TATTOO DESIGN

Finding Tattoo Designs and Tattoo Aftercare - By: N Anderson


When finding tattoo designs online, you will not generally also consider tattoo aftercare although it is possible to find information on each of these on the same websites. In fact, a tattoo site that offered you masses of designs without any advice on how to care for them, or for your skin, would be somewhat negligent since a responsible website should offer you both.

Let's consider each of these in turn in relation to online tattoo services.

Finding Tattoo Designs Online

An internet search will provide you with a number of websites that should offer you a large selection of tattoo designs, and you are almost certain to find one that suits you. Whether you are seeking girly tattoos, Indian tattoos, heavy metal or even gay tattoos, they will be there, and it will be difficult for you to distinguish between all of these sites as to which is best.

In fact, it is not the choice of tattoo art that will set one apart from another, but the ancillary services provided. Take a simple search box, for example. Do you really want to spend all evening trawling through hundreds or even more of tattoo designs looking for that angel tattoo that is in your mind or for an awesome Celtic cross? Without a search box a tattoo website is incomplete and shows a disregard for its customers.

In fact, a good tattoo website will make finding tattoo designs easy in addition to offering tattoo aftercare tips on the designs it offers. Not only that but you should be able to search for other products such as a Kat Von D LA Inks t-shirt with a fabulous tattoo design on it that you might want to have tattooed onto your own back.

How about a traditional Native American tattoo applied using the art of Mehndi, which is an ink manufactured from henna and that dyes your skin temporarily and can be changed to suit your mood. There are many Mehndi tattoos available online and they are popular with those that like to change their tattoos, but again you must know where to look.

Mehndi tattoo designs can be exceptionally intricate, but are also so beautiful that many people have had them tattooed permanently. Tattoo aftercare is important with Mehndi if it is not to disappear sooner than you intended, which brings us on to the topic of tattoo aftercare in general.

Tattoo Aftercare

Every tattoo has to be looked after properly, particularly immediately after it application. This is to avoid infection and to help maintain its vibrant colors. If your tattoo has been bandaged, keep it on, at least for a few hours, but remove any plastic covering. Then wash it using an antibacterial soap to prevent infection: keep in mind that your tattoo has damaged the first few layers of your skin, and it can easily become infected.

While it is fine to shower with a new tattoo, do not have a bath. A crucial aspect of tattoo aftercare is not to immerse it in water during the first 2-3 weeks, and that includes avoiding swimming (even in salt water). It is the immersion that causes the problem, not the type of water or its cleanliness or sterility.

If your tattoo scabs over or itches don't pick or scratch - that can cause irreparable damage, and another important factor in tattoo aftercare is exposure to the sun: make sure you always use a high factor sunblock because strong sunlight can cause the pigments to fade and you could end up with a faded weak tattoo that has no depth or vibrancy.

While finding tattoo designs is fairly easy online, finding one that won't fade in strong sunlight while you get that fabulous tan is not so easy. The brighter the colour the quicker it will fade, and the old traditional blue tattoos appear to be the most resistant to strong ultra-violet radiation.

Choosing a Studio or Artist

Finding tattoo designs and learning about tattoo aftercare are all very well, but what about an equally important aspect of your tattoo: the studio or tattoo artist. You should choose carefully because not all are equal, and you want the best job you can get for a body decoration that could be with you for life.

Shop around the studios and check out the artist's portfolio. Make sure that you are looking at examples of their work and not just agency photographs. Live examples are best, and make sure the lines are smooth, the areas properly filled in and the colors bright and vibrant. If you know people with really good-looking tattoos ask them where they had them done.

Take your time because once it's in your skin it's very difficult to remove. Finding tattoo designs is not difficult, but finding the ones best suited to you might not be so easy. Add to that the fact that there is a very large variation in quality, and that tattoo aftercare is extremely important both to your health and to the way your tattoo heals and develops, then it is important that you find the correct tattoo studio and the right tattoo website from which to get your information.

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Why Ankle and Foot Tattoos are Different - By: Noel Christian


Of all the tattoo choices available, the ankle and foot tattoo design is one of, if not the most, trendy with women today. This sought after and unique tattoo looks impressive during the spring and summer times of the year and makes for a remarkable first tattoo, although there are a few matters that you need to address before you getting started.

