Pros And Cons Of Tattoos

These days’ tattoos are more common than ever. Tattoos have gained quite a bit in popularity over the years, giving people a chance to stand out and broadcast who they really are. Men and women alike have tattoos, some covering their entire body. The choice is entirely up to you though, as you can get a tattoo in virtually any size you want.

Even though there are many good things about tattoos, there are bad things as well. Among the good things about tattoos include the chance to broadcast who you are, the chance to be you, and the chance to stand out. Most people who get tattoos get them for the symbolic meaning. Although there are some who get tattoos strictly for the look, many end up regretting getting the tattoo later on in life.

Tattoos are great for show, although the design itself should hold some meaning. There are a variety of designs and colors to choose from, which helps to add to the positive benefits of tattoos. You can check out many designs at your local tattoo studio, in books and magazines, and on the Internet. The Internet is a great resource for tattoo designs, as there are literally thousands to look at. You can also look at pictures of those who have tattoos so you can get an idea as to what a certain style will look like once it has been finished.

The cons of tattoos are pretty straight forward. Tattoos work by piercing the skin with a needle and injecting little gobs of ink. With that being said the risk of infection when getting a tattoo is always there. If the tattoo artist isn’t sanitary and doesn’t clean his equipment after every use, the risk of infection will be much higher.

Another thing to worry about with tattoos is removal. If you later decide that you don’t want the tattoo, you’ll have to pay an expensive price to have it surgically removed. Surgery carries risks and complications as well. In some cases, those who have got tattoos have had to have the tattoo removed due to infection. In these cases the infection has gotten so bad that there really is no other choice than to get the tattoo removed.

No matter how you look at it, there will always be both pros and cons with tattoos. Before you decide to get a tattoo, you should make sure that the design you have picked out is something that you can see yourself with for years to come. If there is any doubt in your mind about the tattoo, you shouldn’t get it. Even though it may seem cool at the time – the price for removal and the complications with surgery may not be worth it in the long run.

Time And Tattoos

Throughout the course of time, tattoos have been used to personify and represent someone’s affiliations, personal preferences, and their creative outlook on life. Tattoos are gaining in popularity these days as well with both men and women. Research has shown that nearly 1 in 4 people have at least one tattoo on their body.

By definition, a tattoo is a permanent marking on the skin. The ink is injected by needle under the skin, creating the image of the tattoo. The needle moves very fast, puncturing the skin and depositing the ink into the epidermis. As the ink is depositing into the epidermis, the skin captures the color of the ink. The artist will continue to clean the tattoo as he works on it, wiping it off with antiseptic and disinfecting the wound.

Over time tattoos will chance with the skin on a constant basis due to the wind, sun, regeneration, water, and other things. The way a tattoo looks and the design must also chance with the skin as it shrinks, stretches, and ages. The pigment that makes up the tattoo must remain the way it is over time, although tanning and wrinkles can affect the color and clarity of the tattoo.

The overall length of time that a tattoo styles healthy and vibrant in color all depends on how well it was taking care of after it was completed and how the skin is taking care of. Even though infection is always a concern with tattoos, you must also promote healing in the sense of retaining as much ink as you possibly can. Most tattoos will heal completely within a few short weeks, although they must be kept moist to prevent scabbing. If allowed to scab, the scab that forms will remove some of the color from the tattoo.

The number one enemy of tattoos is the sun. Just like other colors that are exposed to sunlight, the pigments found in tattoos will fade. Yellow and red are the hardest colors to maintain over time, blue and black are the easiest and most stable to maintain. Tattoos are considered to be part of the organism of living skin and need to be maintained to keep the color alive and fresh. If you are going to be out in the sun, you should always cover your tattoos and wear a quality sunscreen as well, just to be on the safe side.

Tattoos that have been properly applied, properly healed, and protected from the rays of the sun can remain their best for years and years. Although the colors will remain vibrant as well, time and the sun are definite enemies for tattoos. No matter how well you take care of your tattoos and protect them, there really is no escape from changes that come as a result of time itself.

