The Art of Tattoo

Tattoo Safety Precautions

2010-09-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

Before making the decision to get a tattoo, be sure you are educated about possible health risks associated with the practice. These risks are minimal but can occur nonetheless. Non-sterile tattoo practices can possibly lead to the transmission of infectious organisms such as Hepatitis B and tuberculosis. To limit the risk.

Be sure to follow the exact instructions on caring for your new tattoo. Your skin is open and is in the healing process during the first few weeks after your tattooing session so be sure to take care of it carefully. Another thing to consider is allergic reactions to the pigment. If you are aware of any allergies you may have, be sure to share them with your tattoo artist.

There is a list provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is known as Universal Precautions. This is part of the Blood borne Pathogens Rule that was issued by the EPA. They apply in any health service setting that exposure to bodily fluids and blood is likely to occur. This includes tattoo parlors. Many states and local authorities have their own regulations for tattoo parlors that are based on the EPA guidelines. Check to see if your state or local municipality has such regulations. Also, look into any professional licensure that your state may have in effect for tattoo parlors.

Finally, the biggest thing to remember when getting a tattoo is to NOT let a friend try to tattoo you. Please leave it to the professionals who make this art their livelihood. They have the training and licensing to provide you with a clean and safe service.

Why Get A Tattoo?

2008-12-26T08:44:00.000-08:00

Firstly let’s discuss the top 13 reasons you may want to get a tattoo in the first place!
1. Self Expression - Tattoos are works of art that can be used as a vehicle to display your unique sense of individuality to the world. For instance, if you are into the "undead scene" others will be able to identify you by the ghostly spirit tattooed on your arm. If you are an art lover, an Andy Warhol or Leonardo Da Vinci inspired tattoo will deliver the message to others. The tattoo can also give others some idea of your occupation.

2. Tribal Identity - The original intention of a tattoo was to mark an individual as part of a tribe or a group. This type of tattoo warns others if you happen to belong to some kind of gang (good for them) and allows other kindred spirits to identify you (good for you.) For instance, an iron cross can identify a Goth individual, the Serenity Prayer an AA member, a Harley Davidson logo a biker, a crucifix a Christian, an anchor a member of the Navy and so on..

3. Spiritual Growth - Many individuals will get a tattoo after they experience an epiphany or leap of faith that has led to their survival against great odds. Examples of this kind of tattoo are the lung cancer survivor who gets a tattoo of the wind blowing and the student of Buddhism who gets the "ohm" symbol tattooed on his chest after receiving teachings from a master.

4. For Spiritual Protection - Cab drivers will boast a tattoo of St. Christopher on their arms to prevent accidents on the road. A very familiar tattoo for protection is the eye within the hand or the eye within the triangle that finds its origins in the ancient Mediterranean. Crucifix's, sacred hearts, St. Michael and gods or goddesses are often used for the same purposes.

5. Marking Important Events - Weddings, anniversaries, divorces, surviving a war and other occasions sometimes warrant a tattoo. Some couples are getting tattoos marked around the fourth finger of their left hand rather than opting for the traditional engagement ring.

6. Paying Homage - Sometimes a tattoo is in order after the death of a celebrity, favorite pet or relative. Usually these tattoos are portraits commissioned by a very talented artist who can reproduce likenesses of such personages as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy or Malcolm X.

7. To Enhance Luck - Getting a tattoo to enhance your luck is as old as primitive man. Today you can see everything from pairs of dice to four leafed clovers to the Greek Goddess Fortuna marked on the arms of those who wish to court Lady Luck.

8. To Express Commitment - Getting a tattoo in this day of "disposable everything" is an expression of commitment to yourself that is forever. The sages say that making an irrevocable decision is good for the soul!

9. Totem Symbols and Animals - Some people consider a tattoo to be an expression of their soul or spirit guide. Fairies, hummingbirds, butterflies, angels, wolves, tigers and other animals are popular examples of this kind of tattoo.

10. As a memorial - Some tattoos are used to remember a beloved family member or pet that has passed away.

11. Enhancing Sexuality - There is a theory that getting a tattoo on the lower back helps open up the base chakra (near the bottom of the spine) and enhances the kundalini (life force) that governs such matters as survival and sexuality. A tiny tattoo on the female hipbone or on the inner thigh is considered to be very sexy.

12. Multiple Births - In this age of fertility drugs, more mothers than ever are giving birth to identical twins, triplets and quadruplets. Tattooing the bottom of the newborns' feet is one way to guarantee that you will always be able to tell your children apart from each other.

13. To Make People Laugh – Best of all, tattoos do have a way of "breaking the ice" when it comes to starting a conversation. There is nothing wrong with adding a little levity to the world. After all humor dissolves all karma!

Butterfly Tattoos

2008-09-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

Your choice of tattoo artist can have a big impact on whether or not you like your tattoo. Here are some things to consider when looking for an artist who does butterfly tattoos.

