Some Reason Why You Should Tattoo Your Body

Have you noticed that there are many people who have tattoos these days? In the past you might have a tattoo just visible on the likes of sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs, but now the tattoo is a very popular body decoration for many people. The type and style of tattoos also came with a very long way. No longer rough picture of the cool girls, skulls, and anchors. Tattooing has evolved into a highly sophisticated works of art ranging from the Celtic cross to a symbol that is very personal. The people have discovered and created designs that express themselves in ways that are very personal.

What Is a Tattoo?

Very simple tattoo is a puncture wound made in the skin that is filled with ink. Although done differently today than in the past technique is still somewhat similar. Today, the tattoo artist using a tattoo gun that has one or more needles that penetrate the skin and ink delivery into the skin. Tattoos last a very long time due to the fact that the ink is placed deep into the skin. The top layer of skin called the epidermis and continuously pour and reproduced. If ink from a tattoo within the skin layer will not last long. Layers of ink injected skin to be called the dermis, which is a deeper layer of skin that is very stable and make the tattoo still looks almost permanent.

Tattoos in the past was done manually with the tools they knocked on the skin to create a puncture wound and then the ink will be injected by hand. Most tattoo shops currently have a tattoo gun or machine to do today, though you can still find areas around the world who still use old-style tattoos. Make tattoo guns tattoo a lot faster these days because the machine can provide the ink into the skin like a skin puncture. Tattoo artist can change the end of the machine to contain a needle or needles depending on the group if they draw the outline of the design or shading part of the design. Most days are very skilled tattoo artist and find out how far to drive the needle into the skin to produce a good tattoo. It will not be enough to lead to tattered tattoo and went into the can lead to excessive bleeding, not to mention the pain will be far worse.

Does It Hurt?

Getting a tattoo can hurt and can take several hours or even days to complete, depending on the size and design of the tattoo you are getting. Number of pain can and will greatly depend on the location of the tattoo. Everyone has a different threshold for pain as well. Art has little to do with it as well. A good tattoo artist can provide more or less pain than a tattoo artist new or less experienced.


So you want to tattoo!

First and foremost, if you will get a tattoo, can be done safely! Remember, a tattoo is a puncture wound that needs to be considered the same as other scrape or cut that you might get. By taking care of your tattoo will tend to have infected. It may sound a bit silly but you need to make sure that your immunizations up to date. Tattoo shop currently has implemented measures to help you avoid infection and disease but it never hurts to take extra steps to your own safety. Have a plan to get medical care if you are exposed to infected tattoo. Some signs of infection are redness excessive, prolonged bleeding, pus or discoloration of skin around the tattoo.

If you have previous or existing conditions such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes or a condition that effects your immune system by all means consult your doctor. He may be able to recommend preventive measures you can take before getting your tattoo.

Choosing where to get your tattoo is very important. You want to make sure the tattoo shop is clean and safe. Things like needles, gloves, masks must all disposable and should not be used on more than one person. Own weapons and other equipment that do not use must be sterilized after each use. You can contact your local government (district, city, local health department) that can inform you on licensed tattoo shops, standard or complaints against a particular tattoo shop.

Here are some things to look for:

Is a tattoo shop you are looking at have an autoclave to sterilize equipment? autoclave is a device that uses steam, pressure and heat to sterilize with.

Is a licensed shop? You can check this via your local government agency and a tattoo shop you are looking at should be able to give you a reference.

Make sure the tattoo shop regulations that outline procedures to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids provided by the Safety and Health Administration Universal Procedure.

Just keep in mind, if you're considering a tattoo shop looks dirty or just not feel right to you for whatever reason it might be better to find a tattoo shop you are more comfortable with.

What will happen

First of all you will need to find a design that you want a tattoo on your body. Tattoo shop you'll most likely have thousands of designs that you can see through. You may also be able to have artists create unique designs for you. There are also possible designs to choose from on the web. Once you have decided on your design will need to determine the location. You may already have a location in mind and be able to choose a tattoo you will get to a certain location. Tattoo artist will then clean and even shave the area if necessary to get the tattoo and apply the type of tattoo stencils in the area and allows you to see it. This will give you a good idea of what it will look like. As these artists get the ink and the gun is ready they will explain things about the needle and procedures in order for you to become more comfortable with the whole process. When you are both ready they will begin to outline. Once the outline is finished the tattoo artist will once again clean the tattoo area and change the needle in the gun is likely to do shading or fill in. After completing the tattoo artist will clean the tattoo area again and apply some antibiotic ointment and then be covered with bandages. Congratulations! You now have a new tattoo. It will take several days to heal but soon you will be able to remove the bandage and show off your new art.


