Tattoo Design Choice - Part 2

Writen by Jim Whanarere

A celtic cross or maybe a cool tribal?

Deciding on what type of tattoo to get is obviously a very important decision right?

There are so many options to choose from but the bottom line is that you should choose something that has significance to you. This may require a lot of thought but it is best to really think about what you want before you have a tattoo done to make sure that you will not regret the tattoo later on.

There are too many options to mention but just a few include religious, tribal, words, cartoons, and just about anything you can think of. You can even get a tattoo that bears a likeness to a loved one. The other options to consider are black and white tattoos or color tattoos. These choices are a matter of personal preference and there are no right or wrong answers.

The most important thing about choosing a tattoo is to choose something that is special to you. That is all that really matters. As long as you like your tattoo, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about it.

Those who are happy with their tattoos and those who feel as though their tattoo has special meaning are much less likely to regret their tattoo.

Choosing black and white or color for your tattoo is another decision you will have to make. Again personal preference is the most important factor.

Your tattoo is a lifelong investment so don’t let the price persuade you to pick one over the other. Some tattoos may look better in black and white such as pictures while cartoons may look better in color. Choose what you like best and you are sure to be happy with your decision.

There are so many options to choose from that it may seem overwhelming. Tattoo Me is the best place to start your tattoo design search because we are offering thousands of different tattoos divided into categories that make searching for a design really easy just follow a link back to my site.

They offer a LIFETIME membership so whether you are looking for your first and only tattoo or whether you are always adding new tattoos, you will always have the option of browsing our gallery for the tattoos of your dreams.

Where on your body to place your tattoo? That’s what we’re going to talk about next time. Look out for Part 3

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The Meaning and Symbolism Behind Popular Butterfly Tattoo Designs

Writen by Chris Ryerson

Butterfly tattoos are among the most popular tattoos today and the most frequently requested tattoo designs especially among women. This shows the major growth of women in the tattoo industry as a whole. Butterfly tattoo designs of course are popular among females just for their beauty! There is also a deep symbolism behind the butterfly that comes forms its short and amazing life.

A butterfly of course starts life as a caterpillar and goes through a major change as it becomes a butterfly. It makes a chrysalis or cocoon and then emerges as a beautiful butterfly. This lead many ancient cultures to regard the butterfly as a symbol of the impermanence and instability of earthly life. The amazing process of change from a caterpillar to a butterfly also captivated many ancient cultures that believed this was similar to the process of a soul’s journey from an earthly body to a heavenly body. In fact the ancient Greeks often symbolized the human soul or psyche with butterfly wings in art.

It is easy to instantly see the beauty that a butterfly tattoo holds and the deeper meaning and significance of a butterfly and its life process make for a very popular tattoo design for women.

Looking for custom butterfly tattoo designs? Visit Design My Tattoos for custom tattoo designs done to your exact specifications. Or visit our celebrity tattoo galleries at the Tattoo directory.

Soul Mate Tattoos

Writen by Marcus Peterson

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word “”tatu,”" which means, “”to mark something.”" It can be considered the ancient version of modern day “branding”. In some cultures, tattoos were used to symbolize possession, and often a man’s name would be tattooed on the arm of his wife to qualify him as her master for life. In today’s times, a tattoo may perhaps be a sexual statement or it may express an individual’s view of the world. It may even just be looked at as a piece of art in and of itself.

Life Magazine estimates that more than forty-five million North Americans alone and countless millions worldwide sport tattoos on their bodies. The bulk of these tattoos are used to profess a connection or bonding by couples (such as a man getting a tattoo of his girlfriend’s name on his arm). The permanency of the tattoo itself is the perfect symbol for everlasting love and attraction. That may be the main reason why lovers all over the world use graphic symbols of love and the word “soul mate” in exotic languages or even the names of their partners as tattoos on their bodies.

For everyone, a tattoo is very personal. Though the tattoo may only be skin deep, its significance runs much deeper than that. It can be considered the ultimate soul mate symbol. You can have any design you want as a soul mate tattoo. Talk with your soul mate and decide what to get tattood forever on your skin.

Soul Mate provides detailed information on Soul Mate, Finding Your Soul Mate, Soul Mate Astrology, Soul Mate Jewelry and more. Soul Mate is affiliated with Romance Books.

