Within the tattoo community there are two factions – the outsiders and the purists. These factions are not rival groups but hardcore or elite and then the amateurs. The elite believe that a tattoo should be created for a reason. There is a quote about tattoos that goes ‘Show me a man with a tattoo and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past’. A tattoo is supposed to have a story behind it. A tattoo that does not celebrate or commemorate a moment of your life is not considered a real tattoo but a decoration by the elite tattoo community.

Although a tattoo is art, and art as we know is free for all. Most people do not understand the art that they encounter everyday in their lives. I am not talking about tattoos only. It could be a modified car or wall art. To understand the art you need to be attuned to the artist or creator. A very good example of this is the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa is one of the most celebrated works of art in the world. If you look at it, it is a painting of a not too attractive woman standing or sitting in front of an insignificant background. So why is it famous then?

The answer lies with the artist – Leonardo Da Vinci is considered a genius. This has extended to his work. The Mona Lisa may just be a crappy painting, commissioned by a wealthy lord and painted only because he needed the money. We do not know. Whatever the story behind the painting, it’s this story that has made the Mona Lisa famous. The same thing goes for tattoos. You might have the most beautiful and symmetric tattoo, but it will be forgotten fast if there is no story behind it. These are pretty strong opinions, but let me give you another analogy.

Let’s imagine you meet a girl with a tattoo of a butterfly. In the course of the conversation the tattoo she has comes up and she tells you that she wanted to get a tattoo and since butterflies are pretty, she got a tattoo of a butterfly. You move on in the conversation and maybe forget about it. Now imagine if she told you that the butterfly is to commemorate a special day or a day that changed her life, you are intrigued and want to know more. You ask, and she tells you. Now the conversation has gone to different level and the both of you are connecting.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying do not get a tattoo. I’m saying get one for the right reasons.

Choosing a tattoo can be stressful because it’s so long-term; a tattoo is so permanent. Making the wrong decision can be painful, costly and inconvenient. There are so many factors to consider before making the final decision on a Cool Tattoo Design, including size, color, meaning, style and placement of the design as well as the artist you choose to help you get the tattoo you want.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shoked_Mohol

Tattoo – Tattoo is a very common form of body art. A tattoo can be either permanent or temporary. A permanent tattoo lasts forever but the process is immensely painful. So if you are not that courageous you should go for a temporary tattoo which is not at all painful but that does not last for long. A tattoo can be done on any part of your body. If you can not come up with your own design you can search the net for one. There are many websites that will give you thousands of designs to choose from. The designs vary from dragons, skulls, animals to butterflies, flowers and even abstracts. Some websites even offer downloadable temporary tattoos and also tattoo stencils. One such website is the tattoo Johnny website. You can download the tattoo stencil from the website and take the printout to the local tattoo parlor and get the tattoo permanently on your skin.

Piercing – Body piercing is another form of art. Ear piercing is the most common form of piercing. Most women pierce their ears when they are just little girls. When they grow up they get some more piercing on their ear. Men also pierce their ears. Piercing other parts of your body is also quite famous now. You can pierce your nose, your tongue, your cheeks, your eyebrows and if you are more brave and courageous you can also try piercing your nipples, your navel or your genitals. Piercing is done mainly due to wear jewellery and there are different kinds of jewellery with which you can flaunt your piercings.

Nail art – Nail art is yet another form of body art. It is mainly adorned by women. It is a form of art where a woman’s nails are painted with color. You can also keep them nude and just apply a coat of glossy nail polish or you can also go for a French manicure if you want to keep it simple. In order to glamorize your nails a bit you can apply some bright colored nail polish and stick stones and make patterns or you can also use different colors together. If you have short nails you can also use artificial nails that are easily available.

One such website is the tattoo johnny website. You can download the tattoo stencil from the website and take the printout to the local tattoo parlor and get the tattoo permanently on your skin.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karls_Marios

The immense growth of this art makes it a critical need for rules to regulate it. Surprisingly, there are no strong or solid rules to regulate tattoo work. Recently there were some actions taken to regulate tattoo work.

One of the first regulations that took place was the regulation of licensing tattoo artists. Until 2008, anyone could open a tattoo parlor and start drawing tattoos on people. After that date, different States started applying regulations on tattoo artists as they now must complete a certain level of education in order to be certified to draw tattoos.

Other regulations apply to the tattoo parlor itself. Before 2008, it was acceptable to offer tattoo services from home or any residence but now the situation is different. Starting 2010, it is empirical to establish any new tattoo parlor in a commercial building but the tattoo studios established before that date can keep their businesses.

When we take a look at the health regulation we will find that it covered everything except the tattoo ink itself. The health regulations cover the machinery and equipments used in tattooing. Health inspectors will check every facility and make sure that every needle used is sterilized and disposed after the usage. They will also require a blood test for every tattoo artist to ensure that he or she is safe to deal with body piercing equipments.

Different from all of these equipments and regulations, the tattoo ink stands alone away from any regulations. First of all, tattoo ink is included under the category of cosmetics; so when it is tested, it appears to be safe to use it topically but the results of using it under the skin may vary.

