“A tattoo will be on your body forever,”

However, the one thing that can be taken from those words of motherly love – and a bit of fear over what design I would have etched into my body – is that indeed tattoos last forever, and the process involves an ink injection process, scarring, scar tissue and healing. Caring for your tattoo is nearly as important as whom you go to see to get it done. In a popular culture world where having a tattoo is tantamount to, say, being self expressive, if you are between the ages of 18-30, chances are that a good 50% of all of you have a tattoo. Chances are also fair – or at least I would wager – that most people think they need to purchase some tube of $40 “specialty” cream to heal their tattoo properly and care for it afterwards.

Not to come off as egocentric, maniacal or brash – you will only require some basic components that you can acquire at any drugstore for fewer than $20. Ignore the cool looking ads for tattoo aftercare creams, balms, lotions and ointments, and even some costly kits I found that are so overpriced I nearly did a double-take. Rather, follow these simple tips on caring for your tattoo after getting it, and you will be good to go in a matter of a few days. For the record, I have several hundred hours of ink on my body that was done by an award winning tattoo artist. So I am not talking about of my backside here. Caring for a tattoo is actually easy—even if the healing process seems precariously and painstakingly overdrawn.

My Top Tattoo Care Tips

• Resuscitate the skin folds – our skin is kept youthful, vibrant, evenly textured and toned thanks to vitamin A, D and E and other skin reviving elements like elastin and collagen that the skin produces when it sheds layers and grows new layers. That being said, simple A & D ointment will help combat bacterial infection while promoting the production of key skin-nourishing agents to heal your tattoo quickly. No need to spend more than a couple bucks on the drugstore brand tube; it contains the same constituents as the name brands do.
• Don’t pick, peel or scratch at your tattoo while it is healing. If you feel an itch coming on, grab that ointment and liberally lather it to quell the itching. Never itch, scratch or peel the skin, as you can damage the ink while it is still setting in. If you tear peeling skin off before it is ready, you more than likely will also tear parts of the ink off with it. So refrain, and swear an oath to A & D ointment.
• Drink your weight in ounces of water daily. You should already be doing this for good health. But guess what, your skin is comprised of nearly 80% water. So stay hydrated to help speed up the healing process.
• Find a good skin cream with vitamin E in it. This is for daily use after the healing process has ended. Vitamin E is a super antioxidant and free radical scavenger – which means it hunts downs and eradicates damaged skin cells called free radicals. Use this lotion daily after your tattoo has healed to help retain color and texture.

Take Your Time Choosing Your Design & Artist

I can’t emphasize this enough. You are getting something that will be on your body forever, especially full sleeves, which are pretty much impossible to cover up. It’s permanent artwork, and your skin is the canvas. So be absolutely certain that you know what you want before you get started. I spent a good three months pondering what to put on my arms before even sitting down in the chair, and you should take plenty of time deciding as well. For that matter, take your time choosing a tattoo artist. Look around at various shops, check out their portfolio, and take some mental notes. In this manner, you will find an awesome tattoo artist that can deliver the artwork you desire.

Prepare for Some Pain – Color Almost Always Hurts More

If you plan on getting color, it generally will hurt a bit more than line work, grey wash or black ink. This is because they use a wider gauge needle to really pack the ink into the skin. Many tattoo artists have told me that color is finicky and does not set or take nearly as well as black or grey. I had to have various portions of my skin touched up several times because the skin rejected the color ink. Anyone who tells you that tattoos do not hurt either has a really high pain threshold, had an area done that did not hurt that much, or is lying. It hurts. They are injecting ink into your skin using a needle that penetrates the dermal folds countless times per second. So be prepared for a bit of pain, and be prepared for color to hurt even more than line work, grey wash or black ink. You can also take some toothache ointment and massage it into the area that you plan on having worked on during that session; it contains numbing agents that will help to dull the pain.

The Healing Process

There are numerous different healing creams that you can opt for after getting portions of your full sleeve tattoos inked on your arms. While people swear up and down on various different costly name brands, the reality is that good old Walgreens or CVS brand A & D ointment will do the trick, and will cost you about half the price, too. You should never pick at the peeling skin from a tattoo, as you can also take out ink that is still setting by ripping off even small pieces of the skin. It you must, trim gnarly and annoying peeling skin pieces using medical scissors; this will vastly reduce blotching and spotting. If you got your ditch done (the inside pit of the elbow on the arm), an old trick to not messing it up when you sleep involves tying the arm that was worked on to your bedpost, so that you don’t roll over on the ditch of your arm while snoozing and mess up the ink work. Be patient and diligent while healing, and after about 5-7 days your tat will be good to go.

