Girl Tattoos - How to Find the Right Design For You

3D Tattoos

If shows such as Miami Ink and L.A. Ink show us anything, it's that tattoos are not some passing fad. What once was a form of rebellion is now seen by many as an outward extension of who they are. Women today are becoming increasingly tattooed and searches on the net for girl tattoos have skyrocketed. Some tattoo studios (once called tattoo 'parlors) can even have a female to male ratio of 60% to 40%.

What drives a woman to get a tattoo? The most heard reason in studios is that they just broke up with someone. Some get their first ink after a divorce or other major change in their life such as losing a loved one, childbirth, marriage or even religion (think cross tattoos or The Virgin Mary). This is a practice that dates back thousands of years.  

What are women having done tattoo-wise? The most popular are typically flowers, tribal designs, butterflies, fairies and cartoons. These tattoos are also starting to get larger and more customized. There was a time when women usually "hid" something very small on their shoulder or ankle. Today popular spots include the small of the back, arms legs and even chests. Although, the ankle and shoulder are still tremendously popular locations...the tattoos are just larger. Typically being more stylish that men, women are more concerned about tattoos they want and where on their body to put it. Part of the tattoo artist's job is to help the client select a design or possible location that will accentuate a certain part or shape of the body.

Women also seem to be better than men when actually getting tattooed. Men like to think they are tough can take the pain. But when the needle hits their skin they pass out in the chair. Women, on the other hand anticipate the pain and will have a higher tolerance.

Have you been searching the internet looking for tattoo designs, a tattoo finder or more particularly girl tattoo art? Finding the right design can be downright exhausting. People with tattoos will tell you how long it takes to choose the right one. After all, they last forever and shouldn't be rushed. It could take 20-30 hours to find the right tattoo design, so don't get a tattoo on a whim or go with cute and trendy. A feminine tattoo should be unique and should speak about who you are and not copied from someone else.

If you are like most women, you have searched and searched for the right design; be it a cross tattoo, a floral tattoo or butterfly tattoo. You may have searched the internet, looked for a tattoo finder or even searched the books of your local tattoo studio. Take your time and try to visualize the type of tattoo you want before you get it. Try to find examples that resemble your idea to see what it may end up looking like. Never be tempted to 'just pick one off the wall'...never settle for less just because you can't make up your mind. The first half of 2008 shows the 5 most popular girl tattoos to be Traditional Japanese tattoos (koi fish, dragons, etc.), Traditional American tattoos (pin ups, classic cars, etc.), Floral tattoos, Anime (although I think this is a passing fad) and Indian / Hindu tattoo designs. Be careful, though, some designs can have totally different meanings than what you thought and can also be associated with particular cultural groups; such as gang tattoos.  Also be sure to have any foreign tattoos, such as Japanese lettering, translated before having them permanently affixed to your body! The estimate is that 25% of all translation in tattoo studio is wrong! There are tons of cases of people going to get a Japanese tattoo of "strong will" and the lettering actually spelling out "small fish" or something worse.

When getting a tattoo, remember that fads come and go, be aware of any regulations your employer may have against them and remember that having one removed can cost up to ten as much as the original tattoo!

People have said that getting a tattoo is like losing your virginity! The rush, the smell, even the pain are extremely memorable and intense. People even say that tattoos are addictive!

So if you are thinking of getting a tattoo and are looking to girl tattoos, remember to make it your own, consider the placement and above all...have fun.

Sleeve Tattoo Ideas

Sleeve Tattoos

Tattoos done by talented artists can truly be a work of art. Tattoos are wonderful because they are inked right into your skin. With a few good designs, you can easily turn your body into a lovely piece of art. Indeed, your body can be a canvass with tattoos!

Tattoos can be placed anywhere on your body that you choose. Tattoo placement is your own personal choice. One of the most popular types of tattoos that many people choose to get is sleeve tattoo designs.

What is a tattoo sleeve?

You may be wondering what exactly a tattoo sleeve is. It is basically a design or combination of designs that covers a large portion of your body. The tattoo will cover up so much of your body that nobody will be able to see your skin underneath!  Your tattoo sleeve design can be anything you want, and you can include all the patterns, symbols, and objects you wish.

As its name suggests, the tattoo sleeve is usually found on the arms. There are a few different choices: the full sleeve, which covers the entire arm; half sleeve, which covers the arm from the elbow to the wrist; and the quarter sleeve that covers the arm from the bicep to the shoulder. Your tattoo sleeve doesn't have to be on your arms---you can also get it on your legs! The sleeve tattoo does not merely cover the top part of your leg or arm, it wraps all the way around the arm or leg so that it can live up to its name.

You can look online for some sleeve tattoo ideas and pictures for ideas. These tattoos are very beautiful and unique, and come become a true work of art all on its own. The best part is that it is a true work of art on your body! Planning and preparing for a tattoo sleeve can be a bit time consuming, but is still vital nonetheless. A well planned tattoo design can be an amazing piece of art, but a poorly planned one that you just rush through to get can be ugly.

Whenever you take a sleeve tattoo into consideration, you must pay attention to the cost. These designs are not cheap at all. In fact, they can be pretty expensive! This is especially true if you want something intricate, such as a Celtic tattoo sleeve. Complex tattoos can cost thousands!

Since sleeve tattoos cover such a large portion of your body and are often detailed, you won't be getting it all completed in just one session. You'll more than likely have to visit the tattoo shop many times to get it worked on. A tattoo sleeve can take as much as 18 hours to get done! Your artist will break the sessions up and fix a schedule that will suit the both of you.

Don't take your decision to get a tattoo sleeve design lightly. You need to spend a lot of time and money in the chair before it's completed. Obviously, you need to plan the design out very carefully before going in for multiple sessions!

Tribal Shoulder Tattoo - Finding Designs Online From Sleeve To Back Piece

Back Piece Tattoos

When it comes to a tribal shoulder tattoo for yourself, you should not have to settle for generic artwork that you don't like 100%, whether it's a sleeve, back piece, or strictly on your shoulders. That's the problem with locating great artwork on the web, because there are so many cookie-cutter website out there and some people even give up on their search for their tribals. Well, here are some crucial things you must know about those types of places, as well as how to locate the top notch designs online.

A tribal shoulder tattoo can be such an amazing choice, but as you may have seen, finding those quality designs can be close to impossible. To avoid those generic websites, you will want avoid using Google or Yahoo searches to find your artwork. This only leads you to the thousands upon thousands of cookie-cutter websites that have tattoos that are most likely over five or six years old. Also, these designs you see there are probably on hundreds of other websites already. Who knows how many other people might already have that tribal shoulder tattoo inked on their body? That's not a design you want on your skin. If you are like most people, you honestly want original, quality designs to choose from.

There is good news, though, and it has to do with bypassing those cookie-cutter websites while finding a quality tribal shoulder tattoo you will be 100% happy with...

Now that we have ruled out search engines for the most part, you will want to use something else to locate the perfect tribal shoulder tattoo designs on the internet. To do this, you can use internet forums, which can be absolutely perfect for finding just about anything, including a tribal shoulder tattoo, or any tribals for that matter. There are hundreds of posts on any given forums about tattoos and the hidden, quality places that have them. These are the websites that won't necessarily pop up in a search engine result, which his also a very good thing for you. People post on forums to broadcast to the select few who are looking for the same thing and you can reap the benefits.

