Sunday, February 27, 2011

olour





•Begin with lighter colors. With time and practice, you may develop your own personal techniques. It is possible to blend dark colors into light colors, while it is extremely difficult to add light colors to dark colors. Add your lightest details first.

•2
Work in the color moving your needle in small circular motions to cover the skin evenly. Take care coloring in whites, yellows and other light colors; they can be difficult to see when the tattoo is fresh. Most clients will come in a few weeks after the initial tattoo to touch up the light colors. However, you should color in the tattoo as much as possible the first time.

•3
Keep a high quality paper towel in your non-working hand to wipe up excess ink and blood. When blood appears in your fresh ink, wipe off the needle backwards to keep fresh, clean ink flowing from your tattoo machine.

•4
Fill in the color with circular motions. Run the needle in a straight line close to your black outline to make sure it is fully colored in. Depending on the color and your personal style, you may also want to run crosswise over the tattoo to ensure complete fill in. Don't overwork the skin.

•5
Dab small drops of blood and extra ink with your paper towel as you go. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to each area you work to slow bleeding and help the needle move over the skin. Clean the ink chamber as you change from color to color. Continue until the tattoo is fully colored in.





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motifs



Tattoo Motif and Symbolism


Biker

Purists would say that a tattoo is not a true biker tattoos unless it contains the Harley Davidson logo. Although the Harley Davidson symbols are pretty much the same, many of them are dressed up with other symbols such as jaguars, eagles, feathers, skulls, dragons, bats, flames and hot babes.

Many bikers simply opt to get a photo of their custom chopper tattooed on their arm. Often those into customizing choppers will boast tattoos of nuts and bolts, screws, wheel hubs and other motorcycle parts on their bodies. The wheel of a bike or the bike itself roaring in a bouquet of flames is a very popular image.

Three dots found anywhere on the body are a common indicator of a biker tattoo as is the use of Old English Goth script.

Although weapons and anti-authoritarian statements are also common to biker tattoos, many of them are surprisingly complacent and involve the usual roses, poker hands, tributes to Mom and flaming skulls that are seen adorning the body parts of nonbikers.

Biomechanical

Biomechanical tattoos often depict machinery intertwined with human flesh. The father of all biomechanical designs is H. R. Giger, who designed the creature from the Alien movies. A typical piece of biomechanical work might depict a human hand, arm, or chest tangled with pieces of machinery such as screws, wheels, or and pulleys. The result is an image of a creature that looks half-robot, half-human.

Biomechanical tattoos are considered to be fetish tattoos and take their cues from painting by Salvador Dali, fetishism and Satanism.

Bones Skulls and Skeletons

Tattoos of bones are as old as shamanism, healing and magic. This probably originates in the ancient superstitious belief that wearing death wards off death. The idea is that any evil that may approach the bearer of such a tattoo will be frightened away by the image of death on the body.

Images of skulls also represent occult wisdom and psychic powers. Skull tattoos are very popular among bikers, Goths, Wiccans and in the military.

Butterflies, Insects & Bugs

On the lighter side of the "bug" motif in tattooing are butterflies and dragonflies. Butterflies are popular because they represent inspiration, freedom and transformation. The three phases of the butterfly's life symbolize the three cycles of life (birth, death and rebirth) in just about every culture. In Native American Indian cultures the Monarch butterfly represents safe journeys thanks to the insect's ability to fly thousands of miles during its annual migration season. In some pagan and Celtic traditions, butterflies are thought to carry the spirits of the deceased to heaven. Butterflies are a very popular motif with women.

Dragonflies are truly magical creatures whose shiny bodies and luminescent wings make a great uni-sex tattoo. Dragonflies are a symbol of harmony, luck and ancient knowledge. They are also thought to bring prophetic dreams and protect against nightmares.

On the darker side of things are spiders. Spiders are a popular Goth, biker, pagan and punk symbol. In Greek myth the spider was associated with the Greek Goddess Ariadne who was responsible for magic and myth making.

Cartoon and Animated Characters

Stock cartoon images that are licensed for the express purposes of tattooing are now big business in North America. On the Internet one can now purchase images of Betty Boop, Scooby Doo, Mickey Mouse, Batman, Spiderman, Superman, the Tasmanian Devil, Babar the Elephant, Nemo and just about any other animated character you can imagine.

Anime action figures, which most of us are familiar with from manga cartoons are also big business in the tattoo industry and feature such popular characters as Hello Kitty, Emily and Sailor Moon.

Of course, tons of individuals have bypassed the licensing procedure and gotten their own personalized versions of these cartoon characters. Cartoon characters in sinful positions is also a popular motif in tattooing and are often used as a creative way to express one's vices to the world.

Caricatures and cartoons have always been an integral style in tattooing, beginning with the invention of animation itself in the 1920s when cartoons of Betty Boop and the stick-figured Mickey Mouse were popular with sailors visiting New York. Mostly however, any portrait or figure can be made into a cartoon.

