It’s an undercover movement – literally: Tattoos have become a fad among many young Iranian women who proudly display them in private but must keep them under wraps from authorities. “This is the tattoo generation,” said Milad, a 24-year-old artist who does body art as a sideline in his Tehran studio. He gave only his first name, fearing police might crack down. “It’s the new sign of being hip.” It’s a select, largely female clientele, mostly teens and 20-somethings in Tehran’s most affluent and style-savvy districts. But these have been the birthplaces for nearly every limit-testing trend since the strict dress codes of the Islamic Revolution began to erode in the late 1990s. It began with nose jobs then moved on to makeovers, body-hugging jackets, funky sneakers and head scarves that leave more hair exposed than covered. As the Islamic coverings shrink, the next fashion frontier appears to be what’s underneath, and it’s catching on with men, too. But officials don’t yet seem ready for tattoos, and even block access to tattoo Web sites. The tattoo wave is so new – and with such high chic appeal – that few people have paused to think much about the consequences of being marked for life, said Milad. The only real plan for the future is that some girls pick intimate spots that only a spouse would see – such as places normally covered by undergarments.