The websites you find through forums will also be the places that will have a majority of the artwork that was truly drawn to be implemented as tattoos. This is crucial for something as detailed as a tribal shoulder tattoo can be. You see, a lot of the cookie-cutter websites out there are filled with designs that weren't even drawn to be made into tattoos. The artists that draw most of them do not have any real knowledge when it comes to tattoos. This means that they don't know how to make designs that will look even half as good once inked on a person's skin. That's not a tribal shoulder tattoo you want to "settle" for. A tribal shoulder tattoo is too prominent on your body to settle for generic artwork that won't come out as well as it looks on paper.

Locating a quality tribal shoulder tattoo online doesn't have to be that hard any longer, so please, don't hop on the internet and settle for the tons of generic artwork that seems to liter the web, for any sleeve, back piece, or strictly designs for the shoulders.

Who Else Wants to Learn About Tattoo Removal and Make an Informed Decision?

3D Tattoos

In life, circumstances are always changing. What we think is good today may be a wrong for tomorrow. This is especially true when it comes to major decisions like getting a tattoo. However, in recent times, the available options for removing a tattoo are growing, and so are advancement in the methods used.

o Changing body types - Your weight is no longer what it used to be. You have either lost a lot or gained a lot. It can also be that you have been working out and put on a lot of muscle. On the other hand, perhaps you have just simply gotten older and your skin has loosened, wrinkled and/or sagged.

o Breakups - We all know someone, or a friend of a friend who tattooed "Jessica" on his shoulder only break up with her a month later.

o Changing views - Maybe you were a rebellious teen making a fearless statement on a positive issue, but since then you're older and have changed some of your views. That symbol you tattooed on you arm is no longer an issue.

o Bad tattoo design - Hopefully you are not one of the unlucky ones and the tattoo artist messed your tattoo up and left you with an unappealing design.

o Job or "society" issues - If you have a large or easily visible tattoo, certain jobs or even certain individuals may look down on you and deny you certain opportunities.

Should you find yourself in any of the above situations, don't panic; there are various options you can look into for tattoo removal. Let's begin with the cheapest methods then discuss some of the more costly procedures.

o Creams - When looking to remove a tattoo, you will hear about tattoo removal creams that are on the market today. While the cost of these creams are relatively low (about a hundred bucks), compared to other methods, you will probably get what you pay for. Some people claim that the creams worked for them. Others say the cream faded their tattoo over time and others say they saw no effect. If you're willing to roll the dice, tattoo removal creams may be worth looking into. Just keep in mind that results can vary.

o Cover-ups - A tattoo cover-up involves getting a new, fresh tattoo over your old tattoo. This is not always possible, and is not always done well. For example, you cannot expect to cover up a thick, black tattoo with light ink, or get rid of a large, intricate design, without getting a large, block-like design over it. Some tattoo artists are very good at doing cover-ups. However, you should consult a highly regarded artist to see if he thinks it would be successful. Here, the cost of tattoo removal (via cover-up) is just the cost of the new tattoo itself.

Apart from those two options for tattoo removal there are several types of medical procedures.

o Salabrasion - Salabrasion is a rather old technique that actually involves sanding off your tattoo covered skin. Anesthetic is administered to the area and then salt water is applied while your skin is vigorously rubbed. Yes, this is as painful as it sounds and is likely to cause scarring.

o Dermabrasion - With dermabrasion you are again basically sanding off your skin. Anesthetic is also used in this type of tattoo removal. Following that, a solution is applied (or simple ice packs are applied) to the tattooed skin that freezes the area. A hand-held rotary instrument is then used to scrape away the top layers of skin on the area. Due to the nature of the procedure there will likely be bleeding as well as scarring.

o Excision - Excision is a procedure where the tattooed skin is cut off. This is easiest with small tattoos however it is a tattoo removal procedure that can be used for even larger tattoos. With larger tattoos, you may undergo several the procedure several times. First cutting away the center of the tattoo and then following up with the outer portions later. After cutting away the skin and the tattoo, your skin is brought back together; in some cases with large tattoos a skin graft is used to cover the removed area. Local anesthetics are also used in this tattoo removal procedure.

The most common form of tattoo removal today is the use of a laser to remove the tattoo. A focused laser is used to break apart the tattoo ink under the surface of your skin. The rest of your skin remains unharmed and there will not be scarring. Different wavelengths are used for different ink colors which means the more colorful your tattoo, the more complex and costly your laser tattoo removal will be.

While laser tattoo removal is very successful (although not always completely), the cost of tattoo removal from laser procedures can be quite expensive and time consuming. For a small, single-color tattoo, the cost of tattoo removal may be one hundred to several hundred dollars.

For larger, thicker, more intricate and more colorful tattoos, you may have to have up to 10 sessions to get your tattoo completely removed. Sessions can range in cost anywhere from $100 to over $1,000, most likely falling in the $400-$500 range. With laser tattoo removal a numbing agent can be used beforehand if necessary, although most say it is a rather painless tattoo removal procedure. One downside to laser tattoo removal is obviously the cost of tattoo removal itself, as well as how long the complete process can take. Individual sessions need to be spaced out to allow proper time to heal.

As you can see there are various methods for getting your tattoo removed. You can find a method to suit your budget and tolerance to discomfort and pain. Just remember to do your research an make an informed decision.

Japanese Tattoo Lettering - History, Basics, and Style

japanese Tattoos

In Japan, tattooing and tattoo lettering began primarily as an expression of spirituality. From approximately 300 BC to 300 AD, a Japanese tattoo always conveyed a certain religious meaning for its bearer, and also served as a decorative status symbol.

During this period, tattooing was meticulously practiced and highly regarded. For the tattoo artists, tattooing was not just an occupation, but a way of life. For instance, aspiring apprentices had to train under masters for many years before becoming credible and acknowledged tattoo artists, which are called "horis" in Japan. Only a horis was allowed to create full body suit tattoos.

All that changed when the government began to etch tattoos on criminals as a means of punishment. During the Meiji era, the Japanese government outlawed tattooing and forced artists to practice underground. It was legalized again in 1945, but until now, Japanese tattoos have never completely shaken off the negative association with common felons and the Yakuza, Japan's longstanding infamous mafia. Consequently, people sporting tattoos are known to be banned in many public baths and massage parlors by apprehensive business owners. Despite all this, Japanese tattoos continue to gain popularity domestically and worldwide because of the outstanding artistry of the designs and the deep mystical symbolism inherent to them.

Japanese tattoos are formed using words, images, and numbers, or different combinations of each. There are three kinds of scripts in Japanese:

• Kanji - originated from traditional Chinese characters. Intricate and beautiful, these characters are used to convey concepts.
• Hiragana - developed during the Heian period by women. It represents sounds, and looks feminine.
• Katakana - series of characters developed by Buddhist monks. The style is sharp and masculine, and represents sounds.

Kanji, hiragana, and katakana are combined and used for lettering and can be written vertically and horizontally. Katakana is generally used for foreign names, places, and words that are of foreign origin. For Japanese tattoo lettering, people often use Kanji.

In the same manner as there are different lettering styles in English writing, there are also different writing styles to create Japanese characters. They are:

• Kaisho, is the Japanese equivalent of block style.
• Gyousho, is the equivalent of cursive style.
• Sousho, is an extreme form of cursive, perhaps the equivalent of fancy Old English lettering.

Called "irezumi" and "horimono", Japanese tattoos are stunning but are rather complicated to create because there is no actual alphabet for the Japanese language. Written communication is a group of symbols representing sounds or general concepts. That's why it is so important to find yourself a tattoo artist who has extensive knowledge and expertise with the Japanese language, and its attached symbolism. Before getting a Japanese tattoo, it is best to follow these guidelines:

• Know the difference between kanji, hiragana, and katakana.
• Familiarize yourself with the writing styles and choose the one that appeals to you the most.
• Choose a word that would translate logically into Japanese. Some phrases may be coherent in English (e.g. "Big Daddy) but may be ridiculous when converted to Japanese (e.g. Large Father).
• Always remember to check before having any inking done.