Tattoo Care

The last step you have to follow very important. That is taking care of your new tattoo until healed. Tattoo shop will give clues that you must follow and most likely will give an ointment for use on your tattoo. Just remember to contact your doctor if something about the tattoo you seem extraordinary (as discussed earlier). Make sure that you keep the tattoo bandaged for 24 hours first. This will assist in the healing process tremendously. You will want to avoid touching the new tattoo and take on any scabs that may form. After all, it is a wound and form most likely be a few scabs on the spot. When you wash it for the first time you try to use antibiotic soap and just pat it dry. Re-apply some antibiotic ointment and also re-bandage it. It will only help you to heal a tattoo. You want to avoid your new tattoo wet (swimming pools, hot tubs, long showers) until the tattoo has completely healed. Another important step is to keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight. Even after it is fully healed sun can cause fading of the tattoo a lot. So are advised to use sun screen on the tattoo for some time so that new tattoo you do not start to fade soon.

Reference:
[1] Richard V Watson,http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_V_Watson

How To Find Tattoo Shop in USA

Tattoos are becoming more and more popular. Every day people who never had a tattoo decide to get their first. And they wonder where they should go to get their first. This is an important decision considering you might have a tattoo on you for the rest of your life. In addition, health issues come into play. So, you want a tattoo you can be proud of and also one that will not be infected.

How to find a tattoo shop or salon:

1. The best way is to ask your friends where they got them. They can not only provide the address and name of the store, but can provide details about the quality and professionalism of the artists shops.

2. If you can not find a good place from your friends, you can go online and ask others. One place to consider is yahoo answers. You can ask specific questions like "what is a good tattoo shop in Las Vegas?" . You probably will get quite a few answers in a few days.

3. Online communities such as tattoohood.com. It is free to join sites like myspace, but only for tattoo lovers. Inside has a forum area, gallery area where you can get an idea for a tattoo and you can also interact with other members. So if you find a member in a particular city, you can only ask them where they get their tattoo.

4. Tattoo directory. There are several good online directory for finding tattoo shops and artists in the United States. One that I have found the most complete JustTattoo.com. They have thousands and thousands of nursing and also a rating system for each guest room.

So, just put in a little time and make good decisions. Finding a tattoo shop is not difficult, but finding the best takes a little more work.

Reference:
[1] Tim Phelan,http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Phelan

Jared Letto | Tattoo Ideas

Jared Leto has been spotted with a few tattoo designs, including a large circle and X located on his left forearm, this design is the Echelon which is part of the bands iconography. The singer/actor also has a couple other tattoos, one being on his inner right wrist and another on his neck, which i believe is the symbol of the bands glyphs.

3 Tattoos of Juliette Lewis Ideas

Juliette Lewis has three confirmed tattoos which we known about, including an unknown design on her right butt cheek. The lovely actress/singer also has a cute little bunny rabbit tattoo on her left wrist, which she calls My Melody. Plus a small heart on her upper back.

Malin Akerman + Flower Tattoo on Shoulder

Malin showcased her lotus flower tattoo while walking the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival.

50 Cent in Back Tattoos Ink

50 Cent in Back Tattoos Ink

All About Back Tattoos

When it comes to both privacy and pride, no tattooable area is quite as versatile as the back. If you're the kind of person that's a bit shy about having a tattoo for all to see, you can cover your back tattoos by simply putting on a shirt or a blouse, but if you're a bit of the body proud type a back tattoo is perfect for putting your style and your decorated physique on display.

Consider Size Placement

Those tattoos lend themselves well to flattering you back. Because your back isn't just a flat space, there are so many possibilities; The shoulder blades can be emphasized by a tattoo design, the curve of the spine can be played up, back tattoos can mirror each other on either side to create a surreal effect or you can have a tattoo design stretching from one shoulder to the other to draw attention to their width and/or shape and the lower back; the most prefere tattoo location for the ladies.

The back tattoos you choose don't have to be all one tattoo or one kind either as long as they look attractive together. You can get one that are reminiscent of scenes in a favourite story of yours, or you can combine them such as flowers, tribal patterns and symbols or animals to make up a complex ensemble or even have a collage created with several tattoos overlapping each other in an interesting way. The only thing you need to keep in mind here about back tattoos is that where certain elements are along with the kinds of clothes that you plan on wearing will have an effect on how your back tattoos will be seen. Short tops, off shoulder shirts or V-back cuts, low rise pants, things like that will have your back tattoos peeping out to wink at anyone who might happen to notice the art your wearing so you kind of want to think about what they'll be seeing there.

Play with the surface

The back is a rather special place to get a tattoo because unlike anywhere else on the body it provides a large enough canvas to have a landscape scene depicted on it as well as any elaborate combination of tattoos or even a sizable graphic design that you might like to have. There's also a great freedom of choice when getting back tattoos because if you need to hide your tattoo you can.

Don't forget Healing time

The last thing you need to be mindful of is the healing. Think about your job, if you happen to have an office job you have to realize that it won't be great for your tattoos healing process. A back tattoo won't heal well if you've got to sit back in a chair with your fresh tattoo pressed up against it. Also if you've got to go every hour or so to the bathroom to wash it up and put medicine on it that can be more trouble than you want to put up with but don't drop the idea of getting your back tattoos. Just wait till your vacation time and you'll be able to take it easy and let your tattoo heal up stress free while you're out and about having a good time (J H).

Tattoo News Review

Tons of tattoo stories topped the headlines, and I've trolled through them all to bring ya the good, bad and the whatthefuck.

