Information To Known Before Getting A 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 tattoo.  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 tattoo work is and the overall reputation for the business.  If the tattoo parlor belongs to the Better Business Bureau you can always check their record and see if any complaints have been files 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 isn’t clean.  Tattoo artists deal with needles on a daily basis, making experience very important.  Finding out how much experience and qualifications a tattoo artists has will tell you quite a bit about what you can expect from them.

You’ll also want to find out if the tattoo studio guarantees their work.  In the unlikely event that you don’t like the outcome of the tattoo, you’ll obviously want it to be fixed.  The better studios will fix it without requiring any money.  Refund policies are also important, especially if you don’t 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’ll 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’re on a budget.  You can save yourself a lot of time and prevent any type of surprises by knowing the costs upfront.

Infection is also something you’ll 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 infections, 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 tattoo artist.  Tattoos always have risks and concern, which is why tattoo artists 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 tattoo parlor.

Read More »

Choosing Your Tattoo Parlor

Once you have made the decision to get a tattoo you’ll need to find a qualified tattoo parlor.  This is a very important decision, as it can easily make or break your tattoo.  Before you decide on a tattoo artist or tattoo parlor, you must first see if they are qualified.  There are hundreds of thousands of tattoo parlors out there, some better than others.  If you go to a less than perfect tattoo parlor, you could very well end up with an infection that can cause you more trouble than you ever thought possible.  Finding out how long a parlor has been in business is very important – as this will tell you how much business the parlor receives.

When you look for the best parlor you should always watch for those who have the best history with keeping their equipment clean.  Clean equipment and a clean studio is without a doubt the most important consideration when dealing with tattoos.  If the artist isn’t licensed or not a professional there will be little to no guarantee that the equipment is clean.  Health is a big concern with tattoos for most people, and for good reason.  If you are looking to get a tattoo you should always make sure that the artists are licensed, the parlor is clean – and the equipment is sanitized and cleaned after each and every tattoo.

The best tattoo parlors will welcome you in with open arms, anticipating your business.  When you meet the tattoo artist, he should be friendly and not intimidate you at all, nor should he at any time attempt to push a design on you.  Under no circumstances should the artist try and talk you into getting a more expensive tattoo design if all you want is something small and simple.

Pushy sales and unfriendly salesmen are common pitfalls with most businesses.  Tattoo parlors should always be friendly and open to what you want.  Although the more experienced tattoo artists will offer their opinions, they shouldn’t try to push you around.  If a tattoo artists thinks there will be a problem with your design or if he thinks he can do anything to improve it, he will more than likely let you know.   If he is able to save you some money, the higher quality tattoo artists won’t think twice about doing so.

Before you decide on a tattoo parlor to do your tattoo, you should always compare what’s available to you and weigh out your options.  The higher quality tattoo parlors will cost quite a bit of money, more than the other parlors.  This is to be expected, as the higher quality studios cost more to pay their artists and keep their parlor nice and clean.  These parlors are among the best in the world, with sparkling floors and a clean interior.  The tattoo artists here ensure that their rooms are clean, with most wiping down their equipment and materials every chance they get. 

The ideal way to find tattoo parlors in your area or close by is to use the Internet and search or just open a local phone book.  If you look for the keyword tattoos, you’ll find several that are relatively close to you.  Once you have found some addresses, simply drive out there and take a look around.  If you like what you see, you can always come back.  You shouldn’t rush your decision – but instead look at what each tattoo parlor has to offer you.

Read More »

Celtic Tattoos -- The Best Of Its Kind

Celtic history goes back thousands and thousands of years.  Early Celtic people were well known for their skills in artwork of jewelry, metal, and even weapons. They were warriors as well, regarded as fierce fighters by the Romans.  Throughout Ireland, there are many examples and evidence of Celtic artwork and Celtic crosses.

Over the years, modern Celtics evolved and established symbols for themselves along the way. Throughout North America, Celtic people often wear these symbols to let others know that they are a Celtic descent.  The symbols and knowledge have been passed down through the years, as there is little no written history.  Tattooing however, keeps the Celtic tradition alive with the infamous Celtic cross and other popular Celtic designs.

Most Celtic tattoo designs come from Ireland, where the evidence of Celtic history is very strong indeed.  The Trinity College found in Dublin, Ireland, contains many manuscripts that document the Celtic heritage and symbols.  The height of Celtic tattooing however, occurred during the era when stone and metal work was really popular.

Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth.  There are also Celtic animal tattoo designs as well, which are similar in design to the knot tattoos, although the cords in the design normally terminate in heads, tails, and feet.  The pure knot tattoo designs are normally never ending, unless an individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral.

The meaning behind the knots in Celtic tattoos defies any type of literal translation and is found at a much deeper level.  The interlacing of the knots expresses the repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual elements.  The strands and their never ending path is a popular design for Celtic tattoos, representing life, faith, and love.  For many years, Celtics have used these designs for emotional as well as heritage purposes.

Those who are from a Celtic descent, Irish, Scots, or Welsh, normally find a Celtic tattoo to be a great way to express their heritage pride.  These tattoos help to reestablish pride, and give tribute to one’s ancestors.  The tattoos aren’t easy to do, most taking several hours.  Unlike other tattoo designs, Celtic tattoos are among the hardest designs in the world.