Tattoos of Strength and Honor or Military Service

Writen by Lance Winslow

Many people believe that tattoos signify an out of the box thinker who is not so interested in mainstream society and all the silly rules and game playing? And for the most part they would be right. Most folks with tattoos really are not into wearing ties to work nor are they interesting in putting some sort of mask or fake persona to impress you.

Yet this does not mean they are not true-blooded Americans, in fact expressing their individualism and customizing their bodies to fit their selves, actually they are exercising their rights to be free, more than the others who perhaps do not have tattoos. And back to the point of true blooded Americans it should be obvious from the number of United States Military Veterans with logos of their military service that they too have something to say about strength and honor, what they are about and what they believe in you see?

Tattoos of Strength and Honor or Military Service are extremely common in American society and although you do not always see them in public those who wear them are pretty proud Americans and we too should be proud of them. For those who do not understand what tattoos are all about and wish to prejudge those who choose to partake, chances are you have not thought thru your perception correctly and need to re-think you skewed view of the world inside you little box. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Flower Tattoos

Writen by Ong Hui Woo

For some strange reasons, I like designing flower tattoos more than others. Flower tattoos are mostly favored by women, they are like clothes accessories except that you can wear your tattoo to bed. It’s like having a piece of art with you all the time. I find women with tattoos more appealing, sexier, more feminine and more powerful.

The image of a tattoo can be so captivating that it stirs up all our senses. You can have a Rose tattoo with a barbed wire around it and still look very good. It’s Ying and Yang, loving and sweet but authoritative and intimidating. But if you are intending to ink a flower tattoo on your body, it’s best to find out the meaning of the flower and what you want it to represent. You can then combine different images to give contrasting impressions of your tattoos.

I have compiled a list of meaning of flowers as a guide before you tattoo them on your body. I cannot vouch how official these meanings are, but my research has shown them to be fairly consistent. flower tattoos are permanent, so look around before deciding on one.

BABY’S BREATH: Innocence.
BALSAM: Ardent love.
BELLS OF IRELAND: Good luck.
BOUVARDIA: Enthusiasm.
CACTUS: Endurance.
CALLA LILY: Magnificent beauty.
CAMELLIA: Gratitude.
CAMELLIA, PINK: Longing for you.
CAMELLIA, RED: You’re a flame in my heart.
CAMELLIA, WHITE: You’re adorable.
CARNATION: Fascination, distinction, divine love, woman
CARNATION, PINK: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love.
CARNATION, RED: Alas for my poor heart, admiration, my heart aches for you, fascination.
CARNATION, WHITE: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck.
CHRYSANTHEMUM: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth.
CHRYSANTHEMUM, RED: I love.
CHRYSANTHEMUM, WHITE: Truth, loyal love.
CHRYSANTHEMUM, YELLOW: Slighted love.
DAFFODIL: Regard, rebirth, new beginnings, unrequited love, you’re the only one, chivalry.
DAFFODIL, SEVERAL: Joy, happiness.
DAISY: Innocence, loyal love, I’ll never tell, purity.
DANDELION: Faithfulness, happiness, love’s oracle.
DAY LILY: Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother.
EREMURUS: Endurance.
EUPHORBIA: Persistence.
FORGET-ME-NOT: True love, hope, remembrance, memories.
FREESIA: Innocence, thoughtfulness.
GARDENIA: You’re lovely, secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck.
GLADIOLUS: Strength of character, remembrance, infatuation, splendid beauty, give me a break.
GLOXINA: Love at first sight.
HEATHER, LAVENDER: Admiration, solitude, beauty.
HEATHER, WHITE: Protection, wishes will come true.
HIBISCUS: Delicate beauty.
HOLLY: Foresight, defense, domestic happiness, enchantment.
HOLLYHOCK: Ambition, fruitfulness.
HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love.
HUCKLEBERRY: Simple pleasure.
HYACINTH: Sport, play, games, rashness, dedicated to Apollo.
HYACINTH, BLUE: Constancy.
HYACINTH, RED OR PINK: Play.
IRIS: Wisdom, Fleur-de-lis, emblem of France, your friendship means so much to me, faith, hope, valor, my compliments.
IRIS, WHITE: Purity.
JASMINE, WHITE or INDIAN: Amiability , I attach myself to you, sensuality, attachment.
JASMINE, SPANISH: Sensuality.
JASMINE, YELLOW: Grace, elegance.
JONQUIL: Sympathy , love me, affection returned, desire.
LADY SLIPPER: Capricious beauty.
LARKSPUR, PURPLE: First love.
LAVENDER: Devotion.
LEATHERLEAF FERN: Fascination.
LILAC: Youthful, humility, confidence.
LILY: Majesty, wealth, pride, innocence, purity.
LILY, WHITE: Purity, modesty, virginity, majesty, it’s heavenly to be with you. LILY,
MAGNOLIA: Dignity, love of nature, nobility.
MIMOSA: Sensitivity.
MINT: Virtue.
MISTLETOE: Kiss me, affection, to surmount difficulties, sacred plant of India.
MORNING GLORY: Loves you.