While a totally cheesy and overused anecdote, it rings apparently true when it comes to getting full sleeve tattoos with color: “No Pain; No Gain!”

The History of the Tramp Stamp

Looking back, there are not many anecdotal records that purport that dichotomy or history of the tramp stamp or lower back tattoo on females. However, borrowing a bit from our German Euro-friends – who are now our buddies, half a century-plus, post WWII – a slang German saying, Arschgeweih is loosely translated into “ass antlers,” which is their motif of tramp stamp. This term is rather widespread, too. On a completely different continent, Australia, they call it “arse antlers.” That being said, it seems rather obvious that the epitaph of smuttiness that’s colloquially associated with this female lower back tattoo is widely considered to be a bit promiscuous worldwide, and not just in America.

Mattel Branded the “Tramp Stamp”

If you really want to find out who is the conglomerate that coined this terminology, look no further than the gargantuan toy maker, Mattel. Their flagship doll, Barbie, is the epitome of the fake, plastic, ditzy neophyte that is more reminiscent of a gal that you would see on one of those loosely scripted – but somehow supposedly real – so-called reality TV shows (think Tila Tequila here, and you will be on the right track, folks). Back in 2008, Mattel released the official “Tramp Stamp Barbie,” which was not well received by parents, who expressed outrage over the fact that the “Barbie Totally Stylin” model had a very discernable tramp stamp on her lower back. They later pulled the model line in lieu of a very bad public relations nightmare that emanated posthumous its release.

So Are Lower Back Tattoos on Females Really Out?

Here’s a good social studies lesson that distinctly applies to real life. Conduct your own poll amongst five of your female friends who do not brandish a lower back tattoo. Ask them what they call it, and why. Our bet is that about 90% of them will agree: it’s a tramp stamp and it’s slutty. Girls that already have one – or at least in my experience in meeting them – play it off as, “I was, like, um, with some friends, and we were like, um, really drunk, and it was totally in college, and me and my girlfriend, Mercedes, were like: let’s get matching tattoos. Now I soooo regret it…because I am totally not a slut; no way! … Do you want fries with your burger for the Hooters special?”

Having a lower back tattoo obviously does not make you a slut. But the mere showing of it may be the neon calling sign to every single and intoxicated male at the bar you frequent that you are “fair game.” If you like your lower back tattoo, popular culture be damned. After all, stereotypes are merely just that: close-minded thinking.

Under that premonition, it’s safe to say that we can all be close-minded at certain points. When it comes to the tramp stamp, it’s safe to say that a wide swath of society apparently possesses these same close-minded attributes. Guess that’s just something that makes us inherently human. In summation: lower back tattoos on woman are predominantly deemed to be a sign that the girl is “easy to get.” Case closed.

10. Jeremy Shockey – Did anyone think to mention to world champion, New Orleans Saints’ tight end Jeremy Shockey that there is a football team called the Eagles and he’s not on it? This one makes the list only for the mixed message factor. Nice ink otherwise.

Brad Pitt

Angelina Jolie

9. Branjelina – Now that Kat & Nikki are splittsville, Branjelina are the first couple of Hollywood tattoos…psht. Angelina just can’t stop using that previously pristine body as a high priced bumper for her self important stickers. And based on this symbolic attempt, Brad seems as uncommitted to the art of tattooing as he is to his bizarre celeb non-marriage to whacko Jolie.

Megan Fox

8. Megan Fox – For the love of all that is hot, please stop now. Everyone gets it, you idolize Marilyn Monroe, but do you think a classy dame like that woulda junked up her arm with a needle? Wait…don’t answer that.

Steve O.

7. Steve-O – When is something that is the best also the worst? Steve-O has made a career of this riddle. Yep, he was on the 15 best celebrity tattoos list also, but damnit, this self portrait is just so bad it’s good, so here it is once more. Congratulations on this distinct honor, jackass!

Nicole Richie

6. Nicole Ricci – Nice flash you creative vortex. What is she famous for again?

Pam Anderson

5. Pam Anderson – Nothing screams “I was the shit in ‘96!” like a tribal, barbed wire armband tat. Everyone loves ya Pammy, but maybe it’s time for a cover up (unless the barbed wire honestly has some deeper profound meaning to you). Stay away from the koi and lotus trend though. That’s basically turning out to be the tribal date stamp of the ‘00s.

