Saturday, March 31, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: How to Take Good Tattoo Photos

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
How to Take Good Tattoo Photos
Mar 31st 2012, 11:02

Taking a good, clean picture of your tattoo doesn't have to be difficult, but there are a lot of common mistakes people make that result in bad quality photos. Here's some tips on taking a shot of your tattoo that does the artist's work justice.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 10 - 15 Minutes

Here's How:

  1. Start with a clean, dry tattoo. Brand new tattoos that are still seeping blood or are covered with ointment are not going to produce a good photograph.
  2. Use a decent camera. Webcams and low quality digital cameras just don't take good pictures. A $10 disposable 35mm point-and-shoot will produce better results than a webcam.
  3. Get a friend to help. Don't try to take pictures of your own tattoos. You really can't get a good angle or proper distance from it when you're trying to reach around to photograph your own body.
  4. Proper lighting is important. For best results, go outside. That way you won't need to use flash and the natural light will produce the best color results. If you must be indoors, get near a window or under a bright (but not harsh) light source. Try to avoid having to use flash, which tends to cause glare.
  5. Don't get too close. Unless you have a macro function on your camera/lens, getting close to your tattoo will only result in a blurry image. With a typical point-and-shoot, it is recommended that you are at least 2-3 feet away from your subject. Photos can be scanned to create larger, high resolution photos later for a better closeup of the tattoo.
  6. Hold still! Shaking the camera or moving it before it has completed taking the capture will result in a blurred image. Hold still and keep still until the camera has completed taking the photo. This is especially important with some digital cameras, which tend to have a slower shutter speed.
  7. Take several pictures. Don't just snap one shot and be done with it. Move around, try different angles, different light sources, with flash, without flash, different distances, etc. The more pictures you take, the better your odds are that you'll end up with at least one really great shot.
  8. Use a photo editor for web images. Once you have a decent shot, you can enhance or improve the capture with a photo editing program. You can zoom in on the tattoo, crop out the background, enhance the colors, sharpen the image and make other adjustments. But be sure not to make so many adjustments that you reduce the original quality.

Tips:

  1. Although ointment can cause glare, an older tattoo may look muted if it is too dry. Apply a small amount of lotion and rub it in thoroughly to bring out the colors of your tattoo. Remove any excess lotion, though, to prevent any glare.
  2. Digital cameras have an advantage over film cameras because you can preview your results on the LCD screen. But even digital cameras need to be good quality - I recommend no less than a 5 megapixel camera.
  3. If you have glare issues, applying a thin layer of cosmetic powder can help to reduce light reflection from the tattoo.
  4. Blurry images are caused by moving the camera or being too close to the subject. Grainy images are caused by poor quality cameras or improper lighting. Glared pictures are caused by ointment on the tattoo or a harsh light source. Dark photos are caused by improper lighting or being too close to the subject.

What You Need

  • A tattoo to take a picture of
  • A camera
  • A friend to take the pictures if the tattoo is your own
  • A little time and patience

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: tattoo gallery - praying hands with rosary

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
tattoo gallery - praying hands with rosary
Mar 31st 2012, 11:02

Scroll down for full image. Collector: Olga V.
Artist: Stuart Archibald - New Tribe
Toronto, Ontario CANADA

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Friday, March 30, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: tattoo picture - 8 Mile Dice

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
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tattoo picture - 8 Mile Dice
Mar 30th 2012, 11:02

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Artist: David "Doz" Herman - Ambrosia Tattoo Gallery
Redmond, Washington

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: Tattoo gallery - wolves and wolf paw prints

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
Tattoo gallery - wolves and wolf paw prints
Mar 30th 2012, 11:02

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"The wolves are my spirit animal so they are very magickal to me. This one symbolizes my husband (green eyes on the bottom) and myself on the top. I chose to be the top wolf as I've had dreams of howling with the wolves before so it just seemed natural. The paw prints around my ankle are wolf tracks and they remind me to walk in love and beauty and to be at one with nature." - Noreen

Collector: Noreen N.
Artist: BamBam - Tattoo Infusion
Houston, Texas

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: beauty through pain and tears - tattoo experience

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
beauty through pain and tears - tattoo experience
Mar 29th 2012, 11:03

Beauty Through Pain and Tears

I'm 31 years old, and I got my first tattoo 2 days ago. It was a big deal for me, and took over a decade for me to do.

