Scorpion Tattoos Design

A tattoo or a body art has become a popular form of self expression in recent times. Although tattooing is an ancient form of art, it has gained a huge popularity these days. You can find a lot of people having tattoo designs on their skin. Some people ink themselves in order to look stylish and be trendy whereas some others get it done to symbolize the deeper meaning associated with it. This form of body art is very popular among young adults. Among the myriad of designs available, if you are looking for a body art that is attractive as well as has a strong meaning associated with it, you can go for Scorpion tattoos.

A Scorpion tattoo is mainly made by people who belong to that specific zodiac sign. People who are born within the month of 23rd October to 22nd November basically belong to Scorpion sun sign. So, these people generally ink their skin with this zodiac sign. This zodiac symbol tattoo signifies all qualities associated with the sun sign. It stands for dignity, determination, sensuality, self-confidence and devotion. A Scorpion tattoo is also the symbol of victory of supreme over evil. It even symbolizes supreme maternal sacrifice.

These tattoo designs are available in several forms such as the ones with its tail coiled or the other with its tail as pointed as a needle. These designs can also be combined with other designs such as initials of a name, flames etc for personalizing it. You can even use your imagination and creativity for creating the body art. These designs look great on any part of body. Although popular as arm tattoos, these designs can also be made in other parts of body like legs, shoulders, feet or even back. Scorpion tattoos are usually very colorful, bright, exotic and attractive and so never fails to capture the attention of people.

With a bit of research work, you will be able to find the perfect artist for tattooing different designs of Scorpio on your body. There are various Scorpion tattoo ideas for you to choose from. To make this design look realistic and natural, you need to look at the artwork considering the following things in mind. Firstly, you need to ensure that the artwork you want to portray on your skin has plenty of detail. The tattoo designs must have all leg joints and segments in tail properly reproduced. The claws must have a realistic crablike look. Next, always ensure to make use of bright colors when producing the design. Use as many stripes and patterns in design as possible for replicating the camouflage markings. Also consider the size of the Scorpion tattoo. Smaller artwork means less detail would be incorporated in the design and that won't be so appealing. So, it is always a good idea to design Scorpion tattoos on larger area.

You can get information about all kinds of animal tattoos, whether it is wolf tattoo, koi fish tattoo, dolphin tattoo, lion tattoo, snake tattoo or Scorpion tattoos, once you log on to http://www.tattoos-malu-art.com/.

View the original article here

Nautical Star Tattoo Designs and Their Meanings

The nautical star tattoo design is easily one of the most popular styles of star tattoos. Long used as an image for protection and guidance through life, nautical star tattoos are today assigned many different meanings by their wearers:
Military meaningsGay and lesbian symbolismPunk rock groupsPersonal interpretations

The design itself is a five-pointed star with each point divided into two symmetric sections, of which each of these sections are colored with alternating light and dark colors.

Military and/or Navy Symbolism

Nautical star tattoos are said to be one of the earliest tattoo images in "modern" times. The design, well over a century old was worn by sailors to signify navigation by following the North Star, known as Polaris. Of all of the stars in the night sky used for navigation, it is the North Star that is relied upon most to return sailors home. Because it seems to be relatively stationary over the North Pole with the other stars moving around it, its fixed position in the sky is an essential reference point for navigation. In today's nautical charts, the direction North (zero degrees) on a compass is marked with a five-pointed star.

While other maritime tattoo symbols, such as the anchor and sparrow, find their inspiration in different ports of call or are used to commemorate the voyage and its perils, the nautical star is a much more hopeful symbol of being able to find one's way. By extension, it has also been used specifically as a symbol of the return home and sometimes the luck that is needed to reach that destination.

Other branches of the military have since adopted the belief that the nautical star keeps them pointed in the right direction and aids in their safe return home to their family and friends.

