Archive for best tattoo designs
An Overview of the Tattoo Procedure
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Tattooing is the process of inserting pigments under the skin thereby making an image permanently part of your body. While there are ways to make a temporary tattoo, we are only going to be discussing the procedure for a permanent tattoo.
It is important for you to discuss any allergies that you have or any medication that you are taking with your tattoo artist prior to beginning the procedure. Tattooing involves inserting foreign particles into your body and it is better to know what reactions are normal and what aren’t.
The first step to getting a tattoo is of course preparing that part of your body for a tattoo. If shaving is necessary, just make sure that the artist uses a fresh disposable razor for sanitary purposes. After that the area is cleaned further by rubbing alcohol on the skin.
Now that the area is cleaned, it is now ready for the design. The tattoo artist may either outline the design free hand or they may also use a thermal paper to trace the design on your skin. Just make sure that all the needles and ink tubes used are opened from their sterile packaging in front of you – again, for sanitation.
Before the artist starts injecting the pigments into your skin, they will first apply an ointment (something like Vaseline jelly) that will aid in the easy movement of the needle along your skin.
After the design’s outline is drawn on the skin, the artist will prepare to color or shade the design. A different needle (called the magnum) maybe used at this point as it is more suited for coloring.
Once the tattoo is completed, the artist will apply an ointment that prevents air borne bacteria from getting into the open wound and will cover the area with a bandage and that’s it! Now all you have to do is take good care of the tattooed area and follow the after care instructions correctly and enjoy your new tattoo!
Tattoo Inks and Health
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We all know what tattoo inks are – yes, the stuff that is used to give shape and color to our tattoos. These inks are inserted under the skin where it stays forever or till you have them removed. Although these inks are permanent, they tend to fade a little with time as our body’s immune system tries to get it out of the system. I thought it might be a good idea if we know a little about the stuff that gets into our bodies, before we get them there permanently (or even after!)
Tattoo Inks are not to be mistaken with other types of inks that are used in the world today. The inks that are specifically made for the purposes of coloring a tattoo are basically made of two components – Carriers and Pigments.
Anything that is ground to fine particles to provide color is called a pigment. Most pigments are made from matter such as vegetable dyes, minerals, metallic salts and plastics. The liquids used to deliver these pigments under the skin are called Carriers. Good carriers are those that distribute the pigment equally without causing them to clump together. In addition they also offer a little disinfection to the tattoo wounds.
The particles commonly used to give color to the pigments are Calcium Copper Silicate (blue), Curcuma (yellow), Carbon (black), Zinc Oxide (white), Iron Oxide (red) and Chromium Oxide (green.) Some of the commonly used carriers are made of Purified water, Listerine, Vodka, Witch Hazel, Propylene Glycol and Glycerine.
Although some of these pigments and carriers are said to be completely safe, the absolute truth is that there are still certain risks associated with them. Some of these side effects include allergic reactions, reaction due to exposure to sunlight (also known as phototoxic reactions) and scarring. The plastic based pigments in particular have been said to cause reactions. Though some are safe most of them are either radioactive or toxic.
The risk frequently associated with alcohol being used as a disinfectant is that it allows more chemicals to get into the blood stream when compared to other inks. Alcohol in fact works together with carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens, thus making them more harmful than they are by themselves. When these substances are present in the ink, alcohol works with them thus increasing the chances of disease or mutation both to the part where the tattoo is located as well as other parts of the body.
Don’t fret! There are still ways you can get a tattoo without risking your health. Several medical-grade chemicals used in tattoos are safe as they are specifically made for medical uses. It is important however that your tattoo artist knows proper sterilization techniques.
Temporary Tattoos
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Temporary tattoos are just another form of body art like regular tattoos. These tattoos can be painted, drawn or air brushed on to the body and, as the name suggests, they are not permanent. There are many uses to these tattoos apart from just expressing oneself and creating their own identity. They are used by actors to add individuality to their characters and also for advertising purposes. Some even use them as a test (to see if they like the way it turns out) before they go for the permanent one.
The most famous among temporary tattoos are those that can be transferred on to the skin. The Fruit Stripe chewing gum is very popular among kids for this very reason. They gave away free inserts of old fashioned temporary tattoos with their gum. But these of course were poor quality temporary tattoos that can easily be rubbed or washed off.
Temporary tattoos that transfer on to the skin of today last much longer than the lick and peel tattoos of a few years ago. Today the transfer tattoos are made from Ink and glue and they typically last for at least 3 or 5 days.
Henna (otherwise known as Mehndi) is another form of temporary tattoo that is quickly becoming very popular. These tattoos have their roots in the South Asian culture. These tattoos are made by applying the paste made from the powdered leaves of the Henna plant (Lawsonia Inermis) on to the skin. The paste is left on the skin for a few hours for it to stain the skin. The tattoo gradually fades as the skin sheds. These tattoos last a few days and sometimes up to a month provided the application and aftercare are done correctly. The only flip side to these tattoos are that they only come in shades of red, brown and near black.
Temporary airbrush tattoos are another form of temporary tattoos that have been around since 1998. These are done by placing a stencil on the body and applying the ink with an airbrush, and unlike the transfer tattoo these can be controlled by the artist. These are famous because they look and feel much like a permanent tattoo! These usually last a couple of days and sometimes even a week if they are taken care of well.