I have been fascinated with tattoos for about 17 years, since my mother got one on her hip for her 35th Birthday. I was completely shocked that Mom had a tattoo, but also fascinated.

I have always been afraid of pain, so a tattoo was out of the question (until recently). I knew it would hurt, and even though I thought tattoos could be very beautiful, I didn't think it would be worth the pain. Plus, there was the 'stigma' of being tattooed. Where I lived (Montana) tattooing still had a bad reputation.

Over the years I hung out with local hometown rock bands (sometimes I sang for them), then moved to Seattle, and I became a makeup artist, and learned bellydancing. Many of my friends were tattooed, and I even missed out on a few opportunities to join friends who were getting tattoos at the same time. For over a decade, I was surrounded by a genre of people who were creative and artistic, and tattooed. I loved to look and dream about "what I would get"- that is, IF I were brave enough.

There was also the issue of permanence. I mean, whatever the tattoo is, it never comes off. I didn't want to mess up and get something I would regret. My first boyfriend had a previous girlfriend's name on his arm, so I didn't want anything that I would regret- or anything that would remind me of emotional pain. No symbols or names. So, I decided that a tattoo wasn't for me.

Over the years, the American Tribal Bellydance movement began, as well as the "Modern Primitives" movement. Mehndi was popular in the USA. I bought books and magazines that showed various body art- makeup, and tattoos- and I even drew (fake) tattoos on actors for local independent films. I became engulfed in work and eventually the 'real world' became my focus, and I gave up most of my creative interests, in favor of a job in the technology field of a large corporation.

I was so busy concentrating on my career that one day I woke up and I was over 30. I was bored. VERY bored. And depressed. Then Sept. 11th came, and the world changed. I realized that we can never be 100 percent of anything, so all we can really do is follow our dreams while we can. So why let fears and insecurities stop me from doing what I really wanted to do?!

I did some soul searching, and the answers came quickly. I needed to be true to myself. I needed to be creative and expressive. I had forgotten the part of me that loved to create and be an artist and dancer. I also realized that the world had changed while I was busy at work. Music had evolved, as well as culture, fashion and art. I had fallen out of step with the times.

I made a list of the things I truly wanted to do, but for various reasons I was afraid to do them, or had excuses for not doing them. That list became a list of GOALS. Getting a tattoo was one of the things on that list.

It was also a spiritual opportunity, for many reasons. I'll share the four biggest ones with you. First, I wanted to deal with my fear of physical pain. I knew being tattooed would hurt, but would have a beautiful result. Second, I wanted it to mark some personal changes I'd gone through in the past few years. The tattoo was like a 'reward.' Third, it was a decision to make a commitment to myself, and to make my life as beautiful as I could by honoring and expressing myself. And the fourth big reason was that I had fought with my body for years, hating my size and struggling with bad skin and weight. I had also been abused by other people. I wanted to "claim" my body, to make it mine and make peace with it, instead of fighting with it. I wanted my body to finally be something that I owned that belonged to me.

So back to the drawing board- I wanted no symbols or bad memories. I searched the internet for weeks. I liked the new tribal style tattoos, but I wanted something a bit more feminine. I found several pictures of designs that were similar to what I wanted, and went to an artist with those, and a list of words to describe what I had in mind: swirls; gems; blue, purple and peacock colors; middle-eastern-ish but not too ethnic; looking like both stained glass and jewelry. I wanted my lower back and feet tattooed, and eventually my hips.

It sounded like a tall order to me, but I had a friend whose sister owned a tattoo shop about 30 minutes from Seattle. I went to the shop and shared my ideas with the artist. A week later, she emailed me the art she'd drawn for my lower back, to start. It was nearly perfect, but not quite "me." I kept the design, but just embellished a few spots- added a swirl here, and a gem or two there. Finally, it was perfect. My big day was that weekend.

