Archive for tattoo patterns
Temporary Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsTattoos have been an important part of human culture all throughout history. The purposes of tattoos have changed over the years, as has society in general. In modern culture, there are many mixed feelings about tattoos and their meanings. Some societies still use tattoos as tribal identification or for other tribal matters, but for the most part, it is more of luxury than a necessity. We do not have to use a tattoo to display what tribe we are from or to scare others during battle – as they were used in times past. We can use them to display our feelings about things or to let others know what is important to us as an individual. Temporary tattoos are the solution for many people who do not want to have a permanent design on their body or do not want to feel the pain of a needle. There are many types of temporary tattoos available today such as Decalcomania, Mehndi, Sun Stencils, and Airbrush tattoos.
Tattoos are usually permanent decorative images applied to the skin. In the case of the temporary tattoo, the image lasts for a short time only. Many temporary tattoos are for fun, like the type that kids get to put their favorite cartoon character on their arm for a little while. Adults have begun using these temporary tattoos and they are becoming more intricate as the market moves more toward adults. Decalcomania is a favorite way of making a temporary tattoo where a decal is applied to the skin. With these types of tattoos, screen printing is used to create a tattoo image on paper coated with a transfer film. When wet, this film will move off of the backing paper and onto the skin. After drying, the screen printed image will stay on the skin for several days. (Schueller, 1999) The beauty of temporary tattoos is exactly that, they are temporary. There will be no regretting the image as a person grows older or their habits and tastes change.
All types of temporary tattoos need to be made from ink because they are applied directly to the skin and may stay on the skin for quite a while. It is best if the dyes have FDA approval, but most are not approved – the same for permanent ink. There are other chemicals added to the dyes such as drying agents and extenders that need to be approved before using them. (Henley, 2009)
Another type of temporary tattoo is Mehndi. It is thought that the practice originated in India and Pakistan, although there is some debate about the origins of this ancient practice. It is often considered a type of body painting. The ink used in this process is a copper based ink made from the leaves of the henna plant. The Mehndi designs are usually scroll-like decorations, but as the practice becomes more popular around the world, the designs are beginning to change. The inks used in Mehndi tattoos can last for several weeks. (Jain, 2002)
Another emerging trend is Sun Stencils. The tattoo in this case is the pigmentation of your own skin. The use of stencils stickers lets UV radiation reach part of the skin but not all parts during tanning. This produces an image that can take the form of many different images as well as allow you to make simple letters and numbers. There is also swim wear available that lets you create a tattoo as you hang out at the beach with simple images of hearts and circles. (Hardy, 2009)
Airbrush tattoos are becoming a popular type of temporary tattoo and airbrush tattoo stencils come pre-packaged in many different varieties. These stencils are reusable and can also be individualized. There are many colors of airbrush ink available and a lot of companies use FDA approved materials. (Kirk, 2009) These air brush tattoos are becoming popular at festivals and carnivals like face painting has always been.
Tattoos are very popular in today’s society, especially for people under 35. (Kirk, 2009) Temporary tattoos are becoming more and more popular because permanent tattoos can be expensive and painful. Temporary tattoos offer people a way to express their personality and let the world know about their interests without having to worry about the fact that it will never come off. It looks like temporary tattoos are going to be a permanent part of the tattoo world with their quick application, lack of pain, and affordability.
Works Cited
Hardy, T. (2009). Suntan.com. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Suntan Art: http://www.suntan.com/?art
Henley, N. (2009). Chest Of Books. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Decolomania process: http://chestofbooks.com/reference/Henley-s-20th-Century-Formulas-Recipes-Processes-Vol2/Decalcomania-Processes.html
Jain, R. (2002). Mehndi World.com. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Mehendi History: http://www.mehendiworld.com/mehendi-history.htm
Kirk, K. (2009). TAT. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from temporary airbrush tattoos: http://www.tatstore.com/p/intro
Schueller, R. (1999). Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Temporary Tatoos: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2896800100.html
How To Choose A Tattoo Design
Posted by: | CommentsWhen you are thinking about getting a tattoo, you have some decisions to make. Here are the steps that you should take in order to find the right tattoo design for you.
