We all have our own personal reasons for getting tattooed. For some, a tattoo is their trademark an image that captures a key part of their personality or interests e.g. a musician gets musical notes, a car buff gets a vehicle picture or logo, or a martial arts expert gets a symbol from their dojo – or others, a tattoo may be their totem or lucky charm. Dice tattoos, Lucky Lady images, or spiritual images like dream catchers, crosses, or animals often fall into this category. Tattoos can also be tributes a commemoration or memorial to loved ones or specific events. Whatever the reason for getting a tattoo, one thing is certain: Think before you ink!

Some people select tattoos that make physical and permanent their dreams and desires, their inner demons, their worldview. The key word there is permanent. This is an important decision, and should not be taken lightly!

It is important to study the myth connected with the images you choose, and if the images are of your own creation, make sure there is a positive outcome to the story/myth. Your tattooing should tell a story, with a beginning, middle, and end, a story that takes you past the old symbolic references that have bound you to an unhappy, unproductive, torturous existence, a history that you created. You need to build a story that brings you out of the old and into the new.

Do you know what your tattoo means? If you don’t, look it up and leave us a comment below or on our Facebook about your tattoo meaning!!

Source: Tattoo Meanings

Photo Credit: Celebrity Tattoos

Most people think of getting a tattoo in the spring or summer, when it’s hot out, they’re wearing shorts and tank tops and wanting to show off more flesh. However, when the cooler weather comes around and the long sleeves and pants come out, the idea of getting a tattoo fades away.

Believe it or not, fall and winter are said to be the best time of year to get a tattoo. Why? Well, because you and the tattoo artist are going to be a lot more comfortable. Although tattoo studios have air conditioning in the summertime, it’s hard to keep them cool in a business where the doors are constantly being opened. During the winter months studios are much more temperate and it’s a lot easier for the artist to concentrate when they don’t have to keep wiping beads for sweat from their brow!!

Another good reason is to consider the healing. The less exposure your skin gets to the elements, the better off your tattoo will be to heal. Sweat can aggravate a new tattoo and so can the sun. During the winter months, your body isn’t exposed to these things as much and tattoos can heal much more quickly without as much of a chance for infection.

Appearance is also another reason to avoid getting a tattoo during the summer months. During the healing process, your tattoo goes through a few “ugly” stages like scabbing and peeling. If you get your tattoo during the colder months, it will be covered up during this healing process and by the time summer rolls around, your artwork will be completely healed and ready to show off.

Waiting time is another thing to consider. The winter is the slower season for most studios, which means you won’t have to wait behind a bunch of people to get your artwork one. During the busier season you can wait as much as 2-4 hours while the artists are busy with other customers, or you may even have to get on a waiting list. Artists are not nearly as rushed during this season and it is easier for them to give you their undivided attention.

Getting a tattoo during the winter months can be beneficial, but it is always your choice when time of the year you get your tattoo! If you are getting a tattoo in the winter, then when summer arrives, you’ll be all set to show off your new body art!!

Photo Credit: Tattoo Inspiration

Gang tattoos are commonly inked by fellow gang members or an artist that may be affiliated with the group. Besides the symbol representing the gang affiliation, a popular choice is getting their own names in tall, large, letters on their chest and stomach area. Biker groups have a preference for large back pieces proclaiming their gang name. Hells Angels is probably one of the more well known groups for this style and many tattoo books feature the artwork that some of the members have gotten.

One of the biggest taboos amongst gangs is having someone outside of the gang get a gang related tattoos. This could be a dangerous choice and a very foolish move. There have been incidents of gangs literally burning or cutting the tattoo off a person guilty of doing this. This has been illustrated in an episode of the television series, Sons of Anarchy.

Police have to keep up with the gang symbols to keep on top of the underground world of gangs and gang violence. Knowing the gang affiliation symbol can enable them to identify members and gangs and possibly help them to curb gang violence.

Gang members wishing to leave the violence behind and turn over a new leaf, may find this more difficult if they have tattoos on part of their body that they are difficult to cover up. Due to this factor, various agencies have set up programs to pay for tattoo removal options to help these people start over and have a chance at a non-violent life.

Gangs use various tattoo symbols to represent a badge – such as a teardrop, or a spider web under the eye representing prison time served. The meaning of gang tattoos have changed and evolved over the years. Tattooing their names in a large old English style font, on a curved baseline is also popular with gangs in prison and out.

One of the key reasons for not getting gang tattoos– the health factor. Often the needles are used repeatedly. There are no means to sterilize any part of the machine, which is very dangerous. Gang tattoos are associated with people associated with the same group.

When most people get a tattoo, they do not think about what the color of their tattoo is going to look like in the years to come. At some point, many people will need to have their tattoo’s color retouched by a tattoo artist because it will fade as the years go by. It is ideal to take steps to prevent tattoo fading early on.

The best way to maintain tattoo color is to care for it properly. Following instructions that are given by the tattoo artist is important. The tattoo should remain bandaged for about 24 hours. Lightly washing the tattoo with an antibacterial soap and using a medicated ointment is ideal.