One important thing people should know is that tattoo ink manufacturing companies are not required to reveal the components of their inks. This is done legally because they consider the recipes as secrets of the manufacturer. Some companies may reveal the ingredients of their manufactured inks but they are not required to do so.

The main ingredients of the tattoo inks are the metal salts; some of these salts are safe to be used and others are not safe and may be toxic. For example, copper salts are safe and used in child paints but others like cobaltmay be highly toxic.

Some scientists are now conducting trials on the different tattoo inks to find out which of them are safe and which are not safe. Some paints are using lead and manganese so they may cause heavy metal toxicity and that is why it needs more regulations to help finding out the safe inks to be used in tattooing.

On the other hands, tattoo artists started to use organic painting instead of metal based inks but they faced the problems of instability and color variation. These problems limit the usage of organic colors instead of other commercially mixed inks.

The need for more regulations now is more than before because of the growing number of people having tattoos these days. The FDA should test all the tattoo inks found in the market in order to find which of them is safe to be used. Also there should be different tests carried out on the metal salts to know which of them should be used as ingredients in different colors of tattooing inks.

Although there are rare reports about adverse reactions from the commercially mixed tattoo inks, we still need some firmer regulations to arrange their usage. On the other hand some tattoo artists prefer to mix their own tattoo inks in-house in order to know exactly what they are putting in it. There could be serious dangers of tattooing yourself. Some people may think that this is a safer method but it is not like this all the time. When a tattoo artist tries to reach a certain color he or she may use some industrial paints that also contain toxic materials. All this means there could also be dangers of tattoo removal.

There were trials to use paints of plant origin but they were unstable and faded away quickly. This resulted in more usage of commercial paints and in-house paints made from industrial paints. So in order to keep the tattoo business under full control the authorities need to apply the following regulations.

* Tattoo artist should be licensed and well educated.
* Tattoo parlors should be in a commercial place so it remains under complete monitoring of the authorities.
* Tattoo artists dealing with minors who are under 18 years should be sued and the tattoo parlor should be closed for good.
* Commercial tattoo paints should be tested for a long time before being released in the market. The authorities should make sure that these inks are safe to be used under skin.
* Authorities should make sure of the sterilization of all the equipment used in the process.
* Authorities should take samples from the in-house mixed inks to make sure that they are safe.

At the end, the lack of enforcement in tattoo business may lead to serious hazards so it need to be regulated and controlled with firm rules to keep it safe for people who wish to have new tattoos on their bodies.

If all this makes you wonder about the safety of tattoos and tattoo inks, it should. If it makes wonder if its time to fade or remove that tattoo you already have then an effective tattoo removal cream may be in order. Try Wrecking Balm first, it is the only product that keeps pace with the wacky world of tattoo and tattoo ink composition.

J. Anthony ThompSon is a respected author and business man. He has published several articles and short papers on the web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_A_Thompson

There are many places where you can purchase your airbrush stencils and other things. Researching online will bring up many stores, but be sure to deal with a reputable one for good service and quality goods. You should be able to buy a temporary tattoo kit and airbrush tattoo stencils with no problems.

The most important thing when tattooing is hygiene and cleanliness, so you will need a sterilising unit to sterilise your needles. These are not cheap, but they are necessary so be sure you get one that will give many years of service. It may even be possible to start off with second hand one.

It is also wise to get the best quality airbrush guns and needles that you can afford. Having good quality tools will ensure that you are able to do a good job on those tattoos. Likewise good quality body paint will ensure that your tattoo turns out the right colour and your customers will go away satisfied with their tattoo.

Before you start you will need to find out what licenses are required and what training you need to undergo to become a good tattooist. It would be a wise decision to get work at a tattoo parlour before starting up your own business. This will give you an idea of what is needed and how to run your own business.

Other things you will need for your tattoo business are furniture, a cash register and the ability to accept credit card payments. You will also need some form of advertising to ensure that you have plenty of customers.

There are many rules and regulations about opening a tattoo shop and you will need to comply with them if you are not to get shut down. The rules may vary with each state, so if you have recently moved states, don’t assume you know it all.

For more information please visit us on www.airbrushtemporarytattoos.com.

John Elder is a freelance tattoo artist with more than 10 years now. His hobbies are travelling, exploring places and experiencing different cultures.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_M_Elder

First you need to be tattoo smart. By that I mean you need to do a little research on them. There are many resources across the internet that can give you ideas about placement, coloring, style, design, and pro’s and con’s. From personal observation, I have noticed that certain places on the body can add to your appearance and seductivity and other places can be distracting. Depending on whether you are in the spotlight or just behind the scenes, you need to know how a tattoo will affect your everyday activities.

Most of society has begun to accept tattooing and generally don’t make a big deal about them. I myself, think they add a certain flair to your personality. They are a way of expressing who you are and how you feel about yourself. Remember, they are a permanent part of your body afterwards. They can be very enticing or they can be ridiculous. Some people have made it their objective to completely cover their entire body with tattoos. I don’t really care for this type of practice but, if that is what you want to do this, then go for it.

