Archive for best tattoo patterns
Wrist Tattoo Designs
Posted by: | Comments
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.
Zodiac Sign Tattoos – Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn
Posted by: | Comments
Libra also known as the scales, the only non living symbol among the sun signs, is depicted by a man holding a weighing scale. In tattoos it is seen as a pair of horizontal lines, with the top line curving in a semi-circle in the middle. You are a Libran if your birthday falls on or between September 24th and October 23rd. The color traditionally associated with this sign is blue. Librans are known to be very friendly, charming, diplomatic and romantic. They can also be uncertain and irresolute at times.
Scorpio also known as the scorpion is symbolized by the scorpion. It is denoted by an ‘M’ like figure with an arrow for a tail. It is supposed to denote the scorpion’s deadly sting. This sign is traditionally associated with the color yellow. If you are born on or between October 24th and November 22nd, then you are a deadly scorpion! Scorpios are very intense people. They have strong emotions; they are passionate and are able to look at the quintessence of things. They are equally famous for their jealous, stubborn and sometimes cruel attitudes.
Sagittarius also known as the archer or centaur is symbolized by a centaur (a half man half horse) with a bow 
and arrow in his hands. It is denoted by an upward facing arrow with an intersecting line in its lower half. It is often associated with the color blue. Birthdays that fall on or between November 23rd and December 22nd are Sagittarius. Sagittarians are often supposed to be multi lingual, optimistic and sincere with a love for nature, philosophy and sports / games. They are often also extreme, loud and tactless.
Capricorn also known as the sea goat is symbolized by a mythical hybrid whose upper half is that of a goat and the lower half or tail is that of a fish. It is denoted by a ‘V’ shape symbolizing the goats horns, followed by an ‘S’ symbol for the fish’s tail. If you were born on or between December 23rd and January 19th, then you belong to this group. Brown is the color most associated with this sun sign. They are known to be rational, patient with a lot of discipline. They are really hard workers. However they can be quite strict, miserly and pessimistic and are prone to depressions.
Zodiac Sign Tattoos – Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo
Posted by: | Comments
Gemini also known as the twins are represented by a pair of twins. In tattoos, this sun sign is often denoted by two ‘I’s, very much like the roman numeral II. It is sometimes depicted as two children holding hands or a man and a woman holding hands symbolizing human contact. Yellow is the color mostly associated with this sign. You are a Gemini if your birthday falls on or between May 22nd and June 21st. Geminis are known to be very spontaneous, funny, intelligent and talkative. But they can also be very superficial and fickle.
The sun sign Cancer is denoted by the crab. Often they are seen as two circles with a tail (in each circle) in tattoos. Traditionally the color associated with this sign is silver (yea, good luck getting that color your tattoo). You are a Cancerian if your birthday falls on or between June 22nd and July 22nd. Cancerians are supposed to be very sensitive, sympathetic, caring and adventurous but can also be over sensitive, moody and known to hold a grudge. 
Leo the lion is symbolized by the lion (obviously enough!) It is represented by a single bended line (very much like a curvy ‘A’) that is symbolic of the lion’s magnificent mane. Gold is the color usually associated with this sun sign. If your birthday falls on or between July 23rd and August 22nd, then you are a Leo. Leos are very confident, creative and very influential. They make excellent leaders and organizers but they can be overly dominant and intolerant at times.
Virgo the virgins have their birthdays on or between August 23rd and September 23rd. This is depicted by a lonely female figure (and also the only female figure in the zodiac signs). This young virgin is usually depicted holding a fully grown ear of wheat representing fertility. It is simply denoted by an ‘M’ symbol touching an alpha symbol. The color often associated with this symbol is green. Virgos are known to be clever, analytical and hard working. Sometimes they can be overly critical and choosy and their attention to minute details a bit much.
Popular Tattoo Artist: Kat Von D
Posted by: | Comments
Katherine von Drachenberg, popularly known as Kat Von D is a famous tattoo artist and TV personality. She was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico on the 8th of March, 1982. She is of a mixed descent – with a German father and Italian / Spanish mother and moved to California at the early age of 4.
What most people wont guess about her is that she is a classically trained pianist and enjoys the work of elite musicians such as Ludwig van Beethoven. Kat Von D’s first experience with television was when she appeared in Miami Ink (a reality TV show). She initially appeared as a substitute for Darren Brass who had hurt his arm and could not tattoo. After her falling out with some of the cast members of the show she was asked to leave the show which turned out to be a good thing for her. She subsequently got her own reality show on TV – LA Ink – featuring her work and tattoo shop – High Voltage Tattoo, in Hollywood, California.
Subsequently she went to gain the Guinness World Record for the most number of tattoos given by a one single person in twenty four hours. She gave 400 tattoos in 24 hours to create that record. Today the record stands with Hollis Cantrell with 801 tattoos in 24 hours.