The more notable being protecting the ankle and foot tattoo for the duration of the healing process, which might take longer than other placements, usually in the neighborhood of two and four weeks. The basis for the added time is because almost all footwear can scrape against the image, and in addition, the foot and ankle are always moving; if it causes injury, a quick touch-up may be needed.

The warmer seasons of the year are the best time for getting your foot or ankle tattoos done, unless you can afford the comfort of going barefooted for a couple of weeks. That's not achievable for most active and employed people, but there are some things that you can do to minimize the possible damage.

The most sensible alternative is to just wear easy fitting shoes and steer clear, as much as possible, those activities that demand a lot of movement. Also, you should keep the new tattoo covered with a fine coating of something like Vaseline, or one of the many commercial products, and when you realize you are going to be overly active, place a sheet of plastic wrap between your tattoo and socks. This added measure will keep the image safe from harm.

Ankle and foot tattoos can be more painful than most designs because of the thin skin over the bones, and the pain is comparable to that of getting a tattoo over a rib or shoulder blade. The pain varies depending on who you ask, but is most characteristically described as only moderately more.

Infections are also a possibility that should be repeatedly checked for. Without a doubt your feet will get soiled more often than most other areas of the body. Although this will create a greater risk of contracting an infection, it can be kept to a minimum by added cleanings and reapplications the protective layer.

When choosing an ankle and foot tattoo there are a few things you need to know in advance on account of the extra after care, and potential cost.

Exfoliation occurs on the foot more than other areas of the human anatomy and there is a good chance you will lose particles of ink from time to time. It’s a natural process and nothing to seriously worry about, but, some touch up work could be needed periodically to preserve the original image, but the work will not be that extensive or costly.

And last but not least, tattoos on the foot or ankle require an experienced artist, depending on the difficulty of the tattoo, as is common with a high percentage of thin skinned tattoos. It’s easy to place the color to shallow or deep and the image won’t fully take.

And don’t be shy when asking about their qualifications, and also check out their portfolio for pictures of foot and ankle work they have personally done. The proof is in the pictures and is indicative of what you’re completed tattoo will look like...and as with all exposed tattoos, use a high SPF sun protection.

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Trendy Tribal Tattoos - By: Bernie Wiemers


Tribal Tattoos have been used as symbols of self-expression or belonging since the dawn of humanity. The first tribal tattoos were applied with sharp sticks that were dipped into ashes and forced under the skin.

Once the wound healed over, a permanent mark remained. Thousands of years ago, tattoos were used for a variety of reasons. The term "tribal tattoo" commonly refers to the type of tattoo we see today that harkens back to a time when tattoos were black marks used to describe belonging to a group or to certain occurrences, such as the hunt for real or mythological creatures or the relationship between humankind and the elements, the sun or the moon.

Religious, magical or spiritual beliefs were often expressed through tattoos as well. The oldest tattooed body that has been found to date is that of a Bronze Age man who lived and died over 5,000 years ago.

He was found frozen in a glacier in Italy. On close examination, researchers found that his body was covered with intricate tattoos of mythical creatures. Tribal tattoos link us to humanity throughout the ages, mythical characters that we identify with, cultures, and animals.

Today, we find tribal tattoos that relate to cultures such as Native American, Indigenous, African, Hawaiian, Samoan, Polynesian, Eskimo, Inuit, Pagan, Celtic, Asian and Tahitian, among others.

Most are designs done completely in black ink or black ink with some shading of gray and white. Color may be found in a tribal tattoo, but it's usually used sparingly. Tribal tattoos are popular and can be found on almost any part of the body.

Most often they're on the back and arms. Tattoo shops usually have lots of tribal flash, or designs that you can choose from. You can also look through tattoo magazines, on tattoo websites and even in articles and reports about tattoos found on ancient people.

If you're feeling creative, you can incorporate a tribal design with other elements. For example, if you're a tiger according to Chinese astrology and are also interested in tribal cultures, you could get a tattoo of a tiger with a black tribal design surrounding it, or running through it.

A good tattoo artist will be able to help you incorporate the elements to come up with a design that is uniquely yours. The versatility of tribal tattoos, paired with the feelings of connectedness that they convey continue to make tribal tattoos a popular choice for the tattoo collector or person who intends to get only one tattoo. When considering a tribal tattoo, make sure you find something that is unique to your personality and reflects your style.

