When To Say When
When it comes to getting a tattoo one needs to be able to know when to say when and when to say, “Hey maybe this design isn’t such a great idea.” For example, say you know this very pretty attractive girl or you are that very pretty and attractive girl and you go out and get a huge tattoo somewhere on your body that is fairly noticeable. Some people including your loved ones maybe left scratching their heads wondering why you disgraced your body like that. Of course at the time you received this tattoo you were in the frame of mind that it was the right thing to do and that it was awesome. Well you may not be thinking that way a few years or heck even a few weeks down the road. So when you are trying to decide what tattoo design to get think really hard and ask yourself will I be ok with this huge tattoo for the rest of my life. Also will I be able to handle the looks and whispering because of the tattoo and I am prepared to lose or miss out on job offers because of this tattoo? Sadly enough this are all relevant questions you should be asking yourself, because unfortunately in our society it is a little more acceptable for a man to have a huge tattoo somewhere on his body than it is for a woman. So just think long and hard about your tattoo design and the size of it. It’s better to go small than to go big and regret it.
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Don’t Bargain With A Tattoo Artist
This is probably one of the most important things to know and never to do when it comes to getting a tattoo. You absolutely do not want to try and bargain with your tattoo artist. First of all they will more than likely take great offence to this and it will also make them a little angry. You just have to face the facts tattoos are going to be expensive and there is no way of getting around that. The only time you should even consider asking for some sort of discount is if you know them very well or you are very close friends with them.
Keep in mind a tattoo artist doesn’t get to keep the full amount of money that you are spending for the tattoo. They only get to keep a percentage of that. Plus just like the old saying goes you get what you pay for. So if you try to bargain with an artist he may or may not do his best work because you offended him. If you want a good quality tattoo be sure to never and I mean never try to haggle the price with them. After all if you were ate at a restaurant and you didn’t like how much your bill was you wouldn’t sit there and try to bargain with the waiter or manager just to get your bill lower. So the same principle applies to a tattoo. Just come to terms with the fact that you are going to have to spend a pretty penny to get a good quality tattoo. If you can’t afford to get one than get out of the tattoo studio or get something that is fairly small and doesn’t have much detail in it.
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Tattoos And The Sun Are Not Friends
The most important thing to remember when getting a tattoo is that tattoos and sun do not mix. This doesn’t just apply to freshly inked tattoos. This rule of thumb applies to 50 year old tattoos as well. Just think back for a moment. Was you grandpa or uncle in the army or navy back in the day? If so they probably had at least one tattoo that looks all nasty, faded and unrecognizable right? Well this more than likely has to do with the fact that they did not protect their tattoo from the sun and never applied sunblock to it. Of course the quality of tattoos back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s are nothing like they are today which also has something to do with it, but none the less being exposed to the sun is big part of the reason why his tattoo looks all gross.
With that being said just be sure to apply an SPF of 40 or higher to your tattoo when you are out in the sun and be sure to reapply often. Also try to keep a light piece of clothing handy to cover up with when ever possible. And for heaven sake’s do not expose a new tattoo to the sun for at least two weeks. Believe it or not if you get a bad sunburn in the area of your tattoo, your tattoo may start to scar and do other yucky things. If this should occur apply vitamin E lotion to it two to three times a week for a few weeks. If you want your tattoo to last for a long while and still maintain it’s brilliance you will apply and reapply sunblock!
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Celebrity Tattoos: Justin Timberlake
The very talented and entertaining Justin Timberlake is no stranger to the tattoo gun. Justin has quite a few tattoos of his own, his most recognizable is probably his cross tattoo on his upper left shoulder. Believe it or not Justin has a total of seven tattoos.
Below is a list of all seven.
1. A cross on his upper left shoulder
2. Chinese character for “Music” or “Song” close to his ankle
3.An astral Aquarius band that wraps around his calf
4. His initials around his ankle
5. The NSYNC flame around his ankle which he later added red ropes in front of them
6. A marionette of himself from No Stings Attacked which is on the same ankle as the other NSYNC tattoos.
7. A Guardian angel on his upper back . the angel holds a banner which bares his mother’s initials on the banner and the word Guardian is written above the tattoo.
Justin’s mother whom he is very close to doesn’t really like all of her son’s tattoos and asked him to stop getting them. But just like any child he didn’t really listen to his mother. However, Justin has vowed that the last tattoo he would every get is the initials of his wife. Which may or may not be such a good idea, because we all know how Hollywood marriages usually end up, in a divorce.