Butterfly tattoos and dragon tattoos are great ways to decorate your body and express your individuality. However, like any tattoo, it is important to choose a tattoo artist whom you can trust to do high quality artwork. After all, unless you decide to undergo painful tattoo removal procedures, or commission a cover-up tattoo, your butterfly tattoos will be on your body for the rest of your life.

Here are 5 things to look for when choosing a tattoo artist who does butterfly tattoos.

1: A good reputation. A tattoo artist's or tattoo parlor's reputation can tell you a lot about the quality of work they do. When a tattoo artist does poor work, word gets around, so be sure to ask! Likewise, a tattoo artist that is well known for doing excellent work is probably worth paying a little more for. After all, you're only going to get one chance at this.

You might also want to look for a tattoo artist who specializes in doing butterfly tattoos, dragon tattoos, or any other kind of tattoo you are looking for. Just like traditional artists, tattoo artists tend to have preferences on styles and colors, and they tend to do the best work when it's a design that they like.

You might also want to ask your friends for referrals, especially if your friends have butterfly tattoos that you really like.

2: A professional storefront or business setup. You are the most likely to get butterfly tattoos you can be proud of at an established business, rather than a tattoo artist working out of his basement. There are several reasons for this. One, someone who has taken the time to set up his or her own business is much less likely to do something -- such as do poor work -- that could jeopardize that business. Also, a professional tattoo artist is more likely to have experience and a good reputation.

3: High quality inks. The quality of the ink is often overlooked, but this is something that you should pay close attention to, particularly if you are in the market for butterfly tattoos or dragon tattoos -- both of which usually require good color and blending. High quality inks will create a better-looking and longer-lasting tattoo: The pigments will offer better blending and shading properties, and will be less likely to fade with time and exposure to sunlight.

4: A good selection of butterfly tattoos. Butterfly tattoos and dragon tattoos are both fairly popular designs; so many tattoo parlors have a good selection of both. However, it is worth doing a little research to make sure you are getting the one you like the best. After all, it'll be on your body for the rest of your life.

Visit several different tattoo parlors and view their selections of butterfly tattoos and dragon tattoos. It's also worth searching for designs online. Remember, if the tattoo artist you like the best doesn't have the design you want, you can always show him an example of what you're looking for -- which brings us to the final thing you should look for in a tattoo artist.

5: Artistic talent. Whether you are choosing a pre-designed butterfly tattoo or having one custom designed, you should always be sure to entrust your body art to someone with true artistic talent. Almost anyone with friends who have tattoos has heard at least one horror story about a tattoo that didn't turn out right. This is often caused not just by sloppy skills, but also by a lack of artistic vision.

Great butterfly tattoos or dragon tattoos require more than just a good design. The ink used, the artist's skill and professionalism, and the assurances you have of getting the tattoo you want all contribute to your ultimate satisfaction. Anything with this level of permanence should never be an impulse buy -- instead, make sure you consider your options carefully to ensure that you choose an artist you can trust.

Author: Andy West

Lower back tatto for Girls

2008-09-27T03:17:00.000-07:00

Lower back tattoo designs are a popular form of tattoo designs. Lower back tattoo designs are just so damn hot and sexy on a girls. There is nothing more hot than tribal tattoo designs or floral tattoo designs peeping out over a girl's bikini.The most popular lower back tattoos are tribal tattoo designs or floral tattoo designs. All tattoos should have a personal meaning, but the best thing about lower back tattoos is that they can have that special meaning and also look so dangerously sexy!

Why Lower Back Tattoos are so Hot? To put it simple, lower back tattoos are sexy, hot and classy. Lower back tattoos especially look hot on the feminine body, the beautiful curves and shape of the female body all seem to converge to the lower back.Lower back tattoo designs have the ability to accentuate the shape of the female body and create the much desired hour glass effect. Many different styles can be adopted for lower back tattoos - Tribal, Star, Butterfly, Celtic, Dolphin and so many more.Many celebrities have lower back tattoos these days. Sarah Michelle Gellar has a gorgeous pair of purple dragonfly tattoos on her lower back. Pamela Anderson has been seen showing off her tribal tattoo design on her lower back. Anna Kournikova has a large star tattoo design on her lower back. Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts have also joined the lower back tattoo revolution.You don't need to be rich and famous to get more attention, just compliment your natural beauty with a hot tattoo!

Basically, girls are more style conscious in choosing their tattoos than guys. They spend lots of time thinking of the right tattoo to put on their body, and on which part of the body they should wear it. On the contrary, guys decide and choose their tattoos at the spur of the moment and just have it done on their body.

Tattoo artists claim that that on comparing guys and girls, it is girls who are better and easier to tattoo. This is because girls can deal with pain and handle pain much better than guys. Although guys think they are tough and can control pain, when the needle hits their skin, most guys pass out.

