Tattoos That Shock and Awe

Thinking of making a statement about an experience or a feeling that is pregnant with feeling for you? Well, what better way to have that represented in your life than by a tattoo that will make it a part of your body forever? Tattoos have become ways in which many people choose to express themselves and have gotten to be pretty mainstream today.

The word itself is traced back to the Polynesian word 'tatau' that was borrowed by Joseph Banks in 1769. He used it to describe the indelible marks that the people of Tahiti covered themselves with to represent "their humor or disposition."

History traces a number of cultures that made use of facial tattoos as part of their heritage. These include the Ainus in Japan, Maori in New Zealand, the Polynesians and several other tribes in Africa, North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Though the tradition of tattooing goes back to the 4th or 5th millennium Before Christ, tattoos continue to be frowned upon even today especially in professional circles. That fact hasn't kept the art from getting increasingly popular, however. More and more people today opt to get a tattoo done, often looking at it as a work of art expressed on the canvas of one's own body.

Tattoos have been used not just as a tradition but also for spiritual, artistic and decorative purposes. They are also used more frequently now a days to represent a group that one belongs to. This is most commonly noted among gangster and criminals. In such a case, the person in question might also have other tattoos that represent his skill set and achievements in the field of criminology.

One must also not forget to mention those who were forcefully tattooed such as the inmates who were tattooed for identification purposes in Nazi Concentration Camps. The reason behind this is the same as that which led sailors and those who worked at sea to tattoo themselves. Tattoos are made indelible by burying the pigment deep enough in the skin that it can't be erased no matter what the person is put through physically. Drowned persons and burn victims can still be identified by their tattoos.

Today most modern tattoos are done with the help of machines that can be outfitted with the exact number of needles required to ensure the desired shading. The electronic tattoo machine, however, isn't the only way tattoos are done today. Many traditional methods still abound including tattooing with bamboo needles.

Cool Tattoo Designs

Almost everybody is on the lookout for cool tattoo designs that they can have inked on themselves. And for the past few years, there have been such great improvements in the art of tattooing, that tattoo artists have progressed from using canvas to designing human bodies instead. Literally, a living work of art. And if there is certainly one thing that a person sporting a new tattoo would like to hear, it is people's admiration over the new tattoo that they have. And this is also true in the part of the tattoo artist.

There is one problem though, about trying to find the best and cool tattoo designs and that is the fact that there are such a lot of people who want an equally lot of different designs all at the same time. They think that they have decided on a particular tattoo emblem and then they see another design and then change their minds about the first design and they opt for the last option that they saw. There are even people who go as far as calling tattoo art studios that are closest to where they live in order to find out what the most popular tattoo designs are available for them. The two most popular crafts are usually flowers for the women while for the men it is usually skulls. Although there are practically thousands of cool tattoo designs that are available for a person to take a pick from. When it comes to designs that both men and women choose, people usually go for tribal designs or stars or cross designs. As to the location of the tattoos, women usually have the tattoos on their lower backs while the men go for arm tattoos or as is more commonly known, tattoo sleeves. The men also opt for tattoos on their backs and shoulders.

There are also some really cool tattoo designs that are unique and well, I guess I can say, life sized. The neatest by far is a tattoo the size of a fly. Literally. There are people who prefer having thee tattoo designs in places where people would notice them and comment on them. I got to tell you, these types of tattoo designs are great ice breakers. Regardless if a tattoo is indeed great looking, it is important to keep in mind that a tattoo is a permanent thing. It is not something that you can easily remove by taking a good scrubbing. So if you decide to get a tattoo, make sure that it is something that you really would like to have for the rest of your life. Do a background check on the tattoo artists that you would go to as well. Are they using properly sanitized equipment? Are the tattoo artists indeed professional and has lots of experience? Consider as well the size of the tattoo design, the bigger and more customized the design, the more time the artist would spend time working on it and that may cause more money on your part.

Cool Tattoo Designs

Having chosen a cool tattoo design, you are now, I'm willing to bet, very much excited and thrilled to just rush out and got to a tattoo artist's studio and finally do it: get a tattoo. While I understand the excitement of getting a tattoo, I seriously think it would be wise if you read this article until the last line. Who knows? It may get you thinking about some things.

I am not against people getting tattoos. Being born in a family who are very artistically inclined, I understand and I am in fact, all for self expression and I look at tattoos as works of art. However, I see a lot of people who are so hyped about getting tattoos only to realize later on that they do not want to have the tattoos in the end and would then spend thousands of dollars to undergo painful procedures of getting the tattoo removed. It is a waste of time, money and an artist's hard work.

Getting a cool tattoo design permanently inked on any part of your body is ONE. BIG. DECISION. This is something that would stay with you for the rest of your life - unless, of course you decide you do not want the tattoo after all. And mind you, there are actual studies that show that around forty percent of the people who get tattoos later on regret having it done in the first place. What a bummer!

