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

Richard says..

“While it’s undeniably beautiful, the butterfly’s inherent meaning goes far beyond mere aesthetics. Depending on the culture, these fluttering rainbows can signify anything from true love to rebirth, from physical beauty to the eternity of the spirit. Butterflies have long been associated with all things feminine, which is part of the reason why tattoos bearing their likenesses are popular among women”

And he provides helpful information on butterfly tattoo styles, colors and  location on the body. To read his full story click here  Ideas for a Small Butterfly Tattoo

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

Clean before sterilizing.

1, Remove the tip, tube and grip of the machine. This procedure of unscrew the parts may vary depending on the brand and model of tattoo machine.
2, Basic cleaning, Wash these machine parts with anti-bacterial soap and warm water.
3, Further cleaning by ultrasonic cleaner
Pour 300ml-500ml water into the ultrasonic jewelry cleaner’s tank; Put the tips tubes and grips into the ultrasonic cleaner tank; Turn on the digital ultrasonic cleaner, and set the cleaning time, take the machine pieces out after 3-10mins; Rinse and dry naturally, or use special mull to save your time.

To read the full story go here… http://converseshoes.im-academy.com/how-to-clean-and-sterilize-a-tattoo-machine/

Japanese tattoo designs have always been popular with men but recently some of the most popular Japanese tattoos have been redesigned for women.

Author Terry Daniels says…

Japanese culture is popular all around the world. The number of westerners who want Japanese tattoo designs  is rising every day. They can be very beautiful, especially for women. Even designs that are traditionally for men are now being recreated as something feminine. The artwork has evolved a great deal over the centuries, although the symbolism is still the same…  http://www.nhodz.blogfornoob.com/2010/05/japanese-tattoo-designs-what-are-the-most-appealing-choices-for-women/

Perhaps this renewed interest in Japanese tattoo designs has something to do with the many social networks that are now available on the Internet bringing people from all cultures closer together.

“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.

Lower back tattoos became a fashion statement for young women in the late 1990′s and their popularity continues to grow even now. However in some circles they are considered to be promiscuous and referred to as “tramp stamps”.

The neat thing about lower back tattoos is that they can be hidden and only revealed to lovers and special friends that appreciate good body art. A girl with a lower back tattoo can look like a lady in open society and show her naughty side in private.

Lower back tattoos are usually small and follow the shape or curvature of the female body which makes them appear sexually stimulating. Seeing one when a tattooed lady bends over is exciting for men who feel they have witnessed a very private and forbidden moment. Some girls are not shy about showing their lower back tattoos and intentionally wear tank tops or low-rise pants to show off their tat.

Perhaps the popularity of female lower back tattoos has something to do with an energy source known as “kundalini” which resides in the lower back of women. Kundalini is a form of stored energy or power that is believed to cause snake like movements and that is why early lower back tattoos were reproductions of serpents.  Today women prefer tattoos that are sensuous and fashionable.

Feminine images that make good lower back tattoos are flowers, especially red roses which represent love, butterfly’s, fairies, hearts, signs of the Zodiac, and Cupid.

For thousands of years crosses have been used as religious symbols and memorials to loved ones so it is no surprise that cross tattoos enjoy a never ending popularity in most cultures world-wide.

However cross tattoos were in use long before they were made popular by religious groups. Ancient tribes believed the cross had special powers and by placing a cross tattoo on their body those powers would be transferred to the person wearing the image. Other cultures used cross tattoos as symbol of power and leadership. In Egypt a cross symbol known as an ankh played an important role in society and the Celtic’s used a cross with a circle around it to identify themselves.

Romans used the cross as a way to torture and kill criminals by nailing them to one and putting them on public display as a warning to others.  When they used this method to kill their most famous prisoner (Jesus Christ) the cross took on a whole new meaning as a symbol of faith for the followers of Christ who became known as Christians.

Roman authorities considered Christians to be troublemakers and outlaws so the Christians had cross tattoos inked on their bodies so other members of the society would recognize them. Sometimes the tattoo crosses were hidden in other images so they would not draw too much attention and get the wearer arrested. Today the Christian cross is the most recognized religious symbol in the world.

Christian Cross Tattoos:

Cross of the Resurrection: A simple wooden cross that has a crown of thorns on top and a purple robe hanging from the horizontal bar. The inscription reads “I.N.R.I” which means “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.

Latin Cross Tattoos: A basic wood cross with a vertical bar and a horizontal bar approximately 1/3 down from the top.

Crucifix: Similar to the Latin cross but with an image of Christ hanging on the cross. Popular with Catholics but criticized by fundamentalist Christians because they believe Christ was resurrected and is no longer on the cross.

Cross of Triumph: Also looks like the Latin cross except it has a large circle at the bottom with an upside down T inside the circle. It represents the triumphant spread of the Gospel around the world.

Graded Cross Tattoos: The Latin cross with three steps at the bottom which represent faith, love, and hope.

Russian Orthodox Cross: Another version of the Latin cross with two additional lines, one above the horizontal bar and the other travels left to right above the bar.

Tau Cross: This cross preceded the Latin cross and is shaped like a T. In the Greek language the letter “t” is pronounced as Tau.

Crusader’s Cross: Is composed of five Tau crosses, four of them facing each other in a circle and the fifth one inside the circle. Each of the T’s represent one of the wounds Jesus suffered when he was crucified. It is called the Crusader cross because many of the knights wore it during their crusades.

Maltese Cross: Is another crusader cross which looks like a star with eight points. The points are achieved by placing four triangles together to form the star.

Cross of Iona: This is a Celtic cross used by Christians in Europe in the sixth century A.D. and is often used in cross tattoos. It looks like a Latin cross with a small circle placed at the intersection of the arms of the cross.

Anchor Cross: A Christian cross that is worn by many sailors.

St. Andrew’s Cross: This cross is different because it looks like an X. Apparently St. Andrew chose to be buried on it because he did not feel worthy of being placed on a Latin cross like Christ.

Other Cross Tattoos:

Equilateral Cross: A Pagan cross that used to worship the sun and represents the God Anu.

Mesoamerica Cross: Used by natives to worship their Gods. The cross represents the tree of life and the four winds.

Chinese Cross Tattoos: The Chinese believe that God created the earth in the shape of a cross so the word earth is closely related to the word cross.

Ankh Cross: Known as the key of life the Ankh cross (which is sometimes called the Handled Cross) originates in Egypt. Examples of the cross have been found painted on the walls of tombs.

Swastika Cross: Although it was made famous by Hitler in Germany the Swastika has appeared throughout history in all countries and most religions.

Gothic Cross Tattoos: Sometimes called Vampire crosses they are usually constructed of wrought iron and have a dark or Gothic culture image.

Aztec Cross Tattoos: Popular with star gazers this cross looks a flower with four petals facing in different directions. Legend has it that the Aztec Cross can influence eclipses.

The best place to find photos and samples of the above mentioned crosses is in the Worlds Largest Tattoo Collection which has over 30,000 unique tattoo designs and only costs $29.95 for the entire collection which can be downloaded immediately after purchase. Cross Tattoos