Recently, girls have been opting for large tattoos with designs of 'New school' hearts, stars, roses and tribal tattoos. Then there are angels, cross, butterflies, fairies, flowers, henna and numerous Christian symbols that are being used as tattoo images. Of the lot, the cross is the most famous tattoo.

There are some girls who prefer getting zodiac symbols and celestial bodies like the sun or moon as their tattoos. There are also different symbols of good luck for people of different cultures that are used as tattoos. Of course, like always, the most popular girl's tattoo is to engrave their benefactor's or sweetheart's name on the body.

Basically, girls tend to turn to delicate and minimalist tattoos for their bodies. However of late, they have started choosing larger and more aggressive tattoo designs with popular female tattoos becoming more and more experimental every day.

By: Rome Landa

What You Should Know Before You Get A Tattoo Or Piercing

2008-09-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

Before getting a tattoo or a body piercing find out what all the risks are and how to get rid of the tattoo or body piercing if you no longer want it.

A tattoo may only take a few minutes to get but it can last a lifetime. Tattoos are permanent. They are designs put on your skiing with pigments injected into the top layer of your skin with needles.

Here is how tattoos are created: A needle is connected to an apparatus with tubes which contain dye. These needles pierce the skin multiple times kind of like a sewing machine but on your skin. The needle inserts tiny drops of ink creating the tattoo. Tattoos can hurt and a large tattoo can take up to several hours to create. The tattoo may even bleed

What are the downsides of getting a tattoo?

You are piercing your skin so you may be a risk for more skin infections if you get a tattoo or piercing.

If you get a tattoo you put yourself at risk for getting blood related diseases. If the machine the tattoo artist uses you can you can get hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus, tuberculosis and even HIV.

If you use red ink in your tattoos you may get a rash with bumps.

Tattoos can also lead to bacterial infections. The symptoms are redness, warmth, swelling and pus.

Again if you use red ink in your tattoo this can cause allergic reactions that can last for years.

Your tattoo will also require cleaning and maintenance. Your tattoo artist will give you instructions on how to clean and maintain your tattoo. You should apply skin care products and avoid too much exposure to the sun for your tattoo. Especially in the beginning.

Tattoos takes several days to heal. Do not pick at the tattoo. Give the tattoo time to heal properly.

What if you want to get rid of your tattoo? This is very common.

Tattoo removal is difficult and often still leaves scars and skin discolorations.

Laser surgery if the best way to get rid of a tattoo. Laser beams penetrate the top layer of the skin and the light is accepted by the tattoo. This method may demand up to 10 treatments over a period of a year and even then the tattoo might not completely disappear.

Another method of tattoo removal is called Dermabrasion. The tattoo is frozen until the skin is numb then the skin is sanded down. This method does not hurt very much but it usually leaves a scar.

You can also remove that tattoo surgically but this invariably leaves a scar.

Author: John The Tattoo And Piercing Guy

Tattoo Aftercare Guide

2008-09-27T01:51:00.000-07:00

How well a tattoo ages and how long the colors remain vibrant are most affected by the first three weeks of aftercare given a new tattoo. That statement implies what often goes unstated in the world of tattooing but what is tacitly understood by all—that tattoos do change over time. Because we know that the skin is constantly changing, we know that the appearance of a tattoo must also change. As skin stretches or shrinks, becomes injured, or simply ages, tattoos also stretch, shrink, and age. In addition, certain colors (red) are more likely to fade than others (blue) and will change more quickly.

This articles describes the changes that the tattooed can expect and how they can help to mitigate unwanted changes with detailed aftercare information and also preventative measures that can be taken during the lifetime of the tattoo.

Transition

It's natural to keep looking at your new tattoo in the mirror at this point, so don't feel too narcissistic. People in the shop will no doubt be looking also. Now that the tattoo is complete, your artist will dispose of all the single-use items and remove the tattoo machine for later disassembly so that the tubes and needles can be cleaned and sterilized. The work area will have the Saran wrap removed, if it was used, and then he wiped down, just as when the whole process started.

The healing process begins almost immediately but your best and first layer of protection, your skin, has been penetrated. Your tattoo artist will take immediate steps to address that situation. Your tattoo will be cleaned with alcohol one last time—the cool feeling is a relief to the hot sensation caused by the swelling. A final coat of Vaseline (or other topical ointment of choice) will be applied, and then a bandage. That's right, your brand-new tattoo is going to be hidden for its first several hours. The bandages vary from shop to shop, even from tattoo to tattoo. Sometimes a sterile pad with medical tape is used. Other tattoos, however, like a very large back piece, are impossible to bandage in that way. Instead, Saran wrap alone, held down by medical tape, might be used. The purpose of the bandage is to prevent infection and promote healing. Any sterile bandage material that accomplishes those goals is good for the task. Other options include a nonstick Telfa pad, and even a diaper for an awkward position on the body.