By that time, it felt like getting a tattoo was almost just a 'formality' because mentally I had already accepted the idea. I was excited. Once I was at the shop, I finally got nervous. I put my mind on autopilot so my imagination wouldn't run away with me. I had made a decision, and that was that, so chickening out was not an option. That was part of the personal commitment experience- having doubts and feeling nervous but sticking to my decision. That was very important to me.

After the design was copied on my back and the various inks and tools ready, the artist began. Ouchie! Oh, wait...it wasn't so bad after all....I can handle this! Besides, I'm not going home with a partial tattoo, so now that she's started, I'm in this for the duration! A friend showed up shortly after the tattooing began for moral support. We chatted while I was being tattooed, and occasionally the artist would get to a sensitive spot and I'd wince. After about an hour, I did cry a bit- she was working in a particularly sensitive area. Once the outline was done, I got to take a look and WOW! It was worth it, even worth the tears.

Now, the shading and coloring began. This design turned out to be a bigger project than we had expected (about 10" x 5"), and time was running short. My artist even asked her next appointment to come in later so she could finish with me. I sort of zoned in and out of the pain, and I think the whole process took about 3 hours. The last hour hurt really bad. I used a breathing technique (exhale into the pain). I still cried a lot, but kept my head down and held still so I wouldn't mess up the tattoo. Even though it hurt, in my mind I was thinking how beautiful it would be when it was finished. I finally became 'numb' and suddenly it was over. I took a look in the mirror. WOW!!!

My tattoo was vibrant and stunning. The colors weren't what I expected (they were much brighter) but the design was perfect. I was now tattooed.

My artist instructed me on aftercare, and asked me to come back in a few weeks after it healed so she could check it. My backside didn't hurt much, and I was a little dizzy, and hungry.

It is now 2 days later, and I am still getting used to it. I want to see if the colors change after it heals...I like it, but I may want a little more blue in a couple places. Otherwise, I am happy and it was worth it. I still plan to get my feet and hips tattooed. But first I want this one to heal. So even after the pain and tears, and the years it took me to find the courage, I did it- and I would do it again.

-Petra

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: Tattoo Aftercare

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
Tattoo Aftercare
Mar 29th 2012, 11:03

You got inked, now don't forget your tattoo aftercare.

Body art is an amazing feeling. It’s transformative and not in the least the same for everyone. Some people love to brag about their new tats, showing off their design before it has a chance to heal.

Color fades, designs bleed and scabs take over what could have been a colorful and beautiful ink job. Yeah, don’t be that guy. You can be the guy that gets the tattoo, just not the one that forgets to care for it.

Get inked. Go home. Take care of your body like the temple it is.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: N/A

Here's How:

  1. Apply antibiotic: Shame on your artist if she sends you home without first applying an antibiotic ointment. But, should you find yourself roaming the pharmacy aisle in the wee hours of the night after a fresh tattoo job, pick up a tube of Bacitracin to help ward off infection and prevent fading as much as possible. You can also go old school and opt for petroleum jelly. Some artists favor that.
  2. Wrap it: People forget tattoos are wounds. It’s not normal to be poked by needles. Treat your fresh tattoo with the same diligence as any other raw skin injury. A gauze bandage will comfort your skin and should be worn for two hours minimum after your tattoo. Stop peeking and allow your tattoo this time undercover to heal and prevent air-borne bacteria from entering the open skin.
  3. Keep it clean: Now’s the time to nurture your fresh tattoo with a warm sponge bath. Use an anti-bacterial soap and wash gently 3-4 times per day for the first three days. Be careful with your tender skin and do not scrub, rather splash water and soap onto the affected area.
  4. Pat dry: Pat your skin dry with a washcloth or a soft, non-abrasive paper towel. Don’t slack off here. Especially if your tattoo is placed in a dark and warm area where moisture and bacteria thrive. This all effects the end result of your color job, so be diligent and take the time to care for your new skin and tattoo.
  5. Keep it moist: Tattoos need moisture to prevent fading, so lube up. Lubriderm, Eucerin, Tattoo Goo; whatever you choose, keep your tattoo moist as it heals. Apply lotion daily and it will keep scabs at bay and help retain your vibrant color. Consider it money and time well spent and be sure to apply reguarly during the initial healing stages after your tattoo.
  6. Sun protection: Tattoos will lighten. Apply SPF30 liberally every time you venture outdoors. Even on cloudy days when the ultraviolet rays are actually more intense. Some tattoo fading is inevitable, but you can certainly do your best to keep your investment bright and vivid.

