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ARTIST OF THE MONTH

2007-08-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

JIME LITWALK
A WALK INSIDE THE MIND OF A MASTER

I first met Jime Litwalk on the tattoo convention circuit in Florida about four years ago. I was impressed with his animated style and his overall attitude towards his art. I had been to his shop, Electric Superstition, in Detroit, Mich. Then while on a trip to Las Vegas, Nev. I got to hang out at his new spot at Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company, and I sat down with him to do this interview.

Where are you from?

Southwest Detroit.

How old were you when you got into the tattoo business and why?

I first started hanging out at shops in my teens. At the time, I was drawing and airbrushing. The guys at the shop asked me to draw tattoos for their customers and charged them extra because they were "custom." I just thought it was funny to see my art on other people. That was when I first started thinking about actually tattooing. I officially started working when I was 21, after a year and a half apprenticeship.

What was the first shop you worked in?

Color Master, and I apprenticed under the owner, Chuck Groulx. He was the one who suggested that I start tattooing.

How did you and Chuck Groulx meet?

At first, Chuck and I didn’t get along. I went over to Chuck's one night because my friend Jason wanted to get a tattoo from him. We all ended up partying while Jason was being tattooed. A couple of bottles later, I woke up with my name tattooed on my arm, misspelled. After that, Chuck and I were friends.

When did your tattooing start to head in its current direction?

I didn't really hear about custom tattooing until about two years in. Chuck and I went over to Eternal one day for Chuck to get an Octopus by Scotty S. Scott. Scott took Chuck’s arm and drew a circle on his elbow and some squiggly lines down his arm.After Chuck agreed to it, they got to work.Two hours later and I’m looking at a really cool ocotpus. At that moment, my eyes were open to greater possibilities to what could be done in tattooing.

Who were some of the artists that have inspired you?

Some of the first artists that inspired me were Bernie Luther, Mario Barth, Eddie Deutsch, and Little Vinnie. I really like Jeff Zuck's earlier work, Gunnar, Frank Lee's earlier stuff, Sparky from Calif., Randy Muller, Joe Capobianco, Eric Merrill, Dave Fox, and my hero, Josh Ford.

How is it working at Hart and Huntington?

It's really not that much different from any other shop I’ve worked at. On television you see the drama and the story lines for the public, but when there are no cameras, the situations are pretty much the same as any other tattoo shop. My attitude has also changed concerning shop owners who don’t do any tattooing themselves. I used to have the opinion that if you didn’t tattoo, you didn’t need to own a shop. Now, I see that the owner provides a clean shop with the interest of the public and the employees in mind. I know a lot of tattoo artists that don’t deserve to have their own shops. I like it out here and so does my family. I make a good living so that I can take care of them and that’s all that matters to me at this point.

What’s your favorite pastime outside of work?
My work is my life. I have my family at home and my work family, who I only get to see when I travel, but I wouldn’t trade my home life for anything. I owe everything to them.

http://www.jimelitwalk.com/

CRYSTAL RODNEY

2007-08-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Paul Rodney has come a long way since making tattoo machines out of cassette players and guitar strings. He's moved on to a life of custom artwork, published flash, and a stocked trophy shelf. Along this journey he's also made Crystal a part of his life, as much as he is a part of hers. Crystal Rodney is now the poster girl for Blazin Colors Tattoo in Wilmington, N.C. and Rodney's wife. You can find the couple on the convention circuit, one of the venues where Crystal likes to express herself in a way that lets other girls know that "it is sexy as hell to have ink." But Crystal also enjoys the simple things like hanging out at the beach (with some SPF60), collecting seashells, and relaxing with her family and her Pomeranians.

Where are you originally from, and when were you first introduced to tattoos?

I'm originally from New Jersey. I was first introduced to tattoos when I found out my younger sister got one on her back. I thought it looked so pretty and I wanted one immediately, so I dragged my best friend to the tattoo shop with me one night.

When did you meet Paul, and how has your life changed since then?

I met Paul when he did my first tattoo. I find out later that he didn't do it all in one sitting so he could see me again. I think he may just have liked starring at my underwear. Meeting Paul has made it ok for me to be me, and opened me up to my new hobby of obtaining a more erotic look.

How do you decide what you want tattooed on you?

I get tattoos of things that I have always loved in my life that inspire me, things that are beautiful to me. I get things that signify there is still beauty and hope in this crazy cold world. Paul has done all of my tattoos, and is capable of anything he puts his mind to.

What do you like about tattoo conventions?

Tattoo conventions are a lot of fun. You get to see a lot of great art work, and meet lots of interesting people. And the best part is you get to see all sorts of crazy tattoos. It's a place where anything and everything goes. I think sometimes people express themselves through the artwork they wear, or it may just be a moment in time where they said, "Hey, I want that."

What are your plans for your future tattoos?

I just started a new piece on the side of my left thigh, and it's my largest one yet. It's a sea horse with water and flowers. It goes from my hip, down the side of my leg, to my knee. It's amazing, and I can't wait until it is done, because it has been painful as hell.

How did you end up modeling for David Bollt?

I had been dying to do a photo shoot, and a visit with David Bollt is just what the doctor ordered. He is so professional, and made me feel comfortable. It took a few hours, but it could have gone on all night. Almost every position he puts you in is a new pose. It was tiring, but the pictures came out great, and it was well worth it. I can't wait to do it again!

Has that turned into anything yet? Are you excited that you might see yourself as a Bollt painting?

I am completely flattered that such a great artists might be inspired by a picture of me, and make something out of it. It is really exciting just to know that it was a thought, and I am very thankful to David. If you like what you see check out more pictures of me and some great tattoos at Blazincolors.com.

2007-08-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

THE 2ND ANNUAL
ICELANDIC TATTOO AND ROCK FESTIVAL

by Chuck B.
From the August 2007 issue of PRICK Magazine.

Getting to go to the first annual Icelandic Tattoo and Rock Festival last year was an out of the blue, random act of God's grace. Going to the second annual Icelandic Tattoo and Rock Festival was a deeply anticipated, dream come true. The first time I experienced Iceland it was a whirlwind trip that only lasted a few days. Of those days, too many were wasted on flight delays and the actual travel time. This trip I decided to take more time and explore all that is Iceland.

Ossur and his wife Linda along with Dave Greninger once again put on an event that was nothing but first class. Shortly after getting acclimated to the time in Reykjavik, on the Thursday before the fest kicked off, I met up with the American artists that were working the show. Ossur set us up in a very well appointed apartment and left us like excited kids in a candy store to explore a bit before a very busy Friday.

We set off to the waterfront to soak in the majesty of Iceland.The huge mountains and dark blue water is a perfect backdrop to a city that looks and feels more like a resort or perfectly planned community. There are only 300,000 people on the entire island of Iceland and for the most part these islanders are smart, good-looking, and cool. Iceland is one of the most expensive places to live on the planet.Why? Because it’s worth it! Reykjavik has the best aspects of the US and Europe combined, with its pristine and utterly pure environment. The ancient Viking spirit and blood line remains untainted among the people, and they are proud of it. We made our way back into the heart of the city and visited a couple of shops including Svirrir's House of Pain Tattoo, and made plans to explore some of the countryside Friday Morning.

Friday morning (after some "light" partying Thursday night) we drove off with quite possibly the craziest couple in all of Iceland, Svirrir and Dillah.We went across the narrow winding roads of rural Iceland to the continental divide and original House of Parliament meeting place. It was an amazing sight. It was sort of a mini Grand Canyon but more Lord of the Rings looking.After a few minutes of gazing we raced off like criminals on the run back to the city to set up for the show.

The festival kicked off and the artists settled into their booths.Tattoo enthusiasts and the general public began to file in at a good pace.The day grew more intense after a few live radio interviews with the artists hit the airwaves on the local rock station 97X.The buzz in the room grew louder by the moment.The enthusiasm of the tattoo collectors in Iceland is like none I have ever seen before.There seems to be a sort of cultural renaissance taking place in Reykjavik. The whole Icelandic hip scene is very arts driven, so people are getting large pieces and letting the artists be artists. Friday, the tattoo artists produced a ton of killer work, and everyone seemed pleased with the turnout.The fest closed at midnight and it was time to cut loose a little more.The nightlife in Reykjavik is world class and the locals take the party very seriously. Since it doesn't get dark in the summer the good times come to an end in the extremely A.M. hours.

Making it to the fest on time Saturday proved to be a bit more difficult than I expected and the day was even busier than I expected. The machines never stopped running and the appointments never stopped booking up. All the Icelandic artists in attendance were creating masterpiece after masterpiece, and they worked together as if they were in an art guild workshop. There were several Icelandic pride types of tattoos done by the local artists as well as a few from the Americans. Saturday ended with a bunch of aching wrists and backs. The tattooing never stopped, the awesome Icelandic hospitality never subsided and the party kept rolling throughout the entire weekend at Bar 11, the best and only real rock 'n' roll bar of Reykjavik. Sunday the artists were so booked up they had to keep tattooing after the show was over for a few days out of the local tattoo studios.

As if the amazing tattoo festival was not enough to blow my mind, I took a few more days to explore the coastline. My crazy cousins from N.C. came along for the party this year as well, so after a game of midnight golf on the tip of Reykjavik we set out on our cross country journey. The sights and landscapes of Iceland are breathtaking and extreme: beautiful waterfalls hundreds of feet tall, massive white water rivers, and glacier runoffs. Ancient lava fields from the world's largest lava flow ever recorded stretch as far as the eye can see up to massive rock cliffs and peaks. We saw black sand beaches, lava rock beaches, salt pillars and caves straight out of a movie.

The final leg of our road trip took us to the Glacier itself where we watched school bus size, crystal blue icebergs break off and slide into the ocean. On the way back to Reykjavik we stopped by a geyser the likes of Old Faithful and drove through miles of rolling hills and farms filled with sheep and horses. It was truly Zen-like.Then it was back to the uber-sheik city of Reykjavik for one last party. It was a truly amazing adventure. I can’t even put into words how awesome everyone is that was involved in putting this festival together. I can't wait until next year's fest. It is already lining up to be even bigger and better.

YAKUZA TATTOO NEWS

2007-07-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

The Yakuza is the name given to organized criminal gangs from Japan. The Yakuza is not a single organization but rather a collection of separate gangs or clans akin to the American Mafia. These violent criminals have left their fingerprints on many aspects of Japanese life, from lowly gambling and prostitution rackets to the halls of high-level political and financial power.

The various gangs that make up the Yakuza have different origins, and the gangs' versions of these origins can be quite different from the historical record. In their own vision of themselves, Yakuza descend from honorable, Robin-Hood-like characters who defended their villages from roving bandits. Some even claim to trace the Yakuza's lineage to Ronin, samurai warriors who found themselves without masters following a period of political upheaval in 17th century Japan [source: Crime Library].

Others claim that Yakuza instead originated with the kabuki-mono, "the crazy ones." These were wildly-dressed hoodlums who carried very long swords, intimidated entire villages and sometimes executed civilians for no particular reason [source: Kaplan]. The truth is likely a blend of the two stories. Left without a military hierarchy to give their lives focus, many samurai turned to crime. Others moved into merchant trades or shadier businesses such as gambling houses and brothels [source: Seymour]. These criminals, master-less warriors and newcomers to the Japanese market system had one thing in common: they were all outsiders.

The name "Yakuza" reflects this outsider status. It comes from a Japanese card game called Oicho-Kabu. This game is similar to baccarat in that the point value of a hand is based on the final digit of the hand's score. A hand of eight, nine and three equals 20, which is worth zero points - the worst possible hand in the game. The Japanese words for eight, nine and three (ya, ku and za) became the word "Yakuza," meaning worthless or pointless. Check out this page on oicho-kabu to learn more about the game.

The word "Yakuza" originally referred to a person who was a gang member, but today it also refers to Japanese organized crime as a whole. Boryokudan, another word for Yakuza, is considered an insult. It refers to degenerate, violent gangsters with no sense of tradition or honor. This is how the Japanese police refer to the Yakuza.
The Yakuza's most direct ancestors are groups of quasi-legal businessmen from the 18th century who gambled or peddled goods on the streets of large cities. Known as bakuto and tekiya, respectively, these gamblers and peddlers still lend their names to some Yakuza clans today [source: Kaplan]. These groups gradually organized themselves into gangs known as families or clans, which had formal hierarchies and rules.

In the late 19th century, the Yakuza became associated with nationalist, militaristic ideologies and politics. Gangs cultivated alliances with politicians, and politicians used them to assassinate opponents, strong-arm trade groups or even fight in nearby nations like China [source: Kaplan]. The disorder of post-World-War-II Japan may also have given the Yakuza an even stronger foothold in Japanese economics and politics.

Yakuza ActivitiesYakuza are criminal gangs. They participate in many of the same money-making activities as all criminal gangs. Illegal gambling and prostitution are Yakuza hallmarks, while the smuggling of banned goods such as drugs, firearms and pornography is also profitable. The age-old protection racket, in which Yakuza threaten business owners and other citizens with violence unless they pay a tribute, is a common Yakuza tactic as well.

Japanese gangsters also operate legal businesses using the profits from the illegal ones. Real estate, construction and entertainment are all industries in which Yakuza have become involved [sources: Japan Times and Asahi]. Japan's professional wrestling leagues and venues are particularly known for Yakuza involvement.

Higher-level Yakuza often play the Japanese stock market, sometimes legally. They may also find or invent incriminating information about a company and use this information to blackmail its board of directors. After buying shares of the company's stock, a clan sends some of its members to board meetings, where they threaten company officials with the release of the evidence. Yakuza can exert a great deal of control over businesses this way or simply demand payoffs [source: Crime Library].

Many Yakuza extortion and blackmail schemes are carefully designed to maintain the Japanese tradition of politeness. Yakuza may ask corporations to attend golf tournaments, give to fake charities or purchase certain items, all at ridiculously inflated prices. The corporations' leaders know that there is an implied threat with such requests, so they often go along even though the Yakuza never make a direct threat or demand

TELL YOUR FRIENDS THE CAVEMEN ARE COMING

2007-07-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

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2007-07-08T03:03:00.001-07:00

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2007-07-08T03:02:00.001-07:00

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2007-07-06T21:51:00.000-07:00

VISIT DEATH ROW MOTORCYCLES
In a tiny town an hour and a half north of Philadelphia lives one of Pennsylvania's hottest custom motorcycle shops, Death Row Motorcycles. This is a company that's proud to offer American crafted products, and PRICK had a chance the check out these monsters first hand. The Corvette Red "Vendetta" model is a long sleek rigid chopper with right side drive, and a Fat Bastard front end. Also sporting left side pipes and ghostly white flames, this is a bike that can turn every head on the street. The Greed is Good "Lethal Injection" softail model has a bit shorter look and a high bulbous tank. Covered with impressive paint by Mike Lavallee, the tank is decorated with a reaper surrounded by money, and there is also reaper detail in the frame right behind the triple tree. Death Row also has other models and schemes available on their Web site, or you can go check them out in Sugarloaf, Penn. With a company who offers motorcycles "fit to your proportions and taste, built from the ground up", you're guaranteed to get the perfect chopper.SEE THERE WORK HERE

2007-07-06T21:07:00.001-07:00

href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SD06kDHcZ6w/Ro8RsDYc9YI/AAAAAAAAAUE/DK1PZmsb7bA/s1600-h/3.jpg">

TATTOO ARTIST OF THE MONTH
So who is Dan Martin? He has a name that rings a familiar tune to people who know tattoos. He has been a longstanding presence at Scorpion Studios in Houston, Tex. as both artist and owner. He also travels to conventions while maintaining his position at home as a father. Taking all of this into consideration, it is amazing that he has any time at all for interviews or anything else for that matter. I've known Dan for many years now, and it is evident what kind of a dedicated artist he is. So, without further ado, here he is:

Thidemann: So, how long have you been tattooing?

Martin: It'll be thirteen years coming up in July.

Have you been in Houston the whole time or did you move around? Where did you get your start?
I got my start here in Houston, and Scorpion Studios is the third shop that I've been employed by. I've been here nine years, and before I bought the shop I had only been tattooing for four years.

Did you travel around? Did you get an apprenticeship? How did you get into it?Matt, the owner of Scorpion at the time, wasn't the original owner. Richard Stell started Scorpion Studios and his apprentice was Matt Wojciechowski. Matt was going to take me on as an apprentice. At the same time, he also took on another apprentice, and I guess he was just waiting to see who would pan out.The other kid was pretty much a trust fund baby and didn't really have a job or anything. He would spend every waking moment up there and I had to make ends meet by working at Whole Foods. After a while he let me go, because I had a little conflict with one of his artists. I basically went down the street and started another apprenticeship. This guy showed me the basic basics, you know, how to put the needle in the tube kind of thing. It was very, very self-taught.

All the basics, the rudimentary stuff?
Yeah, he was using plastic tubes and stuff like that. All I had for making needles was a piece of pipe with holes drilled into it. When you ran out of threes you would start using fives even if you needed a tight line, you know, stuff like that. Ultimately, that's how I got fired. I sent somebody somewhere else because I didn't have anything to work with.They wanted this little, five-line eagle and all I had was an eight round.There was no way I could do it.

How did you end up back at Scorpion Studios?
Following my second apprenticeship, I worked at Fine Line Tattoo for a year and then Matt looked me up again and said, "Hey, are you still tattooing? I've seen your stuff around and it looks good. Come back and work for me." By that point I had gotten my foot in the door.

And then Matt sold the shop to you after a couple years?
Yeah, it was really unexpected. He just called me out of the blue one day and said, "Wanna buy the shop?" He wasn't coming around; he was missing appointments and had some personal business to tend to.

Did you have any formal art training?Yeah, I came to Houston to go to the Art Institute. I wanted to be an illustrator and they said, "You don't draw well enough. You should go into computers.” So I did graphic design for six years, took a couple community college art classes, and still graduated from the Art Institute with a degree in graphic design.

Who are some of your influences?
In the past, I was really influenced by Marcus Pacheco. I liked the way he worked with figures; he's such an innovator. I've got a half sleeve by him and I'm very proud to look at it. I'm still blown away by his stuff. Because of him I went more towards the new school type stuff. Now, I'm kind of into Japanese a little bit. I’m getting away from multiple light sources and learning how to flatten stuff out. I've always been a big fan of Timothy Hoyer as well.

You're a family man now. How does that relate to being a tattoo artist?
I turned 30, bought a shop, and had a baby all in the same year. Everything was basically okay. My family fuels my desire to be good at what I do. The more I can push myself, the more it is going to affect them positively in the long run. Without them, I don't think I would have been nearly as motivated. I would have been out partying and doing a bunch of that stuff.When you have a family, you tell yourself, "Oh, the kids are in bed. What am I going to do now?" I'm going to draw and try to get better.

What are your plans for the future? Staying in Houston for a while?Yeah. I've got family here, extended as well as immediate. Right now I'm working with the most talented people I've ever worked with and I've got a really good crew; they all inspire me so much. It's like they light a fire under my ass. I see stuff they're doing daily and I think, "Oh man, I better get back to the drawing table." As long as that's going on, I have no desire to go anywhere else. Maybe someday I'd like to have another shop, but that might be too much homework and it would be more like big business and that's not really what I want. I like everything being somewhat small; it affords me the ability to focus on the art, which is what it's really all about for me.

Do you want to throw down some final comments?

I just try to keep my nose to the grindstone. It's my main thing.

Dan Martin
Scorpion Studios
1401 Westheimer
Houston,Texas 77006
(713) 528-7904

For more information go to www.scorpionstudiostattoo.com.

2007-07-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

She may go by the name Kreepy Lourdes Quintana, but there's nothing creepy about this 20-year-old hot mama. Born in Maracay Venezuela, Lourdes is half Venezuelan and half Cuban. At the tender age of six, she was brought to Miami, Fla., the city that she has called her home for the last fourteen years.

Pinup model, painter, and aspiring tattoo artist, Lourdes wants it all. As a child, she was a self-described "glamour girl" and enjoyed playing with old-time fashion accessories. She recalls the first time that she saw a pin-up girl on an old Coca-Cola ad – the hourglass figure instantly had her searching for the curvy women that she could relate to.

Lourdes' influences came from such all time greats as Sophia Loren, the unforgettable Rita Hayworth, Constance Bennett, and Esther Williams. Embracing her body and its natural curves, Lourdes has been encouraged to get in front of the camera. As she began her collection of tattoos, she also developed a unique and distinctive look of beauty and art all rolled up into one. This is what has made the working pin-up model she is today.

Lourdes has been featured in Viva Las Vegas DVDs, Miami Ink, and numerous other Miami fashion shows. She has modeled for Kreepytiki.com, EF-FECT Clothing, Quis Es Tu, Curl up and Dye Pinups and Burlesque, along with many, many more.Art has always been a huge influence on her, too – from her tattoos, to paintings, and even occasionally tattooing others. This is the fuel that inspires her to create art in photographs, art on her body, and art through painting.Today, Lourdes is working hard to earn a tattoo apprenticeship and maybe, if the Tiki gods allow, this dream may materialize.

