Monday, September 24, 2007

Phoenix Tattoo Design

As a tattoo design, the phoenix is probably the most visually spectacular form of body art.

The legend of the phoenix bird is known throughout the world, and has its origins in much of Europe, Middle East and Far East.

The basic symbolism of the phoenix is resurrection and rebirth by fire.

Although the legend is the same worldwide, there are subtle differences.

Greek Legend

According to ancient Greek legends, the phoenix bird lived in Arabia next to a watering well. At dawn, it would bath and the Greek sun god Apollo would stop his chariot specifically to listen to its song.

Lebanese Legend

The Lebanese claim the phoenix as central to their culture, whether it is ancient or modern. As descendants of the Phoenicians, they see themselves as "Sons of the Phoenix". This legend holds particular significance to Beirut, which was destroyed and rebuilt 7 times in its history.

Persian Legend

In Persian legends, the phoenix is known as Huma or the 'bird of paradise'. This bird consumed itself in a ball of fire only to rise again from the ashes. It was considered a bird of compassion, and would bring great fortune by a simple touch.

Egyptian Legend

In ancient Egypt, the legend was known as bennu. This bird created itself from fire emanating from a holy tree. It was believed that this bird carried the soul of Ra the sun god.

Jewish Legend

Jewish legends state the phoenix was the only bird or animal for that matter not to follow man in his banishment from Paradise (Garden of Eden)

Chinese and Japanese legends

In Chinese legends, the phoenix was known as "Fenghuang". This bird is the second most respected legendary creature. Only the dragon is more respected. The phoenix is used to represent the empress and was as the leader of birds.

The Japanese word for phoenix is "Fushichō". It is known as "Immortal Bird".

The phoenix holds a rich diversity of meanings and beliefs, not to mention a beautiful design for body art.

If you would like to know how to choose the best tattoo design, as well as how to care for your tattoo, click here


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

Rap Tattoo- The Tattoos of Rap Artists and Rap Stars! This is a Huge Trend!

Rap tattoos or rap artist tattoos are very popular. This phenomena has lead to a strange mix of cultures. You everyone is into celebrities, movie stars, signers, and rappers. Even those of us like myself who like to say we are not sometimes get caught up in what is hot with different celebrities. Well rap artists have created a whole new type of celebrity. It is almost the anti hero of sorts. Rap artists often like to play the gangster become big time star role and in fact many of them have achieved this lifestyle.

The rich gangster living the big life being a player is the immortalized dream that we see 247 on television in rap videos from MTV to VH1 to all sorts of other things. You know what I am talking about the rap artists with the gold chains, pimped out Hummer, or Lincoln Navigator with some hot babes wearing tongs on either side of his arm. What guy in their right mind wouldn't want that dream. Even guys that don't listen to rap or claim that it is not their dream would be pretty hard pressed to turn away from that life! Pimped out house, cars and fancy women and food!

Well, this whole dream has lead to many new trends in tattoo art. Now there are more and more people getting tattoos of their favorite rap artists. Either a 50 cent tattoo, Nelly tattoo, or Tupac they all have great tattoos and their tattoo gallery pages are some of the most visited pages on our site. In fact we even get quit a few jobs posted by people wanting a similar tattoo. Right now someone posted for a copy of a Nelly tattoo. You know the one Nelly has with the cards and it says his name on each card N-E-L-L-Y. We also have a job posted on the website for some wanting a Tupac "Thug Life" tattoo. What a great way to memorialize the guy!

These items are very popular and it has created a strange mix of a celebrity gangster who is all tatted up. People normally think of tattoos on a white hells angel biker dude. However those days are over and the a new age of tattoos and tattoo design is upon us and tattoo and now the great universal and no longer a separator.

Chris is an avid tattoo enthusiast, as well as an observer and writer of the tattoo scene. He has run numerous tattoo related website business in the past. However, now he provides great tattoo information in the form of articles and web pages for everyone to enjoy free. Check out this page for more on tattoo sleeve designs, or here for awesome Free Star Tattoo Designs.