Celtic & Irish

Celtic tattoos are mainly characterized by their interlacing knots that are complete loops with no end or beginning. Sometimes the motif also features animals or a zoomorphorphic design that is stylized into a spiral.

Knotwork designs are emblematic of the Celtic nationalities, even though the symbolism of many of the images have been lost through time. Trees, cauldrons, shamrocks, spirals, horned gods, wheels, mandalas, serpents, druids, dark jewels are signatures of the Celtic tattoo style.

The repeated crossing of the physical and the spiritual are expressed in the interlacing of the knots. The never-ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the persistence of life, love and faith.

Celebrity Tattoos

What better way to pay homage to your favorite celebrity than to make him or her a part of your skin. This can be done through portraiture, as in the classic portrait of Elvis or John F. Kennedy that is done in black and grey work, or you can emulate the tattoo of another famous celebrity.

Tattoos have rapidly become part of the personae of the rich and influential since the 1960s and it seems that everyone from Gillian Anderson to Ben Affleck boasts a tattoo. Even the normally complacent Barbie Doll was marketed with a large flower tattoo beneath her ribs in the early 1970s.

Some famous tattoos include the AC/DC band logo, the Rolling Stones' red lips and tongue logo and the KISS band logo. Favorite portraits have included Gene Simmons from Kiss, Brian Jones (formerly of the Rolling Stones), Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra ("I got you under my skin") and Jim Morrison. In recent times, Kurt Cobain is also a favorite of the "Teen Spirit" set.

Another way to go is to emulate the tattoo of one of your favorite celebrities. Celebrity tattoos are the subject of tabloid folklore. Angelina Jolie who boasts about seven tattoos on her body just had a tiger inked into her skin in Tibet, although many wonder if she will ever get the big black Billy Bob tattoo she has on her forearm removed. Drew Barrymore, Courtney Love and Cher are two other female celebrities who are known for their ink addiction.

Johnny Depp made headlines ten years ago when he had his Winona Forever tattoo changed to Wino forever. Pamela Anderson is well known, not only for her barb-wired forearm but also changing a tattoo on her left ring finger from "Tommy" (a reference to her ex-husband Tommy Lee) to "Mommy."

Celestial Stars, Planets and Suns

Depictions of the planets and stars and their symbols are very common motifs in tattoo art. Perhaps one of the most famous planetary glyphs and symbols is the symbol for Mars and Venus that is interlinked. This mark symbolizes the eternal dance between male and female energies.

The sun is a motif from early childhood that represents glory, achievement, wealth, love and prosperity. The moon is an occult symbol symbolizing the subconscious, intuition, sexual and esoteric mysteries and the mysterious forces of the supernatural. The planet mercury symbolizes the Roman God of communication and the creative arts. Venus represents love, Mars represents war and Saturn represents discipline and the acceptance of one's lot in life.

Each of the planets in the solar system also has its own equivalence to the Western Zodiac symbols. For instance, a glyph of Venus or depiction of the planet is appropriate for those born under the signs of Libra or Taurus. The glyphs for the astrological symbols also make wonderful tattoos, especially if you are sick of people using "what's your sign?" as a pick up line.

Stars are often encountered as esoteric symbols, and the meaning of any particular star symbol depends upon its number of points. The five-pointed pentagram is a powerful symbol of protection and balance. It represents the human figure and is connected to pagan and Wiccan traditions.

The six-pointed hexagram is a potent symbol of the interaction of the Divine with the mortal, of God with Humankind. It is linked to the Kabbalah and is often called the Star of David

The septagram or seven-pointed star is a symbol of integration and the mystical due to its links with the number seven. It is associated with the seven planets of classical astrology and to other seven-fold systems, such as the Hindu chakras.

The octagram or eight-pointed star is a symbol of fullness and regeneration. It is related to eight-fold systems such as trigrams of the I Ching, the pagan wheel of the year and the Ogdoad of ancient Egypt.

The nonagram or nine-pointed star is a symbol of achievement and of stability, though this is a stability that is subject to change. It can also be related to nine-fold systems, such as the nine Taoist kanji.

Commemorative

Commemorative tattoos are used to remember or mark an important event such as a death, world disaster or triumph in war. Most commemorative tattoos are "custom tattoos" that incorporate several elements to make it a personal item.

Commemorative tattoos can also mark the passing of a loved or celebrate a birth or the eternity of a special relationship.

Criminal and Prison Tattoos

The symbolism of prison and criminal tattoos is an area of real esoteric interest to some and of real interest to the police. An article written by Sergeant Ken Whitley called Tattoos: Recognition and Interpretation" claims that a tattoo can tell you three things about a convict: "who he is, where he has been and what he has done."

