Saturday, May 15, 2010

My Japanese Tattoo Can Be Yours

Is it surprising to you that so many people have tattoos? If so, it should not be! Why is that, you ask? Human beings have been tattooing themselves for centuries. The form of body art is a type of self expression that for hundreds of years has enabled individuals to express their uniqueness, make a statement with the tattoos and look good in some instances. Especially today, tattoos can be great cosmetic additions to your body.

One company that can help with your quest for a good tattoo is My Japanese Tattoo. Specializing in Kanji tattoos, that is, tattoos that are characters from the Japanese language and culture, My Japanese Tattoo can offer you something that not many people have. This type of tattoo is certainly appropriate and sufficient for the many reasons why you're getting a tattoo, and it says something that the Kanji tattoos have been a part of Japanese culture for so long. It must be something about them that appeals to us.

While a Japanese character or symbol tattoo might not be your kind of thing, one does make for a good tattoo. Expressive in and of themselves, the tattoos express both their symbolic meaning as well as many characteristics of yourself. By studying and researching the Kanji tattoos, you are sure to come up with one that fits you will both theoretically and physically in terms of cosmetics and overall appearance. My Japanese Tattoo is able to help you in this area of getting a suitable tattoo.

Withdraw From the American Tattoo Bank

You've seen many tattoos in your life. Who has not seen so many tattoos? It is not surprising. Tattoos are a form of self expression; a type of body art that predates our modern times and goes back centuries. If people have been getting tattoos for this long, surely there must be a good reason. On the same token, you may have considered getting a tattoo. Here are a few things you should know about getting one.

In recent years, there have been artists and companies who offer a pre-designed selection of tattoo designs. One such venue is the American Tattoo Bank. Self-proclaimed as the "biggest tattoo bank", American Tattoo Bank contains over 4,000 tattoo designs. With such a high number of tattoo designs, you will be sure to find a design that is right for you, one that reflects your personality. The sheer number of designs available almost ensures that you won't wind up getting the same tattoo as many other people who choose from American Tattoo Bank.

While designs already made can be limiting in some forms, not everyone has the ability to envision the kind of tattoo they will look good with. American Tattoo Bank and its large selection of designs give you the right amount of choices that any potential tattoo wearer should have. With such an important and life changing decision to make, it is important to make a choice with professionals and the folks running American Tattoo Bank are most likely your best bet in the field.

Tatto Designs - Kanji Style

Tattoos are used for uniqueness, religious reasons, and also for good luck, happiness, and love. When you decide to get a tattoo for luck, happiness or love, you always think of foreign languages. Everything we do in todays life is related to our culture, so, for a change, you think of foreign words that give you luck and more. One of those foreign style is called Kanji that contains Japanese text. If you think about it, there is a stereotype about getting Japanese letter printed as they look cool and very different from the everyday tattoos. The Kanji style tattoos are always written in vertical manner because there is no other way to write Japanese.

All different kanji tattoos have different meanings. You can get a tattoo describing your personality, something that brings you luck or even just your name in Japanese. Finding what kanji tattoo is the best for you is the hardest part. You can find some kanji designs on the internet, but if you want the real deal, you can always go on to the Tattoo Review site, where they offer the reviews of the best tattoo design sites that offer your unique Kanji Style tattoo design. The site also compares the prices and quality of the site, so that you can get the tattoo design at the best deal.

Famous celebrities from all around the world get these Kanji style tattoos, so they can be more lucky, happy and more in love. One of those many famous celebrities is Victoria Beckham, wife of David Beckham and the owner of Victoria's secrets. She has a Kanji style tattoo on the back of her neck. Another world famous celebrity with a Kanji style tattoo is Britney Spears, who has a kanji style tattoo on the back of her neck. One last, but not the least, celebrity who has a kanji tattoo is Pink. She has a kanji tattoo above her left ankle for luck.

After learning this much about Kanji Style tattoos, I believe that now it is time for you to get your own tattoo. The best part after getting a kanji tattoo is that everybody is going to start asking you for the meaning of your tattoo and you can tell them anything you want.

Tatto Removal - Be Careful and Stay Safe With This Information

Are you about to decide on a tattoo removal method? Want to know what method is safest and most effective? Do you want to know if it's something you could even do at home, on your own?

If you need accurate answers to these questions and more about the process of removing a tattoo, then you need to continue reading this. You are about to discover the safest and most effective way to remove a tattoo without spending much or harming yourself.

For so many years people getting tattoos had no way of effectively and effortlessly getting rid of such tattoos. But all that has changed. There are now several ways to remove those tattoos. Some ways are safer than others.

Some are really simple while others could leave a permanent scar on you. Please note that it's very important that you choose the right tattoo removal method that suites you.

The first thing you need to do is learn about the different methods of removal available to you. This is a very vital stage. It would be wrong of you to select a method of removing your tattoo without first educating yourself about the different methods and any risk involved.

You need to know the pros and cons of each method. Don't make the fatal mistake of simply following the recommendation of a friend or family member. Learn more yourself.

There are both surgical and non surgical methods of removal available to you. Some of the well known surgical methods include; laser tattoo removal, Cryosurgical tattoo removal, Dermabrasion removal, Salabrasion methods include, Excision method, Plastic surgical, tissue expansion method e.t.c.

Non - surgical methods include; TCA tattoo removal, Glycolic acid method, Hydroquinone method, I.R.C. (Infrared Coagulation) method, Chemical extraction method, the tattoo fading cream method e.t.c. The list goes on and on.

The tattoo removal method you choose shouldn't harm you and should be effective and affordable. I really urge you to begin by finding out the best method for you.

Tattos for Women? You Bet!

It's not really known how long tattooing has been around but it's quite possibly as long as 12,000 years ago and we do know the ancient Egyptians practiced the art of tattooing.

One may think the art of tattooing has its history mainly with men. Not so. Women from various cultures tattooed their bodies for a variety of reasons. Take the women from Borneo. They would mark themselves to show what they were skilled at, such as weaving or a gatherer of medicinal herbs. This communicated their rank as marriage material. In western Asia, girls were marked in such a way as to show their place in society.

Tattooing has gone through its ups and downs over the centuries, has even been banned many times in different cultures for periods of time. It appears that tattooing will never really go away. During periods of a ban it seems to go underground until such time it is free to resurface.

Tattooing, (which is a Tahitian word meaning "to be marked") in some cultures, has only the women being allowed to do the markings.

Today's women are free to make their own choices in regards to tattooing. It is becoming more and more popular to have artistic designs placed just about anywhere on the body. You commonly see tattoos adorning an ankle, or husbands or boyfriends names on a forearm. Some women like to have a private tattoo for their spouse only.

Even celebrities are getting them such as Pamela Anderson and Christina Applegate.

Even twenty years ago, you did not see tattoos on women very much. Now you can go to any beach and see a design on the lower back of young girls tanning in the sun.

There are many types of tattoos to choose from such as gothic or Celtic design, Polynesian or Tahitian. Our current day artists are becoming more creative in their custom patterns. You can choose from the old or new designs

Should you choose to get a tattoo, make sure you are dealing with a reputable shop that is safety conscious.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Celtic Design Tattoos - Pure and Powerful Art

Celtic design tattoos, both because of their ancient historical symbolism and because they are simply among the most beautiful tattoos in the entire tattoo universe, are among the most requested of all tattoo designs. Both men and women of all ages have become intrigued with the aura surrounding Celtic design tattoos, and are hoping some of it will rub off on them.

The inspiration for Celtic design tattoos originated in Great Britain, dating as far back as drawings from the sixth century which appeared in manuscripts of Scripture which was copied in elaborate calligraphy by the Christian monks of the period. The manuscript decoration was extremely ornate, but Celtic design tattoos can be as intricate or as simple as their wearers desire.

The Monks responsible for the Celtic manuscript had the responsibility of combining the pagan imagery of the Celts with their accepted Christian symbols, to aid in the evangelization of the Celtic peoples. The Celtic design tattoos which most clearly illustrate this blending of symbolism is the Celtic cross tattoo, which is a traditional Christian cross with a circle at its center said to represent the ancient Druidic symbol for the sun.

Celtic design tattoos are most often known for their fascinating knots and interlacing, or "plaitwork" which will entertain viewers endlessly as they try to unravel them. The Celtic knot is another Druidic symbol, evoking the unending cycles of life and death, and the perfect and eternal circle.