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

What Makes Star Tattoos So Popular? Everything from Shooting Star Tattoos, to Nautical Star Tattoos

Star tattoos seem to be a pretty old and yet a very popular design. It is one of the most requested custom designs. Why are they so popular and are they over rated? You know there is this on going controversy between the "tattoo traditionalists" and the new generation of "tattooers". I put those in quotes because they are terms that I made up for this article.

A "tattoo traditionalists" like the old school tattoos. Things that are done in black ink and nothing that would be considered popular. They feel that each tattoo should be unique and say something about the individual. They are strongly against anyone that gets a tattoo because it is a popular design. For example they are against star tattoos because of their popularity. They would most likely be against the good old tribal arm band tattoo or a barbed wire arm band etc. You know the tattoo designs that are so popular and done over and over again. The "tattoo traditionalists just hate these.

The new generation of "tattooers" are pretty much the opposite. They like what is cool and hip and want to get tattoos done that are popular and in style. They will often look at celebrity tattoos or the tattoos of friends to get their ideas from which they might do some customizing and etc. Their designs typically feature a lot of color and are bright! I have written more about these groups in other articles so for now I will stick to the topic at hand of star tattoos. You see there is a phenomenal growth in star tattoo designs. Tons of people want to get everything from simple star tattoos, groupings of moon and star tattoos, nautical stars, and even shooting stars. Star tattoo designs are pretty much everywhere.

So why are they so popular?



1. Star tattoo designs and celestial tattoos are especially popular themes among women and this is a rapidly growing market.

2. Star tattoos can be very gender neutral. Men and women can get star tattoos done.

3. Star tattoos are often inexpensive to get designs of and cost very little to get done.

4. Star tattoos often make a great first tattoo design for someone who is a little worried about getting started in tattoos. They are small and easily covered up and also less painful to get because of their size and therefore popular among first timers.

5. Star tattoos because of their size can fit into or among other existing designs or can make great cover up of a bad tattoo.

6. Stars are pretty universal symbols of good things. Most all religions have some type of star symbolism and star and stars don't make a strong statement about the world but just kind of thought of as fun and light hearted.

So who is right? Are star tattoos a great design to get done like the new generation of tattooers is doing or should you avoid them at all costs because they are not unique and they are overdone like the traditionalists would say?

Well, like all great questions in life and in the world of tattoo design the decision really is your to make. It will be your tattoo and one that you will live with for a long time. I think the best middle ground between the two groups is to just get something you like. If you like star tattoos for their own sake if they are popular or not then go ahead and get one and who cares. However if you are just getting a star tattoo because your friend just did or because the latest pop diva got one then it might be better to wait. Either way the choice is your to be made.

Chris is an avid tattoo enthusiast, as well as an observer and writer of the tattoo scene. He has run numerous tattoo related website business in the past. However, now he provides great tattoo information in the form of articles and web pages for everyone to enjoy free. Check out this page for more on tattoo sleeve designs, or here for awesome Free Star Tattoo Designs.



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

Japanese Kanji Tattoos - Meaning of Kanji Characters

Japanese kanji characters are so expressive and artistic. Basically they are ideographic characters, which means that each Kanji character represents a whole object, idea, or meaning in a visually expressive way. It is a very popular choice among those seeking Japanese style tattoo designs. With Kanji style characters, you can easily create and express nearly any meaning you want.

However, it is a good idea to keep in mind before you decide upon a tattoo that kanji is based on a different form of language and is unlike english in its construction. Be should be sure to spend time researching the authenticity of each symbols’ meaning. It could be rather embarrassing to learn later on after you have been tattooed that the Kanji tattoo you thought meant one thing turned out to be something completely different.

If you don’t speak Japanese it is very hard to find characters that say what you want and are not something that will turn heads with native japanese speakers for all the wrong reasons. Trusting a non native speaking tattoo artist is recommended either as the tattoo artist may be as much in the dark as you are. It is highly recommended that you do your reasearch before rushing off to get a kanji tattoo character done.

Celebrities with Kanji Tattoos

Alyson Hannigan - Actress (Buffy and American Pie)

Janet Jackson - singer/actress

Kelis - singer

Alyssa Milano - Charmed TV Show

Pink - singer

Britney Spears - singer

READ THIS before you get a Japanese Kanji Tattoo!