How to Understand the Powerful Meanings Behind Dragon Tattoo Designs

Dragon Tattoos

All over the world, dragon tattoo designs have been popular and still are. The great thing about having a dragon tattoo is that you can have it on basically any part of your body and it will look great. Dragons on their own are mystical creatures that are known only to exist in folklore and in myths, but this could be the reasons as to why dragon tattoo designs are one of the most popular in the world.

Depending on which way the dragon is designed and portrayed, dragon tattoos can emit many different emotions, some of which include anger and hate right through to elegance and adoration. Due to the fact that so many cultures offer their own depictions of exactly how dragons are and what they look like, people that are looking to have the tattoos done have such a wide variety to choose from.

The designs of these tattoos are just about endless, so when you decide that you are going to settle with one of the many designs available, make sure you choose the right design and on the right part of your body. It is great that you can arrange your dragon so that it emits something that suits you. A dragon can be personalized in more than one way. Make it into a dragon that you have always wanted on your body, but still with meaning.

According to legends, dragons are said to have originated from the Far East, in certain countries like Japan, China and Korea. It is said that the dragons were mainly used to guard valuable treasures so that no one could pass them and get to whatever they were guarding. In this case you could use dragon tattoo designs like this to protect something of yours, like your heart. Dragons were not always bad as perceived, and they weren't always the fire-breathing monsters people made them out to be.

When artists are constructing dragon tattoo designs they tend to keep the body and face similar. With the Chinese dragons, they typically have longer torsos as well as shorter legs, but in truth, most dragons are more like sea monsters or snakes than the dragons that feature in European fairytales. Dragon's eyes normally look harsh and show wisdom, so if it is the serious look you are going for it will be an original dragon.

One of the main features of any one of the dragon tattoo designs is the color of the dragon. The color is very important as it is the main characteristic in the dragon and the look it is supposed to portray. When it comes to Chinese dragon tattoos, these are normally done in yellow, orange and red.

The medieval dragon is also one of the popular dragon tattoo designs of today, but sometimes these were used to reference the dragon in evil ways, which is a look that isn't always wanted.

Dragon tattoo designs can have meaning behind them, but this is why you need to put some thought into your tattoo before you have it done. When you know what the dragon tattoo designs are going to mean to you, have it done then as you will be able to personalize it slightly to match your meaning even more.

Japanese Tattoo Design - Getting Great Artwork On The Net

japanese Tattoos

It looks like you have made the decision to look for a Japanese tattoo design online. While it is a fantastic choice, you may have noticed that locating the quality artwork for on can be somewhat impossible on the web. This is because the internet is so loaded with generic designs that it is frustrating. Before you end up settling on something you don't 100% like, here is what you need to know about a lot of the art on the net, as well as how to find the good stuff.

While a Japanese tattoo design is a great choice, you do not want to settle for random, generic artwork like so many other people do. It doesn't matter which styles you are searching for. It just shouldn't be done. You would not believe how many people end u settling on generic artwork that they don't fully like. Some do this because they are tired of searching endlessly for great designs and some do it because they are seeing the same artwork over and over again and are getting sick of it. Like I said, it doesn't matter what the reason is, especially for something as special as a Japanese tattoo design can be for you.

Before this happens to you, here is what to avoid when looking for a Japanese tattoo design online these days...

This first point is not something that will be earth shattering, but it will sure make a difference in how you view things. I am going to speak briefly about search engines. Yes, the things that we all love so much for finding just about anything online. Search engines are the perfect tools for finding millions of things, but "quality" artwork is not one of them. All they seem to do is send you right to the thousands and thousands of cookie-cutter websites that all have the same exact generic artwork as the next place. This is all search engines pull up, even for a Japanese tattoo design.

These websites are loaded with designs that are mostly over a half a decade old and the stuff they do have is already plastered on hundreds of other sites. That's not a Japanese tattoo design that should be settled for. I mean, millions of people have probably seen that design over the years. Don't you think that dozens and dozens of them have gotten it inked on their body? The chances of that happening are pretty high, so you might want to think twice about settling on some half decent Japanese tattoo deign from one of those cookie-cutter places.

To locate an original, quality Japanese tattoo design online these days, you ned to switch you path and start using something else...

This "something else" is an internet forum. Not just one forum. Use dozens of them if you want. Each forum is loaded with its own unique insider information when it comes to tattoos and the great websites that have tons of quality designs for you. (You can use search engines to find the big forums out there!) You see, search engines don't seem to pull any pf these places up, so there are limited ways of finding out about them. Forums happen to be the best and fastest way, even for that Japanese tattoo design you are looking for.

Getting the perfect Japanese tattoo design online can be done, so please don't just settle on some random, generic artwork that you might just end up regretting.

Flower Tattoos and Their Meanings

Flower Tattoos

At some point in our lives, we would experience the joy appreciating the beauty of flowers, the happiness in giving flowers or and the excitement of receiving them. A flower itself does not have any meaning, just like a cat or a fish. But it's the human emotion that gives a certain value to it and our interpretation gives it a consistent meaning over time. For example, you will see a man giving a bunch of red roses to express his admiration and love to a woman. But you will hardly see anyone with the same bunch of red roses at a funeral. The meanings of the same flower would evoke different emotions with different implications on a different context.

It is the same with flower tattoos. Different flower tattoos would evoke a different emotion and therefore a different meaning to the beholder. Not only the women are getting flower tattoos, some men like to ink them too. Most flowers have acquired a consistent meaning over time, but when you combine it with a different object in a tattoo, the meanings get altered altogether. Have you seen a black rose with a chain around it as a tattoo on a man's chest? Do you think the flower tattoo would mean love or perhaps hatred?

The fact is that flower tattoo designs are going to be popular. Dragons are popular with men but flowers are most sought after by women. Maybe it's the color, or the shape, or the scent of it or a combination of all the senses that makes people want to see, touch and smell it. Flowers can calm a person and gives you a sense of peace. Having a flower tattoo inked on your body is like having a permanent flower with you all the time, except this particular flower does not withered over time.

What most tattoo artists are concern about is the customer who is not sure of what she is tattooing and would like to change the design after the tattoo is permanently inked on the body. The sad truth is that tattoos cannot be removed easily without some form of scarring and pain. The reasons for wanting to change the design are varied, but one of the common reasons is that they did not understand the meaning of the flower tattoo until much later. So to prevent this kind of 'accidentally' tattooing the wrong flower on your body, here is a list of common flowers tattoos and their meanings.

1. Meaning of Rose Tattoo
Rose tattoos are stunning when done tastefully on a woman. So far it is the most popular tattoo with the females although we have seen men with rose tattoos. Somehow men shun away from flowers because the flower tattoo would mean a soft and gentle character and towards a feminine personality. It's is quite weird to see a huge macho muscular male with six packs and a flower tattoo on his arm. But if that flower tattoo is combined with a skull, then the softer meaning of the flower would be even out by the skull, which would mean guts, courage and fearless.