Also it seems that Justin’s cross tattoo has inspired quite a few men to go out and get the very same tattoo in the very same place. Could this just be a coincidence or did these men actually go out and get this tattoo because of Justin?
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
What To Do With That Unwanted Tattoo
Let’s face it we all are human and have made some bad decisions in our life and one of those bad decisions might have been a tattoo. So if you fall into the category of “what the heck was I thinking?” when you got a tattoo you may want to listen up. There are a few methods you can go about to get that tattoo removed or make it go away temporally.
First and foremost, there is the dreaded tattoo laser removal that is very costly and involves you going to more than one session depending on the size and color of the tattoo. Also tattoo laser removal is very painful, more so than getting the actually tattoo. Also 9 times out of 10 you are left with scarring or the tattoo image is still faintly there. Also health insurance will not cover this procedure.
The next two methods are a little more strange and are not talked about very much. You can get it removed by sal abrasion which means your tattoo is rubbed down with salt and is sanded out and there is staged excision that actually cuts the tattoo design out in small portions.
Then there is the tattoo cover up. Keep in mind not all tattoos may be able to be covered up. The main reason is to cover up a tattoo the new tattoo design needs to be 2 to 3 times larger than your tattoo you are wanting to cover up. Also if you have a black ink tattoo the only thing that will cover it up is another black ink tattoo. The best thing to do is sit down and talk to a tattoo artist and discuss your options when it comes to covering up a unwanted tattoo.
The last way to temporally get rid of an unwanted tattoo is by using make up. A lot of Hollywood stars are forced to use make-up for their tattoos when filming a movie. Dermablend is a good make-up to use for this. It won’t get rid of the tattoo but if you have some sort of function you are attending and don’t want the tattoo to be seen this would be great for that.
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Don’t Panic
One of the most important things to remember when getting a tattoo is simply don’t panic. I know that might sound a little easier said than done. But if you have yourself all worked up it could cause you to have a panic or anxiety attack and neither of those are good when it comes to getting a tattoo.
First of all you need to know that it is going to hurt, there is no getting around that aspect of a tattoo. So try to mentally prepare yourself for that. Keep in mind if you have a low pain tolerance you may want to stick with a tattoo on your shoulder, your bicep or some area that isn’t very bony. You most definitely want to stay away from the neck, lower back, foot, ribcage and hands. All of those locations are very painful. Secondly, absolutely do not take any kind of pain medicine before getting a tattoo, it can cause you to bleed more and that can result in your tattoo artist not being able to his or her best work. However, you are more than welcome to take some Tylenol or other over the counter pain killer afterwards. To help you deal with the pain of getting a tattoo bring something with you that will help distract you and keep your mind of your tattoo, like an ipod or something to that effect. However, if you are getting a fairly small tattoo you should be able to chat with your tattoo artist during your tattoo. But if you are getting something very elaborate I would come prepared with an ipod.
Just remember when it comes to getting a tattoo all you can really do is mentally prepare yourself. Remember not to drink an alcohol take any drugs before heading to the tattoo studio. Just get a good nights sleep eat a good breakfast and you should be all set. If you find yourself getting a little nervious just take a couple of deep breaths and you should be ready to go.
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Ask Yourself What You Don’t Want
Deciding to get a tattoo is a very big decision in someones life. So with any big decision you make you should way out all your options and know what you don’t want. Of course the excitement of getting an actual tattoo my blur your normal rational thinking. So please keep these following common mistakes people make when getting a tattoo in mind in hopes it will help you not to make the same mistake.
First of all, some people get tattoos too young. Yes they maybe of age but they probably haven’t really given the tattoo a lot of thought and just rushed out to get a tattoo just to say they have one. Also another big mistake some people make is getting a cartoon character tattooed on them when they are young. So what you have to do is think about yourself at your parents age and think will I still like that Mickey Mouse, Tinker Bell, Bugs Bunny etc. tattoo when you are their age? Of course there is the dreaded name tattoo of a boyfriend, lover or whatever that you have to live with even after you are no longer with them. So the rule of thumb is just don’t do it. This is definitely something that you don’t want when it comes to getting a tattoo. Tattoo artist will of course tattoo that lover’s name on you but they honestly don’t advise to do it. Lastly, don’t start a tattoo and leave it unfinished. This happens more than you think. People start a huge tattoo design that needs to be done in multiple sessions and due to financial reasons can not finish it. This is another thing you don’t want when it comes to a tattoo. I mean how weird would you feel walking around with an unfinished tattoo for a long period of time?