Read more tattoo articles by Declan O'Reilly


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Free Tattoo Galleries and Free Tattoo Flash What Is the Difference

People can spend a great deal of time online looking for the perfect tattoo design. There are many different options available for research tattoo designs online. This article will look at some of the different types of sites and explain what the difference is between them. This will help clear up the confusion about the difference between free tattoo galleries and free tattoo flash.

Free Tattoo Galleries

The world of the internet has really creeped into almost every part of our life. It has become so easy to find a ton of great information in just seconds by using the internet and today’s search engines. This has even changed the method of selecting a tattoo design. Year ago if you wanted a tattoo then you had to go to your local tattoo shop. However, today there are a ton of options to finding tattoo ideas online. The first place that people often look is free tattoo galleries. There are tons of internet users looking for there tattoo galleries for a wide variety of reasons. Typically a tattoo gallery will consist of user submitted photos of tattoos. That means somebody goes out and get a tattoo, takes a picture of the finished work and then posts it online. These free galleries are a great resource to find a lot of tattoo photos and ideas quickly. However once you find a tattoo you like you will have to print out the picture and take it to your local shop or find someone to make a design fo the tattoo for you based on the picture.

Free Tattoo Flash

The other type of sites is one that specializes in tattoo ready designs called flash. These are tattoo designs that have already been put on a special paper so any tattoo artists can easily replicate the design and make the exact tattoo quickly and easily. There are a ton of sites now online that sells tattoo flash designs. However, as a user if you are trying to find some of this high quality flash for a tattoo design that you are honestly considering getting done then stop using the word free in the search. If you use the search term “free tattoo flash” then you might end up having to plow through a bunch of pretty useless sites that offer low quality flash. However if you just search for the term tattoo flash online you can quickly and easily find great quality tattoo flash designs.

This really goes along with the old saying you get what you pay for. Well, if you are looking for free tattoo flash and galleries then you are probably not going to end up with a super high quality design. In fact the actual tattoo design might not even be done by professional flash artists. Instead many people just pay to have an artist to a bunch of tattoo designs. These artists might not even be tattoo artists but just artists in general.

So if you are looking for a high quality tattoo design or tattoo flash then don’t use the word free and also don’t waste time looking for flash on tattoo galleries. This will save you a lot of time and knowing the difference between the two will help you in finding the design you are after.

Chris has owned several tattoo related websites and has published numerous articles on tattoos. Check out Free Tattoo Design Ideas for a ton of great ideas to help you get the perfect tattoo. If you are just getting started in tattoos you might want to consider Foot Tattoo Designs!


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

Think Before You Ink? You Won't Regret It! How To Get A Great Tattoo You Won't Regret!

This article is really a result of a growing trend that I have witnessed for cover up tattoos. It seems like ever day I see someone looking for a new custom tattoo design to cover up some old in k they had done. Getting rid of an old tattoo that you no longer like is not so easy. Your only two options are painful and expensive laser removal or a cover up design. Unfortunately most people can not afford the laser removal and honestly most cover up tattoos are big, black, and can even draw more attention to itself.

So honestly the best option is to think before you ink. This is going to become our new motto. Unfortunately there are tons of people out there that do not think before getting a tattoo and later end up regretting them.

Top 5 reasons people state for wanting to get rid of a tattoo:

1. Got the tattoo while out with friends drunk.
2. I was young when I got it.
3. It really was not the design I wanted.
4. It is too common and doesn't speak to me anymore.
5. The symbol is wrong or I did not know what it stood for.

These are so common that we have come across people that are getting cover up tattoos for all of the above reasons. Recently with the growing trend of Japanese Kanji tattoos many people are paying good money for these only to find later they don't mean what they were originally told. Also they often don't translate well. For example getting something like "Bling" or "Pimp" translated to Japanese just does not work. There is no kanji for these words.

It is vitally important that you spend some time coming up with an original tattoo idea. Do some research on the symbolism behind the tattoo design and think about what you want it to say. Then have a professional tattoo artist do the design for you. Take the time to look at the design maybe mull over it for a few days. You can even have a tattoo artists do the work with a sharpie first and spend some time thinking about it.