2007-07-06T20:52:00.002-07:00

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2007-06-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

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2007-06-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

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2007-06-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

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2007-06-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

Find Your Tattoo Design AT WWW.DREAMANDINTERPRETATION.COMIf you are looking for high quality tattoo designs, then look no further.

My blog provides you with a growing database of thousands of ideas. Choose from Arm Band Tattoos, Belly Button Tattoos, Butterfly Tattoos, Cartoon Tattoos, Cat Tattoos, Celtic Tattoos, Chinese Tattoos, Cross Tattoos, Devil Tattoos, Dragon Tattoos, Eagle Tattoos, Fairy Tattoos, Fantasy Tattoos, Fish Tattoos, Flower Tattoos, Zodiac Tattoos, Harley Tattoos, Heart Tattoos, Insect Tattoos, Japanese Symbol Tattoos, Lizard Tattoos, Lower Back Tattoos, Mermaid Tattoos, Angel Tattoos, Abstract Tattoos, Animal Tattoos, Monkey Tattoos, Monster Tattoos, Religious Tattoos, Patriotic Tattoos, Women Tattoos, Rose Tattoos, Skull Tattoos, Snake Tattoos, Sport Tattoos, Star Tattoos, Sun Tattoos, Symbol Tattoos, Tiger Tattoos, Tribal Tattoos, Celebrity Tattoos, Member Photo's and much more.www.dreamandinterpretation.com is the largest tattoo gallery on the internet. Browse through our tattoos from the convenience of your computer, and find that perfect tattoo to print out and take to your favorite tattoo artist.

5 TATTOO TIPS TO LIVE BY

2007-06-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

Ask anyone who has had a tattoo why they did it and they will tell you two things. One, they were making a very personal statement, usually spiritually oriented, and two, after their first tattoo they were hooked.
Tattoo is not just a method of body art; it is a very spiritual custom that dates back hundreds to thousands of years in many cultures. While there are many beautiful and breathtaking designs, most people use these tattoos as a basis or template for their own personal expression.

The majority of the time, if a client does not come in with their own personal design, they will show the artist a particular design and follow up with, "but I want to make a few changes." So, when you are designing your own tattoo, such as with a Superman tattoo pic, there are a few tips to consider. Location, Location, Location!

Think about where you want to put the tattoo. For instance, you wouldn't want to put a large, flying Superman tattoo pic on your ankle. That type of tattoo is too detailed and would be rather large so it would not be appropriate for that area.

A Superman tattoo pic like that would likely be better suited on the upper arm, hip, back or even forearm. When you think about your tattoo and what type of tattoo you want(such as a Superman tattoo pic), consider where you want it to be placed.

Size Matters
Yes, when you are looking to get a tattoo, size does matter. You really can not just choose a random design or a Superman tattoo pic with no forethought because you do need to consider the size of the tatt as well as the location. Sometimes the location will even dictate the size.

A Superman tattoo pic that is, perhaps, the big S symbol that is always shown on the front of his uniform, then you can usually size that up or down according to the location.
What are Your Colors?

Choose colors that are appropriate for the tatt, but also appropriate for you. This is generally a permanent venture, so you want something that you like and will enjoy seeing on your body for the rest of your life. A Superman tattoo pic would be blue, red and yellow.

What colors are your spirit? If you are commemorating an event, what are its colors? If you are honoring someone, what colors do you associate with them? Let your color scheme work with YOU. Or choose a standard tattoo like a Superman tattoo pic and go with it.

Choose a Design that Fits Your SpiritChoose a design or template that fits your personal spirit. The design should speak to you. If you want a Superman tattoo pic, go for it. You may wish to combine several designs to create your own. Add elements, or if you are an artist, draw your own design.

You can find many different designs and select one that suits you. You may want to bring a friend along for input, but don't allow them to influence you too much. After all, you will be the one walking around with the tattoo, or the Superman tattoo pic, not them.

Think Twice about Adding a NameYou may have heard this many times, but it always stands to be said again. When designing your own tattoo, you may want to think twice about putting someone's name on it. There are a few celebrities that we can look to who can attest to this. Many people put people's names on their tatts and wind up covering the name later.

If you want to honor the love of your life by putting their name under your Superman tattoo pic, do yourself a favor and do it some other way. A tattoo is forever unless you get it covered or lasered. Save yourself the trouble.
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SUPERMAN TATTOO DESIGNS PICS

2007-06-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

SUPERMAN TATTOO
Are you having trouble choosing a Superman tattoo? The standard Superman logo graphics with the bold S is pretty cool and who WOULDN'T know what it stands for? Even if you never watched any of the Superman movies or picked up any of the Super Heroes comic books, the Superman logo is almost as recognizable as the American Flag!

Whether you're into sporting around town in a pair of tights and a Superman cape or you wear a designer suit to work there's a Superman tattoo that will be just well, SUPER for you!

Superman tattoo pics are in almost every tattoo gallery on the web, but if you don't find a design that suits you there are other options! There's no reason to copy somebody else's Superman tattoo designs. Here's an idea, go through some of your vintage Superman comic books and check out all the cool pics and artwork! Take a look at the pics of this guy getting a Superman tattoo! The video is a little dark, but you can make out the design.

There are all those great pics of Superman and his pals ready to adapt for the use of your favorite tattoo artist! If you don't like the colors used in the comic book for your design, change the pics up. You will want to leave the original colors of Superman's suit, cape and logo intact, but you can play with the rest of the picture.

Here are some ideas on how to take tattoo pics and change them around so that they will become your own unique Superman designs!
Change the features of Superman to your own or those of your girlfriend or boyfriend!
Tattoo an authentic looking Superman pic with the chick of your choice by his side
If you're a biker have your artist ink a Superman tattoo on YOUR motorcycle! Be sure to take pics of your bike to the tattoo parlor so that the artist can get it right!
Take your Superman tattoo pics and have a similar or coordinating custom paint job done on your Harley!

There are lots of reasons for an adult wanting a tattoo with Superman as the featured character. Superman and his other superhero friends are representatives of good in the fight against evil. They beat the bad guys and put the freaky villains out of business! We need more of those comic strip heroes around! Why not ink a few on the forearm or convince the chick in your life to tattoo a Superman emblem or symbol on her lower back for the two of you to enjoy?

The contents of this article and website are for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from a doctor or professional. You should always make your own choices on the advice of your chosen professional in matters concerning your baby's safety.

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BODY ETCHING

2007-06-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

What is Body Etching?
Body Etching is a brand new, fascinating, unique and exotic form of Body Art.
It is a mark inscribed upon the skin that is all you! Unlike a Tattoo, there is no ink in an Etching. Unlike Body Piercing, there is no jewelry. Unlike a Brand, the mark is precise, distinct and clear; the results are more controllable and predictable. Etching is a safe, modern, esthetic version of the ancient art form of scarification.

A Body Etching is essentially a scar, in many cases ultimately raised and light or “white” in color. An Etching, once thoroughly healed, may somewhat resemble a white tattoo. Unlike a white tattoo, it will not tend to become yellow or gray over time. On some skin, the Etching may be a deeper or darker shade than the un-etched surface.

Part of the fascination of an Etching is that it is undoubtedly your own, very personal artwork. The Etching design you receive will be exclusive and distinctive. The same design etched on another person would not duplicate yours.

Also, an Etching has texture. The amount and type of texture, again, depends on your skin, and also on your treatment of the Etching during healing.

This revolutionary art form lends itself to simple bold, graphic designs, symbols, “tribal” designs, and emblems.
You may bring in your own design idea or source material, view our design books, or have us create a custom Etching for you. You must rely on the skill and experience of our experts to guide you in selecting a suitable work of art (complexity of design, image size, line thickness, etc.) to inscribe on your body.

Etching can stand alone or be used to accentuate and highlight an existing tattoo, brand or body piercing.

The permanence and visibleness of your Etching will depend on several factors. The most provocative variable is your own exclusive epidermis: your skin. Each person's skin texture and healing pattern is truly individual. The way you may have scarred in the past can be some indication of the final coloration of your Etching. Results will vary, and that is part of the mystery and beauty of this intriguing art form.

For maximum permanence and the most discernible, visible Etching we suggest several sessions and advise you to “Rouse” and “Husk” your Etching during healing (read on for details). If you desire a more subtle mark, a single session may suffice. You don't even need to decide that right away! You can have one session and see how you heal and how you feel about your mark. If you would like your Etching to "stand out" more, return for another session. In general, a minimum of two visits is suggested for a visible, permanent mark.

Body Etching: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

How is a Body Etching performed?Body Etching is done using a tattoo machine WITHOUT INK! Therefore, by definition, it is not a tattoo. Our artists are the world's foremost authorities on Etching and employ certain exclusive techniques during the process to create an unsurpassed custom artwork just for you.
Once the design is selected it is applied to cleaned, prepped skin via a stencil and/or drawing directly on the skin. The Etching is inscribed into the outer layers of skin creating what is essentially a deep scratch, ultimately resulting in the most precise, beautiful and ornamental scar you will ever have.

What will it look like at first, and how will it look after healing?
Your Etching will initially look red or brownish red, like a scab (which is what it is) for several days to a week or so. The scab will come off (or be removed by you for a more visible mark--see the “How do I care for an Etching” section for details).

On lighter skin tones, once the scab is gone, most Etchings have a pinkish coloration for weeks to several months or longer. They tend to lighten up over time. Once you are fully healed and settled it is likely that your Etching will eventually look something like a white, raised tattoo. Though, it could remain pinkish, purplish, or brownish, depending on skin type and color. On darker skin tones, once the scab is gone, the Etching is often a darker shade, but may turn out lighter than the surrounding area.

Expect your special scar to change at least several times over the ensuing months and even years! Your Etching may also change color and appearance as a result of alterations in temperature, altitude, barometric pressure and exposure to the sun or tanning. This is all part of the fascination, mystery and excitement of Etching.
Depending on your skin type, if it is performed a single time, your Etching may ultimately fade to a barely visible thin line. We suggest a minimum of two sessions for a visible, permanent mark.

How do I prepare for an Etching?Eat a good meal an hour or two before coming in, and take no drugs or alcohol. It is advisable to avoid large quantities of alcohol, aspirin, or caffeine for 24-48 hours before your session to avoid excess bleeding.

You may wish to make use of our on-site massage service (when available) prior to your appointment to relax your body, calm your nerves, and soothe your spirit.
Be sure to bring your valid, photo ID (Driver's License, State Issued Photo Identification Card, Military ID or Passport) proving you are 18 years of age or older. Under no circumstances, even with parental consent, will minors be etched. You MUST be 18 years of age or older.
Arrive positive, enthusiastic, and ready to embark on your own experience of the newest, most exciting form of Body Art available!

Does it hurt?An Etching is a break in the skin. Those familiar with tattooing will find that it is similar in duration and intensity to receiving the outline portion of a tattoo. It may not take as long to perform as a tattoo of the same size, because there is no coloring-in and no shading in an Etching.
If the “Does it hurt?” aspect of Etching is the foremost notion in your mind, then you need to give it some more consideration. The thought that should occupy your mind is, “This is so amazing! I want my own Etching, and I can't wait to get it ” Then you are ready. The way it feels to get it is brief, temporary, and ultimately beside the point. It isn't all that bad.

You will, of course, feel some sensations during an Etching. It may feel akin to a cat scratch or a burning sensation. You may enjoy it (some people do) or you may merely tolerate it. But you will definitely get through it, you will be fine, and you will have an Etching!
During the first week or so after an Etching, it will feel like a healing cut or deep scratch. It will be tender or slightly sore, but not intensely painful. It may itch, and unlike with a tattoo, you are allowed to scratch it! Use freshly scrubbed hands or gloved hands only to prevent infection.

What are the risks of Etching?
There is realistically less risk involved than when getting a tattoo! There is absolutely no chance of negative reactions to inks or pigments. There is no risk of inks, ink cups or other such items being reused since none of these things are even needed in the procedure for doing an Etching!

During the process you will be handled by a skilled professional wearing new disposable gloves and the gloves will be changed often during the process. Your skin will be cleaned and prepped before beginning. Sterile, disposable (single-use) instruments are used to make the mark. Each set-up is individually packaged and autoclaved (sterilized) on the premises prior to use, and then carefully discarded. Your artist will follow Universal Precautions. Every possible safeguard is taken to ensure your health and well being. Rings of Desire is inspected and approved by the Louisiana Department of Health, and we are internationally respected for our consistent, stringent, unsurpassed hygienic standards.

The Etching does not penetrate far enough to result in the possibility of serious bleeding. It is essentially a deep scratch. The main risk is in failing to care for it according to instructions, thus causing yourself an infection. Do not touch your healing Etching with dirty hands.
The other issue of "risk"regards your expectations. The Etching may end up having a different appearance than you imagine (for example, it may end up light when you thought it would be dark, or vice versa). Therefore, it is important to keep an open mind about your unique results.

Will it bleed?Again, an Etching IS a break in the skin. During the procedure there will be some bleeding, much like with a tattoo outline. Ordinarily it has mostly stopped by the time you are bandaged and ready to leave. Most Etchings do not bleed other than just some seeping for a few hours afterwards, unless struck or handled very roughly. If you have ingested much alcohol, caffeine, or certain medications during preceding days, there may be a little more bleeding.

Do I need to Bandage my Etching?When you leave with your special artwork you will be bandaged with a protective, absorbent dressing. Your Etching may bleed a little or seep for several hours when it is brand new. You may need to bandage it again after cleaning, “Rousing” or “Husking” to avoid getting any blood on your clothing or home furnishings.

Bleeding, bruising, discoloration and/or swelling is not uncommon. Any break in the skin, including a new Etching can bleed off and on for a few days, or swell, or bruise. These are not indications of any complication. You may bandage with gauze as needed. Bleeding, bruising, discoloration and/or swelling is not uncommon.

Otherwise, during the healing time, bandaging is only necessary to protect your Etching if you will be in a dirty environment and are concerned about contracting an infection from your surroundings. A sterile gauze pad applied with surgical cloth tape is usually best for Etchings on limbs. A tee shirt or other such loose, breathable cotton clothing will work for most other areas.
If your clothing or bandage sticks to your healing Etching, you can soak it off with warm water or just pull slowly and turn it into a “Husking” episode.

How soon/how often can I repeat an Etching session to enhance/maximize my mark?We suggest waiting approximately three months minimum after completed healing, (not after the date of your session) between additional Etching sessions. After three cycles, we would suggest waiting one year for your artwork to settle before considering additional sessions. If you are satisfied with how it looks after a single session, you do not need to return. Do remember that your Etching is likely to change in appearance over time, for a prolonged period of time. Your initial fee includes a second session within a one year period.

What about swimming, tanning and exercise?Tanning during initial healing may alter the final color of your Etching. Be cautious and do apply strong sunscreen when tanning after healing as this can result in a burn to the new tissue. It will take a fairly long time for your Etching to become seasoned to the sun again.

Avoid submerging your Etchings in water such as pools, lakes, jacuzzis, etc. unless you feel confident that the water is clean enough for you and an open wound (which is what your Etching is while it is healing). Most bodies of water harbor large amounts of bacteria. If there is sea life, motor oil or children in the water it is not clean enough!

If you are going to be in water (or other environments) of questionable cleanliness use a breathable, non water-permeable wound sealant such as Tegaderm or Clean Seals (available at drugstores and pharmacies) before you go in, to protect yourself and prevent dirty water from getting inside your open wound. Cleaning afterwards is not likely to be effective in preventing infection.

Within the bounds of being clean and hygienic to avoid infection, it is not necessary to “baby” your new Etching. Engaging in normal activities, including exercise, is fine, just “listen” to your body. Initially, try to avoid activities that put too much unreasonable stress on the area.

How do I care for an Etching?The care for a healing Etching is to simply wash once or twice (maximum) daily as directed using a mild liquid antimicrobial/germicidal medicated soap such as Provon or Satin, and water.
Before cleanings wash hands thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap or your cleaning solution, and hot water. Scrub under your nails too! If you wish, you may wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves and/or also use a hand sanitizing gel. Never, never touch a healing Etching (or any open wound) with dirty hands. This is vital for avoiding infections.

Wet the area and apply a small handful of cleaning solution with your clean hand. Cleanse thoroughly and vigorously. Allow the solution to remain there for a minute or so. You may bathe normally and use soap, shampoo and other such products as usual.
Rinse the Etching thoroughly under running water, to completely remove all cleanser from the area.
Pat dry with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria.
Note that each body is unique, and healing times can vary. If your Etching still has a scab you should continue with the cleaning and care regimen.

There are a few extra measures you can take to maximize your Etching and produce the most conspicuous, permanent, visible mark. On the evening of the Etching and for the next several days of healing, you can “Rouse” your Etching which will result in a more noticeable artwork.

Wash and/or glove your hands as in step one of the Cleaning Instructions.
Apply a copious quantity of 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol to a sterile gauze pad and scrub vigorously on your Etching until you feel it burn. This can be done the evening of the Etching, and after daily cleaning(s) while you are still in the scab phase of healing. You may wish to have some help with this, because it will burn. Some people enjoy this sensation and others do not.
The other way to enhance the final effect of your artwork during the initial healing time is to "Husk" your Etching. This is that favorite childhood pastime: picking your scab. We do not mince words about it, but want to be sure that you follow appropriate procedures as outlined below:

Wash and/or glove your hands as in step one of the Cleaning Instructions. This is vital!

Apply a hot, wet compress (a clean towel soaked in hot water) for at least 5 minutes or longer, or soak in a clean tub until the scab is softened. With the wet towel or a Buf-Puf pad (for optimal scouring power) scrub vigorously to loosen and remove some of the scab.
Use clean fingers or a tweezer or hemostat to pull out the remaining scab. This will result in some rehealing, which is the point. Be sure to use clean tools and/or fingers!

You should Rouse after Husking. These steps will help your Etching to become more visible, have more texture, and to ensure its permanency. There may be some bleeding after your first few cleanings, and after Rousing or Husking your Etching and this is perfectly normal.

What else do I need to know?Ointment and other "healing agents" should NOT be used on your new Etching. You should exaggerate and extend the healing process to enhance your special scar if you want the final product to be prominent. For best results, avoid products designed to facilitate healing.
Avoid oral contact, and others' bodily fluids on or near your Etching during healing. Your own sweat and bodily fluids are not harmful to your Etching, provided you clean daily as directed.

Make sure your bedding is clean and freshly changed when you come home with a new Etching. If there are pets such as cats or dogs that get into your bed, sleep with the area covered (see the “Do I need to Bandage an Etching?” section).
Showering is safer than taking a bath, as bath tubs tend to harbor bacteria. To bathe safely, clean your tub with a bleach product before each bath, and rinse the tub before you fill it. Also, be sure to do a running water rinse on your Etching when you are done in the tub.

You may rinse your healing Etching in running water any time you feel a need to freshen up, but don't overuse the cleanser.
Some swelling, tenderness or discomfort in the area of a new Etching is not unusual. You may feel stinging, burning, aching or other unpleasant sensations off and on for several days or longer. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) can help minimize swelling and reduce discomfort.
Secretion of a fluid which contains blood plasma, lymph and dead cells is perfectly normal. It is fairly liquid and forms a scab that is pinkish, reddish, or brownish in color. This indicates that your Etching is still in the healing stages and must be continue to be cleaned daily.

In the event that the Etching drains a thick pus discharge instead of the normal liquid secretion, you may wish to see a physician for evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment.
Cost: Your artist will provide an estimate once a design is selected. The expense is similar to that of a tattoo. The price does include a second Etching session, available during a one year period from your initial Etching. You are not required to attend a second session, but it is offered to you.

Disclaimer These guidelines are based on a combination of professional experience, common sense, research, and clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. Be aware, however, that many doctors have no specific training or experience regarding Body Art and/or Etchings.

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INKLESS TATTOOS

2007-06-27T13:18:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to get a temporary tattoo. Most people think of a temporary tattoo as a decal that is put on with water and stays for a few days or maybe even a week (depending on hygiene). Yup, that is a temporary tattoo but that misses too much of the tattoo experience for my taste. With a decal tattoo, all you experience is the art and (to a lesser degree as people learn that temporary tattoos exist) the identification with those who really have tattoos (a very changing group, it used to mean you were a sailor, carny, or biker, but it's starting to mean you're a kid who goes to a mall).

You also miss all the decision making and self examination (for those who are sober) that goes with making a lifelong decision and you don't experience the pain (again, for those who are sober). You have to make the decision to have a needle stuck into you skin about an 1/8th of an inch deep many many times. An 1/8th of an inch isn't very deep but it's deep enough to get those pain receptors saying "howdy." On new tattoos, the swelling and blood of the repeatedly pierced skin overwhelms the inks that are used. I've always thought that the tattoos shown in the flash books (the loose leafed notebooks at tattoo parlors with plastic pages of snapshots that you browse through looking for sexy body parts while you're checking out the work) were wonderful. The skin looks really beat up, it doesn't look like the proud owner is displaying art, it looks like forensics shots of an art attack victim.