The universal appeal of Celtic design tattoos, in fact, many lie in their abstract nature. With flowing spirals, squares, and geometrical forms, they are more of an attempt to create an emotion in the viewer rather than to be representational art.

One of the most delightful elements of Celtic design tattoos, in fact, is in their portrayal of animals. The animals in Celtic design tattoos are as complex as the Celtic knots; cats, deer, dogs, lions, tigers, birds and dragons are portrayed when the lines and thread of plaitwork, instead on forming eternal knots and loops, end with the depiction of animal heads, feet and tails. Many of the animals are inspired by medieval depictions of animals, and have a highly appealing air of whimsy.

The shamrock, of course, is one of the oldest Celtic design tattoos; while for the Irish it signifies excellence, and even has religious significance as a sign of the Holy Trinity, it is most widely known as a good luck charm. Those of Irish descent are especially fond of using an Celtic Shamrock tattoo to display their pride in their heritage.

The one drawback to having Celtic deign tattoos done is that they demand a tattoo artist with an exceptional amount of skill. Their symmetrical designs require a precise outline and steady had in the inking process, and some of them can take hours to complete. But done properly, Celtic design tattoos are true works of art!

Design Tattoos - Create Using Oriental Lettering

One of the cool things about many of the newer online tattoo sites is they offer you the ability to design tattoos to meet whatever message you are trying to convey through your body art.

Sites like Chopper Tattoo offer the ability to use traditional oriental lettering in whatever arrangement you desire to create an original message, statement or work of art you would like to have tattooed at your local shop. This is a far cry from the old days where you would go into your local shop and they would only have the standard selection of oriental phrases that millions of other people have as well. Not very original and you also run the risk of getting something that may not really mean what you think it means.

Being able to take the wording and symbols from a online resource and assemble them yourself allows you to design tattoos that you know what they mean and are exactly what you want to say. You can also design tattoos for personal work by requesting certain designs in detail and have them made up and placed on the site for you to download and carry in to your local artist to have done for you.

I personally love what the new online sites have done for those that want to design tattoos either for their own, as a gift for someone else or even a young artist trying to build up a portfolio of designs for his customer base. Any artist that can design tattoos has a distinct advantage over one that is stuck with using whatever artwork they can find out there that every other artist is using as well

I recently had some artwork done on my lower leg in Japanese symbols and in searching through tons of pages I founds various symbols that all seemed to mean the same thing. Using my Chopper membership I was able to verify the correct symbol, make modifications to fit the look I wanted and print it out for my local shop. It turned out exactly how I wanted it to look and it made me feel like I had a hand in the design tattoos process.

The Allure of Star Design Tattoos

When deciding what type of tattoo to get, a good choice is always star design tattoos, because you have many different possibilities with this type. There is a wide range of areas where you can put a star tattoo art. These range from the lower back to the hip and even shoulders or arms.

There are many different types of stars that you can get, giving you a multitude of choices. If you are leaning towards getting a star, first decide what type you want and then decide location because there are some stars like a shooting star that would look better as a shoulder star tattoo rather then on your lower back.

Another thing that you need to decide on is how many points you want your star to have, especially if you are only planning on having one star instead of a cluster. You need to decide what you want the star tattoo meaning to be. You also need to take into consideration the direction that the star will be pointing. The reason for this is that different directions mean different things. An example of this would be the pentacle. The pentacle is a five pointed star where the top point is facing up and it signifies the Wiccan religion and represents energy and life. Now if you accidentally turn this upside down it creates an entirely different meaning. This type is actually the exact opposite and represents satanic meaning and a darker side. So make sure you know the origin of the direction and you have it pointing the way you really want it.

There is other star tattoo art as well. Like the Star of David which has six points and another star that's used as a magical symbol which also has six points called a hexagram. There is also a seven pointed star that is often placed inside a box to symbolize finite and a fairy star or septagram. This one is also a symbol of magic. Most star tattoo ideas hold a religious meaning to them like the eight pointed star known as the Star of Redemption or Regeneration.

Now that you know stars by themselves hold a lot of meaning and can be quite beautiful, you need to decide if you want a single star or a combination. Well, the star is great by itself it can also be combined with other symbols like the sun and/or moon. When putting different shapes together it can take on a more fairy tale appearance so take that into consideration when deciding. Another option is using various size stars together in designs like shooting stars. Regardless of the reason behind the star, if you are going to have a multitude of stars in one area it is always a good idea to use different sizes. This makes the star design tattoo more appealing. Some really good locations on the body to consider are star arm tattoos and star ankle tattoos.

Stars hold a truly magical meaning regardless of the religious meaning behind them and are extremely beautiful to look at. They are often called the diamonds of the sky and for good reason. They are often times associated with dreams and draw in our attention. They allow you to really express yourself as an individual and can be quite powerful.

Design Tattoos - The Beauty of Body Art

Once reserved for bikers and promiscuous women, tattoos are now found on millions of people - regular folks like you and me. Getting a tattoo is almost becoming commonplace, and it has opened a whole new field of employment, as well. If you are the artistic type, you may want to consider the possibility of learning how to design tattoos. Many people consider their tattoo a work of art, and many tattoo artists are reaping the financial and emotional rewards of having living canvasses. In recent studies, people who design tattoos report a very high satisfaction rate with their chosen profession, and a good tattoo designer is worth his weight in gold to any tattoo parlor.

How do you learn to design tattoos? You should start with paper and pencil as early as you possibly can. When you are in school, take art classes and practice drawing as much as possible. If you have a love of art and a talent for creating beauty on paper, you may be just the person someone needs to design tattoos.

If you have already gone through school and have a flair for art, you too can learn to design tattoos. Contact a local community college for classes in art or even in tattoo art specifically. They are becoming increasingly more common. Check out some books and websites devoted to the art of tattoo design. Go to a local tattooist and ask about the possibility of submitting some of your work or learning under his tutelage. You never know, maybe you were meant to have your art walking around every day. Maybe you were meant to design tattoos.

Dolphin Tattoo Designs - Tattoos For Both Men and Women

Dolphins have always been a favorite animal tattoo because of the friendliness and the warmth that it exudes. It is a loving and adorable creature that the mariners worldwide considered it as their protector and guide in the ocean. They are not actually a fish, but a member of the mammal family and one of the only few that are blessed with such playfulness and compassion for the humans.

For the ancient Greeks, dolphins are regarded as symbols of both the divine and wisdom since Apollo himself took the form of a dolphin. As a tattoo design, it can represent one's love for the ocean and everything related to it such as surfing, sunny beaches and pretty women. It can also symbolize a fun, carefree personality as how the dolphin itself is portrayed. A dolphin tattoo design can even mean freedom, lightheartedness and happiness.

Dolphin tattoos can be represented in a variety of ways and they are equally favored by both men and women. They can be inked in colors with shades such as blue, green and gray. They can also be tattooed in plain black and combine with other symbols such as waves or surfboard. They can be highlighted with tribal lines or Celtic art just by adding these touches. There are also tat enthusiasts who has dolphin tattoos as armbands or anklets.

Dolphins are also flexible and adaptable as a tat design as they look great whether inked small or big especially if a skilled tattoo artist does the work. They can placed almost anywhere on the body - on the arms, upper back, lower back, foot, ankle rib or lower stomach.

Cool Henna Design Tattoos

One of the coolest displays of art that I have seen was henna design - no, really. It was a really cool nature design and was utilized in the form of giving a tattoo. Tattooing is simply using what nature has to offer and using it as a form of expression on the human body. In many cases the natural ingredient is ink. But there is something so quaint and ethereal about henna design that I find it to be simply breathtaking.

The first time I had the opportunity to see henna design in action was during my trip to Rajasthan, India. It was quite an exotic odyssey. The state is located in the desert and is known for its large community fairs. It is a central meeting point where people from the neighboring villages gather to celebrate and they can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The longer the duration, the bigger the fair. And the bigger the fair, the more mammoth the attendance.

I was there for the Fall fair. It was a four-day event and the energy there was absolutely astounding. The people were simple and their wants simpler. The colors and spirit found there were something that never before even remotely have come before these eyes. This is where I saw my first henna design, and I must say it was quite impressive.