Tattoos are expensive and custom tattoo can cost even more. However the artwork will be original and unique and it will speak to you more then some flash design off the wall in your local tattoo shop. Actually if you think of it custom tattoos can be a big savings. It is more expensive to get a cover up done or go through laser removal. So spend some time thinking about your tattoo and do some research on the design. It is way better then regretting the design for the rest of your life.

For more information on tattoos check out the following resources. For Custom tattoo design Design My Tattoos. For a complete tattoo resource check out Tattoo Directory: tattoo resources and great celebrity tattoo galleries. To read this article and other great tattoo articles check out the Tattoo Directory


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

Hawaiian Arm Tattoo and Arm Band Tattoos - The New Tribal Tattoo

One of the biggest and hottest growing trends in the art of tattoo design is Hawaiian arm or leg band tattoos. As this trend goes a lot of people think to themselves, well of course. At least that is what I said to myself at first. You can hardly drive more then 10 minutes on the freeway in southern California where I am from and not see a big SUV like a Lincoln Navigator or a Cadillac Escalade and not see a Hawaiian sticker. Things with flowers designs, or turtles, dolphins. Ya see it started off with the sticker and then the car seat covers with hibiscus flowers everywhere and it just grew from there.

This trend of Hawaiian design has then met it's match with the whole tribal tattoo movement. Tribal tattoos have been the hottest thing in the tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school WWII era Hula dancer. You see these influences have been all around us for a long time my grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos still. Granted it is a little saggy and faded now but he still has one on his forearm nonetheless. So the whole tribal tattoo and the growth in interest for Hawaiian designs have combined to make a hot and growing market for Hawaiian tattoos. This is really an up and coming thing and it not huge yet. However many tattoo artists are spotting the trend and jumping on it already.

Of course there is a lot of controversy on this subject also like anything. If you look on the internet there is a controversy about getting Kanji and Japanese Tattoos also. Anytime you try and take the designs of a culture and do not depict them accurately it creates a sense of bastardization or what I call the "Disney Effect" towards the culture. I mean how would you feel if you were in China and someone said, oh you should try this hot new restaurant out it serves this great food that is really American. They have fried chicken and apple pie that is the best." Well, at first you would be excited right? Sure it would be nice for a good home cooked meal if you have been out of the US for a long time. However once you get there you see the place has really tacky and awful reproductions of 50's art and the all the food tastes kind of strange. It would probably bee kind of close or resemble what you were thinking of but it would be missing something or a few key ingredients. I bet this would leave you feeling a little sad and like your culture was not totally understood.

Well, I can not speak for you and maybe you will feel different but I was pretty sad when after staying in Japan for 3 months I was invited to a 1950's classic hamburger joint. When we got there it was Elvis with a funny accent playing on the jukebox and when my hamburger came it had a fried egg on top of it with teriyaki sauce. WOW what a surprise that was for me. I kind of felt weird about being in the place that had tried to recreate something from my own culture.

So, the same controversy rolls on in the world of tattoos. Anytime you get a tattoo design from another culture just make sure you go with a professional. Do not have your friend trace out some Kanji in a book for a tattoo and don't go and rip some design of the internet because it states that it is Hawaiian. Go to a real custom tattoo designer and have them do the research and come up with some designs. After all this is going to be on your body for the rest of your life and since Hawaiian arm band tattoos and leg tattoos are typically big it will be a significant investment in pain, time and money to get the thing done. So you should consult with a professional and get top notch work done.

Chris is an avid tattoo enthusiast, as well as an observer and writer of the tattoo scene. He has run numerous tattoo related website business in the past. However, now he provides great tattoo information in the form of articles and web pages for everyone to enjoy free. Check out this page for more on tattoo sleeve designs, or here for awesome Free Star Tattoo Designs.


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

Tattooed: To Be or Not to Be?

Our webmaster wants articles on tattoos. Here is his request to help fill a great void: Tattoos - Articles about tattoos, tattoo removal, and body art as it relates to tattoos and tattoo history. See, he does look after you.

When sailors came home from World War II many had tattoos. Usually they were acquired in San Diego. They liked to show them to us teenagers and hide then from adults.