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How To Choose the Right Tattoo Design - By: Bernie Wiemers


So you've decided to get a tattoo, and you are trying to find a tattoo design that is right for you.

After many nights contemplation, you have decided to get a tattoo design that will emblazon your chest with your boy (or girl) friend's name in a fancy font surrounded with hearts and birds. Stop right there! Let's talk about how to choose a tattoo design you won't regret.

Now, before you say, "But I LOVE my boyfriend," just take some time to consider what you're doing. Tattoos are pretty much permanent. They hurt going on, and worse still, they hurt coming off.

If you're serious about getting a tattoo, make sure that what you're having inked into your skin for pretty much eternity is something you'll be happy about forty years from now. When you consider which kind of tattoo design to get, ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Why am I getting a tattoo?

Is it self-expression, marking an important life milestone or turning point, paying tribute to an important element in your life (perhaps your love of antique cars or cats)?

Maybe you do love someone and you want them to see that in a very permanent way. Most agree that it's fine to have the names of children, grandkids, parents, etc. But most also agree that tattooing the name of your one true love (Michael Forever) might be a problem if your one true love turns out not to be.

If you're getting a tattoo because all of your friends are doing it, please reconsider. The only reason anyone should get a tattoo is because they want a tattoo. If you want to get a tattoo as a personal challenge or something new and different, that's okay, too. Just choose the tattoo design carefully.

2.) What do I love now that I am absolutely certain I will love in forty or fifty years?

If you've loved cats since you were a little kid, or you've shared a love of antique cars with your dad since forever, you're probably good.

If you have children or grandkids, and you want to have their names on you, you're safe. If you feel connected to Asian culture and you want a Chinese dragon, you probably won't regret it.

If you're an athlete and want a tattoo of the Olympic Symbol, that's probably okay, too!

You get the picture. If it's important to get an insanely cool tattoo that everyone else will marvel at, go for it!

But here's an important note - our interests and passions change with time. You may find yourself looking at a tattoo you got several years ago that doesn't carry the same meaning with it as it did when it was new. That's okay, as long as you still feel good about what it meant at the time.

3.) Finally, ask yourself, "Am I going to be embarrassed when I explain this to my grandkids, parents or the curious neighbor down the street?"

If you think you might feel stupid explaining your tattoo (and by the way, you are not required to explain your tattoo choices to anyone), you may want to rethink it.

Now, go looking for ideas. All tattoo shops have books full of "flash." Flash is just a word for tattoo designs. You can look through tattoo magazines, art magazines, an online tattoo gallery, or come up with something on your own.

Many good artists can take your rudimentary ideas and use their artistic skills to create a tattoo design that is uniquely yours. Just remember when choosing your tattoo design to ask yourself:

1. What am I trying to express?
2. Why do I want a tattoo?
3. What's important to me?

If you ask these questions, you will ultimately find your perfect tattoo design.

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Why Tattoos Are Very Dangerous To Your Health - By: Felicia Mortfield
When I was a little girl growing up, I thought tattoos were very beautiful to look at and I thought it was fashionable. I did not know the facts about why tattoos were very dangerous because I was too young to understand those kinds of things.

So much had changed over the past thirty years or more when it came to getting a tattoo of your own. The needles that they have are sterilized and they have equipment to draw illustrations on your skin. I know that tattoos vary in size and price wise, it depends what the person wants and if the picture has a strong meaning in their life.

I almost jumped in to getting a tattoo with a black drawing of my dog, Buster; because I thought it meant so much to me. I have spoken to a lot of people about getting a tattoo. The problem was, I had very sensitive skin, which would have caused me to have infections after I get the tattoo. That's why I was talked out of it by a number of people; which included my mom and her friend.

My mom's friend told me that it's not a good idea to get a tattoo. The way he looked at the consequences that I would have suffered later, he told me about the needles not being sterilized. He meant that it would have caused me infections as well. He also said that it doesn't enhance a person's looks at all either.

In a way, I'm glad that I did not get a tattoo, due to the fact that I have sensitive skin, and it costs a lot of money to have it put on. If I did not want the tattoo anymore a few years later; still then it would have cost thousands of dollars to have the tattoo removed from my body by laser therapy. What a waste of money! That would have been foolish to invest your money in to getting a tattoo.