Cool Beautiful Tattoos

Tattoos are cool! Really, really cool. However, they might look great now, but will they still look great in 20 years time? 30 years time? How about 50 years time? I'd like to argue the case for henna tattoos, so below are 5 reasons why henna is best! These beautiful creations can make you look strikingly beautiful - and you can change your mind!
Five Reasons Why Henna is Best.

• The main difference between a henna tattoo and a permanent tattoo, is that the latter one is a permanent one and will remain on your body for the rest of your life whereas the former is a temporary one and lasts for 2 or 3 weeks. So, you can get sick of it and you don't have to resort to surgery to remove it!
• Having a henna tattoo doesn't hurt!. However, applying a permanent tattoo on the body can be a painful procedure and even after application of the tattoo it hurts for a couple of weeks or so.
• As henna tattoos fade, you can have a new henna tattoo design (such as stars, flowers, hearts, dragonflies etc) over and over again on the same bit of skin, whereas a permanent tattoo cannot be removed easily. So, with henna, you can follow trends without ending up with blue skin as you try to find a tiny space to squeeze in yet another tattoo as the old ones you have become dated and give your age away.
• Henna tattoos are cheap and are easily available. If you are creative, you can even sit in the comfort of your own home and apply them yourself. Get really good at it, and you can make some money in your spare time offering them to others. Permanent tattoos require an expert to apply them, they are costly and they hurt. An expert at applying henna tattoos can recreate patterns that uncannily resemble permanent tattoos, if that is the look that you want.
• Since henna is a natural product and widely known and used, there is very low risk of side-effects or skin infections. Permanent tattoo disasters, whilst unusual, are a complete nightmare.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophie_Dixon

Since your back is the flattest and widest part of your body, it makes some sense that it is perfect location for a tattoo. And since the "canvas" is so large, you can be creative with the back tattoo designs. A lot of people start off with a small tattoo design or two on their backs before migrating to a large tattoo that connects everything together.
And the process can cover a period of time because quite frankly, the large back tattoo designs requires a lot of thinking. And why? Obviously because the tattoo design covers a large area, it will be very difficult and expensive to remove if you have regrets. So for most people, taking it slow and easy by starting off with a back tattoo or two is the perfect way to go before going all out and getting a single large tattoo for the back area.
Again, I strongly urge you to put a lot of thought into your back tattoo design BEFORE you get it done! And for anyone who never had a tattoo done before, there is nothing wrong with getting a small tattoo or two at first. Just to see how you like them because tattoos are not for everyone.
To start off, I suggest that you check out the tattoo studios in your area. And take the time to explore the tattoo design possibilities. Do not feel rushed. If a tattoo artist tries to rush you or you feel uncomfortable with them, walk away and find someone else. But find a good tattoo artist that you absolutely feel good about. I say this for two reasons. First of all, that tattoo artist must be a good one, not necessarily a cheap one. Because many times, you get what you pay for. And tattoos are pretty permanent. So get a good one. The second thing that is very important is how they treat their equipment and how careful they are with it. It is very important for them to follow the regulations and rules to prevent passing any diseases to you. You only want a tattoo, not a death sentence or a lousy design imprinted on your back.
And when you do find a tattoo studio that looks promising. If the tattoo artist is good or has a lot of confidence in his or her abilities, they are going to allow you to look at their flash designs in books. If you find a design that you like, more the better! And the variety and depth of many tattoos will astonish you.
The flash tattoo designs that you find at the old-school tattoo studios will have animals of all kinds, butterflies, dragons, fantasy art, nature scenes, tribal style tattoos, Asian art and lettering, Celtic knots, flowers and skulls. You name it and they have it.
And your tattoo artist is going to have a portfolio of their best work in a book. And you may like one or two of them. My suggestion is to try to customize it a little so that your tattoo is original and fresh. Looking at the photographs of other back tattoo designs might give you some inspiration on what design that appeals to you.
Don't forget to do a little crawling on the Internet for some other back tattoo designs and ideas. There are sites that have a huge gallery of flash tattoo designs that you can download (usually for a fee) and print out for your tattoo artist to trace on your back.
Another good source for tattoo design ideas can be the tattoo magazines that you find at your bookstores. For those who are more creative and a pretty good artist can even design their own tattoo!
But even if you are NOT a good artist, don't let that stop you. There are tons of awesome tattoo designs that appeals to every single whim and taste. The only thing you need to decide on is the colors, shading and size of the tattoo. A good tattoo artist can help you out with that one.
And after you done your research, you can gather all the ideas together and try to come up with the most perfect tattoo design for you! And while trying to decide what exactly you want, consider a design that perfectly encapsulates of who you are and what you are all about. A great tattoo is one that reflects the best characteristics of you, one that inspires you to greatness, makes you laugh or makes you remember something very important and meaningful to you.
So there you are. You can choose to get a full back tattoo, a lower back tattoo, or a shoulder blade tattoo. The choice is yours but take the time to look at all the possible tattoo designs before choosing the final tattoo design for you. Doing so ensures that when you are getting tattooed, you know it is going to be a great one and you will be proud of it too. Tattoos are almost permanent and you will love it for the rest of your life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_McClure