Different types of roses have different meanings. For example, the red rose means sincere love and respect, courage and passion. You have seen in the movies or maybe even done it yourself and give a red rose to a loved one to express your love and passion. So instead of giving a rose to a love one, you may want to tattoo the rose with her name on it on your arm or your chest. That way, that flower tattoo would mean you love and respect her forever. (But no skulls please) If you are able to get the tattoo artist to add in some colors to the flower tattoo, you may want to consider a yellow rose tattoo. Yellow roses meant jealousy in Victorian times. But in our contemporary world, they signify friendship, joy, gladness and freedom, the promise of a new beginning. A pink rose tattoo means grace and gentle, a white rose means spirituality and purity and a lavender rose means love at first sight. A blue rose tattoo means mystery and symbolizes "achieving the impossible". A black rose tattoo symbolizes death, either you are mourning the death of a love one or you are very pessimistic.

2. Meaning of Hibiscus Tattoo
The hibiscus flower is another popular flower tattoo with tattoo artists. The hibiscus flower is most commonly seen in the tropical country but is less often used as a gift. The hibiscus flower belongs to the family Malvaceae. It gets its name from the Greek words Hibiscus meaning "mallow" and rosa-sinensis meaning "Rose of China". The flower itself means delicate beauty. If you decide to ink the hibiscus flower tattoo, then other than its aesthetic attraction, it would symbolize exquisite and elegance. It would also mean you have grace and charm. Depending on the combination of colors, the hibiscus flower tattoo can really enhance a person's grace. You can combine the red flower tattoo with bright green petals. That would be really charming.

3. Meaning of Lily Tattoo
The Lily flowers are cherished for their fresh and calming colors and can be used for many occasions, like visiting a sick friend in the hospital. Lily has been an important flower ever since the Biblical period. According to the Bible, petals of white lily signify virginity, purity and the radiant soul of Virgin Mary. The Chinese and the Greeks have also used white lily to symbolize purity. To the Chinese, the lily flower is used to symbolize summer and abundance. The Greeks believe that Lilies were born out of the breast milk of Goddess Hera. The Lily flower is also associated with the Roman Goddess Venus. So inking the Lily tattoo would mean purity of the person and you want the tattoo to symbolize peace and harmony.

4. Meaning of Lotus Tattoo
In Buddhism the lotus flower is a symbol of enlightenment. All the petals means the different constant struggles in our lives and the center of the flower represents the state of enlightenment. The development of the lotus from ground up symbolizes the awakening to the spiritual reality of life. For the Buddhists, Lotus symbolizes the most exalted state of man, his head held high and his feet rooted in the world of experience. You can see the Lotus flower carved into every platform supporting a statue of Buddha. It is a very powerful symbol and meaning in the religion.

This symbolism is also evident in Hinduism where the lotus is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. According to Hinduism, within each human inhabiting the earth there is the spirit of the sacred Lotus. It represents eternity, purity and divinity and is widely used as a symbol of life, fertility, youth and describes feminine beauty. So a Lotus tattoo would be used as a symbol of life. The Lotus flower tattoo would be most suitable for those seeking an understanding of humanity and has probably been through the ups and downs of life. You may also use the Lotus tattoo to depict a struggle in life.

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

3D Tattoos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another really bad mistake.

Do not make these mistakes. Ultimately at the end of the day, it's YOUR body; think about this very important decision. What kind of tattoo designs are you after? What kind of tattoos do YOU really want? Remember, whatever you choose to decide for your tattoo designs and the location on your body, it will last FOREVER!

Make the decision a GREAT one.

Weather your looking for tribal tattoos or Celtic tattoo designs, Japanese or Chinese tattoos, exotic or fantasy related tats, superman tattoo pics, Robbie Williams tattoo, Brittany Tattoo, important after care information, choosing a good parlor, artist, safety precautions or even free tattoo designs, you need a source where you can grab everything you could want in one place.

Back of the Neck Tattoos - Locate Higher Quality Artwork Right Away

Back Piece Tattoos

The sizes, shapes and personal preferences of back of neck tattoos will change from person to person. Everybody has one thing in common, though. We want fresh, high quality artwork. 90% of people never find those galleries, though, and instead wind up at tons of places that post hideous, cookie cutter images and generic designs.

This is not something you have to settle for. Nothing is worst than hopping onto your computer and spending the next four hours picking through the same type of generic tattoo art. This is exactly what happens to most of us, though. Why? Because as a whole, we are too reliant on search engines. It's always our main way to find websites and even tattoo galleries. The bad part is that it won't work and the lists will be full of sites that have nothing but cookie cutter back of neck tattoos. It happens all the time.

Search engines always leave out the bigger, higher quality artwork galleries when you use one to look for back of neck tattoos. There's a quick way to reverse this trend, though. You do it by using the strengths of forums. Large forums to be more exact. It might seem like an odd ball way of finding good artwork, but I assure you, it's a piece of cake. It's a piece of cake because all the info you need is tucked inside of the archive section. Hundreds of tattoo related topics are available to read through here, which instantly lead you to sites that are sure to post amazing back of neck tattoos.

If you skim through just a small portion of them, you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find. All types of posts have valuable info, which includes many posts that contain info on where other tattoo enthusiasts have recently found loads of amazing artwork. People are constantly sharing this sort of knowledge, because they also know how difficult it can be to find a gallery like that. You now have a direct path to galleries with back of neck tattoos that are far better than the generic junk you usually sift through. It's that simple.

The cookie cutter back of neck tattoos can be left for the people who don't care about the kind of art they ink on their body.

Smell The Scent Of Flower Tattoos

Flower Tattoos

The women of today have no qualms about going under the knife for vanity's sake. They are not scared of knives. Neither are they with needles. Tattooing is increasingly getting popular among women as more and more female celebrities flaunt their body accessories in the form of tattoos. What makes it so popular?

Tattooing is a form of self-expression. In this era, women have their say on just about anything and they have the freedom to do what they like. Unlike before when tattoos on women were looked down upon by society, it is now something women can be proud of. Tattoos mean strength, power, beauty and sensuality. And these are the things that women want.

Women generally favor more colorful, fun, and intricate tattoo designs such as butterflies, fairies, and flower tattoos which is probably the most sellable among women especially the younger ones. These tattoo designs bring out the beauty and sensuality in them. But there are men who also wear flower tattoos and this commonly symbolizes someone close to their hearts and may even be accompanied with a name or initials of that woman.

Flower tattoos come in all forms, colors and sizes. The size would depend on the person wearing the tattoo. Whether she want it to be small, cute and inconspicuous and sexy, or big and obvious to prove a point or make a statement, is totally up to her because tattoos also spell freedom.

Any flower design that you think of can be made into a tattoo. The rose is undeniably one of the most popular flower tattoos to date. But any flower that you want can be recreated into a tattoo by a talented tattoo artist. Different flowers have different symbolisms. Here are a list of common flower tattoos and their meanings:

Baby's breath: Innocence, everlasting love

Bells of Ireland: Good luck

Carnation: Luck, health, affection, true love, woman

Chrysanthemum: Truth, cheerfulness, optimism, peace

Daffodil: Respect, new beginnings, happiness

Daisy: Innocence, purity, loyalty

Dandelion: Faithfulness, wishes come true

Forget-Me-Not: Remembrance, hope, true love

Freesia: Innocence

Gladiolus: Beauty, infatuation, strength

Hibiscus: Delicate beauty

Hyacinth: Playfulness, carefree

Iris: Wisdom, friendship, faith, valor

Jasmine: Sensuality, elegance, wealth

Lavender: Devotion

Lilac: Confidence

Lily: Wealth, innocence, modesty

Magnolia: Dignity, beauty, love of nature

Orchid: Rare beauty, refinement, long life, many children

Primrose: Youthfulness, love

Rosemary: Remembrance, hope, purity

Sunflower: Adoration, loyalty, luck

Tulip: Fame, beauty, love, charity

Violet: Faithfulness, innocence, modesty, calm

Weeping willow: Remembrance, affection, friendship

The color of the flower used in the tattoo could also determine its meaning. A rose, for instance, means femininity, eternal love and beauty; but a dark crimson or black rose could mean death or deep sorrow. You can research for the different meanings of different flower tattoos before you get one for yourself unless it has a personal meaning to you.