Amy Winehouse

4. Amy Winehouse – Yuck. On so many different levels, too. Quick, somebody pass us some penicillin.

Christina Ricci

3. Christina Ricci – Things Christina Ricci’s Tattoo artist never said: “Christina, you know you can get anything you want right? You know this is going to be permanent, right? O-kay, just checking.”

Mark Wahlberg

2. Mark Wahlberg – He’s such a powerful actor who has come so far since his Calvin Kline underwear days. He’s one of those guys who lends instant cred and watchability when you see his name attached to a movie. Tattooing your own name on yourself however, is a fail to begin with. The style and size of this monstrosity belie his class as an actor. He probably did this piece hoping that people would quit calling him Marky Mark, or maybe he’s just a douche in real life. Word is, he wised up and got it removed this year. Cred restored.

Britney Spears

1. Britney Spears – Oops, she did it…again? America’s favorite white trash debutante once got a tattoo that was supposed to say “Mysterious” in chinese characters, but it translated to “Strange.” No biggie, still fits and is sorta similar. THEN she proceeded to get a Kabbalah inspired Hebrew character tattoo on the back of her neck that was supposed to say “God” (Or “New Era” depending on your source). That artist — wouldn’t it be funny if it was the same one? — also goofed the tattoo and put the characters in the wrong order. She ended up getting it removed altogether, but the fact that it happened twice wins her the coveted numero uno slot. Doesn’t she have handlers for this sort of thing?

Writing about the 15 best celebrity tattoos might sound like it’d be a cakewalk. After all, there have been a slew of A-listers sporting new flesh designs on the red carpet in recent years. However, the modifier “best” is the sticking point, as the fad has often been tacky, trendy and lame. Without further ado, here are a few who got it pretty much right, (even if it is in their own, daddy-didn’t-hug-me-enough kind of way).

15. Angelina Jolie - Everyone knows there is an unwritten law in documenting celebrity skin — you have to include Angelina Jolie. Who are we to break the law? Let’s get AJ out of the way first then, since she’s a bit, shall we say, overexposed? After a ton of practice (see: her other tattoos) she finally got it right with the recent Buddhist Pali incantation written in Khmer script by Bangkok artist Noo Kanhphaain. May her enemies run far away, but never her fans. She’s too fun.

Mena Suvari

14. Mena Suvari – Maybe it’s just the younger sect in Tinseltown that “gets it.” Mena Suvari, American Beauty/Pie hottie, seems to be one of the few who actually pull off  skin art with class. Her “Word. Sound. Power.” neck piece, with a line art lion atop, sits well on her lovely neck. Wait…hold the presses…further research has unveiled that she more recently got a big “13” on her chest. Yuck, so close.

Lady Gaga

13. Lady GaGa - No, we’re not fishing or dishing here by hyping up the buzz crowd. Okay, maybe a little. Still, Lady GaGa’s newest art/stunt deserves mention, if not for its simplicity then for sheer marketing genius. “Born This Way” is not only the name of her next album, but also the words she had inked around a simple unicorn on her thigh, knowing full well that there would soon be a zillion photogs snapping and re-posting the words online. See, now you know the name too. Dammit, how does this diva keep outsmarting us?

Kim Kardashian

12. Kim Kardashian - Love her or hate her, KK’s tat is a rare example of how the rich & famous don’t need to be the dumb & clueless. This colorful, trippy flower design is actually pretty dope.

Justin Bieber

11. Justin Bieber – This little bird (it is a bird, right?) tattoo makes the 15 best list on the sheer hilarity of the fact that now, millions of pre-pube girls around the world are stomping their feet because mommy & daddy won’t let them get drilled. Don’t worry, it’s going to show up on the 15 lamest list too, but man, this kid’s got the world by the balls and his haven’t even dropped yet!

Ville Valo

10. Ville Vallo – The Finnish “Love Metal” god is a household name amongst the Hot Topic sect who worship his band, H.I.M.. His “Heartagram” logo that has become synonymous with H.I.M. (and made famous by Viva La Bam star, Bam Margera) is probably inked in the pale flesh of more angsty goth kids than any since Marilyn Manson’s heyday. Ville’s sense of dark musical style is paralleled profoundly by his unique black art designs, most notably the hand drawn, paisley-esque arm sleeve he sports.

Marilyn Manson

9. Marilyn Manson – Love him or hate him, when referencing Marilyn Manson, you’ve got to give the man props for putting the shock back in shock rock. His tribal eye inner-arm tattoos were ahead of their time back in the early ‘90s. Even if his star has faded over the years, the pigment and effect barely has.