Tips:

  1. Slight scabbing is normal; excessive scabbing is not. Try not to pick your scabs. They will itch, but eventually they will heal and reveal the beauty of your new tattoo. Keep scabs clean and you’ll see the light soon. If you need tattoo advice, go back to your artist. They can help.
  2. Allergic reactions may occur. If you experience a rash, hives, scabs that won’t heal, excessive bleeding, foul smelling discharge, fever, chills or have trouble breathing, seek medical attention promptly.

What You Need

  • Antibacterial ointment
  • Lotion
  • Gauze pads
  • Clean towel
  • Sunblock SPF30

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: full backpiece black and gray gargoyle tattoo

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
full backpiece black and gray gargoyle tattoo
Mar 29th 2012, 11:03

Scroll down for full image.

Collector: Craig E.
Artist: Chris Chapman - Electric Ink Tattoo Studio
Summerside, PEI (Prince Edward Island) CANADA

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: One Spot You'd Never Ink

Tattoos / Body Piercings
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One Spot You'd Never Ink
Mar 28th 2012, 15:05

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: top 5 tribal

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
top 5 tribal
Mar 28th 2012, 11:02

Make a cultured decision before you ink one of the top 5 tribal design tattoos and styles. Tribal tattoos and their traditional rituals hail from many different cultures throughout the world. Dating back centuries, tribal tattooing can signify one's rank, wealth, symbolism and heritage.

In some tribes, the practice of tattooing involves spiritual rituals complete with scarification techniques. Other tribes use tattooing as a barrier of protection and use symbolism to ward off evil spirits or curses.

While modern tattoo machines make the art of inking tribal designs an easier and less painful quest, tribal tattooing will never bear the same meaning or significance without the trained hand of a knowledgeable artist who understands both the culture and symbolism of the tribe. For an authentic tribal tattoo you may need to travel to distant lands to a master in the art. Ritual tattoo practices may include chants and prayer and should be followed in the most traditional form. Be forewarned, without being part of the tribe many artists will rightfully refuse service.

Make sure you understand design symbolism before inking your body and pay respect to the cultures and their artful practices while planning a tribal tattoo design.

1. Maori

Image Cc micaeltattoo@Flickr
The native tribe of New Zealand is known as the Maori. Maori practice the ancient craft of Ta Moko; chiseling geometric spikes and spirals into the skin with an albatross bone to tell an individual story of geneaology. Worn with great pride, moko graces the faces of men and usually the lips or chins of women. Take heed, unless you're part of the pack, wearing moko is offensive to the native tribe. French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier caused a controversial stir on the runway when his models wore moko. Kirituhi is an acceptable form of Maori-style designs that bears no tribal meaning. If you must ink a Maori tribal-inspired tattoo, Kirituhi is the only sensitive and respectful way to do it.

2. Polynesia

Image CC my_tat2's@Flcikr

Tahitian, Tonga, Hawaiian and Samoan designs comprise the group of Polynesian island tattoos. Most all Polynesian tattoos include geometric patterns, lines and solid bands of black. Warrior spirited designs make up many Tahitian tattoos while Samoan tattoos were a necessary step for a boy to reach manhood. It's not uncommon for geometric designs to extend throughout the lower half of their bodies. A popular vacation destination, many people ink Polynesian-inspired native tribal symbols to show appreciation and love for the islands.

3. Borneo

Image CC Tajai@Flickr
If you want to connect deeper with nature you may consider one of the top 5 tribal design tattoos known as Borneo. Centuries old, Borneo tattoos are inspired by the Dayak people whom encompass the Kayan, Iban and Kenyah tribes. Borneo tribal tattoos were created from organic wood-block carved designs and became passed around throughout the tribes to depict the travels of the inked. Style ideas include intricate rosettes, insects and animals. Some tattoo designs even serve as a guide into the afterlife. Borneo tribal tattoos should be placed carefully on the body according to spiritual significance.