Sleeve tattoos designs are very hot right now.  More and more people are feeling the freedom and the power of getting a full and half sleeve tattoos.  Many of the restrictions on tattoos in the work place have loosened over the past few years and tattoos have become more widely acceptable.  Thus has lead many men and women to go out and get much larger tattoo piece done.  If you are considering getting a half sleeve tattoos then you will want to read on for some of the top ideas.
Half Sleeve Tattoos And Designs For Men
Celtic Cross - Celtic crosses have long been a very popular design.  Of course the standard Celtic cross symbolizes both fertility and of course Christianity.  Early on the cross symbol was used throughout many Pagan cultures.  It was at that time believed to be a symbol for fertility.  The cross representing the male and the circle in the middle of the cross the female.  This later was adapted to become the powerful symbol of Christianity it is today.
Flames - Flames and fire of course are something that has always fascinated man since the dawn of time or at least since the invention of fire.  For some reason the power of destruction and the mystical lure of it still holds strong for many men.  Thus it makes for a great tattoo design.
Tribal - There are a variety of ways to get a tribal tattoo design.  They typically feature big bold and strong black lines which is a plus for a male tattoo.   It can be seen from a distance and looks great and is much more resistant to fading over time.  Today many men are choosing more traditional tribal tattoos such as Hawaiian designed or Maori designs instead of the mixed up pan new age tribal that was done more in the 90's.
Half Sleeve Tattoos And Designs For Women
Koi Fish - For women that traditional koi fish is one of the most popular half sleeve tattoos.  In Japan the symbol of the koi represents power, struggle and self reliance.  In the ancient Japanese and even the Chinese lore the koi fish would swim upstream against the current leading to it becoming a symbol of power. 
Floral Patterns - Floral patterns are also always popular for women and since the vines can wrap around the arm in a abstract and beautiful pattern it makes a great sleeve design.  Also the bright colors use d in the flower and the endless potential of a variety of symbolism of flowers makes floral designs a great choice for half sleeve tattoos.
These are just a few of the ideas that are hot right now.  However, it is always best to take your time and choose a tattoo and a design that fits you.  Don't be in a such a hurry to get a tattoo that you get something inked just because you read it was popular.  Instead take your time and find designs, ideas and symbols that speak to you and hold meaning.

Tattooing is one of the very important rituals in Hawaiian culture, like praying to a tattoo god each time one member of their community commits to a tattoo in which prayers had to be done in the temple. The purposes for tattooing are not primarily to follow a fashion trend. As a ritual, most tattoos represent these few intentions like mourning for a lost loved one, the charm of Talisman for protection from evil spirits, and personal identification which community or group they represent.
One of the most popular Hawaiian tattoo designs is the tribal design. The Tribal Hawaiian tattoo art, known as Kakau, has been practiced for thousands of years and for a variety of purposes. These purposes are Personal identification; Talisman wherein tattoos were believed to offer protection; as a symbol of mourning for a loved one; and Adornment. Getting a Hawaiian tattoo in a tribal community was not a very pleasant occasion because modern tattoo equipment was not part of tribal life instead they used sharp and pointy parts of animals, like bird beaks and claws that were connected to a branch and hit with a mallet. Tribal Hawaiian tattoos were mostly black and the tattoo ink was made of a mixture of kukui nuts and sugarcane juice.
Tribal Hawaiian tattoo designs are situated on several body parts. For males it is located in the legs, arms and torso, on the other hand for females it is located in the hands, wrist and tongue; and lastly for the traditional Hawaiian tattoo design is the Hawaiian Band and arms tattoos which are commonly placed on legs and arms.
Hawaiian arm tattoos are often a nod to the traditional Hawaiian tattoo style, though with a decidedly modern appearance. Michael Malone, tattoo artist and one of the students of Sailor Jerry created the Hawaiian armband tattoo in the 70s. Although he based his designs on the traditional Hawaiian tattoo motifs, the armband itself is not traditional later on the armband tattoo became popular amongst Hawaiian youth who wanted to express its heritage. The Hawaiian arm tattoos are also a manifestation of the resurgence of 'Tiki' culture which is so popular in the 1950s and 60s wherein its tattoo patterns are on the hands and the face. Tiki refers to the mythical ancestor and first human.
In this sense it is natural that Tribal Hawaiian tattoo designs are so popular right now because of its important aspect in the Hawaiian culture. Art Tattoo Designs in different aspects are very important to every culture because it depicts not only the artistic style or fashion statement of every culture but also how each people uses it to the interpretation of different symbols, the history of their country and also their personality. Since tattoo is a process that is very painful and a lot of perseverance, I can truly say that people in Hawaii have a sense of courage in order to embrace and enrich their culture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_J._Phillips