Gay and Lesbian Symbolism

In the middle part of the 20th century, particularly in the '40s and '50s, when it was still taboo for women to be lesbians, there were symbols that were used to indicate sexual orientation in women. The most popular of these was the nautical star tattoo inked somewhere easily hidden and also easily unhidden. The most common spot for this tattoo was on the wrist that could be easily hidden by a watch, clothing and other accessories. During the day the watch was on but at night when you there was a more likelihood of meeting like-minded people, the watch was removed so others could see it. Instead of taking a guess at a stranger's orientation and possibly embarrassment, homosexuals would look for symbols like the nautical and know that their secret was safe and was talking to a like-minded individual.

More recently, MANY lesbian women wear a silver ring around their middle to finger to symbolize their sexual disposition.

Punk Rockers

The punk movement adorns the nautical star tattoo design "because we can." The movement traces its origins back to Sailor Jerry, who inked thousands of sailors with "cool" designs. Historically, Sailor Jerry was one the most iconic and famous tattoo artists who ever lived. The thing that remains constant here is that this group also believes the nautical star provides guidance in their lives, pointing them on their own exclusive path.

Personal Interpretations

The nautical star tattoo design clearly shows that when the same powerful symbol is used again and again over decades of time it has taken on very different meanings for different groups. So all of those that you see sporting a nautical star tattoo might not all have the same interpretation of its symbolism.
Whatever that interpretation is, the fact is we all have our own ideas about what things symbolize to our own unique lives.

While the nautical star is regarded as a symbol of finding one's own path in life and finding ones way home safely, it obviously is a much revered and popular tattoo design in today's society. Now that you have a more broad based knowledge of this symbol, look around you and see if you now notice that more people than you would have realized are inked with nautical star tattoo designs.

Have a great day and shoot for the stars in your own endeavors.

Chris Orr

Selecting a tattoo design should be a very thoughtful and thought out process. My blog, Tattoo Designs Forever at http://tattooforever.blogspot.com/, reminds us that whatever tattoo design we select should be one that we plan on having, cherishing, and admiring forever.

View the original article here

3 Of The Fastest Ways To Get Your Custom Tattoo Design

Are you planning to get a tattoo to show off during prom night? Do you want to impress your girl friend quickly? If you are in a hurry to get your tattoo then here are three ways to help you...

1. One option is to go to a traditional studio and pretty much get your tattoo either right away, or within a few hours. The main drawback to that is you will be offered traditional designs that may not fit with your desire for a custom tattoo design. Most artists in a traditional studio will try to talk you into what is simplest for them, not all of them but finding the one who will work with you might be a difficult prospect to find. It may be that you'll find a design that to you seems to be a custom tattoo design, but is it really? Don't settle for a design that isn't everything you want it to be just in the name of speed. It should have taken you some time to decide on getting a tattoo, it should have, and rushing just to get a tattoo is not the smartest move to make. Tattoos are very personal and are pretty much a lifetime commitment so you should find a designer that will work with you to provide you exactly what you want.

2. If you do decide to have a tattoo designer from a traditional studio ink a tattoo on you, most of them will provide you with custom design from a stencil. Unfortunately, most of the artists are reluctant to work with you and want to stick to ideas they are familiar with. Again, don't rush to judgment. You are searching for that perfect custom tattoo pattern, no matter what a designer wants you to do. If you have done your research, and if you have made a commitment, finding an artist to quickly give you a tattoo is not a problem. The problem would be if you will be satisfied with the tattoo whether it is, or is not, a custom tattoo design.

3. One of the best and quickest ways to get your custom tattoo design is to find a site online offering a contest and let the tattoo designers vie for your business. You can set up the tattoo design contest, make your offer for what is paid and have the designers provide you with their best work. You will have any number of artists submitting designs to you, based on the criteria you set up, to choose from. A number of the better sites have hundreds of professional tattoo designers with some pretty incredible work. The quality you have to choose from will be extensive and finding the perfect custom design is made much easier. This can be a very quick process and once you have selected the winning designer, you can take your custom tattoo design to a local studio and have a good artist ink it on you. Now you've not only received your perfect tattoo, you got it for your price structure, had a highly professional designer work for you to get the best design, and can now take it to a highly skilled artist to make it come alive for you.

Kristen Sauerzopf is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients.She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world's largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.