To prevent a tattoo from fading immediately after it has been done, it’s important to avoid frequent water exposure in the shower or a pool until after it has healed. This can be especially difficult for foot and ankle tattoos. Some tattoos will develop scabs or peel during the healing process. To prevent a tattoo from fading it is important to avoid picking scabs or peeling skin.

A tattoo’s color is often lost due to hours spent lying out on the beach or in the sun. To prevent a tattoo from fading, it is best to avoid sun contact. Using a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 will help keep the tattoo protected from the sun’s UV rays. It is also important to keep in mind that tattoos should not be exposed to the UV rays in tanning beds. Women and men who chose to use tanning beds should be sure to cover the tattoo with a washcloth or bandage in order to maintain color.

Keeping the skin hydrated is ideal for anyone who is trying to prevent tattoo fading. It is best to use a daily moisturizer, especially when the tattoo is in its early stages. Also be sure to avoid using a facial scrub on the tattoo. This will get rid of the dead skin cells, which may make the tattoo appear as though its begun to fade.

Caring for a tattoo properly is the best way to prevent tattoo fading. While it is likely that tattoo fading will begin after many years, taking steps to care for it early on can help the tattoo maintain its color for a longer period of time.

Tattoo costs

The length of time it takes to do a tattoo can vary from one to many hours, depending on the size and the complexity of the design. Tattoo artists in large urban areas tend to charge on the higher end of that range, or even more, while those in small towns often charge the lower rates.

The tattoo artist will create a stencil of the client’s chose design, usually using a special machine, and will then disinfect the tattoo site and transfer the stencil onto the skin. Then, the tattoo artist will pour ink into the tattoo machine, which has tiny needles that inject the ink into the skin. Using the machine, the tattoo artist will first trace the outline of the tattoo, and then add color and shading.

Some tattoo artists charge 10% to 25% extra for work on a part of the body that is more difficult, such as the lower back. Some artists charge extra for custom designs, but it is more common to ask for a deposit of about $50. If you are unhappy with your tattoo, having it altered to tattoo over might cost hundreds of dollars and removal is even more expensive. Tattoo fading will occur over time, so you will probably have to get it touched up in the future.

Because tattoos can be difficult and expensive to remove, it is important to choose an artist based on quality, rather than on price. And for regular customers or someone who is getting a lot of work done, some artists will offer a lower hourly rate.

Above is some information on tattoo costs. Tattoos costs depend heavily on the tattoo you are getting and where the tattoo artist is located. For more information on tattoo costs, please contact your local tattoo artist!

Below are some common types of tattoos:

• Abstraction tattoos: abstractions tattoo designs are mostly derived from archaic design tattoos. These types of tattoos are very simple. It requires minimal art work for artists as it doesn’t require many different colors. Almost all of the tribal tattoos fall into this category.
• Stylized tattoos: stylized tattoos are very popular amongst young people. As the name implies, these types of tattoos are very stylish and come in plenty of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some of the most common designs of stylized tattoos contain beautiful and attractive image of animals, flowers, zodiac signs and heart. You can also customize these pictures according to your personality at some extra cost. Compared to other designs, they are inexpensive and rising in popularity.
• Naturalistic tattoos: these are tattoos that look realistic. They require a lot of time and effort of an artist in order to make the tattoo as realistic as possible. Because it takes so much hard work and time, these tattoos tend to be quite expensive.
• Combination tattoos: combination tattoos involve designs that are being prepared by mixing several different designs, forms, and shapes. Compared to other types of designs, they are much more impressive as they are comprised of various different images, shapes, and designs.
• Pledges tattoos: Pledge tattoos are quite inexpensive that other designs and more commonly used in western society. They contain hear shapes, anchors, and names. They are not as popular as other designs, but still they are best for a person who wants to make a dedication or statement to an occasion.

Doing a little research on the Internet you can find a huge variety of types of tattoos, designs, pictures, and tattoo quotes with detailed information. Because there are so many different types of tattoos, it is easy to customize your tattoo to fit you perfectly!

Stars are popular with the lower area of the tongue, near the tip. Although many aren’t familiar with tongue tattoos yet, they are just now starting to take shape. Whether it be purple, orange, black, or blue, the tongue can be tattooed a variety of different colors. A tattoo on the tongue is often described as a tickling sensation or the feeling of numbness in your mouth.

A tongue tattoo is a bit on the creative side…something that you just don’t see in public everyday. When the tattoo artist does the tattoo, he will normally use a tool to hold the tongue out. The designs that are poplar with tongue tattoos include stars, tribal work, and other shapes and designs that cover a region of the tongue. A tattoo involved needles puncturing the skin, depositing ink into the epidermis. Once the tongue is out, the artist will begin work!! You better hope the tattoo artist does a good job, because you’d be out of luck for tattoo removal!