I happened to notice the henna design as I was walking around the fair trying to capture the color of all that I saw. I saw two women sitting on the on ground and were totally engrossed in their task. When I moved closer, I saw that it was a henna artist and that she was applying one of the finest henna designs I have ever witnessed.

I just kind of stood there in a daze admiring her work in launching a much joy she spread by artfully sketching her henna designs on people's hands. It was a very simple operation and there were not a lot of implements require for her to create her art. Just a tube of henna and her active imagination. She had a book of designs that the customers can browse through to choose one they wanted. And she would set to work to draw the design in all its glory on their hands.

That's all that I needed to give me hooked on the art of henna designs. Now I'm actually compiling a book of henna designs. Guess who is going to be on the cover? My henna design muse of course! She is the perfect choice and I'm thrilled to include her.

Don't Pay for a Tattoo that Millions of People Have - Get a Unique Custom Tattoo Design

Recently it was reported that tattoo related terms received more searches per month then most adult related keywords. This has spawned a huge growth of websites selling flash tattoo designs. You can go and visit these sites and for $10 or so find a tattoo design. You can then download this design and take it to your local tattoo parlor and get a new tattoo.

Well, for many this has become the Achilles heel so to speak of the tattoo art industry. Buying tattoos this way is definitely contrary to the main reasons people get tattoos. Tattoos and the tattoo industry has always held that tattoo art was the last bastion of personal expression and freedom in America. You see most tattoo enthusiast feel that the tattoo they get are very uniquely theirs and a tattoo, being something you have to live with for a long time, should say something about yourself. So these huge flash tattoo sites come along and sell thousands of the same tattoo to people. These same people go to their local tattoo parlor and get a new tattoo and soon they are sporting it around town feeling proud to assert their individuality. However in reality they have just copied a bunch of other people and probably ended up with a tattoo that says nothing interesting or unique about them. They just bought the design because it was popular.

The other sad part of this phenomena is that most tattoo artists are on the loosing end of the proposition. The big websites that sell tons of designs often have had some graphic designer just create a bunch of low quality tattoo designs to sell. The designer was not even a tattoo artist in the first place. However, the tattoo artists out there are now losing tons of business to these larger companies. That is not to say all tattoo sites selling tattoo designs online are doing this. Of course there are some that have taken this into consideration have have worked hard to value the artists for their original ideas and work.

However it still leaves the tattoo enthusiast who just got the same tattoo as thousands of other people out in the dark. Think about what is going to happen when that person is at a concert of some large public event and a guy comes up to him and says, :hey cool man nice tat." The guy turns and the notices that the speaker is sporting the same exact tattoo. Here he thought he was unique and individual and doing something really cool. What is one to say in that kind of situation? Other then start looking at all the tattoo removal adds online there is not really much.

It is for these exact reasons that a few websites have started popping up on the internet that have solved these basic problems. At the time of this writing there are in fact only two sites on the internet that have effectively dealt with both of these problems. They are custom designed freelance tattoo art websites. That is kind of a mouthful so I will explain what each of those terms means. It means that a person wanting a unique tattoo design can go to the site and post a job. Then tattoo artists from around the globe can come and bid on the job to design a great custom tattoo to the individuals specifications.

This is really the best of all worlds as it encourages tattoo artists and pays them fairly for their abilities and skills. It also create a unique tattoo to the exact specifications and desires of the person getting the tattoo done. It is a really great way to solve the problem and these sites have had a high rate of customer satisfaction and repeat business from both the tattoo artists and the tattoo enthusiast.

How To Avoid Vital Mistakes Of Chinese Character Tattoos

Chinese Characters have a complex beauty as well as individual meanings. People who get Chinese Character tattoos are often drawn to this. Unfortunately, the flip-side is that there are a lot of Chinese tattoo Mistakes. I have personally seen such elementary mistakes as Chinese Characters being tattooed backward and meant something else other than intended. My goal is to help people explore the beauty and complexity of Chinese Characters safe in the knowledge that they are dealing with the professional.

The typical mistakes of Chinese Character tattoos as below :

  • Missing Strokes and Poor Script Western tattoo artists always add their own artistic flair, which is fine with English letters, but their script would deface Chinese Characters and make them meaningless. Missing strokes are common mistakes and thus making the tattoos meaningless, and the poor handwriting defaces the Chinese characters and makes Chinese Character tattoos look ugly. Wearing meaningless Chinese Character tattoos is embarrassing.
  • Chinese Characters 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 Character tattooed on you backwards is also embarrassing.
  • Mistranslation of Chinese Chinese are complex and can easily be mean something other than intended. Get the wrong one and your new Chinese character tattoo will be a permanent source of embarrassment to you! A lady has told me her Chinese character tattoos experiences: After deciding to ink a Chinese character 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 then later it was wind up with spending US$900 to remove the tattoos.
  • Do not Know the Meaning of Chinese character tattoos I have come across many western people who do not know the meaning of their Chinese character tattoos .Tattoo is a way of self expression. if anyone curiously ask you the meaning of Chinese character tattoos, answering them either do not know or make up the meaning is quite awkward.
  • 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 Kanji are either missing strokes or being mistranslated, you would make mistake from the right beginning 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 kanji.
Here are the advice when planning to get Chinese Character tattoos:

Getting Chinese Character tattoos right at the first time Your tattoo will be with you for the rest of your life, please make sure you get a right character tattoo at the first time. Yes, you can remove it later on, but it is extremely painful and very, very expensive. A $100 tattoo "mistake" can cost several thousand dollars to remove.
  • Do not Pick up Kanji From Tattoo Parlors Many people have gotten what they thought were Chinese Character tattoos only to find later that the characters were drawn wrong, or in one case, the mirror image of the character was tattooed. You would make the mistakes mentioned above if choosing them from tattoo parlors.
  • Do You Own Research Before you run off to the tattoo parlor to get one done you should do your own research. Selecting Chinese Characters deserve careful study and attention.
  • Consulting With a Chinese Many words in English can be translated in several different Chinese characters. Each of these may have a slightly different meaning in Chinese. Consulting with a native Chinese to get a exactly CORRECT characters for your intended meaning.
  • Choosing Meaningful Words Tattoos are forever. If you're planning to get a Chinese Character tattoo soon, be sure to choose the right and meaningful characters. It is important to choose something of lasting appeal not something faddish, and it also needs to be a cool design you'll love tomorrow just as much as you love it today.
  • Getting Them Look Right Western tattoo artists' script usually defaces Chinese Characters and makes them meaningless. Again, take the time to do some research and find someone good at Chinese calligraphy to write out your design. Chinese calligraphy is a classic ancient art. The brush strokes must have a certain shape. Each part of a character must be in precise relation to the others. Chinese Characters can be written in a wide variety of calligraphy styles.
  • Getting a stencil Outline of the Proposed Design. Every tattoo design has a matching "stencil". It is an exact copy of the tattoo design, but without any color or shading -- just the black line work that makes up the design. Your tattooist will transfer stencil directly to your skin prior to beginning the tattoo process, thus the tattooist will ink the tattoo which is exactly the same as the proposed design.

Tattoos-Popular Tattoo Designs for Girls

Girls are always asking me what tattoos they should get or what I think are the hottest tattoos for girls. Unfortunately there is no clear cut answer simply because there are as many different types of tattoos are there are girls. What one person might find sexy another might consider unattractive or very unfeminine.

Certain styles of tattoos might not suit the image you want to project. For example certain work environments may not accept highly visible tattoos even though tattoos are becoming more and more accepted. It may be wise to hold off getting that sacred heart tattoo emblazoned across your chest if your boss is going to flip out if (s)he sees it!

So in saying that what I hope to do in this short article is offer my insight and experience within the tattoo industry for the past 9 or 10 years and point out the current tattoo trends and what the most popular styles of tattoos are for girls. At the end of the day you want a tattoo that has lasting appeal and not a tattoo that was done on a whim. If I give you some good ideas for your next tattoo all the better...

Trends come and go. What was cool ten years ago is no longer cool. In the nineties certain types of tattoos such as cartoon characters like Betty Boop, barbed wire armbands and dolphins were in. Looking at them now they appear very cheesy and basic.

