The Tattoo Lettering Blog

Information To Known Before Getting A Tattoo

Before you decide to get a tattoo, you should always take a little bit of time to talk to your tattoo artist. When you speak to him, you should be sure to ask questions and find out anything you can about your new tattoo. You should also find out information about his background, and other important bits of information that will assist you in moving forward with your decision.

The first thing you should find out is how long the parlor has been in business. This will let you know just how professional the quality of tattoo work is and the overall reputation for the business. If the tattoo parlor belongs to the Better Business Bureau you can always check their record and see if any complaints have been files about the business in the last few years.

You should also find out about his qualifications as well. Experience is a must here, as infections and other diseases can easily be contracted if the equipment isn

Why Get a Tattoo?

We've all seen tattoos of various designs, styles, sizes, shapes and colors. Aside from the fact that tattoos can be removed by lasers, surgery and other methods, they are quite permanent. Most people have very specific reasons for these lifelong marks and some even have stories behind each one.

One simple reason for a typical tattoo is just for looks. The tattoo may be one that resembles one seen on a celebrity. It may also be a design that is simply pleasing to the eye. Perhaps the tattoo has bright colors or neat shapes that attract the eye. Aesthetics are one common reason for many tattoos.

Another reason why one might get a tattoo is as a memorial. Friends and family who have passed away are often memorialized through tattoos. These memorials are also often created in the memory of a particular celebrity. These might be designed with flowers, crosses or other shapes and dates of birth and death. They might include special sayings that were important to the deceased. They may also involve complicated tattoos that are copied off an actual photograph.

Children and relationships are a popular reason for getting a tattoo. Millions will have tattoos designed incorporating a child's, spouse's or partner's name. Typically these will be accompanied by other designs such as flowers, butterflies, shapes and even likenesses. Hearts, stars and script letters are often found on spouse or partner name tattoos.

Many people will have tattoos designed to commemorate special events experienced during their lifetimes. Achievements, difficult times and other special events are often displayed as a lifetime reminder of an important time in one's life.

Tattoos also represent spiritual status for many cultures. They can also be a symbol for social ranking. Some social groups are known for specific tattoos which would require a member to receive the same. Others are known for having tattoos in general, regardless of their designs.

Expressing individuality and personality are often the most common reasons for getting a tattoo. If a person likes butterflies, they might get a single tattoo or multiple tattoos flaunting butterflies. If another enjoys a particular field in which they are employed, they might have tattoos representing what they do for a living.

There are other ways to look at expressing individuality through tattoos, however. Many tattoos are designed to reflect heritage. Ancient symbols that are associated with the history of many cultures are often displayed on those who are of a particular culture's decent. For example, someone of Irish decent may choose a tattoo depicting the Claddaugh design while another of Egyptian decent might prefer one similar to ancient ancestors. On the other hand, many choose designs resembling certain cultures simply for aesthetics.

Regardless of where you want to have your tattoo applied on the body or where you have the procedure done, it's important to comprehend why you really want the tattoo. Tattoos are permanent. Having a tattoo created for the right reasons, and reasons that are truly important to you will help increase the enjoyment of the design for years to come.

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Things To Expect From Tattoo Removal

At some point or another or for various reasons, people often make the decision to get their tattoo removed. In some cases the tattoo will reflect a lost love and sometimes the tattoo will be something that the individual doesn

Celtic Tattoos

Celtic history goes back thousands and thousands of years. Early Celtic people were well known for their skills in artwork of jewelry, metal, and even weapons. They were warriors as well, regarded as fierce fighters by the Romans. Throughout Ireland, there are many examples and evidence of Celtic artwork and Celtic crosses.

Over the years, modern Celtics evolved and established symbols for themselves along the way. Throughout North America, Celtic people often wear these symbols to let others know that they are a Celtic descent. The symbols and knowledge have been passed down through the years, as there is little no written history. Tattooing however, keeps the Celtic tradition alive with the infamous Celtic cross and other popular Celtic designs.

Most Celtic tattoo designs come from Ireland, where the evidence of Celtic history is very strong indeed. The Trinity College found in Dublin, Ireland, contains many manuscripts that document the Celtic heritage and symbols. The height of Celtic tattooing however, occurred during the era when stone and metal work was really popular.

Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. There are also Celtic animal tattoo designs as well, which are similar in design to the knot tattoos, although the cords in the design normally terminate in heads, tails, and feet. The pure knot tattoo designs are normally never ending, unless an individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral.

The meaning behind the knots in Celtic tattoos defies any type of literal translation and is found at a much deeper level. The interlacing of the knots expresses the repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual elements. The strands and their never ending path is a popular design for Celtic tattoos, representing life, faith, and love. For many years, Celtics have used these designs for emotional as well as heritage purposes.

Those who are from a Celtic descent, Irish, Scots, or Welsh, normally find a Celtic tattoo to be a great way to express their heritage pride. These tattoos help to reestablish pride, and give tribute to one

The Risks Of Getting Tattoos

Although most tattoos are applied with no problems at all, there are some tattoos that result in a not so good outcome. No matter how safe you may think they are, you simply can

Tattoos: Not Just For Bikers Anymore

In the distant past, tattoos had the smallest modicum of acceptance, primarily based on the people who wore them. When military men came back to the States after serving overseas, it was difficult to express too much negativity about the names of their sweethearts or "Mom and Dad" emblazoned on their arms. It's likely that the acceptance was more for the wearer than the tattoo, though, for tattoos had not attained a degree of respectability with the American public in general. As syphilis became more widespread, and with the less-than-sanitary tattooing procedures adding to its increase, New York City eventually banned tattooing, and did not make the practice legal again until 1997.

As disdain for the military began to spread across the United States, so did a new counter-culture. To most Americans during that time-period, the word "tattoo" was synonymous for those who were outside of the mainstream of America, thumbing their noses at society. It brought to mind the fringe-element of undesirables, from the widely-movie "Easy Rider" to the infamous Hell's Angels. Greasy individuals who rode motorcycles and displayed obnoxious artwork on various parts of their bodies-- bikers were only "cool" amongst their own kind, and thought of in a very unfavorable light by most of the American population. In general, tattoos were limited to that range of individuals; and both the bikers and their "sleeves" was something the population at large preferred to do without.

Although in some locales, especially those with Navy bases, tattoos continued to enjoy a moderate degree of acceptance throughout the 'seventies, they still were not considered a respectable means of personal expression within the mainstream population. The younger generation who lived in these areas, with the usual curiosity of youth, often frequented tattoo parlors and began to make tattoos a part of their lifestyle. As these were usually young adults whose lifestyle included drug use and too much alcohol, their embracing the practice of tattoos did not assist in convincing the older generation that there was anything positive about it. One tattoo artist who practiced in the Navy town of Port Hueneme, California, remarked that the types of individuals whose lifestyle included tattoos were the kind of people who "don't usually make it to forty years old."

Also commenting that tattoos are "a fever," he shed some light on the most negative aspects of this practice. Even though by law artists were not supposed to do such artwork on individuals who were in any state of intoxication, his clients were usually in either of two categories: those who requested tattoos while seriously under-the-influence, and the fainters. His tattoo studio had a large couch for the benefit of the latter. Young drug users and Navy men made up the majority of his customers.

It was not until the early eighties that tattoos began to gain positive exposure. With the Long Island based band "The Stray Cats" appearing on the cover of the music magazine Rolling Stone, not only did this bring the rockabilly music style back into popularity it was also one of the first steps in helping tattoos gain widespread appeal. In stepping away from the coarse music of that particular time-period, the Stray Cats' scope was that of good clean music and good clean fun; and tattoos were a part of that image. Suddenly everybody wanted to be a part of it all, including the tattoos; and although it was often to the chagrin of the older generation, tattoos began to have less negativity attached to them.

As tattoos ceased to be solely connected to the counter-culture, they started to appear on everybody. In the following years they started showing up on average Americans all across the United States. Tattoo studios sprung up in cities that had colleges and universities, making tattoos an accepted part of life for students. As the people in that age group became older, their tattoos remained, as well as the interest in tattoos developing amongst the newer younger generation. In most parts of the United States they are now commonplace, and considered to be just a basic form of self-expression.

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The History of Tattoos

Tattoos are a hot topic today. People get tattoos for many reasons. Millions of styles have been applied and continue to be created. But tattoos aren't a new thing. They've been around for ages.