If you are from a Celtic descent and have decided to get a Celtic tattoo, the first thing to do is find an artist capable of doing the tattoo.  The designs are very difficult and not all tattoo artists can do them.  It’s always best to find a tattoo artist who has a background in Celtic designs, as this will ensure the tattoo is done correctly.  The artist who does the tattoo needs to have an eye for detail and exact line placement – which is a skill that not all tattoo artists possess.

Read More »

5 Top Tips To Get The Best Possible Tattoo

Making sure you get the very best tattoo done can be a daunting task for anyone. But this will especially be the case if you are looking for your first piece. We all know that getting a tattoo is something of an investment for the future, therefore you will need to make sure you do everything exactly right in the first place.

Let’s go through a number of tips together, which are all aimed at helping you to guarantee that your next tattoo is one that you will treasure for many years to come.

1. Identifying Your True Interests in Life

This may sound a bit strange, but believe it or not, this is going to prove to be a very important consideration when it comes to knowing what style of tattoo you are most interested in. Think long and hard about the things in life that are of the most importance to you.

As we are all unique, you are not necessarily going to be interested in exactly the same things as other friends or family members. Also, you may have several different interests in life and could be torn between what influences who you are the most.

There is nothing preventing you from going for a tattoo design that incorporates a culmination of all of your interests in life. In fact, this is likely to make your ultimate tattoo piece a real talking point and it will be one that will have a huge amount of meaning for you.

2. Deciding on Your Tattoo Design

Once you have identified the types of things that are to be included in the tattoo design, it is time to search through as many galleries as you have time for to make sure you find the very best design for you. If your idea is a bit extreme, you should still try to seek out a basic background design.

Once you have established the design that is most suited to you, decide whether or not it already ticks all of the right boxes for you, or if you feel that some alterations or additions are required.

3. Finding the Best Tattoo Artist

Do not just trust any old tattoo artist to craft your piece, you need to take a bit of time to find an artist that will display all of the following:

?    Hygienic working environment
?    The artist has a portfolio of previous work they have done
?    The artist is amenable to negotiations on your piece and does not try to steer you towards the more basic design
?    You feel comfortable with this artist
?    You have had word of mouth recommendations from other people who have used their service.

A good and talented tattoo artist will not think twice about moulding the specific design of your piece, in line with your wishes. It is when an artist lacks skill and confidence that they will try to get you to go for something more basic.

4. Do Not Be Led By Pricing Alone

This is a very important point as the lowest priced tattoo artists will not usually do the best job for you. This is one time when you need to stop worrying about the cost of a product; after all, you are investing in a product that will last a life time, therefore you need to make sure you are choosing the very best.

Far too many people worry about getting the lowest cost for their work and forget that a tattoo is a huge investment. With tattooing in general, you tend to find that the more expensive artists are charging a higher rate for a very good reason.

5. Aftercare For Your Tattoo

Again, for a life long tattoo that you can feel truly proud of; you need to make sure you look after the new tattoo very well. This means that even though you may be very proud of yourself for having had the work done in the very first place, you still need to follow some basic guidelines.

Keep the dressing on for at least one to two hours after the tattooing session. If the artist has not applied the dressing, do not be afraid to request one. This helps the skin to heal over and means that you will have a much better chance of sealing the ink in.

Once the tattoo has had a scab form over it, never be tempted to pick away at this. Allow this to fall off naturally over a couple of weeks and take note of the fact that some colors of ink tend to fall off more quickly than others. This may sound a bit strange, but trust me, it’s true.

If you remain undecided on getting a tattoo and what to expect during and after the process, I highly recommend that you take the time to read the ‘Having A Tattoo Done: All You Need To Know’ newsletter guide.

You will also find a number of other guides that will definitely be of maximum benefit to you at this time of big decisions in your life. Even people that are completely rehearsed in having tattoos done have stated that they have found the information here to be very informative.

Read More »

Wing Tattoos - Finding the Perfect Tattoo

Wing tattoos have increased in popularity significantly in the last few years. You would think then, that finding inspiration for a wing tattoo would be relatively straight forward - you've probably seen plenty of people that had an amazing design that you were sure was imprinted in your mind but when it came to actually putting that on paper to take to an tattoo artist, what came out was in fact very different.

The most obvious place to start looking for inspiration and find designs for wing tattoos is likely to be on the web these days, and a very popular resource is Google images. Unfortunately though the quality of tattoo designs here really is inferior, not only are there very few designs available, but the majority of are not of adequate resolution to print off and work with - more to the point though, when you're looking for that ultimate tattoo design that you are going to be proud of and will stand the testament of time, you want something unique. The last thing you want is to find that there are hundreds of thousands of people out there all with the same tattoo as yourself. As with the majority of searches done on the internet these days, people are compelled to sift through the results in the order and relevance that they are presented in, so scroll form page 1 - 10. This presents another additional issue to consider as this further concentrates the number of people that have all been using the same images as sources of inspiration for their wing tattoo design.