Kat Von D

8. Kat Von D – It hardly seems fair to include a professional tattoo artist in a list of celeb tattoos. However, Kat crossed the line from artist to the stars to boner fide starlet herself when her reality show, LA Ink, thrust her into the homes of salivating American young’uns. The iconic pin-up became famous for inking idols like [then] boyfriend Nikki Sixx, and her ability to permanently sketch portraits became a trademark, earning her an hourly chair fee most shrinks would kill for. With so many wonderful pieces to choose from, you kind of have to take Von D’s body of work as a whole. Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?

Nikki Six

7. Nikki Sixx – See how this list just flows like the ink from a gun? Mr. Sixx has been the poster child for wild tattoos since the early ‘80s. His main band, Mötley Crüe, even had an album named New Tattoo – that’s how synonymous he is with the art. While 6’s much publicized breakup with #8 garnered him some fan sympathy, don’t shed a jailhouse tear for ol’ Nik – the guy came back from the dead twice, he’ll be fine. In the meantime, he’s a classic example of all that is right in the world of tattooing. His torso designs are rad, but the sun on his back is one of the best you’ll ever see.

Tupac

6. Tupac – Two words summed up the life and death of the world’s most celebrated rapper: Thug Life. Tupac advertised the lifestyle proudly on his highly defined abs,  and although he pulled off the look successfully, not everyone  is as lucky.

Steve-O

5. Steve-O – Only this jackass would get a huge portrait of himself tattooed on his back. But you know what? It’s actually pretty good.

Megan Fox

4. Megan Fox - Okay, okay, back to the real movie stars. “It girl” Megan Fox is really skilled at transforming her image. The poem she stuck on her rib cage reads: “there once was a little girl who never knew love until a hug broke her HEART.” Dear Megan, thank you for sharing your touching prose. May we suggest a few cover up ideas? Seriously though, if you’re gonna get it in you for life, better to do something that means a helluva lot to you. Guarantee this wasn’t flash on the wall at Hollywood Ink.

Mike Tyson

3. Mike Tyson – Nothing screams “you should be afraid of me” quite like tribal face tat. This was probably a hail Mary attempt to intimidate opponents in the ring after the former heavyweight champ lost his unbeatable left uppercut. Scary, yet effective – another notable win for Iron Mike.

Jessica Alba

2. Jessica Alba – Yeah, we realize this is a bodysuit – but we can still marvel at the dream, can’t we?

1. Tommy Lee – The only reason T-bone beats out his Crüe-cified bandmate Nikki for top honors is because: A) He’s a slightly bigger celeb, and B) His “Mayhem” stomach tattoo became as iconic to the white trash wannabe rocker generation as Tupac’s “Thug Life” did to the white bread wannabe gangsta rap scene. If one word could sum up the dangerous personality that tattooing used to rep, “Mayhem” ain’t a bad choice. Tommy 4eva!

Tommy Lee

INKED: How does your new VH1 show Glam God with Vivica A. Fox work?

FOX: We moved 15 stylists into a home. They are from the different worlds of fashion, from hair to makeup to wardrobe. We divided them into teams and put them through tests of styling for either a photo shoot, red carpet for MTV, red carpet for the Oscars, and other events. We were looking for that gem of a stylist to give them the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m one of the judges and I’m also the host.

Let us guess: there’s drama.

Oh yeah. There are some personalities that just – whoa! You had to go, okay baby, let’s calm down. For some people it was like, this is my life and my big opportunity, because it was. It was a good opportunity for them.

Have you ever had to deal with a stylist meltdown in your personal life?

Oh sure. Are you kidding? It’s just amazing to me how sometimes it becomes more about them than you. They can get a little full of themselves and think they’re responsible for your look. No baby. You help to achieve the look.

Do you try to cover your tattoos at red carpet events ?

No. I’ve always been proud of my tattoos. I got my first tattoo when I turned 30. It’s a little fox on my arm. I was born a fox and I shall die one. I go to Shamrock Social Club on Sunset Boulevard. Either Mike [Roche] or Paul [Stottler] work on me. But I think I’ve slowed down now. Nothing traumatic has happened to me.

You’ve talked before about the tattoo of “Strength Courage Wisdom” that you got after your breakup with 50 Cent. Has he ever commented on it?

Actually, I had it removed. It hurt to get it removed and it’s a lot more expensive. I just really felt like that chapter of my life was over and it was time for me to move on. And I didn’t like that it was the one I had to cover up in movies. It became a little bit of a pain in the ass. I think it was a bit too large. It was a chapter in my life but I looked at it and thought, I’m cool.