No one can really say when the history of tattoos began. The oldest known tattoo was discovered in 1991. It was found on a mummy known as Oetzi, an Iceman dated to be at least 5300 years old. His tattoos consist of horizontal and vertical lines. There is some debate as to why the tattoos are there.

The most common idea is that the tattoos were done for medicinal purposes. Oetzi's fifty-seven tattoos are located over various joints on the body. The thought is that the tattoos were made while a form of acupuncture was administered to relieve painful joints. Today, the same sites are used for acupuncture. Other ideas range from social status and ritual markings to tribal marks or simple preference.

Prior to finding Oetzi, the Russians excavated bodies that were determined to be over 2400 years of age. These mummies were found in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. Instead of lines, their tattoos are in the form of animals both real and imaginary. Many of these tattoos are thought to be decorative only while others appear to be a symbol of status rank.

The Egyptians have one of the most well known cultures for tattoos. Dating back to 2100 BC, discovered mummies have been found to be covered in various tattoos. Women flaunted tattoo designs that were restricted to women only. These designs were mostly a series of lines and dots around the body. Tattoos among the Egyptians are thought to have been forms of ritual markings.

In Japan, tattoos were first used on clay figures. These human shaped figures represented a deceased individual and were found in the tombs of the person they resembled. The tattoos were carved or painted on the faces of the figures. It is thought that these markings have religious or magical significance. The figures have been found in tombs that have been dated from 3,000 BC.

Japan's first documented tattoo is from 297 AD and has been shown to be for decorative purposes only. Tattoo artists were known as the "Horis" in Japan. The Horis were acknowledged as masters and eventually created the full body suit tattoo.

Many years later, tattoos were made widely popular by the circus. Acts are performed by people completely covered in tattoos. Individuals are renowned simply for their number of tattoos. Patrons of the circus are enamored by the extravagant and colorful tattoos of circus performers resulting in an increased number of tattoos across the world.

Tattoos have been found in history all over the world. They have been determined to be a representation of a variety of things such as social status, religion and many times just for decoration. Found on men and women alike, tattoos are discovered in every shape, size and color pattern imaginable. Whether they've been found to be something that was once held sacred or they're for decoration only, tattoos have been around for ages and will continue to be around for ages to come.

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Tattoos VS. Other Body Art

These days, it is not uncommon for tattoos to be associated with other forms of body art. In many areas, especially larger cities, tattoo studios are no longer solely tattoo studios, as they also offer piercings. In combining these two, two issues frequently arise. First, while many people consider tasteful, well-done tattoos to be a legitimate form of self-expression through artwork, a large number in this category also consider body piercing to be unacceptable; or, at the very least, undesirable. It is difficult to communicate this to young people, especially teenagers, when an increasing number of tattoo studios also offer body piercing. Kids will naturally assume that if artwork is acceptable, acquiring holes and rings in various parts of their anatomies should also be acceptable.

A second important issue regarding this subject is that while states generally have strict regulations surrounding tattoos, that is not always the case with body piercing. Even when tattooing is strictly regulated to the extent that minors cannot be tattooed, or, in some states, requiring the parent's consent for the process, it is becoming an increasing problem in some areas that body piercing carries no such requirements.

There are a couple of serious repercussions to this fact. First, many parents rightfully consider it to be a violation of parental rights to find that "piercing artists" can undermine their parental authority by putting piercings in their under-aged kids, not only without a parent's consent but without their knowledge in advance.

Second, in the areas where this can legally be done, there is also the issue of health standards. While the general rule is that a person is presented with risk factors in writing prior to getting a tattoo, piercing artists often allow minors to sign health waivers; although this is illegal, it is sometimes done anyway.

This opens up a whole "can of worms" with both legal and health issues. Legally, minors cannot sign such forms; but the health aspect of it is also worth noting. As body piercing carries much higher and more frequent risks of infection than tattoos, in signing these health waivers the teenager is rarely aware of how significant these risk factors actually are. While the risk of infection from body piercing is high enough in general, it can become even more so depending on the location of the piercing. Having piercings done in areas that are normally exposed to saliva, or airborne dirt, is simply asking for trouble. Yet piercing artists are often more concerned about making money than they are about the potential health repercussions to their young clients.

