Choosing The Perfect Tattoo - By: Cathy Barela

There is no denying tattoos are becoming more popular every day. From movie stars, like Pamela Anderson, and Cher, to rockers like Dave Navarro, from sororities, to Indian tribes, more and more people are getting tattoos. Even ancient kings had tattoos done to demonstrate their rank and power, as well as criminals to show their social standing. Traces of tattoos have been found on the bones of mummies as far back as 3000 B.C.

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian language "tattau', which means to mark. Tattoos are a representation of the owner's beliefs or view of the world. It is a symbol of what the person stands for. To the tattoo owner, many tattoos have significant or spiritual meanings, although today, many tattoos are done for their artistic beauty, as well.

If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, is it wise to take your time deciding which one is right for you by viewing as many tattoo galleries as possible. It is a life time decision unless you choose to have it removed. It can take from three to eight times of laser surgery at $100-$150 each session to have it removed successfully. By selecting the right size and location cautiously, you can avoid this costly and painful situation.

It is very important to check out the reputation of the tattoo artist you have chosen. By seeing examples of his/her work and personal tattoo galleries you can determine if the artist is capable of performing the kind of tattoo you would like to have done. Make sure you both understand what you want to accomplish. Also, make sure the artist is using sterile equipment. Since the instrument used to perform a tattoo is a needle, it is vitally important to see it is used for the first time to avoid hepatitis C and other blood infections. After the tattoo is completed, the artist should give you special instructions on how to care for it to avoid infections from occurring; which should be to clean four to five times a day during the first month, keeping it moist and to keep out of direct sunlight until the tenderness subsides.

It is very possible to have a gorgeous tattoo that you can enjoy for many years to come. By choosing your tattoo carefully, you may find the tattoo that you can be pleased with for a lifetime. If you follow the correct steps, you will not regret the beautiful work of art you have acquired and can have an awesome tattoo.

Ink Again About Tattoos - By: Rufus Steele

Tattoo galleries and parlors have come a long way, but there are still some serious safety considerations that you should think about the next time you've had a few too many margaritas and are looking to get a parrot inked on your shoulder.

The fact of the matter is a lot of bad, bad diseases get transferred by dirty needles - such as HIV and hepatitis - and tattoos are inked into (not onto) your skin with a needle.

See the need for concern here?

However, tattoos are still as popular as ever, margaritas or no margaritas involved. You still see your average 19 year old sorority babe strutting around on the beach with the tattoo splayed across her lower back, or the fraternity dude with the barbed wire wrapped around his bicep.

That's not to mention all of the moms and pops out there with ink, the bikers, the athletes, and everybody else who finds decorating themselves with ink cool or artistic.

It's no wonder, then, that what is popular now has actually been popular for thousands of years and isn't a fad. Now however, modern science makes it tonnes safer and a tad (but only a tad) less painful.

The key to tattoos is that a needle injects the ink into your skin. The tattooist leads the needle over your skin at a safe, controlled speed. It can take anywhere from a half-hour to several sessions of hours at a time, depending on how big a tattoo you're getting. After it's all done and over with in the tattoo parlor, your skin can take between 7 to 10 days to heal and will be sore to the touch initially.

Back in the days when tattoos had a wane in popularity, and only punks, bikers, and other "crazy" people were getting them, tattoos got a bit of bad name. Mainly, the whole issue surrounded around whether or not tattoo parlors were actually clean and safe. There were even outbreaks of disease associated with less than stellar parlors.

And this concern only grows in modern times, with all of the new superbugs that are floating around society.

There are a host of viruses and bacteria that you can be infected with. We're talking hepatitis B, which has been reported as having passed from a tattoo needle. Though it would be possible for hepatitis C and HIV to pass from a needle into your skin as well, no such cases have been reported.

It could be that today's modern tattoo parlors take great pride in their work and the cleanliness of their facility. It could also be that state and local health departments have regulations that they use to govern tattoo parlors and keep them clean, and that they also enforce these regulations.

A worthwhile piece of information for you to know is that you can actually check with the health departments near you to get a rundown on the safe, as well as the unsafe, parlors in your area.

You can also look into an organization called the Alliance for Professional Tattooists, which is a nonprofit organization set up to develop sanitation guidelines for its members.

Of course this all makes sense to you now but if you follow the traditional route for choosing when and where to have a tattoo applied - after a few too many margaritas - you may not be thinking quite so clearly!

Ouch!!

Girl Tattoos - Their Meaning - By: Zoe Calow

Have you ever noticed how a tattoo suits the girl wearing it? Its uncanny how when a girl decides to have a tattoo they are drawn to a design that has their characteristics and personality, often without them even realizing.

Men tend to have tattoos as a spur of the moment decision that represent them at that particular stage of their life or perhaps because of a life changing experience such as falling in love or becoming a father. Girl tattoos on the other hand are usually given lots of consideration and thought and this is probably why the relationship between design and girl is so close.

A dragonfly has agility and speed and is confident in its ability. If you have ever tried to scare one away you will also know they are stubborn and persistent. For their size, they are very strong with lots of stamina. A girl with a dragonfy tattoo will have some of these qualities.

From the caterpiller comes the beauty of the butterfly! A girl who feels she has matured would be drawn to a butterfly tattoo design. As would one with a free spirit who is happy and content with herself.

The positioning of girl tattoos can also give away their characteristics. For instance, a girl who is a romantic at heart will often chose the shoulder for her tattoo, especially if she isn't ashamed to own up to being a romantic and a bit of a day dreamer.

Girl tattoos on the chest of an animal such as the above two examples would mean she is at one with mother nature while on the lower back shows she has faith in her beliefs and will not be shaken from her path. Girl tattoos below the navel show a virginal quality or perhaps a return to innocence after coming through a bad time in life.

While there are many thousands of girl tattoos to chose from, many women later in life come to understand what made them decide on the design they finally did. Sometimes it takes until they know themselves better and sometimes all it takes is for someone to comment - It suits you!

Next time a girl shows you her tattoo think of her character and personality and test it out for yourself. Don't forget to check out the tattoo galleries to ideas.