norms and conforming

i find social norms interesting. in countires like china and japan the social norm is to conform. but in the U.S. the norm is to express individuality. we are always looking for ways to define ourselves or set ourselves apart from the part usually. But we have down almost everyway of expressing our individuality and to diverge from the norm. So are we expressing our individuality or are we in a sense of conforming? I feel that it is all up to you
if you are say getting your back pierced so you fit in with your friends more than you are conforming but if say you get a tattoo of a severed demon head because it reflects an internal value or belief than you are being more individualistic. But what if you get it because it looks cool?
that in a sense could be a form of conforming because you are getting it to impress others.

so what do you guys think? do you express your indivualism or do you conform?