Celebrities And Their Love Of Tattoos

It isn't really surprising to learn that countless celebrities love tattoos, nor is it surprising that those who are in the public eye and in the media can have quite a significant influence on the American population's fascination with tattoos. The stars have a variety of tattoos, and so pretty much all of their fans crave tattoos also.

For celebrities, age is not a real factor; older stars just like the younger ones have them too. We know all of these people well - but how much do we identify with the distinctive styles of artwork they choose?
One of America's greatest movie stars, Robert DeNiro, has appeared in movies sporting no few tattoos. Whether or not his fans work out that they are only accessories for his films, the fact is in real life Robert DeNiro has only one tattoo, that of a black panther.

Another great actor who shows off assorted tattoos in his movies is Johnny Depp; however all of his, are real. Bruce Willis also has a few tattoos; notably the symbol of his movie "Die Hard."
Tattoos have been in style for a very long time with the top musicians who can sport the largest number and most radical and hardcore of designs. The former teen idol Justin Timberlake has a guardian angel, amongst others. Rapper Eminem has more tattoos than you can shake a stick at, including his daughter's name and his own. The wording on Keith Urban's wrist, "Omni Vincit Amor" is Latin for 'Love Conquers All;' he also has an eagle on one arm.

Sports celebrities also known to go for tattoos. Michael Jordan has his fraternity symbol tattooed above his heart, whilst Dennis Rodman is a virtual canvas of artwork.
Not to be outdone, numerous female stars also show assorted degrees of artwork. Young actress Drew Barrymore is basically a canvas full of tattoos and it is said that she created the larger part of the designs herself. Reese Witherspoon is a little more subtle, wearing only one small star tattoo which is hardly ever visible.

Pamela Anderson has a variety of tattoos also, the most notable of these being the word 'Mommy' on one finger, which reportedly used to read 'Tommy.' Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has five stars to represent every member of her family, her husband's initials, and the traditional Jewish phrase 'I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.'

Some of the modern supermodels also brandish tattoos. Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and Stephanie Seymour all have these changeless forms of fashion accessories. Many supermodels who opt for tattoos show fewer and smaller designs than celebrities in other fields. While very many celebrities have worn tattoos for a very long time, the popularity of tattoos amongst stars has been increasing, both in the group of celebrities who carry them and the multitude of tattoos that they wear. Only a very few have just one tattoo. More and more are taking on a generous bunch of tattoos as well as more visible tattoos, using skin as a canvas for nearly unlimited varieties of ageless artwork.

As celebrities show off their love of tattoos, and this is picked up by the media, it presents an ever-increasing influence for their fans, especially amongst the younger fans, who want to do likewise. As with anything else that stars do in the public eye, their influence with tattoos helps this form of artwork become more widespread, more trendy, and more acceptable to most of the American population altogether.

Tattoo Kits

Tattoo kits are a terrific way of preparing yourself for your first tattoo. Most people start by locating a company that sells tattoo supplies and purchasing the extreme basics - a tattoo machine, power supply (with foot pedal and clipcord) and a few needles/grips. They soon come to realize that there is so much more required for tattooing. Even an apprentice tattoo artist makes mistakes though. Usually, by discussing the apprentice's needs for beginning a tattoo, a competent tattoo supply company can recommend a variety of apprentice tattoo kits depending on the requirements and technical needs of the apprentice.

Even at a basic level, a good tattoo kit will contain proper medical and safety supplies. Nitrile gloves, sharps collector (for storage of used tattoo needles or disposable grips before proper disposal), a surface disinfectant such as cavicide (hospital grade cleaner for killing hepatitis, TB, HIV and herpes), good quality tattoo ink (many tattoo kits get sold with OEM brand inks that are far inferior to a good name brand tattoo ink) and some kits even go as far as offering barrier plastic for protecting clipcords and tattoo machines from blood born pathogens during the tattoo process.

Something to consider when purchasing a tattoo kit is whether or not an autoclave will be available at the shop - believe it or not, some shops no longer utilize an autoclave sterilizer. With the growing use of disposable tattoo grips and premade, single use tattoo needles, some shops are opting to NOT own an autoclave and simply dispose of their presterilized tattoo grips and needles after tattooing - further removing the risk of cross contamination between customers. That being said, before purchasing a tattoo kit, the decision to use disposable tattoo grips vs steel tattoo grips needs to be well considered. The advantage of purchasing steel grips - better balance, vibration dampening, and re-usability, the downside being you'll always need to scrub, soak and sterilize (autoclave) your equipment. With disposables the main advantage is safety and convenience - you can always guarantee the grip has been sterilized, never used before and you simply dispose of it immediately after the tattoo is complete. No scrubbing and sterilization of the tattoo grip is ever needed - just throw it away.