As these kinds of tattoos are usually done in prison, freehand with ink from a pen. A sewing needle is used to form a picture or a word. Prisoners also make a homemade tattoo machine out of a ball point pen, a guitar string and a nine volt battery.

Police often use the images in a tattoo to identify parolees and suspects. For instance, a gun pictured downwards means the man prefers to be armed. Images of walls, towers and barbwire signify he has been in prison for some time.

Below is a list of some of the symbolism associated with classic prison tattoos.

? Clock faces without hands = Doing Time
? Spiders or cobwebs on shoulders = Doing Time
? Tombstones with numbers on them = The number of years they were in jail'
? Tombstones with R.I.P. on them and numbers = Mourning the death of a friend who died on the inside
? Eight balls = Means being "behind the eight ball" or bad luck.
? One laughing face, one crying face = member of a gang, "play now, pay later."
? The anagram SWP = Supreme White Power
? The word Peckerwood = Male White Pride
? Featherwood= Female White Pride
? "100% Pure" = White pride tattoo
? Granite block walls + Time in Old Folsom Prison
? Cell Window with sun or bird = Waiting to get out.
? Face of female crying = Has loved one waiting for him to get out.
? SUR = Southerner
? Norteano = Northerner
? Prison block wall with bricks falling outward = On the inside wanting to get out.

Demons and Monsters

As tattoos, the creation of demons and monsters on the skin work psychologically and spiritually in the same way that images of skulls and bones do.

The symbolic purpose of the monster is to protect the wearer from evil spirits who may identify the beast as being part of or a guardian of the person.

Devils, gargoyles, winged creatures and dragons are the most popular type of monster motif. Many of these types of tattoos are custom designed to create anthropomorphic creatures.

Eastern Symbols

There are literally thousands of Eastern Religious symbols that find their origins in countries such as China, Japan, Tibet and Thailand.

Perhaps one of the most popular of these symbols is the lotus flower that symbolizes the oneness of being with universal consciousness. The symbol stands for the six syllables of the holiest mantra of Tibetan Buddhism ("OM Mani Padme Hum") together form a very powerful symbol of balance, liberation and enlightenment.

Another popular symbol is the OM symbol, which consists of many curlicues. The symbol represents is the highest name of God and is the most venerable Hindu symbol of spiritual knowledge. Many traditions use the symbol for meditation, and its corresponding syllables as a powerful mantra.

The Yin-Yang is a dynamic symbol representing the flow and interaction of the two polar energies of male and female whose totality encompasses creation. An Enso is Japanese 'circle', and is painted in a single brushstroke. It is a Zen symbol of the true nature of existence and enlightenment.

The beauty and antiquity of Chinese Symbols make them attractive for meditative, decorative or talismanic use today. These include Chinese characters such as the "Double Happiness Sign" and the characters that comprise each of the Chinese astrological signs.

Egyptian

Egyptian tattoos are usually an expression of an affinity with the occult. The most popular tattoos are the eye of Horus, which is a powerful symbol of protection, health and wisdom. Goddesses such as Isis, the Goddess of Wisdom and Bastet, a goddess with the head of a cat are also popular Egyptian tattoo motifs.

Fairies, Pixies and Nymphs

These mythic creatures that have existed in every culture since before the birth of Christ are especially popular choices for tattoos for women. Most designs find their origins in Celtic or British art.

Fantasy

The most popular fantasy figures are dragons, wizards and unicorns. Images of wizards, with their long cloaks and white beards are associated with pagan and Celtic magic. Modern versions include images from the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

The Dragon is a potent Celtic, Greek, Roman, Japanese and Chinese symbol of protection. They represent an affinity with the occult and magical powers as well. Unicorns represent the uniqueness and fragility of the individual and is a tattoo image very much favored by young girls.

Flames

Whether they represent the purifying aspect of holy fire or the burning flames of Hell, flames are a huge motif in tattooing. Part of the reason for this may be that flames provide a brilliant background that allows a tattoo to really stand out. Common motifs include motorcycles in flames, babes in flames, sacred hearts in flames, crucifixes in flames and skull in flames.

Goth

The Goth culture is identified by its fascination with existentialism, depression and anarchy. The tattoos tend to be black, Nordic or Germanic in style and feature a fascination with medieval, Victorian and Edwardian history.

Common Goth symbols include the Christian cross, the Egyptian ankh (a symbol for eternal life), the Egyptian "eye of Horus", the German Iron Cross and the Satanic inverted pentacle. Bats, griffins and images of the "undead" and howling spirits are also identified with Goth culture.

Griffins

Formerly adornments that guarded the turrets of ancient architecture these mystical winged creatures are also now the spiritual guardians of the human body. Griffins are most popular with bikers, Goths, Wiccans and pagans. Hearts and Love Symbols

The Heart symbol is self-explanatory, having been the universal symbol for love between the sexes for aeons.