I don’t have a tattoo. I was raised in Tattoo Tabooville, Utah. One mustn’t deface the Temple of God.

Well, let’s face the truth here. Getting a tattoo is not painless and I’m a coward when it comes to pain. I’m not self-conscious about this. My wife says that all men are cowards when it comes to pain. She says this whenever she cuts my hair. (She uses the clip and jerk method.)

I would not be accepted in parts of society because I don’t have a tattoo. This is called peer pressure. I wouldn’t be accepted anyway because they don’t accept bearded old geezers either. Anyway, I understand why teenagers get tattooed.

I like to look at tattoos as an art form. Not all tattoos; the ones done in Japan and by certain “true” artist in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and of course, San Diego..

Last night, my wife and I were watching Fear Factor. One rudely-treated contestant had a new tattoo that said “Fear Factor.” It was very decorative and covered his forearm.

He pooped out on the first daredevil task which was swinging on a rope from one elevated platform to another and then to another. He was left hanging dry between the first two platforms and didn’t have a clue as to how to get out of his predicament. He was booed away by the Los Vegas crowd.

That brings us to the first consideration on whether you should have or not have a tattoo: Tattoos may bring you bad luck and undesirable publicity.

He was just a clueless kid with an arrogant attitude, piercings, and tattoos. That is why he was booed. His failure was disheartening to him, more than I suspected it would be, but he promised to become arrogant again “tomorrow.”

So today, I guess he is back to normal.

I was giving some counseling to a youth in detention years back. His mother had asked me to look after him. (I’m not talking about school detention here. This was what we use to call “Reform School.”)

The boy was having his tattoos removed.

That brings the second consequence of having tattoos. It hurts like hell to have them removed by a medical professional.

Having the tattoos removed helped this boy get out of the “joint” and back to his single mother.

If you’ve got ‘em, you’d better keep ‘em. Is that a motto for you tattoo guys and gals? It could be if you want to avoid removal pain.

The reason that some people would like to have a tattoo removed is this. They sometimes change with time.

Joe Fleet got a tattoo of a dinghy on his chest when he was 19 years old serving in the United States Navy. He got his tattoo in San Diego, “Tattoo Heaven.”

On the side of the dinghy it read, “Mary,” in tiny letters.

Now Joe Fleet is 76 years old and weighs 240 pounds. What was a dinghy is now an aircraft carrier and the little word, “Mary,” now looks like a billboard spread.

Joe’s wife’s name is Joan.

Now Joe Fleet is not going to have this tattoo removed. The chest is a tender spot. That brings us to another facet of tattoos: Sometimes you just have to live with them.

Joe finally got around part of his problem by getting a puppy. He said to his wife, Joan, “I’m going to call her “Mary” after my childhood puppy dog that fell out of my little boat and died by drowning in the irrigation ditch.”

Joe's wife, Joan, forgetting that puppies can doggy paddle, felt awful that she had been badgering Joe about “Mary” for 55 years. She begged Joe for his forgiveness.

This technique used by Joe, and at times by other tattoo-bearing people, is called lying.

I was on business in San Francisco back in the 1970s. I went into a theater in Chinatown. The movies were Japanese. One was about a tattoo artist covering a young woman’s body with beautiful, masterful tattoos.

She moaned with every prick of his ink needle.

I don’t know how the movie ended because my mother taught me not to stick around in any movie that is “not of good report.” When the girl got excited, I had to leave.

Now days I see right here in Idaho a lot of what are called “Tattoo Freaks." That means the whole body is covered with tattoos like the Japanese lass.

Of course these folks are not freaks.

I’m going to look “freak” up in the dictionary.

I’ll be right back.

Okay, I guess I was wrong.

I talk to these heavily-tattooed young folks at times. They all seem very normal to me. They just like tattoos.

I don’t hear people here in Idaho complaining about tattoos unless they are combined with piercing. Folks here complain about triple-ear piercing, nose piercing, lip piercing, navel piercing (umbilicus piercing), and tongue piercing. There may be other piercing in undisclosed locations.

Our church leader say that a single piercing in each ear is just right. That does not apply to boys. The number there is zero.