In addition to these factors, there is also the factor of social stigma. While youngsters may be accurate in assuming that acquiring body piercings will impress their teenage or other immature friends, it is not likely that it will impress anyone else. Even if they withstand parental objections, and ignore the dismay of school staff and employers, they have yet to see that body piercings generally do not go over very well in "the real world."

Whether one is most concerned with the potential health risks of body piercing, or the general consensus of the American population, body piercing has a long way to go before it is considered an acceptable practice. Tattoos carry some degree of valid purpose; in the opinion of most American adults, body piercing has no value other than for its owner to appear less than respectable.

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Tattoo Designs

If you walk into a tattoo studio, you can easily see that there are virtually no limits to tattoo designs. Most studios have a plethora of books, posters, and stencil samples; and, as the work of a tattoo artist is much more than simply putting designs on a person's skin, most are very skilled and very talented artists in general. Nearly anything you can visualize, either by description or in a sketch, can be made into a unique creation by those who practice this form of art. While many customers prefer a tattoo which is either quite simple and basic, such as one's name or initials, or a design which is totally unique and special to them, there are a number of styles which are widely popular.

Tattoos of Native American designs is one of the most popular. While most people who do not have direct information about tribal significance may simply select a design which looks good and appeals to them, traditional Native American artwork is by far the most often chosen in this category, as it symbolizes the Native American culture in general. However, for those who are knowledgeable, designs can be produced which symbolize tribal affiliation. If this is what a person prefers, it is a good idea to first do a bit of research to learn the difference between the tribes and which ones use which symbols. For people who have Native American ancestry, this is an excellent way to both learn about and display pride in one's heritage. One's name can also be made into a tribal design if you or your artist has the knowledge to do so.

Oriental designs are also quite popular. Most tattoo studios have a large variety of these, ranging from intricate artwork to smaller symbols. Some of those which are chosen most frequently include the Chinese symbols for luck, prosperity, eternity, harmony, and love; the zodiac signs are also popular. Although these designs may appear simple, and do have a rather unobtrusive effect, it takes a considerable amount of skill to draw them properly, as the thickness and thinness of the characters is very important. If you are looking for something which is stylish and tasteful, an Oriental design will have that effect.

For those whose religious beliefs are an important part of their lives, a tattoo of a religious symbol can be a permanently-displayed expression of this. Religious tattoos range from the most basic small crosses to large artwork depicting Saints and Jesus to nearly everything in-between. While most religions tend to frown on the subject of tattoos, they are represented in large varieties nonetheless. You will probably see crucifix tattoos and Star-of-David tattoos, despite the fact that the traditional religious belief is that one should not get tattoos. For most modern people, even those who take their religious beliefs very seriously, getting such a tattoo is not seen as violating religious standards, but a matter of pride in what they believe.

Celtic designs often appear in tattoos, also. From the most basic designs which everyone understands, such as shamrocks, to the intricate Celtic cross which fewer recognize the original meaning of, this culture has produced a wide array of beautiful artwork that can be used in tattoos.

Most people have some idea what they like, and each person's individual preference is no more difficult than finding it or having your artist create it. Whatever your background, interests, lifestyle, you are sure to find a tattoo design that appeals to you and is special to you.

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Tattoo Safety

The process of tattooing involves needles that move at very fast speeds to penetrate the outer layers of the skin. The needles break the skin, and inject dots of ink into the third layer, creating the image of the tattoo design in the skin. Whenever you are getting a tattoo, common sense and a bit of safety are always the most important considerations.

When getting a tattoo, most people fear getting the virus known as HIV, which can lead to the dreaded AIDS virus. Although many fear HIV, it is just one of the many viruses that can result from tattoos. Staph, syphilis, tuberculosis, and hepatitis are all but a few of the other diseases that can result from tattoos. All it takes is a dirty or unsanitary needle and you could wind up contracting one of the deadly viruses listed above.

Just like other activities, tattooing can be very dangerous. Although tattooing is indeed dangerous, there are ways that you can minimize or eliminate the potential dangers. Each and everyday, tattoo artists have to adhere to a strict code of safety to ensure that the risk of contracting HIV or any other diseases is little to none.

Professional tattoo artists will sterilize their equipment after each use. They use steam pressure autoclave when disinfecting their tattoo guns and needles. Bleach and alcohol don