I have noticed recently that there are tons of Rockabilly girls getting some great tattoo work done. They are getting themes like swallow tattoos, or nautical stars, and even cherries. These are all very classic and great looking tattoo designs. Many of them will work wonderful in combination with each other. For example a large chest piece tattoo design that incorporates two swallows on either side of a sacred heart with some nautical star tattoos to round out the design!

These work so well and are becoming so popular among this group of rockabilly women because they hark back to the time period of the 1950s and especially have the look and feel of Sailor Jerry type of tattoo designs.

This trend of course started with the now very popular West Coast tattoo style that at it's heart takes older tattoo designs and recolors them with new vibrant splashes of brightly colored ink. So taking old Sailor Jerry tattoo designs and redoing them with new bright ink colors not only has a great retro look and theme but also are becoming very popular tattoo designs for women.

All three of these designs have great symbolism behind them also. Sailors are a very superstitious lot by nature and would do anything to come home alive. They often would look for signs or clues to help them navigate their way home. Over the years these signs have turned into symbols for luck, safe travel, and returning home! For example the swallow tattoo is a symbol for returning home safely. Swallow birds can not fly very far from land and so when a sailor at sea spots a swallow bird he knows that land is close by and therefore home. So the swallow and therefore the swallow tattoo is a symbolism for returning home.
Stars were also used frequently by sailors to navigate their way home and a nautical star is a symbol of this.

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Asian inspired tattoos are increasingly popular in the West. Chinese dragons and Japanese tattoos have been mainstream for years. There seems to be no let up in people getting tattoos in Asian style writing. In the West Kanji tattoos started becoming popular in the 1980s. Nowadays even kids are getting temporary tattoos out of vending machines with kanji style tattoos!

But are kanji tattoos really that popular? Some tattoo artists state that one out of every 20 people looking for a tattoo asks for a kanji style tattoo with Asian lettering. It has also created another problem namely people getting kanji tattoos which can mean something completely different than what they think it does.

There are many urban legends of disgruntled tattoo artists tattooing words like 'loose' and 'whore' onto a persons body because they feel that the person getting the tattoo does not really appreciate tattoos as an art form but is just slavishly following fashion.

It is always a good idea to keep in mind before you decide upon a tattoo that kanji is based on a different form of language and is unlike english in its construction. Be sure to spend time researching the authenticity of each symbols' meaning. It could be rather embarrassing to learn later on after you have been tattooed that the Kanji tattoo you thought meant one thing turned out to be something completely different.

If you don't speak Japanese it is very hard to find characters that say what you want and are not something that will turn heads with native japanese speakers for all the wrong reasons. Trusting a non native speaking tattoo artist is recommended either as the tattoo artist may be as much in the dark as you are. It is highly recommended that you do your reasearch before rushing off to get a kanji tattoo character done.

*Important! Read this before you get your kanji tattoo.

Tattoo parlors have come a long way, but there are still some serious safety considerations that you should think about the next time you've have a few too many margaritas and are looking to get a parrot inked on your shoulder.

The fact of the matter is a lot of bad, bad diseases get transferred by dirty needles - such as HIV and hepatitis - and tattoos are inked into (not onto) your skin with a needle.

See the need for concern here?

However, tattoos are still as popular as ever, margaritas or no margaritas involved. You still see your average 19 year old sorority babe strutting around on the beach with the tattoo splayed across her lower back, or the fraternity dude with the barbed wire wrapped around his bicep.

That's not to mention all of the moms and pops out there with ink, the bikers, the athletes, and everybody else who finds decorating themselves with ink cool or artistic.

It's no wonder, then, that what is popular now has actually been popular for thousands of years and isn't a fad. Now however, modern science makes it tonnes safer and a tad (but only a tad) less painful.

The key to tattoos is that a needle injects the ink into your skin. The tattooist leads the needle over your skin at a safe, controlled speed. It can take anywhere from a half-hour to several sessions of hours at a time, depending on how big a tattoo you're getting. After it's all done and over with in the tattoo parlor, your skin can take between 7 to 10 days to heal and will be sore to the touch initially.

Back in the days when tattoos had a wane in popularity, and only punks, bikers, and other "crazy" people were getting them, tattoos got a bit of bad name. Mainly, the whole issue surrounded around whether or not tattoo parlors were actually clean and safe. There were even outbreaks of disease associated with less than stellar parlors.

And this concern only grows in modern times, with all of the new superbugs that are floating around society.