Logos

Logos can be words of wisdom, such as the classic Hell's Angel's logo "Born for Fun, Loyal to None" or they can actually mean the real corporate thing. In fact, the latest fad amongst corporate types is to have the logo of their company tattooed somewhere. This is true of the computer company Apple that now boasts something called "The Apple Tattoo Cult."

Just about any logo or catch phrase can become a tattoo. In fact perversions of logos are also very hip in tattoos. An example of this is the image of the cocaine spoon with the Coca-Cola beneath and the words "It's The Real Thing."

Mermaids

Mermaids represent a lot of things to different people. For sailors they represent rescue from death at sea. For women, mermaids represent female sexuality and a reliance on intuition. The tattoo below has a definite South Pacific flair to it.

Ocean and River Life

The most popular oceanic tattoos are fish, whales, crabs and dolphins. Fish are associated with messiahs and saviors. The ithycus fish, which is a Christian symbol, represents the renewal faith and is constructed from two simple curved and crossed lines.

In China, carp represent love and courage. Goldfish represent gold coins. In North American Native Indian lore, salmon love and courage as well because of their ability to swim upstream to spawning grounds. Fish are also associated with the Western zodiac symbol of Pisces.

Crabs are also a common subject of tattoos, simply because they represent the astrological sign of Cancer. Whale tattoos are often borne to support the ecological causes of the creature. In most cultures, whales are identified with an emergence from depression and "the dark night of the soul" as well aligning oneself with the water element.

Dolphins represent joy and harmony in Western culture. In South Pacific and Native American cultures the animal is thought to carry departed souls to their next incarnation.

Pin Up Girls Good and Evil

Pin up girl tattoos have something to do with the phrase "a sailor has a lady in every port." Explorers in the South Pacific came home with tattoos of their exotic feminine finds on their arms. Some of these tattoo designs were morphed into goddess like creatures who were thought to protect the men while they were at sea. The pin up tattoo hit it big during World War I and World II, at the same time as magazine pin up girls came into fashion. Image of the Gibson girl and Betty Grable adorned the forearms of fighting men. During the Korean War images of Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth were also popular.

The lighter pin-up girl tattoos were based on popular celebrities. The dark side of this motif was represented by images of goddesses, witches, Viking Queens, Amazons and anthropomorphic creatures.

Portraits Realism

Simply an expression of affection for one's family, it is a popular custom in the South Americas to have one's children and wife tattooed some place on the body so that they can be carried with you everywhere. Usually these are photo-realistic portraits done in fine-line and black and grey.

Religious - Symbols of Faith & Spirituality

Crosses, praying hands, flaming sacred hears and doves characterize religious symbols. Also quite common are full reproductions of the Crucifixion and other wellknown scenes from the Bible. Devout followers will often have fully landscaped myths tattooed on their backs, chest and arms depicting such scenes as The Last Supper or t0- scale reproductions of famous works such as the Sistine Chapel.

Tribal

The tribal tattoo is based on primitive traditions and is usually black and white with strong organic references such as horns and branches. The tribal style can be informed by a number of cultures include Native American, Maori, African, Celtic and Viking styles.

Wiccan and Pagan Tattoo Motifs

Everything Celtic, angelic, flaming, bony, satanic, druid-like, natural or celestial can comprise a Wiccan or pagan tattoo. Images of Gods or Goddesses or their symbols also comprise the vast array of symbols that represent the many sects to do with these religions.

The Rose Cross is a very important symbol in the Western Mystery Tradition, originating with the Rosicrucians. It is a holistic symbol incorporating elements of the Kabbalah, alchemy, astrology and esoteric Christianity, among others.

The Eye of Horus is a powerful symbol of protection, health and wisdom from ancient Egypt. It has its origins in the legendary battle between the gods Horus and Set, over Set's murder of Horus' father, the god Osiris.

The symbol of an 'eight on its side' is sometimes known as the lemniscate and is a symbol for infinity, eternity, the numinous and the higher spiritual powers. The Triquetra is a beautiful symbol of trinities, often encountered in Gothic and Celtic art. It is usually found in Pagan or Christian contexts, but it can be used to represent many three-fold systems.

The Spiral is a common natural form and an ancient mystical symbol. It represents the forces and patterns underlying creation, as well as evolution and self-transformation.
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  procedure of tattooing


The body art of tattooing mainly involves the procedure of injecting one or more pigments into the dermis, the layer of connective tissue that lies just below the epidermis. After the pigment is injected into the skin, the immune system's phagocytes get activated in the epidermis and upper dermis, swallowing up the pigment particles. The result is that the pigment goes down, throughout a homogenized damaged layer. As the particular body part undergoes healing process, the damaged epidermis starts flaking away.