A tattoo is a personal thing; whether you want flower tattoos or any design you want or the meaning you want to convey is determined solely by the person who will wear them, you. If you want to express something though a tattoo, go ahead. If you want to get one as an accessory or to raise your sexiness level up one notch, no one's stopping you. It is your prerogative. Nothing beats the smell of freedom.

Cross Tattoos Designs - What Do They Mean?

Cross Tattoos

What's the first thing that comes into your mind when you saw the figure cross? Well, crosses have different meanings in life. As the most popular religious symbol, the cross has been used in all types of Christian faith. After so many years until now, the symbol cross is already present and now seen in may tattoo parlors by means of cross tattoos designs. Despite of the various designs present in the modern age, still cross remains to be the main-stream among tattoo artists.

What's in cross design tattoos that you can't find with other designs? It's about the sentiment made by several ancient generations. Since then, the art of tattooing has been performed by Ainu tribe in Japan. And from generation to generation, tattooing becomes a part of fashion. You may think that tattoos are just simple form of decorations in the body, but would you believe tattoos have its real meaning?

If you will base the statement in the bible, cross is a figure that portrayed Jesus Christ's suffering against roman soldiers and Pontius Pilate. In other words, cross symbolizes pain and suffering. But above all love. According to the bible, Jesus Christ sacrifices in the sake of many, because he loves humankind.

Iron cross tattoos

Have you even seen a man who has an iron cross tattoo in his chest? Is it just part of his fashion or is there an alternative meaning? Well, Iron cross is a simple yet striking figure which has been used commemorate Germany's Armed Forces for gaining the triumph against France. Among cross tattoos designs, iron cross has the simplest design. This form of cross figure symbolizes power and sometimes mistaken and called
Maltese cross.

Rebel flag tattoos

Rebel flag tattoos southern location of its users. In English term rebel cross is known as Southern Cross which is named after the constellation found in the southern hemisphere, often known as Crux Australis.

Celtic cross tattoos

Celtic is the most popular among cross tattoos designs. Celtic cross design tattoos are usually seen at the back or in arms of men. This form of cross involves different designs including circles, curves and spirals. The circle in the middle of the cross represents that halo of Jesus Christ and also interpreted as God's eternal love.

Crosses have different meanings depends on how you look upon it. Whether you're a member of Christian religion or just want to enjoy cross tattoos, it is important to choose attractive designs when getting inked.

Meaning of Skull Tattoos - Skull Tattoo Pictures

Skull Tattoos

A recent phenomenon in tattoo designs is the use of skulls and dungeons. The skull design symbolizes many meanings one of them being the termination of one's life. But besides that, skull designs can also be understood as rigid or tough. Over the years the perception of a skull is synonymous to danger. But the world of tattooing has given it a different meaning.

This transition has lead to the emergence of various kinds of skull designs. The first one to be dealt with is the girly skull design. Skulls earlier were usually worn by men. But the world of unisexual items has created a lot of items both common for man and women, the skull design has got a different look just by making it more feminine. In this a bow could be added on the design to add a extra girly touch. The color combination adopted should be in accordance with the colors which are most likely accepted by girls like pink and purple. This tattoo design is used by committed couples where the tattoos are the same but it has varying sexes.

Secondly, in Mexico sugar tattoos are used extensively to emphasize two very important days that are celebrated i.e. 1st November which is mourning day for deaths of young children throughout the year and 2nd November which is mourning day for the adults. In Mexico these designs are used which pictures, a skull like design that signifies the immortality or also the revival of life. Another form of skulls is the decorated form. In this the design does not reflect a gothic touch rather a friendly or a happy touch. Skull is usually associated with a scary picture but in the decorated form the skull is accompanied with flowers, butterflies and other forms of nature to make it more attractive. Skulls can be also merged with other forms and designs i.e. we provide an extra element to the design. The skull can be depicted in a dragon form with wings, or a head of a skull and the body of a snake.

The Mormon Tattoo & Piercing Controversy

3D Tattoos

For many years tattoos and decorative piercings weren't a real issue for members of the Mormon Church. Until the year 2000, there was only one reference to tattooing in all of Mormon teaching and that was in the 1965 unofficial personal publication Mormon Doctrine by Mormon Apostle, Bruce R. McConkie. It states; "Tattooing is a desecration of the human body and should not be permitted, unless all that is involved is the placing of a blood type or an identification number in an obscure place. Latter-day Saint servicemen in particular are counseled to avoid the pitfalls of tattooing. Persons who are tattooed are not, however, denied the ordinances and blessings of the temple."

In the October 2000 General Conference the first of many "councils" against tattooing was announced.

"We--the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve--have taken the position, and I quote, that "the Church discourages tattoos. It also discourages the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes, although it takes no position on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings." President Gordon B. Hinckley

At the time my husband and I were very active, temple recommend holding members of the church and had been operating a tattoo studio without any prejudice for many years. We were never treated poorly or shunned by the members of our Ward or Stake. Our Stake President's wife more than once brought her children to our studio to get tattoos. It was such a non issue that one of the ways I billed myself in advertising was Kita Kazoo the Mormon Girl Tattoo Artist.

Since then we both have been subjected to many discussions and debates on the right or wrong of getting and doing tattoos and piercings. At first I would defend my choice of profession using the scriptures, but eventually I got tired of it and began asking those who questioned me to explain to me, what horrible thing would happen in our society if everyone had a tattoo? After all, sins are those things that violate the golden rule and keep us from loving one another, not things such as, what clothing we wear or how we do our hair.

Now, 8 years later the whole subject of tattoos and piercings has in my opinion gotten out of hand. Now it is not so surprising to find that the local church authorities, such as bishops, stake presidents and temple presidents are taking it upon themselves to punish members who choose to get a tattoo. Not just in Utah, but all over the world. This has become such a big issue that people are leaving the church over it.

Some people who have tattoos are told not to take the sacrament and others are not allowed access to the temple. Some are being counseled to not marry those who have tattoos and piercings. As having been a 30+ year student of Mormonism and its history I feel that this behavior is not in line with the teachings of Mormonism or Christianity in any way.

Mormons aren't the only religion that superstitiously believes that tattoos are an evil and to be avoided as they supposedly will lead to worse sins. Many Christian Churches and Jewish Rabbi's do also. And there are good reasons for a religion to not want their flock to get tattoos or piercings.

Getting a tattoo not only changes the way you look but it also changes the way you think and feel about yourself. It is a clear message that you feel that you are the owner of your body and worse of all (to religious leaders), your mind!

Historically tattoos have been used as an expression of faith and commitment. One would think that getting a symbol of your beliefs tattooed on ones self would be encouraged. However, because of the recent history of American tattooing and the popularizations of tattooing, tattoos are being presented by the media and politicians as a dangerous amusement. It is not new for counter-culture decorations to be viewed as repulsive to many of the elders of our society.

When I heard at General Conference that President Gordon Hinckley (the current Mormon Church President) does not like tattoos and some piercings I was not surprised. The tattoos he has been exposed to in his youth were usually not very well done or artistic. Unlike today, tattooed people of his generation, especially in socially backwards Utah may have appeared attractive only to criminals or rough military men, not average everyday people with families and lives of good account.