By far and away the best course of action in my opinion is to invest a small amount of money in a paid tattoo website that specialises in providing unique designs of wing tattoos that you can print off in high resolution and take to a tattoo artist to either ink up directly or customise as you wish. I firmly believe you get what you pay for these days and as there are so many free tattoo resources on the web few people feel compelled to part with their cash to find a design. However it is here that you will find the high quality and truly unique tattoo designs made by professional artist rather than royalty free clip art images that find their way high up in the Google search engines purely based on the ranking of the website that they are placed on, rather than their artistic merit. There are a huge number of people who feel they would rather have spent more time researching what they wanted inked when they discover many other people bearing the same tattoo as themselves that are also of limited quality. The time spent researching could be the difference between having an amazingly unique tattoo, or something rather average.

I hope you can see the logic in spending time to carefully consider how you go about finding your wing tattoo and hope that this article has been useful.

Read More »

4 Tattoo Tips For Top Notch Tattooing

The difference between a flat outlined tattoo and a top notch, 3-dimensional piece of skin art lies in the shading skill of the tattoo artist.



A skilled tattooist knows how to use outline and shading to create a life-like work of art on the skin of the client. The best tattoo artists know how to choose the correct tools for the job, including a tattoo machine and the right needles and ink.



They are able to find the perfect design for each client and position it perfectly on the body.



Finally, they know how to use the tattoo machine like an artist uses a paintbrush to create a work of art.



The best way to learn the fine art of tattoo shading is from a seasoned professional tattoo artist. As an apprentice to an experienced tattooist, youll be given tattoo tips that will help you gain the skills to create a 3-dimensional tattoo image that seems to come alive on the skin.



Here are 4 tattoo tips for beginners who want to learn the secrets of top notch realistic tattooing.



Tattoo Tip #1 Choose a design thats suitable for shading.



Some tattoo designs are more suitable than for shading than others. Portraits of people and images of animals, flowers and skulls are good subject for shading, as are fantasy creatures like dragons. The design should have some larger rounded elements that can be filled in with graduated color to create the illusion of depth and shadows. Look through tattoo magazines and study designs that show the effective use of shading. Soon youll get a feel for which designs can be shaded and which are not suitable.



Tattoo Tip #2 Use a tattoo machine.



One of the most important tattoo tips for top notch tattooing is to use a tattoo machine, also referred to as a tattoo gun. A skilled tattoo artist wouldnt dream of attempting to apply a shaded tattoo design without a tattoo machine. The tattoo machine uses a group of needles to automatically inject ink at the correct depth in the skin. The machine is connected to an electric motor that rapidly moves the needles up and down at a rate of 80 to 150 times per second. This rapid needle movement allows a shaded area of a tattoo design to be filled with ink quickly and evenly.



Tattoo Tip #3 Mix the tattoo ink.



Tattoo shading uses ink in shades from light to dark. Lighter shades of ink, often referred to as a wash, can be created by mixing ink and sterile water. The more water that you add, the lighter the wash. One of the more useful tattoo tips for shading from tattoo artists is to create washes ahead of time in the exact shades that will be required for a shaded tattoo. This eliminates the need for stopping and mixing ink while the tattoo is being applied.



Tattoo Tip #4 Use the tattoo gun like a paintbrush.



A group of needles called shaders is used to fill in the outlined tattoo design with shading. Shader needles come in many shapes and groupings. Knowing when to use each type of shader is one of the more valuable tattoo tips to be learned in an apprenticeship.



Realistic tattoo shading is created by tilting the needles on the tattoo skin and using the tattoo gun like a paintbrush.



Most tattooists first cover the skin with a thin layer of lubricant to ease the needles smoothly across the area being shaded. For dark shading, the tattoo gun is moved slowly across the skin and the ink is injected deeply. For lighter areas, the gun is move quickly and ink is injected less deeply.



As soon as a small area of the design has been injected with ink for shading, the tattoo artist wipes off the excess ink with a clean cloth. The finished effect can then be viewed and the tattoo artist can decide if more ink is needed.



If a darker effect is wanted, more ink is applied. Making a dark area lighter is more of a problem, since the dark ink has been permanently injected into the skin. This is why a skilled tattoo artist works carefully to make sure no area of shading is too dark. Some tattoo artists use white ink to lighten dark areas of a tattoo and to smooth out transitions between different shades of ink.

Read More »

Most Popular Feminine Tattoos - The Tattoo Women Wants

Female tattoos or feminine designed tattoos are usually favored by women or girls are becoming increasingly familiar as tattooing became more socially acceptable, largely due to the many celebrities who publicly sported tattoos.

This kind of female tattoo gallery has tattoos that are usually smaller and prettier. Popular designs might include a butterfly, a flower or a Celtic design. Women's tattoo designs are also less heavy, less aggressive looking. They tend to have thinner lines, though this is, of course, a generalization rather than a rule.

Women nowadays are gradually opting for large tattoos. 'New school' hearts, stars, roses and tribal tattoo designs on the lower back are increasingly being asked for by females. Therefore these days, a female tattoo gallery will have these popular designs as women are becoming more experimental in the shapes and sizes of their designs.