4. Haida

Image Cc Vectorportal@Flickr

Abound with a colorful burst of red, black and white ink, Haida tattoo designs celebrate the totem animals and spirit of the Pacific Northwest tribe. Folkloric in style, the raven and eagle are the most important Haida totem animals as the eagle is believed to have taken form from the great spirit, Ne-Kilst-Lass, while the symbolic raven is believed to have created the world. Many other Haida designs include totem trademarks such as the killer whale, thunderbird and bear. Haida tribal tattoos are commonly inked on the shoulders, chest and forearms.

5. Native American

Image CC ta sitch@Flickr
For the western spirit, A Native American tattoo pays tribute to the great plains and the natives. Dreamcatchers, shields, tomahawks,wolves, animal skulls and protective feathers are just some of the many tribal designs that can be inked to honor American mythology and heritage. As with all cultures, make sure you research Native American history thoroughly and pay careful respect to the heritage and beliefs of the people when selecting any of these top 5 tribal design tattoos.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
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Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Mar 27th 2012, 11:02

The Bottom Line

Brilliantly portrayed action/horror film based on the first book of the Millennium Trilogy by Steig Larsson. This foreign version is spoken in Swedish and has English subtitles, which are easy to keep up with. I wouldn't recommend the books or the movie to anyone who is under 18 or is overly sensitive to graphic depictions of physical and sexual violence.

Pros

  • Wonderful adaptation of the book by Stieg Larsson
  • Brilliant cast portray their characters accurately
  • Very few details omitted
  • Edge-of-your-seat suspense and action film; enjoyable even if you haven't read the book

Cons

  • A few minor omissions and inaccuracies compared with the book

Description

  • You basically get four stories in one, the first being the story of Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist who makes a critical mistake and faces jail time for it.
  • The second story is of Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant computer hacker/sociopath whose "guardian", Nils Bjurman, dominates and violates her until she exacts her revenge.
  • The third story is of the well-known Vanger family, which holds a dark and disturbing secret. Mikael Blomkvist is hired to discover which family member murdered Harriet Vanger.
  • The fourth story is how Blomkvist and Salander end up working together on the Vanger case and then find themselves in mortal danger the closer they get to discovering the truth.

Guide Review - Foreign Film Review - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I’ve read the first two books of the Millennium Trilogy, and I have to say that I haven’t been this excited about a book series since Harry Potter. I just got the third book and I can’t wait to start reading it, but I’ve also been very interested in seeing the film versions and had been considering purchasing the DVDs. And then a friend of mine discovered that a local arts theater was actually playing the movie on the big screen, so we went to see it the very next day.

Oftentimes, when you see a film that’s based on a favorite book, the results are disappointing. They cut out a lot of important details, take certain liberties with the plot lines, choose horrible actors, and basically mutilate something you love in print. I’m happy to say that this was not the case with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Casting: The most important character, Lisbeth Salander, was brilliantly portrayed by Noomi Rapace. She pulled off the genius/sociopath role with perfection, teetering between calculated reasoning and complete loss of control and conscience. The second most important character, Mikael Blomkvist, was also skillfully portrayed by actor Michael Nyqvist. He was the perfect example of, as my best friend says, someone who was “ridden hard and put away wet!” And even the evil Nils Bjurman, played by Peter Andersson, was portrayed as the disgusting, foul pig that he was with no apologies. The rest of the actors and actresses that took part in this movie were almost all equally well-chosen for the roles they played, apart from Lena Endre who played Erika Berger, Blomkvist’s business partner and lover. More on that in a bit.

Plot and Details: The creators of this movie clearly read the book and took painstaking care to follow the storyline as closely as possible. There were times that even full quotes by certain characters matched the text from the book itself. I honestly spotted only a few minor discrepancies between the film and the book â€" one was the omission of the polyamorous relationship between Mikael, Erika, and Erika’s husband (who didn’t appear in the film at all) and the fact that Mikael was quite the tramp throughout the story line, spending considerable mattress time with a variety of women whose paths were crossed with his during the development of the story. But I suppose those slight discrepancies didn’t taint the overall picture â€" for the most part, everything I would consider ultimately central to the plot-line were included. Because of this, the run time of the movie was 152 minutes, which in no way created drag and was completely appropriate in order to do the story justice, a concept that Hollywood can’t seem to grasp.