Some apprentice tattoo artists know what they need, perhaps having tattooed at a previous shop, or under the 'purchasing guidance' of their mentor. In some cases, the professional tattoo artist needs to purchase a kit - whether it's simply upgrading their shop equipment or opening a new station for tattooing at the shop. Other times, a tattoo kit can offer such a good deal on basic tattoo equipment it simply makes more sense to purchase the whole kit than just a few items.

Perhaps one of the most important factors in purchasing a starter tattoo kit is not the initial purchase price, but the overall quality of the company you are purchasing from. Sure, it looks like a good deal now, but what about later, when it's time to buy more supplies? Was the tattoo machine good or did you have a lot of problems with the cheap one you received? Was the tattoo ink worth purchasing again, or did you find you had to redo all the tattoos because the ink never stayed in the skin? Did everything rust? More importantly, does the company sell the same items to keep you supplied with your tattooing business or do you now have to locate another company to buy from? Repeat business is often rewarded by the better tattoo companies. How do you find out? Call them. They usually have a toll free number. Introduce yourself, mention you purchased a kit from them (an approximate date is helpful) and provide any feedback on the kit (are you happy with it? let them know!).

Leg Tattoo Design - Getting Fresh, Quality Tattoos For Your Legs

Choosing the right leg tattoo design has gotten a whole lot harder than it used to be. There was a time when you could find the good, quality designs in a heart beat, but this is no longer happening. All people run into are the same worthless galleries that have nothing but old, generic artwork and nothing else. Here is how you can easily change this around, while finding the leg tattoo design you truly want.

You would not believe how many people wind up settling on generic tattoos, simply because they were not able to find anything better. It's almost mind boggling why people would do this. No sane man or woman should be "settling" on tattoos. It should never be an option when dealing with something this permanent, yet people still do it. People who make a rushed decision and get some generic leg tattoo design usually end up regretting getting tattooed in the first place. It's a bit too late by that time, though, because the artwork is already etched on their legs.

So, why is everybody running into the same generic junk all the time? Well, the main reason is because they use search engines to locate tattoos. Sure, it might be a quick and easy way to get a list of galleries that will have a leg tattoo design database, but it's the quality of the artwork that is in question. You just don't get a list of the great galleries out there. Instead, you get this horrible list of bottom of the barrel places. Each of them has more cookie cutter artwork than the next place. Heck, it's almost like they stole each others generic junk and posted on their site.

All of the really good galleries end up buried within the 1000's of search results that come up, never to be found. The average surfer looking for a leg tattoo design won't go past the first three pages of search results, so you can see why millions are not getting to the really good art. So, what can you do about this little problem we have here? Well, you can do one of two things.

The first thing you can do is set aside a whole lot of your free time to look through those 1000's of search results, hoping that you bump into a decent websites that has a leg tattoo design you like. Thats not very reasonable, though. You second choice is much better. You would use forums to find a superb leg tattoo design. People often forget about these wonderful communities, but they can be sensational tools on your journey to find the best tattoos possible.

The big forums (which are highly recommended) are going to be packed full of past topics about tattoos. You can use them to get an inside look at where men and women are finding the quality artwork the web has. They are always posting links to the hidden galleries that uncover and you reap the benefits of their generosity to find a great leg tattoo design. It's that simple. It might take a little longer than clicking on the first search engines results, but the quality of the artwork will make all the difference.
It's up to you when choosing the leg tattoo design you'll put on your body, but at least you have the option to find more of the quality artwork you will need.

Are Neck Tattoos Dangerous?

Most people have tattoos on the side or the back of the neck. Is this dangerous? It's not dangerous, unless, of course, you go to an inexperienced tattoo artist. If getting a tattoo on the neck was dangerous no tattoo artist would perform them. The only 'danger' of getting a tattoo on the neck is that it may be painful for some people to handle.