How to Choose a Butterfly Tattoo (For Women)

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Of all the popular designs for lower back tattoos available, one stands out as being particularly popular with women: the lower back butterfly tattoo. If you have decided that you want a butterfly tattooed on your lower back, there are literally millions of designs you could choose from. Follow these steps to choosing the perfect one for you.

Steps

1. Decide whether you want to have a realistic depiction of a butterfly. Many women prefer to incorporate a more fictional vision of a butterfly; one that is almost mythical and ethereal. It's up to you to decide which path you want to go down. However, bear in mind that there are thousands of species of butterfly, so there should be one which has the colors you are after.
   
2. Next up, decide on what colors you want. As outlined above, there are many species to choose from (if you want a realistic depiction or just some straightforward inspiration). You'll need to decide whether you want multi-colors, one color or just black. Play about with some sketches (if you have children, maybe you could get them involved!), and see what appeals to you.
   
3. Do you want the butterfly to be alone or accompanied by other images? Some woman like the butterfly to have some pollen or ivy close to butterfly to extend the breadth of the tattoo without having to make the butterfly too large. It's also a way of incorporating some natural curves to accentuate your curviness and make the tattoo ideally suited for your lower back.
   
4. Connected with this is size. How large do you want the tattoo to be? Many women prefer smaller butterflies. Nevertheless, it's up to you and there are some pretty stunning butterflies out there that are wider than they are tall, so they would be perfect for your lower back. You might also want to consider having the main butterfly made up from lots of smaller butterflies (or perhaps initials of loved ones). It's up to you.
   
5. Collate all of your ideas and discuss them with your tattoo artist. They will be able to show you some examples of their work, but make sure that the tattoo you choose is special to you.
   

Related wikiHows

• How to Choose Some Lower Back Tribal Tattoos
  
• How to Care for a New Tattoo
  
• How to Appreciate Old School Tattoo Designs
  
• How to Get Perfect Chinese Symbol Tattoos
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose a Butterfly Tattoo (For Women). All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Tongue Tattoos

Tattoos are a hot commodity these days, becoming more and more popular than they have ever been in the past. There are hundreds and thousands of different designs and styles of tattoos to choose from, giving you the chance to express yourself. Although tattoos are very popular, the new trend that is rapidly taking effect in the world of tattoos is known as tongue tattoos.

Although many aren’t familiar with tongue tattoos yet, they are just now starting to take shape. They resemble other designs and styles, although they cover the muscle known as the tongue. There are tattoos that cover the entire tongue, or just a single area. In most cases, those who already have them, chose to have their tongue tattooed a certain color. Whether it be purple, orange, black, or blue, the tongue can be tattooed a variety of different colors.

The designs that are poplar with tongue tattoos include stars, tribal work, and other shapes and designs that cover a region of the tongue. Stars are popular with the lower area of the tongue, near the tip. There are also designs that can be tattooed farther back on the tongue, near the middle of it. As tongue tattoos become more and more popular, more and more designs are implemented.

As far as the procedure goes, it’s very similar to getting a tattoo on any other part of your body. A tattoo involved needles puncturing the skin, depositing ink into the epidermis. The needles move extremely fast, breaking the skin and leaving the pigments of ink. The tongue, just like the skin, will swallow the pigments once the surface has been punctured by the needle. Once the pigments of ink are absorbed by the tongue, the color will remain there forever.

Those who have had tongue tattoos in the past say that they aren’t very painful. Unlike tattoos on the skin, the tongue is a giant muscle. A tattoo on the tongue is often described as a tickling sensation or the feeling of numbness in your mouth. When the tattoo artist does the tattoo, he will normally use a tool to hold the tongue out. If you’ve ever had a tongue piercing, you’ll know what it looks like. Once the tongue is out, the artist will begin work. The process normally does take very long, as long you hold still and don’t move around.

If a tongue tattoo sounds interesting to you, the first thing to do is find a tattoo artist in your area who is experienced with doing them. Not a lot of tattoo artists are familiar with tongue tattoos, as they are just now beginning to surface. A tongue tattoo is a bit on the creative side – something that you just don’t see in public everyday.

Tattoo Safety

The process of tattooing involves needles that move at very fast speeds to penetrate the outer layers of the skin.  The needles break the skin, and inject dots of ink into the third layer, creating the image of the tattoo design in the skin.  Whenever you are getting a tattoo, common sense and a bit of safety are always the most important considerations.