View the original article here

Tattoo Removal Methods

Tattoos are very easy to get. All it takes is one impulsive decision at a tattoo parlor and you are literally scarred for life. The ink will remain imprinted under your skin forever, and though it may fade as a result of time or sun exposure, the mark will never fully disappear. You are now faced with the problem of how to remove your regretful tattoo. So what is the best method of tattoo removal? Here is a list of the various methods of tattoo removal, from professional removal to home remedies.

Most Effective Methods of Tattoo Removal

Laser Therapy - Lasers focus heat energy under the skin in concentrated bursts. In this process, the laser beam forces the ink particles under the skin to separate. Once the ink is extricated from the skin tissue, the body naturally expels the dead skin and the ink. The laser is able to selectively target color pigments (this would be the color of the tattoo) so that the healthy, ink-free skin tissue is minimally affected. This process can be quite painful and has a long recovery process. Laser Therapy Treatments can cost between $2000-$3000 and may require multiple treatments depending on the size, location, color scheme, and the healing process of the patient.
Pulse Light Therapy - A special glass prism is set upon the skin of the tattoo and light is sent through the glass, which focuses the light energy. The light breaks up the particles in the same way it does using laser therapy but it is less painful since the process uses light beams instead of laser beams. However, there is still a lengthy healing process and it is often a painful recovery. Special gels are used to soothe the burning feeling on the treated area. The price is often greater than that of laser therapy treatments because they charge for each pulse, sometimes as much as $10/pulse in a treatment that may require many pulses depending on the size of the tattoo.

Safe Tattoo Removal Home Remedies
Tattoo Removal Cream - apply daily as is instructed by the manufacturers, after tattoo fades, you can sand off the area (only the top layers of skin), make sure to use antibacterial products afterwards. These creams have a varying degree of success and often times it is dependent upon the amount of treatments done by the user and how hard they sand the area. Creams can cost between $20-$150.
Laser Removal - burn the tattoo off with at-home laser removal technology; these kits are usually very inexpensive compared to the professional therapy. However, this low price also means that the therapy may not be as effective. Home Laser Tattoo Removal kits can cost anywhere between $40-$200.

DO NOT USE
Salabrasion - The tattoo is removed through rubbing saltwater onto the tattoo until the area bleeds, this will leave a scar. If the tattoo has deep color tones or was done recently, this method won't have any effect on the tattoo with the exception of mild fading and scarring around the area.Dermabrasion - The skin in the tattoo is frozen and then sanded away until the skin is completely gone. This is not only ineffective, but it is extremely painful and will cause massive scarring.
Tattoo Removal Bleach - This involves rubbing bleach onto the tattoo area to burn off the skin. Bleach is extremely damaging and there's no way to ensure that it will burn only the select area where the tattoo is. Most likely, bleaching will leave a scar on the entire area on and around the tattoo and the effectiveness of the removal is questionable at best.

View the original article here

Getting a Tattoo - Are You Getting a Tattoo For The First Time?

OK. So you are thinking of getting a tattoo for the first time. Very cool. There are some things that you need to think about before getting inked, because as you know a tattoo doesn't wash off to easily. Tattoos aren't taboo or associated with sailors, gangs, prisoners or ne'er do wells anymore. They are widely accepted in today's society and the negative connotations surrounding tattooing is dissipating as the idea of the body as an artist's canvas has become widely accepted in the mainstream.

Tattoos may be more widely accepted by mainstream society, but that doesn't mean just popping on it to your local tattoo parlor yelling "let's get it on."

Choosing a Tattoo Design That Is Right for You

Before getting inked it makes sense to consider where on your body you would like a new tattoo to be located. Most likely, although not in all cases, but most likely at some point or another you will want to conceal your tattoo. Instances such as this might be an interview or meeting the "friend's" parents or some other formal occasion.