Getting a tattoo

Our skin is thicker and thinner at different spots on our body. Taking into consideration, we should plan where we get our tattoo before going to a tattoo parlor. Tattoos can be pretty painful if you choose a place that is more sensitive to external factors as the needle from the tattoo machine. Therefore, those who are eager to spare themselves from a more painful experience should take a glimpse at the most painful sports to get a tattoo. Ask your tattoo artist about the places where the tattoo session might cause your discomfort and pain and if you’re not that brave, skin the areas below and choose a less sensitive section of your body.

• Behind the ear: This popular, very sensitive spot might give you a pretty painful experience if you choose to have your tattoo here. If you look at this area, you’ll notice the hard bone and the extra-thin skin layer that covers it. Consider this fact before getting a tattoo behind the ear. In some cases, tattoo artists often use a numbing cream to relieve the pain.
• Spine: Close contact with the spinal bone makes the application of tattoos a bit more painful than in other spots. Professional tattoo artists will use specialized cream that can numb the areas to cause less discomfort and pain.
• Ankle: Ankle tattoos are extremely popular. Ankle tattoos are usually down on the lowest part of the calf and may even extend to the foot. You may experience slight burning and pain as the skin is super-thin in the section and the spot is bonier than the other sections of your leg.
• Elbows: The elbow area has similarities with that of the knees and ankles. The bones and the thin layer of skin all contribute to the pain factor of these tattoos. The size as well as the complexity of the design would determine the length of the tattoo session as well as the pain it causes.
• Ribs: One of the most revealing and vision-pleasing tattoo designs is applied to the ribs. However, this is a highly sensitive area. Tattoo artists use several breaks during the complex session because many individuals may consider the pain pretty unbearable.

Above are some of the most painful places for getting a tattoo. If you are considering getting a tattoo, make sure you take these into consideration so you know what you’re in for when you get to the tattoo parlor!

Tattoo shading

Black and gray tattoos are traditional style of tattoos that some historians say originated in prisons in the 19^th century. Due to the fact that colored pigments were not available in prisons, techniques were developed to add interest to designs created with black ink. These techniques included tattoo shading that was accomplished by varying the intensity of the pigment from dark black to lighter shades of gray. The depth of the injection was also varied to create dark and light areas within the tattoo design.

Tattoo shading works better on some tattoo designs that on others. Designs that feature portraits are well suited for shading, as are images of skulls, animals, flowers, and landscapes. Fantasy creatures like dragons are also good subjects for tattoo shading. A realistic, life-like image can be created through the effective use of shading, especially black and gray shading.

Today, the most effective type of tattoo shading is done with a tattoo machine. This machine uses a group of needles arranged on a bar. The needles are pushed rapidly in and out of the skin by the machine’s motor. The depth of the puncture can be precisely controlled with a tattoo machine, which is an important requirement for tattoo shading.

Here are the steps for tattoo shading with a tattoo machine:

1. Dip the needle into the black or colored ink
2. To create the consistent tattoo shading, the needles on the tattoo machine should be tilted and moved across the skin like a paintbrush.
3. Needle depth should be adjusted according to the type of shading that is being done.
4. Before dipping the needles into more ink, the area of the tattoo that was just completed is wiped clean of excess ink.
5. Many tattoo artists use white ink to add highlights to a shaded tattoo.

Mastering the art of tattoo shading is one of the biggest challenges for a tattoo artist. A high degree of skill in tattoo shading is one of the things that sets a tattoo artist apart and establishes his or her reputation. Tattoo shading is a skill worth having for tattoo artists, since it separates a simple inked design from a real masterpiece of body art.

Prison tattoos

When it comes to prison tattoos, some designs have been developed to symbolize specific means. In addition, many utilize certain codes that can be quite difficult to decipher and not easily recognized. The following designs are most commonly found in prison tattoos.

• Three dots arranged as a triangle: This design is most commonly found between a prisoner’s forefinger and thumb. The design stands for “mi vida loca” which means “my crazy life”.
• Teardrop tattoo: This design is on the eye. It indicates the wearer has killed someone or that the person had a friend killed in prison.
• Shamrock: This design is usually anywhere on the body and is found on those belonging to the Aryan Brotherhood.
• Ace of spades: Worn anywhere on the body, this design is mostly worn by those belonging to either the Aco Town or Asain Boyz gang. The A, which is often placed in the middle of the spade, is meant to symbolize Asian while the spade symbolizes thievery.
• Clocks with no hands: Most commonly placed on the upper arm, this tattoo symbolizes “doing time”.
• Spider web: Generally found on the elbow, this tattoo is used by white supremacists to demonstrate that they have severely injured or killed one of their “opponents”. The design is also commonly found on people that have been in prison.

The concept of prison tattoos is not a new one. There is evidence to show that prison tattoos were used in ancient Egyptian times. As with many of the tattoos worn by prisoners today, these tattoos also had a symbolic meaning.

Prison tattoos are also commonly found in other parts of the world, including Russia and Britain. As tattoos become more and more common and are increasingly accepted in our society, the designs and symbols once reserved for prison tattoos are also becoming more frequently worn by the mainstream.