When getting a tattoo, most people fear getting the virus known as HIV, which can lead to the dreaded AIDS virus.  Although many fear HIV, it is just one of the many viruses that can result from tattoos.  Staph, syphilis, tuberculosis, and hepatitis are all but a few of the other diseases that can result from tattoos.  All it takes is a dirty or unsanitary needle and you could wind up contracting one of the deadly viruses listed above.

Just like other activities, tattooing can be very dangerous.  Although tattooing is indeed dangerous, there are ways that you can minimize or eliminate the potential dangers.  Each and everyday, tattoo artists have to adhere to a strict code of safety to ensure that the risk of contracting HIV or any other diseases is little to none.

Professional tattoo artists will sterilize their equipment after each use.  They use steam pressure autoclave when disinfecting their tattoo guns and needles.  Bleach and alcohol don’t sterilize the equipment; they are instead used to prep the equipment.   Once the bleach and alcohol have been used on the instruments, they will then be autoclaved, which will sterilize them.

When the tattoo artist does the tattoo, he should always wear rubber gloves that can easily be disposed of.  The ointment spreaders and any type of rags that are used should also be disposable.  When you walk into the tattoo studio, the floors should be spotless.  In the rooms where the tattoos are done, the working area should always be clean and sanitary.

Before the tattooist starts the tattoo, he should always give each customer a brand new set of fresh needles.  Then, he should always dip the needle in a small cap of pigment that he just took out of a large squeezable bottle.  If the artist dips the needle into the big bottle, you may very well be sharing fluids with those who have had tattoos from that same big bottle.

Whenever you decide to get a tattoo you should always put safety first.  Safety is very important with tattoos, as you could otherwise get a disease or a serious infection.  Before you decide on a tattoo studio, you should always make sure that they are clean and sanitary.  If you get a tattoo from a studio that is dirty or unsanitary, you could wind up on a never ending spiral of infections and viruses.

Minimizing The Pain Of Tattoos

No matter what you may hear, there really is no way to predict the amount of pain that you’ll experience when getting a tattoo.  If you arrive with determination and the right frame of mind, it may not hurt you as much as you thought.  On the other hand, if you arrive at the studio scared half to death – it will more than likely hurt you more than you thought possible.

Tattoos involve piercing into skin, which almost always involves pain.  No matter how big or how small the tattoo may be or where it is located, you can expect to feel some pain.  The overall amount of pain you experience though, all depends on your tolerance.  If you have a high pain tolerance, you may feel next to nothing during the entire process.

When you get a tattoo, the needles will puncture your skin at very fast rates and variable depths.  The outline of the tattoo is easily the most painful, as the needles will be used to create a black line that will stand out on the tattoo.  This part need to be inserted fairly deeply and carefully to ensure that it’s done correctly.  The shading of the tattoo normally isn’t painful, although it depends on the penetration depth and effect that you desire.

Normally, the pain you feel is a slight burn or scratching feeling.  If the tattoo is going to be on an area where there is less bone and tissue such as the wrist or chest, the pain will be a bit more intense.  Areas like the arms and legs however, normally aren’t that painful.  Areas such as these have more tissue and muscle, which will lessen the amount of pain you feel.

Even though some pain is to be expected, there are ways that you can minimize the pain.  Below are some tips that will help you deal with the pain.

1. Never show up to a get a tattoo on drugs or drunk.  This will thin out your blood, causing you to bleed more.

2. Always choose a tattoo artist that you are comfortable around.  If you have confidence in your artist you can minimize the pain a great deal.

3. Show up at the studio with sheer determination.  You should accept the fact that the tattoo will take time.  Quality work is an art – and should never be rushed.

4. If the pain becomes too much to bear, you should let your tattoo artist know immediately.  He will allow you to take a break, or stop and come back later.  You can always break up your sessions, as tattoos don’t need to be finished immediately.

5. To ease your mind, listen to music.  This way, you can take your mind to a different place and focus on something other than the tattoo.