When and if you decide to get a tattoo, by doing the research first you will be able to make a well informed decision as to where and how you want to display your new form of self expression. Whether they are in the form of flowers, butterflies, animals, and even people, they can add to your self worth. Many of us would like to express ourselves everyday but, we just don’t how. You can through the form of a tattoo.

If you decide to go ahead and purchase a tattoo, please remember that they are expensive to install and remove depending on the size and location. Although they can be removed, there is the possibility of some tissue damage and discoloration.

I am no expert on tattoos and if I was going get one I definitely would research the subject first.

http://www.thetattoodesign.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Krause

Ancient Greek tattoos, or “stigmata” as they were called back then, were used in many different forms. They were originally used as a way to mark someone as “belonging” to a particular group or segment of society. For example, they were frequently used as a punishment for criminals. This was a way to inflict pain and mark them as criminals so the rest of the population would be able to identify them.

People were tattooed with a distinct design if they belonged to a certain religious sect. Others marked their slaves with unique designs, a branding used as a form of ownership. Ancient Greek tattoos were also used as a form of communication amongst spies, a way to show their rank and their roll in the organization.

Tattoos gradually became more of a form of self-expression. Early designs included the Greek cross, a cross with four equal arms that eventually became the “+” sign in mathematics. The architectural design border of the Greek key became popular and were used as wristbands, armbands, and ankle bands. This design is now commonly known as a sign of the circle of life.

A fun form of tattooing was an expression of phrases using their alphabet symbols. A popular phrase still used today is “Pistis, elpis, agape” which means “Faith, hope, love”. One of the most spectacular and extravagant forms of expression was the use of the gods, goddesses, and stories of Greek Mythology. Still ever popular, Greek mythology designs make the most stunning tattoos around.

Ancient Greek Tattoos are still widely used in today’s designs. Finding the right Greek tattoo specific to you and your personality can take a little work on your behalf.

About 25% of people who get tattoos are not happy with the outcome. Don’t let that happen to you. Research Ancient Greek Tattoos, download designs that you like, and print them out to view.

It’s better to have your design idea in your hand when you walk into the parlor than to try and figure it out once you’re there. To get more design ideas and awesome printable designs visit http://www.squidoo.com/Greek-Tattoo.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Athena_Traver

Through the years, the art of tattoos evolved to what it is today. Now, we use tattoos mainly to express ourselves. It is a form of personal and artistic expression, and has crossed borders and cultures. You can see people with tattoos from all walks of life, all cultures and beliefs. It has become a universal symbol of freedom of speech, so to speak.

One of the most prominent and common tattoos you will see is the star tattoo. For some reason, a star tattoo symbolizes so many things. It could stand for a religious symbol, a national symbol of pride, a desire to be famous, or simply a fancy for stars and astronomy.

In the same manner, there are different star design. It could be distinguished according to the number of points, or to the size and width of the star. You also have shooting stars, nautical stars, Star of David, the 9 or 7 point stars, and a host of other designs and styles.

Of all the star designs, it’s the Star of David that we will most often come across. This star tattoo stands for protection, the seal of Solomon, and for the courage of David. It was, and will always be connected very closely with the Jews.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, is the 5 point star which could stand for Satan. It also represents the Ram, so you cannot really assume that a person wearing this kind of star tattoo is a believer in Satan. Basically, the number of points a star has will determine the meaning behind the star. The symbolisms could range from earth signs, magical powers, dreams coming true, or courage.

Equally important is being able to take care of your star tattoo so that it will last long. Care and maintenance begins immediately after application. You should avoid getting water on the tattoo to keep it looking fresh and new. Naturally, the colors of the star tattoo will depend on your skin tone, but if you care for it properly, the colors can look as fresh as the day it was applied.

Greg J Thompson is an expert in this field. If you want great Star Tattoos articles or some good, reliable wrist tattoo information then visit his site now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_J_Thompson

Some people wear tattoos to show their devotion to a particular person or thing. Lovers have the name of their loved one tattooed on their skin. They are also a form of deviant art and sometimes people wear tattoos to be unique. This, in their eyes, makes their personality cool and hip. Among teenagers today, tattoo is not only a way to be upbeat. There is another reason, and oftentimes the same reason that puts them in danger. Teenagers wear tattoos to tell everyone that they belong to a particular gang.

Teenagers often fall victims to gang wars because their membership is recognized through the tattoo they wear. As a move to decrease gang violence, the government sponsors tat removal programs.

The tattoo removal teens program for youth assists in a free removal of tattoos among teenagers. There are also other removal programs which offer discounts to adults who want their art removed.

The methods of a tattoo removal program are two. The surgical method removes it using laser. The not to have surgery or home remedy uses a chemical to remove the mark on the body. There are several ink removal options. But there are also many con tattoo specialists who perform the removal procedure inadequately, and this puts the patient at risk.

Author: Gregory Wadel
For more info, visit the website: http://www.squidoo.com/ur-tatbgone which elaborates the programs that help people have a better understanding of tattoos and how to remove them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Wadel