With the flaking of epidermis, the pigment on the surface of the skin starts fading away. However, the deeper layers of skin experience the formation of granulation tissue. In time, owing to collagen growth, they get converted into connective tissues, mending the upper dermis. Since the upper dermis has pigment trapped within fibroblasts, its healing leads to the pigment in the layer just below the dermis/epidermis boundary. Soon, the pigment becomes stable and with the passing time, engrains pigment deeper into the dermis, forming the tattoo.

Traditional Procedures
In the earlier times, all the societies and cultures made use of different procedures for tattooing purposes. Some of these traditional procedures continue till date. For instance, in some tribal societies, tattoos are created by cutting designs into the skin and putting ink, ashes or other coloring agents into the wounds. In other cultures, tattoo making involves beating ink into the skin, using sharpened sticks or animal bones. Another tattooing method, mainly used in Japan, is called tebori. In this method, tattooing involves hand poking i.e. inserting the ink under the skin, with the help of non-electrical tools, which are handmade and handheld and have needles made of honed bamboo or steel.

The Modern Method
Today, the most common method of tattooing comprises of the use of electric tattooing machines. Apart from making the tattooing procedure much simpler, the machines have also increased its ease. The machine comprises of a group of needles that are soldered onto a bar. The bar has an oscillating unit attached to it. In the modern method, the ink is inserted into the skin, through the needles, which are repeatedly driven and out of the skin, somewhere between 80 and 150 times in a second.

The modern method of tattooing is much more hygienic as well as sterile as compared to the traditional methods. The needles used for the purpose are disposable in nature and come in individual packages. In the present times, almost all the tattoo artists take care to wash their hands as well as the 'area to be tattooed'. At the same time, they wear gloves and wipe the wound frequently, to prevent any infection or allergy. Still, one cannot completely do away with the risks involved with tattooing.

types of tattoo




3d Tattoos - several pages of realistic three dimensional tattoo designs.

Alien Tattoos - Alien Tattoo designs and body art. UFO's, sci-fi etc.

Ambigram Tattoos - words tattooed to read upside down and right side up.

Anchor Tattoos - designs of old school, traditional, and modern anchor tattoos.

Angel Tattoos - tattoos of various angels and angel wing tattoo designs.

Animated Tattoos - Cartoon character Tattoos and other animation designs.

Animal Tattoos - An assortment of animal tattoos - bulls deer rhino monkey etc.

Arm Band Tattoos - Tribal, Celtic and other Arm band tattoo pics of all different types

Asian Tattoos - Oriental style - Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Symbols etc.          

Aztec Tattoos - Tattoo Pictures of Aztec style and Aztec related tattoos.

Back Tattoos - Lower back tattoos, upper back tattoo, full back pieces.       

Barbed Wire Tattoos - tattoo featuring barbed wire around various objects

Bear Tattoos - tattoo pictures of bear tattoos and body art                    

Bird Tattoos - Birds and butterfly tattoo pictures images pics and designs.

Biker Tattoos - Bad ass biker tattoos and motorcycle tattoo designs.

Biomechanical Tattoos - biomech tattoo pictures, biomechanical related tattoos.

Black Tattoos - solid black tattoos, black and grey tattoos, black and white tattoos.

Black Light Tattoos - invisible tats that only show under black light and UV ink tattoos

Buddhist Tattoos - Buddhist tattoo designs, Buddhist tattoos, Buddha tattoos, etc.

Bull Tattoos - tattoos and body art images and pictures featuring bulls

Bug Tattoos - tattoos and designs of bugs, insects and other small creatures.

Butterfly Tattoos - Nice little butterflies tattoo pictures and flash.

Car Tattoos - automobile symbols, cars, racing tattoos etc,

Cat Tattoos - a collection of nice little kitty cat tattoos.  

Celebrity Tattoos - tattoos on Celebrities and famous people.

Celtic Tattoos - pages of Celtic and Irish Tattoo pictures and designs.

Cherry Tattoos - tattoos of cherries, and Cherry Blossom Tattoos.

Cherub Tattoos - cherub tattoos, baby angel tattoos, angel tattoos.

Chinese Tattoos - Tattoo pictures of Chinese letters, symbols etc.

Clover Tattoos - four leaf clovers, clover tattoo images and flash.

Clown Tattoos - scary clowns, gangster clowns, sad and happy clowns..

Crown Tattoos - king crowns, queen crowns, princess crowns, wow.

Cross Tattoos - religious and non religious cross tattoo pictures.

Dagger Tattoos - pictures of tattoos featuring daggers, knifes, etc.

Death Tattoos - tattoo depicting death, grim reaper tattoo and more.

Demon Tattoos - Demons, monsters and other scary stuff tattoos.  

Dog Tattoos - Celebrate mans best friend with a dog tattoo design.

Dragon Tattoos - a sweet collection of dragon tattoo designs

Dragonfly Tattoos - pictures of tattoo with dragonflies and stuff...