There are a host of viruses and bacteria that you can be infected with. We're talking hepatitis B, which has been reported as having passed from a tattoo needle. Though it would be possible for hepatitis C and HIV to pass from a needle into your skin as well, no such cases have been reported.

It could be that today's modern tattoo parlors take great pride in their work and the cleanliness of their facility. It could also be that state and local health departments have regulations that they use to govern tattoo parlors and keep them clean, and that they also enforce these regulations.

A worthwhile piece of information for you to know is that you can actually check with the health departments near you to get a rundown on the safe, as well as the unsafe, parlors in your area.

You can also look into an organization called the Alliance for Professional Tattooists, which is a nonprofit organization set up to develop sanitation guidelines for its members.

Of course this all makes sense to you now but if you follow the traditional route for choosing when and where to have a tattoo applied - after a few too many margaritas - you may not be thinking quite so clearly!

Ouch!!

Rufus Steele is an addict to writing about topics that hit his funny bone. Having safely run through getting his panther head tattoo on his shoulder, you can read more of his Tattoo articles on Tattoo Body Art.com.

When it comes to temporary tattoos, what should you know? Though I have no actual tattoos, I have certainly toyed with temporary tattoos many times. They are easy to get and can be a lot of fun to play with. Unlike a real tattoo, you know that you can always get rid of that temporary one so you have a tendency to be a little more adventurous and goofy. There are, though, a few things you should know about in terms of temporary tattoos. There are more temporary tattoo kits and home studios for them popping up all of the time. Not all of them, though, are for all ages and some are even inappropriate for children or even all adults. Take a look at some of these temporary tattoo sets that are on the market today to get an idea of what you need to know before you go looking for a temporary tattoo.

Perhaps the most popular form of temporary tattoo are the ones most of us remember from our youth. I am speaking, of course, about stick-on tattoos. They are applied by placing them against your skin then soaking the back of the paper with water. The tattoo is then transferred to the skin. Some work better than others, but for the most part these are fun, easy, and safe for kids of all ages.

The next type of temporary tattoo that is available is the Henna kit. In general, Henna should be used for older kids and adults mainly. It stays on the skin for much longer than the stick-on. All henna stains the skin an orangish brown color, so do not let claims of colored henna tattoos fool you. In order for the temporary tattoo to work the best, you need to have fresh henna. So, before you buy a kit, just make sure that it has not been sitting on the shelf for too long. If it has been, then ask when the next shipment is coming in so you can buy it right away and fresh.

Next is a type of temporary tattoo or body art that can be fun for all children and all adults. Body paint, body pencils, and body crayons can be a great deal of fun for kids of all ages. However, they tend to be very messy so just make sure you are prepared before you turn the kids loose. The body paint is a form of temporary tattoo that allows children freedom artistically that the stick-on versions might now. Then, once the children are done, most of these temporary tattoo body paints wash off with water and a mild soap.

Tattoos are growing rapidly in popularity. With that current trend, more and more children are enjoying playing with temporary tattoos. With stick-on tattoos, henna body art kits you can take home, and body paint you will find that you can have a lot of fun. In addition, you can always have your own fun trying out tattoos you might consider getting for real at a later date. So for fun with the kids or as a test for yourself, get out there and try those temporary tattoos.

If you would like to view more of my articles on temporary tattoos, please feel free to visit my tattoo guide website!

Tattoos have represented personal identity, affiliations, philosophy, and creative choices from Paleolithic man to Corporate Execs, and are gaining a new interest and popularity with both sexes. It's a fact that 10% of the people in the United States have at least one tattoo somewhere on their body.

A tattoo by definition is permanent. Pigment is inserted under the epidermis with a needle or sharp object into the dermis where the color is captured by the body for all time ? well almost.

Tattoos change over time because the skin is constantly changing from regeneration, sun, wind, water and other assaults. The appearance of a tattoo therefore must also change as the skin stretches, shrinks and ages. Pigment moves imperceptibly over time on a cellular level and elasticity and skin resiliency naturally decline. Age spots, tanning and wrinkles can take a toll on the clarity and color of tattoos too.

How well and how long a tattoo stays defined and the color vibrant is most affected by the immediate aftercare, and then the lifelong skin maintenance. Aftercare guidelines vary, but the common denominator is: prevent infection and promote healing to retain as much ink as possible in the tattoo. Tattoos generally heal completely within two to three weeks, but must be kept continually moist to prevent scabbing, which removes color from the tattoo.