We members of our church frown on new tattoos but accept old ones; especially if you were in the Navy and stationed in San Diego.

What would tattoo artist do if tattoos went out of style? Some of these artists do piercing too. What if both procedures were no longer wanted? What would happen to these artist? (Okay, they are not all artist. Some are copyist.)

Well, they might take up Slindogging when it’s invented.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_T_Jones,_Ph.D.

Cherry Blossom Tattoos - What Do They Mean

Cherry blossom tattoos are some of the most popular tattoo designs for women currently. The beauty and delicate nature of a cherry blossom can’t be denied. In both Japanese and Chinese cultures the cherry blossom is full of symbolic meaning and significance. Before deciding to get a cherry blossom tattoo design it makes sense to understand the symbolism and deep cultural connections and meaning that this tattoo might hold. After all the best tattoo designs are ones that hold a great deal of symbolic significance. Typically the tattoo that is universally regretted is the one that was gotten while out with a bunch of friends just because they were getting one. So don’t fall into the trap and regret your tattoo later in life. Instead if you are planning on getting a tattoo at least take the time to research the symbolism and meaning behind it and see if it speaks to you and if the ideas are significant in your life.

While many people tend to blend and confuse the Japanese and Chinese culture together from lack of knowledge the two are very different in many ways. Therefore the meaning and symbolism that the cherry blossom holds is different in each culture.

Chinese Cherry Blossom

For the Chinese the cherry blossom is a very significant symbol of power. Typically it represent a feminine beauty and sexuality and often holds an idea of power or feminine dominance. Within the language of herbs and herbal lore of the Chinese the cherry blossom is often the symbol of love.

Japanese Cherry Blossom

For the Japanese the cherry blossom holds very different meaning. The cherry blossom is a very delicate flower that blooms for a very short time. For the Japanese this represents the transience of life. This concept ties in very deeply with the fundamental teachings of Buddhism that state all life is suffering and transitory. The Japanese have long held strong to the Buddhist belief of the transitory nature of life and it is very noble to not get too attached to a particular outcome or not become emotional because it will all pass in time.

The fallen cherry blossom is not taken lightly in Japanese symbolism either. It often represents the beauty of snow and there are many connections made in Japanese literature or poetry to a fallen cherry blossom and snow. This also has been extended to the life of a warrior whose life was ended early in battle.

As you can see in both cultures the symbolism and meaning behind the cherry blossom is very significant and powerful at the same time. It is important to think about these symbols and connect this with what your personally believe the cherry blossom represents. If you still want to get a cherry blossom tattoo and the above meaning from the Japanese culture or the Chinese culture do not speak to you or you’re somehow view the cherry blossom in a very different way then it is okay to still get a cherry blossom tattoo. However, it is always important to know the symbolism before getting a tattoo permanently done.

Chris is an avid tattoo enthusiast, as well as an observer and writer of the tattoo scene. He has run numerous tattoo related website business in the past. However, now he provides great tattoo information in the form of articles and web pages for everyone to enjoy free. Check out this page for more on tattoo sleeve designs, or here for awesome Free Star Tattoo Designs.


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

FAQ About Tattoos

Q: Will it hurt when I get a tattoo?

A: Simply put, yes. There is some degree of pain involved and the amount really depends on your level of tolerance. If you are scared or have a fear of needles, it’s fair to say that some of the pain will come from your fear of the process.

Q: Can the tattoo artist use any type of cream that will numb my skin?

A: Generally speaking, these products are not recommended. You can ask your tattoo artist for specific reasons.

Q: Are tattoos expensive?

A: If it is quality work, yes. Anyone can offer you a deal on a cheap tattoo, but this is going to be a permanent part of your body and you want the work to be something that you are proud of. In a nutshell, you will get what you pay for. When it comes to tattoos, don’t cut any corners when it comes to cost and never ask the artist to lower his/her price.

Q: When should I get a tattoo?

A: Many do not realize this, but the sunny months of summer can reek havoc on a tattoo. Therefore, it is often recommended that individuals get tattooed during the winter months when the sun’s rays are not as powerful and, therefore, not as damaging to the work itself.

Q: If I am sick, is it still OK for me to get a tattoo?