Your tattooist will tell you what to do to care for your new tattoo. These do's and don'ts are the all-important aftercare instructions. The burden of infection prevention now shifts to you. Despite all efforts made on your behalf by the tattoo your artist, assuming that you're happy with your new tattoo and you can afford it. Tip or not, though, if you're happy with your tattoo, you might want to say so before you leave.

Also at this point, tattoo artists sometimes like to snap a quick photo of the piece before you leave. Ideally, they'd like to get a nice photograph for their portfolio or Web site when the tattoo is completely healed. But that would mean that clients would have to come back for the express purpose of providing a photo op—which rarely happens. Instead, most tattoo photos are taken right after the tattoo is done. Occasionally, clients return for more tattoos, providing an opportunity to photograph the healed piece.

Aftercare Calendar

The next couple of weeks are a critical time for you and your new tattoo, which is why tattoo shops will go to the trouble of providing written aftercare instructions for their clients. If you've looked into aftercare at all, though, you quickly realize that these instructions vary from shop to shop, and they have also changed over time. There are a few reasons for that variation. Different products for aftercare are available in different places, even on the same continent.

Tattoo artists may he apprenticed using certain products and may keep using them even when they move off and set up their own shop. Experience and a history with these aftercare products is important in the same way that experience is important for the choice of tattoo inks. Confidence in a product or technique builds over years of working with hundreds if not thousands of clients.

But with all the variation of time, place, and tattooist, there still remain some broad and common themes that run through aftercare instructions. The common denominator is twofold: preventing infection and promoting healing. Add to that a third goal of trying to retain as much ink as possible in the tattoo and you begin to understand the reasoning behind all aftercare instructions. The following is a generic aftercare calendar of what you can expect during the first few weeks with your new tattoo and what you need to do to take care of it.

DAY 1: This is the big day—the day you're tattooed. Although most tattoo artists will instruct you to leave your bandage on for a minimum of two hours and hopefully somewhere between two and twelve hours, what they're really shooting for is that you'll leave it on overnight. You want the tattoo to remain moist and protected for as long as possible. Don't go overboard with this, though. Leaving the bandage on overnight prevents the new tattoo from sticking to your pajamas or sheets on that first night, but the next morning should be considered the upper limit on how long the bandage should stay in place. Ideally then, on Day 1, you will not see, let alone touch, your new tattoo.

DAY 2: Wash your hands! Always, before touching your tattoo, including removing the bandage, wash your hands with an antibacterial soap. Let this become your new ritual, much like the tattoo artists before they put on their gloves. Remove the bandage, slowly, in case it has stuck to the tattoo. If that's happened, then moisten the bandage with warm water (in the shower might be the easiest way) until it comes free without pulling. Gently, oh so gently, wash your new tattoo with a mild soap and warm water. Your goal is to remove any blood, lymph fluid, ink, or Vaseline that was left on the surface of the skin. You don't want to scrub or even use a washcloth. Instead, use your clean hands and gently work off anything that is on the surface. Don't soak your tattoo for the sake of soaking it, though. Once it's clean, stop washing it. Pat it dry with a clean towel, taking care never to rub it. This is probably your first long look at it, all clean and new in its pristine glory. You will not be applying a new bandage.

Exception #1 in the aftercare game: The vast majority of people will not need a second bandage, but occasionally the double bandage is the best course for some people. Folks who are prone to scabbing or thick scabs or who have an impaired ability for the skin to heal itself or whose ink just doesn't seem to stay (which you would only know from past tattoo experi- ence) might try a second bandage—but probably for not more than another twelve hours. After washing as above, apply another clean coat of Vaseline (or whatever product was used) and rebandage (with the same type of dressing as was used initially, or perhaps just Saran wrap and medical tape).

As the skin of the new tattoo heals, you want to keep it moist. How to prevent scabbing, which removes color from the tattoo and which would also create itching and the temptation to touch the tattoo, even scratch it. In order to prevent drying, you'll use a cream to moisturize the tattoo. How often and how much? You want to use enough so that the tattoo doesn't feel tight, dry, or itchy, and you want to achieve a thin coating, since you don't want to clog the pores.

What type of cream or lotion should you use? There are many from which to choose, and every tattooee and artist will recommend something different. What it amounts to, though, is label reading. You want to avoid alcohol since it will dry the skin. At this point, you also want to avoid oil, grease, petrolatum (which is in Vaseline), and lanolin (animal oil extracted from wool) since these will clog pores. You want to avoid fragrance since it doesn't do anything for you and could prove to be an irritant to freshly tattooed skin. What are your choices? They fall into two main categories: products made just for tattoo aftercare and products you can buy at any drugstore, grocery store, or pharmacy.

Specialized tattoo products (Tattoo Goo, Black Cat Super Healing Salve, THC Tattoo Aftercare, etc.) may be no better or worse than regular moisturizers at the supermarket. Again, it amounts to label reading. Some of these specialized products, typically sold in tattoo parlors, contain beeswax or dyes and fragrance. Some contain mixtures of homeopathic herbs, vitamins, and oils. Regular moisturizers and lotions (Curd, Lubriderm, A and D Ointment) are much the same, without the cool packaging and the word "tattoo" in the name. Again, these may contain petrolatum or lanolin and dyes and fragrances. You ideally want something as moist and neutral in terms of its chemical composition as possible.