Before you get a tattoo, make sure you have a high tolerance for pain. If you get a neck tattoo, it may hurt you more than it would someone else. You may want to speak and interview tattoo artists before you make the decision to get a tattoo. Take time to think about it because once you get a tattoo you can't take it off with rubbing alcohol or peroxide.

Make sure you don't have any allergies. If you do, you could have an allergic reaction to the ink. Speak to a tattoo artist and ask about the ink. What's in it? What brand of ink is it? A professional tattoo artist will be more than willing to answer your questions. Don't feel foolish about it because it's your health which is important.

Personal experience
One of the tattoos I have is on the back of my neck. I chose to get a butterfly tattoo which may sound clichéd to some, but I liked this particular tattoo because of the eyes. It's a tribal butterfly tattoo and the eyes look like they're watching you. To me, it symbolizes someone having my back and looking out for me. The only painful experience of the tattoo was when the tattoo artist removed the tattoo stencil after she put it on my neck. We looked at the placement of the tattoo in the mirror and it looked off. My tattoo artist took rubbing alcohol to remove the tattoo from my neck. This stung because she shaved the little hairs around my hairline before putting the stencil on my neck. Luckily, when she put it on my neck the second time the placement was perfect!

A neck tattoo can be dangerous to your career. If you work at a corporate job or workplace that frowns upon body art; your bosses may not appreciate the tattoo on your neck. Check with your employer before you get a neck tattoo. However, you may be able to get away with a tattoo on the back of your neck if you have long hair. Your hair will cover the tattoo. If you're a woman, you won't be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or some other style that will expose your neck. This is something think about before you get a neck tattoo.
If you want to get a tattoo on the back or side of your neck, make sure you're absolutely confident about it. Speak with different tattoo artists and choose one that's right for you. Make sure they work at a reputable shop and ask them about the equipment, especially the needles. Select a tattoo that has a deep meaning to you because you won't be able to remove it the next day. Follow the care instructions from your tattoo artist and your tattoo will last a lifetime.

Ninja Tattoo Ideas

Rainbow Tattoo

Samoan Tattoo Designs

The art of tattooing is an ancient practice. In fact, uncovered mummies show that it has been in practice for thousands of years already. So while the modern designs are also cool, it might be a good idea to revisit the old traditions to rediscover great body art ideas. One great find from the past are Samoan tattoo designs.

And when these ancient designs are combined with the modern equipments of today, and influenced by some modernization, the result can be a breathtaking tattoo design. And to help you understand better why Samoan tattoo designs are epic, here is a close look at its origin:

A Brief History
Samoan tattoo designs are believed to have been developed around 2,000 years ago in the lands of Polynesia. In the country, there resides an ancient ethnic group called Samoans which are known for their lust for tattooing. And for some reason, their heritage in body art survived until today.

According to the legend of the Samoan tribe, the art of tattooing was introduced to them by two women named Teama and Tilafaiga. And since then, it had flourished and became part of their culture and tradition. In the tribe, both men and women get the tattoo.

A Symbol Of Status
Along the history of the Samoans, the art introduced by Taema and Tilafaiga became a way to show an individual's status in society. Generally, the larger and the more elaborate the design, the higher is the status of the person wearing it. But gender-wise, men always seem to have bigger tattoos than women.

Also, the art of tattooing became almost a necessity among the males of the ethnic group. It is said that as soon as the boy's body is assumed to have stopped growing, the tattooing ceremony would begin. Later in Samoan history however, this privilege became secluded to the royalty.

A Rich Variety
Alright, so what makes Samoan tattoo designs attractive to the modern tattoo enthusiast? First of all, the striking variety in designs is stunning. There are so many patterns to choose from and each one of them is elaborate and beautiful.

Also, one feature of the Samoan tattoo design is that it covers a large portion of the body. It can run across the back and down to the knee and also around the arms. Although of course, the extent of the tattoo is subject to the person's taste and choice.

So if you are looking for a great new idea in body art and tattooing, you know that Samoan tattoo designs will make a sophisticated and unique choice. It may be old and ancient, but its long life is only a testimony of its success and its patronage by many people.

Rad Woodeson have examined the products and services for more than a decade now. His latest passion is tattoos and all the weird and wonderful designs that are available on the market today. Decided to have a tattoo is a big decision so that Rad has decided to look at the various options available for people on the internet. Look at his latest article on Samoan tattoo designs and tattoo designs eagle.