A: If your immune system is not 100%, getting a tattoo is probably not a good idea. You will need the full strength of your immune system to help with the healing process of your skin, so avoid the process if you are under the weather. Instead, call to reschedule your appointment for a later date when you will be feeling better.

Q: If I have tattoos, is it still OK to get a natural suntan or visit the tanning bed?

A: Even though everyone desires the perfect sunkissed tan, especially in the summer, exposing your tattoo to UV rays/light is not a good idea. This can cause the color in your tattoo, or the artwork itself, to fade. When you are outside in the sun, you can wear sunblock to help protect your tattoo from the sun’s damaging rays.

Q: If I have recently gotten a tattoo on my leg, when can I shave again?

A: Because each individual’s healing process is unique, there is no universal answer to this question. Your tattoo is a wound and, like all wounds, it needs to heal before you can safely resume shaving. Otherwise, you will continually aggravate the scab or any raised areas that are present on almost every tattoo. Some can resume shaving within 5-10 days, which is often when the new protective layer of skin has surfaced after the final peeling stage. It is best to ask the tattoo artist about the exact stages of the healing process and what to watch for as an indicator of when you can begin shaving again.

Q: I have a friend who recently purchased a tattoo kit and they promised me a really good deal. Is this safe?

A: Absolutely not. Your friend could very well be endangering your health by ‘practicing’ their skill on you. In order to become a professional tattoo artist, an individual needs to get the proper apprenticeship through a tattoo studio, observe the process and begin practicing on material objects before tattooing people. The apprenticeship usually takes 3-5 years, so there is no way that this type of knowledge can be learned in a kit.

Q: Can I remove the bandage after I get a tattoo so that I can show my friends? A: This is not a good idea. The bandage is there because the tattoo artist realized the potential for infection if the wound were to be exposed to open air. Leave the bandage on according to the instructions from the tattoo artist.

DISCLAIMER: This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

If you have more questions, please post them on TattooType tattoo forum or read some great tattoo articles and join the tattoo community at http://www.tattootype.com



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

Tongue Tattoos

There are a handful of online tattoo directories that show up in most major search engine searches. Are these directories any good and if so, which ones are better? This article compares some of these top tattoo directories to try to answer these questions.

If you do a search today, the day this article was written, of "tattoo directory" without the ""s, you will find a list of the top tattoo directories. Lets take a look at these and compare by taking two cities in the US and seeing what results come up.

1. Number one on the list is aaatattoodirectory. After doing a couple quick searches at this directory these results came up:

a. For San Jose California there are eight results with address and phone numbers all on one huge page with many other cities and parlors. It's basically one long list of tattoo shops. There isn't a way to rate or review a shop or artist.

b. For Dallas Texas we find 17 different tattoo parlors. All on one page again and without any way to review or rate the site.

2. TattooDirectory.com is the second site and here are the results for both cities:

a. For San Jose California, the directory has...well, zero results for San Jose which is the states third largest city and the countries 10th largest city.

b. For Dallas Texas, tattoodirectory has...umm, again zero results! In fact, only one city in Texas seems to be in the directory: Byran.

3. Tattoos.com has the best domain name for sure. But how about the directory?

a. San Jose Cal, has zero results. In fact California as a whole has only fifteen different tattoo parlors listed. One good thing is that each listing has a link to a separate page. Still no way of rating or reviewing the tattoo shops, parlors or artists.

b. Dallas Texas has zero results and only nine total parlors listed for the whole state.

4. JustTattoo.com is lower on the rankings but how are the results for finding tattoo shops?

a. For San Jose Ca, JustTattoo.com has 20 listings. Plus for each listing you not only get the phone number and address, but you have an opportunity to write a review of the shop. Also, each listing has it's own page with a satellite map to help you find it.

b. Dallas Texas has 19 results and again there is a way to review each parlor at the parlors own separate page.

JustTattoo.com also has some other unique advantages such as separate directories for tattoo supplies and equipment, piercing and body art listings, and even tanning salons.

So it seems, not all online directories are equal, but some are definately worth using.

Tim Phelan is a tattoo enthusiast and online marketer.

Tattoo Directory