Throughout the world, many women have butterfly tattoo designs inked on their bodies. This is perhaps a common and popular design which women love. As a matter of fact, the butterfly design is more popular than the angel and rose tattoo design. This can be seen in the number of online searches being made everyday. Since the design can easily be changed and have any color, this makes it a very fashionable choice. There are several patterns which you can choose from. And for that, here are some of the popular reasons why people choose this design:
There are some women who choose to get the popular tattoo design because it has a salient and striking beauty. It might be because these animals are not hard to admire. They have such vibrant colors for their wings and that they have a generally subtle nature. For this reason, nature has been able to remind everyone that beauty is something that should be treasured.
These tattoos can also symbolize freedom, prosperity, transformation, happiness, good luck, gracefulness, and beauty. In the culture of the Chinese, the symbol represented by two butterflies which are flying together means love. Once the essential and important representations of the butterfly is combined with the intricate design and outstanding color, you will get a tattoo with one of the best butterfly designs.
Another reason why many women choose the design is because of its distinctiveness, uniqueness and the striking colors which can make it undeniably attractive. Not only that, but there are 15,000-30,000 known species of butterflies throughout the world. For this reason alone, you already have a wide variety which you can choose from.
Aside from the ones mentioned above, the butterfly tattoo is feminine. Often, they represent beauty. They can also symbolize life's delicateness and for that, they are full of qualities of the female gender. For this reason alone, the butterfly tattoo is being chosen by the women. Normally, they are being placed on the shoulder, abdomen, back, neck or even the chest. As a result, they have become a stylish statement which women add to their bodies.
Lastly, most women like to have butterfly tattoo designs since they can basically be placed on any body part. If they prefer to show it off to people, then they can choose to have the tattoo inked on their ankle, arm, or on their upper back. But if they prefer to hide the tattoo and keep it hidden, then the best place to get the tattoo is in the middle back, top of the foot or even the back of the neck, especially if you have long hair.

One of the most popular trends and designs in the world of tattoos right now are koi fish tattoos.  It is pretty obvious to see why these designs are so sought after.  They are deeply symbolic, mysterious and beautiful all at the same time.  They are bright and colorful and when they splash in the blue water behind them they can make for a dynamic tattoo that is full of power, symbolism and movement.  If you are considering getting a koi tattoo design then you should really know what the symbolism and meaning is behind them first.
The Story
The koi have long been a part of the Japanese life.  At almost every temple and sacred place there is a small koi pond.  The koi also know as Carp fish is known throughout China and Japan.  Originally the story came from Buddhist teachings in Chine where it was believed the koi fish would swim upstream and go against the current and even up a waterfall.  The myth states that any koi fish that could swim up the Yellow river and up the waterfall at the mythical place called Dragon Gate would then turn into a dragon.  Therefore in China the koi fish would stand for strength and power and advancement.  This same idealism was adopted throughout Japan.  It was adopted in Japan to such a degree that it has become a part of their daily life and ritual.  In fact large flags of koi fish are flown on Boy's Day to celebrate the strength, energy and power that boys should posses.
The Meaning And Symbolism
The meaning of this symbol has become so much that it can be hard to communicate it in one paragraph.  It can stand for many different things.  For example on Boy's Day in Japan a group of at least four koi fish and often flown together on a flag pole.  Thus the fish can be thought of as a symbol of for family strength and unity.  Since the legend states that koi fish would swim up stream it has also symbolic of power, struggle and overcoming the odds in life.  In the same vein it is also a symbol of courage.  The Japanese believe that the koi fish is so courageous that when it is caught and put on the cutting board to be killed it doesn't quiver like other fish but it bravely accepts it death and its fate as a person especially someone with a Samurai spirit should accept their life and its short falls.
Other people might ascribe different meanings to it as the design since it is so sought after and regarded so highly throughout Japan it has become a symbol for everything good, strong and powerful .  It therefore make a great tattoo design.