The Science of Tattoos page says…

“Most modern tattoo systems are ‘needle guns’ that use electrical motors or air pressure to drive a needle like a sewing machine. The needle, loaded with ink, delivers the color to the right layer of skin, making a permanent image. No matter what happens to the skin’s outer layers, the ink will stay in exactly the same place.”

To read the full story click here….. The Science of Tattoos

“Archaeologist W.M.F. Petrie discovered two different types of ancient tattoo tools in Egypt, according to Cate Lineberry of “Smithsonian Magazine.” The first type was a wood-handled tattoo instrument with a sharp point, dating back to 3,000 B.C., found in Abydos, Egypt. The second type of tattoo instruments discovered in Gurob were made of bronze, in a shape similar to needles. In modern tattooing, one type of tattoo needle is referred to as “flats;” the bronze ancient tattoo instruments look like flat and wide needles in a group.”

To read the rest of Kate’s research click here.. Ancient Tattoo Equipment

History – Tattoo guns

The first motor design that would be applied to a tattoo gun was invented by the same person who invented light bulbs, Thomas Edison. The machine was patented in 1876, originally being meant for metal engraving. Samuel O’Reilly took the design and instead applied it to inking of skin for tattoos, adding the tubing and ink feed bottle design later on. O’Reilly didn’t get the patent for the add-on approach; Charlie Wagner patented the tattoo gun system in 1904.

To read the full history of tattoo guns click here…  The History of Tattoo Guns

“It’s not with a paintbrush, chisel or camera that Travis Jackson creates his artwork, but nonetheless, his pieces last a lifetime and are treasured and sought after by many. His work can’t be seen hanging up in art galleries or on museum walls, but rather walking down the street. To read the full interview go here .. Tattoo Travis

It is very refreshing to read about a real artist who happens to have chosen tattooing as his medium.

Hi folks!

My name is Jerry Martin and I am the president and founder of Crazy Tattoo Designs and Insane Tattoo Products. If you have been on the Internet for awhile I am sure you have seen my tattoo brands and you may even be proudly wearing one of my incredible tattoo designs.  My collection of over 30,000 unique tattoos has been nominated to be included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest tattoo collection in the world. If you would like to know more about this fabulous tattoo collection just click here… Tattoos

If you are new to tattoos, and are trying to make a decision to get one or not, please allow me to give you a few tips and guidelines that will help you make a quality decision. I will also give you some background on tattoos themselves, their history, and the tattoo industry.

Tattoo tips and guidelines: If this will be your first image I suggest you start by getting a flash tattoo or an airbrush tattoo. Both of them are temporary tattoos that will only last a few days.  During that time period you will get comfortable wearing the tattoo and know whether you really like the design and the colors. If you like it then you can proceed to get a permanent tattoo that you will be happy with for the rest of your life. If you don’t the temporary tattoo then keep experimenting until you find a good one. To see some really unique flash and airbrush tattoo designs visit my “Worlds Largest Tattoo Collection” at the link mentioned above.

Definition of a tattoo: A tattoo is a piece of body art that is created by etching various colors of ink into the skin. This process changes the pigment so the artwork will stand out. Tattoos on human beings are generally for decoration purposes only but the images may have special meaning to the individual wearing the tattoos. In the farming business animals are often tattooed (branded) for identification and proof of ownership.

In the tattoo industry tattoos are sometimes referred to as *Pieces* *Ink* *Tats* or *Work*.  The person applying the tattoo is called an *Artist* or *Tattooist*.

History of tattoos: Tattooing has been around since Neolithic times. The ancient body a man that was found in the Otz valley, in the Alps, had over 50 carbon tattoos. Some of them were just simple dots or lines but they were authentic tattoos. Known as *Ötzi the Iceman* he roamed the earth sometime during the fourth or fifth Millennium BC.

In the pre-christian era Celtic tribes were known to be elaborately tattooed with dark blue tattoo designs. These facts were found in Book V of Julius Ceasar’s Ballic Wars series written in 54 BC.

In Asia about ten thousand years ago  tattooing was practiced by the Japanese  Other cultures in that same time period tattooed themselves by rubbing ashes and colored dyes into cuts on their skin.