Many tattooists and female tattoo gallery report that when musicians, especially hip-hop artists get tattoos, there is usually a particular tattoo that is very popular. The popularity of lower back and stomach placement of tattoos suggests that most women still don't want their tattoos to be too obvious and also a desire for a more sexual placement of the tattoo.

Many female tattoo gallery will normally recommend women to get their tattoos done on the more popular spot such as the lower back and ankle.

First, lower back is a very sexy spot to have a tattoo. It seldom shows, but can be 'flashed' as the woman bends over. Catching a glimpse of a lower back tattoo on a woman, you almost get the feeling that you're seeing something you shouldn't be very tempting!

Ankle tattoos in any female tattoo gallery are usually small. Other tattoo location for girls include the shoulder, the left shoulder is traditionally the feminine side, because shoulder tattoos are a great accent when you're wearing a tank top or halter top in the summer.

When it comes down to it, it's what makes you feel good. It's going to be around for quite a while so you may as well choose a tattoo that has lasting appeal in the female tattoo gallery.

There are so many good tattoo designs and custom pieces a tattoo artists can do nowadays so don't be tempted to get some designs which will date really fast and end up looking shoddy.

Generally female tattoos in any female tattoo gallery are very sexy and striking, and they certainly don't need to be offensive in any way. Do a search for 'female tattoos' on the internet in order to get more ideas with regard to tattoo designs.

Read More »

Temporary Glitter Tattoo and Temporary Airbrush Tattoos

When tattoos become popular with people,temporary tattoos prosper along with. Some people even prefer the latter as the designs can be removed easier and they can change it more freely according to different moods. Another reason is temporary tattoos give less pain and they are more enjoyable as they do no damage to the skin.

Mainly, temporary tattoos divide into temporary glitter tattoos and temporary airbrush tattoos.
The main materials for temporary glitter tattoos are glimmer stencils, glue, brushes, different colors of glitters and some cleaning care items. Those tattoos are painted on the surface of your skin and usually last for 7 to 15 days under normal conditions. Tocreate one temporary glitter tattoo design won't be as difficult as it's supposed to. The stencils will offer you the designs for different age ranges ranging from children to adults, enabling temporary glitter tattoos available to all the people. To be shining on parties will help you be the focus to catch others' eyeballs. You can by temporary glitter tattoo kits to get all the needed items and start one all by yourself at home.

The same, temporary airbrush tattoos are applied to the surface of the skin as well. Airbrush tattoos are created by placing a stencil to the skin and delivering the tattoo ink or tribal airbrush tattoo paint with an airbrush. The artists can control delicate elements during the process, which is really similar to permanent tattoos. Today, airbrush equipment and inks are highly developed, making airbrush tattoos much more undistinguishable with permanent ones.

Most airbrush tattoo inks or paints are alcohol based, so you can extend the life of the tattoo by applying baby powder several times during the day. To remove them, baby oil, mineral oil and suntan lotion work best. To make a temporary airbrush tattoo, an airbrush tattoo kit will be an excellent assistant.
Temporary tattoos give more chances to experience different tattoo designs. Personally, I prefer glitter tattoos to make me much more shinning on parties. And you? Start your temporary tattoos from now!

Read More »

Rib Cage Tattoos

Once you have decided to get a rib cage tattoo, it is time to search for some rib cage tattoo ideas. The design of the rib cage tattoo largely depends on the part of the rib cage you choose for tattooing. Since, rib cage covers a larger area, you have too many options to explore. You can choose just one side or both the sides. When you choose to get a tattoo on both sides, you can go for a tattoo on your back that will connect these areas. Popular rib cage tattoos on girls include flowers and famous quotes and sayings. These quotes or sayings are tattooed in a stylish font that have swirls and look feminine. Many girls get a rib cage tattoo in the form of a poem sculpted with intricate fonts. These scripts can be written either in a vertical manner or horizontal manner. Read more on: tattoo lettering styles and designs.

Flower tattoos also make some of the great rib cage tattoos for girls. Many girls have chosen the tattoo design that starts from the hip region and which continues till the sides of the chest region. Cherry blossom tree design is one such popular design which looks very attractive on girls. Some girls also go for some simple tattoos that are carved with single words like, "Peace", "Serenity" or their boyfriend's name! Simple butterfly or angle tattoos also look great on rib cage. Read more on angel tattoos for women and celtic butterfly tattoos.

Read More »

Heart Tattoo Designs

Tattoos are becoming more and more popular in our society and have become an accepted part of Western culture. Heart tattoos are one of the most common types of tattoos in the world. This article will discuss heart tattoo designs and how to find the best ones so that your tattoo will look amazing.

A heart tattoo is a permanent marking on the skin made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative reasons in the form of a heart. The art of tattooing is centuries old and has been popular among indigenous people in New Zealand, Japan, South America and Africa. Heart tattoos might not be centuries old, but they have become a popular part of European and North American culture.

Heart tattoos can be done in both full color or black styles. Black designs are more common, but a great tattoo artist can make colorful heart tattoo designs come alive on your skin. When you are looking for your heart design, make sure that the image is very high resolution. This will help the tattoo artist see it in perfect detail and will translate into a beautiful heart tattoo. Also, take your time when browsing through different designs - the tattoo will stay with you for life, so finding the perfect tattoo design is critical.