Application Techniques Of Tattoos

Tattoos are more common these days than they have ever been in the past.  As we all know, tattoos are decorative markings in the skin, such as symbols, signs, and letters that are applied by puncturing the outer layer of the skin and injecting color.  Tattoo guns are the best instrument to use, as they move extremely fast and are sharp enough to easily puncture the skin.

There are several types of tattoo guns available, many of which use a very sharp needle.  There are guns out there that use more than needle, although they aren’t ideal for tattoos that require strict lines or designing.  Single needle tattoo guns are the best for tattoo applications, although the needles need to be changed out after each tattoo.  Tattoo needles can be very dangerous if they aren’t disposed of - possibly leading to serious infection if they are used over and over again without being disinfected or disposed of.

There are also tattoos out there known as “jailhouse tattoos”.  These types of tattoos are normally found in jails and prisons, using homemade material for tattoo guns.  Normally, tattoo artists in jails and prisons will make their own guns, using batteries and needles for ordinary ink pens.  These tattoos aren’t very safe, and normally lead to infection.  The skin is punctured to inject the ink, although with jailhouse tattoo guns the needle will literally pull and jerk at the skin, ripping it and normally going very deep with the ink.

If the skin is jerked or ripped, it can result in the tattoo looking horrible.  In most cases, if the ink goes too deep into the skin, it can lead to an infection.  Deep ink also looks terrible as well, especially if it penetrates the third layer of skin.  For that very reason, jailhouse tattoo applications aren’t recommended and should be avoided at all costs.

With any tattoo, color is very important.  Black and white are the most commonly used colors, although there are other colors used as well.  Tattoos need to have an equal balance of color, along with the right shape.  If the shapes used in your design follow the contours of your body, the tattoo will look even more impressive.  Therefore, you should always have your tattoo applied by someone with a lot of experience.

From a technical standpoint, tattoos involve micro pigment implantation, as they are a form of body modification.  Tattoos are a design in ink, normally symbolic or decorative, permanently placed under your skin.  Tattoos have been around for hundreds of years, although tattoos in the past used everyday needles and ink - with a very high risk of infection. Although they are very common and very popular, tattoos always have risks.  No matter what type of application method is involved, there will always be a risk of infection.

Today, electronic tattoo machines are the most common methods of tattooing.  With electronic tattoo guns, the ink is injected into the skin by a group of needles that are attached to a bar.  The electronic gun moves very fast, going in and out of the skin hundreds of thousand of times per minute.  If an experienced tattoo artist uses the gun, the results can be amazing.  Experienced tattoo artists are always the way to go, as they have the experience to give you the results you want.  With the right tattoo artist and the right application technique - you should have a tattoo that you can be proud of.

Caring For A New Tattoo

When you finally decide to get a tattoo, the first thing you’ll need to do is find a reputable tattoo artist.  Most tattoo artists have several designs that you can pick from.  If you don’t find anything you like, you can always ask him to make a custom tattoo.  You should always be careful in what you choose, as you’ll have the tattoo for the rest of your life.  The design is very important, although not nearly as important as taking care of it.

Good tattoo artists will also clean and apply antiseptic ointment to your tattoo as they create it.  Expert artists know that this helps keep the tattoo healthy.  Once the tattoo is finished, the artists will wipe it down, clean it off good, and apply another coat of antiseptic ointment.  Once the ointment has been applied, he will put a piece of soft tissue or cellophane over the tattoo.

Once the tattoo is finished, the artists should tell you how to take care of your new tattoo.  Some of the better artists will talk to you and give you a detailed sheet with all of the information you need.  If you went to a tattoo artist who didn’t explain this to you, you may be wondering just what you should do.  Taking care of a tattoo isn’t hard – as long as you know what you can and can’t do.

When you first get home with your new tattoo, you should never hop right in the shower.  You should keep it dry for the first few days, but also clean it every few hours.  Before you touch the tattoo or clean it, you should always make sure that your hands are clean.  If you keep your hands clean, you won’t have to worry about an infection.

You’ll also want to visit your local drugstore and purchase a tube of A&D ointment.  A&D ointment is the best to use.  A&D will keep your tattoo clean and shiny and should be used for the first few days. Once the ointment starts to dry on the tattoo, you should wipe the old application off and apply some more.  Don’t rub it too hard, or you could damage the healing process.  For the first few days, you should avoid using soap as well.