Eagle Tattoos - Check this out. Eagle Tattoo pictures and designs

Egyptian Tattoos - tattoos of Egyptian things, Egyptian style tattoos

Extreme Tattoos - Some of the most outrageous and radical tattoos ever.

Eye Tattoos - eyeball tattoos, third eye, minds eye, eye of horus : lots of eyes.

Tattoo Flash - all free and all worth it. not really.. this section is not very good.

Fairy Tattoos - tattoos of fairies, pixies, sprites, and other little creatures

Family Crest Tattoos - examples of crest, badge, and emblem tattoos.

Fantasy Tattoos - fantasy tattoo designs...fairy tattoos, fantasy tattoos etc.

Fire Tattoos - tattoos of fire, things on fire, flames, and fire related things.

Flag Tattoos - tattoos of flags from America, Canada, England and more countries

Fleur De Lis Tattoos - tattoos of the fleur de lis symbol and some new orleans tats.

Flower Tattoos - selection of flower and plant life tattoos. roses, trees, weed, etc.

Friendship Tattoos - tattoos of friendship, friendship symbols, matching friendship tattoos.

Frog Tattoos - tattoo pictures of big frogs, little frogs, ugly frogs, and more.

Funny Tattoos - hilarious tattoo designs, pictures of the funniest tattoos on the net.

Gambling Tattoos - gambling related tattoos - dice, cards, Vegas, roulette etc.

Gargoyle Tattoos - some gargoyle and monster tattoo pictures and designs.

Geek Tattoos - the various geeky designs people get tattooed on themselves.

Girly Tattoos - tattoos for girls, tattoos for women, feminine tattoos, female tattoos etc.

Hawaiian Tattoos - Hawaiian related and Hawaiian,  Maori, and Polynesian style tattoos.

Heart Tattoos - Make your love permanent or your broken heart with a heart tattoo design.

Hebrew Tattoo - Hebrew sayings, quotes, words etc. plus some Jewish Star tattoos.

Hibiscus Flower Tattoos - various colors and styles of hibiscus flower tattoo designs.

Hindu Tattoos - Vishnu, Ganesha, Hindu tattoos of Hindi symbols, gods, and more.

Homemade Tattoos - pictures of some terribly ugly amateur homemade tattoos.

Horse Tattoos - tattoo pictures of horses and horse related things.  

Horseshoe Tattoos - lucky horseshoe tattoo designs and more.    

Hummingbird Tattoos - pictures of tattoos with hummingbirds and flowers.

Italian Tattoos - tattoos in Italian, Italian pride, Italian flags, Italian horns and more.

Infinity Symbol Tattoos - tattoos of various symbols representing Infinity.

Irish Tattoos - tattoos of Irish symbols, heritage, pride, Gaelic and Celtic.

Japanese Tattoos - Japanese Symbols, Letters, Characters, Demons etc.

Jesus Tattoos - pictures of tattoos featuring the man himself...Jesus..

Kanji Tattoos - pictures of Kanji symbol tattoos and Kanji symbol translations.

Kid Tattoos - tattoos people get in honor of their kids -portraits, footprints, names.

Knot Tattoos - pictures of tattoos of sailor knots, knot work; Celtic knots, etc.

Koi Fish Tattoos - pictures of Asian koi fish tattoos.  some nice ones here.

Lady Bug Tattoos - pictures of tattoos with some nice little lady bugs and stuff.

Latin Tattoos - sayings, quotes, phrases and more tattooed in the Latin language.

Lily Flower Tattoos - various colors and styles of lily flower tattoo designs.

Lion Tattoos - lions tigers cougars jaguars and leopard tattoo pictures

Lizard Tattoos - pictures images and photos of tattoos with lizards in them.

Lotus Tattoos - various forms of popular full color lotus flower tattoos.

Love Tattoos - tattoo pictures of the various ways that people express love.

Mehndi Tattoos - the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration.

Memorial Tattoos - in memory of and memorial tattoo pictures with names.

Mermaid Tattoos  -  beautiful, sexy, and traditional mermaid tattoo designs. 

Mexican Tattoos  -  tattoos of Mexican sugar skulls, Mexican pride, Mexican flags.

Military Tattoos - pictures of army, navy, air force, marine, armed forces tattoos.

Miscellaneous Tattoos -  All the tattoos that wouldn't fit anywhere else.

Model Tattoos - male and female fashion models with tattoos.

Movie Tattoos - tattoos of movie characters, scenes, memorabilia etc.

Music Tattoos - tattoos of music notes, music instruments, etc.

Musician Tattoos - celebrity male and female musicians with tattoos.

Native American Tattoos - Native American, Indians, Aztec tattoos.

Nautical Tattoos  -  nautical star tattoos, sailor tattoos, nautical themed tattoos.

NBA Tattoos - pictures of the most heavily tattooed players of the NBA.