MOSS: Maternal love, charity. NARCISSUS: Egotism, conceit, self love, self admiration, formality, stay as sweet as you are
NASTURTIUM: Conquest, victory in battle.
OAK LEAVES: Bravery.
OLIVE BRANCH: Peace.
ORANGE BLOSSUM: Purity, innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness, fertility.
ORCHID: Rare beauty, love, refinement, beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children, mature charm, beauty, long life.
PALM LEAVES: Victory, success.
PEPPERMINT: Cordiality.
PERIWINKLE: Friendship.
POPPY: Eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination.
POPPY, RED: Pleasure, consolation.
POPPY, YELLOW: Wealth, success.
PRIMROSE: I can’t live without you.
PRIMROSE, EVENING: Happy love.
QUEEN ANNE’S LACE: Haven.
RANUNCULUS: You are radiant with charm, radiant charm.
ROSE: Love, passion, perfection. The rose was named for the Latin word rosa which means red. It has been a symbol of love since ancient times.
ROSE, BURGUNDY: Beauty within.
ROSE, CORAL: Desire.
ROSE, DARK CRIMSON: Mourning.
ROSE, HIBISCUS: Delicate beauty.
ROSE, LAVENDER: Love at first sight, enchantment.
ROSE, LEAF: You may hope.
ROSE, MOSS: Confessions of love.
ROSE, ORANGE: Fascination, display feeling of enthusiasm.
ROSE, PEACH: Desire, gratitude, apprecation, admiration, sympathy, modesty.
ROSE, PINK: Happiness, appreciation, admiration, friendship, sympathy.
ROSE, DARK PINK: Thankfulness.
ROSE, LIGHT PINK: Grace, gladness, joy, perfect happiness, please believe me, gratitude, admiration, gentility.
ROSE, RED: Love, passion, respect, courage, I love you, beauty, pure and lovely, prosperity.
ROSE, DEEP RED: Un-selfconscious beauty.
ROSE, SINGLE, FULL BLOOM: I love you, I still love you, new love.
ROSE, BUD, SMALL: Pure and lovely, beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love.
ROSE, THORNLESS: Love at first sight.
ROSE, WHITE: Innocence, purity, secrecy, I am worthy of you, silence, friendship, truth, virtue, girlhood, humility spiritual love, but of the soul, reverence, charm, happy love.
ROSE, WHITE, DRIED: Death is preferable to loss of virtue.
ROSE, YELLOW: Joy, friendship, true love, decrease of love, jealousy, try to care, freedom, slighted love, shows “I care”, joy, gladness. ROSES, BOUQUET, MATURE: Gratitude.
ROSES, RED & WHITE TOGETHER: Unity, flower emblem of England.
ROSES, YELLOW & RED TOGETHER: Happiness, congratulations.
ROSES, YELLOW & ORANGE TOGETHER: Passionate thoughts.
ROSEMARY: Remembrance, purity, rebirth.
SAGE: Virtue.
SALAL: Zest.
SCABIOUS: Unfortunate love.
SMILAX: Loveliness.
SNAPDRAGON: Deception, gracious lady, presumption.
SPEARMINT: Warm sentiment.
SPIDER FLOWER: Elope with me.
STAR OF BETHLEHEM: Purity.
STATICE: Sympathy, remembrance, success.
STEPHANOTIS: Happiness in marriage, desire to travel.
STOCK: Lasting beauty, bonds of affection, promptness, you’ll always be beautiful to me.
SUNFLOWER: Follows the sun as it grows, adoration, haughtiness.
SWEET WILLIAM: Gallantry, smile, finesse.
THYME: Activity.
TUBEROSE: Dangerous pleasure.
TULIP: Perfect lover, frame, flower emblem of Holland.
TULIP, RED: Believe me, declaration of love, fame.
TULIP, VARIEGATED: Beautiful eyes.
TULIP, YELLOW: Hopeless love, there’s sunshine in your smile.
VIOLET: Modesty, faithfulness, innocence, understated beauty.
VIOLET, BLUE: Watchfulness, faithfulness, I’ll always be true.
VIOLET, PURPLE: Thoughts of you, blue love.
VIOLET, WHITE: Let’s take a chance, youthful innocence.
VIOLET, YELLOW: Love of country.
WATER LILY: Purity of heart.
WEEPING WILLOW: Mourning.
WHEAT: Friendliness.
YARROW: Healing, sorrow.
ZINNIA: Thoughts of absent friends, in memory of an absent friend.
ZINNIA, SCARLET: Constancy.
ZINNIA, WHITE: Goodness.
ZINNIA, YELLOW: Daily remembrance.