Tattoo art has come such a long way in the past few years even. Certain styles of tattoos have become perennial and have risen to a point where they are getting the respect and acknowledged they deserve for their intricacy and artistry.

Styles as diverse as Japanese tattoos, Indian/Hindu tattoos, Anime, Traditional American and Floral designs are raising the bar higher and higher and becoming increasingly popular.

Alongside that is the fact that people are beginning to see their skin as a human canvas and not just settling for random tattoos placed haphazardly on a part of the body that is hidden. Nowadays more and more girls are getting larger tattoos and more of them.

This may explain the popularity of Japanese tattoos. In traditional Japanese tattoos each character has a meaning and interacts with the other tattoo designs as part of the whole.

The same is true for Traditional American tattoos. Previously what were once done as individual tattoos from disparate elements of American culture are now being woven into an organic and is more like a story unfolding.

Top Five Most Popular Tattoos for Girls

Irezumi - Traditional Japanese tattoos - More and more girls are asking for large tattoo designs such as koi fish, dragons on their hips, back and arms.

Traditional American tattoos - Old school 'Sailor Jerry' tattoos and images such as classic American cars, pin-ups, swallows and nautical stars are becoming more popular on girls chests, abdomen, back and legs.

Floral tattoos - So many girls are getting flower tattoos as full sleeve tattoos or covering their entire back or legs with floral designs. Flower tattoo designs such as lotus flowers, peonies, orchids, chrysanthemums and flowering vines are the most popular.

Anime - Japanese animation has become massive and doesn't show any sign of disappearing any time soon. As a result Anime tattoos have become popular in the past five years or so. The only risk with Anime tattoo is that unlike other styles will probably age much quicker even though it looks great now.

Indian / Hindu tattoo designs - Like ancient Indian texts and spirituality being rediscovered by people in the West since the 1960's it has been reflected in the demand for Indian tattoo designs. They say everything old become new again.

Design Your Tattoo - 6 Tips For You Before Getting a Tattoo

Want to find a tattoo design? When you have started the search, you may now feel a bit worried. The reason is obvious. The tattoo you choose will be staying with you forever. If you finally dislike the tattoo, you will regret definitely.

So, here are 8 top tips for your entire "tattoo journey", from the selection of the tattoo design to the after-care procedures.

Tip 1: Be Aware of the Tattoo Trends

People get inked for different purposes. Some may want to express a certain meaning while others want to follow trends. If you are in the latter group, you may want to pay attention to your choice carefully, especially the tattoo designs and tattoo placement.

In the tattoo industry, there are lots of trends arising. For example, the chain link design was popular in the past. People liked to ink this design around the ankle, bicep or wrist. However, most people regard this tattoo outdated now. You will never want to have an outdated tattoo on your skin.

For the placement, people especially women like to have the tattoo on the lower back. This is very popular until now. As there are more and more people choosing to get a lower back tattoo, a term "tramp stamps" has emerged. Some people think it is just for categorization. However some may consider the term offensive because it is sometimes used to mean a woman just follows the trend without thinking.

Of course it is completely alright to have whatever tattoo on wherever you like. As long as it meets your personality, no one can criticize it. Remember, do not make yourself regret after being inked.

Tip 2: Spend Time Finding the Best Tattoo

Finding a favorite tattoo design takes time but it totally worth it. There are ways for you to choose the tattoo.

The most convenient way is to choose from an online tattoo design gallery. You can search a number of this kind of websites over the Internet. Some of them are free while some require you to pay a small amount of one-time membership fee. Considering the importance of getting a tattoo that you will never regret, it is acceptable to join the membership programs because their tattoo designs are normally more creative and unique.

If you are tired of browsing the Internet, you could enter a local tattoo parlor and you will be given some books on tattoo designs. You may feel embarrassed that you have read their books but you finally do not ask the tattoo artist to do the job. However, do not think in this way. Go to more tattoo parlors and read more tattoo designs. The one who will wear the tattoo is you.

The third way to get a tattoo design is to DIY. You can draw one with your imagination. Just draw what you want to represent and then take it to the tattoo artist. You will then have a very unique tattoo.

Tip 3: Choose the Appropriate Part to Get Inked

Consider how painful you can tolerate during the tattoo procedure. If this is your first time getting a tattoo, you may want to choose a part that you are comfortable with.

It will be more painful if you choose to have the tattoo on bony areas like neck, ankle, spine, shoulders and hands. You will feel more comfortable if your tattoo is inked on thighs, buttocks, stomach or upper arm.

Tip 4: Test the Tattoo Design First

It is strongly advised that you get a henna design of the tattoo you choose on the part you want before getting the permanent one. This will allow you to wear the tattoo design for 1 to 2 weeks. You can feel if you really like the tattoo or not so that you will not regret in future.

Tip 5: Ask Others for Opinions

It is a good idea to ask your friends your family members how they feel about your tattoo design. But you also need to bear in mind that you are the one wearing the tattoo. Their thoughts should not play the most important role.

Tip 6: Be Careful of What to Take Before Getting the Tattoo

Some people say that drinking alcohol is helpful to reduce pain. I am not going to say it is wrong but it would be risky for you. Since alcohol can thin your blood, it will make you bleed more during the tattoo process. Also, some tattoo artist will refuse the tattooing once you have taken alcohol because it makes their job more difficult and risky.

If you really need something to reduce pain, you may ask the tattoo artist for advice. Normally, pain relievers like Motrin are allowed. But the best option is to ask the professionals, your tattoo artist.

Tip 7: Learn Tattoo Etiquette

Yes, you may not have heard this kind of thing but it is a good idea to keep yourself up-to-date with the tattoo etiquette. For example, your tattoo artist may ask if you are a tenderfoot. If you do not know the meaning, you may feel confused and your tattoo experience may be not the happiest one.

Tip 8: Pay Attention to After-care Procedures

Once you have the tattoo job done, listen carefully to the tattoo artist how you should take care of the tattoo. Ask them any question if you are not sure. It is important for you to keep the tattoo nicely.

We hope the above 8 tips will make your "tattoo journey" more enjoyable and comfortable. Remember that it is worth spending time on the small steps. Do not give yourself any opportunity to regret.

Tattoo Designs, Tattoos, Tribal Tattoos. Choosing Your Tattoo Design Has Never Been Easier

Tattoo Designs are something you need to think about seriously. Do not make one of the most important decisions of your life an embarrassing mistake. Your choice on tattoo designs, which will be permanently inked into your skin, has to be some sort of tattoo designs that YOU are comfortable with, one that truly rocks and makes heads turn in awe.

It can be difficult making that important decision on tattoo designs. It is something you do not want to rush then regret later on.

What you need to know about tattoo designs is that in this day and age tattoos are very common, in fact a study done in 2006 by the American Academy of Dermatology, estimated that roughly 1 in 4 people between the ages of 18 and 50 had at least one to two tattoo designs. Even with tattoos being so common, many people do not know much about them. Tattoos are sometimes still considered odd, questionable and even taboo.

Tattoo Designs are patterns, pictures or markings made by dye inserted into the pores of the skin by perforating the skin with immense caution. People in the Tattoos industry refer to them as tats, work, ink or art. In scientific terms, tattooing is actually micro-pigment implantation.

Globally this type of art practice is gaining approval and many mainstream art and design galleries hold expos of tattoo designs and tattoo pictures. The popular name for tattoo designs is Flash.

Tattoo Designs more often than not reflect the personality of the person wearing them and so they should, they are on your body. Often people search for the tattoos they want in the actual parlor for something that will suit them. It would be hard to choose your tattoo designs from only what is on display in the chosen tattoos parlor. You should do extensive research on tattoo designs first. I have found numerous sites online that offer a plethora of tattoos, tattoo designs, tribal tattoos, pictures and information. The time it took to find as much information and ideas that I could was massive, but worth it in the end as we can be very specific to what we want when deciding on tattoo designs and location to place the tattoos.

Weather it be an extreme concern for your cultural roots or something of significant importance to you, the tattoo designs that you choose will be one of the most important decisions of your life.

I have heard countless horror stories of bad decisions related to tattoo designs. People excited to rush out and get those 'Perfect' tattoos that they saw on their favorite celebrity like Britney Spears, Alyssa Milano, David Beckham or Robbie Williams. Or even seeing some tribal tattoos in a movie like Blade, only to realize after coming out of the parlor that the tattoo designs just do not suit them, or wasn't what they expected. The fact then hits that they are stuck with those tattoo designs for the rest of their lives.