The first thing that you want to do is to remember that tattoos are permanent, so the tattoo designs that you are considering need to be something that you aren’t going to mind having for the rest of your life. There are ways to have them removed, that’s true, but they tend to be very expensive. So being careful when considering tattoo designs is a good idea.
Next, you want to figure out what the reason is that you want to get this tattoo. Are you getting it because you are going through a special time in your life? Are you doing it on a dare? Are you doing it to commemorate a special date, like the birth of a child or a wedding?
The next thing that you want to do is to choose a place that you want to put the tattoo designs. Again, it’s important to remember that you are going to have this tattoo for the rest of your life, so you want to think twice if you are young and you decide to get it on a place where you can see it in the everyday life. It can affect whether or not you are hired for a job if you get it in a noticeable place. Also, remember that your body is going to change when you get older and gain weight. The way that your tattoo looks now may not be the way that it will look ten years from now.
The fourth thing to do is to choose a design. Of course, in some cases you are going to have a very simple design. But if you are just getting a tattoo for the heck of it, you are going to want to choose a design that fits you and your personality. If you are undecided about what you want to get your tattoo designs to be, think about things that are meaningful to you. That is always a good choice. You want to know that you are going to enjoy having that all your life and not regret getting the tattoo later in life.
For people who love to get tattoos, the tattoo designs are as individual for them as their fingerprints. Each of them have a story as to why they got that tattoo and what special event it was in their lives. For people who are getting their first tattoo, the tattoo designs are foreign and they do not know where to start. But that is why it’s a good idea to look at yourself and make a good decision. A tattoo is something that you are going to have for a long time. It should be something that you are comfortable with and that you will not be embarrassed to show off for years to come.
How Tattoos Change Over Time
Posted by: | CommentsTattoos are a way of decorating the body to reflect a message or an image over time. Most tattoos are permanent. They involve a needle being used to deposit ink in the dermas layer of the skin, therefore, they are permanent. Some colors will tend to fade more than others. Yellow and red tattoos tend to fade more than black or blue tattoos. Immediately after you get a tattoo, you need to take care of it, preventing infection or any other problems from developing until the tattoo is completely healed in order to prevent tattoo fading. This may take up to three weeks. Put some moisturizing lotion on it while it is healing. With proper care during the healing process, more of the ink and therefore the color and definition of the tattoo is retained.
Obviously, tattoo fading will be an issue, because the skin changes constantly over a person’s life. The skin ages and stretches and even peels sometimes so there will be changes in the tattoo as well. One of the most important things to do in order to prevent tattoo fading is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Wear clothing that will cover the tattoo when you are in the sun or use sun screen to help protect it. Basic skin maintenance is all that is needed to prevent excessive tattoo fading. Keeping skin clean and well hydrated will help the tattoo stay vivid for many years, as long as it was done properly and taken care of properly in the beginning.
If you have a tattoo that has been exposed to the sun or for some other reason is fading, you can get tattoo touch-ups to help redefine the image. Be sure that you go to an artist that is specially trained in doing tattoo touch-ups. However, the original tattoo may not look so bad if you find yourself in worse shape after the tattoo touch-ups, if the artist makes it even worse! If the original tattoo was not done correctly and the ink was deposited in the epidermis instead of the dermis, you are going to have a fading tattoo just from the normal process of the skin sloughing off over time. If you find out that this is happening with your original tattoo, you can have a touch-up done where the artist simply follows the original design but makes sure the ink is inserted into the dermis. Word to the wise: go to someone who specializes in doing tattoo touch-ups. If the original artist gave you a problem tattoo it’s probably not a good idea to go back to him/her again.
To recap: if over the years you are experiencing a fading tattoo you can consider having tattoo touch-ups to redefine the original one. Simply go to a tattoo artist with experience performing tattoo touch-ups. You may find that you can rejuvenate the original tattoo to look as good as new.
But don’t forget: after the tattoo touch-up process is completed be sure to follow the same aftercare procedures you did originally!