Do you have any tattoos that we haven ‘t seen? I have one on my lower back.

It’s vinery and it goes into a rose. I love it a lot. I call it my handlebars.

By: Jason Buhrmester, photos by Rande St. Nicholas – Inked Magazine

For more cutting edge tattoo coverage, visit InkedMag.com

For a certified Meat, this could be a welcome change, especially that tattoos in three dimensions generally produce very realistic images and designs. For a Tenderfoot who frowns at the ubiquity of popular tattoo designs and symbols, getting a 3D ink would prove to be an exciting first step into the world of tattoos.

Lost? Get up to speed with the Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Slang…

One huge advantage of 3D, or 3-dimensional, tattoos over regular tattoo designs is the production of a more vivid and real image, primarily caused by adding depth into the design. Depth is mainly accomplished by putting in the right amount of shadow techniques to the design to make it look like it is really occupying a specific amount of space on a certain area. The product is a tattoo that greatly depicts a very realistic image or setting.

Across 7 categories, check out 20 eye-popping three dimensional tattoos.

3D Animal tats. Those things almost look real, don’t they?

Grave + skin disease – which is more frightening?

Sun and lion. I just want to peel that sun off that skin.

‘A HOLE New World’ meets What Lies Beneath.

Animated ambiguity – these trippy tats are straight-up confusing.

Alien, Cross, Spiderman. Clearly out-of-this-world 3D tats.

Mario Barth of Starlight Tattoo gave the infamous drummer a black and gray tattoo of a peacock on his thigh as they flew from Burbank to Miami aboard a private jet (Tommy’s). The stunt landed Lee and Barth in the Guinness Book of World Records for “First-Ever to Perform a Tattoo in High Altitude.” Barth, whose client roster includes Lenny Kravitz, Ja Rule and Nikki Sixx, is keeping tight lipped on who fronted the bill (Tommy), but said it cost around $150,000 for approximately 5 hours of tattooing.

Although pricing for this tattoo is extreme, many factors determine tattoo pricing:

• The client
• The tattoo artist
• The placement of the tattoo
• The design. The more elaborate the design, the more it will cost you.
• The colors. Ditto.
• The size. Ditto.
• Flash or original. If you choose a tattoo from a flash, it doesn’t take an artist much to copy that generic design. However, most high-end artists don’t do flash and will either come up with an original design themselves, or tweak the one you give them. Usually, such artists factor in the time spent drawing the tattoo into the final cost.
• The time it takes to complete. Some tattoo shops charge an hourly fee, so depending on how long it takes to get your tattoo, the final price may increase.

So, on average, how much are people paying for their tattoos?

In a recent survey conducted by tattoosurvey.com, 39% of poll-takers paid between $100 and $250 for a single tattoo, 60% paid less than $250, and 40% paid more than $250. Those who spent over $1000 for a single tattoo (8% of the poll-takers) got a relatively large custom piece designed and completed by a world-class tattoo artist (perhaps a full-sleeve or a back piece) over multiple sessions.

The cost of a tattoo is also largely based on the artist. Anil Gupta is considered NYC’s most expensive tattoo artist who unashamedly charges an hourly rate of $350. He does customized work exclusively and tattoos everything free-hand. His tattoos, like this Seurat (pictured), have been highlighted by Ripley’s Believe it or Not as “World’s Smallest Tattoo.”

If a tattoo artist has a list of celebrities among their clientele, such as Paul Timman (also a Tommy Lee sticker), Jonathan Shaw or Kat VD, the sky is the limit for what they can charge.

Last but not least, any artist will tell you it is impossible to quote a price without seeing a design. Simply stating “I want a tribal arm band” could range from a few hundred bucks into the thousands, considering all the factors mentioned above. If you are quoted a price by a good artist that you simply cannot afford, you can look around for another artist, but you will get what you pay for. You may want to scale down your design a bit to fit your wallet, or bite the bullet and pay top-dollar for an original piece of permanent art.

Remember, a cheap tattoo is not good and a good tattoo is not cheap. To find out more information on qualified tattoo artists in your area, and their pricing guidelines, check out our artist directory on RankMyTattoos.com

Here are the hottest magazine cover girls of 2008, and their rich collection of body art.

Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano graces the cover of Jezebel Magazine March 2008 issue looking all the more gorgeous with age. Could it be that this Charmed lady’s lovely tattoos, which are prominently located on her right wrist and lower stomach, give her a youthful glow?