Since I am pretty sure that you do not want to see yourself included in that forty percent statistic, here are some of the things that you need to know and understand before you go out and get one cool tattoo design a permanent part of your body:

* Decide (and stick to the decision you make) on the type of tattoo design you would like. Are you interested in Celtic designs? Tribal? Something girly? Or aggressive? A tiger or a dragon tattoo perhaps? Check out websites that offer free tattoo designs or you can visit your local tattoo artist for flash designs. For custom designs, the process may take several hours stretched over a period of days. If you want a portrait done, do take note and understand that there are some designs or photos that may not look as good when recreated as a tattoo.

* Where particularly in your body would you like to have it done? Keep in mind that there how big or small the tattoo is dependent on the particular body part you would like to have it done on.

* Would you go for a big design or a discreet dainty tattoo instead? If a tattoo is very small, some colors may come out blurry.

* Is there a particular color that you would like to have done on your tattoo?

It is normal that you would have to look at literally, thousands and thousands of tattoo designs before you could come across the design that will suit you the best. If you are undecided on whether a design would really work for you, try printing a design and stencil it and then try to see if it will look good on you.

Armband Tattoo - More Than a Fashion Statement

Tattoos have been around for thousands of years, going back five thousand years or more. In ancient cultures, the armband tattoo signified ones place in a tribe as well as what tribe they belonged to. It could have been meant for royalty or a special skill one possessed.

During a poll taken online in 2008, it was estimated that 14% of the American adult population have at least one tattoo, and the armband tattoo is one of the most popular. Often placed around the upper arm, it accentuates the muscle on a man and women often find it sexy.

Choosing A Design

You can choose a simple band or go for an ornate Celtic design that is becoming popular. By choosing a design that represents you and a personal message you want to convey, you will have an armband tattoo you can be proud to show off.

Keep in mind that the inner part of the arm is very sensitive and can be quite painful to get a tattoo in this area, but as they say, no pain no gain!

Persons belonging to a fraternity or other groups may have a special design to show they belong to an elite group. Couples have been known to get matching armband tattoos. This is not the only area for a band though.

A band can go around the ankle, wrist or upper thigh as well. Flower designs are popular, as is a sun design mixed in with encircling rays or waves of water. Some have dolphins encircling the arm or the popular barbed wire or metal links.

The placement of an armband tattoo allows for easy concealment if you work in an industry that prohibits body art. Simply wear longer sleeves. You do not have to conceal it unless you want to.

Often, this tattoo is chosen as a first for some people and will lead to others. Some say once you start getting body art it becomes an addiction! It is rising in popularity that is for sure, and it is also becoming more acceptable, as people discover that body art is indeed a way of personal expression, and some tattoos are works of art in themselves.

When in the hands of a talented artist, an armband tattoo becomes more than a simple design. Take your time and research the many designs available. Think about what will match your personality and taste. Once there, it becomes permanent, so being absolutely sure on what you want will save you disappointment later on. It is very expensive and even more painful to get one removed.

Accentuate Your Body With a Sexy Tattoo Design

Tattoos, which are largely popular today can be an accessory to spice up one's looks. Women, in particular, are often closely associated with sexy tattoo designs. These designs are tattooed in various parts of the body - some exposed to the public eye while other sexy tat designs are tattooed discreetly in parts that remain shielded from the prying eyes.

The options are aplenty where sexy tat designs are concerned. Still, the crop of women tend to largely associate tat designs that are colored with sexiness. For instance, a large rose tattoo with bright red colors on its petals, green for its leaves and brown/black for its stem/thorns is widely regarded as sexy. Having mentioned that, where sexy tattoo designs are concerned, many have the notion that apart from the designs in itself, the placement of these tattoos in itself are equally important.

As we mentioned earlier, sexy tattoos that are tattooed on different parts of the body will give out different messages or different levels of sexiness for that matter. As an example, women who choose to get tattoos on their breast and chest are are said to be romantic. On the other hand, tattoos that are done on the more intimate areas of the woman's body such as the inner thigh is said to ooze high in the level of sexiness. The reason for this is, as we mentioned early in the article, rarely seen by most people other than those that have c close, intimate and sexy relationship.

What this means is the issue of sexy tat designs is largely debatable and one that largely depends on the individual getting the tattoo. It comes down to the choice of whether the bearer intends the sexy tat design to be appreciated by the public or reserved for a special someone.

In addition, as sexy tat designs becomes increasingly popular and complement a host of different popular fashion, style and trends, more women are getting these tattoos to go with their hair, top, handbag and other fashionable accessories. With that in mind, an experience tattoo artist will be able to give suggestions and recommendations regarding the perfect sexy tattoo designs to obtain in order to complement a specific fashion, style or/and trend that is currently hot.