If customers at Borders Books and Cafe in downtown Louisville, Ky., happen to notice the dragon tattoo on bookseller Nicki Wright's left shoulder, or the lion illustration on her left forearm, the responses are always positive.

"I've worked here for the past year and never had any problems with anybody," said Wright, 24, a recent University of Louisville graduate. "Most people are just curious. They look at them, ask where I got them. Everybody who sees the lion asks if I'm a Leo."

That's good news for twentysomethings entering the workplace wearing everything from tongue studs to South Pacific tribal tattoos.

About one-quarter of college students have as many as three tattoos, and more than half sport a body piercing other than in the earlobe, according to a recent Mayo Clinic study.

"It's not something that hinders your performance; it expresses individuality, and we accept it," said Chris Moore, a manager at Louisville's Old Town Liquors who has elaborate multicolor illustrations on his arms, legs and chest.

At Borders where Wright works, expressive body art and unusual hair color on workers are considered definite pluses.

"We look for it. It makes things more interesting and more fun," said Tim Fages, operations manager at the store. "Our first cafe lady had pink hair one day and green hair the next — and everybody loved it. I think that makes for a good atmosphere, especially since we're downtown."

For employers who value ability over appearance, body decorations are not a problem.

Personnel decisions aren't influenced by visible tattoos or piercings, say 25 percent of those surveyed in a recent study by the Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

But nearly half of employers in a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey said nontraditional appearance would sway their hiring decisions.

And employees' freedom to be expressive often depends on the nature of their job.

Mark Giuffre, spokesman for UPS Air Cargo, said it's strictly business attire in the front office, but in the hub where packages are handled, "Basically, anything goes, as long as it's not obscene, doesn't offend or present a safety hazard. You'll see mohawks, different hair color, multiple piercings, tattoos."

Some workers police themselves, covering their body art during work hours.

Natalie Jenkins has a septum (nose) ring, a labret (lip) stud, a tribal emblem tattooed on the back of her neck and reproductions of Shel Silverstein sketches on her legs.

But when the 23-year-old hospital registrations clerk is at work, signing in patients for lab work or checkups, she wears pants, lets her hair down to cover her neck and removes her facial jewelry.

"I expect to be judged professionally and understand the discrimination among some people about tattoos and piercings," Jenkins said. "The job is what pays the bills. My piercings don't control my life."