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: The Dangers of Black Henna

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
The Dangers of Black Henna
Mar 27th 2012, 11:02

A black henna tattoo may seem benign compared to a real tattoo. For those wanting the look of a tattoo without the permanence, a henna “tattoo” is a great way to enjoy temporary body art. Henna paste is applied to the skin in the pattern of your choice, and slowly leaves behind a stain as the paste dries. That stain lasts from 2-4 weeks and gradually fades and disappears over that time period. But black henna actually isn't henna at all, and can leave lasting damage to your skin.

What is REAL Henna?
Henna paste is made from a natural substance derived from a small shrub called Lawsonia Intermis. The plant is crushed into a powder that is used to make the paste. In its natural state, there is nothing in henna powder that can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Sometimes, the ingredients that are added to the powder to create the paste â€" such as eucalyptus oil â€" could possibly serve as an irritant to those with sensitive skin, but that is very rare. Natural henna paste leaves behind a stain on the skin that is a burnt orange or brown color.

What is Black Henna?
A lot of people don’t like the natural color stain created by henna, maybe because the color itself gives away the fact that the “tattoo” is not real. Or maybe they simply don’t like the color. So, they seek out henna art that offers a black color, which looks more like real tattoo ink. Black henna, however, contains an additive that is extremely dangerous. It’s called paraphenylenediamine, or PPD for short. PPD is a chemical that contains a compound that is derived from phenylenediamine, which is a toxic substance. PPD is clear until it is infused with oxygen. The partial oxidization is what seems to cause severe allergic reactions in some people.

Black henna is not â€" and never was â€" intended for use as tattoo dye. Actually, it's hair dye. It's not meant to come in contact with skin for long periods of time and even the hair dye can be dangerous to those with an allergy to PPD. The problem is that most people don’t know if they're allergic to it until they have already received lasting damage from a reaction.

Black Henna Horror Stories
In January of 2007, two families filed a lawsuit against a distributor of black henna after their children were scarred after receiving black henna tattoos while on holiday. The PPD burned and blistered their skin so badly that the children have been permanently scarred. So, don’t assume that black henna must be safe just because the tattoos are offered to children.

Some companies also sell henna in a rainbow of colors such as red, green and blue. While these henna pastes pose no danger due to the mild color additives, it should be noted that they are still a waste of money. The henna only retains the color while the paste is on the skin. Once the paste has been removed, the stain left behind will still be the orange/brown shade you would get from natural henna.

Henna art is meant to be what it is â€" a beautiful, natural, temporary stain. If you want a henna tattoo, appreciate it for its beautiful, earthy colors. If you want a tattoo that looks real â€" get a real one!

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: dragondesigns

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
dragondesigns
Mar 27th 2012, 11:02

Yes you can be the girl with the dragon tattoo. Dragon tattoo designs for you are plentiful. There's no need to veer to the dark and gothic side of things just because you appreciate a bit of this endearing yet mythical beast. There are many ways to depict the energy and magnetism of the dragon without venturing into its wrath.

Get inspired by the many ways dragons have found their way into our hearts and find a fiery symbol of devotion.

1. Chinese Zodiac Dragons

cc Image micaelphoto@Flickr
Chinese dragon tattoos are a colorful and likely choice for anyone born under the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac or those paying tribute to a cultural heritage. Whether gracing your arm in a sleeve or taking full canvas with open wings on your back, a colorful Chinese dragon promises good fortune. Year of the Dragon tattoos are usually bold, lively and full of excitement, which rings true for the dragon's temperament. Your artist can render their own sketch of a Chinese dragon or you can get inspired by flash art and other art drawings. Consider adding a family crest to the design of your dragon for a noble style.

