Archive for best tattoo patterns
Kanji Tattoos
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Kanji tattoos are nothing but tattoos of Japanese language characters and symbols. These ideographic tend to represent entire objects, ideas or expressions. The reason most people like these tattoos are because they can easily express complex thoughts with just a few characters, plus they are also visually very appealing.
Basically there are two types of characters that are used in the written Japanese language – Kana and Kanji. Kanji is the term used for Chinese characters that are used in the Japanese language. In fact, all written Japanese characters have evolved from written Chinese and over the years have come to include a few modified characters that represent some different sounds in the Japanese language.
Some of these characters may mean the same in both Japanese and Chinese languages but are usually pronounced differently. While some others characters, although written the same way, may mean completely different things. Some Kanji characters were developed fully in Japan and are often not seen in the Chinese language. And then there are those characters that are written with slight modifications but tend to have the same meaning. So basically you have a choice between the Japanese Kanji tattoos and the Chinese Kanji tattoos.
If you are contemplating a Kanji tattoo and you are not a native speaker of the language (which I’m guessing you’re not), the key thing to keep in mind is that Kanji is constructed very differently from the English language. Like I mentioned, these languages are not made up of individual letters but are made up of ideographs or pictographs (some characters consist of more than thirty strokes!)
When you don’t speak the language, you will find it very hard to say exactly what you want through those tattoos. Some problems people frequently encounter with these tattoos are with the meaning. There have been plenty of cases of literal translations which make absolutely no sense in the Japanese language. For instance, “girl power” can be easily written (??) to mean ‘sporty spices!’
Sometimes the artist (if not fluent in the language) may end up mixing up the Chinese and Japanese Kanji characters, again resulting in nonsense. There have been instances of the characters being rotated, written upside down, given mirror image versions, characters with missing brush strokes or some strokes even mistakenly joined resulting in exactly what you did not want! So before you get them on you permanently, be double sure they mean exactly what you think they do.
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!
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.
Wrist Tattoo Designs
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The wrist is a very popular body part for tattoos especially among women. It acts like a permanent bracelet of sorts. The best part about this particular body part is that it is a great spot if you particularly want to make a statement or simply just show off your tattoos. Since most of us use our hands a lot when we speak, our wrists will be easily noticed. Whether you want to tell people that you are actually a rebel at heart or a genuinely sweet person, the wrist can help you make an understated yet powerful statement.
You need to keep in mind that the wrist is not the biggest of body parts, so whatever design you choose make sure it is simple, clean and uncomplicated. It is going to be permanent and in your face all the time so it better be something you really like and want. The flip side to getting a tattoo on the wrist however, is that it is very visible! Take your time to think about its implications and see if you are ready for it, before you make the plunge. For example, if your work place is not very tattoo friendly – and trust me no long sleeved shirt is going to be able to conceal it one hundred percent – are you brave enough to face whatever ramifications might entail your decision?
Again, some of the best designs for wrists are those that are simple due to the space restriction! Most women’s wrists are slender and thin – not ideal for elaborate designs. Some of the most popular designs are those of stars, flames and flowers. Some neat ideas for the wrist are that of bracelets. Any interlocking pattern will do the trick – like barbed wire, Celtic knots or even a rosary. Writing in a different language like Chinese or Japanese is also a cool option. Lindsay Lohan has the word ‘breathe’ tattooed on her wrist and Gillian Anderson has the words ‘every day’ written in Sanskrit on hers.
Now here’s the deciding factor (at least for me) – how much does it hurt when compared to other body parts? Since there is not enough flesh (especially on the inner wrist) to cushion the impact of the needles, wrist tattoos can be very painful! If your design involves a lot of shading like in tribal tattoos or involves complicated Celtic knots you can be assured that it is going to hurt an extra bit more than usual. Also, the wrist normally takes longer to heal and these tattoos are prone to fade faster than those on other body parts due to its exposure to the sun.