An antibiotic cream perhaps? Well, here's the deal with that. Many, many, many people use antibiotic creams in the aftercare of their new tattoo (like Neosporin, Polysporin, Bacitracin, Bepanthen, etc.). An antibiotic, however, is for killing bacteria and these may not, hopefully will not, be present. Antibiotic creams do not necessarily promote healing. in addition, in a very small percentage of people who are allergic to certain antibiotics, a relatively high dose through all those punctures in the skin can lead to the ultimate in allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock—a full-body allergic reaction that is characterized by breathing difficulty and plummeting blood pressure. So, while an antibiotic isn't really necessary unless an infection develops, it will do no harm unless you just happen to be allergic to it.

Avoid wearing tight, restrictive clothes—including shoes if your new tattoo is on your foot—right over the top of the new tattoo. Wear clothing that breathes, allowing fresh air to reach the tattoo, cotton being ideal. No nylon stockings, for example, or polyester shirts. They don't breathe, and they can also stick to a new tattoo.

You might also want to avoid hard workouts that flex the new tattoo or cause excessive sweating. Remember that your skin is healing, and these first few weeks are critical to the final look and longevity of your tattoo. A small amount of prevention now is worth untold rewards later.

So, on Day 2, remember to wear appropriate clothing and take your moisturizer with you, along with some antibacterial hand wipes or liquid to wash your hands before you moisturize your tattoo.

DAY 3: Take your shower as normal and do your best not to soak your tattoo, although you can gently wash it as on Day 2. Wash your hands and apply your moisturizer as often as necessary to keep the tattoo from getting dry.

DAYS 4 To 14: Unless you notice signs of an infection or allergic reaction, your tattoo will go through a couple of different phases in this two-week time period. Ideally, your tattoo will not actually scab in the sense that we normally think of it. Instead, the colored and damaged epidermis may simply peel, just like a sunburn, becoming flaky and falling off. Like a sunburn, you don't want to help it. Never scratch or pick at the skin (or scab) of your new tattoo. Never, never, never. The thinner the scab, if there is one, the better, even paper thin. Thick scabs delay healing and can remove color from the new tattoo. Adhere strictly to the "NOs" in the first two weeks. If itching is driving you crazy, you might resort to an antihistamine, but check with your doctor first.

DAYS 15 TO 21: In general, tattoos will he completely healed somewhere between two and three weeks, although most will take only two weeks. Until your tattoo has completely peeled or the scab has completely fallen away, your tattoo is not complete. Even if the peeling has finished or the scab is gone, the new epidermal layer that forms over your tattoo is going to be quite sensitive. By week three, if your tattoo is completely healed, you should still avoid sun, although you can go back to all your other vices—swimming, sauna, etc.

Just as when you sat down for your tattoo and signed your contract, remember that tattoo artists are not medical doctors. The guidelines that they give you and the guidelines given above are just that: generic guidelines which work for the majority of the populace. Only a medical doctor can give you medical advice and he or she is the only person that you should be consulting for such advice. Don't rely on what your friends say or have done. Don't rely on word of mouth. Your primary sources of information are your tattoo artist, in the form of aftercare instructions and based on experience, and your doctor, based on training.

Public Enemy Number One

Once your tattoo has completely healed, feel free to frolic in the hot tub and splash in chlorinated beverages all you like. When it comes to the sun, though, from here on out it is your tattoo's number one enemy--Destroyer of Pigment, Vanquisher of Color, Fader of All Things Once Bright. It's ironic, of course. You want nothing more than for your friends to see your new tattoo. Hell, for strangers to see it too. But tattoo viewings are best left to the great indoors, no matter what the beach at spring break looks like.

You're used to the sun having an effect on your skin. In response to the radiation of the sun, it gets darker. You get a tan. That happens to all skin types, from white to black and everything in between. The pigment is called melanin and it's produced by melanocytes in the epidermis. In darker skin, melanin is in a constant state of production. However, melanin is not produced in response to all radiation; it is specifically counteracting ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The skin produces melanin in response to UV light as a protective mechanism so that the melanin can absorb the UV radiation and protect other cells from UV damage. That's all well and good and right. But consider how a darker epidermis affects the look of your tattoo. In order to see your tattoo, remember, you are looking through the epidermis. The darker the window, the darker the tattoo will look.