You can download all my free flower tattoos designs at http://www.miluping.com/flower_tattoos

Everything You Need To Know About Tattoos

Writen by Aurel Radulescu

If you are considering tattoos, keep in mind that they are a permanent part of your skin. Because tattoos are created with permanent ink being placed underneath the skin, they are a lifelong fixture unless you later decide to have them removed. Having a tattoo removed involves surgery, which is very expensive and carries it’s own risks. As with any surgery, there is always the possibility of complications. If you are thinking of getting tattoos, it’s best to make sure that you really want them in order to avoid having to later go through surgery just to remove them.

Tattoos can be very expensive depending on the size of the design. They can range from the tiniest of symbol to a large detailed image. Because tattoos can be priced very high, many parlors offer an unconventional, yet practical, way to purchase your design of choice. Many businesses offer a convenient layaway plan with the tattoos being created after the last payment is made. If you have the cash to pay upfront, you may be able to make an appointment and get the design imprinted on the same day as payment. Depending on the design and complexity of the tattoos that you select, the process can be brief or may last for hours.

When considering tattoos, it is important to do some research on the design parlor before hiring them. How long have they been in business? Have there been any complaints lodged against them with the local Better Business Bureau? If you have friends who also have tattoos, who do they recommend and what was their experience? It is very important to follow up with references and as much of a background check as you can possibly get before agreeing to have your tattoos created.

In your research, try to find out which businesses have the best history with make sure their equipment is clean. This is the most important thing to consider about tattoos because, if the business is not licensed or the artist is not a professional, there is no guarantee that their instruments are clean or properly maintained. Your health is your biggest concern so, if you are considering tattoos, be sure to select the best parlor for the job.

Tattoos are colorful and can be an expression of art if done correctly. They often reflect a person’s lifestyle, name of a spouse or other sentiment. At the same time, they can cause a concern of infection. If you decide that tattoos are right for you, be sure to follow the parlor’s instructions in order to maintain and preserve your tattoos.

If you decide that butterfly tattoos or star tattoos are right for you, be sure to follow the parlor’s instructions in order to maintain and preserve your tattoos.

How To Get Tattooed

Writen by Isreal Caine

So You want to get tattooed. Great! This can be a rewarding and life-enriching experience… IF done right. Knowing HOW to get tattooed is key to being happy with this decision. I hope in the following paragraphs to help you, as a potential client, learn the skills necessary to get a good tattoo, one you can live with.

People get tattooed for a number of reasons some good, some not so good. Tattoos can be a scrapbook of a person’s life. They tell us about the wearer’s loves, hates, hopes, fears, accomplishments, and regrets. They can be purely decorative. They can tell where a person is from or where they want to be. . It may be done as a way of being “different” or “rebellious”, or fitting into a larger group identity..

Ideally, they are applied in an attractive way, by a knowledgeable artist, fitting the body and personality of the wearer, with an enduring personal significance and a timeless style that will not go out with the current trend. Tattoos of this type are seldom regretted and can be empowering points of pride for their owners. I don’t know one person with a good quality, appropriately sized, and personally significant tattoo they wish they hadn’t gotten.