Just keep in mind that it is very easy to get a tattoo but you need to make wise decisions when it comes to your tattoo design. Don’t assume you will be able to get it covered up by another tattoo because that may not always be the case.
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Foot Tattoos
For some unknown reason foot tattoos seem to be growing in popularity. A lot more people, mainly women are heading to local tattoo studios and getting tattoos on their feet. However, there are a few things you should know about foot tattoos before you go and and get one. First of all, not all tattoo artist will tattoo your feet. Mainly, because your feet are more often than not covered up by socks and shoes and the friction of all of that rubbing up against your tattoo causes it to fade really quickly. Artist feel like it is a waste of their work because they know you will have to keep coming back to get it touched up if you want it to keep its brilliance.
Secondly, if you are dead set on getting a tattoo on your foot than maybe you should go with a black ink tattoo. The black ink doesn’t seem to fade as fast as the color ink and it will cost less, which is another added plus. Also foot tattoos are probably one of the most painful places you can receive a tattoo on your body. So if you don’t have high pain tolerance, I would suggest not getting a tattoo on your foot and maybe go with the inside of your ankle. Lastly, if you are planning on getting a foot tattoo it might be better to wait until the warmer months arrive so you can wear flip flops while your tattoos is healing. Believe me the last thing you want is socks and or shoes rubbing up against a new tattoo, because it causes a lot of discomfort and all the rubbing will not let your tattoo heal properly.
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Why Tattoo Artists Have So Many Tattoos
One may wonder why so many tattoo artists have so many tattoos. More importantly, if they didn’t have so many tattoos you should probably be worried. Tattoos and tattooing is a true art form. If you sit down to get inked and the person who is giving you the tattoo doesn’t have hardly any tattoos, I would rethink them giving you a tattoo. It’s like taking parenting advise from someone who doesn’t have a child, they really don’t know what they are talking about because they don’t have children. Plus if you have any questions about how much it hurts or how likely the tattoo is to fade they can answer from personal experience and from clients experience.
The main reason your tattoo artist is covered in tattoos is that they are truly fascinated with the art of tattooing and quit frankly they are addicted to it. We all know when you are addicted to something that is easily accessible you are more likely to get and or use more of it and tattooing is no different. Also, being in the tattooing profession you more than likely don’t have to pay for your tattoos. Either you do them on yourself or you have other artist in your studio do them and you return the favor to them. So when you have the most important obstacle out of the way which is the money factor and then the accessibility factor why wouldn’t you be covered in them. Also you never have to worry about tattoo’s effecting your job because tattoos are your job.
So the next time you see someone covered in tattoos before you judge them take in consideration that they might be a tattoo artist and tattooing is their job. It’s no different from you informing people of your skills and capabilities because their tattoos are doing that for them. Sometimes you just have to think outside of the box and not always look down upon someone just because they are a little different.
Your Tattoo Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
Celebrity Tattoos: Rihanna
Rihanna is a huge tattoo lover. She loves tattoos so much that she has a total of twelve and she also enjoys spending her free time just hanging out in tattoo studios. Although the Barbados born beauty has twelve tattoos you probably haven’t even noticed half of them, half of them are very small and in unnoticeable places.
Here’s a list of her twelve tattoo:
1. A music note on her ankle.
2. The Pisces sign behind her right ear
3. A star in her left ear
4. Sanskrit prayer going down her hip
5. The word ‘love’ on her left middle finger
6. A patch of star dust on the back of her neck
7. [she turned #6 into] a trail of stars going down her back
8. The phrase ’shhh…’ on her right index finger
9. The date 11-4-1986 on top of her left shoulder
10. A skull on the back of her left ankle
11. “Freedom in God” written in Arabic on her left side
12. A tribal design on her right hand and wrist that represents strength and love
Rihanna loves to talk about her tattoos and loves to explain what they mean. She sat down with The View in Las Vegas and talked to them about her latest tattoo.
“They’re Roman numerals. Me and my best friend got the same thing. It’s her DOB (date of birth) and she has mine.”
“I like hanging out in tattoo shops. When I am in New York, after all the photo shoots and performances, when I should be resting, sometimes I get dressed and go to the tattoo parlors in SoHo and hang out. I am so intrigued by tattoos. It’s an entire culture, and I study it. Sometimes I go with friends or just by myself. I get bum-rushed, but I don’t care. I don’t take security.”
Your Tattoos Friend
Ashley
Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!
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