So, there are at least two questions that people with decals haven't addressed:1. How did you decide to modify your body permanently? They can be removed but unless you're as rich as Johnny Depp (or if Billary has tax payers pick up the tab), you're probably going to have to just cover up "Winona" with a black iron cross tat or a lot of Band-aids.

2. How much did it hurt?
I've wrestled with question #1 and I can't make a decision. I like the commitment, I like saying to the world that my body is mine and doesn't belong to nature, a god or a government (tattooing is still illegal in places). But I don't trust fashion. What would happen if I went out and got the perfect tattoo on my arm and three years later Jon Bonjovi and Joe Piscapo had a copy of it on their arm? There have been many bandwagons that I was riding happily until the wrong people boarded.

Even if the wrong people didn't cop my art, maybe I wouldn't like the art in a while -- maybe I would become morally opposed to the art - - hey, I've been wrong before (I didn't REALLY believe Clinton could be worse than Bush). Those are the real reasons but I have a cop out reason as well, I'm in show-biz and maybe some day I'll want to act (I had parts before, but it didn't seem I wanted to act). I wouldn't want to have to cover up a tattoo with makeup every day (wow, is that a lame reason, I should have just stuck with the Bonjovi/Piscapo reason).

Question #2 really interests me. I like the idea of deciding something is going to hurt and doing it to find out how much. I don't like accidents much and I hate illness but I enjoyed having a tiny amount of dental work done to see what it was like without Novocain. It was nice to know a little of the real deal. I always think being in pain for glory is a fun thing. Pain without injury fascinates me. Pain without fear is just another sensation. I could go on, but you already know too much about me.

June 6th, I was covering the 90th anniversary party for Harley Davidson in Milwaukee for ShowTime. Bobcat Goldthwait, Paul Provenza, Richard Belzer, Stephanie Hodge, Judy Tenuda and I were walking around the grounds with camera crews making fun of bikers while making sure that it was very clear to the bikers that we weren't making fun of them. I told Jerry, the producer, that I should get a tattoo on camera but I didn't want anything permanent. Paul had worn a fake nose-ring for one shot and the crew were all wearing decals and that wasn't what I wanted. I told him I wanted a tattoo done with needle but without ink. All the pain of a tattoo but nothing to show for it. Jerry liked the idea. He went to a tattoo trailer to set it up. He came back and said it was a done deal, they would do the tattoo with blood red ink but no needle, it would look like I was being tattooed but I wouldn't be. With no needle, the red ink would wipe right off.

"That's not what I want, Jerry. I want a NEEDLE and no INK, that'll work too won't it?" Jerry checked and the guy said that a "dry needle" would hurt a bit more than a regular tattoo but it wouldn't leave a mark for more than several weeks. I heal quickly, (that's one of my best character traits) so I was ready. We got a few cameras and I went over to talk to the tattoo artist, Bubba. I talked to him before we went on camera and then asked him the same questions on camera: Yes, he used clean needles. Yes, it would hurt more without the ink to lubricate. After a couple genital jokes, he told me the chest hurts the most. I didn't want to show my chest (hey, maybe if I get on a pain and body modification roll, I'll get implants, and then I'll show them to everyone - but right now, no), he said the forearm also hurt really bad. I have a attractive forearm so I decided to use my forearm. I told him I wanted it all freehand, no stencil. I didn't want the stencil ink to get into the wound and give me an accidental half-assed tattoo.

A crowd was gathering and the cameras were rolling. He brought the needle out of the little sealed packet and Bubba (did I mention his name was Bubba?) got to work. He asked me what I wanted. I said it didn't matter. He asked me if I liked skulls. Who doesn't like skulls? It would be a freehand skull. Bobcat stood behind him as he brought down the needle and gave a Bobcat scream to startle him at the moment of contact. Bobcat had to make jokes, I was just staring at the needle. The needle went in, it went in many times. The bikers were impressed, not that I was taking the pain, but that I was taking the pain for no reason. They got it. I asked Bubba if it would hurt less if I loosened up my muscle and he said yes. I couldn't loosen the muscle, it hurt too much. The blood was really flowing. It was art being made of my blood. I watched and I liked it. The crowd was yelling that I was crazy. Having that collection of pots call me black was one of the prouder moments in this kettle's life.

How much did it hurt? That's the question I wanted to answer. It hurt about as much as putting a couple cigarettes out on my skin (don't ask). It was a burn. But it was pain without injury, pain without fear. It was a good hurt. It didn't take long, a line drawn skull about the size of a quarter. It looked like it was drawn in red ink but it was my blood. It was running down my arm and doing a nice job for the camera. The bit should have been over but Bobcat thought I should have crossbones. He also thought I should have the full skeletal system, a Harley and a road going up over my shoulders with lush scenery but I drew the line after crossbones. It wasn't Bubba's best work. Another artist said it was "strictly jailhouse" but Bubba was working without a stencil and there was the pressure of a crowd and TV. I wouldn't let him put a bandage on it. I wanted the opportunity to show it off and talk about it. I have to put Neo Sporin on it for about a week and they say it'll be gone in about 5 weeks. It's been about 7 hours and it still hurts a bit but not badly at all. The blood has started to change color and the head of the skull is now the color of flesh around day-old stitches. I'm kind of hoping there's a little bit of a scar there to remind me of the needle. I'm about to reinvent the tattoo. SEE OUR # 1 BLOG AT FREETATTOODESIGNPICS.BLOGSPOT.COM Visit Our website AT WWW.DREAMANDINTERPRETATION.COM

Fluorescent Tattoos Glow In The Dark

2007-06-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

ARE THERE GLOW-IN-THE-DARK INKS OR FLUORESCENT INKS?Fluorescent ink is not the same as glow-in-the-dark ink. Fluorescent
inks glow under ultraviolet light. Phosphorescents glow after being
exposed to light, and glow-in-the-dark things that glow without any
outside stimulus are almost unknown.

There are *no* glow-in-the dark inks.

There are *no* phosphorescent inks.For a brief time around 1991, some tattoo artists experimented with
fluorescent inks that glow under UV light. At the time, it was
thought that these could be used to make tattoos that would only be
visible under UV light. As it turned out, these inks did not perform
as expected. They were not invisible under normal light, and in some
cases turned brown. At the same time, many people reported skin
irritation problems. As a result, we are not currently aware of any
tattoo artists still using these inks.

WHAT COLORS ARE AVAILABLE?There are a lot more colors available now than just "Popeye green and
red." Just about every color imaginable can be obtained for your design.
If your artist does not have a pre-mixed color, s/he will mix the colors
on the spot for you. It is not an exaggeration to say that you could
specify your design by Pantone color, especially since many artists have
fine arts degrees and are familiar with the various Pantone shades
[Pantone shades are used by professional artists and are standard
numbered colored].

ARE THERE GOLD OR SILVER INKS FOR TATTOOS?
While there are some metallic inks available, these are very rare and a
general answer to this question is a simple "no." If you have a design
that needs to look metallic, a good artist can use other colors to make
it look metallic without actually using gold or silver ink.

My understanding is that artists shy away from metallic colors because
of their toxic properties under the skin.

CAN I GET A WHITE INK TATTOO?Most artists use white ink to highlight certain parts of your tattoo
design. However, white ink is a special color that requires your artist
to work closely with you. The effect of white ink differs greatly among
clients, and its visibility and retention on the skin has much to do
with the natural coloration of your skin.

White ink seems to work best on very light-skinned people.
Unfortunately, this means people with dark skin would not able to get a
white ink tattoo on their skin to have a "photo negative effect" that
looks like a negative of a dark colored tattoo on light skin. This is
because the ink sits under your skin, and the layer of skin over the ink
is tinted with your natural skin color. So if you have very dark skin,
the white will be overwhelmed with your natural melanin.

Those who have very light skin however, may use white ink exclusively to
get tattoo designs that are very difficult to discern at first glance.
This might be an interesting option for ankle or wrist tattoos, or other
areas where a regular non-white tattoo would show up too easily and
possibly cause problems for the wearer.

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2007-06-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

Celebrity Tattoos and Tattoo DesignsTattoos aren’t just for sailors, “outcasts” and outlaws anymore. They’ve superceded bikers and gangsters, gone beyond heavy metal and punk rock bands. Royalty, rock stars, movie stars, sports icons, supermodels and heads of state have all adorned themselves with various types and kinds of body art. And, because of celebrities’ constant media exposure and sheer popularity, members of the masses are transforming and emulating their favorite celebrity tattoo designs.

Movie StarsTattoos have become accepted (and perhaps somewhat expected) on the big silver screen. Hollywood is all about scandal, so what was ever “taboo” is now in high demand. So it goes with tattoos, and other forms of body modification. No longer is it just the bad boys and bad girls brandishing body art, but also the wholesome family stars and supporting actors and actresses. All kinds of celebrities are wearing tattoos.

Julia Roberts. This star of Pretty Woman, Dying Young, Something to Talk About, and Erin Brokovich has a few tattoos. One is a Chinese kanji character surrounding a heart that she wears on her shoulder and a butterfly tattoo on her lower back.
Sandra Bullock has a tribal tattoo design below her navel.
Gillian Anderson (Scully on The X-Files) is also decorated. She has a turtle shell tattoo on her ankle and the Sanskrit script for “Everyday” is on her wrist.
Drew Barrymore is quite notoriously tattooed with her own personal gallery of body art, and just a few of her designs include a cross, a butterfly, and angel tattoos. She also wears a blue moon smiling, and a bouquet of sweet peas on various areas of her body.
Christina Ricci (Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Casper) wears a lion tattoo on her shoulder and a bat tattoo on her bikini line.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series, Scooby Doo, Scooby Doo II) bears a Chinese kanji symbol on her hip, and has a beautiful pair of purple dragonfly tattoos on her lower back.
Jennifer Aniston. This Friends star has a small heart tattoo on her stomach.
Christina Applegate. This star of Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead and the sitcom Married With Children has an apple tattoo design and a climbing vine tattoo.
Pamela Anderson of Bay Watch has a few tattoos, including a barbed wire armband and a tribal design on her lower back.
Alyssa Milano (Charmed) has a tattoo of a chain with a cross, fairies, the Sacred Heart and angels in her designs.
Angelina Jolie. Famous for her roles as Lara Croft in The Tomb Raider, Angelina has several tattoos, her most recent design being an authentic Thai tattoo of a tiger on her lower back.
Ben Afflek also bears a few tattoos of his own, including the incredibly popular barbed wire armband.
Nicholas Cage (Face Off, National Treasure) has an incredibly unique tattoo design of a monitor lizard wearing a top hat on his upper back.
Robert Deniro. Despite the number of tattoos he was shown with in the thriller Cape Fear, Mr. Deniro only has one real tattoo, a panther design.
Jeff Corwin, the Animal Planet hit, bears a snake tattoo design on his upper left shoulder.
The nine actors who made up the “Fellowship” in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (except possibly Rhy-Davies who played Gimli, and is rumored to have sent a stunt double) all got an Elvish tattoo meaning “The Nine” on their ankles.

However, in this case, there is one top movie star that doesn’t belong in the ranks of the tattooed…Vin Diesel. Despite being bedecked in XXX and other films, in truth Vin is un-inked.

Pop, Rock and Other Music StarsMusicians have been sporting tattoos and body art for ages! Before most people had overcome their fear of the taboo, rock stars, heavy metal musicians and punk bands were braving it out. Now, musicians in nearly every genre sport ink of some sort or another.

Jon Bon Jovi (80’s rock idol) is tattooed with the Superman insignia, a dragon tattoo and a longhorn skull.
Jonathan Davis of KORN (and the other members too) bears many tattoos. His ink includes the letters HIV, the KORN logo, and a tattoo of a bishop ripping away his skin to reveal Jesus underneath.
Dave Grohl, who has had the pleasure of playing with bands like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Nine Inch Nails, has a chain tattoo design on his upper right arm and the letters FF on his back.
Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit has several different tattoo images including an angel, a flower, a spiral design and a ring.
Bill Idol, among other ink, has a tattoo design of a Russian comic book character.
Eminem, a.k.a. Slim Shady, also wears quite a few tats. He has a dog tag tattoo design, a mushroom, and his children’s names tattooed on him, just to name a few.
Lenny Kravitz boasts at least two tattoos, one of a dragon and another of a cross.
Henry Rollins bears the image of the words “Search & Destroy” emblazoned across his back above a tribal sun, among other body art.
Aaliyah. This late actress and singer was decorated with a dove on her lower back, an initial & star on her hand, and a music symbol tattoo on her ankle.
Beyonce has a praying angle adorning her upper left thigh.
Avril Lavigne bears a small star on the inside of her wrist (the left one). The other tattoo that you may believe she has is, in fact, a fake and was a temporary tattoo placed (on the top of her butt) for a music award ceremony performance.
And, drum roll please…Brittany Spears. Perhaps not as fortunate as her other tattooed pop-stars, Brittany recently suffered the misfortune of not only one tattoo mistake, but actually two. Learn from her example to be very careful when choosing tattoos in a language you can neither read nor write.
These are hardly all of the tattooed musicians – the list goes on and on, to include N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rancid, P.O.D., and even the Dixie Chicks. These country star divas all have matching tiny chick footprints on one foot.

Sports Icons and Supermodels
Perhaps not discussed as much (but certainly still drooled at) are the sports stars and supermodels. Still very much tattooed celebrities in the lime-light, stars in these industries are often able to enjoy a little bit more privacy than those who regularly appear on the silver screen, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t influenced popular tattoo designs.

Some well known sports celebrities with tattoos include:

Dennis Rodman. This rowdy, rambunctious, attention loving basketball player was covered with tattoos and body jewelry. Some of the pictures in his body art gallery included a Harley Davidson tattoo, a picture of his daughter, a shark, and a cross – among other things.
British soccer star David Beckham proudly wears at least nine different tattoo designs!
Laila Ali, boxer and daughter of Muhammad Ali, has tattoos that include her name and a teddy bear design.
Stone Cold Steve Austin. This wrestler has a tattoo of the state of Texas and a longhorn on his left calf, as well as a crystal ball on his left ankle.
Kobe Bryant. This famous basketball star has many tattoos, one of which is a large tribute to his wife that he wears on his upper right arm.
Tennis star Anna Kournikova has a large star tattoo design on her lower back.
But, by far, the mostly highly inked group of athletes (if you’d go as far as to call them that) would be the various branches of the wrestling world, where a great many of the characters, man or woman, good or bad, are heavily inked.

There are also quite a few models and supermodels which bear body art. Rosie Ciavolino has a small tattoo just below her bikini line. Ehrinn Cummings has a frog on her check along with 2 elephants on her lower back. Nicky Hilton has a heart with wings on the inside of her right wrist and the word “Hilton” written in gothic font in the small of her back. She also has a small cross on the back of her neck. Her sister, Paris Hilton, used to have Nick Carter’s name inked on the right side of her backside, but has since hat it removed with laser surgery. And, 90’s Calvin Klein spokes-model Kate Moss has a tiny heart on the back of her left and a small crown on her left shoulder.

Royalty and Heads of StateDespite the past’s unkind view of tattooing and body modification, some of the names that appear on the following list may be a little surprising, especially when you consider how far back the history goes.

Winston Churchill, famous World War II figure of England, had a tattoo of an anchor on his arm.
Franklin D. Roosevelt proudly bore a tattoo image of his family crest.
Thomas Alva Edison, genius inventor, was tattooed with five dots on his left forearm that were arranged in the fashion of a “5” dice.
King Alexander of Yugoslavia was inked with a large eagle tattoo design on his chest.
King Alfonso of Spain was also tattooed.
King Edward VII of England bore a tattoo of the Jerusalem Cross.
King Frederik IX of Denmark was tattooed with a dragon and his family crest.
King George II of Greece bore tattoo designs.
King George V was decorated with a dragon design.
King Harold II of England was the first documented royal to wear a tattoo. He lived from 1022 to 1066.
King Henry IV was also among the ranks of royalty boasting body art.
Other famous royalty bearing tattoos include Prince Charles, Prince Rudolph, Prince Frederik, Prince Waldermar, and Richard the Lion Hearted, King of England (1189-99 A.D.) who was also branded with the Jerusalem Cross.

You’ll find them almost anywhere, on almost anyone now-a-days. In Hollywood and New York, but also St. Joseph, Missouri and Lexington, Kentucky. It’s a tradition sponsored and carried on by many of our nation and world. Tattoos show up in churches on ministers and hidden behind the suits of Wall Street professionals.

Thanks in part to celebrities who’s tattoos are seen by the world, there are no longer any social boundaries, or status quos to stop us. We have taken tattoo into another realm, one shared by all of humanity, rich and poor, ordinary and famous.

Visit Our Site For free Flash tattoo Designs www.dreamandinterpretaion.com

TRIBAL ART TATTOOS

2007-06-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Tribal art tattoos generally refer to those designs coming from the Pacific Islands and parts of Africa. The look of a tribal art tattoo is instantly recognizable with its sharp aggressive black lines and is meant to convey a feeling rather than represent a specific physical object. Today by fusing ancient designs with modern techniques, tribal art tattoos are some of the most popular tattoos available.

Tribal tattoo art reached its apex in Polynesia and its surrounding environs and has been practiced on willing volunteers for the last 2000 years. Here tribal art tattoos are not simply decorative but often a necessary representation of adulthood. In Samoa, a full body-suit of tribal art tattoos are a necessary rite of manhood, while in Borneo tribal art tattoos help warriors identify each other---and their enemies.

Perhaps no culture has had a bigger influence on tribal tattoo art than the Maori of New Zealand. Their “Moko” style incorporated the sharp lines of the tribal tattoo body suit and emphasized facial tribal tattoos—with which spirits could identify them in the afterlife.

For many years tribal art tattoos were the province of traveling sailors and fringe circus performers. This was due mostly to the fact that the procedure was so painful—an important spiritual component for tribal tattoo cultures. But with the invention of the tattoo gun in 1891, and a proclivity for Western sailors to acquire a tattoo for each of their stops, tribal tattoo art began to spread.

But it wasn’t until LA Tattoo artist Leo Zuleta borrowed his friend’s book of tribal art tattoos that the style exploded into a phenomenon in the early 90’s. By creating a fusion of styles, sometimes called neo-tribal or pseudo-tribal, and inking his rock star friends, tribal tattoo art became one of the most popular forms of body art in the world.

Some lament that while the aesthetic of tribal art tattoos may remain, much of their symbolism has been lost. Still tribal art tattoos are remarkably resilient for their ability to mean many things at once, (or nothing at all) ---depending on the person who is wearing them.

Tattoos Causing Blood Diseases

2007-06-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

Tattooing and ear/body piercing are increasingly popular among Canadians. These procedures, however, may increase the risk of contracting a number of serious blood-borne diseases. Background

Tattoos and ear/body piercings are very popular, especially among those aged 18 to 22. Between 73 and 83 percent of women in the U.S. have had their ears pierced. An American university survey in 2001 found that 51 percent of students had piercings and 23 percent had tattoos. U.S. studies show that the number of women with tattoos quadrupled between 1960 and 1980. The number of tattooing and piercing shops in Canada has increased dramatically in the last few years.

Health Risks of Tattooing and Ear/Body Piercing

Skin and mucous membranes in the mouth and nose protect you from many infections. Both tattooing and ear/body piercing procedures involve piercing the skin or mucous membrane with a needle or other sharp instrument.

Unless the needles are new, sterilized for each treatment and properly handled by the practitioner, instruments can be contaminated with the infected blood or bodily fluids of another person.

You may also have bacteria or viruses present on your skin that can enter your body and cause infection when your skin is pierced. Practitioners who do the tattooing and piercing are also at risk of becoming infected through accidental cuts and punctures.

It is possible to transmit viral infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and herpes through tattooing and piercing, as well as bacterial skin infections such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus.

Minimizing your Risk

The best protection against disease and infection is to carefully choose where you obtain your tattoo or piercing. Here is a list of conditions on which to base your decision:

-- The work area is clean and brightly lit.

-- The shop uses instruments that are easily cleaned and sterilized, such as stainless steel.

-- Tattooing is done with sterile needles in a tattoo machine that has been wiped with alcohol after each use and covered with new disposable plastic.

-- Ear piercing is done with a sterile needle or a gun that has a disposable sterile cartridge to holds the studs.

-- Tattoo and piercing needles are new and sterile for each treatment. They should never be reused.

-- Those performing the procedure have clean working habits, including washing their hands before and after procedures, after handling contaminated items, before opening and handling sterile supplies, and before putting on and after removing their gloves.

-- Practitioners wear medical gloves during the procedures.

-- The shop has a "clean zone" and a "dirty zone." The procedure should be done in the clean zone where only sterilized packages and clean equipment are kept and used. The dirty zone is the contaminated area where there is a washing sink and holding basin for disinfecting implements.