Tattooing as we know it in North America originated in Polynesia in the eighteenth century and was referred to as a tatau. European sailors traveling through the area adopted the practice and showed off the tataus in the West. The English eventually changed the name to tattoo.

In Polynesian areas a tattoo is called a tattaow or tattow and Tahitians call it a tatu. The Japanese words for tattoo are irezumi and Horimono.

Now that you know the history of tattoos it is time to choose one for yourself. Click here tattoos .

If you would like to learn how to be a tattoo artist click here learn how to tattoo videos .

Picture Tattoo Ideas

Here are some tattoo ideas that can make your tattoo stand out from the crowd.

Airbrush tattoos: An airbrush tattoo is a temporary tattoo that is painted on the skin using a CO@ sprayer. The tattoo artist places a stencil on your body then sprays a special formulated paint over the stencil. The process gives you a very realistic tattoo that looks very much like a permanent tattoo and the whole process only takes a few minutes to complete.

The Process: First the skin is cleaned with alcohol to make sure it is clean, then the stencil is placed on your body and the artist applies the first layer of paint. If your tattoo will have many colors the process must be repeated for each color. The more colors the more time it will take to finish the airbrush tattoo.  When the artist is finished he/she will remove any overspray then shake some talc powder on top of the tattoo design to make it dry faster. Airbrush tattoos usually last for one or two weeks depending on how much exposure they have to soap and water when you shower or go swimming so it is great way to get used to wearing a tattoo.

Airbrush tattoos are usually sold at beach resorts, carnivals, and other tourists areas that draw large crowds. You may even be able to find a local artist who holds airbrush tattoo home parties. Just check your local yellow pages under the tattoo section.

Tattoo Flash: A flash tattoo is a special piece of artwork that is inked onto to your body. The design is first printed or drawn on a piece of paper then reproduced by the artist to match the drawing. Flash tattoos do not take much time to apply and many tattoo artists specialize in and display them in their shop. They are also less expensive than a regular tattoo.

A good place to find many flash tattoo designs is in the “Worlds Largest Tattoo Collection” which is located here. http://www.howtotattoovideos.com/wltc/index.html.

Flash tattoo symbols and ideas:

Anchor: Many young sailors would get an anchor tattoo after their first crossing of the Atlantic ocean to show others they were no longer novice sailors.

Barbed Wire: The barbed wire flash tattoo originated in prisons and is usually worn as an armband.

Heart flash tattoos: It is believed that the idea of wearing a heart tattoo originated with servicemen in World War Two who wore them to remember their loved ones and what they were fighting for.

Dragon tattoo ideas: Dragons are popular in the Chinese culture and are often portrayed as having supernatural powers. Sometimes the dragon is a symbol of the four elements air, water, earth, and fire.

Each religion or culture had their own religious tattoo designs and the images they created had significant meaning to their spiritual beliefs. The common thread through all the groups is the hope that their religious tattoos will protect them from harm and give bring them prosperity.

Picture Religious Tattoo

The meaning of Religious Tattoos in different regions of the world:

In Egypt women wore tattoos representing the goddess of fertility with the hope they would be blessed with children and in India many people worshiped and still worship Lord Rama. They engrave his name on their body in Sanskrit.

Hindus create religious tattoos of the gods Kali, Ganesha, and Shiva and young Hindus often wear the “Om” symbol to show their faith and look cool.

In Christianity there is much debate about religious tattoos and if the bible is for or against the wearing of tattoos. Some say it is a sin and others have crosses or the name of Jesus tattooed on their body.

Photo Religious Tattoo

In North American native Americans have long accepted the practice of engraving spiritual markings on their body to show their faith and scare away evil spirits. In Hawaii many people believe their is a tattoo god and they have a tattoo priest. The religious tattoos the believers wear are primarily designed to fend off bad spirits similar to the beliefs of the native Americans.

There are many reasons why people have their body decorated with religious tattoos and the type of tattoo they choose has much to do with the region they live in and the tribe or group they belong to. Sometimes the tattoos people wear are based on their spiritual beliefs and sometimes the tat is just creative art that is used to decorate the body.