N+S keeps our focus on stellar tattoo art, like this fresh work from Jondix in Spain (who's part of my upcoming Black Tattoo Art book); however, we will on occasion link to examples of the WTF if only to feel a sense of unbridled tattoo superiority. And so, behold COED Mag's What Were They Thinking gallery.

Many of the tattoos shown are featured the book No Regrets: The Best, Worst, & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever but there are some new gems like the Hasselhoff Ode and Chris Farley memorial tattoo. Looking at them, I feel better about myself already. And that is the power of tattoo. [Thanks, Father Panik, for the boobies COED tattoo link.]

UFC's Alan Belcher did not make the WTF list with his deformed Johnny Cash portrait tattoo.


As for the bad ...

I really don't know what's worse: Canada's CTA excessive use of "tramp stamp" in a removal story (and quoting a doc who says women can't get epidurals because of them -- not true) or starting off the article with reference to some shmuck who wanted a corkscrew tattoo removed from his penis. CTA did get the title right though -- Laser treatment is not quick fix. For stupid.

Then there's this going-to hell-bad: Texas Man Sought for Unpaid Bill for God Tattoo.

And the badass...

Burn Magazine's Eye of the Beholder story/photo by Anton Kusters who is documenting a Yakuza family in Kabukicho, Japan. One of our faves, Susanah Breslin, has been guest blogging for Boing Boing and included this powerful image in her collection of wondrous things.

This one is pretty wondrous to me ... "Man resurrects friend's ashes into tattoo." Granted, this isn't the first time I've heard stories like this but I always get goosebumps at the thought of actually wearing a loved one in my skin. I think it's a beautiful tribute but I wonder if anything else gets carried over in the ash. Just sayin.

In good news ...


Reuters reports that there are less Iraqis getting tattoos used to ID their bodies, and instead are opting for artful ink. In 2005 and 2006, I blogged, on Needled.com, stories of how many caught in the mission-accomplished zone were getting identifying information tattooed on various limbs in case they were mutilated. One Bagdad tattoo artist said that, while many young men today are coming in for motifs like dragons and tigers instead of their names and addresses, he still keeps a low profile "for fear of being attacked by extremists who see his work as being prohibited by Islam or too Westernized."

A couple seeking to open a tattoo studio in Tempe, Arizona who had their business permit revoked won the right to open up shop, again. The city had appealed a court ruling in favor of the couple but to no avail. When will cities learn to stop wasting money on these suits and allow studios to open, thereby bringing more money into city tax coffers?


In celeb tattoo news ...

The LA Times reports that High Voltage tattoo, featured on the reality show LA Ink, is now a top tourist destination along with Kim Kardashian's clothing stores and The Hill's hot spots. The article says, "The manager of High Voltage Tattoo estimates that 90% of its customers are fans of the TV show." So I guess that makes only 10% serious tattoo collectors?

I'm no hater, but I'm not lovin the show either, especially after reading in Inked Mag that top tattooists Hannah Aitchison and Kim Saigh won't be returning to the show because of their lack of drama. I prefer my artists drama-free, thanks, and if they have more time for yoga practice before opening up my skin, well, the better. [Although a faux Aitchison/Saigh lesbian relationship would've been a hot episode.]

The new season will get plenty of drama with the addition of Rock of Love hot mess Aubry Fisher.

By the way Kim's new Vans are out. Nice.

Also check Margaret Cho's tattoolicious cover for Unzipped [a gay adult industry mag is obvs NSFW]. Her new show Drop Dead Diva premiered this week and is a comedy with body image as its central theme, one not uncommon to heavily tattooed peeps. I loved it.

Ashley Tisdale got a tattoo. Yeah, I don't care either.

Another autograph tattoo, this time, Paul McCartney. Let it Be Bleed.

Cameron Diaz sports a faux tattoo on V Mag in her tribute cover to Madonna.

skull tattoo

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A skull tattoo design can be one of the best available option, but as you may have noticed, the quality artwork online to find a skull or what can be a pain. Many on the internet is the same design and soft, but there are ways around all the art generic and I will show you what to consider when looking for your tattoo.

The first thing you need to be aware when looking for your final skull tattoo designs have anything to do with how you find a site that has art. You do not have to settle on a Google search, or works of art and design from a few, random cookie-cutter websites that happen to have many tattoos. This is not original or artistic quality. Most of their designs have more than five or six years old and plastered all over the internet, in every nook and cranny. Who knows how many people have seen that the skull tattoo design is and how many people already have it inked on their skin? That's not what I want you satisfied, especially when it comes to choosing the skull as one of your design.

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One more thing about the generic art of cookie-cutter site ....

It has to do with the artists who actually create the content that covers every skull tattoo designs are given in these places. Many artists who send art is not very wide when it comes to making something that will look good once made into real life tattoos. Sure, they might well what they do best, which is interesting, but many of them do not understand what it takes to draw designs that will see anywhere near the well after it inked into the skin of a person. This is especially important when it comes to tattoo designs skulls, because they can be very detailed, because you might have noticed.

There is a way through all of that despite the generic art, while getting right to the skull tattoo design quality of your choice.