-- Work surfaces are made of smooth and non-porous materials.

-- All surfaces are cleaned with a solution of bleach and water.

-- The shop has a sterilizing machine, preferably a steam sterilizer, and test strips are used to indicate whether the machine is operating correctly.

-- Waste is disposed of properly, with blood-contaminated waste placed in plastic bags and tied before being added to the regular waste.

-- Sharp implements used to pierce the skin are put into puncture-resistant containers.

-- Oral and written instructions are given to clients for personal care after the procedure.

You can minimize your own risk of infection by taking these precautions:

-- Choose a good professional practitioner who has been trained.

-- Ask the practitioner if she or he follows the Infection Control Guidelines for tattooing and ear/body piercing.

-- Never tattoo or pierce skin that has a cut or break, pimples, warts, or other abnormalities.

-- Make sure the practitioner disinfects the skin area using a skin antiseptic before the procedure.

-- Wash your hands thoroughly before you apply lotions or ointments to the tattooed or pierced area after the procedure or when rotating the jewelry, as directed by the practitioner. If you are concerned that the tattoo or piercing is infected, contact your doctor or local health unit.

-- Hepatitis B vaccine will help protect you from hepatitis B, but there is no vaccine for hepatitis C or HIV.

Health Canada's Role

Working in partnership with the provincial and territorial governments, Health Canada has created Infection Control Guidelines for tattooing and ear/body piercing. These guidelines were developed for practitioners of tattooing and ear/body piercing by representatives from industry, health services, and Health Canada's Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control.

Free Tattoo Designs Our Tribal Tattoo Designs Are Free

2007-06-25T00:04:00.001-07:00

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See the World's Greatest Collection of Tattoo Designs

2007-06-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

See the World's Greatest Collection of Tattoo Designs
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Every tattoo design needs a matching stencil. Tattoo Johnny has Thousands of professional designs with stencils ready for you to download and take to the tattoo artist of your choice. Use the search tools on the left to quickly and easily find your perfect tattoo.

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Your tattoo adventure starts here! Take a fantasy-filled journey as you search for your dream tattoo. Discover the world's best selling and most inspiring designs. Sort effortlessly through thousands of ideas with the speed and ease of the industry's most powerful search engine. Organize your favorite designs in your personal tattoo gallery with our exclusive TATTOO WISH LIST. Tattoo Johnny is the Number One supplier of tattoo designs in the world and is a crowd favorite at tattoo conventions everywhere. Our mission is to help you get THE PERFECT TATTOO! Learn the tattoo process. Get tips from industry experts and even "test drive" your tattoo right here!

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Superman Designs Tattoo Pics

2007-06-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

Ask anyone who has had a tattoo why they did it and they will tell you two things. One, they were making a very personal statement, usually spiritually oriented, and two, after their first tattoo they were hooked.

Tattoo is not just a method of body art; it is a very spiritual custom that dates back hundreds to thousands of years in many cultures. While there are many beautiful and breathtaking designs, most people use these tattoos as a basis or template for their own personal expression.

The majority of the time, if a client does not come in with their own personal design, they will show the artist a particular design and follow up with, "but I want to make a few changes." So, when you are designing your own tattoo, such as with a Superman tattoo pic, there are a few tips to consider. Location, Location, Location!

Think about where you want to put the tattoo. For instance, you wouldn't want to put a large, flying Superman tattoo pic on your ankle. That type of tattoo is too detailed and would be rather large so it would not be appropriate for that area.

A Superman tattoo pic like that would likely be better suited on the upper arm, hip, back or even forearm. When you think about your tattoo and what type of tattoo you want(such as a Superman tattoo pic), consider where you want it to be placed.

Size Matters

Yes, when you are looking to get a tattoo, size does matter. You really can not just choose a random design or a Superman tattoo pic with no forethought because you do need to consider the size of the tatt as well as the location. Sometimes the location will even dictate the size.

A Superman tattoo pic that is, perhaps, the big S symbol that is always shown on the front of his uniform, then you can usually size that up or down according to the location.

What are Your Colors?

Choose colors that are appropriate for the tatt, but also appropriate for you. This is generally a permanent venture, so you want something that you like and will enjoy seeing on your body for the rest of your life. A Superman tattoo pic would be blue, red and yellow.

What colors are your spirit? If you are commemorating an event, what are its colors? If you are honoring someone, what colors do you associate with them? Let your color scheme work with YOU. Or choose a standard tattoo like a Superman tattoo pic and go with it.

Choose a Design that Fits Your Spirit

Choose a design or template that fits your personal spirit. The design should speak to you. If you want a Superman tattoo pic, go for it. You may wish to combine several designs to create your own. Add elements, or if you are an artist, draw your own design.

You can find many different designs and select one that suits you. You may want to bring a friend along for input, but don't allow them to influence you too much. After all, you will be the one walking around with the tattoo, or the Superman tattoo pic, not them.

Think Twice about Adding a Name

You may have heard this many times, but it always stands to be said again. When designing your own tattoo, you may want to think twice about putting someone's name on it. There are a few celebrities that we can look to who can attest to this. Many people put people's names on their tatts and wind up covering the name later.

If you want to honor the love of your life by putting their name under your Superman tattoo pic, do yourself a favor and do it some other way. A tattoo is forever unless you get it covered or lasered. Save yourself the trouble.

If you like this information, get your hands on a collection of thousands of gorgeous high quality tattoo designs all viewable from your comforts of your home and you can print out for your favorite tattoo artist. Remember to get your special FREE Gift: 'You And Your Tattoo'

Hawaiian Armband Tattoo's

2007-06-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest and hottest growing trends in the art of tattoo design is Hawaiian arm or leg band tattoos. As this trend goes a lot of people think to themselves, well of course." At least that is what I said to myself at first. You can hardly drive more then 10 minutes on the freeway in southern California where I am from and not see a big SUV like a Lincoln Navigator or a Cadillac Escalade and not see a Hawaiian sticker. Things with flowers designs, or turtles, dolphins. Ya see it started off with the sticker and then the car seat covers with hibiscus flowers everywhere and it just grew from there.

This trend of Hawaiian design has then met it's match with the whole tribal tattoo movement. Tribal tattoos have been the hottest thing in the tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school WWII era Hula dancer. You see these influences have been all around us for a long time my grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos still. Granted it is a little saggy and faded now but he still has one on his forearm nonetheless.

So the whole tribal tattoo and the growth in interest for Hawaiian designs have combined to make a hot and growing market for Hawaiian tattoos. This is really an up and coming thing and it not huge yet. However many tattoo artists are spotting the trend and jumping on it already.

Of course there is a lot of controversy on this subject also like anything. If you look on the internet there is a controversy about getting Kanji and Japanese Tattoos also. Anytime you try and take the designs of a culture and do not depict them accurately it creates a sense of bastardization or what I call the "Disney Effect" towards the culture. I mean how would you feel if you were in China and someone said, oh you should try this hot new restaurant out it serves this great food that is really American. They have fried chicken and apple pie that is the best." Well, at first you would be excited right? Sure it would be nice for a good home cooked meal if you have been out of the US for a long time. However once you get there you see the place has really tacky and awful reproductions of 50's art and the all the food tastes kind of strange. It would probably bee kind of close or resemble what you were thinking of but it would be missing something or a few key ingredients. I bet this would leave you feeling a little sad and like your culture was not totally understood.

Well, I can not speak for you and maybe you will feel different but I was pretty sad when after staying in Japan for 3 months I was invited to a 1950's classic hamburger joint. When we got there it was Elvis with a funny accent playing on the jukebox and when my hamburger came it had a fried egg on top of it with teriyaki sauce. WOW what a surprise that was for me. I kind of felt weird about being in the place that had tried to recreate something from my own culture.

So, the same controversy rolls on in the world of tattoos. Anytime you get a tattoo design from another culture just make sure you go with a professional. Do not have your friend trace out some Kanji in a book for a tattoo and don't go and rip some design of the internet because it states that it is Hawaiian. Go to a real custom tattoo designer and have them do the research and come up with some designs. After all this is going to be on your body for the rest of your life and since Hawaiian arm band tattoos and leg tattoos are typically big it will be a significant investment in pain, time and money to get the thing done. So you should consult with a professional and get top notch work done.

Should You Get a Tattoo? Art Or Destruction?

2007-06-24T20:05:00.001-07:00

Have you been considering or wanting to get a tattoo put somewhere on your body? It seems like tattoos are becoming the latest craze within the fashion world today and even housewife’s are getting them now a days. Does this mean you should get one or even allow your child to get one? Remember trends fade and change while a tattoo is permanent; therefore there are many things to consider before getting a tattoo.For the longest time the only people who could be seen with tattoos were sailors and people who had been in prison. Sailors were getting different tattoos from all over the world while convicts were getting tattoos made in prison even though these were illegal.
This was how the norm was for the longest time until tattoos started becoming popular among gang members to tell everybody which gang they belong to.

Because of how popular the gang and rap culture has become among today’s youth we also see an increase in tattoos among this generation. Whether this is right or wrong is up to each individual family to decide before going out to get a tattoo but remember just as times and fashions change so do you. In a couple of years from now you might end up being very sorry for that tattoo on your shoulder and having it removed can be both costly and painful.

If you do decide to get a tattoo you should be happy to know that it is much less dangerous today than what it used to be when they used the same needles over and over again. Regardless you should make sure you are getting a new or at least a sterilized needle before you let the artist work on you. Although it is safer to get a tattoo today it is always a risk in what ever you do.

Another thing to remember before getting a tattoo is that your body ages with time and a tattoo wont look anything like it was supposed to when your skin gets older. Instead of looking like that beautiful flower it was it will look like you just smeared ink all over your arm, not a very pretty sight. The more tattoos you have, the more ink spots you will end up with all over your body as time goes by.

These are all things you need to consider before you go and get a tattoo and unless you are one hundred percent certain that a tattoo is for you, you might want to reconsider. Fortunately there are other avenues you can take instead of getting a permanent tattoo put on. There are temporary tattoos you can get and they are just as awesome as the regular ones the only difference is that you are not stuck with the tattoo for the rest of your life.

A temporary tattoo can last for anywhere from a couple of days to several months and may be an alternative for you who are not certain that a permanent tattoo is the right thing for you. Wanting a tattoo might just be a fashion stage you are going thru and with a permanent tattoo you will be in trouble when this stage in your life passes. Before doing anything impulsive make sure what kind of tattoo you would want, a permanent tattoo or a temporary one.

Should You Get a Tattoo? Art Or Destruction?

2007-06-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

Tattoos For Woman Where And Why

2007-06-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

The whole field of tattoos for women is growing at a tremendous rate. If you think back even 20 years ago tattoos for women were not all that popular and most of the women getting them were keeping them covered up. However times have definitely changed and tattoo designs have really advanced at a tremendous rate. Today's tattoo have more brilliant colors and are a far cry from your grandfathers Hawaiian girl tattoo on his forearm.
It used to be that women would get an occasional rose or name tattoos on their breast or some well hidden spot. However with current fashion trends there are tons of cute tattoo designs for women out there are women are now getting tattoos at an amazing rate.
Women's tattoo designs and placement have also changed with this new growth. No longer are women getting simple tattoos that they keep well hidden. Women are now getting cute tattoo designs done and placing them in more visible places.

Some of the most popular items to get tattoos of are:

1. Shooting Star Tattoos
2. Butterfly Tattoos
3. Unicorn Tattoos
4. Angel Tattoos
5. Fairy Tattoos
6. Dragonfly tattoos
7. Flower design tattoos

The most popular places for women to get tattoos done are:

1. lower back tattoo (especially popular recently with the whole hip hugger jeans)
2. ankle tattoos
3. front side of the hips (again hip hugger jeans have made this more popular)
4. butt cheek left or right
5. Belly button area

Another thing that this trend of women getting tattoos is that women often seek out custom tattoo designs. They don't go to the local parlor and just by a tattoo flash design that is on display there. Women seem to spend a great deal more time contemplating the tattoos that they want done and tend to have more requirements about what they want. Therefore women tend to get custom tattoo designs. This allows them to get the exact look and feel they want and a custom designed tattoo is also fit to the location on the persons body so that it fits well

Dolphin Tattoos What Do They symbolize

2007-06-24T20:02:00.001-07:00

Lotus flowers are amazing and have strong symbolic ties to many Asian religions especially throughout India. The lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the waters surface continually moving towards the light. Once it come to the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower.
Within Hinduism and Buddhism the lotus flower has become a symbol for awakening to the spiritual reality of life. The meaning varies slightly between the two religions of course but essentially both religious traditions place importance on the lotus flower.
In modern times the meaning of a lotus flower tattoo ties into it's religious symbolism and meaning. Most tattoo enthusiast feel that the a lotus tattoo represent life in general. As the lotus flower grows up from the mud into a object of great beauty people also grow and change into something more beautiful (hopefully!). So the symbol represent the struggle of life at its most basic form.

Lotus flower tattoos are also popular for people who have gone through a hard time and are now coming out of it. Like the flower they have been at the bottom in the muddy, yucky dirty bottom of the pond but have risen above this to display an object of beauty or al ife of beauty as the case might be. Thus a lotus flower tattoo or blossom can also represent a hard time in life that has been overcome.

Lotus flower and peonies are also two flowers that are very popular among Japanese tattoo artists and they make a great compliment to Koi Fish tattoos. Ironically enough the two koi fish and lotus flowers can often be found in the same pond in front of a temple. The Koi fish is a symbol typically for strength and individualism

Why Should I Get a Custom Tattoo

2007-06-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed that in the past year or two that everywhere you go things can now be customized to suit the consumer. For example I was purchasing a sandwich the other day at a local sub shop. They first asked how long, then it was what kind of bread, what kind of cheese, what kind of mayo and on and on the list went. Well, this has become a major trend in marketing that truly benefits the consumer. You no longer have to pay top dollar and just get whatever you get. Now you can get things exactly like what you want.

This marketing trend has also become one of the biggest trends in the world of tattoos since sliced bread. The old fashioned way to get a tattoo done we all know too well. You go to the local parlor and look at the beautiful tattoo flash or designs on the wall and you pick one. It was basically like ordering at MacDonald. I will take a number #2 combo the Celtic Butterfly with a side or shooting star tattoos extra large.

Well, like MacDonalds frequently does the tattoo world has really improved and almost reinvented itself in the last few years. This growth is still taking place even now. You see the days of getting a tattoo done in the above mentioned way are starting to disappear. It didn't allow for individuality or self expression. The old fashioned way lead to a lot of people getting the same tattoos and for cheap. Well, just like many people go out and buy a stock car and then start tweaking it all out to fit their needs or a computer that is tweaked to fit there needs you can now do the same things with tattoo designs.

You can come up with a concept for a tattoo that you want done. Then you can go online and post a job for a bunch of freelance tattoo artists to bid on. You then view some samples of their work and pick a custom tattoo designer or artist to do the work for you. They will then work with you and flesh out the rough idea that you had into a complete custom tattoo design.
This way of getting tattoo designs has some definite advantages over the old fashioned way.

No longer will you have the same popular tattoo that thousands of others probably have.

You can get the design sized to fit exactly the location on your body that you want it.

Now you can customize the color, shape, design, and even initial concept for your design. It is truly like tricking out a car or a computer you can get things exactly like how you want them.

So this new way of getting tattoos done has started to revolutionize the whole world of tattoo and tattoo design. It is getting harder and harder to sell pre-made designs and the growth of custom tattoo designs is significantly increasing

What Do Anchor Tattoo's Symbolize

2007-06-24T19:59:00.001-07:00

Anchor tattoos were all the rage for sailors. It was often the symbol of a very experienced sailor. Anchor tattoo designs are one of the oldest types of tattoos. However with an interest in all things retro and chic these have come back into fashion. In fact in the tattoo field as a whole retro tattoo designs have been experiencing a resurgence. These retro tattoo designs have come back to life with new more vibrant tattoo colors, designs and placements on the body. This trend originated on the west coast mostly and has even become known as west coast tattoo style. Retro themes in tattoo designs are especially popular with the rockabilly group.
So what is the symbolism behind the anchor tattoo design? While the earliest forms of an anchor being used as a symbol harkens all the way back to the early Christians. They would often use the anchor as a hidden symbol for the cross. This was often used to show that they were Christian while escaping persecution from the Greeks.

The symbol much later became popular with sailors. This is a pretty obvious connection here being that sailor use anchors constantly in their work.

The anchor tattoo design has become a symbol for stability and a strong foundation. It can also mean a boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other in someone's life. You see a man might get an anchor tattoo to show that his girlfriend is the stability in his life.
These have become increasingly popular for women to get and they often place them just below their collar bone on the right of left side.

So the anchor tattoo is a great tattoo with lots of symbolism and history behind it. If you are looking for something to remind you to stay grounded or want to symbolism a particularly stable or grounding relationship that you have then an anchor tattoo design might be something to look into.

Tattoo Tips To Lice By

2007-06-24T19:58:00.001-07:00

Tattoos have been around since prehistoric times. Egyptian mummies have been dug up displaying tattoos. Humans frozen in glaciers 4,000 years ago bear tattoos. Cultures like the Maori in New Zealand use them as particular markings. And more recently, people wear them to express themselves. Some people think of their tattoos as art, and consider their bodies as the canvas on which the art is displayed. Because of the way society has begun accepting tattoos, it is relatively easy to obtain them. However, it is important to make sure that you are getting a good tattoo from a reputable tattoo artist.
Tattoos that are not properly applied can end up looking hideous. They can also become infected and cause a great deal of discomfort and health problems. If your tattoo is messed up for some reason, it is extremely difficult to have it altered or removed. You also need to ensure that you are dealing with a true professional. Someone who does not put the pigments in right can cause permanent (and unwanted) discoloration, or even cause more dire health problems.

For the most part, getting a tattoo is relatively routine any more. The key is to find a good tattoo parlor. One of the best ways to do this is to get recommendations from friends. If you have a friend whose tattoo has turned out particularly well, find out where she or he had it done. You should also find out about the overall experience. Any tattoo is going to involve some degree of discomfort or pain, but it is not normally excruciating. Find out how satisfied your friend was with the experience.

Next, it is important that you go in and check out the tattoo shop yourself. Look around to see how clean it is in general. Does the owner try to keep it fairly tidy? What about the instruments? Are they properly sterilized after use? You can even check the chair, stool, or bed used for the clients. Do they try to keep it clean? These are important considerations. You want to make sure that the tattoo location offers an atmosphere that is comfortable to you, especially if you are getting the tattoo somewhere you wouldn’t normally let other people see.

Many states require licenses for their tattoo artists. Check out what the requirements in the state are, and make sure that your tattoo artist is properly credentialed. You can also try to get further references for work done. Talk to a few people who had their tattoos done at the location so that you can get a better idea of the overall experience. Find out how long the person has been in business, and where he or she learned the art. You want to make sure that you have a true professional, and that will lower your risk for problems.

Finally, there are proper ways to care for a tattoo after you get one. Make sure that you follow the instructions given you by the tattoo artist. After all, even the best tattoo can cause problems if you do not properly care for it in the days after getting the tattoo.

Laser Tattoo Removal How Does It Work

2007-06-24T19:56:00.001-07:00

People like to get tattoos when they are younger and sometimes do so for stupid reasons. Often, after ten years of so of having a tattoo, the person may decide they don’t want it any more. There are many reasons that a person may want to have a tattoo removed. Perhaps they have a named of an old lover tattooed on them, or they have a gang tattoo that there are no longer associated with. Some people have tattoos in places that will prevent them from getting a job they want. Some people might also have a tattoo that symbolizes hate or racism, and they no longer feel this way. Whatever the reason is, there are methods of tattoo removal out there.

Laser tattoo removal is one option for people considering the removal of a tattoo which is the most common method of tattoo removal. Laser removal involves targeting the tattooed area with pulses of concentrated light that will in turn break the ink fragments up into tiny particles which are then removed by you’re immune system. This process does not happen after one session, however, and the more treatment you have, the more likely the laser will destroy the ink. However, the more treatments you have also means heightened damage done to your skin. Excess treatments can lead to blistering of the skin, painful sores on your skin, scabs and even scarring.

Since technology has advanced so much, the risks of skin damage have become minimal and many experts say it is very rare for scaring to occur. However, there is always some risk involved. Laser tattoo removal can be quite painful, as some people have described it as feeling like being splattered with hot grease. Laser tattoo removal can also hurt your wallet though. Depending on the size and detail of your tattoo, you might need to have up to ten sessions in order to fully remove all of the ink. Each session costs in the range of $250 to $850.

There are many other options for you to consider before you decide if laser tattoo removal is right for you. No method is 100% effective and guaranteed, but many will get you the results that will satisfy you. Laser removal is one of the best treatments for removing a tattoo, but remember, if you have a large colorful tattoo, you may spend thousands of dollars on treatment and it will not even be fully removed.