Common religious tattoos:

1. Praying hands
2. Crucifix or cross
3. Rosary
4  Sign of the fish
5. The oil lamp
6. Crown of thorns
7. Image of Christ
8. Star of David
9. Dove
10 Sacred Hearts
11. Angels
12. The Virgin Mary
13. The last supper
14. The chalice
15. The Good Shepherd
16. The Grail
17. The Holy Trinity
18. Madonna

Islamic Religious Tattoos:

1. Crescent with Star
2. Hand of Fatima
3. Verses of the Quran

Hindu Spiritual Tattoos:

1. Ganesha
2. Brahma
3. Kali
4. Shiva
5. Vishnu
6. Krishna

Tribal Religious Tattoos:

1. Animals
2. Flowers and plants
3. Celestial bodies suns, stars, moons and comets
4. Mythological dragons, unicorns, Pegasus, phoenix
5. Armbands

The Religious Tattoo Debate:

Religious tattoos are often controversial because many religions prohibit the act of tattooing. In spite of these warnings the faithful continue to have their bodies inked with tattoos that reveal their devotion and faith.

Love tattoos are often associated with feelings of love for a particular person or family member and it is common to have that persons name inscribed inside the love tattoo. In some cases a photo of the person is painted inside the image along with an important date or saying. Sometimes two or three images are worked into the design to create a family portrait or important circle of friends.

Common love tattoo themes:

The four basic love tattoo themes are roses, hearts, lips, and Cupid. Roses, of course, are internationally associated with love and everyone knows Cupid has special powers to pierce his victims heart. Lip tattoos represent kissing and hearts are a symbol of giving your heart to the person you love.

Many people who fall in love decide to have a special tattoo created to symbolize their love for each other. Although that may seem very romantic and a sign of trust and commitment when love fades the tattoo becomes a serious problem and can cause great emotional stress. Then it is time to get a broken heart tattoo which expresses grief or the loss of love. A rejected lover suffers great emotion pain and sometimes gets a broken heart tattoo to symbolize that pain or sadness.

Other symbols of love that can be expressed with a tattoo are rings, the Celtic love knot, the bluebell which means everlasting love, butterfly’s, and rosemary which is a symbol of fidelity. The most common flowers that express love are the roses and Jasmine a white flower that is a symbol of love in the Hindu faith.

For those who believe in astrology Eros is the Greek god of love and is symbolized by a boy with wings holding a bow and arrow. Christians believe the heart is the home of our emotions and in Islam the heart is a persons spiritual center.

Red is the color of love and love tattoos usually consist of red hearts, lips, or flowers such as roses.

Any talk about love or love tattoos would not be complete without a discussion about what love is or the meaning of love. For centuries the great philosophers have tried to put into words the essence of love but they always come up short but love is an emotion that is personal and difficult to express.

Here are some common beliefs about love:

1. It is what you feel before reality sets in.
2. It is putting the interests of your partner ahead of your own interests.
3. It is unconditional and not based on what the other person does or does not do.
4. It is forgiveness of transgressions.
5. It is helping those in need without any expectation of receiving anything in return.
6. It is Christmas.
7. It is a longing to be with someone who you are emotionally attached to.
8. Love is kissing.
9. Love is confusion.
10. Love is holding hands in public.
11. Love is God
12. Love is accepting someone as they are.
13. Love is a puppy licking your face.
14. Love is kissing in a movie theater.
15. Love cannot be broken it is forever.

Now it time to get some love tattoos.

Female tattoos and feminine tattoos are becoming increasing popular and socially acceptable mainly because many female movie stars and entertainers have tattoos. Feminine tattoos are usually small and artistic and worn on the ankle, the lower back, or on the upper potion of the breasts.

The designs generally portray romantic scenes such as love tattoos, butterfly tattoos, fairy tattoos, or words that have personal meaning to the lady wearing the tat. Men like large bold tattoos that are displayed on their arms, chest, back and neck areas but women wear their tattoos discretely on the lower back, stomach, buttocks, upper thigh, so they are sexually attractive and only displayed to their lovers. Most women do not want their tattoos to be too obvious.