To further the injury of one's personal opinion of fashion being stated as if it is a law from God, President Hinckley allows for one sort of permanent decorative change to ones appearance and not another, which seems hypocritical to me. Mr. Hinckley allows within the church for women to have their faces tattooed with permanent cosmetics and wear pierced earrings, (but one pair only - one in each ear) as those are socially acceptable with in his peer group.

I feel that these religious leaders are ignorant of tattoo history as a spiritual practice and generally trivialize tattoos and piercings as immoral and frivolous behaviors of rebellion because they do not want their followers to look like everyone else. It is a power game and nothing more. If they can control the way you look they will control the way you think and feel.

I suspect that the shunning of persons with tattoos and piercings is really a part of the whole elitist thought pattern of Mormonism in Utah. Those who have not done their homework are sure to believe that if you look like a Gentile (any non-Mormon) you will act like a Gentile, which means to Mormons that you are without God and are basically led by the Devil.

However it has been my experience that tattoos do not lead to sin. Being uninformed and willing to blindly follow without question is what leads to sin and personal disgrace.

If you are LDS and still considering a tattoo you should first be asking yourself these questions. Does my tattoo choice reflect my beliefs or will they distract from my message of who I am. Am I getting tattooed because I want to immortalize an event in my life, a belief or to rebel against the mainstream culture? Will this tattoo or piercing prevent me from being a good person? The answers to these questions will let you know if you are doing the right thing or reacting poorly to your society. It is my opinion that if you feel having a tattoo would be a healthy positive thing for you, then by all means exercise your own good judgment and free agency and get one.

Keep in mind that in reality "Tattooings are not only ornaments...they are not only emblems of nobility and symbols of rank in the social hierarchy: they are also messages fraught with spiritual and moral significance...not only to imprint a drawing onto the flesh but also to stamp onto the mind all the traditions and philosophy of the group."- Claude Lévi Strauss

Personally I believe that tattoos in and of themselves can not be evil and I don't believe that God cares one way or another if you have one or not, unless you got that tattoo to alienate and hurt other people. Then the real problem is how you feel towards your fellow men and not the tattoo in itself.

People have a right to decorate themselves how they want to. Some people like to put pictures on their bodies and some people don't. It is all a matter of personal taste. I feel it is wrong to subject my taste on others and I expect the same courteousness in return.

This attitude is healthy and normal. This is how it is in the big world where the Mormon lifestyle is not practiced by the majority. Wouldn't the world be great place if we could all mind our own lives and appreciate the good things out there instead of picking on others for being different?

You can do good or evil with everything on this earth. As a heavily tattooed person I have had many more opportunities to love and serve others through tattooing and having tattoos than before I had them. I have had to become more patient and tolerant. Especially have I had to learn to be more patient and tolerant with those who claim to be "spiritual leaders" as they put words in God's mouth rather than follow what they claim God has already spoken.

I have found that most people who have tattoos are more open and friendly towards others. I have found that for the most part people who wear tattoos are very nice people. There are a few people that I have met to whom their tattoos serve more as warning to stay away than an invitation to meet them. Which I feel is also a good thing as it has saved me a lot of time by helping me to avoid an unpleasant interaction with them.

Most people have their personal spiritual philosophy tattooed on them and it becomes a way of opening the opportunity to speak about spiritual things. In this world where we are taught to be afraid of our neighbors it is nice to have a way of really getting to know the people around you. It is nice to have a common bond despite all other social differences.

If you already have a tattoo and are experiencing social rejection issues it is wise remember that things in the church change quickly. I would not be surprised to find that in 20 years having a tattoo won't be an issue at all. The evil music that was preached against in the 60's and 70's is now played regularly at church dances and the Coke and Pepsi drinkers that were denied temple recommends in the 1970's can now go to the temple in spite of their soda habits. It is all a matter of generational perspective, which is bound to change as the old guys finally die off.

Top Tattoo Designs For Men and Women in 2010 - Early Predictions I Stake My Reputation On - Part 1

Samurai Tattoos

Yup you read that title right even though it is still very early in the year it is easy to spot to top tattoo trends and what will be the hottest in tattoo designs for 2010. These trends are so hot that one cannot ignore the big spikes in searches that will produce this year's top tattoo designs for both men and women. So here is our vote or prediction for the whole 2010 and even into 2011 year in the world of tattoos.

There are so many here it is a bit hard to narrow them down as it look like the entire field or world of tattoo designs will continue to grow by leaps and bounds throughout the next two years as it has for the past 5 or so years.

Japanese Tattoos

Japanese tattoo designs are catching on big time. They have always been around and there have always been artists that specialize in creating authentic Japanese tattoo designs here in the west however, it has typically been more a fringe movement and had fewer devotees. However, this will change in fact it already has. Right now it is a micro trend of sorts with some short spikes of growth but it is going to catch on huge over the next year. This will include Japanese cherry blossom tattoos, koi fish, Geisha and Samurai as well as dragon designs. Most of these will be used on the popular locations on the body found below.

Ambigram Tattoos

Ambigrams are hard to explain if you have not seen them before. It is a very visual puzzle that just can't explain or translate well in words as funny as that might seem since they are made up of words. Ambigram tattoos are essential the art of taking two word designs and then putting together so a person can read one word when the tattoo is held upright and another word when it is flipped over. These are very popular and tie well into the whole literary and word tattoo trend as well as they work and look great on the forearm which is also a pretty popular location right now.

Literary And Word Tattoos

Of course there are so many different ways to refer to these tattoo designs there are the simple one word tattoos on the wrist that celebrities like to get. There are the foreign language tattoos and even the sayings and poem tattoos. This would also include the whole kanji, Arabic and Celtic tattoo designs. Anything that features writing or letters as the main part of the tattoo would fall into this category and it is currently one of the hottest trends and quickly growing bigger by the day.

These are some of the most popular trends right now based on what people are looking for, search engine trends and feedback from tattoo shop owners. They are provided here to give some ideas to those looking for what to get tattooed. However, it is never advisable to just jump blindly on the bandwagon because someone said it was popular. Instead find thing that you like and if it matched with one of the designs then great. These are meant to spark your own original and unique tattoo designs and ideas. These are trends that interestingly enough are equally popular with both sexes male and female.

If you are seriously considering getting one of these hot tattoo ideas then it is best to check out online the huge amount of tattoo design resources out there. They can give you more ideas and resources and even designs to get started in creating your own unique high quality tattoo.

Locating Japanese Tattoo Designs - Where's the Superb Artwork?

japanese Tattoos

Looking for good-looking Japanese tattoo designs can be one of the more frustrating things to do on the net. They are wonderful images for the most part, but the fact is that there are so many generic, low end tattoos that men and women should never settle on. That's all most people seem to run into, though. The good news is that there is a slew of fantastic artwork out there that you are missing out on and here is how you can find it.

The reason I say that you are missing out on the great Japanese tattoo designs is that you are probably using the wrong tolls for finding them. If you are like 95% of the men and women on the web, you are choosing to use a search-engine to locate the tattoos you want. While they are enticing tools for finding anything you want in the blink of an eye, they are actually very bad at pulling up the quality tattoo-galleries. All that seems to rear its head are the same type of generic, low end galleries and that are packed full of eight year old images. On top of that, most of the images they have are already posted on about a hundred other galleries. There is not one tiny ounce of originality in any of those Japanese tattoo designs.

Ok, enough about that. Let's get to the point about finding the truly great Japanese tattoo designs out there...

It can easily be done by implementing the power of internet forums. It's an amazing alternative to the search0engiens when it comes to finding out where the quality tattoos are. Tattoos happen to be a very big subject in many forums, so you better believe that you will be able to find tons of posts which contain links to some of the galleries that you have missing out on. Finding new, fresh Japanese tattoo designs will be fun once again, because you will be able to locater link after link to tons of websites that have artwork that is not spread all over the internet already.