Celtic Tattoo Design's

2007-06-24T19:55:00.001-07:00

The Celts were an ancient race dominating Europe during the Iron Age, after migrating across the continent from south to north, and finally settling in Ireland, Britain, Brittany and Galicia, sharing common languages, traditions and customs denominated Celtic. Over time, the term would help to describe the particular art of Celtic Design Tattoos.
This art is characterized by knot work and spirals inspired by ancient patterns, although it also referred to the original work that many tattooing artists can copy in detail to obtain accurate Celtic Design Tattoos with a quality look. The most common of the Celtic symbols is the cross, unique for its shape, but there are many other motifs for you to choose.
All genuine Celtic art incorporate always combine work, with spirals, geometric forms, knots and key work, so there is no such thing like as simplistic Celtic Design Tattoos. Original Artists create the knot work overlapping one or more lines over and under their original designs in the belief that every crossed line has the power to protect the person.
Other tattooists simply will copy existing Celtic Design Tattoos, adding whatever modification or addition you may desire. One of the most common sources of inspiration is the Internet, where anyone can find countless numbers of Celtic designs. However, the purists, artists who practice correctness, usually consult illuminated manuscripts of the Early Medieval Period.
Popular Celtic Design Tattoos of today are the result of the Book of Kells, a famous manuscript depicting some of the most beautiful and intricate Celtic patterns. Other manuscripts used as reference are the Durham Gospels, the Lindisfarne Gospels, and the Book of Durrow, which images inspire not only replicas but original and modern Celtic art.
Like in other cultures and civilizations, there are Celtic Design Tattoos with no color in particular, because such designs are taken from symbols carved in stones, wood, leather or sculptures and pottery, not always colorized, and more often associated to Celtic Tribal art, widely accepted as well.
In the United States Celtic Design Tattoos is a relatively new tendency; however, Celtic art is popular since the Revolutionary War of 1775. Although intricate designs are the main characteristic of Celtic designs, there are many other styles trying to emulate this art, including Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance art.
Celtic Design Tattoos whether original or reproduction of originals are meant to be a unique body decoration that, like any other tattoo, should be chosen carefully. Keep in mind that whatever you place on your body will be with you for the rest of your life, unless you take the risk of applying another tattoo over, or paying costly operations to get rid of your tattoos

Butterfly Tattoo Designs

2007-06-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Larger and stylized or miniature and classic, Butterfly tattoos are particular popular on lower back and chest tattooing decoration because the peculiar symmetry and color of their wings, although this type of tattoo can be worn on whatever other area of your body that you would prefer.
For many people butterflies are the expression of freedom, and there are between 15,000 to 20,000 common and well-known butterfly species around the world to choose from for your Butterfly Tattoos designs.

Some of those butterflies are the Common Yellow Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Lime Butterfly, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Jezebel, Xerces Blue, Karner Blue, Red Pierrot, Lange's Metalmark Butterfly, Plum Judy, Painted Lady or Cosmopolite, and the famous Monarch butterfly.

Some other Butterfly Tattoos designs may be based on uncommon species, such as the Ornithoptera genus, also known as birdwings, and the largest of all butterflies, and the Lycaeides Melissa samuelis, an endangered butterfly. Although, it is not necessary to have a deep knowledge of butterflies to choose the tattoo that you like the most.

There is a difference between moths and butterflies, both of which are confused between each other frequently and many people consider that a butterfly is just a day flying moth. As versatile as they are, Butterfly Tattoos designs can be the mix of both butterflies and moths. In addition, because butterflies live on nectar from flowers, many tattooists design them flying above, beside, or on them.

In the United States, several states have adopted butterflies, whether as official mascot, butterflies or insects that you can pick to create you own Butterfly Tattoos designs. Some of such states are:

Alabama, Monarch Butterfly and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Arizona, Two-tailed Swallowtail
California, California Dogface Butterfly
Colorado, Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly
Delaware, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Florida, Zebra Longingly
Georgia, Tiger swallowtail
Idaho, Monarch Butterfly
Illinois, Monarch Butterfly
Kentucky, Viceroy Butterfly
Maryland, Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly
Minnesota, Monarch Butterfly
Mississippi, Spicebush Swallowtail
Montana, Mourning cloak
New Hampshire, Karner Blue
Oklahoma, Black Swallowtail
Oregon, Oregon Swallowtail
South Carolina, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Tennessee, Zebra Swallowtail
Texas, Monarch Butterfly (State insect)
Vermont, Monarch Butterfly
Virginia, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
West Virginia, Monarch Butterfly

Butterfly Tattoos designs are suitable for men and women, and are also associated with spirituality. You can get some ideas by browsing online catalogs and galleries, as well as books and magazines available at your local library. Remember that butterflies can be portraits that are as realistic as a photograph, or as funny as a cartoon. Butterflies are also excellent motif for psychedelic and abstract designs.

Shootting Star Tattoo's

2007-06-24T19:52:00.001-07:00

The universe has always attracted the attention of ancient civilizations, including the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman. Mesoamerican cultures such as the Mayan were immersed in astrology and astronomy since the beginning of times, but the magic of Shooting Stars Tattoos was something that they never considered to catch those errant stars.
Because all tattoos have a symbolic meaning that everybody or just one person can appreciate, the individual who wants to have them can only determine the importance of wearing a Shooting Star Tattoo. Actually, most people associate them with the firmament and also with a sort of magic, that mankind has always wanted to learn.

Traditional Shooting Stars Tattoos usually include a trail of delicate smaller stars, multicolored, in contrasting color or with special pigments to remark the magic of this particular design. Trails can elongate as much as necessary, making this the ideal designs for wearing on the arm, legs or back.

A few people dare to wear petite and subtle Shooting Stars Tattoos on their cheeks, which look terrific when a skill artist is chosen to perform this work. Shooting Stars are also associated with Fantasy Tattoos and Fairy Tattoos, so they can be a stand-alone designs, or part of a composition of forms.

Almost any star can serve for the purpose of designing Shooting Stars Tattoos, with the exception of the Star Nautical, the Star of David and the different types of pentacles associated with New Age beliefs. Although, it will always be possible to attach a trail of small star to these images, you may obtain unexpected results.

Shooting Stars Tattoos can be stylized or have a cartoon-like look; the appearance of your tattoo is a matter of your personal choice. Sometimes star shapes or trails are combined in tribal art, particularly Celtic designs, that sometimes are thought to have powers of their own, and otherwise they are just an attractive body decoration.

Stars have been part of our galaxy for probably billions of years, and even knowing the scientific cause of the Shooting Stars crossing the firmament, people are still captivated by their metaphysical sortilege. The mystery will remain but Shooting Stars Tattoos are a reality whenever you want to have one.

We can easily say that there are as many variants of these tattoos as stars are in the sky. Everything matters when choosing the most appropriate for your personality, browsing among all the available designs or even better, designing your own tattoo to reflect what a shooting star means to you.

Tribal Tattoo Art

2007-06-24T19:51:00.001-07:00

Tribal manifestation exists in almost all the cultures on the planet earth since ancient times, so when it comes to talking about tribal art tattoos, the array of forms, shapes and designs is as big as the count of the civilization worldwide. Tribal tattoos were a fashionable trend of the early 1970s when everyone was seeking for new alternatives of life and discovered the art of the "uncivilization".

The boom of African and Caribbean forms of human expressions, music, culture and art during that decade made tribal tattoos a new philosophy of life. Although the 1980s put Tribal Art Tattoos behind the vogue scene, new cultural manifestations remained closely linked to them, such as the Celtic and Hawaiian tattooing art.

Tribal Art tattoos came back into the scene in the 1990s with their catch-eye visual appeal, with lending curves and geometrical figures blending softly onto the skin. From primitive art, based only on black or maroon liner, to colorful-rich designs, tribal art tattoos can be applied anywhere on the body, whether as an arm band, on the lower back, or discreetly on the ankle.

One of the main characteristics of modern tribal designs is that people want to wear them for their visual appeal, and sometimes sexually attractive appearance, rather than their association with any particular tribe. Although some individuals wear them with knowledgeable reason.

Nowadays, the trend of tribal art tattoos follows 3 paths; the Polynesian art, including associated cultures such as the Hawaiian, Maori and Samoan, the African trend, based on the ancient tribes of Central and South Africa, with their Caribbean derivations, and the Celtic art, particularly from Scottish and Gaelic origin.

Tattooing is in fact, an activity derived from traditional ceremonies performed by tribal groups with different purposes and idiosyncrasy. Some Pacific Islanders wore tattoos all over their body as a fear factor to keep away bad spirits and enemies. Even today, some forms of urban culture show forceful tribal art tattoos on arms, back, chest, legs, and sometime on the face.

Generally, tribal art tattoos have no meaning by themselves, individually or by group, just being an evocation of the ancient art. However, some forms of tribal tattoos have a meaning that either the individual to be tattooed or the artist performing the tattooing ignore.

Since tribal art tattoo emerged again, in the United States, however the most popular form of tribal tattooing is closely reminiscent to Native American tattoos, if not the real indigenous representation of deities, nature elements, or symbols of power, religion or mystical beliefs.

Hawaiian Tattoo's

2007-06-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

Hawaiian culture was a popular trend in the 1950s and 1960s, but when it comes to tattoos, it was not until the mid 1980s when Hawaiian motifs returned with colorful shirts and tie-dyed shirts popularized by celebrities, singers and bands, including Weird Al Yankovik. It was during those years when Hawaiian Arm Tattoos began to be worn.
From discreet floral and tribal designs to Hawaiian words and phrases, Hawaiian designs usually express a message by themselves. Today it is usual to find people wearing Hawaiian arm tattoos saying "Aloha" (Hello), "E Kipa Mai" (Come to Me), "Mau Loa" (Forever), "Mahalo E Ke Akua No Keia La" (Thanks God for this day), and many other phrases appealing to the Hawaiian lifestyle.

Hawaiian arm tattoos can be as sophisticated as real arm bracelets and banglers, but with artistic designs accurately drawn onto the skin. The natural beauty of Hawaiian tribal designs is highly appreciated for those wanting uniqueness. Designs of Aloha shirt designs, also known as Hawaiian shirts in continental USA, are often transported to Hawaiian Arm Tattoos.

However, contrary to those shirts commercialized in the early 1930s by Chinese merchants living in Waikiki, Tattoos were not popularly accepted until the 1960s in the form of discreet designs on the ankle. The Natural beauty of Hawaiian designs made it possible for the triumphal comeback of Hawaiian Arm Tattoos in the 2000s.

Although Hawaiian tattoos must not be confused with Tribal Tattoos, in arm designs they usually meet each other. This association is as natural as the Australasia cultures linked to Hawaii, such as the Polynesian, Samoan and Maori, where arm tattoos are part of their respective cultures, representing different ranks of statuses in tribal and religious traditions that still survive.

Curiously, Hawaiian Arm Tattoos are considered the fastest growing trend in tattoo art anywhere in the world. Hawaiian arm tattoos can also represent natural scenarios in miniature or ancient symbols of power and even healing properties. In addition, Hawaiian arm tattoos are not only desirable, but also one of the most widespread forms of tattooing.

Like any other type of tattoo, choosing the design is as important as deciding the tattoo clinic were tattooing will be performed. In fact, there are books written expressly to divulge this expression of art, such as the "The Hawaiian Tattoo" a privately published book, by P.F. Kwiatkowski, making a review of the origins and designs of Hawaiian Arm Tattoos and other tattoos' designs.

Tribal Tattoo's

2007-06-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Over the past decade, tribal tattoo designs have gained popularity among ordinary people and New Age practitioners. Some of these tattoos speak for themselves, showing off deities and symbols associated to ancestral magical practices, spiritual protection or inner enlightenment, representing the equilibrium of the masculine and feminine energy of the universe.

The role of women in ancient tribal cultures, contributed to the popularity of tribal tattoos designs, featuring feminine symbols, representations and energies not seen before, except when tribal art was originated. This approach to the feminine nature gained the acceptance of many modern women, who basically wear tribal tattoos as arm bands or low back designs.

Because tribal tattoo designs can mix the forces and elements of nature, they are a natural choice when it comes to people wanting to wear sun, moon, clouds, stars with no conventional design, although there are many other forms of tribal designs, including abstract art.

One of the most popular tribal tattoo designs is the sun, which is represented in as many forms as the existing tribes of the present and past worldwide. The peculiarity of these designs is that anyone can identify a tribal sun tattoo, but very few can determine which tribe it belongs with if one exists, because many tribal tattoo designs have no background, being the result of modern art.

Another interesting characteristic of tattooing tribal designs is the application of tattoos portraying ancient representations; tribal vestiges found in caves, designs discovered on protective totems, or many other forms currently housed in galleries and museums, drawn with skill and accuracy by modern artists.

Some tribal tattoo designs resemble Gothic, Wiccan or pagan symbols with intricate lines, particularly popular in the 2000s, evolving everyday until the present when present and past of the tribes have been fashioned to design unique tribal art not available before. In fact, many tribal tattoo designs are the result of retouched and modified ancient designs.

Because tribal patterns are more often composed by lines and geometrical forms, only an expert on the subject can differentiate the real ancient tribal tattoo designs, from the new self contained art. Abstract patterns to resemble the original tribal designs, are often most used by the master of contemporary tattooing

Beyond all the expectations and meaning of tribal tattoo deigns, sociologists consider that if tribal tattoos have remained focused for thousand of years, it is because they have the power to motivate people on a subconscious level, in the belief of getting a particular benefit wearing a certain figure or symbol.

Tattoo FAQ

2007-06-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

Q: Will it hurt when I get a tattoo?
A: Simply put, yes. There is some degree of pain involved and the amount really depends on your level of tolerance. If you are scared or have a fear of needles, it’s fair to say that some of the pain will come from your fear of the process. Q: Can the tattoo artist use any type of cream that will numb my skin?
A: Generally speaking, these products are not recommended. You can ask your tattoo artist for specific reasons.

Q: Are tattoos expensive?
A: If it is quality work, yes. Anyone can offer you a deal on a cheap tattoo, but this is going to be a permanent part of your body and you want the work to be something that you are proud of. In a nutshell, you will get what you pay for. When it comes to tattoos, don’t cut any corners when it comes to cost and never ask the artist to lower his/her price.

Q: When should I get a tattoo?
A: Many do not realize this, but the sunny months of summer can reek havoc on a tattoo. Therefore, it is often recommended that individuals get tattooed during the winter months when the sun’s rays are not as powerful and, therefore, not as damaging to the work itself.

Q: If I am sick, is it still OK for me to get a tattoo?
A: If your immune system is not 100%, getting a tattoo is probably not a good idea. You will need the full strength of your immune system to help with the healing process of your skin, so avoid the process if you are under the weather. Instead, call to reschedule your appointment for a later date when you will be feeling better.

Q: If I have tattoos, is it still OK to get a natural suntan or visit the tanning bed?
A: Even though everyone desires the perfect sunkissed tan, especially in the summer, exposing your tattoo to UV rays/light is not a good idea. This can cause the color in your tattoo, or the artwork itself, to fade. When you are outside in the sun, you can wear sunblock to help protect your tattoo from the sun’s damaging rays.

Q: If I have recently gotten a tattoo on my leg, when can I shave again?
A: Because each individual’s healing process is unique, there is no universal answer to this question. Your tattoo is a wound and, like all wounds, it needs to heal before you can safely resume shaving. Otherwise, you will continually aggravate the scab or any raised areas that are present on almost every tattoo. Some can resume shaving within 5-10 days, which is often when the new protective layer of skin has surfaced after the final peeling stage. It is best to ask the tattoo artist about the exact stages of the healing process and what to watch for as an indicator of when you can begin shaving again.

Q: I have a friend who recently purchased a tattoo kit and they promised me a really good deal. Is this safe?
A: Absolutely not. Your friend could very well be endangering your health by ‘practicing’ their skill on you. In order to become a professional tattoo artist, an individual needs to get the proper apprenticeship through a tattoo studio, observe the process and begin practicing on material objects before tattooing people. The apprenticeship usually takes 3-5 years, so there is no way that this type of knowledge can be learned in a kit.

Q: Can I remove the bandage after I get a tattoo so that I can show my friends?
A: This is not a good idea. The bandage is there because the tattoo artist realized the potential for infection if the wound were to be exposed to open air. Leave the bandage on according to the instructions from the tattoo artist.

DISCLAIMER: This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

Brow Piercing And Body Jewlery

2007-06-24T19:46:00.001-07:00

What is body art?

Throughout history fashions have constantly changed. One of todays favorite looks, especially with the young and cool, is to go in for body piercing and becoming more popular is eyebrow tattooing, which will leave a permanent mark or design.Temporary tattoos are also popular and are a benefit if you haven't quite made up your mind on the look you want to achieve. Jewelry inserts in the eyebrow can achieve a truly noticeable effect.

Getting Tattooed

The procedure is the same as in all permanent tattooing and simply involves puncturing the skin with a very fine needle fitted to a specially designed machine that also inserts tiny drops of colored ink into the holes.

The time taken for tattooing is dependant on the size of the design so larger and more intricate the design, the longer it will take. As even the most energetic tattoo artist can tire after 2-3 hours it is sometimes necessary to return one or more times to finish the more elaborate designs.

Expect some bearable pain and a small amount of bleeding. Usually you will consult with the tattoo artist who will show you designs that he, or she, thinks will appeal to you.

A pattern of the chosen design is then applied to the area of your skin that will be worked on so the tattooist has a "˜template' as a guide. Of course it is possible to have a free hand tattoo of your own design but you do need to have confidence in the creative ability of your tattoo artist. If you go this route beware of smudging.

Temporary tattoos simply require the application of a transfer of the chosen design to be applied to any area of the body and can last up to two weeks. It is not practical if you want a temporary transfer type tattoo actually in the eyebrows but temporary tattoos can look great (and think about amusing) on the upper eyelids.

Eye contact is more often than not first contact so imagine the message you can send out when you blink a little slowly.

Is Tattoong and Eyebrow Piercing Dangerous?

Any puncturing of the skin can cause infection or an allergic reaction. However, if you take care the risks can be minimized.

It is vital to go to a recognized professional tattoo or body piercing salon that is clean and well run. An autoclaved heat sterilization machine (regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA) should be used to clean all non-disposable equipment after each client.

If you are outside the USA check out the required regulations and always insist that a brand new needle is used and be sure to watch it being taken from a sterile sealed package.

All equipment must be of the highest standard with unused sterile needles. You must NEVER come into contact with a needle which has been used on another person.

This person may have been infected with hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus, tuberculosis, or HIV. The practitioner must wash his/her hands and then put clean sterile gloves on after which he/she must not touch anything other than the area to be tattooed or the equipment.

Don't go to a salon that uses a piercing gun that cannot be sterilized with the autoclave machine as the risk of infection can increase.

The ink, especially the red ink, can sometimes cause tiny bumps to appear on your skin and in some people the tattooed area can become scarred. If in doubt start with a small tattoo where it is unlikely to be noticed.

Bacterial infection can occur so look out for signs of heat, redness, swelling and pus forming in the area that has been tattooed or pierced.. If you notice any of these symptoms seek immediate medical advice. Delay can be dangerous.

Tattooing can be a life enhancing experience. Clever design and deciding upon the most appealing area of your body that will provide the most impact for your chosen body art will bring attention to your most attractive features.

Never forget that first impressions count for so much as we always look into and around the eyes of others when we first come into physical contact with them.

Jewelry.

Some people can have an allergic reaction to certain metals, such as nickel and brass. If you can, use gold or steel or titanium.

After Care

Absolute hygiene of the skin in and around the pierced area is essential if you want to avoid any complications however small, or seemingly insignificant.

Keep the area clean with a medicated cleanser and gently turn any jewelry inserts around a few times daily to allow the cleanser toget into the pierced openings. Keep out of the sun for a few weeks to avoid any reaction from sunburn as the area will be extra sensitive.

As long as you understand the risks and do your research properly you will be able to have beautifully tattooed and/or pierced eyebrows that will make you the envy of your friends.

If at any time after you have had a tattoo and you decide that you don't like or want to change it, just check out my tattoo removal guide. Anything is possible if you really want it.

Where To Find Free Tattoo Designs

2007-06-24T19:45:00.001-07:00

So you've thought long and hard about getting a tattoo and you've decided that yes, you're definitely going to 'get inked'? If so, the next logical question to ask is, "What design do I choose?"
If you have absolutely no idea about what sort of design you'd like superimposed onto your body, it's going to take you many hours of careful consideration. You will need to view as many designs as possible, ensuring you make the right decision.