Alyssa has a tattoo of a snake biting its tail on her right wrist. The actress says it’s a symbol of rebirth. On her left wrist is the Buddhist symbol of Om, which reminds her of her ex-husband. She also has rosary beads on her back, an angel tattoo on one ankle and a vine of flowers on the other. She has a fairy on her hip, and sacred heart on her lower back.

Angelina Jolie

Clearly the most popular tattooed female celebrity in the world, Angelina Jolie covers Harper Bazaar’s December 2008 issue with pure glamour.

Angelina’s stunning looks and acting prowess have won the hearts of many, especially with her tough-chick flicks such as “Tomb Raider” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” This gorgeous actress is also gifted with at least a dozen tattoos.

She has a huge tiger tattoo for a tramp stamp, and the famous coordinates of the origins of her adopted kids on her shoulder. Angelina’s tats are a reflection of her personality – exotic with a hint of dangerous sensuality.

Anna Kournikova

Anna Kournikova covers Maxim October 2008 wearing a shiny gold bikini. This tennis queen sports a stunning tribal flower tattoo on her lower back.

Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce Knowles is on the cover of Marie Claire Magazine October 2008 issue. Rocking the blogosphere with her alleged name change (Sasha Fierce anyone?), Beyonce rocks a tribal tat on her left thigh.

Britney Spears

Comeback queen Britney Spears covers the December 2008 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, showing off her new bod. Clearly, Britney has marked her presence in the music scene once more with her latest album entitled “Circus.” Britney’s songs Womanizer, and Kill the Lights are already climbing the charts; proof of just how much the world has missed the pop star.

The rebellious Britney has a number of tats on her now-again gorgeous body. She has a fairy on her back, butterfly tattoos on her foot, a small daisy on her right foot, Hebrew characters on her neck. The singer is also said to have gotten a flower tat and a pair of pink dice inked somewhere on her body.

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera lands on the cover of Us Weekly in its June 2008 issue. Sharing her secrets on how she got her body back, Christina wore a seemingly Mariah Carey-inspired pink ensemble that flaunted her dangerous curves.

Xtina also loves to flaunt her pretty tattoos. The pop diva has ‘Xtina’ tattooed prominently placed on the back of her neck. She also has a small flower on her left wrist, an intricate design on the inside of her left forearm, and an unknown tattoo just below her bikini line.

Not only is Christina inked, but she also is pierced. Known body piercings of the four-octave singer include one on her left nostril, a labret, her right nipple, and several alleged genital piercings.

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci was Hobo Magazine cover girl for its July 2008 issue. The “Black Snake Moan” star has a number of tattoos on various parts of her body. She has the famous Aslan tat on her right shoulder blade. She also a fairy tattoo on the inside of her right wrist, praying hands on her left hip, sweet peas on her lower back, a sparrow on her right breast, and the words Move or Bleed on the left side of her ribcage.

Denise Richards

Shape Magazine employed the cover girl prowess of sexy Denise Richards for its May 2008 issue. Though her career is not in a very good shape as of late, Denise still manages to stay in tip-top physical shape, making it hard to ignore the cute fairy ink and ‘Charlie’ tat taking residence on her shapely body.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore opened the US Presidential Election month by gracing the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Magazine November 2008 issue clad in patriotic colors. Drew herself is quite the patron of tattoos; she has at least 5 known tattoos on different parts of her anatomy.

Drew has a bouquet of flowers on her left hip, a butterfly on her tummy, a small black crescent moon on her toe, a stylized cross tattoo on her lower right leg, and two angels on her lower back.

Halle Berry

Esquire Magazine posed Halle Berry on the November 2008 issue cover. The sexy actress, who played Storm in the X-Men trilogy, tattooed the name of her first husband onto her right buttock. After the divorce, she has the tattoo changed into a sunflower.

Why a sunflower? Halle told the UK edition of Cosmopolitan Magazine: “I chose a sunflower because when darkness descends they close up to regenerate. But I really wish I’d never had the tattoo in the first place. Clean, clear skin is always better.”

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum is the cover girl of InStyle Magazine’s December 2008 issue. The gorgeous Victoria’s Secret supermodel decided to tattoo her husband’s name ‘Seal’ on the inside of her right arm, to show her utmost love and devotion.

Janet Jackson

Superstar Janet Jackson covers the February 2008 issue of Ebony Magazine, proving that she still has it. Well, if ‘has it’ means she has a nipple piercing, then she definitely has it. Thanks to that wardrobe malfunction, the whole world is well aware.