Their problem was a lack of research in tattoo designs and tattoos in general, because the excitement of actually getting some tattoos finally, blurred their judgment and made them hasty to rush out and get those tattoo designs that they saw or thought up and then trying to describe it to the artist. Definitely not the smartest thing to do.

Also the location of your tattoos is key. You must consider some things when thinking of the location of your tattoos. Will others see it easily? Do I want my tattoos to be easily seen by others? Do I want my tattoos in more of a private place so only those close to me would be able to view them? Which body parts hurt more than others? Generally, places that have thinner skin tend to hurt more. These places include, but are not limited to, due to differences in all of our bodies, the ankles, head and the lower back.

Less painful places include the upper arm, back of the shoulder and the chest. And it also depends on your pain threshold when getting tattoos on how bad it will actually hurt.

I bet you have heard of or been with some people who just rock up to the tattoo parlor, look through the tattoo designs in the books and all the pictures of tattoos on the walls, pick something that looks cool and jump right into the chair to get what should be meaningful tattoo designs inked into their skin. They either want to go the extremely cheap option and choose simple tattoos, (more common tattoo designs are generally less expensive and take less time) or they have just been out on a heavy night on the Britney Spears - (Beers) and just stumbled into the parlor, only to wake up in the morning wondering why they have a Superman tattoo pic on their butt.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Tattoo Designs - Chinese, Celtic etc

A "Tattoo" is a permanent or non permanent design which can be done on any part of the body. While non permanent tattoos are the simplest way to get a design on your skin, permanent tattoos are a painful experience with needles puncturing the design on your skin.

Non-permanent tattoos are designs that come on flimsy sheets of paper and the designs can be easily transferred on to the skin by applying water on the backside of the surface with design. This can also be washed off according to the convenience of the user. Other ways of acquiring a non permanent tattoo are henna designs or designs made with silver nitrate. Both these type of tattoos fade only after 10-15 days.

Permanent tattoos are of artistic nature and acquiring a permanent tattoo requires, patience, ability to with stand pain, choosing a good tattoo artist and ensuring hygienic practice of this art form. One can choose from a wide variety of tattoo designs that are categorized as: angel tattoos, Chinese tattoos, Celtic tattoos, Aztec tattoos, astrology tattoos, evil tattoos, fantasy tattoos the range is ever widening. The choice of your design reflects the style statement you wish to make with the design now being a permanent feature of your body.

Tattoo designs can be ornamental in nature as reflected by modern youth to indicate interest in body art while tattoo designs can also be indicative of religious or community symbols. Excessive tattoo and body art designs were initially used by criminals to indicate their psyche and criminal behavior. Therefore, employment in various fields may not take too kindly to visible tattoos and body art on account of such notions.

Permanent tattoos also run the risk of infections and allergies that rise from the kind of needles used by tattoo artists. Modern methods in tattoo design have done away with such fears. The electric tattoo machine now commonly used by tattoo artists insert the ink into the skin with the help of a group of needles that are held together by a bar which is attached to an oscillating unit. The needles used are single use needles which ensure safe and sanitary practices. One should also ensure that the tattoo artist wears gloves and uses disposable wet towels as and when required.

Complex Rose Tattoo Design Ideas

A very popular tattoo image is a rose tattoo design. This can appear in many different styles and designs with some images looking like single roses and others looking like bunches of flowers. Sometimes the rose tattoo design appears as a border around other tattoo designs as ornamentation. Almost every tattoo shop in the world has this sort of flower design within their tattoo image catalog. Because of its popularity the rose tattoo design is very familiar to these tattoo shop artists. For many years the rose tattoo was one of the most popular designs for men and women tattoo shop customers alike.

Some tattoo artists become specialists at this sort of tattoo deign and have many customers that return for additional flower tattoos over the years. The flowers may all be the same type of flower or some people even get tattoos of various types of flowers on their bodies. As the vibrant colors start to fade over time as all tattoo images do, the customers will go back to the tattoo shop artists and have the tattoo image re-inked to bring back that vibrancy and sharpness of color to the images. This is becoming a very common thing for many people to have done to keep the vibrant colors in their tattoo images. It doesn't take nearly as long to recolor a tattoo as it does to have one done initially. Sometimes the whole process takes only an hour or so to accomplish.

If you want to have a rose tattoo design on your body you can search online for any web site that has these sorts of images, whether the images are drawings or photographs. Any photos can be brought to the tattoo shop and the artists can create a tattoo image from the photo and add any elements the customer wants to add in. The artists can also remove any elements that don't fit in the design or to make it a better tattoo image for the customer. The customer may also want to have the rose tattoo design as a border for another tattoo image which is always popular with customers.

It's no longer only women who have flower tattoos on their bodies. Many men have started having flower tattoos inked onto their bodies though the design may be part of a larger design which doesn't necessarily have anything to do with flowers. Maybe it's a tattoo image of a dragon with roses in its teeth or a scene of a castle with roses flowing down over the sides. The main thing to remember is that the rose tattoo need not be just for women or just for men either. There's no reason that both sexes can't have a rose tattoo design on their bodies.

The Bright Art of Sun Tattoo Design

A very popular design for many customers coming into a tattoo shop is a sun tattoo design. The design may be part of a much larger image that can also feature moon designs and star motifs along a celestial theme of images. Many people choose the sun tattoo design because the sun signifies life and power and that's what many people want their tattoo choices to convey to others. The design can be a small or large version of a sun image and the tattoo can be a symbolic and traditional image of the sun or it can be a more relaxed and artistic view of the sun with perhaps a smiley face across the design.

Almost every tattoo shop in the world has images of sun, stars and moon as offerings for their customers. These designs come in a wide range of styles, designs and sizes as well as colors. Some customers prefer the traditional sun tattoo design while others are quick to choose anything but the traditional sun design jut to be more unique. This is why many tattoo shop artists have a lot of choices for their customers in the tattoo shop catalog. When a customer comes in and wants a tattoo design like this, the tattoo shop artist can simply take out the catalog and show off the many designs already drawn up. If the customer wants a more unique design the tattoo shop artist can modify the design for the client very easily in many cases.

The customer can find an image of the sun design either in a magazine or online by using one of many search engines. The images the customer finds can then be taken to a tattoo shop artist and he can create a tattoo design from these images. The created design will be much more unique than if the design was simply chosen from a tattoo design catalog. This ability to have a unique design created is what keeps many tattoo shops in business as many people are looking to have more personal and unique designs created for their tattoo images.

For many people getting a tattoo for the first time, the sun tattoo design may be one of the first choices they make for a personal tattoo. It is simple and easy to have tattooed onto your body and there's generally only one color to the design which means that the tattooing will be over and done with fairly quickly. For the first tattoo design, this may mean a great deal especially if the person isn't very good at tolerating any amount of pain. Most people do very well their first time getting a tattoo because they're more aware of the fact that there will be some degree of pain involved.

Top Female Sleeve Tattoo Designs - For Something Feminine and Sexy in Tattoos

Sleeve tattoos have been very popular recently. Many men have gotten full, half and even quarter sleeve tattoo featuring flames, Japanese designs and other such designs. However, women are now also starting to get full sleeve tattoo designs. However, they are not getting the same types of designs as men. For the most part women want a more female tattoo design or their sleeve. However, since this is kind of a new area many women are not sure what to get for their design. This article will help identify some ideas that might help in formulating your own thoughts and coming up with your own design. These of course are just some suggestions from experience.

Koi Fish Sleeve Tattoos

Koi fish of course are a very popular design theme in Japan. Many of the most traditional forms of tattooing in Japan frequently use koi fish. In Japan and in China the Koi fish is thought of as a symbol for power, freedom and independence. These are symbols that can speak to many women either being something they desire or something they already have. Thus koi tattoo designs can make a great option for sleeve tattoo designs.

Lotus Flower Sleeve Tattoos

Lotus flower tattoos are also another great option. Again these are more popular in Asian countries. However, lotus flower tattoo designs are also now becoming very popular in United States. They are deeply symbolic and can stand for striving, spirituality, or even just womanhood. Their shape and design can easily be made into a very beautiful sleeve tattoo design. The way the lotus flower rises up from the mud to the surface of the water can also be use in designs a lotus flower sleeve tattoo design.