Heart tattoo designs also come in different sizes. Some are meant for small tattoos on the wrist or ankle while others are intended for larger applications on the back or upper arm. Wherever you want your heart tattoo on your body, make sure that your chosen design works in that size. With a little research, you can make sure that your heart tattoo looks awesome for years to come.

Read More »

Zodiac Tattoo Designs

As a person born under Taurus, you are quite a complex personality. You are cautious, practical and persistent.You are a very determined person who will see things through to the end. You can take a while to make up your mind, as you weigh all the pros and cons, but you follow through on your decision with dogged determination. Loyalty is a great strength, as you will stand by your friends in times of trouble. You are sensitive and patient - a good friend to have. But you are no pushover because you will not be pushed around and you like to control your own life and destiny. You are modest, generous and peace loving with an even-tempered nature most of the time. What Taurus Zodiac tattoo design will help you express one or more of these traits?

Taurus Tattoo Designs

Taurus is regarded as a feminine sign, even though the symbol of a bull is masculine. The planet Venus, whose colour is pink, rules it. It is also one of the fixed Zodiac signs, along with Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. These signs are associated with great willpower.Taurus tattoos are, of course, the image of the bull. But there are number of ways this can be represented: a set of horns, a head or a full body. The full body is popular but you need a big area such as a thigh or back. Because of one side of your nature you may wish to show a strong, forceful image to express your strong will and determination. On the other hand you may want a softer image to express your feminine side. Putting pink into the design or adding stars or flowers will do this. The Taurus Zodiac symbol lends itself to this very well.

Celtic Taurus Tattoos

Taurus tattoos done in the Celtic style introduce and element of mystery and mythology. The Celts practiced nature worship which meant they revered nature and animals. They made animal images an important part of their artwork. An image of the bull, whole or in part, can be worked into a knotwork design to give an artistic and meaningful tattoo. There is a spiritual aspect to this as there is a connection to your star sign and to an ancient people - maybe to your own cultural history. A Celtic Taurus tattoo image will create interest and provoke discussion.

Tribal Taurus Tattoo

The Tribal tattoo style always makes a strong statement. The image of the bull could be well suited to this. It could also suit you as you may want to show your strong, determined side - the side that makes you hang in there when others falter or give up; the side that says you are in charge of you life and your destiny. Tribal tattoos come in a wide variety and are very flexible. They can make a strong statement with a minimalist design or they can do it with a great deal of flourish and embellishment.As a Taurean, if you are determined to find your own unique Zodiac tattoo design, you will not give up until you do.

Read More »

Cross Tattos - The Religious Symbol

Cross tattoos are some of the most popular tattoos in the world right now. These amazing pieces of art look great almost anywhere on the body. Cross tattoo designs are perfect for your back, arm, leg or any other part of your body. A poll conducted online in January 2008 estimated that 14% of all adults in the United States have at least one tattoo. Tattoos are popular all over the world, especially among men and women aged 18-29.

If you are interested in getting a cross tattoo (or any other kind), it's a great idea to sign up for an account at an online tattoo gallery. These websites allow you to view thousands of professional tattoo designs, making it easy for you to choose the tattoo of your dreams. Due to the expense involved in getting a tattoo and because a tattoo is perminent for life, spending a few dollars on a membership to one of these websites is well worth the money.

Create My Tattoo and Tahititatou are the best tattoo design galleries online. Both websites feature large tattoo databases with dozens of amazing cross tattoos and thousands of other designs. Whether you are planning to get one tattoo or one dozen, I urge you to visit both of these websites and join the one you think will help you find the best cross tattoo design.

Read More »

Celtic Tattoos - The Oldest Tattoos

Celtic history goes back thousands and thousands of years.  Early Celtic people were well known for their skills in artwork of jewelry, metal, and even weapons. They were warriors as well, regarded as fierce fighters by the Romans.  Throughout Ireland, there are many examples and evidence of Celtic artwork and Celtic crosses.
Over the years, modern Celtics evolved and established symbols for themselves along the way. Throughout North America, Celtic people often wear these symbols to let others know that they are a Celtic descent.  The symbols and knowledge have been passed down through the years, as there is little no written history.  Tattooing however, keeps the Celtic tradition alive with the infamous Celtic cross and other popular Celtic designs.
Most Celtic tattoo designs come from Ireland, where the evidence of Celtic history is very strong indeed.  The Trinity College found in Dublin, Ireland, contains many manuscripts that document the Celtic heritage and symbols.  The height of Celtic tattooing however, occurred during the era when stone and metal work was really popular.
Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth.  There are also Celtic animal tattoo designs as well, which are similar in design to the knot tattoos, although the cords in the design normally terminate in heads, tails, and feet.  The pure knot tattoo designs are normally never ending, unless an individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral.
The meaning behind the knots in Celtic tattoos defies any type of literal translation and is found at a much deeper level.  The interlacing of the knots expresses the repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual elements.  The strands and their never ending path is a popular design for Celtic tattoos, representing life, faith, and love.  For many years, Celtics have used these designs for emotional as well as heritage purposes.
Those who are from a Celtic descent, Irish, Scots, or Welsh, normally find a Celtic tattoo to be a great way to express their heritage pride.  These tattoos help to reestablish pride, and give tribute to one's ancestors.  The tattoos aren't easy to do, most taking several hours.  Unlike other tattoo designs, Celtic tattoos are among the hardest designs in the world.
If you are from a Celtic descent and have decided to get a Celtic tattoo, the first thing to do is find an artist capable of doing the tattoo.  The designs are very difficult and not all tattoo artists can do them.  It's always best to find a tattoo artist who has a background in Celtic designs, as this will ensure the tattoo is done correctly.  The artist who does the tattoo needs to have an eye for detail and exact line placement - which is a skill that not all tattoo artists possess.