It's just a simple solution to finding many of the superb Japanese tattoo designs you want. Not matter which tattoos you are considering getting inked just make sure that it is the perfect one for your tastes and don't settle for less.

Tribal Dragon Tattoo - How to Choose Your Tattoo Without Regrets

Dragon Tattoos

A tribal dragon tattoo makes for an excellent choice of tattoo design for your next tattoo. But what about other types of dragon tattoo? In this article, I'll tell you all about the tribal dragon tattoo but also talk about other, similar possibilities so that you make the right choice for you and one that you will never regret.

Tribal Dragon Tattoo

A tribal dragon tattoo makes for an excellent choice for your next tattoo. Tribal tattoos generally are simple but make a big impact. Sometimes, you can be limited in the designs available to choose from but this is not so for dragon tattoos of this style.

Dragons are drawn differently by different cultures. Hence, there are many types of dragon tribal tattoos. The standard S-shape is very popular. Some people prefer one where the dragon spreads its wings in a symmetrical manner - this can look great when positioned on the body's centre-line.

Another variation is to have the body of the dragon forming an outer boundary in a circle. Sometimes, the dragon's head alone is used for the tattoo!

Tribal Dragon Tattoo Meaning

Tribes have existed all over the Earth for a long time. When people mention "tribal tattoos", they usually mean tattoos that are done in the Maori style. As far as I know, the dragon did not have huge significance for the Maoris.

The dragon does have significance in other cultures though, particular in East and South-East Asia. Here, the dragon is revered and not feared. It is seen as a long living, wise and intelligent bird.

Tattoo Of A Chinese Dragon

This is the more common type of dragon style tattoo that you might have seen people wearing on their skin while out and about. Dragons like this have a very dynamic look to them. Rarely is the dragon sitting down. More usually, they are snaking around in mid-flight.

These dragons are highly detailed with a complex face, scales all over and wings to contend with too. Only trust an experienced artist to do such a tattoo on your skin.

Tattoos (Celtic Style) Of Dragons

Celtic dragon tattoos are highly unique. A wide variety of colours is not important here. Celtic dragons are often depicted as looking from one side to the other (usually right to left). They are done in black ink only or with few colours. They may also be drawn with relatively few lines - sitting somewhere between tribal and Chinese/Japanese style. As is common with many celtic tattoos, the dragon may be depicted inside a circle.

Floral Tattoos - Different Types of Flower Tattoos and Their Meanings Behind

Flower Tattoos

As you may know, the art of floral tattoo has been around for as long as the art of tattoo-making itself. Flower tattoos are popular all over the world not only for women but also for men. Flowers are colorful, soft, delicate, pretty and short-lived. Maybe because of that reason flowers become a sexy symbol for all tattoo designs since everyone has that special blooming moment in life. However, many flower tattoos represent different meanings and all different from each other which make it more fascinating to know about it.

Sunflower is one of the common tropical flower tattoos you can find among others like hibiscus flower, daisy flower, tuberose flower, orchid flower... Sunflower tattoos symbolize strength because of the character of the flower always stand up and follow the direction of the sun. It also means you are splendid.

Rose tattoo is the most popular among all the flower tattoos because of its timeless beauty and rich meanings. Nowadays, red rose tattoos symbolize beauty, love and romance while other color can have different meanings. A yellow rose means friendship, white represents purity and innocent, pink is for grace and gentility, and black symbolizes death (although not always necessary mean death depends on different culture and belief).

Hibiscus flower tattoos or also known as Hawaiian flower tattoos because they can be found a lot in Hawaii. Hibiscus represent the delicate, soft beauty and because or its short life, Hibiscus tattoo also mean to enjoy your beautiful moment in life because it is short. Hibiscus flower has many different colors like red, pink, orange, purple... which I think doesn't have any significant differences in meanings.

Flower Lily tattoos symbolize virginity, purity, and the radiant soul of Virgin Mary.

Lotus flower tattoos symbolize two different things if you see it from a Western side and Eastern side point of view. In the East, lotus is viewed as similar meanings as the rose from the West while on the other hand it symbolizes the clarity of mind as well as the heart.

Cherry Blossom tattoos are originated from Asia, particularly Japan simply because of its beauty and delicate nature. For the Japanese, the cherry blossom is a very delicate flower which only blooms for a short period of time therefore represents the transient of life. This concept also is also reflected deeply the Buddhist culture belief that life is suffering and transitory.

Combine floral tattoos and other tattoo designs like skulls, stars, swallows, and butterfly are really common in the tattoo community. Butterfly and flower tattoos are really sexy for women while the skull and rose tattoo designs can be found more on men.

Hawaiian Flower Tattoos - Exotic Flowers, Yet Simple

Flower Tattoos

Hawaiian flower tattoos are becoming very popular. Hawaii is one of those places people dream about going to or living. If you've been there, you want to go back. The climate is perfect nearly all the time. The people are beautiful and friendly. It seems natural to want to express that feeling with a tattoo.

The state flower of Hawaii is the hibiscus. Hibiscus come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. If a woman wears a hibiscus behind her ear, she is either saying she is taken or is looking, depending on the ear. Hibiscus petals are only open for a short time during the day. A Hawaiian flower tattoo with hibiscus could symbolize the shortness of life.

If you've ever visited Hawaii you have been presented with a lei. Leis are generally made from plumeria. They bloom all year and they have a very sweet scent and a variety of colors. Plumeria can be used as an accent to a tattoo with hibiscus or on its own to signify warmth and welcome.

Hawaiian flower tattoos can be very simple or combined with other elements to make an intricate design. Someone who has visited the island may want a simple reminder of its beauty and get a Hawaiian flower tattoo. On men you might see hibiscus flowers surrounding some tribal art. Hawaii is one of the Polynesian islands and tribal tattooing has a deep history.

Combining different symbols of the island can make a unique tattoo design. You can combine the plumeria or hibiscus with dolphins, water or waves, surfboards or even beautiful women. Plumeria and hibiscus are not the only flowers that can be used in Hawaiian flower tattoos. Hawaii is full of gorgeous flowers such as the lily, orchid and rose. All of these can be used to make a beautiful tattoo.

Because these flowers are so simple, you want to take your time and figure out how your tattoo is going to be unique. You don't want to just go into a tattoo parlor and say you want a Hawaiian flower tattoo. You will be left with a generic tattoo that you may regret.

Tattoos of Scorpion - Designs, Ideas, and Meanings of Scorpion Tattoos

Scorpion Tattoos

Scorpion tattoos are one of the more popular tattoo designs in a number of different cultures. The tattoos of a scorpion is believed to be a symbol that protects the wearer of the tattoo.

There are a variety of different meanings for tattoos of scorpions such as danger, death, hatred, envy, evil, pain, and the belief that strength cannot be decided by size alone. These different meanings are a result of the sting of the scorpion's tail. Scorpions have ancient symbolism and they have many ties to mythology, with Egyptian gods and other cultures.

Most of the scorpion designs are done in black and gray and can also have hints of color mixed in with it. More detailed scorpion tattoos are in full color and some of the more common colors seen with the scorpion designs are, tan, gold, neon green, crimson red, bright blue, and purple.

The design of a coiled scorpion represents that the wearer is a fighter and someone you shouldn't mess with. Most women tend to get a design displaying a small scorpion which can be placed attractively on their foot or ankle. A small scorpion tattoo design serves as a reminder that despite your size you are still strong and should be reckoned with.