Making the right decision is critical - so we'll help you find free tattoo designs!
Making the right decision is really important when it comes to choosing a tattoo design, because deciding to have a tattoo is a lifelong commitment. It's not like buying something at the store, and taking it back because you've changed your mind. A tattoo - unless you undertake expensive, painful laser removal procedures - is for life. That is why we advise you to view as many different tattoo designs as possible, so you make the right design decision. If you've already been researching designs, chances are you have heard all about free tattoo designs and galleries online where you can view and download individual designs of interest. It's an absolute maze online, because there are just so many galleries to check out, so to make the process a little easier and a whole lot more time efficient for you, we're going to introduce you to four good websites - membership-based and totally free- that are jam-packed full of free tattoo designs!

Our recommended list of free tattoo design websites to check out!
We're fairly confident in assuming that it's going to take you many hours to decide on a tattoo design that's right for you. When we searched the web on your behalf for the best free tattoo design sites online, we found that virtually all of them required paid membership which would allow you to download as many designs as you like. Here are just some of these membership-based or totally free tattoo design websites we took a look at:

1) tattoojohnny.com
A really well designed website dedicated to free tattoo design ideas, Tattoo Johnny provides anybody interested in getting a tattoo with the information and design ideas they need to consider, in order to make the right decision. Although the actual tattoo ideas are free for you to print the color version of the design, the strong message this site conveys is that to ensure your tattoo is perfect, you will need to download the artist's stencil of the design you like. For a small fee (typically under $20USD), you can download the stencil, however visitors are assured that this will save you money when you go to a tattoo artist. If you simply take a design picture or photograph to your chosen artist, they will need to charge you to create a stencil while you wait. At Tattoo Johnny, you simply pay a small fee to download the artist stencil, and when you are ready to 'get inked', you give your tattoo artist a copy of the color version and the artist stencil. Tattoo Johnny even goes one step further to make sure you are well prepared to have a tattoo done, because you can test drive your tattoo by creating your own test tattoo using the transfer paper available for just $3.89 at the online store. This way you can trial a washable tattoo to make sure it suits you, before you take the permanent tattoo plunge.

2) tattoodles.com
Tattoodles is a paid membership website which features a large range of tattoo designs that you can print out and take to the tattoo artist of your choice. This website features the works of many tattoo artists and hosts an online tattoo artist community where these people can network and share ideas and inspiration. An online magazine is also accessible via the website, and is packed with articles related to all tattoo issues. This site is popular amongst tattoo artists and those interested in getting a tattoo of their own. With a huge array of tattoo designs to view, Tattoodles is a site you won't want to miss in your search for the perfect design.

3) tattoospot.com
Tattoo Spot is a completely free website that allows you to check out a large range of tattoo photographs. It is a website where people upload photographs of their own tattoos, so it doesn't actually provide visitors to the site with actual drawings of tattoo designs that you can take to your tattoo artist. If you found a design on this website from a photograph which appealed, you would need to take it to your tattoo artist, and they would have to create a stencil in order to superimpose the design onto your skin.

4) tattoomenow.com
This is another paid-membership website where you have access to thousands of tattoo designs once you join. Founded by a self-confessed tattoo enthusiast, Tattoo Me Now claims to be the ultimate tattoo membership and design gallery. After many months of research, Tattoo Me Now was launched and now provides tattoo enthusiasts with a huge tattoo design gallery of more than 3,500 tattoo designs categorized by type. A member gallery is also loaded with photographs of tattoos to provide you with even more ideas. If you're looking for the perfect tattoo design or inspiration at all, this is a good site to join.

There are many more membership and completely free tattoo design websites to check out!
The four websites we list in this article will provide you with enough ideas to get you started on your tattoo design decision-making journey! We trust you'll have a lot of fun and wish you all the very best when it comes to finding the tattoo design that's just right for you! Remember that although there are many sites where you can print out photographs or drawings of tattoo designs, the tattoo design itself is never totally free, because your tattoo artist will need to create a stencil for that design, in order to superimpose it onto your skin. Happy searching!

Is It Dumb to Want A Tattoo

2007-06-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

OK, first off, you've probably wanted a tattoo for years now and what you wanted has probably changed from a skull and cross bones, Love and Hate and finally settling on the names of your children etched Gothic style into the side of your arm - but when (and if) do you stop dreaming and go out and get one actually done?It's a bold step, because in the main it's one that you make forever, so let's think carefully about designs. Celtic seems to be popular - knotts, bands and crosses and they've always caught my eye so I may follow suit and get one of these, sounds simple but next you need to decide where on your body you're going to get this done.

Tattoo's are both personal and public, people like to display their art while it usually holds an inner meaning or memory. But I don't want to go for a job interview / meeting etc. etc. with my tattoo on show, perhaps I feel it somehow lessens my professional look.
So it's above the elbow or safely tucked away somewhere on my back.

Style wise I've seen a nice little emblem to go at the top of my neck (but below collar line) which holds in it two jewels, one for each of my children. It's not over the top and would hopefully not look out of place.

Finding the right place to get your tattoo.

Now, I dislike having my haircut. I'm uncomfortable with the banal chit-chat between cutter and customer and usually can't wait to run out. Fact is, tattoo's take longer than hair cuts, much, much longer. I telephoned a local artist who said for the size I wanted it would be just over an hour, a small price I guess for the lifetime work of art.

Cost-wise it seems to depend on the size of the tattoo, a small 2 inch square tattoo is about $90.00 whereas the larger more extravagant ones reach into the $1,000 and beyond, and that's not to mention multiple sittings!

With that said and done, I'm booked for a sitting and this time next week I'll be the proud owner of my first (does that imply more to come??) tattoo.

After scouring the internet I've found a nice site which has some downloadable pictures and outlines which you can take along to the tattoo parlour and they will reproduce the design for you, or ammend it should you have any particular requirements such as names and colours. I don't really want any specific text on mine so will be happy to get as close to the picture as the artist can.

Have to admit there is a worry he or she will get it wrong, but I'm going to a reputable artist who comes recommended.

Wish me luck!

Online Tattoo Design Websites

2007-06-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

So, you're seriously considering 'getting inked' and having your very first tattoo done? If this is you, then chances are you've already checked out the internet in your search for good websites jam-packed full of tattoo designs to provide you with the inspiration you need to make the right design decision for your tattoo. If you have already tried searching for online tattoo design galleries, then you no doubt already know that there are literally thousands of design gallery websites for you to explore. Sure, that may sound nice if you have all the time in the world to make a design decision, however we're pretty sure you want to quickly find the very best tattoo galleries online to help you make your search a little easier. Now we'll show you how to find good tattoo design websites.

Key Characteristics of a Good Online Tattoo Design Gallery
As you know, the internet is home to so many tattoo design galleries, however many of them aren't worth the cyber space they inhabit! So, how do you determine whether a design gallery is worth your time? Here are the key characteristics of a good online tattoo design gallery:

* The site is operated by professionals or enthusiasts:
You're getting a tattoo and it's a permanent decision. It's not like you can simply erase a tattoo once it has been superimposed onto your skin. It's a serious decision with lifelong consequences - unless of course you are brave enough to have the painful, laser procedure required to remove a tattoo. In checking out tattoo design websites, look for sites that are owned and operated by tattoo artists or enthusiasts. You want to deal with people who actually know all about tattoos and the serious considerations you must think about prior to making that all-important trip to the tattoo parlor.

* How popular is the website:
If the owners and operators are serious about their online tattoo gallery, they will do everything they can to make the site a hit with all of the people using the internet who are interested in tattoos. If you discover an online tattoo design gallery that is really popular, there is a very good reason for it! Chances are, such a tattoo website will be worth your time.

* Plenty of designs:
The obvious characteristic of a good online tattoo design gallery is the range of designs available on the website. Making a design decision will take a lot of time, so the more designs a tattoo gallery has for you to choose from, the better. Good tattoo related websites will be adding to their gallery on a weekly or daily basis.

* Plenty of good information:
As you know, getting a tattoo is a serious step to take, so education is critical. You need to know what you're getting yourself in for when you are considering whether or not to "get inked". A good online tattoo design gallery will contain plenty of informative articles about getting a tattoo. After all, getting a tattoo is a medical procedure and there are risks, so ensuring you are totally informed is critical, and that is why a good tattoo design gallery will provide you with plenty of informative material.

Another Important Point about Tattoo Design Galleries
You've heard of the saying, "you get what you pay for," right? The same goes when it comes to tattoo design galleries. As we've already mentioned several times in this article, do any internet search for tattoo design galleries, and it will produce many search results. The thing is that many of the tattoo sites aren't that great. The best websites are those you will need to pay a membership fee for, so be prepared to spend a little money when it comes to checking out quality online tattoo design galleries. Remember, it's a serious decision getting a tattoo, so chances are it will be worth it spending a little money to explore the net's best design galleries.

How to Find Good Tattoo Design Galleries
It's really easy! Just use your favorite search engine and type in terms such as, 'tattoo designs' or 'tattoo design gallery' and you will find a whole range of sites to check out. Remember as well that the characteristics mentioned in this article will help you sort the good online tattoo design galleries from the not-so-good galleries!

Custom Tattoo's Or Free Tattoo's

2007-06-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

Make no mistake. The decision to get a tattoo is a big one, because it's a life long commitment! Your tattoo will last as long as you do - unless of course you are brave enough and can stand the pain of the laser surgery required for tattoo removal. Bearing all of this in mind, you need to carefully consider each of the options that you are presented with when you decide you want a tattoo. Chances are you've started exploring tattoos online and you may already be familiar with two design categories when it comes to tattoos: free tattoo designs and custom tattoo designs. We'll take a look at what these options involve right now so you can make the decision that's right for you.

Free Tattoo Designs and Custom Tattoo Designs Defined
Two categories and two fairly self-explanatory definitions of each, as you can see:

* Free Tattoo Designs:
These refer to tattoo designs that are available for you to use free of charge. There are many websites that provide the user with a range of free designs to choose from. It is simply a matter of printing out the design you like and taking it to your tattoo artist.

* Custom Tattoo Designs:
These refer to designs created especially for you by a professional tattoo artist. The artist will work with you to create a design using a number of design ideas you may have - even your own drawings. The artist will professionally design the tattoo for you.

The Case for Free Tattoo Designs
Chances are when it comes to shopping, you're on the look out for a great deal right? Of course you are! If you see an item in one store for less than that exact same item in another store, you're going to buy from the store with the lowest price! This mentality may also apply to some people who are considering getting a tattoo. Many people will ask, "Well, why should I pay a professional tattoo artist to design my tattoo, when I might find exactly what I want when I search free tattoo galleries online?" Sure, that's a valid question, however have you seen just how many free tattoo galleries there are online? There are so many of them! Check the majority of them out - and that will take you days - and you'll soon see that there isn't a whole lot out there when it comes to the range of decent free tattoo designs. Many of the free tattoo design galleries are tiny and only offer a small range of designs. Most of the available designs are of poor quality, and the great majority of these free tattoo websites are filled with designs that aren't even created by professional tattoo artists. You may happen to find a design in a free tattoo design gallery that you like, however the reality is that although the design will be free - you simply download it and print it using your home computer - the stenciling and actually inking will not be. You will need to pay a tattoo artist to do this for you, and if the initial design wasn't professionally crafted, your tattoo, which you will more than likely wear for life, won't look as good as a professionally designed tattoo.

The Case for Custom Tattoo Design
You've heard the saying, "You get what you pay for" and it applies to tattoo design as well. As you have read and may already have discovered for yourself, there's not a whole lot of quality in the world of free tattoo design. By pursuing the custom tattoo design option, you are enlisting a professional tattoo artist from day one, which ensures your tattoo will look the best. It is advisable that you spend time searching tattoo designs prior to seeing your tattoo artist, so you make the right tattoo design decision. Once you know what you would like in your tattoo design, it's time to see the tattoo artist. The tattoo artist will draw a design specifically for you, taking into consideration your design requirements and tastes. Following this, a stencil will be created based upon that professionally created design. Then the design will be superimposed onto your skin using the stencil, and it will look like a professional tattoo - one that you will be happy to show off!

The Decision is all Yours!
Of course ultimately it is up to you whether you wish to choose a free tattoo design or a custom tattoo design. To ensure you make the right decision, you must firmly decide what you want when it comes to your tattoo design and remember that it will be on your skin for life. It has to look good so make sure you give the design of your future tattoo careful consideration.

Zac Parker is one of the internet's well-known tattoo experts. With his website dedicated to tattoo designs, Zac helps anybody who is interested in tattoos and free tattoo designs. Make the right design decision when it comes to your next tattoo and check out Or Links For Both New And Creative Tattoos

What Does It Feel Like to Get A Tattoo

2007-06-24T19:37:00.001-07:00

What does it feel like to be tattooed? It is painful, alright. After all it is an art. Art needs emotions (which presumably cover pain!) to bring out the best from an art piece. The money aside, pain in tattooing is part of the investment.
And depending on the design of your tattoo, the process will become more and more painful. So please bear with it.

The more decorative or the more symbolic your tattoo design is, the more artistic it will get. Tattoo is simply a means of self expression. It is after all, used among wide scopes of culture and its history runs down from ages to ages. And understandably, as the ages went, the tattoo designs became more elaborate so that some developed more like living artworks rather than simple accentuations imbedded into human skin.

There are literally myriad of tattoo designs that often leave customers overwhelmed. Let us take a look at some more popular designs these days so you and other people planning to get tattooed would have more defined ideas of what design to punch into the skin. Note: This is not easy and the process is equally not handy so focus on what you truly desire and work on it until the last point of the needle.

No culture in the world is more responsible for the development of the tattoo than the region of the Polynesia. The word itself came from its ancient language, which meant to make a mark.

The designs patterned from ancient ideas spotted in this region are normally referred to as tribal, one of the most intuitive and versatile designs there are. Aggressive bold lines and symmetrical patterns, tribal tattoos remain popular (and are constantly working its way to extreme popularity) because it primarily allows the influence of other cultures, artists personal expression and fusion with other designs.

Like its tribal ancestors, designs patterned from Celtic ideas dont actually contain or convey a single concept, rather it communicates feelings and illustrations depending on the interpretation of the audience. Celtic concepts were typically borrowed from ancient Celtic culture tracing back from the 1st century. These designs dont present specific images, except for those that depict certain pieces of Celtic history and literature. Designs covered in this genre have no beginning and no end. They are composed of intertwining loops and knots. While unquestionably famous, Celtic tattoo designs should only be done by artists who have dedicated their profession in this single style.

Now before you read any further let me just jump in here and say that I really do hope that you are finding this not only interesting, but informative because I have written this in order to try and provide some information on this subject. So, having said that, lets continue.

Yet it is not only the looks that matter in tattoo designs. Because it is for self expression, people often find themselves content with adding specific religious symbols that make their faith more pronounced. No wonder, the extreme prevalence of angels, crosses and other religious tokens can be seen throughout many regions.

Well, who would forget patriotism? (Or is it due to lack of choice? Probably not.)

The eagle, the eagle, the eagle. Well, thats stereotypical. How many times have we seen myriad of eagle designs that depict the Great America? We have already lost count actually.

Americans seem to have this special commitment towards the country that they are even willing to leave marks of its symbols into their skin. You may choose to follow after their practice but you may also not. That really depends on your preference. However, if you want to be unique, you can try looking for more seldomly used design rather than the American eagle or any other eagle of that sort.

The only key here is to ask yourself what really matters to you. Will I love Mary mean the same thing a few years from now? Think it through.

Let me finish by saying that there is a lot of information out there on this subject just waiting for you to unearth. Try your local bookstore, your library, my blog, or the internet, and you will be amazed at how much more you can learn.

Easy Tattoo Removal

2007-06-24T19:36:00.001-07:00

Tattooing, which is defined as the permanent insertion of ink or other pigments below the skin using a sharp instrument, has been used for cosmetic and ritual purposes since the Neolithic era. It has been used to identify criminals, invoke magical powers and, most recently, to adorn the skin with colorful designs in what has become a major trend.
Indeed, a recent telephone survey done by the American Academy of Dermatology reports that 36 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 are tattooed, and 24 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 50 have been inked. This represents a 16 percent increase over a similar survey done in 2003!

But what happens when that tattoo you thought was so cool 20 years ago just isn't cool anymore?

Yes, tattooing has been around a long time, and something that has always gone along with tattoos since the very beginning is the desire to remove them. Whether the desire to remove the tattoo is a result of social, cultural, or physical reasons, people go to great lengths to get the job done.

Early techniques for removing tattoos included painful and scarring procedures such as sanding, cutting, and burning the skin. Unless you were willing to go to these lengths, tattoos were seen as permanent and irreversible. However, thanks to medical advances in the field of dermatology, surgeons are now able to remove tattoos safely and effectively.

Methods for tattoo removal today include dermabrasion, surgical excision, salabrasion, chemical peels, and laser surgery. Let's examine how tattoos are removed with each of these methods.

Dermabrasion

With dermabrasion, the surface and middle layers of the skin are "sanded" away with a hand-held scraping or sanding tool. This process removes the pigmented skin and encourages the growth of new skin.

Dermabrasion is not for everyone. If the tattoo is old, or if the ink has been injected into the subcutaneous fat, dermabrasion may not work. Also, if the tattoo was done by an amateur and the ink is deposited at varying depths in the skin, complete removal may be difficult.

Side effects include skin discoloration, infection at the site of the tattoo, and scarring from repeated scraping and sanding. Complete removal of all the ink is not always possible.

Until laser surgery was introduced, dermabrasion was considered one of the most popular and effective ways of removing tattoos.

Surgical Excision

Surgical excision is performed under general anesthesia. During the process, the surgeon literally cuts the tattoo out of the skin, and closes the wound with sutures. This technique is more suitable for smaller tattoos.

This is one of the more invasive tattoo removal procedures, and complications include swelling, infection, and scarring.

Chemical Peel

A chemical peel, during which trichloracetic acid is usually used, progressively removes layers of skin, and eventually the tattoo.

Depending upon the age of the tattoo, and whether the ink is evenly distributed, it is not guaranteed that a chemical peel will completely remove a tattoo. Chemical peels can also cause permanent damage to the skin, such as lightening where the design used to be, or scarring.

Salibrasion

Salibrasion is perhaps one of the oldest methods of tattoo removal, and requires the skin to be "sanded" with salt. A local anesthetic is usually injected around the design, and the skin is aggressively rubbed with salt or a salt sanding block.

Complete tattoo removal can't be guaranteed, and the procedure can leave the patient with raw, red, burned skin. Scarring is also a possibility with this method.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment was introduced in the 1980s, and presented the best alternative to tattoo removal. The CO2 laser beam was used to vaporize the ink and the overlying skin, and was less painful, safer, and much easier than other techniques. However, the technique was not perfect. The healing process was long, there was considerable risk of scarring, and in almost all cases a faint image of the tattoo was left behind.

Q-Switched Lasers

Q-Switched Lasers were introduced about 10 years ago, and have been shown to be the most effective way to date to remove tattoos. Q-switched lasers emit light in very short but powerful flashes, which pass through the skin and break up the tattoo pigment.

Because the absorption of the laser light affects the energy's ability to break up the pigment, different types of q-switched lasers are best used on different colors of pigment.
There are four different types of q-switched lasers:

1.Q-switched ruby lasers have a red light and are effective on most black, blue, and green pigments.

2. Q-switched alexandrite lasers emit a deep red light and are effective for most black, blue, and green pigments.

3. Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers emit an infrared light and are effective on most black and dark blue pigments.

4. Q-switched frequency-doubled Nd:YAG lasers emit a green light and are effective on most red, black, dark blue, and purple pigments.

While tattoo removal with q-switched lasers is completely safe, patients usually experience discomfort on the same scale as receiving the tattoo. A topical anesthetic can be applied one to three hours before treatment. The more treatments the patient has the less pain he or she will feel, as there will be less pigment to absorb the laser energy.

Antibiotic ointment and a light dressing are applied to the area after treatment and normal activity, including showering, can resume the next day. Light blistering or bleeding following the treatment is normal and should subside within a day or two.

All tattoos will require more than one treatment, the average being between five and 10 treatments depending upon the depth of the tattoo, the colors used, the location of the tattoo, and the health of the patient. Fading of the tattoo should be evident about two weeks after treatment, and another treatment can be done as soon as a month later.

While scarring will not occur as a result of q-switched lasers, mild skin texture changes can occur. Darker skinned patients may also experience some skin lightening, though this is usually temporary.

Is it guaranteed that the tattoo will completely disappear when treated with a q-switched laser? Well, because more than 100 tattoo inks are used today, and none of them are regulated by the FDA, it is impossible to predict how a particular ink will respond to laser treatment. However, in most cases the tattoo will completely disappear.

To find a physician board-certified in laser surgery who removes tattoos look in the yellow pages under Cosmetic or Laser Surgery, and/or Tattoo Removal. Or contact the Ethical Cosmetic Surgery Association to find a practitioner in your area.