When in the process of selecting a design, what you want to do is be original. Your goal in selecting a tattoo design is that you want it to be an expression of yourself, or perhaps some event in your in your life that you would like to have memorialized on your body. If the best expression of yourself is found in a flash book, then you might want to consider rethinking your decision to get inked. That is not to say that there is not a good place for looking at pictures of previous artists works or flash books, because there is. One very good way to "create" your perfect design is to use a combination of two or three designs to uncover your own meaningful, custom design. The tattoo artist you select to ink your tattoo can help you with the look of the design by sketching out ideas of what you have in mind, and will most likely be more than happy to, as he/she get's to use their creative talents.

Choose whatever tattoo that floats your boat. It really is nobody's business but your own. Just try to make absolutely sure that this is not a trendy design decision and one that you may regret years from now. Personally, I have an armband tattoo that I got a bit spur of the moment, yet has personal meaning to me. If I had known about tattoo symbolism then before getting inked I would have ended it up with a bit different armband design. As it is, the design I have is a good start that I can add to which will end up with a much deeper meaning. I suspect the knotwork in the tattoo will be much more indicative of Celtic symbolism and meaning.

I have heard it suggested that after you have your dream tattoo design in mind, that you wait six months to a year before actually getting it inked. That is not bad advice, although that could be a bit lengthy to think about it. The gist of this advice is to wait long enough that you will still be happy with your choice one year, five years, or forty years from now.

Tattoo Artists and Tattoo Parlors

The selection of the tattoo artist is equally as important as selecting the appropriate design. After all, the tattooist is the person responsible for making your artwork look outstanding, be of great quality, and the one to satisfy you. Take your time, visit several tattoo studios, and shop around. I mean, would go buy a new car without shopping around a bit to find the style, color and features you want. Think of your tattoo purchase in the same way as you would making a major purchase. Ask your friends for suggestions, ask the artists for references and for examples of their work. Look carefully at these tattoos as they can show shabby work such as crooked lines and areas not completely filled in.

Most experienced tattoo artists will be capable of tattooing in multiple styles, yet still each artist has his/her own strengths and may specialize in one or two particular styles such as specializing in a certain culture. Make sure your artist understands what it is exactly that you have in mind and is capable of bringing it to fruition.

Check out the studio that you are visiting. Is it clean, are the work areas organized, do they use an Autoclave to sterilize their "tools." In today's studios, I doubt that you would find many that aren't up to code and using the appropriate methods to alleviate all health concerns, but don't by any means take it for granted.

What to Expect On T-Day

After all of the consideration that you have given and all the research that you've done, then comes T-Day, the day to get your new tattoo. So what should you expect when you walk in to get inked? Firstly, your artist will try to make sure you are comfortable. He/she would then transfer a temporary outline onto your skin and then draw the outline with the tattoo gun. Once the outline is done, needles will be switched out and the fill in process will begin. Is it going to hurt? Well, yes it is going to be uncomfortable, especially at first. After a few minutes you will begin to get used to the feeling of the tattoo gun and the pain will abate some. Obviously areas near bones will be more sensitive that others and areas where the dermis is not as thick will be more sensitive. But hey, you've come this far right?

Once the tattooing is completed and you've gotten your breath back, the artist is going to give you instructions on how to care for your artwork. This is basically going to consist of keeping the area clean, applying medicated ointment for a week or two and keeping the tattoo area moist with a non-scented lotion for a month or so. Your tattoo will start to scab after few days. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES pick at the scab. You will most likely lose some color and depth if you do.

I wish you the best of luck in getting your first tattoo. Remember to do your research, make sure your comfortable with your decision, and enjoy your new artwork.

Chris Orr

Selecting a tattoo design should be a very thoughtful and thought out process. My blog, Tattoo Designs Forever, reminds us that whatever tattoo design we select should be one that we plan on having, cherishing, and admiring forever.

View the original article here

Erase Tattoo Ink - A Few Methods To Get A Tattoo Off Your Body

Many people want to erase tattoo ink that they have gotten done over their life. Maybe it's because they want to forget the name of the person that they got inked on their arm or maybe they want to get rid of something that they got done spontaneously or maybe it's due to a job that they wish to get rid of their tattoo (such as joining the armed forces). Whatever the reason there are many methods that you can use to get rid of these pieces of ink in your body and a few of these techniques are listed below for you.

