promotion? Some people have thoroughly answered those questions and have made the decision to display an original design or mark the birth of a child with a tattoo. Displaying a tattoo does not hold relevance to the work one performs. The bartender I spoke with said he wants the option to be professional looking, but that isn't to say that one who has tattoos is not professional.

Employers are looking for candidates to project the image of their brand. Distracting body modification can lead potential employers to make snap judgments of a deserving candidate. Until tattoos are as normal as wearing a Blue Tooth, err on the conservative side and cover it up in your interview and at the office. Having said that, practice your epidermis etiquette and don't judge a book by its cover.

Bizia Greene is founder of the Etiquette School of Santa Fe. Contact her at www.etiquettesantafe.com">www.etiquettesantafe.com or 988-2070.