Generally feminine tattoos are very sexy and seductive and are rarely offensive. For example a lower back tattoo is only seen when the lady bends over or is sitting and leaning forward. Men who catch a glimpse of the sexy tattoo feel like they have witnessed something naughty and enjoy the experience.

There are many tattoo ideas for women and many tattoo designs to choose from but it is not something a lady should rush into. A tattoo is permanent and she should take her time in selecting a feminine tattoo and a tattoo artist who specializes in female tattoos.

Here are the most popular tattoo designs for women:

Flower tattoos: Flowers are romantic and colorful and very feminine. Roses, cherry blossoms, daisies and sunflowers are all popular.

Photo of foot flower tattoo

Picture love tattoo

Butterfly tattoos: Girls love butterflies and boys love girls that wear butterfly tattoos.

Star tattoos: Stars are small, symbolic, and internationally understood and accepted.

Fairy tattoos: They are small, magical, artistic, and colorful.

Breast tattoos: Draws men;s eyes to the breasts.

Most popular feminine tattoo locations:

Lower back

Inner wrist

Breast

Below panty line

Ankle or foot

Hips

On the back near the left shoulder

History of feminine tattoos:

Tattoos have been found on female mummies dating from about 2000 BC. The first known tattoo of a person was discovered on Nubian female mummies, dating back to 400 BC.

The feminine tattoos represented the God of Sex, Skin was the first canvas for art and sticks were the first paintbrushes. As skin does not preserve that well there is evidence that prehistoric people engaged in tattooing, but there is no evidence that marking the body with colored dyes or inks is as old as mankind.

The ancient Egyptians reportedly spread the practice of tattooing throughout the middle east and it eventually found its way to Southeast Asia including Japan, China and Burma where tattoos were used for religious ceremonies.

Thanks for taking the time to read this part of our female tattoo gallery.

Throughout history fairies have been portrayed as beautiful entities that have great powers. Generally those powers are used for good but sometimes fairies can be naughty or mischievousness but never in an evil way. Perhaps this is why so many women wear fairy tattoos on their body.

If you live in an area that has a warm climate you have probably seen ladies strolling on the walkways or on the beaches that have a fairy tattoo on their lower back or on the upper portion of their breasts. These ladies are usually respected in the community and are not part of the criminal or underground culture that tattoos are normally associated with.

Fairy tattoos are dainty, colorful, cheerful, and artistically beautiful so most cultures accept them as creative works of art that look good on the body. The fairy tattoos are a fashion statement that can stimulate conversation at parties and social events. They can even be customized to match the ladies completion or her wardrobe. A new fad is to buy several temporary tattoos that can be color coordinated to match clothing or hair styles and easily removed at the end of the day, with no permanent markings on the body.

With hundreds of designs to choose from chances are good you can find a fairy tattoo that matches your personality or lifestyle but if not just ask your local tattoo artist to create a custom made one for you. There are unlimited size, color, and design features that can be generated from an existing fairy drawing.

The type of fairy tattoo that a lady chooses can tell you a lot about her personality. If she is a nature lover her tat will probably show a fairy in the forest or near the sea. If she is naughty or mischievousness her fairy tattoo will probably have a naughty smile or mischievousness grin.

History of fairy tattoos:

The word fairy in Latin means “fata” or fate. This explains why fairies are believed to have mystical powers that can influence a persons future or fate. Children love fairy stories because their young minds can easily imagine a super natural friend that can take them on interesting journeys. Adults like fairies because they represent optimism and a return to youthful imaginations.

Other names for fairies are fay, fey, faery, and faerie. Which in some cultures means wee folk, gnomes, goblins, or good and peaceful folk. They are often depicted as legendary spiritual creatures that have supernatural powers.

Things to consider when getting a fairy tattoo:

The first thing to consider is that a tattoo is permanent and the decisions you make now will follow you to the grave. Choose your tattoo artist and tattoo design very carefully and make sure your choice is something you can live with long term.  Even though fairy tattoos do not carry the same stigma as gangsta or criminal tattoos and are usually socially ok in some circles your tat may not be seen as acceptable behaviour.