Been thinking about getting my first one and I was wondering about any advice on whether tattoos help or hurt with casting? I don't mean like crazy full body ink, just one or three in relatively easy to cover areas.

Simply put, I already look like I -would- have crazy tattoos or piercings, but I don't. I just have a shaved head, goatee and I started growing in a topknot/sikha for the heck of it. And looking around online I see things like "looking for people/someone with unique looks, tattoos, hair, and piercings" popping up over and over again.

Tatoos put you in a very specific nitch. If, as you say, you are already in that nitch, then it probably wouldn't hurt you, and could help you. There are people that are very tatooed that work a lot... not a lot of lead roles, but they work a lot.

But consider the fact that it would exclude you from playing anything in a movie that takes place in a historical time. But then again, you also mentioned that they would be in areas easily covered... so that might not be a big issue either.

Tattoo fashion has grown recently a lot and if it is inked properly then it looks good but if not done properly then it becomes a frustration for the person only , so its good to think before getting a tattoo. I would suggest you one tattoo studio, i also got my tattoo inked from there only its excellent and you can visit it on tatouage

A good makeup artist can cover a tattoo fairly easily (most use latex or some such material, I believe). Lots of stars have them these days, so I wouldn't worry too much about it so long as you stick to ones that are relatively easy to cover, as you say.