Fade Out

Tattoos fade just like all other color that comes under the rays of the sun. The technical term is photodegradation. Like the snapshot that you left on your dashboard for months or the red heart in bumper stickers that say "I [heart symbol] Pain" or whatever it is you love, all pigments fade when exposed to the sun. Both CV and visible sunlight contribute to the process of fading colors, but it's that nasty old UV that is also the culprit in a lot of skin problems. When it comes to color, radiation from the sun attacks the chemical bonds that absorb light. All pigments absorb light as part of their normal function. When you're looking at a red heart, the reason you see red is because the blue and the yellow are being absorbed and only the red reflected. All pigments work this way, including those used for tattoos. They absorb some colors while reflecting others. When the chemical bonds are broken down at the molecular level by the nasty UV radiation (which they also absorb, to their detriment), they lose their ability to absorb and reflect different colors. Less red is reflected and possibly also more blue anti yellow, which used to he absorbed. What we see in the end product is a less intense red. Since tattoos are generally composed of darker colors (outlines of black as just a start), they are clearly absorbing more light than not (since they are reflecting less—this is why black clothes in the summer sun make you feel much more hot than white). If you want to preserve color, then keep it in the dark, like the wall paintings in the tombs of the pharaohs.

Tattoos battle another fading mechanism as well, since they are impregnated in a living organism, also known as our skin. We already know that if the tattoo pigment has not penetrated to the dermis and has instead ended up primarily in the epidermis, then the tattoo will seem to fade as the epidermis routinely sloughs off and rejuvenates itself. The process of forming new epidermal cells that push their way up from the bottom to the top of the epidermis where they are shed, carrying tattoo pigment right along with them, is some thirty-five to forty-five days. In the truest sense, this is not a faded tattoo per se. It's an inferior one, since it never reached the dermis. Even for pigment that reaches the dermis, however, there are still some obstacles to overcome.Until your tattoo pigment has taken up permanent residence within the dermis in a fibroblast (a stringy type of cell that makes up connective tissue), your body will treat it like the foreign body that it is, attempting to capture it for escort out. The immune system tries to engulf the pigment molecule with a type of white blood cell, the largest of which is a macrophage. Sometimes the pigment molecule is ust too big, however (size does count), so the immune system may try to break it down into smaller parts by dissolving i Tattoo pigment doesn't generally just dissolve but nevertheless, over time, your immune system will capture what it can and then transport it away in the lymph system.

If you've been tattooed, the lymph nodes closest to your tattoo likely carry tattoo pigment. After all is said and done, however, the immune system carries away only a small percentage and the remainder is captured in fibroblasts.
Which colors fade the fastest? It depends on the particular molecular composition of the pigment used. Some of the chemical bonds are less stable than others. We've already seen that the ingredients in tattoo pigment are largely unknown and, if known, their composition is sometimes held like a secret. The overwhelming anecdotal evidence for tattoos, however, is that red seems to fade the fastest. In tattoos that are twenty to fifty years old, sometimes the red is completely gone.

Best Defense

The best defense in the skin game is not necessarily a good offense. The best defense in the battle of fading tattoos is to combat tattoo enemy number one, the sun, by running away. The easiest and the most effective thing to do is cover the tattoo with clothing. A tattoo that is done well in the first place, healed properly, and protected from light can remain vibrant for many decades. Ironically, of course, this isn't why many people get a tattoo. They get it to show it. So if you gotta show it, then show it indoors. If you gotta show it outdoors, do it in the winter on a cloudy day. If you gotta show it outdoors in the summer, do it in the early morning or late afternoon. And if you show it outdoors at all, use sunblock, always, always, always, even in winter on a cloudy day.

Sunblock and sunscreen are not created equal. A sunscreen chemically absorbs the UV radiation, not unlike the melanin naturally present in your skin, attempting to prevent as many of the rays from reaching your skin as possible. Sunscreens are generally transparent after they've been rubbed in. A sunhlock actually physically blocks the sun from hitting your skin. You're probably familiar with the white nose treatment that lifeguards and sailing competitors wear. Those are examples of sunblocks, probably white zinc oxide. However, sunblocks don't necessarily need to look like geisha makeup. 'Today they are available in a microbead form that is also transparent. The American Cancer Society recommends a sunscreen or sunblock rated at least SPF 15 in order to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Applying it correctly is also a must as long as you're going to use it: apply twenty minutes before being in the sun, twenty minutes after (think of it as the second coat of paint that gets the thin spots), and every two hours after that. As you may recall, your tattoo resides in your dennis while the cells that create a suntan and natural skin color reside in your epidermis. That means that your tattoo will not protect you from a sunburn in that spot. What's good for your skin is good for your tattoo. Neither is maintenance free when treated right.

Stretch and Shrink

Tattoos will stretch and shrink, but only within limits. Moderate and gradual weight gain or loss will have little effect on a tattoo except to stretch and shrink it accordingly. Think of birthday balloons that are slightly overinflated and underinflated. You can still read "Happy Birthday" pretty easily and the letters maintain their relative spacing and composition. However, other types of rapid weight gain or loss could be another matter. For example, women who are considering having children might want to think twice about an abdominal tattoo placement. Similarly, men who are planning on getting seriously into bodybuilding might want to reconsider their upper armband. Stretch marks (often associated with pregnancy but which can also afflict all women as well as men) can also appear on the arms, thighs, and buttocks and even the hips and lower back.