Neck Tattoos - Pictures of tattoos located on people necks...neck tattoos

NFL Tattoos - collection of pictures showing NFL football players with tattoos.

Occupational Tattoos  -  firefighter tattoos, policeman tattoos, medical tattoos.

Old School Tattoos - Original and Traditional Tattoos from the "old school".

Orchid Flower Tattoos - various colors and styles of orchid flower tattoos.

Patriotic Tattoos - USA American Patriotic and Military tattoos

Panther Tattoos - tattoos of black panthers, panther tattoo pictures.

Phoenix Tattoos - tattoo pictures of phoenix fire breathing birds

Pin Up Girl Tattoos - Please don't drool on my pictures of hot girl tattoos.

Pirate Tattoos  -  hundreds of cool pirate realated and pirate ship tattoos.

Praying Hands Tattoos - what the name says - pictures of praying hands tattoos

Prison Tattoos - Incarcerated prisoner tattoo pictures, gang tattoos etc.

Rapper Tattoos - pictures of several rappers and R&B artists with tattoos.

Religious Tattoos - faith and spirituality tattoos - crosses, praying hands etc.

Reptile Tattoos - snakes scorpions lizards and more tattoo pictures

Rosary Tattoos - tattoos of rosary beads, praying hands, rosary anklet tattoos.

Rose Tattoos - red, blue, white and many more rose flower tattoo pictures.

Scorpion Tattoos - pictures images and photos of tattoos with scorpions.

Skin Branding - marks burned into the skin to create a permanent scar.

Skin Scarification - skin is scratched, cut or burnt to make a design in the skin.

Skin Rip Tattoos - designs of tattoos that appear to rip through the skin.

Skull Tattoos - skulls and bones crossbones and flaming skull tattoos

Sleeve Tattoos - pictures of  peoples different full and half arm tattoo sleeves

Small Tattoos  -  a collection of small sized tattoos and tattoo designs.

Snake Tattoos - lots of tattoo pictures of some super scary slithering snakes

Sparrow Bird Tattoos - tattoo pictures of traditional and modern sparrow tattoos.

Star Tattoos - pictures of stars, planets, moons and stars, five point stars, etc.

Sun and Moon Tattoos - some very nice sun moon and star tattoo pictures here

Symbol Tattoos - various symbol tattoo pictures - Chinese, zodiac, kanji, etc.

Tiger Tattoos - tiger tattoos - Siberian tigers, Bengal tigers, tiger stripes, cubs...

Traditional Tattoos - old school type tattoo designs and pictures of traditional tattoos.

Tree Tattoos - tattoo designs of various trees, tree branches, plants, shrubs, leaves etc.

Tribal Tattoos - tribal tattoo designs and pictures: tribal dragons, crosses, suns etc.

Turtle Tattoos - pictures of aquatic turtle and turtle related tattoo designs.

Vine Tattoos - pictures of vine tattoos, winding vines, thorn vines, plants etc.

Viking Tattoos - Viking style and Norse style tattoo designs and tattoo pictures.

Warrior Tattoos  -  collection of tattoos depicting warriors, samurai, weapons etc..

Water Animal Tattoos - fish and aquatic tattoo pictures and designs

White Ink Tattoos - unique tattoos using exotic looking white ink.

Wing Tattoos - tattoos of wings, angel wings, bird wings, butterfly wings ...

Wolf Tattoos - wolves - lone wolf, tribal head wolf paw tattoo pictures.

Word and Lettering Tattoos - word tattoos, script tattoos, tattoo fonts, wording styles etc.

Yin Yang Tattoos - pictures of various yin-yang symbol tattoo designs.

Zodiac Tattoos - tattoo designs for all of the zodiac and astrological signs.

Zombie Tattoos  -  tattoos of zombie people and zombie related stuff.

y thin coats of antibacterial ointment and work into the skin. Too much ointment can pull color out of the tattoo.

•Avoid soaking the tattoo in water or letting the shower pound directly on it.

•Avoid the sun, sea and swimming pool until healed.

•Refrain from picking at scabs. They will fall off as the tattoo heals, usually in one to three weeks.

•Use ice packs if swelling or redness occurs.

•Call a doctor if you have even the slightest signs of infection.







Caring for a New Tattoo
A Good Idea at the Time

About 17% of tattooed Americans regret their tattoos, frequently because they include a person's name. Sound familiar? Learn how you can erase -- or at least lighten -- a mistake in How Tattoo Removal Works. [Source: Harris Interactive]

Taking care of a new tattoo can prevent health problems and protect the quality of the image. Most artists give clients a pamphlet that explains all the necessary procedures. Customers generally receive instructions to:

•Remove the bandage one to two hours after completion.

•Wash gently with cool or lukewarm water, using a mild antibacterial soap.

•Pat dry. (Don't rub!)