How To Take Care Of A Fresh Tattoo

2007-06-24T19:34:00.002-07:00

The first thing you need to is remove the bandage/saran wrap from your tattoo after about an hour. Your new tattoo is a wound and it needs to breathe so it can heal.Wash the tattoo using your fingertips using a mild antibacterial soap. Remove all traces of blood since this can cause scabbing. Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth during the healing period. Always pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft cloth or let it air dry. Apply a thin coat of ointment to the tattoo. Tattoo Goo, , A&D Ointment and Aquaphor are all very great. Only use enough to make it shine and work it in well. Remove all the excess ointment with a paper towel. You only need enough to keep the tattoo moist to keep it from scabbing. You do not need to re-bandage your tattoo.

You should re-apply ointment whenever the tattoo is starting to feel dry or stiff. Typically three to five times per day for three or four days then switch to a moisturizer such as Keri, Lubriderm, Jergens, or Vaseline Intensive care. Do not use lotions that contain color, fragrance or sparkles until the healing is complete.

If you don't keep it moist it will form a thick scab that may crack when you move. When this kind of scab is formed the ink sits within it and slowly heals into the skin. When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn't have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to protect the tattoo while it heals. Do not peelor pick at your tattoo, you will pull the ink out. It is normal to see small flakes of colored skin falling off during the healing stage.

You must keep your tattoo clean, but long showers or baths should be avoided for 2 weeks. Prolonged soaking can loosen any scabs that may have formed, or will soak through the soft tissue and cause some of your ink to leak out.

Try not to scratch or pick at the tattoo. It will get itchy and a good alternative that I found worked well was to slap it or spray it with rubbing alcohol.

The sun is bad for your tattoo, even if you've had it for a long time. Wait until it is fully healed before you go back in the sun make sure you put on a high quality sunblock. Do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing though. The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form above it. If you get too dark, some colors may not show as brightly as they used to. Over time, excessive exposure to the sun will cause your tattoo to fade.

How To Take Care Of A Fresh Tattoo

2007-06-24T19:34:00.001-07:00

The first thing you need to is remove the bandage/saran wrap from your tattoo after about an hour. Your new tattoo is a wound and it needs to breathe so it can heal.

Wash the tattoo using your fingertips using a mild antibacterial soap. Remove all traces of blood since this can cause scabbing. Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth during the healing period. Always pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft cloth or let it air dry. Apply a thin coat of ointment to the tattoo. Tattoo Goo, , A&D Ointment and Aquaphor are all very great. Only use enough to make it shine and work it in well. Remove all the excess ointment with a paper towel. You only need enough to keep the tattoo moist to keep it from scabbing. You do not need to re-bandage your tattoo.

You should re-apply ointment whenever the tattoo is starting to feel dry or stiff. Typically three to five times per day for three or four days then switch to a moisturizer such as Keri, Lubriderm, Jergens, or Vaseline Intensive care. Do not use lotions that contain color, fragrance or sparkles until the healing is complete.

If you don't keep it moist it will form a thick scab that may crack when you move. When this kind of scab is formed the ink sits within it and slowly heals into the skin. When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn't have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to protect the tattoo while it heals. Do not peelor pick at your tattoo, you will pull the ink out. It is normal to see small flakes of colored skin falling off during the healing stage.

You must keep your tattoo clean, but long showers or baths should be avoided for 2 weeks. Prolonged soaking can loosen any scabs that may have formed, or will soak through the soft tissue and cause some of your ink to leak out.
Try not to scratch or pick at the tattoo. It will get itchy and a good alternative that I found worked well was to slap it or spray it with rubbing alcohol.

The sun is bad for your tattoo, even if you've had it for a long time. Wait until it is fully healed before you go back in the sun make sure you put on a high quality sunblock. Do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing though. The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form above it. If you get too dark, some colors may not show as brightly as they used to. Over time, excessive exposure to the sun will cause your tattoo to fade.

10 Things To Consider Before You Get A Tattoo

2007-06-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, take a moment to consider your answers to the following 10 questions. You will be glad that you did.1. Is the tattoo artist experienced? This is perhaps the most important thing to consider before hiring any one particular tattoo artist. An experienced professional will be knowledgeable in the proper cleansing of equipment, which is an absolute necessity, and also how to create designs that the customer will enjoy.

2. Will the tattoo image be as important to you in the future as it is right now? For instance, if your tattoo will be in celebration of a love interest, are you absolutely certain that person will be there 10, 20 or even 50 years from now?

3. Why do you want to get the tattoo? Is it because you want to or because someone else wants you to? Is it to fit in with a crowd or possibly a love interest? If you are making any type of permanent marking on your body, including a tattoo, you will want to be sure that you are doing it for the right reasons.

4. Are you prepared to deal with possible consequences that may arise out of getting a tattoo? This may include an infection or severe soreness of the skin at the site of the tattoo. In addition, surgery will be the only way to later remove it if you should ever change your mind.

5. Do you have a design in mind? If you don’t, stop by the local tattoo parlor and ask to see some samples of what is available.

6. Can you afford the tattoo? The larger the tattoo, the larger the cost. Even the smallest tattoo can be expensive, especially if you are on a budget. Before deciding to get the tattoo, make sure that you know how much it will cost and make arrangements to have the full payment ready on the date of it’s application.

7. Do you have a fear of needles? If you do, tattoos may not be for you. Either this or you will have to find some way to put the thought of it out of your mind. A lot of people have a fear of needles and perhaps the best alternative is a temporary tattoo, which are made to look quite realistic these days.

8. What type of tolerance do you have for pain? There is no other way to say it, but getting a tattoo is painful. It does involve needles and you should really consider your level of tolerance before signing up for a tattoo.

9. What will you do if you ever decide to have it removed? Can you afford the cost associated with surgery? The only way to remove a tattoo is through surgery, which can be very expensive. Unless it is for medical reasons, most health insurance policies will not cover the cost of a tattoo removal. This means that the patient will often find themselves with 100% of the financial responsibility and, before getting a tattoo, you should make sure that you will be financially able to handle any future medical procedures that are associated with a tattoo.

10. Are you prepared to treat the area as recommended to avoid infection? This will likely involve keeping the tattoo site covered until it is able to heal properly and keeping it clean in the way that the tattoo artist or physician recommends.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

Before You Decide To Get A Tattoo

2007-06-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

This article which you are about to read has been written because of a growing interest worldwide in tattoos of all types and designs, and I hope that by reading this you will be a bit better prepared before you actually have the tattoo.
Before you decide to get a tattoo, you should always take a little bit of time to talk to your tattoo artist. When you speak to him, you should be sure to ask questions and find out anything you can about your new decoration. You should also find out information about his background, and other important bits of information that will assist you in moving forward with your decision.

The first thing you should find out is how long the parlor has been in business. This will let you know just how professional the quality of work is and the overall reputation for the business. If the parlor belongs to the Better Business Bureau you can always check their record and see if any complaints have been filed about the business in the last few years.

You should also find out about his qualifications as well. Experience is a must here, as infections and other diseases can easily be contracted if the equipment is not clean. Tattoo artists deal with needles on a daily basis, making experience very important. Finding out how much experience and qualifications your artist has will tell you quite a bit about what you can expect from them.

You will also want to find out if the studio guarantees their work. In the unlikely event that you dont like the outcome of the tattoo, you will obviously want it to be fixed. The better studios will fix it without requiring any money. Refund policies are also important, especially if you dont like the quality or the workmanship of the tattoo.

The cost is also very important. Before you decide to get a tattoo or agree to anything, you will obviously want to know the full cost. The bigger tattoos can be quite expensive, although even the smallest of tattoos can be expensive as well, especially if you are on a budget. You can save yourself a lot of time and prevent any type of surprises by knowing the costs upfront.

Now just before we go any further let me just say that at the end of this article I will be giving you some ideas as to how you can find out more information on this subject, as the more that you know the better equipped you will be. So, having said that, lets continue.

Infection is also something you will want to find out about. The better tattoo artists can provide information about infections, and tell you how to prevent them. They will also tell you about their services, and how they can prevent you from getting an infection. When you ask for information he should also be able to tell you exactly what to do if you think you are developing an infection as well.

If you suffer from a fear of needles, you should always ask if there is a way to help you. You should never feel bad about asking, as many people are deathly afraid of needles. Needles are used with tattoos, as there is no other way to put the ink in the skin. If you are afraid of getting a tattoo due to the needles, you should make sure that you let your tattoo artist know. Chances are, he may be able to take extra steps to make the process go as smoothly as possible.

Asking questions is never a bad thing when it comes to getting a tattoo. If a tattoo artist hesitates to answer any question you ask or acts hasty towards you, you should always leave and find another artist. Tattoos always have risks and concern, which is why the artist should be more than willing to answer any questions that you may have. Asking questions can help to ease your concern and make you feel better about the artist, which is why you should always make sure you write a list of questions before you visit the parlor.

Let me finish by saying that there is a lot of information out there on this subject just waiting for you to dig up. You could go to your local bookstore, or your local library and you will be amazed at what you will find. Also look out for some helpfull Blogs on this subject, and then last, but not least, spend a bit of time on the internet conducting your research.

Instantly Removable Tattoo Inks

2007-06-24T19:29:00.001-07:00

Instantly Removable Tattoo Inks Part of the attraction of getting a tattoo for some people has been the permanence of the body art that one chooses to place on their skin. If one tattoos a name on their body, it means that name has permanent meaning for them. Likewise, the designs they choose would be something they would never want to change. New tattoo ink technologies are threatening to change the whole concept of permanency of tattooing. Although there currently exist many methods of tattoo removal, their difficulty and cost make tattoos effectively permanent for most people. Likewise, older methods of removal, such as surgery may be painful and leave significant scarring. Laser tattoo removal, while usually effective, often requires multiple treatments and can be costly.

One company, Freedom-2, is bringing products to market that will change the paradigm of tattooing. Their ink is based on encapsulating bio-absorbable dyes in polymethylmethacrylate microspheres. The dyes in the ink are already FDA-approved for use in food, cosmetics, and medical devices. The ink is injected into the skin by standard tattooing techniques. At any time when removal of the pigment is desired, a single laser treatment disrupts the encapsulation, allowing the ink to flow out into the tissues and be absorbed. The tattoo then quickly fades without the need for further laser treatments. This ink is not yet available for general use, but has been tested in human subjects, according to the company's website. They indicate that it will be commercially available in early 2007.

They are also developing tattoo inks that will fade away on a predetermined schedule without the need for any laser treatments at all. The technology behind this is not elucidated, and there is no date of availability listed yet for this type of product.

The main difference between these two products is that the former is a permanent ink that can be removed anytime, while the latter will last a long time but then fade away, even if the owner prefers it to stay.

Tattoo artists may not instantly take to the new inks. The ability to remove a tattoo is not necessarily the foremost consideration when choosing tattoo inks. Some artists believe that tattoos should be permanent, or one is better off not getting a tattoo if he or she is unsure about them. However, some tattoo shops may choose to cater to the less-decisive. Also, it may encourage more experimentation and fanciful designs, if the recipient knows that they can get the tattoo quickly lasered off if they don't like it. The new ink will likely be significantly more expensive that standard ink, so cost will also be a consideration for artists.

Although a tattoo's ink may be temporary, there is often scarring left behind from the tattoo needle's penetration of the skin. Thus a textural image of the tattoo may remain permanently. Even so, the concept of tattoos as purely permanent body art may be replaced by tattoos as fashion. If a tattoo could be instantly removed, some people may choose to periodically change their tattoos as they would their style of clothing.

Girls And Tattoo's

2007-06-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

How often, when admiring girl tattoos have you said - It suits you? It happens a lot with girls because, often without knowing, they choose a design that represents their personality and character.Men tend to have tattoos as a spur of the moment decision that represent them at that particular stage of their life or perhaps because of a life changing experience such as falling in love or becoming a father. Girl tattoos on the other hand are usually given lots of consideration and thought and this is probably why the relationship between design and girl is so close.

A dragonfly has agility and speed and is confident in its ability. If you have ever tried to scare one away you will also know they are stubborn and persistent. For their size, they are very strong with lots of stamina. A girl with a dragonfy tattoo will have some of these qualities.

The beauty which is a butterfly emerges from the caterpiller and the girl who feels she has matured into a lady and is proud of what she has become will be attracted to a butterfly tattoo. A woman with a free spirit, with a love of the countryside and an understanding of mother nature will find the butterfly tattoo hard to resist.

Its not only the design choice that can represent a girls character. The positioning is also important when it comes to girl tattoos. A day dreamer and romantic will often wear her tattoo on the shoulder.

Girl tattoos on the chest of an animal such as the above two examples would mean she is at one with mother nature while on the lower back shows she has faith in her beliefs and will not be shaken from her path. Girl tattoos below the navel show a virginal quality or perhaps a return to innocence after coming through a bad time in life.

There are of course thousands of different girl tattoos and most will say something about the wearers personality. Even if she didn't know it at the time she will come to look back on the period of her life when she had it done and perhaps realize why she was drawn to that particular design.

If you know a girl well who has a tattoo, think about her personality and character and I bet the girls tattoo isn't far off the mark even if she doesn't know it!

You can learn much more about the charactaristics of Dragonfly Tattoos and lots of other types of tattoos.In The Coming Articles

Tattoos Have Been Showing Up On Thousands Of The World's Sexiest Women Including Many Celebrities

2007-06-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

Tattoos have been showing up on thousands of the world's sexiest women including many celebrities.Here is a fascinating glimpse of 10 world famous celebrities and their fabulous collection of body art. Check out more knockout photos and descriptions at: www.temporarytattoofactory.com

NICOLE RICHIE isn't shy about showing off her unique tattoos, which include wings on her back, "Virgin" on her inner wrist, a gorgeous chain & cross on her foot and ankle. Most interesting is the tattooed ballerina shoes that were inspired by a song her dad, Lionel Richie, wrote for her. VICTORIA BECKHAM, formerly "Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls, has 5 stars on her lower back to signify her 5 family members, her husband's initials on her inner wrist (David Beckhamworld famous soccer star) and a Hebrew script message on her upper back.

VICTORIA BECKHAM, formerly "Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls,is most famous for her husband David's initials on her inner wrist and the 5 stars on her lower back to signify family which includes her husband and 3 children. Also interesting is the Hebrew script on her upper back.

DREW BARRYMORE is known to be a "free spirit' which is reflected in uniques tattoos that she has collected over the last decade. She has a gorgeous angel on her lower back, an adorable butterfly on her belly, a moon & star on her foot...plus several more in hidden spots.

JENNA JAMISON is a world famous adult film star who has "Heartbreaker' tattooed on her gorgeous butt. Her body art collection also includes a flower on her ankle and several others in hidden spots.

MARY BLIGE is one hot and famous diva her back with a truly unique collection of tattoos. She is most famous for the long stemmed rose on her thigh, a band of mystereous letters on her left arm and a Chinese symbol for strength on her right hand...plus several other very interesting designs on her back.

CHER has a truly fabulous tattoo collection. She is known for the gorgeous flowers on her butt, black orchid on her stomach, black rose on her ankle, Chinese symbol for strength on her shoulder and quite a few others.

PAMELA ANDERSON'S barbed wire armband is one of the most copied tattoos in the world today. This gorgeous woman also has a fantastic tribal design covering her upper to lower back and "Mommy" on her finger that used to say "Tommy".

PINK's is one very famouos diva who is known for her super hot tattoo collection...to name a few..."Mr. Pink" on her thigh, Kanji letters for luck/happiness, Dad's dog tags, portrait of her dog, Elvis and quite a few more!

The Steps In Getting A Tattoo

2007-06-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Steps In Getting A Tattoo

Once you have decided that you really want a tattoo and you have your tattoo artist you will be using then the next process is deciding on a particular tattoo design that you want. From this time on is where all of the hard work really starts. Finding the tattoo artist is the easy part but deciding on what tattoo you want will take work. There are tons of different types of tattoos to choose from it makes it pretty hard to find which tattoo design will be best.

It is fun looking through many different kinds of tattoo designs. The type of artwork that you decide to go with will be your own personal preference but there are some tattoo designs that are much more common than other types. For instance, a tribal arm band tattoo is very popular with many men than a rose or butterfly tattoo which is popular with women.

The colors to choose for a tattoo vary widely and all depend on what you like. A rose tattoo does not necessarily have to be yellow or red, but can also be silver or green as there are tons of different meanings with colors. Styles of the tattoo designs will change also depending on the type of body art.

A snake tattoo will tend to be in larger format with bold dark colors, while a dragon tattoo design will have many pieces and dark colors. A butterfly tattoo can be any different colors, size and shape.

Choosing the location of the tattoo is also part of the process. Your tattoo can be put anywhere on your body and some people will put their tattoo in places most won't such as; the top of the head, under the neck, on fingers, feet and many other places you can think of. A tattoo design that is popular with women may not be as popular with men, such as women may choose to have their tattoo on their ankle or lower back, while men have their design put on their backs, shoulders or arms. It is all a matter of style and what the person likes best. There are no wrong places to put your tattoo.

As you can see, the choices of tattoo designs are un-ending and searching for the right tattoo for you might seem like a huge task but of course there are resources that you can use to look for your tattoo.

You can use the internet to begin your research of your tattoo design as there are lots of sources and websites with tattoos. There are many galleries and pictures that you can look through to get an idea of the different tattoo designs that people search for. Most sites will try to sell you templates of tattoo designs, which might be of good to take to your tattoo artist.

If you cannot find the tattoo design on the internet that you want, you can always go to your artist and have them draw out the tattoo you are thinking about. This will cost much more but may be worth it in the long run as once a tattoo is put on the body its very difficult to get rid of. Be sure to spend a lot of time looking for your tattoo and go through many different tattoos to find what you really want.

Custom Tattoo Designs

2007-06-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Custom Tattoo Designs

You're seriously considering getting your own tattoo, however your preliminary searches online have presented you with a whole range of designs and options regarding what sort of tattoo to get. Should you opt for a free design or go all out with a custom design? Right now we'll focus on custom tattoo designs, explore what they are and what the benefits of going custom are.

What are Custom Tattoo Designs?
The name is very self-explanatory. Basically a custom tattoo design is a design which a designer creates just for you. In the truest sense, a custom tattoo design is created by a professional tattoo artist, skilled in the craft of creating tattoos. Many enthusiasts and professionals will argue that it is best to enlist a professional to create a custom design for you, because it is the best way of ensuring your design is of the highest quality. By enlisting a professional tattoo artist, you will also be able to request them to create the stencil of that design for you, so it can be applied directly to your skin. Every tattoo design requires a stencil, and this is always a much easier process if the tattoo artist also creates the design.

Why a Custom Tattoo Design?
A tattoo is a lifelong commitment, unless you have the courage and high pain tolerance threshold required for the laser surgery necessary for removing a permanent tattoo. Due to the fact that a tattoo is permanent, you need to make sure you absolutely love the tattoo that is about to be superimposed onto your skin. Chances are, you may already have a design in mind that you would like, however on the other hand, you may have already spent hours browsing designs and may wish to blend a number of designs into one. If this is the case, a custom tattoo design will be the best way to go.

By choosing to have a custom tattoo designed, you are working with a professional tattoo artist from day one. The artist will be able to create the design just for you, and also create the stencil for that specific design. The stencil will then be used by the tattoo artist when it comes time to superimpose the design onto your skin. Even if you were to design the tattoo yourself or enlist a non-professional to draw your design, your tattoo artist would still need to create the stencil. By engaging the tattoo artist from design through to inking, you are doing everything to ensure your tattoo is of the highest quality. That's really important considering the permanence of the tattoo itself. Ideally you want to be able to display your tattoo proudly, without any embarrassment and custom design is the best way to achieve this.

Choosing your Custom Tattoo Design
If you already have the design you want firmly in your mind, it's simply a matter of meeting with a professional tattoo artist to create something tangible. If you don't as yet know what sort of design you want, the best thing to do is browse as many tattoo designs as possible. The internet is a great place to start and there are articles on this website that will direct you to quite a number of good tattoo design websites. As you will find, there are many tattoo design websites that will charge people a membership fee, if they wish to access and download design ideas. By all means join such websites if you haven't been able to find inspiration from other designs you may have seen. These membership sites typically have a huge range of tattoo designs to choose from, and clearly, the more designs you see, the more of an idea you will eventually have when it comes to the tattoo you want. There are also a large number of tattoo enthusiast communities online, where people will post photographs of their tattoos and this may also provide you with inspiration that will help you to choose the design for you.

Finding the Inspiration for your Custom Tattoo Design
By conducting simple searches for terms such as, "tattoo designs" and "tattoo design galleries" using your favorite search engines, you will find a great array of tattoo design galleries for you to check out. It will take you time to find the designs that most appeal to you, because there are just so many options out there.

FREE TATTOO FLASH

2007-06-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

SEE YOUR NEXT TATTOO HERE

Safe Tattooing

2007-06-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Safe Tattooing -

Contents:
- Disease questions and answers
- Needle stick effects and outlawed States
- Disinfection and sterilization
- Pigments, red reactions and other complications

Summary:

In spite of popular concern about AIDS, the most serious potential complication of tattooing is still Hepatitis B. The hepatitis B virus is extremely contagious and can be transmitted from the customer to the tattoo artist if the tattoo artist accidentally sticks himself with a contaminated needle, or from one customer to another if needles and tubes are not properly sterilized.