Angel Tattoo Sleeve Designs

Angels are of course a very popular design for women and can go just about anywhere on the body. However, they can also make a beautiful sleeve tattoo design hat is still feminine and cute while looking large and covering the full sleeve easily. The wings can spread out around the arm and make a beautiful tattoo design.

Flower Sleeve Tattoos

Flowers always work well for any feminine tattoo design and there are many different flowers out there. Each flower of course has a different set of symbolism and meaning behind it so it would be smart to check out any symbolism or meaning before getting such a tattoo. However, there are tons of really beautiful and symbolic flowers. The Hibiscus and plumeria flower can work well for a full sleeve tattoo design as well as the Cherry Blossom can work.

Star and Nautical Star Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Stars of course are always a favorite choice by many women for tattoos. They can work well just about anywhere including the upper back, ankle and even the foot. The beauty and symbolism of star tattoo can easily be adapted into a beautiful full sleeve tattoo design. A cluster of smaller stars, a nautical star or even a really large shooting star can all be incorporated into a sleeve tattoo design beautifully.

Tattoos For Women - Top Foot Tattoo Designs

Foot tattoo designs are a great option for someone looking to get a tattoo or add to their tattoo collection. They are often small, less expensive and they are very easy to cover up. So they make a great tattoo. However, deciding what to get for your foot tattoo design can be difficult. This article will help you identify some ways to locate wonderful foot tattoo designs and also potential areas to watch out for if you are considering getting a foot tattoo.

Locating Designs
Locating the right design for you tattoo can often led people to a lot of frustration. It is common to hear people sigh with exasperation and throw their arms up in the air (well can't "hear" that one but you get the picture) and state they are giving up. They have the ideal tattoo design in their mind and they are looking everywhere for the last six months to try and find the design and they just don't see it anywhere. This is so common and I see people asking for help online out of pure frustration. So in order to put this type of pain and suffering or frustration to an end here is some advice. First of all don't look for the exact tattoo you have in your mind. You probably will never find it. It is not out there and that is a good thing. It means you have thought of something original and unique which will make your tattoo that much better. So instead use the following resources to help you locate research materials to aide the tattoo artist. Then express what you are looking for and turn over your samples to the tattoo artist and let them do their job!

Internet
The internet has both paid for sites that have high quality designs then then free photo galleries of tattoos people have already gotten. These both work very well to find sources and ideas for your design. Do not search for free tattoo designs as you will only get back a lot of junk. Instead either pay for a membership site or look at the free gallery sites where people post their own pictures of tattoos they have.

Tattoo Shop
This is the best place to go and a huge help. Make sure you find a shop where you can talk easily with the artists and find people that will listen to your ideas. If the artists in the shop are snotty or rude in anyway just thank them for their time and walk out.

Bookstore
Another location to find tattoo designs that people don't often think about is the local bookstore. You can look through tattoo design books, art books in general, tattoo magazines or even general books that fit in with the theme you are wanting to get. For example if you want a Lord Of The Rings tattoo then you can look for art from that movie in a book and it doesn't necessarily have to be a tattoo oriented book. Just find photographs, artwork and pictures of things you like that are close to what you want.

Potential Downsides
There are some potential downsides to getting a foot tattoo. First of all the foot can be a pretty painful area to get tattoos done. They foot is always moving and often under a sock and shoe and there is a lot of friction and rubbing in the area. Thus the actual time spent getting the tattooing and the healing process can be more painful then with some other tattoo designs. This should not stop you from getting a foot tattoo but if it is your first tattoo you might want to get a small tattoo done somewhere else that is less painful to test our the experience first.

Finding great looking tattoos for women is easy. It helps to follow the above sources and ideas to make your search for foot tattoo designs easier but in the end just relax and enjoy the process. Tattoos should not be something that you rush just to have one or get it done. Instead enjoy the process and spend your time carefully planning and researching the foot tattoo design.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Lower Back Tattoo Designs

Arguably tattoos on the lower back are the most popular of all today. Women mostly search for tattoo designs online and lower back tattoo designs are also predominantly worn by women. This intimate location for tattoo designs gives you wide room for self-expression. Lower back tattoos look stunning when done right.

Finding Perfect Lower Back Tattoo Designs

Pictures of lower back tattoo designs can be easily found online. By simply typing "lower back tattoo designs" into your favorite search engine, you will find many examples of both free and for sale tattoo designs. There are also a wide range of types of lower back tattoos to be sure. Tribal tattoo designs are often used on the lower back. Other popular lower back designs include celtic, butterfly, flower, and dragon tattoos. A combination of any of the designs mentioned can also create a uniquely beautiful lower back tattoo. Any v-shaped tattoo design can make a beautiful presentation on your lower back.

Placement of Lower Back Tattoo Designs

Tattoos placed in this anterior location are generally for someone else's benefit. Those fortunate enough to catch even a passing glimpse of your work of art. An offensive and derogatory term for a lower back tattoo is the "tramp stamp". Tattoos on the lower back often have symbolism and meaning to the owner. Sometimes tattoo designs in this area are for sensual purposes.

Usually found on the small of the back or the top of the buttocks, lower back tattoos can accentuate the hourglass shape of the female form. They are often hidden while at work in the office, then shown off after hours, nights, and weekends thanks to low-rise jeans, baby tees, and midriff baring shirts. Lower back tattoos draw attention to that area of the wearers body.

Lower Back Tattoo Designs Important Tips

When getting a lower back tattoo prepare to lay on your stomach for at least 1 hour. It is also required that you prepare a clean hairless surface for your tattoo artist to work with. Remember to dress appropriately to give your tattoo artist room to work on your lower back area. Afterwards wear loose waist pants for a few days to allow your new tattoo to heal properly and not disturb the art.

Please be aware that almost a quarter of people who get tattoos regret their decision after being inked. Take your time and think about what you are going to do. Find several pictures of what you want on your back before you go in to the tattoo shop. It can cost up to ten times what you paid for a tattoo to have one removed later.

Tattoo Designs - The Most Popular and Nicest Designs For Your Master Piece Body Art

Tribal Tattoos Tribal tattoos might be the most popular tattoo designs form of tattoos in the world right now. Originally referred to as any tattoo style done outside of the Western World, it has now come to be known as a style indicative of the tattoos created for thousands of years in the Pacific Islands and Africa.

Tribal tattoos are instantly recognizable with their dramatic use of aggressive dark lines in jagged symmetrical shapes spread throughout the skin. Tribal tats are most often done in simple black and skin tones but they can also be infused with color to brighten the overall look. Whereas other tattoo styles attempt to represent a specific object, tribal tattoos seem far more concerned with the 'feel' rather than what it specifically looks like.

The most popular tribal designs are Maori, Haida and Polynesian designs. There is also great interest in Native American tattoo designs. The term "tribal" of course covers an astonishing array of tattoo design possibilities, from the traditional tribal tattoos of indigenous and aboriginal cultures, to the latest in graphic design for the body.

Stars Tattoo Designs. One of the most popular versions start tattoo designs are nautical stars. Nautical stars have a long history in the world of tattoo designs dating all the way back to the early sailors, specifically Sailor Jerry, and his many tattoo designs.

Typically the sailors use the North Star to help them navigate the waters of the open ocean. Over time the North Star became a symbol for good luck in a safe passage back to land.

Over time this led many sailors were very superstitious lot of folk to start getting Star tattoos and more specifically nautical star tattoos to provide them with enough luck complete a safe journey. Originally they were different colors of nautical star tattoos and each color would represent have a different symbolic meaning. For example a red nautical star tattoo might mean that the bearer assailed across the Pacific Ocean successfully three times. Most of this history in early symbolism in terms of color has been lost for what survives today is the deep history and rich symbolic meaning of the nautical star tattoo. Not only is it a symbol of good lock it is also a simple for helping find one's own path in life and it is seen as a guiding symbol.

Butterfly Tattoo Designs The butterfly tattoo is by far the most used artistic subject matter of all insects, especially in the tattoo industry. Butterflies became a fad years ago by being the theme of many pieces of jewelry, t-shirts, scarves, paintings, and tattoos. Artists have a real freedom of creativity when they are creating butterfly tattoos because the designs are not rigid. They can be changed in color, size, shape, and other details without looking distorted.