•Apply verTattoo Categories:


Health Risks
Extreme Tattoos

Some people choose to use their entire body as a canvas. Others use tattoos and surgeries to shift their appearance from human to animal. One example is Stalking Cat Dennis Avner.

Since tattoos involve needles and blood, they carry several risks. These include transmission of diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis and possibly HIV. When tattoo artists follow all the correct sterilization and sanitation procedures, risks for disease transmission are relatively low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has not been a documented case of HIV transmission from a tattoo. However, doctors warn that non-sterile tattooing practices can lead to the transmission of syphilis, hepatitis B and other infectious organisms.

Infections can occur in new tattoos, especially without appropriate aftercare. Some people also experience allergic reactions to tattoo inks. Although the pigments used may have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for other purposes, the FDA does not regulate tattoo inks. Finally, some people experience pain or burning during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations because of metallic pigments. Some doctors have also reported interference and distorted MRI images from permanent makeup pigments.

In addition, most states place restrictions on whether people who have tattoos can donate blood. Because of the danger of hepatitis, the American Red Cross will not accept blood from someone who has been tattooed in the past year unless the tattoo parlor is state-regulated. Most states do not regulate tattoo parlors. [Source: American Red Cross]

Tattoo professionals use rules known as universal precautions to prevent the spread of illnesses during tattooing. These precautions are part of the Bloodborne Pathogens Rule issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The same rules apply to hospitals and doctors' offices. The CDC is a good resource for information about universal precautions.


Precautions for tattoo parlors include glove use, sterilization and covering bottles and tools.Other precautions specific to tattooing include:

•Checking gloves for pinhole tears during tattooing, since petroleum-based ointment erodes latex
•Pouring ink in advance, using clean tissue to open ink bottles during tattooing and preventing nozzles from touching contaminated surfaces
•Patting tubes dry after rinsing during color changes -- never blowing excess water from them
•Spraying liquid soap into a tissue, not directly onto bleeding area, since blood can become airborne when the spray hits it
•Giving pens used for drawing on the skin, which should be medical grade and sterile, to the client
Tattoo History

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word tattau, which means "to mark," and was first mentioned in explorer James Cook's records from his 1769 expedition to the South Pacific.

Tattoos were also found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies that date back to about 2000 B.C.



Tattoo artists must also take special safety measures regarding their hands. Gloves help prevent disease transmission from bodily fluids, but bacteria thrive in the warm, damp environment they create. This means that artists must:

•Wash hands thoroughly and often
•Inspect hands for cuts or sores and cover them with bandages
•Remove hangnails and keep nails short to prevent punctures to gloves
•Refrain from tattooing when experiencing lesions, dermatitis or allergic reactions
Laws require minors to have a parent's permission to get a tattoo. So, some adolescents get tattoos from friends or amateurs, who use makeshift tools like pens and paper clips with little if any sanitary precautions. This is extremely dangerous, since proper equipment and sanitary measures protect people from disease and infection.

Creating a Tattoo: Outline, Shading and Color
A Difference of Opinion

Some Americans with tattoos say they feel sexier (34%) and more attractive (26%). Many who don't have tattoos, however, think people who do have them are less attractive (42%), more rebellious (57%) and less intelligent (31%). [Source: Harris Interactive] 

Clients work with artists to create custom tattoo designs, or they chose images from flash, which are tattoo designs displayed in the shop. The artist draws or stencils the design onto the person's skin, since the skin can stretch while the artist uses the tattoo machine. The artist must also know how deeply the needles need to pierce the skin throughout the process. Punctures that are too deep cause excessive pain and bleeding, and ones that are too shallow cause uneven lines.



The tattoo artist fills in a tattoo using a thicker needle. See the needle in action.The tattoo itself involves several steps:

•Outlining, or black work: Using a single-tipped needle and a thin ink, the artist creates a permanent line over the stencil. Most start at the bottom of the right side and work up (lefties generally start on the left side) so they don't smear the stencil when cleaning excess ink from the permanent line.

•Shading: After cleaning the area with soap and water, the artist uses a thicker ink and a variety of needles to create an even, solid line. Improper technique during this step can cause shadowed lines, excessive pain and delayed healing.

How much does it hurt?

People describe the sensation of getting a tattoo as similar to bee stings, sunburn or being pinched. Some say they experience a slight tickling or "pins and needles." Individual pain tolerance, the size and type of tattoo, and the skill of the artist all contribute to the amount of pain. Location also makes a difference -- skin that rests right over a bone is more sensitive. 

•Color: The artist cleans the tattoo and then overlaps each line of color to ensure solid, even hues with no holidays -- uneven areas where color has lifted out during healing or where the artist missed a section of skin.

•Final cleaning and bandaging: After using a disposable towel to remove any blood and plasma, the artist covers the tattoo with a sterile bandage. Some bleeding always occurs during tattooing, but most stops within a few minutes.