Surgical Methods

If you're looking for fast and effective results then surgical methods are the option that you want to be looking towards. Sometimes complete removal cannot be obtained by these methods though which at times can be a problem. It all depends on the tattoo itself; location, size, how old it is, the colour of ink, the type of ink.

Popular surgical methods include:

Laser surgery has improved over the years and has become the most widely accepted method to get rid of any unwanted ink.

The method basically involves penetrating the skin with various lasers and this breaks up the tattoo pigment in the skin which allows the body to get rid of the unwanted ink naturally. You will be required to go through several treatments for removal and maybe even more depending on the location, size, how old it is, the colour of ink, the type of ink.

Another surgical method is cryosurgery (or dermabrasion). The method for this is basically freezing the tatted area and using a piece of equipment that will sand down the area to remove the unwanted ink. You will be under anaesthetics but bleeding is still going to occur regardless.

Home Methods

As you can tell the two surgical methods aren't very pleasant and the others are similar to those too. However when it comes to home removal you are looking at methods that aren't invasive such as the use of removal creams.

Simply does the same as laser surgery but instead of using a laser you are going to be using cream which you just apply to the area twice a day; no pain, no problem.

There are also natural methods you can use to erase tattoo ink and all they do is trigger certain parts of the body's immune system and with this you can remove any tattoos and these methods once again aren't invasive or expensive.

If you want to erase tattoo ink then it is your choice at which method you use. The method above are just a few of many methods that you can use whether you go for the widely accepted surgeries and spend money or whether you avoid the costs, pain and scarring with home methods is your choice.

You can find out more information on various removal methods (including laser procedures, creams and even natural methods) for whatever budget on the tattoo removal blog.

View the original article here

3 Ways To Lose Money On Your Next Custom Tattoo Design

Body art is an expression of your feelings that is inked forever on you. People conduct lots of research before they opt for any tattoo and in the process end up losing money. However, with a little guidance this can be checked. Here are a few pointers...

1. Obviously, the easiest way to lose money on your next custom tattoo design is to pick the wrong design and either try to have it fixed, or accept it as is and have to order another to get the results you wanted the first time. Work with the designer, either locally or online, to hash out all the particulars before actually getting it inked. Many online sites offer numerous designers to work with and they will give you good advice as long as you can articulate your desires. Some sites even offer tattoo design contests that will give you tons of options to help you make the right choice. Tattoos are such a personal choice and long lasting that you should never rush your decision because if you end up unhappy with your tattoo, you might as well have thrown your money away, except you're still stuck with the 'not so perfect' tattoo. Join a site, work with your designer and make sure you have exactly what you want before you get inked.

2. Another way to lose money is to operate strictly on the 'cheapest' design and inking costs. Sometimes you do get exactly what you pay for. Again, if you buy an inferior custom tattoo design from a designer and find the cheapest artist to ink it on you, you risk an inferior looking tattoo. You've paid for a tattoo you're not happy with and you have three choices. One, pay for a superior custom tattoo design and get re-inked. Two, do nothing and consider your inferior tattoo an expensive lesson. And three, get the poor looking tattoo remove, which is quite expensive and not always successful. Regardless, whatever you end up doing, you've lost time and money, or at least you end up dissatisfied. Research what you're doing and find the best design from a professional designer you can afford. Then it won't feel like such a loss of money.

3. On the flip side of the coin, a really good way to lose money on your custom tattoo design is to arbitrarily select the highest price from a designer. One of the best ways to avoid this is to go online to a site that offers tattoo design contests. This will allow you to set your own price for the winner design and the designers who submit their designs to you will not be segregated by price. By using a tattoo design contest, you eliminate the field in respect to pricing and all the designs that are submitted to you are basically the same price, therefore giving you the option of picking the custom tattoo design you want at the price you've already set. No disparity in pricing, no offers at different price structures, and designers who are vying for your business, offering you their best to get your business. A win, win, situation for you and the competing tattoo designer.

Kristen Dunn is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients. She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world's largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.

View the original article here