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Looking for quality art on the internet through the use of the forum is a wonderful tool, even when looking for something specific as a skull tattoo designs. You will not believe that a large amount of information you will find in it when it comes to tattoos and the places the original, top notch design. I have used forums so many times when it comes to finding the good artwork that I have lost count and I have seen so many other people use them to their advantage as well. What you must realize is that people like to brag to others when they discover a hidden gem, such as a web site with original artwork. In this case will be a place that has a skull tattoo design quality of the database. There is no better place on the web for people to share their findings with others in addition to the forums and you can reap the benefits of their search.

Finding quality tattoo designs skull should not louder, and as a matter of fact, it can also be fun, so go ahead and find the original skull and works of art that you have been looking for online.

Source:
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Woodham

Facts About Tattoo

Bellows are 101 Tattoo Facts about Tattoos:

1: An Ohio restaurant that specializes in cheeseburgers lifetime 25% discount offer for anyone who has a tattoo of a cheeseburger and in a tattoo studio that is not related in a nearby town, they offer 25% discount on tattoos cheeseburger-Sounds suspicious.
2: Tattoos rarely done in ink, what is often called the ink, the color actually suspended solid particles, salts most metals and plastics, but not like a vegetable dye used to believe.
3: No reported cases of HIV infection from a tattoo in the U.S., but there were three of the dentist's office.
4: More women than men is getting tattooed.
5: Tattoos are considered a minor medical procedure.

6. Until the year 2006 it is illegal to get a tattoo in Oklahoma
7th: Lucky Diamond Rich of New Zealand is the most tattooed person in the world, and after running out of space, has started putting a tattoo on a lightweight, darker, and vice versa.
8: Robbie "the Coon" Koch, recently broke the world record with a 577 tattoo ink in 24 hours. Old record held by Kat Von D from the television show, "LA Ink." Hollis Cantrell-update actually has records as of 2009 (801 tattoos), but Coon Robbie sounded better. Hollis is the end of a tattoo on her thigh.
9: The first recorded tattoo is believed to have been discovered in the iceman mummy in 3300 BC. He has 58 tattoos, most point and line.
10: In 1876 Thomas Edison invented the machine that eventually became a tattoo machine, but need modification by Samuel O'Reilly in 1891 for adapting the device for tattooing.

11: The record for the longest tattoo session is 43 hours and 50 minutes and finished with a very caring and talented artist Melanie Grieveson of Australia. The tattoo was Stephen Grady.
12: In 2005 Kimberly Smith paid $ 10,000 to have a tattoo on his forehead Golden Palace.Com with casinos, to help finance her education. The casino is known for the odd promotion.
13: Thomas Edison had five points tattoo on his left arm, similar to the dots on dice.
14: Lip tattoo only lasted one to five years and must often Retouched, the most common cosmetic liner lip.
15: The second most common reason for removing a tattoo is a mistranslation.
16: In the year 2010 Channel will reveal a new line of fashionable temporary tattoos. The set of 55 tattoo sold for $ 75.
17: Most Tattoo machine kept between 1 and 10 needles and some old-fashioned method of using rakes and hold up to 27.
18: Anil Gupta is considered the most expensive tattoo artist in NYC for $ 350 per hour.
19: In most cases, the outline of a tattoo should not bleed at all, and shelter just a few minutes.
20: In the year 2006, one of four women aged 18-50 have at least one tattoo.

21: U.S. President James Polk said the first white man who has a tattoo of Chinese characters.
22: A brothel in Cologne, Germany to offer any protection to get a tattoo of a business logo, near the entrance free at the artist's house, for life ($ 6.25 U.S.) and a discount on lap dances ($ 25.00 U.S.. EA)
25: The word "tattoo" has been in the top ten search terms from Lycos began tracking the search engine.
26: Democrats are more likely to have a tattoo then republicans, 18% to 14%.
27th: January 23, 2010. A U.S. Marine Corp. The new directive banning anyone with a full arm tattoo from an officer. It also forbids tattoos on the hands, wrists, fingers, and the inside of the mouth.
28: July 17, 2009. 18 years old Kimberly Vlaminck suing a tattoo artist for 56 Romanian stars that she woke up, spread across his face, saw 53 more than requested. He later admitted that he lied in the lawsuit and has asked for all sixty.
29: Blues singer Janis Joplin has a tattoo of a bracelet and a small heart on left breast.
30: At Oregon, is a crime to practice or a tattoo without a license in an unlicensed shop.

31: heir and socialite Paris Hilton has one tattoo to his credit, then boyfriend Nick Carter's name on his right butt cheek. Since it has been removed by laser.
32: The traditional Samoan tattoo, pe'a, covering the body from mid chest to the knee, within three months to complete and up to one year to fully heal. A typical session lasts from dawn until dusk, or until the pain became too great, and returned the next day unless the skin requires several days to heal.
33: In a 2002 survey, eight of the top 10 selected, "the most beautiful in the world" has a tattoo.
34: Tattoos done today has not changed to blue as they age, unless they were originally blue, ink is much more stable.
35: The first occurrence of tattoos of words in the English Oxford Dictionary came in 1769 and credited to Captain John Cook.
36: A chicken tattoo on one leg and pigs on the other hand is said to protect sailors from drowning. animals also could not swim.
37: Queen Kamamalu of Hawaii (1808-1824) was the first woman who has a tattoo of his tongue.
38: Most tattoo artists will not tattoo a pregnant woman.
39: Some tattoo artists claim that if your new tattoo shield from sunlight during the first two years it will still be bright and clear for decades.
40: More than 40 million people in the U.S. has a tattoo.