For many, however, this is an impulsive act, one eventually regretted for that very reason. Often, not much thought is put into the design’s significance or its overall effect on one’s self-image. Too many times, tattoos are gotten because they are fashionable. The problem is, fashions change, and unlike other fashion accessories, you have to keep your tattoo.

This is why it’s important to know HOW to get tattooed. For many, this is a daunting and confusing endeavor, especially the first time. After all, it’s permanent. This idea alone can be nerve-racking enough. Most people never do anything permanent. Half of marriages nowadays are far less than that, and the idea of committing to an aesthetic seems far tougher than committing to a soul mate.

The first step is to know your self. What are you into? What do you hold dear? What do you desire? What do you believe? What types of imagery do you find pleasing, and what part of your body would you like to accentuate with a tattoo? These are good places to start.

Placement, scale, and flow, are paramount in importance. Good tattoos, in my opinion, should look like clothing or jewelry from a respectable viewing distance. A prime example is traditional Japanese tattooing. Another would be Pacific islander. Optimally, they should read well from across the street. If so, they will age well. Badgy, small, isolated tattoos look like melanomas and only get worse with time. These should be avoided.

Then you need to decide on the imagery. Good design reference can be found anywhere; the internet, library, magazines, comic books, greeting cards, even wallpaper. This part is subjective. Look for TYPES of imagery you like, not necessarily specific tattoo designs. A good tattooist can then help you develop a basic idea in a beautiful finished piece, but he or she needs direction from you.

Next you need to find that artist the one who can do the mental math for you, adding up your expectations and ideas to give you exactly what you never knew you wanted. Word of mouth is invaluable. If you see a tattoo you like on someone, ask who did it. Look a tattoo magazines and on the internet to find out about local tattooists. Once you’ve found a few prospects and located their studios, take some time to visit them and view their studios and portfolios.

The portfolio is key. How artists present their work speaks volumes about them professionally. Look for HEALED pictures of quality work a style that speaks to you. Look for consistent line work, smooth shading, and solid color. A tattooist will most often put their favorite work in their book, so you can see what they prefer to do or specialize in. Do not bypass this step. If you neglect to look at a portfolio, you deserve what you get. If you ask and they say “Portfolio?” run like hell!

So there you are. You’ve brainstormed for weeks, gone into all the local tattoo shops, perused portfolios, chosen the “perfect” artist, AND decided on a design (WHEW!). Now you’re ready to sign the waiver form and have your skin art dreams come true…right? Not just yet, there, Turbo! One very necessary part of the overall picture should be looked at before you should have ANY kind of invasive procedure done. It’s always a good idea to look at the practices of your chosen artist to make sure that this isn’t a decision you’ll regret. If you’d be so kind as to read on, I’ll tell you what you should know and look for to insure you’re getting a safe tattoo.

First of all, let’s discuss the risks inherent to this kind of procedure. Like any other activity that involves needles and blood, there is always the possibility of transmitting disease if proper standards are not met. Blood borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis are of greatest popular concern, with most people believing their biggest risk is “getting AIDS”. In fact, HIV is hardly a concern in tattooing, mostly because of the sheer volume of blood that has to be transmitted to infect someone with the virus. HIV is also relatively weak and survives for only short time when exposed to the environment. Hepatitis, a desease that attacks the liver, is of a lot more concern, being a much heartier pathogen that requires a much smaller amount of body fluid transfer, though it should be mentioned that , according to the Centers for Disease Control, there has NEVER been a documented case of Hepatitis OR AIDS caused by a tattoo. However, there’s always a first time for everything, and nobody wants to be it, so it’s always a good idea to take universal precautions. Remember, too, that there are many other diseases out there that you can receive through contact with infected blood, such as tuberculosis. That’s not all, though. We also have to take into account the plethora of different bacterial and fungal infections that that are just waiting for the opportunity to fester inside your brand new tattoo. So be careful…the hide you save could be your own.

The first step in this process is to ask about the studio’s universal precautions…a set of practices used with each and every client to prevent infection and disease transmission (hence the term “universal”). Do they use new needles? Do they wear latex or comparable exam gloves while working? Do they use an acceptable hard surface disinfectant on all their tools and work surface in between tattoos after doing away with all disposable items (razor blades, ink, ink cups, Vaseline, plastic barriers, rubber bands, etc)? How do they sterilize their non-disposable equipment? These are the questions that you should have answered BEFORE getting tattooed or pierced…as well as any others that come to mind. Remember, it’s YOUR health, and it’s your responsibility. Do it for yourself as well as for your friends and loved ones. You don’t want to end up an amputee Typhoid Mary, do you?

