As summer hits Malta with full force and more of the body is revealed, it is becoming increasingly obvious that more women are tattooing themselves.

In fact, local tattooists say, as many women as men are having tattoos done.

Body art studios are flourishing as more people subject themselves to the needle for what has become a fashion statement, albeit a temporarily painful one.

In the past, tattooing was synonymous with sailors, bikers and "tough guys", though it was not confined to them - wartime British prime minister Winston Churchill is said to have had one.

Now women of all ages are shrugging off social taboos and heading to the tattoo parlour in surprising numbers.

The art of tattooing has been around for at least 5,000 years, but it only recently turned mainstream.

Girls seem to be very influenced by the Angelina Jolies and Spice Girls of this world who sport a tattoo or two, tattooists agree. Even a Barbie doll recently had a tattoo.

With 33 years in the business, Tony Psaila, owner of the "Together Forever" salon, in St Julian's, said he has never seen so many women asking to be tattooed. He now tattoos between three to four women a day, something which was unheard of in the past.

Age, it seems, is not a factor. A woman in her late sixties was having a tattoo done just days ago, Mr Psaila said.

So on which part of their bodies do women have these tattoos?

"Practically anywhere," was tattooist Bobby Wood's response.

However, Mr Wood, who runs the Tattoo Studio, in Bugibba, said that the most popular body parts tattooed by women were the lower back, followed by the ankle.

Customers, he said, seemed to think twice before emblazoning a lover's name across their body, probably because of the realisation that it could last longer than the romance. Women play safe nowadays and instead print their children's names, Mr Wood smiled.

His son, Isaac, who runs his own parlour in Paola, believes supermodels were the main spur for women to tattoo their bodies. "Women are easily inspired by others, friends, celebrities, you name it," he said.

The temporary Henna tattoos have also become a fashion statement, as evidenced by the ever increasing number of tattooists on the main streets of Valletta and Paceville.

The choice of print varies from the ever-popular love hearts to cats' paws, to tribal images.

According to Amy Krakow, author of The Total Tattoo Book, women are giving subconscious messages through their tattoos. She said a small tattoo on a woman's shoulder means she is funny and overtly sexy.

Pia Zammit, a cat lover from Zebbug, did not need to think hard to choose the image. She emblazoned a cat's paw on her lower back. "It's my 'signature' after all," she said.

"For me a tattoo is simply a permanent decoration but, no, I was not inspired by any supermodel to have it done," she said.

Why the lower back?

"I believe it's a discreet area and that's the only part of the body which won't sag with age," she laughed, though she would equally consider having one on the ankle or the shoulder.

Lara Attard, 24, of Qawra, decided to choose a butterfly tattoo on the shoulder blade because it signified freedom. "I had it when I was 18 and I chose it because butterflies signify freedom, they just go with the wind."

Ms Attard said tattooing had caught on to the extent that all her friends have one or two.

"Nowadays people are being recognised by their tattoos the same way they are identified by, for example, their bright blue eyes," Miss Attard said.