41: 26% of Americans with tattoos say they make them feel more attractive, with a female voice in a way that almost 2-1 over men.
42: Tommy Lee of Motley Crue tattoo holds the record for highest altitude, which has been signed in the year 2008 amounted to 45 000 feet. Tattooing was said to cost $ 150,000 bucks.
43: 73 Valley Isobel years, women of the world's most tattooed, has tattooed every inch of her body except her face, and also has a fifty piercings, 15 of the visible. The majority of piercings below the belt since he wanted a jingle when she walks, she said.
44: More people who have a medical alert tattoo to assist doctors in emergency cases.
45: 43 years old ex-soldier, Shawn Clark has the names of all 232 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan tattoo on his back.
46: At one time the red ink is known to fade, not so with today's' ink.
47: The title of the "Hardy Boys" # 47 is "Whale Tattoo Mystery."
48: When Cortez landed in Mexico's coast in 1519 he was terrified to find the natives practiced worship demons and somehow permanently marked pictures of their idols on their skin. He called it the work of the devil.
49: An anchor tattoo on a sailor showed that they had sailed across the Atlantic.
50: A third of Americans with tattoos say they make them feel more sexy.

51: Tattoo ink is injected into the second layer of skin, dermis, and be summarized by the body as a defense mechanism, leaving the image is stable and intact.
52: Gabrial Carbona, American teenager beat a man for Mexican cartel, has a tattoo of her eyelids so that they have never seen closed. The idea did not work as well for him in prison.
53: Jimmy Buffet sang about tattoos in this song with the same name, "This is a temporary feeling permanent reminder."
54: In the 1920s, American circuses employed more than 300 people with full body tattoos and they paid up to $ 200 a week, a lot of money at that time.
55th: Percentage of men and women with tattoos are now statistically equal.
56: Tattoo equipment sterilization in the autoclave, high pressure steam engine, similar to the pressure cooker and how to do their hospital.
57: 57% of people without tattoos feel that they are with their more rebellious and threatening.
58: 35 43 0f the first U.S. president reportedly has a tattoo.
59: Tattoo ink is not regulated by the government agencies so that there is no way to know exactly what's inside.

60: Mrs. Winston Churchill, Lady Randolph Churchill, had a snake tattoo on his wrist. They are popular for wealthy aristocrats during the period. He chose the snake because it can easily be covered by the bracelet.
61: U.S. President Andrew Jackson had a giant tattoo of a tomahawk which extends along the inside of her thighs. No one knows exactly why.
62: Almost all U.S. companies have some form of restriction or policy about tattoos on the job.
63: On 29 September 2009, the 19-year-old ban on tattooing raised in DeKalb, Illinois.
64: Actress Halle Berry has a sunflower tattooed on her rear end cover a player ex-husband, David Justice baseball.
65: The popularity of tattooing during the latter part of the nineteenth century and the first part of the twentieth century a lot of debt into a circus spectacle.
66: People with antisocial personality disorder were more likely to have a higher number of tattoos in more visible locations, and cover a larger percentage of their body.
67: Ancient Egyptians used tattoos to distinguish between slaves and peasants.
68: During the 18th century in Europe, collecting tattooed Maori heads became so popular that many killed to meet the demand. Heads are usually paid in weapons.
69: In 1870 the Japanese government banned the practice of forcing tattoo underground where he thrives.
70: 3% of Americans say having a tattoo makes them feel more athletic.

71: women in the world's most tattooed, Isobel Varley got his first tattoo, a flower, at the age of 49.
72: 4% of consumers spend $ 1,000 on tattoos.
73: When you see a tattoo of someone you are seeing through the first layer of skin, the epidermis.
74: 50% of all tattoos that are not covered by clothing and openly visible.
75: Tattoo machine can make up 200 hits per second, it is up to 12 000 times per minute and 720 000 hours.
76: In ancient Greece and Rome, tattoos are considered barbaric and is only used to mark slaves and criminals.
77: 52% of those who are tattooed in prison.
78: In recent studies, memorial tattoos have proven to be change sorrow into joy and the morning of the celebration by creating a lasting memory.
79: A 2009 study conducted at Liverpool Hope University found that people with three or more tattoos have significantly lower levels of self-esteem.
80: 4% of Americans say their tattoos make them feel better.