Most Eastern and Japanese dragon tattoo designs also depict some form of water and air elements; consider it Feng Shui for your tattoo if you will. All forces of nature often unite to create a very visual and dynamic scene. Clouds, water and fire can all be combined in a colorful illusion. Don't be afraid to visit the world of Eastern dragons and their sacred spirits.

2. Colorful Cartoon Dragons

Image CC Courtesy DaMongMan@Flickr.
Call them cute, just don't call them insignificant in the world of girls dragon tattoo designs. Cartoon depictions of the mythical dragon evoke memories of Puff the Magic Dragon, proving to be an endearing ode to childhood and growing up. Whether the fictional Puff stole your heart or you desire a dragon design that's more sweet and less scary, bubbly features, big scales and a happy smile promise to make for a personable companion. Dragons can be incorporated into many tattoo styles and can even take a fairytale approach. Consider using a pastel muted palette to create a more fantastical scene.

Other magical dragon styles may blend storybook illustrations. Seek out an artist who works with a watercolor sort of inspiration and work together on a fantasy dragon piece.

3. Fire-breathing Dragons

Image CC Courtesy Japices2007@Flick
For the wild child, a fire-breathing dragon makes a likely choice. No matter how much fire your dragon flaunts, you can still keep the basis of your dragon design feminine by focusing on color. Purple, dark red and green dragons leave so much visual impact they can become quite ornate and detailed. Add a few sparks and watch your dragon come alive.

While Western dragons most often represent power, pride and wrath, they do not need to stir up violence. A Western fire-breathing dragon may affirm your fearless and confident nature and serve as a reminder that you can defeat anything. If you want an empowering dragon symbol, consider the ancient style of Western Beowulf inspired designs.

4. Tribal Dragon Tattoos for Girls

Image Cc Micaeltattoo@Flickr

For the girl who wants just a plain and gutsy dragon tattoo, why not opt for something tribal? Tribal dragon tattoos usually consist of a simple black outline, perfect for adding into other designs or wrapping into a barbed wire or vine piece later. Tribal dragons can take on many different meanings. Whether it's an ode to your Chinese zodiac or a tribute to your favorite fictional characters, do your history and legend research before you opt for any sort of dragon whether that be tribal or mythical. The more backstory your dragon has, the more life you'll breathe into your tattoo design.

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: piercing gallery - lip labret piercing photo

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
piercing gallery - lip labret piercing photo
Mar 26th 2012, 11:02

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Collector: Annie
Artist: Noah Babcock - Evolution, Inc.
Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: ripping skull and skeleton hands tearing through skin tattoo

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
ripping skull and skeleton hands tearing through skin tattoo
Mar 24th 2012, 11:02

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Artist: Flames - Skin Flixx Ink
318 S. Chicago - Hastings, Nebraska
Email Flames

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: The Tattoo Gallery - Guide Picks - My Personal Favorites

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
The Tattoo Gallery - Guide Picks - My Personal Favorites
Mar 24th 2012, 11:02

Guide Picks > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 > Next Page

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: Would You Get Inked with Technology?

Tattoos / Body Piercings
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Would You Get Inked with Technology?
Mar 22nd 2012, 13:34

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: Matrix Style Sci-Fi Tattoos Include Nokia Patented Cell Phone Technology

Tattoos / Body Piercings
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Matrix Style Sci-Fi Tattoos Include Nokia Patented Cell Phone Technology
Mar 22nd 2012, 12:26

null If you're a fan Bond movies and the Matrix you'll be thrilled that Nokia had just patented cell phone technology tattoos.

Rather than rely on the all too traditional form of incoming rings or vibrations, the ferromagnetic ink used to create these technology tattoos will vibrate right under your skin after receiving inbound data from the magnetic fields from your phone.

Nokia's tattoos will even offer a form of on-body caller identification that can include programmed pulses for specific contacts, calendar reminders and even birthday and low battery alerts.

If you're leery of permanent ink, the Finnish company offers a peel-and-stick circuit board that communicates with your mobile devices and can be applied anywhere on your skin in lieu of a tattoo.

For those ready to rock this sci-fi trend, you can ink your technology tat in a tribal design, a mysterious barcode or something custom. How about a white ink or a glow in the dark tattoo?

The world is changing.

Are you ready?