A tattoo's number one enemy is sun; tattoo pigments fade like all other color under direct sunlight; red and yellow are the most difficult color to maintain, black and blue is the most stable. Tattoos are part of the living skin organism and a minimal amount of color is treated like foreign molecules and transported away through the lymph system. The best defense in the battle of the fading tattoo is to stay out of the sun, cover the tattoo with clothing and wear a really good sunscreen.

Tattoos reside in the dermis layers and are seen through the epidermis. Simple common sense steps will keep the epidermis clean, healthy, smooth, and hydrated for optimal clarity of body art. Use a gentle cleanser weekly to remove the build-up of body oils, dirt, grime, and the dull ashy film that blocks the color of your tattoos. Daily use of a moisturizer (that dries with a residue free finish) reflects deeper color.

A tattoo that is expertly applied, healed properly and protected from the sun can remain vibrant for decades, but there is no escape from those changes that come, simply as a result of time.

? 2005 Jolene Schwartz

Jolene Schwartz is a grooming specialist for over 20 years; as a master barber and licensed cosmetologist in her own men's salon. She launched http://appearancesformen.com e-com site; writing monthly columns about men's products, lifestyle, and offering the finest in men's grooming products.

This is most definitely an interesting mix of history, symbolism and best of all tattoos. Tattoos picturing symbolic ship anchors have been a huge part of tattooing in the western world for over two centuries. You have probably seen these tattoos on a lot of elderly men. For example my grandfather has an anchor tattoo on his forearm. Originally sailors, navy servicemen, and other maritime workers would get anchor tattoos. These anchor tattoos have become known the world over and associated very closely with maritime activities.

There are regional variations as to the meanings of certain colors, and other adorning symbols that go with anchor tattoos but most often an anchor tattoo is meant to be a symbol of holding one steadfast and strong. Also many sailors would get an anchor tattoo after their first crossing of the Atlantic. Much like a real anchor these tattoos symbolize keeping a person in place or grounded despite what might be happening around them. The amazing thing is the connection with anchors as a symbol goes all the way back to the early Christians. The early Christians of course were persecuted for their religious beliefs and often had to meet in secret. They developed symbols that would mark a house as a meeting place for Christians. Much like the fish that many Christians put on their car today the anchor was a symbol the early Christians used for these purposes.

More recently however there has been a revival in anchor tattoos and there are many new designs that are full of brilliant colors and new design motifs for anchor tattoos. There has been a revival in more traditional tattoos.

As always history, symbolism and meaning provide an interesting overlap of cultures and times.

If you are thinking about getting an anchor tattoo it helps to know the background on them and do some research to find out the different meaning and symbolism of anchor tattoos.

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If you are considering tattoos, keep in mind that they are a permanent part of your skin. Because tattoos are created with permanent ink being placed underneath the skin, they are a lifelong fixture unless you later decide to have them removed. Having a tattoo removed involves surgery, which is very expensive and carries it's own risks. As with any surgery, there is always the possibility of complications. If you are thinking of getting tattoos, it's best to make sure that you really want them in order to avoid having to later go through surgery just to remove them.

Tattoos can be very expensive depending on the size of the design. They can range from the tiniest of symbol to a large detailed image. Because tattoos can be priced very high, many parlors offer an unconventional, yet practical, way to purchase your design of choice. Many businesses offer a convenient layaway plan with the tattoos being created after the last payment is made. If you have the cash to pay upfront, you may be able to make an appointment and get the design imprinted on the same day as payment. Depending on the design and complexity of the tattoos that you select, the process can be brief or may last for hours.

When considering tattoos, it is important to do some research on the design parlor before hiring them. How long have they been in business? Have there been any complaints lodged against them with the local Better Business Bureau? If you have friends who also have tattoos, who do they recommend and what was their experience? It is very important to follow up with references and as much of a background check as you can possibly get before agreeing to have your tattoos created.

In your research, try to find out which businesses have the best history with make sure their equipment is clean. This is the most important thing to consider about tattoos because, if the business is not licensed or the artist is not a professional, there is no guarantee that their instruments are clean or properly maintained. Your health is your biggest concern so, if you are considering tattoos, be sure to select the best parlor for the job.

Tattoos are colorful and can be an expression of art if done correctly. They often reflect a person's lifestyle, name of a spouse or other sentiment. At the same time, they can cause a concern of infection. If you decide that tattoos are right for you, be sure to follow the parlor's instructions in order to maintain and preserve your tattoos.

If you decide that butterfly tattoos or star tattoos are right for you, be sure to follow the parlor's instructions in order to maintain and preserve your tattoos.