The butterfly has many different meanings. In our society, its symbol has been commonly known as freedom, change, and growth. A generally feminine tattoo design choice and a perennial favorite.

Fairy Tattoo Designs The Fairy as a tattoo design can be as simple as a take-off on the often overpowering presence of corporate America in pop-culture, think Tinkerbell and Disney creatures, or it goes back to a rich history of story, myth and folklore. Fairies in literature are often the personification of human wishes and desire in the form of little people with magical powers. As a tattoo design they can be symbols of youthful innocence and a desire to retain a child-like imagination, wonder and awe.

The very word fairy, derived from the Latin "fata", or fate underlies the use of fairies in literature and myth to explain the workings of destiny, with it's often unpredictable nature of gifts and disappointments. The use of supernatural beings, who often meddle in human affairs in fairy tales, has created a genre of story-telling that is rich in symbolism and that lays bare the psychological and social challenges as we pass through the stages of childhood to adulthood. The presence of magic makes fairies a favorite of children and as a tattoo design they are a potent symbol of our youth.

Dragon tattoo designs The dragon is definitely hands down one of the most beautiful and powerful of all the mythic beasts. The sheer beauty and power of these mythical beasts alone warrant there attention as tattoo designs. Then being combined with a long and rich history of tattooing as an art form such as in the Japanese culture and you have a winning combination.

Typically dragon tattoo are not seen as the cunning and evil creature that they are represented as in Western culture. Instead in most Asian cultures Dragons do not breathe fire typically and are seen as more benevolent creatures. They are seen as very powerful and are definitely a symbol of strength and power. However, they also represent a perfect balance of yin and yang forces and are therefore believed to represent a reconciliation of balancing of power. They therefore more typically represent a combination of power with wisdom.

Celtic Tattoo Designs: Celtic tattoo designs are primarily a genre of complex interwoven lines representing knots, mazes, spirals and other figures. Celtic animal figures are zoomorphic or stylized renderings of animals that were used for carvings, in jewelry and wood, stonework and manuscript illustrations. Many images used by tattoo artists today are derived from the famous Irish Book of Kells.

Star Wars and the Holy Grail of Tattoo Designs - The Search is From Within, Luke

Tattoos have always been about being different and sticking out from the crowd. This has lead just about every person seeking to get a tattoo to want to get something different than what others have gotten. Yet paradoxically this search for something unique and different also leads to creating hot trends in tattoo designs. You see for a while it was the tribal arm band tattoo, then it was the lower back tattoo for women. Before that it was the nautical star, the butterfly and on and on. One could go on forever tracing the "hot trends" in tattoo designs. However, when you research tattoo designs trends you begin to discover that they all started out of the desire to be unique and different. One or two people get a tattoo design that at the time is different and ground breaking. Then other people see the tattoo and they want to get one like it. Thus leads to more and more people getting a similar tattoo and leads to a developing trend in tattoo design. It is always fueled by the search for something different. For example the female that first got full sized angel wings tattoos has become famous in tattoo circles. She did this years ago and it was a very unique and original design at the time. However, it fueled a hot trend for angel wing tattoo designs. Now they are pretty common as a tattoo design for women these days.

Thus is kind of like the search for the Holy Grail is it the never ending story or the never ending search for perfection. Everyone is searching for something that is different and unique and yet this leads to people getting what others are and it leads to hot trends in tattoo designs. So how do you differentiate yourself and your tattoo designs from every one else and how do you end up with something that is unique and cool at the same time.

The Artist Within

Well, the way to come up with an award winning really cool tattoo design that is bold, daring and beautiful all at the same time is not easy. It is a creative process that takes a lot of work, thinking, research and time. Don't think that you are going to end up with a really cool and unique tattoo design by going to Yahoo Answers and asking others a question that asks others what you should get tattooed on your body. Unfortunately I see that all the time people that want a tattoo so badly just to have a tattoo and brag to their friends they have a tattoo that they forgo the whole creative process behind creating a design. Instead they just get a design because their friends say it is cool. Worst yet they end up getting a design because someone on line told them it was cool. If you don't believe me just check out any tattoo forum or Yahoo answers and look at all the questions people ask what kind of tattoo should I get here.

Instead a much better way to go about getting a really cool design is to realize that it is a creative process. Creativity and bringing something to life through a creative process is often likened to giving birth. You will sometimes hear artists say they gave birth to a painting. Meaning the creative process of design is not easy and it takes time, sometimes it takes pain and even suffering or frustration to bring a beautiful design or idea to fruition. Tattoos are no different. So if you realize this from the beginning you can relax and take your time finding or creating your tattoo design.

Creating Designs For The Non Drawing Among Us

Well, I can hear many out there right now reading this article saying but I am not an artist. I don't have an artist within and most of all the wall of "I can't draw" is immediately brought up. However, let me tell you a secret, not all artists can draw all that well either. Even more to the point you can still create a really incredible tattoo without ever picking up a pencil. Instead do the thought and processing work behind the design and then have a professional tattoo artist work with you to create the design. What I mean by that is decide what you want the tattoo to represent. What do you want to tattoo to say about you? Once you have decided this you can find some resources of other tattoo designs and tattoo ideas that express these thoughts. Then you go to your tattoo artist and tell them the thought behind the tattoo and what you are trying to express with your design. You then give him or her the resources and let them work on the artwork or design part of it. Thus way you are working together to give birth to the creative process of this tattoo design.

Being Different And Unique

It is not easy to be different and unique and even stand out from the crowd. When all the other girls are getting lower back tattoos and all the guys are getting tribal sleeve tattoos it is hard to get something totally different. It is also hard to spend time thinking about your tattoo design. It is much easier to go with the crowd and get some standard flash that is on the wall in the tattoo shop. However, since you are going to be sporting the tattoo design the rest of your life it pays to be different and do something unique and individual. Take the extra time and truly come up with a design that you love.

Simple Tips to Creating Unique Tattoo Designs

While tattoos may be nothing more than art, finding the right tattoo that is worth of being displayed on your body for the rest of your life can be much more difficult than you may think. A tattoo is a statement of who you are, and it is the ultimate form of self expression so you will want to make sure you find the right unique tattoo designs that are truly an expression of who you are. Choosing the tattoo design is not something that should be handled hastily and it is probably not a decision you will be able to make in a matter of hours. While you could visit your local tattoo artist to browse the ideas they have available, you may not realize that many other sources for tattoo design ideas exist with at least one unique tattoo designs that is an expression of the person you are. Here are some of the most popular resources that can help you choose the right tattoo design that is you.First, consider using free web images to find unique tat designs. One of the lowest quality resources to use in your quest for unique tattoos is to utilize the free designs that can be found on nearly every corner of the web. While you may find some sites that have high res images, this images are accessible by nearly everyone on the planet which makes them hardly unique. Obtaining your tattoo ideas from one of these resources increases your chance of choosing an idea that at least one other person may have chose. Unless you don't mind seeing your idea on at least one other person's body, the free web images is not the best option for you.

Second and equally risky is to choose your tattoo when at the tattoo parlor. Since the design you choose will on your body for the rest of your life, it is not a decision you want to make hastily. When it comes to choosing unique tattoos, you will want to make sure you take the time to search and find the one that is truly you. While this does not mean that you may not find the perfect tattoo design ideas at your local parlor, you will want to make sure your idea is truly unique, and a choice from a book increases the probability that at least one other person will be walking around with the same tattoo you chose.

Third, consider using online tattoo design galleries. Unlike the free tattoo designs, online galleries offer unique tattoo designs that are available for purchase only. With the power of the internet, you can download as many tattoo ideas as you would like giving you the ability to make the decision in the comfort of your own home. These online tattoo galleries also offer access to exclusive tattoo ideas that can't be found anywhere else. You even have the option to use one of the many versions of tattoo software to modify your design even further after you make your purchase. If this is not for you, you can also take the design to your local tattoo parlor and have them make the modifications for you. This can guarantee that you will have a tattoo that is truly you.

