Archive for best tattoo designs
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.
Where to Find Tattoo Design Ideas
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Although getting a tattoo is fun, the process of finding the right one pretty much sucks the fun out of it; but it is well worth the effort!
So many of us have tattoos today that it is almost impossible to find that fresh, unique idea that no one has ever thought of before, and what’s more if you do end up finding just the tattoo, you need to love it enough to have it on you permanently. The big question is where do you find this perfect tattoo? And there is no one answer to this question.
It is way better to get a tattoo of something you are passionate about than get a tattoo design that is popular. Trends change all the time and so do our ideas of what’s “cool”. It’s quite rare that a person’s love for something will change – quite often people grow fonder of their one true passion with time (like music or cats).
Simply looking up designs may cause a great deal of confusion. If you first decide in your mind what you want then you will find that there are plenty of resources to help you adapt your idea into a tattoo. You don’t have to be a great artist – If you have the idea any tattoo artist worth his / her salt will be able to flesh it out for you.
A good practice is to keep writing them down as you get these ideas. Make sure you have quite a few to choose from, before you refer back to them and pick your winner. Sometimes you find great tattoo ideas in the most unlikely places – keep an eye out for great ideas and make a note of them (I like to take pictures of all that I like, with the camera in my phone)
Tattoo Conventions are a great source for brilliant tattoo ideas. Artists display their work at these conventions. I’ve found that looking at tattoos on a live person often gives you a better idea of what it would be like than looking at them in a magazine or online. And where else can you find a large gathering of tattooed people than in tattoo conventions?!
Of course the other options are magazines, tattoo books and online galleries. Several of these online galleries (like ours) are free and so are all reference books in the library. All you need is patience and perseverance and I promise you – you’ll find that unique design!
White Ink Tattoos
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Traditionally, the process of tattooing begins after a stencil is applied to the part on you body where you want the design. The first part of this long process frequently begins with black ink. Many artists use black ink to give the outline of the tattoo which can be colored or shaded later. This black outline not only offers artists a guideline but also gives the tattoo itself more definition; a sharper look to the image.
For the longest time, tattoo artists were not willing to do a design without the black outline as a guide but as with everything in today’s world, that too is changing. White ink tattoos don’t follow the traditional process of stencil and black ink. The whole piece is done in white ink leaving a pale design that is very different from a traditional tattoo.
These tattoos are subtle yet distinct in their style. These tattoos are perfect for those that want tattoos but cant have the traditional apparent ones for whatever reason. Lindsay Lohan is known for her white ink tattoo on the inside of her wrist that says ‘breathe’.
These tattoos are more of a personal statement that you don’t want anyone else to be able to read. It is like a private mantra, an affirmation, a symbol that reminds you of something dear to you – and is not really meant for the outside world. These tattoos are not totally invisible though. The ink used here is not the same white ink used in mixing colors for a colored tattoo. It is a thicker, higher quality ink that is made to stand out on its own.
There are a few things though that you need to keep in mind if you’re planning to get one of these tattoos. These tattoos are best when done freehand. If you decide to use a stencil for better guidance you need to be careful that the color from the stencil does not mix with the white ink. This may make the tattoo a little dull.
Another glitch is that white is not as easily absorbed by the skin as black or colored ink. This means several additional passes in the area to make sure the ink fully sinks in. Darker skin tones usually don’t absorb enough of the white to make it bright. These tattoos often become dull when frequently exposed to the sun.
What is worse is the skin’s reaction to the ink. A reaction to the white ink is much more common than the skin’s reaction to the black ink. There have been cases where the area began to swell, itch and even ooze. Most tattoo artists recommend simple designs for white ink tattoos as they are less likely to have complications.