Blur(b)

Tattoos will blur for some of the same reasons that they fade. As the chemical bonds are broken and the molecules begin to break down as a result of exposure to the sun, the body's immune system, always on the prowl, will attempt to take the smaller molecules away. In addition, tattoos on areas of the body that stretch constantly (the elbows, knees, ankles, feet, and even hands) will also blur more easily over time, for all the masons that we've discussed above. Tattoos done in skin that has already been damaged by overexposure to the sun also seem to he more susceptible to blurring, with the skin less able to hold the ink securely in position.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Tattoos change over time but there are simple and commonsense steps that can mitigate unwanted changes, perhaps even preventing them completely. Tattoo artists are loath to give a number on how many years a tattoo will last (which is essentially forever) or how long it will look good (which is so variable that there's no good answer). The way a tattoo holds up over time is so dependent on its initial quality, the healing period, its maintenance, and the variations of people's skins that it is impossible to predict. Even a well-executed, simple, lettered word, for example, placed on the knuckles and never covered in the sun, might begin to blur and fade in its first summer, especially given the stretching of the skin over the joints. The same exact lettering, however, on the back of the shoulder, which healed properly, never saw the light of day, and never suffered excessive stretching or shrinking, might remain nearly as crisp and legible in its second decade as it did in its second week.

Finally, though, let us acknowledge that as the skin naturally ages, the look of our tattoos changes as well. Age spots and wrinkles take their toll on the clarity and pristine color of our tattoos. Given enough time, even the boldest and darkest outline softens, inevitably blurring to a minute extent. The lines appear to grow ever so slightly thicker and the gaps between them seem to narrow, sometimes even disappearing. Shading that was once bright and solid becomes a touch less immediate and vibrant. Pigment is moving imperceptibly over time on a cellular level as the elasticity and resilience of our skin naturally declines. For these changes that come simply as a result of time, there is no escape—for our skins, our tattoos, or ourselves. Instead, only our attitudes toward that process count and dictate whether we see an aging tattoo as attractive or not.

Author: Alexander

Buddha Tattoo

2008-09-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

Buddha means "Awakened one" or "Enlightened one"; it may refer to:
* Gautama Buddha
* BuddhaHood
* Buddharupa

Buddha Tattoo Pictures - vector EPS clip art is great for t-shirts, tattoos, flyers, signs, print ads and more! Images are ready to import into your favorite applications or edited in most graphics applications. Buy and download for instant use.

You Can purchase this Buddha tatto pictures at http://buddha-tattoo.com or u can be affiliate also, to resell this product.

Tattoo Care Instructions

2008-08-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

1. Remove bandaid in 18 hrs.
2. Wash tattoo immediately, with soap and water When washing off the tattoo, there should be old ink & some body fluids. At this state there is little that can harm the tattoo.
3. When skin feels like normal wet skin, pat dry.
4. Put nothing on the tattoo for 3 days.
5. From the 4th day, apply the *tiniest* amount of lotion possible once a day to keep it from drying out completely; gently work it in. (Mike suggests a drop for a 1”x4” piece).
6. Do not get the tattoo wet; moisture is your enemy.
7. Do not permit sun on tattoo.
8. Do not get the tattoo wet; moisture is your enemy.
9. Scabbing may or may not occur. Scabbing is normal. Do not pick scab.
10. Do not get the tattoo wet; moisture is your enemy.

His strongest advice: “MOISTURE IS THE TATTOO’S ENEMY”.
On using Vaseline: Neosporin is Vaseline-based, & doesn’t hurt.
On using Neosporin: Not really neccessary, but it doesn’t hurt. Strong warning: Never let the shower directly hit the tattoo.

This procedure is how I healed the four I got at Ancient Art and they seem to be the slowest to heal. After 2.5 weeks, they still have scabs. sigh.

Lance Bailey says: I used to go to great lengths to keep my tattoos moist while healing. But now, looking at the ink I healed then, and other art which is not much older but healed without all the moisture, I see that the ones where I kept it real moist to prevent any scabs are a lot fainter--grey where the others are still black. I quite literally drew a lot of the ink out of the piece. Yes, it is important to keep the tattoo from drying out, but a scab is part of the normal healing process, and trying to fool mother nature is risking trouble. Your mileage will of course vary.

Tattoo Care, about life time investment

2008-08-27T03:11:00.000-07:00

The first thing to remember about your tattoo is that this is a lifetime investment! Do not rely on information from friends about the care of your new tattoo. The artist will provide you with the proper care for the tattoo.