81: This is not true that the ink is white or lighter is more painful to use.
82: Tattooing is an art, only, if the person doing the tattoo is an artist and skilled technicians.
83: President James Buchanon has a scantily clad woman tattooed on his chest with the initials BFL (bachelor for life).
84: In 2002, 18 years old wardrobe hair Lee Becks surprised to find a tattoo she thought said, "Love, honor, and obey" actually translates to, "at the end of the day, this is an ugly child."
85: New York City from 1961 to 1997 due to ban tattoo tattoo-related outbreaks of hepatitis "C".
86: In a study in 2002 a group of male high school and college students viewed pictures models with or without tattoos, and assessed them in the 13 category. Models with tattoo print is much lower in nine of 13 ratings.
87th: Some people experience pain or burning sensation during the long MRI because the metal particles in some inks.
88: The U.S. Navy banned tattoos of naked women during World War II, the future of so many sailors have tattoos they are reused to insert fabric.
89: The first example of record following the death of tattooing was reported in 1837 in France. Young women, prostitutes, is another cover up unwanted tattoos and die from the infection that followed.
1990: Apr. 30, 2009. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Barbie Mattel came out with "Barbie Totally new Stlylin ', complete with a set of tattoo parlors are able, one lower back tattoo featuring the name of Ken.

1991: 35% of all NBA players have tattoos. Michael Jordan was there and colleague Dennis Rodman has at least 22.
1992: Lorette Fulkerson is the last woman to work circus sideshows, retiring in 1995 at age 80.
93: Eyeball tattoo is not done by machine, but rather, the ink is injected directly into the eye with a syringe.
94: Urine is sometimes used in the ink mix early.
1995: 5% of Americans with tattoos say they make them feel more intelligent.
1996: The first case of the syphilis which is transmitted through the tattoos come in 1853. Drying ink artist so he spit in it, to transfer the disease.
97: Never go back to the person who gave you a bad tattoo to have it fixed, would not be better.
1998: Time to ask these questions before you get a tattoo.
1999: A good tattoo is not cheap and cheap tattoos are not good.
100: Women are more than twice as likely to have tattoos removed as a boy.

101: More than 50% of tattoos are created on this day will be removed by the laser with a huge cost, pain, intense and frightening small permanent. Think before you ink.

Tattoo Regret

The following excerpt comes from this past Sunday's (9/23/07) popular "On Language" column by William Safire in the New York Times Magazine.

“As tattoos become more popular,” reads a headline in The International Herald Tribune over an article by Natasha Singer of The New York Times, “so does ‘tattoo regret.’ ”

On the other side of the world, in Brisbane, Australia, The Sunday Mail warned last year: “Think before you ink. That’s the message skin experts are preaching as ‘tattoo regret’ booms.” It reported that a Queensland athlete — embarrassed about a smiling devil’s face etched on his back — complained in rhyme of suffering “severe tattoo-rue.”

“The regret combining form is found in a lot of current writing,” notes Ann Rubin Wort, a former Times colleague. “Nowadays people are acting more impulsively; thus, regrets aplenty and the resulting need to nullify capricious choices.”

Regret about the permanence of skin illustration is rising. The Washington Post reported that a Harris Poll a few years ago indicated that nearly half the young women between 18 and 29 surveyed had at least one tattoo, and that 17 percent of all tattooed Americans who had tattoos regretted getting them. It seems that many of the aging former teenagers have had a skinful.

Etymology of the dermatology: Earliest use I can find of nostalgia for an unmarked epidermis is a headline above a 1989 Times column by Lawrence K. Altman, M.D.: “For Those With Tattoo Regret, Here’s Hope.” Back in that day, laser treatment was the great hope; now it seems that a new tattooing ink has been developed that, it is claimed, may make removal of tattoos by laser more practical.

This column’s interest, as Wort notes, is in the collocation combining form — the way a new phrase is made by substituting one element of a familiar phrase. (A generation ago, the lexical response to backlash was frontlash; applying that replacement technique to a phrase, a moderate critic of our present war policy suggested that the answer to the charge of “cut and run” should be a centrist approach of “cut and walk.”)

Tattoo regret is formed on the analogy of buyer’s regret, more vividly and widely expressed as buyer’s remorse. Until this collocation was formed, the idea took longer to express, as in this 1891 citation from a San Antonio paper: “They who bought winter hats . . . early in the fall are now repenting their rashness at leisure.” The same anguished repentance happened this year to early buyers of Apple’s hotly touted iPhone, who plunked down $600 only to find the item reduced to $400 a couple of months later, lowering the puissance of the status symbol.

Buyer’s remorse is a phrase probably coined in the auto industry a half-century ago. Grant Barrett, editor of the online Double-Tongued Dictionary, has a citation from The Los Angeles Times in 1946 reporting a customer’s complaint that her auto dealer “told her she had ‘buyer’s remorse’ and since she had signed the contract she had to stick to it.”

In 1957, Leon Festinger came up with a theory of “cognitive dissonance,” in which he posited the opposite of buyer’s remorse: Most of us tend to embrace the choice we make, so as to reduce the self-critical dissonance in our minds. When we buy a Ford, we read Ford ads and shy away from reading the ads of Toyota.

The regret or remorse combining form has an immediate future in politics. As the states play backward leapfrog with their primaries, we face a stretch of nine months of campaigning leading up to the national parties’ conventions next summer. As the political winds blow hot and cold, as candidates’ poll ratings rise and fall after each statewide election, primary voters and contributors will experience a kicking-oneself feeling when their candidate fades and they wish they had chosen the victor to oppose the other party’s choice.