As far as sterilization goes, their are three commonly used methods… cold chemical, dry heat, and autoclave sterilization. An autoclave is a device that uses steam, heat, and pressure to kill all known microorganisms and the spores with which they reproduce and is the preferred method of sterilization, especially for equipment that has come into contact with possibly infectious body fluids. Chemical and dry heat sterilization are considered adequate for non-contaminated items (those that have not come into contact with body fluids) or items that cannot be sterilized in an autoclave, but aren’t the most effective practices because the steam pressure of an autoclave (what these two methods lack) is what kills reproductive spores and gets into all the little nooks and crannies of the equipment. Autoclave sterilization takes place when clean, dry, individually packaged items are processed at 15 pounds per square inch and 250 degrees Fahrenheit for twenty minutes at temp and pressure (though this is the most common standard, these figures vary more heat or pressure can decrease necessary exposure time).

The next thing you should try to do is watch the tattooist work. Usually this isn’t a problem and most good tattooists will actually appreciate the fact that you care enough to ask. Things that you should look for include, “Is the work area clean, organized, and well lit”, “Does he wash his hands between clients”, “Does he refrain from touching things like doorknobs, lights, the telephone, or radio with dirty gloves?” Increased confidence can be had with an artist who also uses plastic barriers on their power supply, tattoo machines, spray bottles, and work surface, because they cut down on gross contamination with blood and ink, therefore making clean-up between clients easier and more thorough. Great care should be taken to prevent cross contamination, which occurs when possibly infectious material from one client comes in contact with a surface and the tattooist touches that surface while working on the next, thus “cross-contaminating” from one client to another. Keep in mind that the care the artist takes with his cleanliness is a good indication of the level of care he’ll take in the execution of your tattoo. There’s no such thing as a good, dirty, tattooist.

If you bear these things in mind and keep you eyes peeled, asking any and all questions that come to mind, you should be fully capable of deciding whether or not your decision to get tattooed will be a good one. There are few things in this world more satisfying than having a brand-new, beautiful tattoo… except not having to worry about getting sick from it. If you need any other reason to go through all this hassle, just close your eyes (I’m waiting…) and imagine an oozing, festering, two week old fungal infection in that same tattoo and the resulting scar that will be there once it FINALLY heals. All it takes is a little time and common sense to avoid making a decision you’ll regret. Isn’t it worth it to insure your health and that of your loved ones?

About The Author

Caine is a professional tattooist of 7 years with 10 years of experience with the industry, working at Inu Tattoo in San Diego, California. Online portfolio and FAQ can be viewed at WWW.BONEDEEP.NET.

brothercaine@hotmail.com

My Search For a Picture of a Tribal Butterfly Tattoo

Writen by Tracy Brittany

For years and years I was looking to get a tattoo and knew exactly what I wanted to get. The perfect tattoo for me was and is a tibal butterfly tattoo however, finding a picture of a tribal butterfly tattoo is a whole different story.

If you ever looked for pictures of tattoos online you know that it’s near impossible not to get information overload. It’s hard to find exactly what you want, and even harder to find one that’s not overdone. It’s an art in itself, I would say, to finding the right tattoo for you.

Asking the tattoo artist, as helpful as some may be always scared me because I always had it in the back of my mind that this guy was just trying to sell me a tattoo. The first guy was nice enough to draw me a picture of a tribal butterfly tattoo, exactly what I wanted, but after all that work it still wasn’t quite right. I felt bad, and left saying that I would be back in a couple of days, but I never went back. I’m terrible I know.

So here’s a couple of tips:

First, have an idea in your mind of what you want, and where you want it. If it’s an arm tribal butterfly tattoo, its going to be a lot different than a lower back tattoo, both in size and probably detail.

Second, find out why you want a tattoo. This will often carry over into the design and shape that the tattoo artist will arrive at when designing.

Third, try to pen a picture of it yourself on paper. This way even if you do find the right picture of your tribal butterfly tattoo for instance, you can always add a little extra element of your own personal style….

Lastly, be sure that what you get is exactly what you want, even if you have to wait a while because it going to be there for life.