After 5 – 6 days, you can quit using the ointment.  A&D ointment will keep your tattoo healthy, which you’ll notice the first time you apply it.  After you stop using it, you should use an unscented body lotion.  You want to avoid body lotions that have scents, as they can easily irritate the tender skin that resides under your tattoo.

After you have used the lotion for a few days, you can stop using it.  Most tattoos, after they have healed, tend to leave a scab in some areas.  If your tattoo has a scab, you should be careful when you try to pick it.  If you aren’t careful, you could end up damaging your design.  The best thing to do is you have a scab is to leave it alone.  You can put A&D ointment on it if you want, as most of the time a scab will itch.

A tattoo can be a great thing to have providing you take care of it. Tattoos will stay with your for the rest of your life, unless you choose to get them surgically removed.  Taking care of your tattoo now will keep it healthy and infection free in the long run.  If you follow the above advice on how to take care of your tattoo – you won’t have anything to worry about.

Picking Your Dream Design

Tattoos are very common these days, with nearly 1 in 4 people having at least one.  Tattoos represent an art form, and allow people to broadcast who they are.  Even though they are popular, most people will end up regretting them.  In most cases, those who regret tattoos didn’t think about their design or take the time to choose the best tattoo for them.  Even though it is possible to get a tattoo removed, the process is expensive and quite painful.  To prevent this from happening, you should always take some time and find the perfect tattoo – your dream design.

Instead of trying to save some money, you should never choose a studio or artist based on how cheap they are.  Cheaper artists and studios normally lack in work quality, which is why they are able to charge cheaper prices. Instead, you should look for the best studio and artist that you can find close to your area.  Even though it may be expensive – the quality and design will be well worth it.

For some, their dream design is a person.  This can be a loved one or someone who has passed on.  You can always use a design or symbol that means something to you and reminds you of them or you can always use their face.  Good tattoo artists can make magical tattoos with meaning, whether it is someone’s face or a symbol that brings out meaning.

Sometimes, it can be hard picking out your dream design.  If you have an idea in mind but are still not sure what you want, you can always research.  You can get tattoo books, theme books, magazines, or just research online.  By looking at designs you may find something similar to what you are interested in.  Once you have found it, all you need to do is sit down with your tattoo artists and come up with your dream tattoo design.

If you have a basic idea for something small in mind, you can always have it tattooed then come back later and have more added on.  The best thing about tattoos is the fact that they can always be added to later.  This can be a great thing if you want to try a smaller tattoo first, and then decide whether or not you want to get it bigger.  If you start with a fraction of your dream design, you can always finish it up later on.

Whenever you get your dream tattoo you should always take time selecting the design.  Tattoos will stay with you forever, which is why you should pick them carefully.  If you put the necessary time and thought into it now, you won’t regret it later.  Your dream design should be very important, and hold meaning.  This way, every time you look at it – you’ll be reminded of that special moment in time and you’ll never forget about it.

Lower Back Tattoos

On a woman’s body there are a few places that can be thought of as sensual.  Although this varies from culture to culture, many consider the most sensitive areas to be the nape of the neck and the infamous lower back.  With that being said, it’s really not hard to see why lower back tattoos have become so popular over the years.

Although women have several areas for tattoos, the lower back is one of the most erotic and sensual areas women can get tattooed.  Lower back tattoos are easy to cover up as well, which is great for those who aren’t allowed to have tattoos at work.  Unlike other areas of the body, the lower back is completely covered up by a shirt.  With the lower back – you only show the tattoo off when you want.

The ease to show or hide lower back tattoos has helped to increase popularity, as well as the desire, or sensuality.  When a woman tells someone, especially a man, that she has a lower back tattoo – the mind often wonders.  Lower back tattoos create a sensual and tantalizing appeal.  Normally, these tattoos are done around the waist line.  While part of it may be hidden by a women’s birthday suit – there may very well be a part of it showing as well.  For lovers, a lower back tattoo can be very sensual and sexual, a secret that is shared only between the two.