And what will we call that sinking sensation felt by all the primary voters who failed to back the winning candidate of their party? Those afflicted with tattoo regret will have company: as we plod through the primaries, watch for voter’s remorse.

Tattoosday #6: Going Mobile

Sorry for the delay in posting, I was worried I would have to improvise, but found two participants today. Last Friday I had my first rejection: a guy at 53rd and 6th Avenue sitting on a bench was the first person to decline. He had many colorful tats on both arms and seemed open at first, but was adverse to my taking any photographs.

On Tattoosday Eve, Labor Day, I still had nothing for the post. I stopped someone in front of my building yesterday with a really cool Hellboy tattoo. He seemed receptive but wanted to check out the blog first.

I found myself with many opportunities but passed, not necessarily out of lack of nerve, but because the tattoos were not so nice, old, faded, or blurred by too much sun. I
have seen a handful of dolphin tattoos like the one the Ancient One sent me.

Today was the kids' first day of school, so I took off from work. Around 11 AM, I decided to ride my bike, eventually making it to Coney Island, where I guessed I could find some good ink. Yet it was still sparse, I had ridden down the Boardwalk and had circled back when I found my first subject.

I approached two young ladies who were taking pictures. One of them had a tattoo on the back of her neck:


The Japanese characters spell out the woman's name, Fernanda. Unlike on the recently-aired episode of VH1's "Rock of Love," in which one of the contestant's gets Bret Michaels' name tattooed on the back of her neck, as a show of devotion, Fernanda has inked her own name. I see a lot of people that do their own names on their arms or legs (I work with many who have done so), and have never really understood the phenomenon.

But in Fernanda's case, I get the artistic expression a little more. These are Japanese letters that have a greater aesthetic impact than Roman letters. When I asked Fernanda why she tattooed her name, she merely expressed that she loved Japanese letters and Japanese culture. She was born and raised in Brazil and has only been living in New York for a year. She did not remember the name of the shop where she had the tattoo done, but narrowed it down to the Astoria section of Queens for me.

I have to agree, it's a pretty cool tattoo.

I made another pass and headed back home. Once I made my way to the Shore Road promenade, where I do the majority of my cycling. I have several spots along the several-mile route from which I can head home. I decided to go down to the 92nd Street footbridge. Standing on the bridge was a gentleman who seemed to be cooling off from running. He had earbuds in and a large biceps piece. He also had an ankle piece and another tattoo on his triceps.

I passed him while walking my bike and then headed back and said loudly, "Excuse me!" He removed his earbuds and I explained my mission. He was game. His name was Mike and he had 6 tattoos in all and didn't mind which one I photographed. I asked him which one was the most special and he held up his arm and pointed to the piece on his triceps. This one:


He explained it a tribal Native American designed mixed with the American flag which he got as a tribute after 9/11. The piece was done by Craig Cooley at Abstract Tribal Tattooing in Brooklyn. I asked him if he was a fireman, and he said, "No, a police officer." I thought, with the 6th anniversary of September 11 just a week away, it was a perfect punctuation mark to end a week of tattoo-spotting, and begin a week of reflection on this somber anniversary.

Thanks to Fernanda and Mike for their participation in this edition of Tattoosday!

Tattoosday #4: Ozzfest Edition

Well I had this all worked out. This week's Tattoosday was going to kick butt. I went to Ozzfest last Thursday and figured it would be a piece of cake to get a cavalcade of awesome tattoo shots. Hmmm.

One problem: I'm a dork. Going up to people twenty years younger than me and asking them if I can take pictures of their tattoos for my blog, Sephora and I agreed, would be the pinnacle of dorkiness. Not quite, we later acknowledged, when we saw a young metalhead going to his seat with his mother, who looked like she was there to chaperone, rather than enjoy the show.

The scale of body art was unfathomable. I imagined I would see an incredible range of tattoos, and I was not disappointed. We arrived around 3:30, and I decided around 5:00 that most of my tattoo shots would be candids, without the hosts knowing they were being photographed.

Here are some of the folks I shot whose tattoos didn't come out so well:







Snap enough random pictures of passers-by, and you'll get a few good candid shots:



A closer view reveals a pretty nice "Don't Tread on Me" tattoo:


But ultimately, I did get some fairly nice pictures, especially of one back piece after the concert when everyone was reeling homeward.

First, there was this cool tattoo from someone sitting a few rows ahead of me:


Then, there was this one on the shoulder of someone sitting a few seats over from me:

The detail and coloring of this Aztec piece is quite impressive:


There were so many amazing back pieces and sleeves that it would have been impossible to catch them all. As mentioned before, this guy was ahead of me as we exited after the show. The eyes are amazing. Not anything I would do myself, but still a bit awe-inspiring. Note his friends Misfits tattoo on the right:


I can only assume he meant to spell Alligator with an "e" instead of an "o".