The most recent innovation in this area is that of the semi-permanent tattoo. Some offer temporary tattoos that can last up to a few years! These tattoos are applied just like a permanent tattoo (with a tattoo gun) the only difference is that these tattoos are inserted close to the surface of the skin and hence fade away over time. Some other artists claim to use special inks that disperse over time.
Tiger Tattoo Designs
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The tiger as a tattoo design is quickly becoming popular in Asian countries like India, China, Japan, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia. In these cultures tigers are given the kind of reverence that a Lion is given in Middle East and Europe. This ferocious animal is also associated with beauty, sensuality and passion apart from the usual characteristics which include speed, cruelty, power and wrath. It is said that a fresh new power or passion may be kindled within you when you see a tiger in your dream!
The tiger is seen as a symbol for a King in the Asian continent and is associated with the might and power of Kings. In fact, the tiger is referred to as the ‘King of animals’ by the Koreans. In the Hindu culture (of India), Shiva – a Hindu god of destruction – is seen wearing tiger skin and riding a tiger. The tiger is not only a symbol of power and strength but also of violence and destruction. The tiger symbolizes both life and death; both evil and its destructive power.
In the Chinese sub-continent, images of tigers are used to ward off evil spirits. Stone images of tigers are a common sight which acts as protective guardians of houses and buildings. During the great Zhou dynasty (pronounced Chou or Ch’ao) that lasted longer than any other regime in China, images of tigers were hung in the rooms of pregnant women in order to protect the unborn baby. Some cultures even consider the tiger a vessel of their god’s wrath; the tiger’s attack meant punishment from their supreme being. 
There are many stories about Weretigers in the Asian cultures (people who can shapeshift into tigers) much like the American Werewolf legends. People believe that the Tibetans and Na-hsi of the Yunnan province in China have their ancient ancestors in tigers or Weretigers. It is a common practice for the Na-his to present their boys and girls tiger figurines at ceremonies that celebrate their coming of age. Even newly wed couples are given these figures. Now that you know what the tiger can mean symbolically, you are now fully ready to get a tattoo of a tiger!
Types of Tribal Tattoos
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It is interesting to note that although times have changed quite a bit since the days of the actual tribal tattoos, the reasoning behind their need (want rather) has pretty much remained the same. The tattoo art was famous among the ancient tribes for just the same reasons they are prominent today.
Tattoos were initially used by primitive tribes to identify the tribe, clan and family of the bearer and group them accordingly. Not only did it help them to easily recognize their clansmen and recognize their far relatives but they also believed that this would help them identify their group and join them again in the after life. Similar to today’s idea behind gang tattoos. It allows them to recognize their group members (although I doubt these guys will make it to the after life!)
Men and women of the tribes were also known to get a marriage tattoo. Again this had a two-fold purpose. It became a witness to their pledge to one another (just like the wedding rings of our time) and it also helped them identify their spouse in the after life – considering the two of them crossed over from earth to the spirit world at different times.
The primitive adolescents were given a tattoo as a mark of their entry into adulthood. Those girls that were unable to bear the pain of the tattooing process was seen as one unfit for marriage as she would be unable to bear the pains of childbirth. And those boys that cant bear the pain become outcasts, unfit for battle or hunting. Pretty much like today’s teens celebrating their 18th birthday with a tattoo! (although, there can be no outcasts there.)
Another most recognized reason for their tattoos were that of charms and spells for love. The magicians of those days would often mix special herbs and potions to their dyes. These tattoos were usually worn in a hidden area of the body – their reason behind that: an old married woman would look pretty foolish walking around with a love spell! Doesn’t that remind you of those many love birds of our time who get their partner’s name tattooed and then when it doesn’t work out, they’re desperately trying to hide it or have it removed?
Tribal Tattoo Designs
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It is amazing how popular tribal tattoos have become. Almost one thirds of people searching for tattoo designs online end up looking for tribal designs. Of course, one of the reasons may be that the tribal tattoo genre has such a ridiculous amount of variety to choose from! (It’s like trying to pick up cereal at Walmart!) Another reason may be that they’re so darn good looking.
The selection ranges from the designs of the aboriginal or indigenous peoples to the contemporary graphic designs for body art. Although you may find a perfect tribal design in our modern world, it might be hard to find the actual experience of getting a tribal tattoo. The needles, sticks and plant dyes have all been replaced by tattoo machines and high tech inks. Likewise the shamans (the predecessors of today’s tattoo artists) have been replaced too.
It is said that the very first tattoo was probably a natural one, an accidental tattoo that lead to its discovery. Sources have it that after its discovery some of the first tattoo designs were that of a sun or flames in honor of the sun gods. The loss of blood (a vital life source), the pain involved in the process and its permanence lead to its transition from simply being art to a spiritual ritual. This enchanting combination got the ancient people into a trance, a feeling of being in union with their god and the god’s associated magical powers. They believed that the body and soul were quite alike, and according to that belief their tattoos also existed in both their physical and spiritual realms. Some tribes from Borneo believed that the right tattoos not only got them into the right spiritual world but that they also offered them unique qualifications for profitable livelihood when they got there.
In fact, studies have shown that some kind of body art was used by most (perhaps even all) of the ancient tribes of the world. Evidence of primitive tattoos, scarifications or temporary body paint have been found in almost every ancient tribe. This body art was widespread and present in almost every unconnected part of the world till of course our modern “civilization” arrived and these arts lost popularity.