Read More »

Tribal Tattoo - An Extreme Form Of Tattoo

A tribal tattoo is quite an extreme tattoo; it is a black design that is usually applied to the upper arm or back. The original wearers of tribal tattoos used the designs to show their status within their community, it served a purpose to warn others of their rank. This is obviously no longer the case; however it is worth taking the time to understand the importance of the tribal tattoo before having one done.

Taking the time to understand the culture and history of a tribal tattoo, shows a level of respect to a civilisation that has long passed. Although, that being said we no longer look at a person’s tattoos to establish their success as a hunter. Nevertheless, it is important that the original inspiration remains.

The emphasis on modern tribal tattoo designs is to blend the old with the new. Keeping in touch with the original style, yet adding more modern touches that reflect our lives. For example, a common tribal tattoo for women may also include a flower that symbolises something else important in their life. It’s also common for a tribal tattoo to form the frame of a more portrait based tattoo, thus making the design more about art than history or culture.

At the end of the day, people choose their tattoo designs because they like them. Regardless of them being tribal tattoos or cross tattoos, it is more important for the wearer to have a design that they feel comfortable with and means something or represents something that is important to them.

Read More »

History Of Tattoos

Tattoos are a very old form of body art that go back to ancient times when many cultures used them. Some historians say that tattoos go back 5000 years, while others believe they go back well over 10000 years.

The earliest known evidence of tattooing goes back to markings found on the mummified human body that was discovered in the Alp Mountains in 1991. 5300 years old Oetzi - The Tyrolean Iceman, the oldest European mummified human, was tattooed. 58 tattoos, which appeared to serve more than a simple decorative function as some of them represent known pressure or acupuncture points, has been found on his body. The fact that he was tattooed was not a coincidence and it was probably perfectly normal for people of his time to be tattooed.

Ancient Egypt where wall paintings as old as 2000 BC have been suggesting the use of tattoos is today generally accepted as the cradle of tattoo art. Tattoos have been found on a small number of female mummies. The example of this are the mummified remains of a priestess of the goddess Hathor who lived some time between 2160 BC and 1994 BC.

When the Egyptians expanded their empire, the art of tattooing spread to the civilizations of Crete, Greece, Persia, and Arabia. Around 2000 BC it spread to China. The Mayans were also known to have tattoos, as were the Aztecs and Incas. Tattooing became widespread among Polynesian peoples, and among certain tribal groups in the Philippines, Borneo, Africa, North America, and Japan.

The purpose of tattooing varied from culture to culture. The Greeks for example used it for communication among spies. Romans use them to mark criminals and slaves. Tahitian tattoos served as rites of passage, telling the history of the wearer's life. Tattoos served as symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, amulets and talismans, protection, and so on.

Tattooing was rediscovered by Europeans when they came into contact with Polynesians and American Indians.

About the word - Tattoo

The word - tattoo originates from the Tahitian word ta-tau, meaning - to make a mark. Ta-tau means to mark or puncture the skin and is a reduplicated form of the word - ta - meaning - to strike. Tattauing or tattooing was a word introduced to Europe by Captain James Cook after his 1769 expedition to the South Pacific.

The history of tattoo began thousands of years ago and is as diverse as the people who had them. Today, tattooing is becoming more popular and accepted than it has ever been.

Read More »

Eagle tattoo

Strong and mighty are appropriate adjectives that describe every eagle tattoo. Through the years, people have been getting tattoos to boost the ego and bolster fashion sense. In early civilizations, tattoos were symbolic of people's personalities and social status.

Now, tattoos often do not symbolize anything about the wearer. However, there are still some people who pay high regards to symbolism and representations when it comes to getting a particular tattoo design. If you are planning to get a tattoo, why not choose to have an eagle tattoo? You would surely love it, as do people who already wear one.

What is the basic symbolism of an eagle tattoo? For patriotic and nationalistic sentiments, the eagle is usually a animal representation of the United States. The eagle as you know is among the most admirable of all animals, because it is sturdy, it flies and soars higher and it is very strong.
The eyes are very much fierce, probably accounting why the eagles' eyes are used in the term 'eagle's eye view'. The wings of an eagle are so strong that it is not surprising why eagles are known to be strong and soaring high.

Personality wise, an eagle symbolizes strength, strong will and overall agility. These characteristics are very much identified with nothing else but the eagle. Eagle tattoos are usually worn by men. That is why for quite some time, an eagle tattoo is very much identified as a symbolism for masculinity.
However, these days, some women are also collecting guts to wear an eagle tattoo, but with a different design. It might be the basic symbolisms and representations of eagle tattoos that make them more appropriate for men.