Ultimately, though, I really missed the Tattoosday theme, which is to get back story on the pieces I photograph. Wouldn't you like to know who this guy is? And why did he do his back like this? How long did it take? Whose eyes are those? And did he mean to spell Alligater the way he did?

For those shortcomings, I offer my heartfelt apologies. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy this week's edition of Tattoosday.

Tattoosday #3: BillyBlog Pulls a "Tat Trick"

Welcome to the third installment of "Tattoosday". They get better with age. First a quick recap of the week:

8/7: Interesting tidbit came in the form of a friend (Jill) sending me over to this blog, more specifically this post about the good and bad in a tattoo experience. Interesting read. I posted a comment inviting her to contribute to Tattoosday, if she wanted.

8/10: Rain in the forecast all day. Not the best for tattoo-spotting. In fact, by the end of the day, I realize that this little venture, difficult now, will be next to impossible once the mercury drops below me 60 degrees, 24-7.

8/12: Last Sunday was good to me so I had hope today. At the laundromat, a woman who works at the local bank and who I see occasionally at the laundromat, was sporting a nifty ankle tattoo. Jolee even spotted it and suggested I ask her. Despite many opportunities, I failed to ask. Later in the afternoon, I ran into her again down the block and this time asked her, finally, if she'd be interested in the project. She seemed receptive to the idea and said she'd let me know next time she saw me. She indicated she had designed the piece around her ankle herself.

8/13: (7:00 A.M.) I have decided that today will be the day. I will leave at lunch and find a cool tattoo. I will rely on the students of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to supply me with the body art. Let's see if I can do it.

[Later that day....]

Ok, BillyBlog-ience, enough of my bellyaching. I just went out, under the deadline, and snagged a tat-trick (I love coining new words). I got not one, not two, but three subjects in less than sixty minutes (and managed to run some errands in the process.

I was walking back from the bank on West 27th Street when I passed a guy standing in the doorway with tons of tattoos. He had a King Tut on his right forearm. I walked past him and then said to myself that he looked pretty cool. I ambled up and said, "Hey, mind if I ask you about your tattoos?" He hesitated for maybe a split second and then said sure. I explained the concept of tattoosday to him and asked if I could take a picture of one of his tattoos. He said sure, and selected the one on his left leg.



He selected that one because it represented New York City and is one of his more recent pieces. It reads "Too Tough To Die," features a skull, and the New York skyline peeking up out of his sock.



I asked him how many tattoos he had and he didn't know. He has two full sleeves, tats on both legs, and he said on his chest and back as well. The tattoo I photographed, he said was an homage to the Ramones, from their 1984 album of the same name.


He gave his name as "Tops," and although he didn't disclose more about where he had the art done, he did look at one of the previous tattoosday posts and said he knew the owner of New York Hardcore Tattoos.

Well I was pretty proud of myself for finally jumping in the pool. Even though I didn't know James from last week, we had seen each other around and were familiar with one another. Tops was the first complete and utter stranger I approached. I was proud of myself for finally getting someone for Tattoosday.

Perhaps because the pressure was off, I walked with a lighter load. I headed back to 7th Avenue and decided to walk through F.I.T. over to 8th Avenue. Perhaps I would encounter some artistic student who would be approachable.

Sure enough, halfway down the block I saw a young lady approaching with two tattooed arms. I used the same approach, and mentioned BillyBlog. She gently kidded (I think gently, and I think she was kidding) about me asking her to be on my "nerdy blog". I have to remind myself that I am forty and your average F.I.T. student is in their early 20s, at the oldest.

Anyway, Jackie Alvo didn't mind giving me her real name, nor did she mind letting me snap shots of both arms. I found some of her design work here.

I noticed the cherry blossoms on her left arm first and she indicated that all her work was done on Long island because that's where "all the best artists are".



Her right arm, she joked, had to have a fashion theme, because she was at F.I.T. As cool as her left arm was, the dressmaker's form and other aspects were highly original and quite impressive. She let me know that her work was done at Timmy Tattoo in Huntington, NY (on MySpace here).



I thank her for her contribution and later saw her zip away on a bright metallic blue Vespa scooter.

The third tattoo was a bit of a surprise. I was in the plaza in front of the Borders at Madison Square Garden when I saw a woman with the following gecko tattoo above her left ankle.


She preferred to remain anonymous, but she is the first tourist tattoo on BillyBlog. The gecko design, which she searched for for years, has no specific significance. She just wanted a gecko tattoo. The piece was inked at Atomic Buddha Tattoos in Greeley, Colorado, from which our tourist hailed. Well, Colorado for sure, not necessarily Greeley.

We talked about geckoes a bit, especially the fact that, growing up in Hawai'i, I had them in and out of the homes I lived in. Shayna, coincidentally, just got a rubber gecko from a science museum last week. It went through the laundry on Sunday and she flung it at the ceiling last night and it stayed there until I pulled it down.

Thanks to the folks who let me take the pictures. Tops, I don't think, will be checking out the blog, but Jackie said she'd google BillyBlog and I gave a printout to our friend from Colorado. Please, feel free to add comments, questions, anecdotes, whatever. Or e-mail me if I need to clarify or edit any of the facts from my brief encounters with you.