Janet allegedly has many more body piercings as well, such as her ears, her septum, her navel, her tongue, and her genitals. Janet also has several body tattoos. She has a Borneo-style scorpion design on the small of her back, a Kanji tattoo on the back of her neck and a “Sankofa” on the inside of her right wrist.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba covers Elle Magazine’s February 2008 issue. The star of “Dark Angel” and “Fantastic Four” sports various tattoos on her body, specifically Sanskrit, Lotus Flower, Daisy, and Ladybug.

Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel is the cover girl for the Marie Claire December 2008 issue. Jessica sports her famous dove tattoo located at her lower left tummy. The tat stands out in a pair of jeans or in a hot bikini. Jessica goes for small tats with huge impact.

Kate Hudson

The Cosmopolitan Magazine October 2008 issue features Kate Hudson on the cover. Kate has one little star tattoo on her foot. Though it’s not very noticeable, she did try to showcase it in one of her pictorials.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore lands on the cover of Elle Magazine in a white ensemble. Totally immaculate at a glance but wait to till you see her hammerhead shark tat and tribal armband – she’s one edgy cover girl.

Megan Fox

GQ October 2008 cover girl is none other than”Transformers” hottie Megan Fox. Megan did care to explain what her tattoos are. Here’s how she did it: “…a poem I wrote on my ribcage and a symbol for strength on my neck, and my boyfriend Brian’s name tattooed next to my pie”. Now that’s hot.

Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz covers W Magazine August 2008 issue. Penelope has an ankle tattoo that says ’883.’ What does that mean? Well, it looks like we need a numerologist to decipher the code. Pen is really planning to give us a hard time huh.

Numerologist Christine Delorey who wrote the book “Life Cycles” has this to say about Pen’s ankle tat: “In her chart, eight and three pop up as her main numbers in life. Eight stands for money, power and success and three stands for skill in communications and creativity. The second eight is to strengthen the power of the first. Penelope wants to win – she is very aggressive in terms of her career.”

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos

You can be pregnant and be a cover girl without getting naked. That’s what Rebecca Romijn-Stamos did for Page Six magazine in its November 2008 issue. This gorgeous supermodel has a cute tat on her ankle.

Rihanna

Rihanna is on the cover of Elle Magazine’s June 2008 issue. Rihanna is definitely an ink lover, as proven by her 11 precious tattoos. She currently rocks a music note tattoo on her ankle, a Pisces sign behind her right ear, a Sanskrit prayer going down her hip, a star in her left ear, the word ‘love’ on her left middle finger, an Arabic phrase on her ribcage area, meaning ‘Freedom is God,’ a trail of stars going down the back of her neck, a cute skull tattoo with a pink hair bow, the phrase ‘shhh…’ on her right index finger, the date ’4.11.1986′ on top of her left shoulder, and the last but not least, a henna-style dragon claw, complete with Hawaiian hibiscus flowers.

Who knows? Rihanna might have a fresh tat in the works before the year ends?

Rose McGowan

Rolling Stone Magazine features two roses on one cover – Rosario Dawson and Rose McGowan. The latter is sporting a pinup girl tattoo on her shoulder that appears to embody Rose McGowan’s personality.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar looks stunning on the cover of Movieline Magazine. In real life, Buffy has at least 3 tattoos. She has a heart / dagger design on her right ankle, a dragonfly on her lower back, and a hieroglyphic symbol located on her left hip.

Scarlett Johansson

“The Other Boleyn Girl” star Scarlett Johansson covers the December 2008 issue of Allure Magazine. The actress sports a brightly colored tat on her left forearm. The tat has a design of a sun setting over an ocean with a star shining in the sky. This celebrity tattoo looks quite cartoonish, but we love it over Scarlett’s pale skin.

Sienna Miller

Elle Magazine featured Sienna Miller on a memorable 2008 cover. Sienna sports a 3-star tattoo on her right shoulder and a medium-sized swallow design on her left wrist.

Victoria Beckham

Victoria ‘Posh’ Beckham started the year right with her Elle January 2008 magazine cover. The infamous Posh Spice has had several tats for several reasons. Her latest addition is a Hebrew text taken from the Song of Songs 2:16 that says, “I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.” That was for her 6th wedding anniversary with husband David.

Victoria also has a tattoo on her lower back. It started with three stars symbolizing each of the family members. When her two younger sons came, the three stars became five. The actress / model also has a Roman Numeral tattoo for May 8 1997, the day Victoria and David had sex for the first time.

Check out more industry icon and celebrity tattoos here.