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Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: 5 Sexy Spots for a Girls Tattoo

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com
5 Sexy Spots for a Girls Tattoo
Mar 22nd 2012, 11:03

Ink yourself twice as nice and pick one of these 5 sexy spots for a girls tattoo. Falling somehere between seen and unseen, these places leave a little to the imagination. You can scream or whisper come hither with a peek-a-boo tattoo and flaunt your feminine wiles with ink. Think tattoos can't be inconspicuous? Go ahead and take a peek.

1. Mid Back

Image Cc RobynLou8 @ Flickr
Forget the tramp stamp and flaunt your strong and defined back with a script tattoo right below your bra line to highlight your feminine curves. For a little edginess opt for black ink over colorful designs. Many script designs include popular Bible verses, poems or romantic sentiments. If you're into body modification and want to add a touch of erotica to your personal style, a corset piercing could help to complete your look. For boudoir inspired tattoos, think of something provocative or school-girl like bows, hearts, daggers, French fonts, lockets, chain or skeleton keys.

2. Thigh

Cc Image Photo the Berto@Flickr
The inner thigh is a highly erogenous area and seductive spot to ink hide and seek tattoos. So long as you can swear off shorts and short skirts this tattoo can play peek-a-boo for a lifetime for those leery of inked commitments. Many women turn small thigh tattoos into large body canvases while others keep it simple and easy to cover up. There are plenty of design options that work beautifully on the legs. Consider dragons, snakes, Phoenix, peacock or feather designs for a fanciful touch or go old school and pay tribute to your own curves with a pinup girl.

3. Collarbone

Image CC Courtesy Volavale@Flickr

The collarbone is a beautiful area on every body type. No matter your frame be it large or small you can flatter your assets and enhance your face with a collarbone tattoo. For the most versatility opt for a tiny design that speaks to you. A cross, crescent moon, horseshoe or zodiac symbol can be hidden by a large chunky necklace, scarf or turtleneck whenever you want to disguise your ink. Bear in mind this area can be a little delicate depending on what you choose to ink so make sure you work with your artist to design a piece that is suitable.

4. Lower Stomach

Image CC Courtesy Melissa Dret @Flickr

To enhance your curves and female form consider placing a taboo tattoo right above your unmentionables. Lower stomach tattoos are a suitable option if you're comfortable with your body and also realistic about how the design may look later if you experience weight fluctuations. With that said, stomach tattoos are still an undeniably sexy choice that should be considered if you want an easy to hide design. Sweet cherries, Playboy bunnies and felines are provocative tattoo ideas that can come out to play whenever you'd like; with whomever you'd like.

5. Shoulder

Image Cc Courtesy MadalynChristine@Flickr
The shoulders can be a very graceful area of the female body making them an ideal place for an inconspicuous tattoo design. You can play with the idea of wings, stars and cascading cherry blossom branches if you want a simplistic tattoo style, or opt for Japanese inspired Koi or mythical creatures for a fantastical scence. Unless you regularly bare your shoulders in revealing tanks or tees, a shoulder blade tattoo can stay mum whenever you'd like (which may not be often).

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now: Choosing your Tattoo

Tattoos / Body Piercings: What's Hot Now
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Choosing your Tattoo
Mar 21st 2012, 11:02

Question: How should I choose my first tattoo?

Answer: Tattoos are very personal and only you can decide what you will be able to live with for the rest of your life. If you want something symbolic, but you don't want everyone asking you personal questions about it, then put it in a place where you can easily hide it. If you don't mind people asking you about it, then that's not an issue. If you want it to be straight-forward, that is your right. Even if other people don't like it, don't agree with it or whatever - what you wear on your body is your business and no one else's.

The most important thing is that you really think about what you get so that you are sure it is something you will still be happy to look at 10, 20 and even 50 years from now. Tattoos are a very big commitment and I would recommend that you do some soul searching before you go and get any tattoo.

I know this is probably a lot more vague of an answer than you were hoping for, but I really can't tell you what to get. I can only guide you to look in the right direction, and right now that direction is knowing what really represents you as a person and how you can turn that into an appropriate image that can actually become a part of you.

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