The most popular areas to place scorpion design include the arms, back, and shoulders. Although scorpions are small creatures they can still be deadly. The same goes for scorpion tattoos, they can be both attractive and intimidating at the very same time.

Expressing Yourself With Tattoos

3D Tattoos

Have you noticed that there are a lot of people that have Tattoos these days? In the past you may have only seen tattoos on people such as sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs but now tattoos are a very popular body decoration for many people. The types and styles of tattoos has also come a very long way. It is no longer crude pictures of pinup girls, skulls, and anchors. Tattoos have developed into very sophisticated art work ranging from Celtic crosses to very personalized symbols. People have found and created designs that express themselves in a very personal way.

What is a Tattoo?

Very simply a tattoo is a puncture wound made in the skin that is filled with ink. Although done differently today than in the past the technique is still somewhat similar. Today, tattoo artist use a tattoo gun that has one or more needles that penetrate the skin and delivery ink into the skin. Tattoos last a very long time due to the fact that the ink is placed deeply into the skin. The top layer of skins is called the epidermis and it is constantly shedding and being reproduced. If the ink from a tattoo was in this layer of skin it would not last very long. The layer of skin that the ink is injected to is called the dermis, which is a deeper layer of skin that is very stable and makes the tattoo stay visible almost permanently.

Tattoos in the past were done manually with a tool that they tapped on the skin to make the puncture wound and then the ink would be injected by hand. Most tattoo shops today have tattoo guns or machines to do this today, although you can still find areas around the world that still use the older style of tattooing. The tattoo guns make tattooing much more quickly today because the machine is able to deliver the ink into the skin as it is puncturing the skin. The tattoo artist can change the tip of the machine to contain one needle or group of needles depending on if they are drawing the outline of the design or shading part of the design. Most tattoo artist today are very skilled and know just how far to drive the needle into the skin to produce a good tattoo. Not going deep enough can result in ragged tattoo and going to deep can result in excessive bleeding, not to mention the pain would be much worse.

Does It Hurt?

Getting a tattoo can hurt and can take several hours or even days to complete depending on the size and design of the tattoo you are getting. The amount of pain can and will very depending on the location of the tattoo. Everyone has a different threshold to pain also. The art has a bit to do with it also. A good tattoo artist can provide less pain over a new or less experienced tattoo artist.

So you want a Tattoo!

First and foremost, if you are going to get a tattoo, get it done safely! Remember, a tattoo is a puncture wound that needs to be taken care of just like any other scrape or cut that you may get. By taking care of your tattoo you will be less likely to have it get infected. It may sound a little silly but you need to make sure that your immunizations are up to date. Tattoo shops today have implement steps to help you avoid infections and disease but it doesn't hurt to take an extra step for your own safety. Have a plan to get medical care if your tattoo does get infected. Some signs of infection are excessive redness, prolonged bleeding, pus or changes in your skin color around the tattoo.

If you have a prior or existing condition such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes or a condition that effects your immune systems by all means consult with your doctor. He may be able to recommend precautions that you can take before getting your tattoo.

Choosing the place to get your tattoo is very important. You want to be sure the tattoo shop is clean and safe. Things such as needles, gloves, mask should all be disposable and should never be used on more than one person. The guns themselves and other equipment that is not disposable should be sterilized after every use. You can contact your local government agencies(county, city, local health department) that can inform your on licensed tattoo shops, standards or complaints against a specific tattoo shop.

Here are some things to look for:

Does the tattoo shop you are looking at have an autoclave to sterilize equipment? An autoclave is a piece of equipment that uses steam, pressure and heat to sterilize with.

Is the shop licensed? You can check this through you local government agency and the tattoo shop you are looking at should be able to provide you with references.

Make sure the tattoo shop the regulations that outline procedures to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids that are provided by the Occupational Safely and Health Administration's Universal Procedures.

Just keep in mind, if the tattoo shop you are considering looks dirty or just doesn't feel right to you for any reason it would probably be best to find a tattoo shop you are more comfortable with.

What to expect

First of all you will need to find your design that you are wanting tattooed on your body. The tattoo shop you are going to will most likely have thousands of designs that you can look through. You may also be able to have the artist create a unique design for you. There are also may designs to choose from on the web. Once you have decided on a design you will need to decide on a location. You may already have a location in mind and be able to choose the tattoo you will be getting for that particular location. The tattoo artist will then clean and even shave if necessary to area getting tattooed and apply a type of stencil of the tattoo on that area and allow you to see it. This will give you a good idea of what it will look like. As the artist is getting the ink and gun ready they will explain things about the needles and the procedures in order for you to become more comfortable with the whole process. When you are both ready they will begin the outline. Once the outline is finished the tattoo artist will once again clean the tattoo area and most likely change the needles in the gun to do the shading or fill in. After finishing the tattoo the artist will again clean the tattoo area and apply some type of antibiotic ointment and then it will be covered with a bandage. Congratulations! You now have a new tattoo. It will take a few days to heal but soon you will be able to remove the bandage and show off your new art.

Tattoo Care

The last step you will need to follow in very important. That is taking care of your new tattoo until it is fully healed. The tattoo shop will give you instructions that you should follow and will most likely give you ointment to use on your tattoo. Just remember to contact your doctor if something about your tattoo seems out of the ordinary (as discussed earlier). Make sure that you keep your tattoo bandaged for the first 24 hours. This will help in the healing process greatly. You will want to avoid touching the new tattoo and picking at any scabs that may form. After all, it is a wound and will most likely form some scabs in places. When you wash it for the first time try to use an antibiotic soap and just pat it dry. Re-apply some antibiotic ointment and also re-bandage it. This will only help your tattoo to heal. You want to avoid getting your new tattoo wet(pools, hot tubs, long showers) until the tattoo has fully healed. The other important step is keeping your tattoo out of direct sunlight. Even after it is fully healed the sun can cause fading of your tattoo a great deal. So it is suggested to use a sun screen on your tattoo for quite some time so that your new tattoo does not begin to fade to soon.

Scorpion Tattoo Design and Meaning

Scorpion Tattoos

Scorpions are small creatures that have fierce stings. Maybe this is why some people choose to get a scorpion tattoo to show that although they may appear feeble, they can actually hold their ground. Tattoos look awesome in color, but may look tougher in black ink. The choice is yours, but color tattoos often give a softer appearance and add more detail.

Reasons people choose a scorpion tattoo vary. Some get a scorpion portrait because they are a Scorpio, as it relates to horoscopes. Others get the tattoo because a scorpion is a fierce creature, with a tough appearance. The purpose of a tattoo is usually either to represent ones personality, or to show off a neat looking portrait. Often, tattoo artists are able to give the appearance that the scorpion is coming out of your bellybutton or other area on the skin. Without a doubt, the amount of creativity is up to you!

Tattoos represent something about you. A picture of a scorpion inked onto your skin will let others know you mean business. Although scorpions are "tough" looking, they also have a soft side. For instance, some girls have scorpion tattoos on their ankle, which still looks "tough" but adds a soft side to the image as well. A scorpion portrait placed on an arm, shows strength. Guys will often pick a place such as an arm or leg to show they are tough. Using large tattoos is generally considered masculine because the tattoo will cover an entire muscle, instead of being hidden. A tattoo on an ankle, or stomach, is often chosen by girls to show a strong, yet delicate persona.

Since scorpions often live in hot and tough areas, the image of a scorpion shows a person has strength and is able to live through tough moments. This may be why people get scorpion tattoos, to show they are able to make it through difficult situations, and stay strong. The scorpion represents power and force, and proves that size does not matter.