An eagle tattoo can very much be located in any part of the body. Usually, men put their eagle tattoos in their chests, while others prefer to have the skin art on their arms and legs. When considering getting an eagle tattoo, it is also advisable if you would first assess and carefully think about the size.

You can have a small eagle tattoo or a big one. You can opt to have a multi-colored tattoo or a simple, uni-colored one. You can incorporate the flag's main colors on the eagle or have a close up of an eagle face as your tattoo. Whatever your choice and preference is, in the end, your eagle tattoo would very much indicate your overall sentiment in life.

Read More »

Unique and Sexy Lower Back Tattoo Designs

A tattoo is a permanent part of someone’s body and someone who is bold and daring would want unique and sexy lower back tattoo designs more than anything else.  They can really look stunning and sensual particularly on females - no wonder 20 percent of women with tattoos between the ages of 18 to 50 have a tattoo on their lower-back. 

Nothing can beat an incredible and unique tattoo just peeking out from the curve of her behind and onto her lower-back. The following looks into this wonderful world of lower-back tattoo designs and help you decide on what kind of tattoo you would want embedded on that sexy part of your body.

The Lower Back: An Excellent Place for Unique and Sexy Tattoo Designs

The lower-back is an excellent location to put unique and sexy tattoo designs as this can be easily flaunted or flashed whatever style of clothing a person may choose. In a same manner, the tattoo can be discreetly hidden under clothing if the person chooses it to be depending on the situation they are in.  

The lower-back is also an area in the body that doesn’t change much whether the person is young or old, thin or plump, and could really be a very feminine and very sexy area particularly for bold and daring women who wants to enhance their looks and image. 

Popular Lower Back Tattoo Designs

There are several designs available that a particular person can choose that would look perfect on their lower backs. It all depends on what a person prefers his or her image to project. But if you want a tattoo that projects a sleek and sexy look, then the following are some design suggestions that you may want to consider and get that unique and sexy lower back tattoo design that is perfect for your body.

* A Coiling Snake - a symbol of the inner power and energy that some people believe the lower-back holds. The snake or the serpent is also used as a symbol for a goddess and is considered a feminine, benign force by some older religions 

* Tribal Design - this is one of the most popular designs that people choose for their lower-backs. Also called tramp stamps on the lower-back, tribal designs can be Celtic, Polynesian, African or any other exotic tribal design from anywhere in the world

* Lotus Flower - another symbol for femininity, fertility, divinity and prosperity used throughout the ages. It is also considered a symbol of the sun and the creative power that female holds

* Dragon - this is another symbol of inner power that would look sleek and sexy as the image appears to jump out from the lower back

* Dolphins - a dolphin tattoo is great for a woman’s lower-back and would really appear sexy as it conforms to the curves and contours of the lower-back 

The lower-back is a great and excellent place where excellent looking tattoos can be placed. A person, particularly daring ladies who wants to change their looks into something bold and daring can make use of unique and sexy lower back tattoo designs.

Read More »

Hottest and Sexiest Tattoo Designs for Girls

Nothing can turn heads more than seeing a gorgeously sleek and sexy woman walking down the street (uhurmp… not necessarily the song please) sporting some of the hottest and sexiest tattoo designs for girls you have ever seen. Gone are the days when timid and shy girls are the norm. Women right now are much more independent, bold and daring and these can be seen in the number of girls from ages 18 to 50 or higher sporting a tattoo or more anywhere in the bodies.

Tattoo designs have gone a long way in the same manner that many modern women have evolved throughout the years. Tattoos are much more colorful, more intricate and in greater detail that more and more women are jumping into this bandwagon and make a remarkable change in their image and lifestyle. 

The following are some of the more popular choices among the hottest and sexiest tattoo designs that mark many modern girls of today.

* Mythical Creatures

Fairies, dragons, angels and other creatures of myth and legends are great choices for tattoo designs that anyone can have on their bodies. These images can create a sense of awe and wonder but in the same time can appear really sleek and sexy as the intricate designs conform to the sexy curves and shapes that girls can have.

* Flowers

Floral designs are one of the more feminine designs that if properly configured can really appear sleek and sexy particularly if placed on revealing areas such as the lower back, the navel area, or even at the curves of the breasts. They can truly be one of the hottest and sexiest tattoo designs for girls of any age. Some of the most favorite flower designs include the rose (complete with thorns) and the lotus flower.

* Snakes

People might think snakes are not really a very feminine design but contrary to this belief, the snake has been a symbol for the goddess in some exotic religions and has been associated with the feminine inner power that women are supposed to posses.

* Tribal Designs

The lower back is one of the sexiest areas that girls have their tattoo printed on and tribal designs are some of the most popular, hottest and sexiest tattoo designs that women choose for this area.  It can span the whole lower back and hip area or it can simply be placed in the inner curve just above a girl’s behind, giving the semblance of something emerging from the girl’s panties. Really cool and sexy!