Generally, if your tattoo has been bandaged, leave it on for approximately two hours.
Then, wash it gently with luke-warm water using antibacterial soap. Pat it dry, do not rub. This washing should occur three to four times a day. Do no apply another bandage to the tattoo. Allow it to be exposed to air. This will help the healing process. Also, try to avoid tightly fitted clothing. Clean, loose clothing will be the best. After washing, apply very thing coasts of Bacitracin or A&D Ointment and work it into the skin. Do not over apply. Apply just enough so that the tattoo appears shiny. If you can see the ointment on your skin, you are using too much.

Do not soak the tattoo in water or let the shower directly spray hard onto it. Also, avoid swimming pools, the ocean, hot tubs or any other source of water, aside from the shower, until the tattoo is healed. Also avoid getting the new tattoo sunburned until it is healed. All of these can fade the tattoo and hinder the healing process.
When the tattoo begins the healing process, do not directly scratch the tattoo.

Itching means healing and a little bit of alcohol will relieve the itch. Also, do not pick the scabs that may form. Let them fall off gradually. This will usually happen in one to three weeks. If swelling or redness occurs, you can use ice packs to help the swelling go down. Most importantly, notify a doctor if you have even the slightest sign of infection. The healing process can be as little as one week or as long as six weeks or more depending on the size and complexity of your particular design. (taken from tattoo unlimited).

Beginner's Guide to Getting a Tattoo

2008-07-27T23:40:00.000-07:00

The main concern when thinking about getting a tattoo should be finding something that you really like as well as the location on your body. Keep in mind that this will be with you for the rest of your life, so you must be comfortable with this decision.

Custom tattoos tend to be more expensive and time consuming because they demand the artist to pay closer attention to the detail and design. In addition, it is a design that they have never done before. Simple, more common designs are generally less expensive and take less time.

Another aspect of the design to consider is color or black. Black tattoos are very attractive because they tend to stand out more on the skin due to more of a contrast. Color tattoos generally are more expensive but there can be more creativity involved because the possibilities are endless with color.

The location of the tattoo is key. You must consider some things when thinking of location. Will others see it easily? Do I want this to be easily seen by others? Do I want it in more of a private place so only those close to me would view it? 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.

Dragon Tattoos

2008-07-22T00:29:00.000-07:00

Dragons are one of the most popular mythological creatures. The descend from various legends, telling tales of fire-breathing, winged creatures.

Especially the long and flexible dragon, who descends from japanese tattoo traditions, is one of the most popular tattoo motives. Due to his shape he practically fits on every part of the body. Covering full backs, winding himself around arms or coiling up on the chest of the carrier.

In the western culture the dragon, according to the snake, symbolizes evil and has to be fought therefore. Different the japanese dragon which is called Oni and stands as a symbol of luck. The japanese dragon has its roots in the chinese mythology. He was said to live in the skies and had the ability to bring out the rain which was of big importance for the rice cultivation.

The dragon reached japan as a live spending water symbol due to the close cultural connection between china and japan where he is highly honored and admired. It is important to keep him happy because after all he could easily cause a seaquake if begrudgingly. One of the most famous and most tattooed dragon legends, aside the display of the buddhistic gods of wind and thunder (Fu-jin and Rai-jin) who are riding the dragons, is the Tamatori Hime.

The art of tattoo

2008-07-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

Kata “tato” berasal dari kata Tahitian / Tatu, yang memilki arti : menandakan sesuatu. Rajah atau tato (Bahasa Inggris: tattoo) adalah suatu tanda yang dibuat dengan memasukkan pigmen ke dalam kulit. Dalam istilah teknis, rajah adalah implantasi pigmen mikro. Rajah dapat dibuat terhadap kulit manusia atau hewan. Rajah pada manusia adalah suatu bentuk modifikasi tubuh, sementara rajah pada hewan umumnya digunakan sebagai identifikasi.

Rajah merupakan praktek yang ditemukan hampir di semua tempat dengan fungsi sesuai dengan adat setempat. Rajah dahulu sering dipakai oleh kalangan suku-suku terasing di suatu wilayah di dunia sebagai penandaan wilayah, derajat, pangkat, bahkan menandakan kesehatan seseorang. Rajah digunakan secara luas oleh orang-orang Polinesia, Filipina, Kalimantan, Afrika, Amerika Utara, Amerika Selatan, Mesoamerika, Eropa, Jepang, Kamboja, serta Tiongkok. Walaupun pada beberapa kalangan rajah dianggap tabu, seni rajah tetap menjadi sesuatu yang populer di dunia.

Menurut Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, tato berarti gambar (lukisan) pada bagian (anggota) tubuh. (WikiPedia)

The art of tatto
Menyajikan contoh-contoh tato yang bisa anda ambil sebagai koleksi ataupun untuk dilukis pada bagian tubuh anda. Beberapa contoh tatto merupakan saduran dari beberapa E-book dan sebagain ada yang di edit untuk diperhalus ataupun di kreasi ulang. Untuk pengelompokan model dipisahkan dalam beberapa tag atau label yang bisa anda liat.