Lastly, consider using the experience of a tattoo artist. If you have utilized all the ideas we previously listed and you still have yet to find unique tat designs that are a true expression of you, consider enlisting the help of your tattoo artist. Since tattoo artists are experts at what they do, they will be able to guide you into the perfect tattoo deign that will truly make you happy. Just keep in mind this may be the most expensive option, since it may require more of the artist's time and skills to create a design that is truly you.

Looking For Sexy and Hot Fairy Tattoo Designs


Sexy And Cute Fairy Tattoo Designs For Women?

Today more than at any other point in time women are getting tattoos. In fact many of them are getting multiple tattoos and even very big tattoo pieces. It seems that the stigma that was once carried with having a tattoo has all but vanished. With very popular tv shows like Miami Ink and LA Ink tattoo are become much more accepted by society as a whole. Women have jumped on this trend and are getting tattoos. However, they are not getting the big skull tattoo that guys used to get instead they are looking for more cute, girly and feminine tattoos that are sexy. One example of a very sexy and cute tattoo design for women is the fairy tattoo design.

Finding A Tattoo Artist

Finding a tattoo artist can be a little difficult. You will definitely want to shop around and don't just go with the first tattoo artist that you meet. Instead go to a variety of shops and spend some time in each one. Get to know the artists in the shop. Ask about their policies and costs for the designs. The price and quality of a tattoo can vary greatly depending on the shop and the particular tattoo artist. So it is important to search around. You want to find a tattoo shop that will offer you a fair price yet one that can do great work and someone who will listen to your ideas. You can always ask to see a tattoo artists portfolio of work also to get an idea of the styles and types of designs and work he or she does.

Versatile Designs

Fairy tattoo designs are very versatile. The design can be done very small or large and can be made to fit just about anywhere you want to get your tattoo. Fairy tattoos look equally great a large full back tattoo design or just a small foot tattoo. Whatever you choose for your design and size it can probably be done. Fairy tattoos are also very versatile in that they fairy can express whatever feeling or emotion you might want to portray about yourself. For example you can have a cute fairy tattoo or a sexy one. You can have a fairy tattoo in just about any position you want they could by flying around or sitting on top of a mushroom. The choice is really up to you and what you want to express with the tattoo design.

Location

One of the best things about these tattoos that was hit on above is their versatility. That means that the design can be fit into just about any location o your body that you might desire to have tattooed. Fairy tattoos work very well on as a foot tattoo design if you want something that can easily be hidden. It can also be done as an armband tattoo, a hip tattoo, a lower back tattoo design or even a full back tattoo design if you want something large. Where you choose should be a primary concern and something that you really spend some time considering. The location of course will partially help you identify the size of the tattoo.

The Fairy

Another thing that you will want to think about is what kind of fairy tattoo design do you want. You see the fairy can represent something about you pretty easily and you want to choose the design and style of the fairy tattoo carefully. Do you want a sexy little fairy or one that looks bashful and shy? Try to pick some emotions or thoughts that you want to portray through the tattoo design and see if the artist doing the work can't incorporate those into the design

Design Your Own Tattoo - Tips to Create a Great Tattoo Design

Tattoos are art, plain and simple. The problem is coming up with the master piece that is worthy of being displayed on your body for the rest of your life. A tattoo is a statement about who you are and is the ultimate in self expression - so you've got to get it right!


So where do you start?

Looking at tattoo design pictures, that's where. Its simple, but effective. Its like doing research for anything. The more research you do, the better the end result.

The next question is where do you get good quality pictures of tattoo designs to start your research. Well, Im glad you asked.... There are many sources, but some provide better quality tattoo designs than others, as I will show you.

Online Designs

The lowest quality tattoo design pictures are the free pictures that abound on the internet. Don't get me wrong, some of the tattoo designs are great, but everyone has access to these pictures, so you can bet your bottom dollar there are a number of people around with the exact same tattoo design. Just imagine seeing someone else with your tattoo on them! That is why they are low on the quality ladder.

Flash at the Tattoo Parlor

Next is flipping through tattoo deigns at the tattoo parlor just before you get your masterpiece inked on you. Now, that is pressure! Again, the designs may be great, but you want to enjoy the process of choosing a tat, and come up with something unique, so never put yourself in that situation. If in doubt, don't do it. Keep looking.

Online Tattoo Galleries

Then there are tattoo designs that you can purchase over the internet. These are the most exclusive designs you can get straight off the rack. These days, due to the power of the internet, it is possible to download massive numbers of unique tattoo design pictures right to your computer to help you decide which design is for you. Also, there are some tattoo design products on sale that continue to update the tat designs even after you have made the purchase. You can even take the design of your choice to the tattoo parlor and get it modified to your own taste. Now no one will have your tat design!

Tattoo Artists

The ultimate source of a quality tattoo design, though, is to take an idea to the tattoo artist and get them to draw something up for you. Tattoo artists are experts at what they do, and they can guide you to a design that you are happy with. However, depending on how much of a design you take to the tattoo parlor, this is by far the most expensive.

Conclusion

Well, there are some sources to get you going on your search for that elusive (and hopefully exclusive) masterpiece. It all boils down to cost. How much are you prepared to pay to find your dream tattoo? Just remember that this is an investment in yourself and you will live with the design you choose for the rest of your life.

I spent ages searching free and pay galleries to find my tattoo. By far the best were three galleries I downloaded from the net, each with thousands of tattoos in each - they gave me so much to choose from, and I was able to find exactly what I was looking for. To help you find your dream tattoo, I have reviewed the best three packages. I have listed the tattoo categories in each package, so you know what you are getting. I am in the process of reviewing each package for specific tattoo designs. So far I have reviewed the Japanese Dragon, Chinese Dragon, Heart, Angel, Butterfly, Harley, Lower Back and Tribal Tattoo designs. I review the top galleries for each design listed, provide details of the type of designs and what to expect. Finally I rank each gallery, so you know which is the best for the type of design you are after. I know how hard it is to find the dream tattoo. I hope this review helps you in your search.

Armband Tattoo Designs - How to Choose the Best Armband Tattoo


The use of tattoos has different meanings. Today it is considered a cosmetic fashion for status symbol. It can be mark of status and rank, spiritual devotion, sexual lures and marks of fertility, decorations for bravery, pledges of love, amulets and talismans, protection or marks to distinguish. The symbolism and impact of tattoo varies from place to place and from perception to perception. Today there are different forms of tattoo designs which are inscribed in different places of your body. Of all these the armband tattoo designs are the most popular form of tattoos which people go for with unintended consequences. This is particularly popular among young people and those who love to flaunt their tattoos.

Today tattoo has experienced some kind of resurgence especially in North American, Europe and Japan. The growth of tattoo culture has an influx of new artists into this industry and people want more innovative and unique tattoos for themselves. The armband tattoo designs are inarguably the most popular tattoo designs that people seek. Just look around and you find the them everywhere, the bikers, the CEO's, the young women next door, the old man who is still young at heart, the young school teens and even the wild crowds in the pub. Besides armband there are ankle tattoo designs, wrist tattoo designs which are equivalently popular.

Why are armband tattoos so popular?

For most people the armband tattoo make a great first tattoo before they experiment somewhere else. The other reason for popular of armband tattoos is its variety and versatility. The available designs can make one feel unique and personal. You find a lot of armband tattoo designs which include intricate Organic tribal patters, feather motifs, Celtic knots, Hawaiian theme bands, feminine armband tattoos which include flower with vines which usually encircle the entire arm and others.

How do you choose the armband tattoo design?

Armband tattoo designs are there for all ages and all people. No matter who you are - a college guy, a middle aged office executive or a rock star of your colony or a simple guy who has a fascination for armed tattoo. Here are few tips which you should keep in mind while you find a perfect armband tattoo design for you-

Are you looking for a tattoo design you are infatuated with? Do you wish your tattoo to speak about you personality and other feature? Then you must choose your tattoo very carefully. If you want your tattoo to tell rich stories and meaning of it the search for such armband tattoo like the Celtic tattoos, the Japanese tattoos or like the Cross tattoos properly on the web.

While you go for armband tattoo designs talk to your artist about the variety, size and color combination of your tattoos. Your skin color is very important to match the tattoo colors. Choose the colors which contrast well with your skin.

Do you wish to mix up themes? Then choose two different armbands which make proper armband designs. For instance you can choose Celtic knotting with a tribal horse at the centerpiece which makes a good combination of armband tattoo designing.