Tattoo artists should be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Sterilization of tubes and needles in an autoclave and use of disposable gloves will prevent the transmission of the hepatitis B virus from one customer to another. Sterilization cannot be effected by boiling or by immersion in chemical disinfectants.

Other reported complications of tattooing include allergic reactions to pigments, aggravation of existing skin disease, and keloid scarring.

A friend of mine who had worked successfully as a tattoo artist for over eight years recently quit tattooing because she was afraid of getting AIDS. She had tattooed a man who later died of AIDS. After hearing about his death she remembered that while tattooing him she had accidentally scratched herself with a contaminated needle. She went to her doctor for an AIDS test. The test was negative, but the doctor, who considered tattooing an abomination, did his best to frighten her by telling her how dirty and dangerous it is.

After talking to her I wondered whether there were any reports in the medical literature of AIDS being transmitted by tattooing. A few hours in the library turned up some interesting information on the transmission of infectious diseases among health care workers who accidentally stick themselves with contaminated needles. Most of this literature is also relevant to tattooing.

Almost all the published material is good news for tattoo artists. If tubes and needles are properly sterilized and the artist is reasonably careful, tattooing is almost 100% safe for both the customer and the artist. The risks are minimal. However, there are certain risks, and by being aware of them and taking appropriate precautions we can avoid them.

So here are some questions I asked the library, and some answers it gave me.

Suppose I'm working on a customer who has AIDS and I accidentally stick myself with a contaminated needle. Will I get AIDS?

Your chance of getting AIDS this way is about one in 200. Statistics collected worldwide show that of 1,852 health care workers who accidentally stuck themselves with AIDS contaminated needles, only 9 contracted the disease.(1, 2)

Why is the transmission rate so low? I heard that intravenous drug users get AIDS from contaminated needles.

In order for AIDS to be transmitted a small amount of blood (at least 0.1 ml = 2 drops) must be passed from one individual to another. Intravenous drug users commonly use their own blood to wash out any residue of the drug remaining in the syringe while the needle is still in the vein. This practice is called "flushing" or "booting." As a result, a small amount of blood can be transferred when needles are shared. In the case of an accidental needlestick injury the needle usually penetrates the skin superficially and is immediately withdrawn, with the result that little or no blood is transferred. (3)

What percentage of the population carries the AIDS virus?

About a million people in the US. are thought to be carriers of the virus. Most of these people do not have AIDS symptoms and do not know they have the virus. The total population of the US is about 250 million, so it is estimated that one person in 250 carries the virus. About 80,000 of these individuals have symptoms and have been diagnosed as having AIDS. (4, 5)

How many doctors and other health care workers have been infected with AIDS from accidental needlestick injuries?

Thirty-seven such cases were reported in North America and Europe between 1984 and 1991. This includes 5 doctors, 9 nurses, one dentist, and the rest lab technicians and other health care workers (1). A number of other cases of AIDS among health care workers are under investigation but have not been positively documented.(2)

So what are the odds that a tattoo artist will get AIDS from his customers?

Your chance of getting AIDS from a random needlestick is about one in 200 times 250, or one in 50,000. To put it another way, you'd have to tattoo 50,000 customers and stick yourself once for very customer before you could be reasonably sure of getting AIDS.

Is there any case on record of a tattoo artist who got AIDS as the result of sticking himself with a needle he used on a customer?

No. A computer search of the literature from 1981-1991 failed to reveal a single reported case of AIDS which had been transmitted by professional tattooing in North America. There are, however, two cases on record in which AIDS was apparently transmitted by tattooing in prison, where no attempt was made to sterilize the needles. (6)

Are there any other diseases you can get from accidentally sticking yourself with a contaminated needle?

Yes. A recent study has identified 22 diseases which have been transmitted by needlestick injuries. Among these are syphilis, malaria, tuberculosis, and a lot of other things you don't want to get. The disease which is most often transmitted this way is hepatitis B.(7)

Have doctors and other health care workers been infected with hepatitis B due to needlestick injuries or other exposure to contaminated blood?

Yes. Centers for Disease Control estimates that every year about 12,000 health care workers are infected with the hepatitis B virus due to accidents on the job. About 20% of health care workers show evidence of past or present infection with the hepatitis B virus. (2)

How dangerous is it?
Many individuals infected with the hepatitis B virus have no symptoms and do not know that they have been infected. About 25% of infected persons develop acute hepatitis. Some 10% of these will become chronic carriers of the virus. They can infect others and are at risk of developing chronic liver disease, including chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, and primary liver cancer. One or two per cent will die of the disease. (2)
Why is hepatitis B transmitted by needlestick injuries more often than AIDS?

There are two reasons.

1. The hepatitis B virus is harder to kill than the AIDS virus. The Hepatitis B virus forms spores which can survive indefinitely outside the body. These spores can only be killed by heating to 121 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes in an autoclave. (11) In contrast, the AIDS virus will not survive more than a few days outside the body. It can be killed by boiling water, immersion in alcohol, bleach, and many other disinfectants. (22)

2. The hepatitis B virus is highly infectious. Experiments on human volunteers have shown that infection can occur if as little as 0.00004 ml (0. 04 microlitres) of blood is transferred from one individual to another (as opposed to 0.1 ml for AIDS). If you stick yourself with a needle you've used on a customer who has hepatitis B, your chance of getting the disease is about one in five (compared with one in 200 for AIDS. (1)

What percentage of the general population carries the hepatitis B virus ?

In the general population of the US about 2 persons in a thousand are or have been infected. The incidence of infection is much higher (5 to 15%) among certain high risk groups such as homosexuals, persons with multiple sexual contacts, intravenous drug users, ex-prisoners, immigrants from Asia, and health care workers. (1)

Has hepatitis B ever been transmitted by tattooing?

Yes. A number of cases have been reported. The best known of these occurred in 1960 when New York City health officials blamed tattoo artists for 30 cases of hepatitis B and one death. The alleged cause of the problem was improper sterilization of instruments and the use of contaminated pigments. As a result, the New York City Board of Health outlawed tattooing in 1961. Two New York tattoo artists appealed the ruling and the case dragged on until 1966, when the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the lower court. (8)

Has tattooing been outlawed in other places in the US.?

Yes. These include Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, , Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. (9)

Are there any recent cases on record of a case of hepatitis B which was transmitted by tattooing?

There is no report in the literature of a case of hepatitis B which was transmitted by professional tattooing in North American during the last ten years.

What about places outside North America?

There are a number of reports of hepatitis B which was transmitted by tattooing in third world countries. The cause in every case was improperly sterilized needles.

Is there a vaccination for hepatitis B?

Yes. An effective vaccine has been available since 1982.

Who should get it?

It is recommended for all health care workers and others who might be exposed to human blood and other body fluids.

How much does it cost?

About $100.00

Will I be immune as soon as I get vaccinated?

No. The vaccination takes up to 6 months to become effective, and about 10% of those who are vaccinated will not become immune. In addition, there is another form of hepatitis, termed hepatitis C, against which there is no effective immunization. (1)

Has hepatitis C ever been transmitted by tattooing?

Yes. There is one case on record. (10)

How can I protect myself against needlestick injuries?

Studies of needlestick injuries among health care workers have identified three major risk factors: work pressure, fatigue, and lack of experience. Appropriate rest periods will help to minimize the danger of a needlestick. A study of needlestick injuries in hospitals revealed that over 80% of the injuries occurred not during use, but when instruments were being discarded or prepared for re-sterilization. (1) In tattooing, extra care should be taken when the tube and needle bar are being removed from the machine. Assuming the artist is right handed, a heavy general purpose utility glove worn on the left hand would help to minimize the danger of a needlestick injury.

Needlestick injuries have been sustained by hospital cleaning staff when handling garbage bags containing contaminated needles. Therefore contaminated needles should never be put in a wastebasket or a garbage bag. Never
leave contaminated needles lying around where someone could touch them.

How should contaminated needles be disposed of?

It is recommended that contaminated needles be placed in a puncture-proof plastic container. The container and its contents should be incinerated. (1) For the tattoo artist, a practical solution would be to put used needles in a plastic bottle of bleach. Bleach is a powerful disinfectant. When full, the bleach can be drained off and the bottle and needles can be disposed of in an incinerator.

How else should I protect myself?

Wear disposable latex or vinyl examination gloves. If you take a break to smoke or touch anything other than your machine and tube, remove the gloves and dispose of them. Put on new gloves when you start to work again. Anything which touches your gloves should be regarded as contaminated. Don't touch blood, used tissues, needles, tubes, or anything else which has touched blood with your bare hands. Dispose of used gloves and tissues in a double-duty garbage bag and send it to the incinerator.

What about sterilization?

All visible traces of blood and pigment must be removed from the instruments to be sterilized. The best way to do this is to scrub them with a brush and then clean them in an ultrasonic tank.

Many microorganisms form spores which can survive prolonged periods of boiling. They can also withstand immersion in Cidex (glutaraldehyde), Benzal (benzalconium chloride solution = zephiran), alcohol, or any other disinfectant. The hepatitis B virus is one of these microorganisms. The National Institute of Health recommends that instruments capable of transmitting the hepatitis B virus be sterilized in an autoclave at 121 degrees centigrade for thirty minutes.(11)

Can I use a pressure cooker instead of an autoclave?

Yes, but in order for sterilization to occur most of the air must be removed from the pressure cooker. Put the instruments to be sterilized and heat-sensitive autoclave tape into the pressure cooker and screw the lid on, but do not put the weighted cap on the vent. Let the water come to a boil and blow off steam for five minutes. During this time about one cup of water will boil off and much of the air will be expelled. Then place the weighted cap on the vent and cook for at least 30 minutes. Put the pressure cooker in a sink and run cold water over it. This causes the steam to condense. When you take the weighted cap off you will hear a sucking sound. This is the air rushing in to replace the air which was expelled. If the autoclave tape has turned black, you will know that sterilization has occurred.

Are there other methods of sterilization ?

Gas (ethylene oxide) and dry heat sterilizers are also effective, but are more expensive and time consuming than autoclaving.

Are there any reports of diseases other than AIDS and hepatitis B which have been transmitted by tattooing during the last ten years?

Four cases have been reported. All of them were outside North America, and all were due to the use of unsterilized needles. These include two cases of leprosy, one of tuberculosis, and one of blood poisoning. (13, 14, 15, 16)

Are there any other medical problems which can be caused by tattooing?

The most commonly reported problem is the red reaction. This consists of swelling, inflammation, and itching in the red part of a tattoo. It is often initiated and aggravated by exposure to sun light. Usually it is first noticed some years after the tattooing was done. The reported time lag varies from one to 16 years. In many individuals it is a minor and transient inconvenience, but in some it becomes so severe that it requires treatment by a dermatologist.

What percentage of my customers will have a severe red reaction?

In an attempt to determine the total number of red reactions in the tattooed population of Britain, Naval Surgeon R.W.B. Scutt sent questionnaires to 100 British dermatologists. They reported that during a nine year period (1960-1968) they had seen a total of 57 patients with red reactions. In other words, there were 5 or 6 cases per year in "a tattooed population of at least one million." (17). During the last ten years (1980-1991) seven papers on the red reaction have appeared in American and British medical journals. In all, 26 individual cases were reported. This works out to about four per year in a tattooed population of many millions.

What causes the red reaction?

At the time of Scutt's survey some tattoo artists were using red pigments which contained mercury. Scutt reported that of 57 patients with red reactions, 45 showed mercury sensitivity when tested. It was then believed that most red reactions were caused by mercury sensitivity. Since the publication of Scutt's paper a variety of other red pigments have been used in tattooing, including cadmium red (cadmium selenide), sienna/red ochre (ferric hydrate), and organic substances such as sandalwood and brazilwood. (18) But for reasons which are not fully understood, red reactions continue to be reported.

How can the red reaction be treated?

Mild cases respond to treatment with topical ointments. In more severe cases the removal of the tattoo by dermabrasion or other methods has been attempted. Recently the red reaction has responded to carbon dioxide laser treatment which "led to complete resolution of symptoms with an excellent cosmetic result and preservation of the tattoo design." (19)

Are there problems with other colors?

No reports of reactions to colors other than red have appeared since 1980. Before 1980 there were a number of reports of reactions to chromium in green tattoo pigment, cobalt in blue pigment, and cadmium in yellow pigment. (20)

What about other complications?

Certain cutaneous diseases may be aggravated by tattooing and develop locally within the tattooed area. There are a few reports of psoriasis in tattoos, and a few reports of keloid scars developing in tattoos. It might be wise to ask customers if they are subject to psoriasis or to keloid scarring.

Where can I find out more about tattoo complications?

There are three excellent reviews of the literature: Scutt (1972), Goldstein (1979) and Wilkes (1986) (17, 20, 21). These papers contain extensive bibliographies.

Where can I find out more about sterilization?

The standard work on sterilization is Principles and methods of sterilization in health sciences by John J. Perkins (11).

The British Medical Association publishes two pamphlets which contain much practical information: A code of practice for the safe use and disposal of sharps, (1) and A code of practice for sterilisation of instruments and control of cross infection (12). These pamphlets should be available in any medical library or they can be ordered from: The British Medical Association, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP.

Centers for Disease Control publishes a periodical titled MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) which is available in any medical library. A recent issue dealing with the prevention of AIDS and hepatitis is: Guidelines for prevention of transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and hepatitis B Virus to health care and public safety workers. (2) Copies can be ordered from: U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington, D.C. 20402-9235

The Ultimate Tattoo Collection

2007-06-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

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Vital Mistakes Of Chinese Tattoos & How To Avoid Them

2007-06-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Vital Mistakes Of Chinese Tattoos & How To Avoid Them
Chinese Symbols have a particular attraction: “Yes, Chinese characters have a complex beauty as well as individual meanings. People who get Chinese tattoos are often drawn to this. Unfortunately, the flip-side is that there are a lot of pitfalls for the unwary. I have personally seen such elementary mistakes as a tattoo with the Chinese Symbol being tattooed reversed or defaced.The vivid samples of such mistakes of Chinese Symbol tattoos as below :

1 Missing strokes and defacing Symbols
The majority of tattoo artists in western countries know nothing about Chinese, not to mention how to write them correctly. Missing strokes are common mistakes and thus making the tattoos meaningless, and the poor penmanship defaces the Chinese characters and makes them look ugly. Wearing meaningless Chinese symbol tattoos is embarrassing. The following photos are the examples of missing strokes and degaced chinese symbols, the red characters besides the circle are the correct one.

2 Chinese Symbols Being Tattooed Backwards
A much more common mistake is that the Chinese characters are flipped horizontally or vertically and thus is a mirror image of what it should be. I think this might be the problem when people use temporary tattoos or work from those because after a while they might get confused as to which side is the correct one. To have a Chinese symbol tattooed on you backwards is also embarrassing. The pictures below show you how a Chinese character being tattooed backwards. the red characters are correct one.

3 Mistranslation
Chinese characters are complex and can easily be mean something other than intended. Get the wrong one and your new Chinese symbol tattoo will be a permanent source of embarrassment to you! A lady has told me her Chinese symbol tattoos experiences:/p> After deciding have a Chinese writing tattoo, She went to Chinese restaurant and pull over a Chinese waiter and asked him to write out the word "free" in Chinese characters for her, free has two meaning in English dictionary, the first one is free of charge and the second meaning is freedom which was the lady wanted, the waiter wrote down the first meaning in Chinese for the lady. The lady ended up with the sign "free of charge" on her skin and it was end up with spending US$900 to remove the tattoos.

4 Do not Know the Meaning
I have come across many western people who do not know the meaning of their Chinese writing tattoos .Tattoo is a way of self expression. if anyone curiously ask you the meaning of your tattoos, answering them either do not know or make up the meaning is quite awkward.

5. Choosing Kanji from Tattoo Parlors.
Some Tattoo parlors present some dozens of Kanji either on the wall or on the binders for their customers to choose, Most of these Kanjis are either missing strokes or being mistranslated, you would make mistake from the right begaining if you choose them from Tattoo parlors. Moreover, do you think you can pick up your dream tattoos which would express who you are from a handful of kanjis. The picture was taken from a tattoo parlor in L.A. USA. the Kanji on the picture with a red circle are either missing strokes or being mistranslated.

Here are the advice when planning to get a Chinese Symbol tattoo: Click To See Some Funny Mistakes That You Don;t Want To Have On Your Back

Tatoo Removal

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Lasers have been developed in recent decades specifically to treat and remove marks from human skin. Laser treatment is now the standard method of removal for unwanted tattoos. Laser removal is low risk, non-invasive, and has a very low incidence of scarring (about 5%).

IPL – Intense Pulsed Light Therapy does not involve lasers, but the two processes are similar. IPL has been used to treat and remove irregularities in the skin such as birthmarks, hair, discolorations etc. The advantages of Tattoo removal with IPL include the short recovery time (there is a no burning and very little sensitivity), and patients need to wait only 3-4 weeks between treatments. The greatest advantage is that most tattoos can be removed with only 3-4 sessions. The drawback is the expense - IPL can cost $10 and more per pulse.

The Process starts with a consultation with a dermatologist. Be sure to choose one who is experienced in the removal of tattoos. The practitioner can give you a good estimate of how many visits you may require and what end results you can expect based upon the size, age and color (or colors) of your tattoo. Remember, however, that the estimate may not be exact. There are around 100 different tattoo inks in use today, and some can be removed more easily than others.
The Pain of the laser pulse is most often compared to the sensation of having hot grease spattered on the skin, hair removed by extraction or to being repeatedly snapped with a rubber band. Some people don’t take anything against the pain, but the dermatologist can supply a topical skin cream that will numb the area, or even inject local anesthesia. You might also take an over the counter painkiller like acetaminophen (found in Tylenol®) prior to the procedure. Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (found in Advil®) are not recommended, as they may result in bruising.

The Procedure usually lasts 15-30 minutes per session. It involves laser pulses passing through the epidermis of your skin and into the dermis, where the tattoo ink absorbs the light energy. Over the following three to six weeks, the skin naturally removes the ink, which has been fragmented by the laser energy. A low-grade inflammation may occur after each procedure; this has been compared to mild sunburn, and any discomfort usually passes within a few days. After the skin has rested and the immune system has done its job (usually after 4-8 weeks), the patient is ready for another visit to the dermatologist.
The Professionally applied tattoo may be easier to remove than an amateur tattoo, or it may be more difficult. A good tattoo artist will apply all of the ink evenly in the same level of the dermis, which makes removal more predictable. But the newer inks found in tattoo parlors may also be brighter and more difficult to remove. Black, blue and red inks are most responsive to lasers and easiest to remove. Tattoos with green and yellow inks are the most resistant. Old tattoos may be easier to remove than new ones, as the inks can fade over time.

The Price and the total time involved depends on the size, age, and color of the tattoo. Each laser removal session can cost from $200-$1500, depending upon your practitioner. Most insurance companies don’t cover tattoo removal, since it is considered a cosmetic procedure. Some tattoos can be removed in 6-8 sessions, while others may require 16-18 sessions spanning over two years or more. As you can see, the removal of a tattoo can be quite costly in money and in time, but it can be worth the expense.

Tatoo Conventions

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If you’re looking for a quick introduction into the world and the culture of tattoos, you can find no better place to start than at a convention. Of course they aren’t just for newcomers, but also a great place for enthusiasts to meet the legends of the tattoo world, to make new friends and to get more ink.
The Artists attend not only to do business and create more living art, they can also look forward to meeting up with old friends and to attending seminars about the latest techniques. Conventions offer something for everyone who is interested and involved in the world of tattoos.
Conventions vary in size and scope, some are local festivals lasting a day or two and featuring the talent from one particular city or area, others can last up to a week and draw artists and attendees from around a region, country, or even from all around the globe. Some of the highlights:
The Artists: Artists set up booths where they display photographs of their work and apply body art.

The Contests: Usually there will be competitions run for tats inked on a particular day and for the duration of the convention. Categories may include such as “Best Gray Scale,” “Best Sleeve (Arm or Leg),” “Most Original Design,” etc.

The Seminars: Some of the larger conventions will feature seminars on how to master techniques like gray scale, the latest health procedures, or how to maintain your equipment, etc. These are taught by professionals and generally last for several hours.

The Entertainment: You might find live bands, DJ’s spinning the tunes, parties (often held somewhere off-site but close to the convention venue), and even sideshows and “freak shows” featuring unique acts - even fashion shows turned up. Some conventions will also have car & bike shows, sometimes skateboard demonstrations or play areas for the kids.

The Extras: There may be art exhibitions on the history of tattoos or the designs of certain artists, etc. Sometimes you can view old machinery on display.

The Goods: Not only could you get a new one, you will probably also find that body piercing is available at the convention. There may be body painting and henna done as well. Vendors will be supplying food, apparel, cosmetics, accessories and jewelry.