At such a young age Kat Von D has even come out successful in the publishing world. Her first book – High Voltage Tattoo – was released in 2009 with a foreword by the famous Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe. Her book was No. 6 on the New York Best Times Best Seller list. The book is a compilation of her artwork and tattoos – tracing her career as a tattoo artist and shedding light on her influences and inspirations. The book is “not an autobiography, you know, ’cause I’m too young to do that. But this is just kind of like a picture-driven outline of my career as an artist. So, you see everything from my drawings when I was six to tattoos that have never before been seen” said Kat Von D about the book.
She later (in 2008) created a whole line of make-up products for Sephora that now also includes fragrances. She is also the founder of MusInk Tattoo Convention and Music Festival. She went on to publish another book – The Tattoo Chronicles – that reached no. 3 on the New York Times Best Seller List in 2010.
Why Do Some Tattoos Fade Over Time?
Posted by: | Comments
People have thought about tattoos – how it will affect their lives, their chances of landing the job they really want, how it affects others’ perception of them etc. and they have come to terms with it, but what most people don’t think about is that these permanent tattoos are not actually permanent. Yes their mark on your skin will always remain but it will never look the same as it did the day you first got them done.
Tattoos are cool but not when they are all faded, sagging or shriveled up! I guess this is where the body part used for tattoos plays an important role. Every part of your body will age with time and there’s nothing we can do about that! But we sure can save some of our tattoos from fading prematurely.
Tattoos on the arms or shoulders tend to fade faster then those on butts or bellies mainly due to their exposure to the sun. By using sun block lotions and periodically getting touch ups on those that are exposed to the sun; you can save some of those old tattoos from becoming a faded mess.
Some people grapple with fading tattoo issues when in fact the tattoo is pretty new. This can happen for a lot of reasons – either the tattoo artist has failed to apply the ink correctly or you have failed to follow the after care instructions carefully.
Keep the following pointers in mind:
Like any other wound, tattoos also need time to heal. Be sure to take off the bandage covering your tattoo after an hour or two. To avoid scabbing of the skin make sure you remove all traces of blood by washing the tattoo with your fingertips using a mild antibacterial soap and apply some ointment.
Give the tattoo at least two weeks to heal completely. You can say goodbye to those long baths or showers during this period; also avoid swimming, sitting in saunas and hot tubs. Keep your showers as short as possible. Keep the tattoo well moisturized to avoid scabbing, but beware of overly moisturizing it (this may cause blotchy tattoos) – it’s a thin balance really!
Be sure not to scratch, pick or scrub your tattoos. This is very harsh on a tattoo and causes the colors to fade quickly. For this reason tattoos on your hands or feet are usually not guaranteed. It also takes longer for tattoos on these parts to heal, so be patient and allow it to heal right so you can keep it looking good for a while!
Gangster Tattoos
Posted by: | Comments
Since the ancient Roman Empire tattoos have been related to criminal deviancy. Although such a taboo against tattoos does not exist today, many gangs use tattoos as a means of identifying with a particular group. Many gang members use tattoos for several reasons not the least among which is a sign of having spent time in prison. Gang members sometimes have several tattoos, each symbolizing or representing something unique in their lives.
The famous (or is it infamous?) tear drop tattoo usually tattooed on the cheek below either eye represents prison time. However, some say it actually stands for the number of people they have killed. Some gangsters have their name tattooed real big and bold (so they are visible from any distance?) in an effort to intimidate rival gang members.
Some gangsters are known to take pride in identifying themselves outside the premise of conventional society. They use tattoos (more often than not) to express their beliefs and life philosophy which is a complete rejection of conventional moral and religious beliefs – popularly known as the nihilistic philosophy. They commonly have the name of a person tattooed on the back of their neck or a gang motto etched on the chest. These tattoos are usually done in black and grey and often showcase bullets, firearms, numbers and secret letters in old English or the gothic script.
One of the biggest gangs in California is that of The Sureños (which means Southerners in Spanish). They were one of the very first to use colors to set themselves apart from other gangs. They started using blue bandanas (the color of the railroad handkerchiefs provided in the California prisons) as their identity. Numbers are also sometimes incorporated in their tattoos – they use the Tres Puntos (meaning three dots) and X3 (the number 13.)
The other major gang of California is the The Norteños. Yes, you guessed it – it means the Northerners. They are also popularly known as Nuestra Familia meaning ‘Our Family’. As you may have also guessed the Northerners and the Southerners traditionally have been rivals with Bakersfield (in California) being their geographical dividing line. The Northerners are more notoriously known for their involvement in the drug trafficking trade and armed conflict with rival gangs.