Singapore Tattoo Show: January 9-11, 2009
Location: Singapore Expo Exhibition
Contact Information: admin@tattoo.com.sg
Website: www.tattoo.com.sg

The first annual Singapore Tattoo Show will gather famed tattoo artists from around the world, including show ambassador Chris Garver of “Miami Ink.” The show is sponsored by the Singapore Tourism board and will feature tattoo contests, trade seminars and live performances.

Miami Tattoo Expo: January 9-11, 2009
Location: Miami Beach Convention Center
Contact Information: info@miamitattooexpo.com
Website: www.miamitattooexpo.com

The 2009 Miami Tattoo Expo, formerly the Gold Coast Tattoo Expo, will include world-renowned tattoo artists, live tattooing and piercing demonstrations, seminars, custom cars and choppers, special guests and much more.

23rd Annual New York AM-JAM Tattoo Expo: January 23 – 25, 2009
Location: Holiday Inn – Syracuse/Liverpool (Exit 37) New York
Contact Information: 518.893.2273
Website: www.am-jam.com

Imagine three epic days of all things Ink. Expo features live music, special guest the “Lizard Man,” over 75 working artists and piercers, tattoo competitions including “Tattoo of the Day” awards, leather and jewelry vendors.

14th Annual Motor City Tattoo Expo: February 27-March 1, 2009
Location: Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan
Contact Information: 517.540.6055
Website: www.eternaltattoos.com

Award-winning tattoo artists, tattoo competitions, trade seminars and vendors from throughout the nation will help celebrate the 14th year of this famous Expo in Detroit.

Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo: March 6-8, 2009
Location: Sydney Showground, Australia
Contact Information: mike@tattooexpo.com.au
Website: www.tattooexpo.com.au, www.myspace.com/sydneytattooexpo

The first annual Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo will feature over 100 international artists and body piercers, tattoo supplies, merchandise, 8 live bands, tattoo contests and a tattoo art-fusion project.

7th Annual Lady Luck Tattoo Arts Expo: March 13-15, 2009
Location: Reno, Nevada
Contact Information: tazinger@comcast.net
Website: http://ladylucktattooexpo.com

Hundreds of vendors and world-class tattoo artists will attend this year’s convention in Nevada. Seminars and demonstrations, live music, fashion booths and the latest techniques in the tattoo industry will also be on display throughout the weekend.

2nd Annual Tats & Art for a Cure Convention: April 10-12, 2009
Location: Los Angeles Convention Center
Contact Information: tatsforacureconvention@yahoo.com
Website: www.tatsforacure.com

Sponsored by the Healing Art Foundation, this convention honors breast cancer survivors (men and women). Boasting the motto: “Save the Boobies: Tats for a Cure,” tattoo artists will perform cover-up tattoos, permanent makeup and areola re-pigmentation.

2nd International Moscow Body-Art Festival: September 11-13, 2009
Location: Moscow, Russia
Contact Information: av@asinternational.ru
Website: www.moscowbodyartfestival.com

The 2nd International Professional Convention of Body-art and Body-painting in Moscow will feature Russian tattoo artists, singers and performers.

Hell City Tattoo Fest 7 – “Let It Bleed”: May 29-31, 2009
Location: Columbus, Ohio, Hyatt Regency Downtown
Contact Information: info@hellcity.com
Website: http://www.hellcity.com

With over 130 artists on board (this year’s roster includes Kim Saigh of “LA Ink” fame), 75 booths, live entertainment and more tattoo-inspired activities to mention, Hell City’s Tattoo Fest has become one of the most popular tattoo conventions in the world.

11th annual Northern Ink Xposure, Toronto: June 19-21, 2009
Location: Toronto Hilton, Toronto, Canada
Contact Information: www.tattoos.com/nix
Website: www.tattoos.com

Scheduled for three nights, this convention will feature live music, hundreds of vendors and booths, live tattooing and special guests.

Tattoo Convention Tips:

1. Most conventions offer cheaper prices for pre-bought passes, so buy tickets early.

2. If you want to get inked by a particular artist, book with them ahead of time; via email or the instructions given on the convention website. If your artist is especially popular, he or she may be booked from day one; leaving all non-booked clients shut-out.

3. Do your research. Just because you are at a convention doesn’t mean the tattoo artist before you knows shit about tattooing. Always check out portfolios and even ask around if people have seen or front the work of the artist you are considering.

These are just the top ten tattoo conventions in 2009, but there are hundreds of tattoo conventions annually, some in a city near you. To find out more, you know the drill: Google.

Peruse our directory of tattoo photos here and read up about tattoo lifestyle here.