One bonus tip is that the internet is a great place to look for tattoos, but narrow it down as quickly as possible to a few choices, and some reputable artists.

When all is said and done, I’m happy with my choice and am proud to have forever on my back a picture of a tribal butterfly tattoo!

What is TOO Extreme for Body Modification?

Writen by Adam Callen

So what is extreme body modification, or hardcore body modification? There really is no answer for that, as it’s really up to each person. But assuming we’re dealing with an average Joe, most people consider hardcore body modification to be lots of facial piercings, tattoos on their heads or faces, and even the new craze of tongue splitting (yes, people split their tongues for complete aesthetic purposes).

Now, if you walk to something that’s a little bit deeper in the body modification scene, that’s nothing! Hardcore body modification to them would be splitting the head of your penis, suspending yourself from a single hook in your chest, or doing what’s known as skin peeling (where long strips or shapes of skin are sliced off).

If you go even deeper, the more hardcore body modifications would be amputation or nullification (from the removal of part of a finger, to an entire arm). The obvious question that most people would have after reading this is, “Why?” And the answer is simple. It’s because they wanted to! That’s it! That’s the beauty of each and every one of us having our own lives, we get to do what we want with it. For the same reason someone wouldn’t get a tattoo, another person would. These are basic civil liberties that every human has been with for thousands of years and will always have.

So, the next time you want to know why, think why not! If you want to see photos of people sharing their experience is various hardcore body modifications, head on over to http://www.BodyMod.org, and have fun looking through the galleries. And if one day you decide to venture down this road, post a pic of it. We’d all like to see!

How To Write Your English Names Into Japanese Kanji Symbols For Your Tattoo Design

Writen by Takanori Tomita

A lot of Western people love to get their names in Japanese, especially with the Japanese script called, Kanji. But, we also use 2 other Japanese scripts called Hiragana and Katakana to write names in Japanese.

So, which script is the best one to use? It depends on a type of name, and your choice!

You know, although the majority of Japanese people have their names in Kanji, some people have their names written in Hiragana or Katakana.

How about writing English names in Japanese?

We usually write English names by using the Japanese Katakana Script. Because Katakana is usually used for writing non-Japanese words which have been introduced into the Japanese language. For example, if you go to a McDonald in Japan, you will see its names in Katakana.

So, Can’t we use Kanji or Hiragana to write English names in Japanese?

Yes, you can. As I said, a lot of Western people prefer to have their names in Kanji. In fact, there are many western people have their name in Kanji, especially those who live in Japan. So, although we usually write English names with Katakana script, there is no strict rule that you cannot use either Kanji or Hiragana.

Take a look at the example of Aileen in Kanji, and this is written by using 2 Kanji characters which literally means “Love and Bell”.

This applies to another example I gave you - a famous Japanese Surname called “Ya Ma Da”, and literally means “Mountain field”

However, the Japanese people don’t think of them in this way at all. Names are always known as names not meaning.

Then, how names are translated in Japanese?

The Japanese Name Translation is usually done by using the phonetic Translation. It means that a suitable Japanese character is allocated by the sound of names. There are roughly about 47 Katakana and Hiragana character. So, to write names in either Katakana and Hiragna, We pick the one that has got that sound.

But, with Kanji scripts, there are too many characters to apply for names, so, it is far more complex than that.

With Kanji Scripts, there are 2 ways of reading in Japanese. The Kunyomi and the Onyomi. The onyomi has developed from the original Chinese pronunciation but over the centuries it has been adapted to and become part of the Japanese language. On the other hand, the kunyomi is native Japanese word.

To write names, we use both kunyomi and Onyomi reading. But, English names are usually translated with Onyomi reading, and if the sound of onyomi reading of a kanji character is the same as the sound of your name, its kanji character is allocated.

So, say if your name is “Tom” which has got 2 different sound parts. “To” “Me”, and whatever the kanji which has got the onyomi reading of each sound is allocated.

But, there are also many kanji characters that has got exactly the same onyomi reading. So, there can be many different ways to write names in Kanji.

For more information about writting Japanese name, please see the following site: How to Write your English Name in Japanese

Takanori Tomita, a Japanese translator who is specializing in Japanese symbols. He lives in Tokyo, Japan. This article is (c) Takanori Tomita 2006. Permission is given to reproduce this article in whole with the URLs correctly hyperlinked.