The various designs and shape of the tattoo will often times enhance both the look and the appeal of the entire lower back area.  The design of the tattoo is normally a small and shallow curvature that enables it to fit perfectly to the curves of the female back and natural curves of her hips.  The lower back tattoo helps to accentuate an already breathtaking part of the female anatomy and enhance an area that is well known for its sensuality.

Popular designs for lower back tattoos include flowers, vines, and stars.  Winged creature designs work good as well, as the wings of the monster can stretch his wings across the entire lower back region.  Angels, dragonflies, and birds also seem to work quite well.  You can add natural designs to the creatures as well, including plants and flowers.  The lower back is a great area for tattoos – giving you unlimited possibility to use your imagination.

Although there are a lot of options and designs available, you should always choose one that you can enjoy for the rest of your life.  You should always give thought to a design, and not pick something just because it’s appealing at the time.  Instead, you should look into the thought and meaning of the tattoo and decide if it’s something you can see yourself with for the rest of your life.  The meaning behind a tattoo is important, both now and later on in life.  When you look at designs, you should always pick the one that literally calls out to you.

Before you decide to get a lower back tattoo, you should always look at several designs first, and then decide the best one for you.  If you can’t find a design that you like, you can always have a professional tattoo artist design one for you.  This way, you can have a tattoo design based on what you want.  Although a custom design may cost a bit more money – it’s truly worth it if you want a unique and creative design that enhances the look of your lower back.

1500+ New Tattoos Added – Here's a Preview… |Pics Of Butterfly Tattoos Blog! | Top Tattoo Guide

We recently added more than 1500 new tattoos that our own artists have drawn for us during the last few months to the TattooMeNow members area. This means our. See the original post: 1500+ New Tattoos Added – Here's a Preview… | Pics Of Butterfly Tattoos! Blog [...]

Click Here To Visit Tattoo Me Now Website

Pics Of Butterfly Tattoo - Get Access to Thousands of Tattoo Designs

Click Here To Visit Tattoo Me Now Website

Anyone who has a tattoo (or tattoos) or who has ever considered getting inked, knows that being able to peruse through a large collection of tattoos can be very helpful. Sometimes, coming up with good ideas can be difficult, especially for a person who doesn’t have a lot of experience with tattoos and designs. For instance, a person that wants a tattoo of a butterfly, would find pics of butterfly tattoo designs very helpful. Tattoo Me Now, does more than provide thousands of pictures of tattoos, it also provides its members access to a member’s gallery, studio directory, discussion forum and video vault. Once a person finds a tattoo that they like, they can print it out and then show it to their tattoo artist.

In the member’s gallery, real-life members posts pictures of their tattoos. If a person wanted to see pics Of butterfly tattoo designs in the flesh they could. Also included is access to a  studio directory which includes listings of 10,000 studios in 38 countries, along with client reviews. Having a directory that includes customer’s reviews is invaluable. The last thing that a person will want is to have a tattoo done by a subpar artist. Because tattoos are forever (unless of course, a person has them removed), it is important that they are done as beautifully as possible, the first time around. Choosing a quality tattoo artist, increases the likelihood that it is.

In addition to the aforementioned, the site offers a discussion forum where members can talk tattoos all day (and night) if they want to. Being able to talk to people who are as passionate and enthusiastic about a topic, whatever it is, makes for interesting conversation. It’s also a good way to get tips about tattoos and leads on quality tattoo artists.

Lastly, individuals that become members of Tattoo Me Now will be able to access the sites’  video vault which includes educational videos. Humorous videos, videos of conventions and documentaries can also be found. Members can upload their own videos and rate and review other people’s. If, for instance, a person sees pics of butterfly tattoo designs that they like on a video, they can download it and show it to their tattoo artists via their mobile phone if it has internet connectivity.

Tattoo enthusiasts should give joining Tattoo Me Now, some real consideration. It is a great site with over 40,000 members. The community aspect of it is quite rich and one of its best aspects. Those who join will have access to thousands of tattoo designs, in a variety of categories, the ability to communicate with other members and access to a directory of studios which includes 10,000 shops, along with ratings and reviews. Overall, it’s a really good site with a lot to offer both those who are tattooed and not yet done getting inked and those who are just considering it.

Click Here To Visit Tattoo Me Now Website