There are several other designs and variations available that women can choose from as basis for their tattoos. More than a fashion statement, these designs bring out a sense of independence and power from a woman but at the same time they can enhance a girl’s femininity and inner beauty that they can only get from the hottest and sexiest tattoo designs for girls.

Read More »

Tribal Tattoo Designs and Their Meanings

The art of tattooing is probably as old as humanity itself and tribal tattoo designs have always been at the forefront of the most favorite tattoo designs throughout the ages. Even though the technology used in tattoos have evolved from the crude ink and needle techniques of yesteryears to the modern tattoo- making tools and machines that can create colorful, very intricate and very complicated works of art on a human body, the preference for tribal designs never waned.

The following is a short discussion of the various tribal tattoo designs that many people prefer and a look into the meaning behind these designs. 

The Traditional Meaning of Tribal Tattoos

It has been the tradition of many tribes around the world to sport a form or two of tribal tattoos on their bodies as part of being a member of that particular tribe. Some of the more popular traditional designs that we see today originated from Borneo, the Celts, the Haidas in Southeast Alaska, the Native American Indians, the ancient Chinese, the Aztecs and other South American tribes, and the Polynesian tribes particularly the Maori people. 

Tribal tattoo designs and meanings vary from each tribe and it depends on their mythological roots and how each tribe view and interact with there surroundings and with the world. Most of these designs are associated with their beliefs and religions and form part of rituals and rights of passages. These tattoo designs also have significant social meanings ranging from a unique identification system for families or tribes or as a record of the individual’s accomplishments and phases in life. Others believe tattoos can bring out magical powers or they can drive off evil spirits. 

Tribal Tattoo Meanings in the Modern World

Tribal tattoos are really great-looking designs that stand out despite their monochromatic characteristics. The modern world and tattoo enthusiasts have combined certain elements of traditional designs and mix it up with modern lines, curves and other elements. These designs can be adapted from traditional patterns used by real tribes, or designs can be created from an original variation of the artist using traditional tribal elements.

However, a person wanting such variations or adaptation from original designs should be careful not to offend the original tribe by making more careful studies on tribal tattoo meanings particularly for a specific tribe. Some traditional designs used by native tribes signify their identity and if used by an outsider, the act would be considered a serious insult to the original tribe.    

In most cases, tribal tattoo designs used in a modern context does not have the same meaning or connotation as traditional tribes have intended them to be. Most do not have a real meaning in itself and were just created because of plain, artistic and aesthetic beauty that the image possesses. Despite that, a lot of people are enamored and would prefer the tribal design over the multi-colored variations.

Tattooing is an age-old tradition used by many tribes all throughout the world. The black images used in tribal tattoo designs have different connotations and meanings as they are used throughout the tattoo world - both traditionally and in a modern sense. 

Read More »

5 Tips to Hot and Sexy Tattoo Design for Girls

Hot girls could really turn heads everywhere they go but girls with hot and sexy tattoo designs could really make men drool.  Tattoos are some of the most noticeable images or ‘permanent’ accessories that anyone could place on their bodies and seeing such masterpieces on women could really redefine what is meant to be cool - particularly if they’re hot and sexy.

The following discusses five of the hottest and sexiest design variations for tattoos that would really look great on any girl.

A Fairy at My Ankle

Hot and sexy tattoo designs can be placed anywhere on a girl’s body and would still come out as striking as any other tattoo designs, even if it is located on or near the ankle. Such sexy designs can be very flirty and can even be enticing to look at. However, the image you should choose should make you more appealing and exotic instead of choosing something ‘cute’ or ‘safe’. One of the best images that a girl can choose would be the sleek and sexy fairy designs that would conform to the curves and contours on her ankle area.

An Angel at My Back

A sleek and sexy angel sporting mighty eternal wings placed at any girl’s back can really be a great hot and sexy tattoo design sample as anything else. Forego the cute and charming cherubs and baby-like angel images and choose a more exotic, bold-looking and utterly sexy angel design. You can even be more exotic and bolder and choose a ‘dark angel’ theme for your design and create a sexier effect.  

Dragons: Sexy and Dangerous

Bold and daring girls would not want plain and simple tattoo designs on their bodies but would rather choose something sexy and dangerous. And what can elicit a sense of danger and at the same time something exotic and sexy better than a dragon. Having a dragon design at the lower portion of a girl’s back or even at the shoulders can elicit both a sense of power and sleek beauty that only a dragon can bring. 

Tigers: Bold and Different

The same effect that dragons can bring as sexy and dangerous-looking designs, tigers too can be hot and sexy tattoo designs for girls particularly if placed at the back for everyone to see. The design should not take a large portion of the back though and can be placed anywhere between the shoulders and the hips. It would be great to leave some area of skin untouched for that sexier and sleeker effect.

Say It in another Language

For some people, an image that is beautiful to look at but something people may not completely understand would be a great sexy design samples. Words like ‘beautiful’ or even ‘sexy’ written in Chinese, Japanese or any other exotic languages and script can really have a sexy effect if tattooed on the back, arms or legs. 
Bold and beautiful, sleek and sexy - these are traits that some women would like their image to project. They can do this with jewelry and clothing but nothing can create a more powerful effect than having a hot and sexy tattoo design on their bodies. 

Read More »