Tattoo Safety - Making Sure Your New Tattoo is Safe

If you came of age in the 1960s and decided to get a tattoo, you probably did it to show that you didn’t want to belong to the rich trendy establishment.

But if you came of age in the past ten years and got a tattoo, you probably did it to show that you did belong to the rich trendy establishment.

Tattooing as a form of self-expression has moved from the domain of heavy metal “bad boy” rock stars, military lifers, and Harley-Davidson road hogs in the 1970s to being common among film stars, athletes, and pop stars. From Sir Ian McKellen to Angelina Jolie, Mike Tyson to David Beckham, and Eminem to Brittany Spears, tattoos have become mainstream.

Dating back to King Harold II, who died in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, and whose disfigured corpse was identified, legend has it, by the “Edith and England” tattooed on his chest, even members of the various royal houses of Europe have indulged themselves in the colorful art. Princess Stephanie of Monaco is only the most recent in a long line of them.

Life Magazine, in 1936, estimated that about 6%, or ten million, of all Americans had tattoos; in 2003, according to a Harris Poll, nearly one in six, or about fifty million, given today’s population of three hundred million, are sporting them.

And only last year, in 2006, the American Academy of Dermatology reported that almost one in four of all Americans between the ages of 18 and 50, and more than one in three of those between 18 and 29, have a tattoo.

Tattoos, in other words, are hot. And with the burgeoning demand for them, there is a burgeoning demand for tattoo parlors. But anytime there’s money to be made, there will be those who want to make it in the easiest way possible. So if you are considering getting a tattoo of you own, you need to watch your own, possibly soon to be decorated, back.

Tattooing is not without its risks. If it is done in sanitary conditions by an experienced tattoo artist, it usually will not result in any lasting health problems. But tattoo safety relies on the person injecting a foreign substance permanently into one’s skin. And it’s only natural that some people who get tattoos will experience adverse reactions, ranging from skin irritation to allergies to infection, even when the parlors they use practice the highest standards of tattoo safety.

Even the FDA, as the watchdog of the cosmetics industry, has weighed in on the dyes used in tattooing ink. It has given them the all clear for use in lipsticks, but has remained silent as to their suitability for permanent skin injections. On the other hand, it has not yet tried to regulate their use.

You should know, however, that some red tattoo inks contain mercuric sulfide and ferric hydrate, and mercuric sulfide, present in cinnabar and vermilion inks, is associated with increased allergic reactions sometimes to the forming of granular lesions. These lesions are little nodules which appear because the body’s immune system sees the tattoo dyes as a foreign substance. The nodules reaction can occur with any colored tattoo inks.

Dubbed the “red reaction”, the sensitivity to red tattoo inks may lead to swelling, itching, and inflammation around the tattoo. But the reaction may also lie dormant for many years.

You don’t have to have a medical degree to know that, when you allow yourself to be tattooed, you are allowing thousands of miniscule openings to be made in your skin. And you know that with every breach of your skin there is a chance that bacteria will find their way in.

You can minimize the chances of a bacterial invasion, however, by doing a little pre-tattoo safety investigating. Verify that your tattoo artist uses brand-new sterile needles; that he or she does the equivalent of a brain surgeon’s hand scrubbing before getting to work; and that he or she puts those thoroughly clean hands inside some even cleaner gloves. Skin infection is uncomfortable, but blood infections can be deadly.

If you find yourself in a tattoo parlor where the artist wants to use a deodorant stick to transfer the tattoo design from the paper to you skin, make sure that the deodorant applied to a fresh piece of paper, and then transferred from the paper to your skin. Directly Sharing a community deodorant stick goes against all the rules of tattoo safety, and is one great way of loading your skin with germs before the tattoo needle gets anywhere near it.

If you are someone with a compromised immune system, for instance, if you’re diabetic, you are at greater risk than the general population for infections, and may have an extended healing period following your tattoo.

And while tattoo parties may sound like just the sort of thing wild and crazy people love to do, they are in reality no different from sharing a needle to mainline heroin. Whatever is on that needle when it makes it way to you is going to be yours to keep. That includes things like the Hepatitis B and C viruses, or even HIV. There is, where tattoo parties are concerned, no such thing as tattoo safety .

Even if you get your tattoo in spotless circumstances, you’ll need to take care of it properly during the healing process. The tattoo artist will get you started by applying some a topical anti-bacterial and bandaging it. So you need to know, and tell the artist, if you are allergic to any particular antibiotics.

Once you get your new tattoo home, just follow common sense tattoo safety precautions in keeping it clean.

Leave the bandage on for about an hour, and when you remove it, wash you tattoo with an antibacterial soap and cool water. Then cover it with an ointment to prevent your skin from chapping, and repeat the routine every four to six hours for about a week.

Keep your tattoo out of the sun, keep it from drying our, do not scratch at it, and when you do touch it to clean it, wash you hands with antibacterial soap first.

Don’t expose your healing tattoo to any “community” water with a dip in the swimming pool or shared splash in the tub. And, if you want to maintain the strength of its colors, keep it away from chlorinated or salt water.

And even when it looks healed, keep using an alcohol-free moisturizer on it several times a day for another month.

A tattoo, applied according to tattoo safety standards, and allowed to properly heal, is a great way to make you feel special, and maybe just a touch “naughty”. So don’t settle for any but the cleanest parlor and most careful artist, and you will be treating yourself to a bit of color which will last the rest of your life!

Author: Matt Garrett - © 2007 http://www.TopTattooDesign.Com

Discover how to avoid being the one in four who Hate thier new Tattoo, including simple Tattoo safety tips, in our your free Tattoo Guide : -

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How To Avoid Vital Mistakes Of Chinese Character Tattoos

Chinese character tattoos are very popular today because they are really beautiful. And because most of people in the Western Hemisphere cannot read Chinese, Chinese Character Tattoos becomes an “exotic” form of expression. as a Chinese who lived in America for 3 years, I have come across many Americans have made the mistakes with their Chinese character tattoos and are unware of in which way they are incorrect.

The typical mistakes of Chinese Character tattoos as below :

• 1 Missing Strokes and Poor Script
  Western tattoo artists always add their own artistic flair, which is fine with English letters, but their script would deface Chinese Characters and make them meaningless. Missing strokes are common mistakes and thus making the tattoos meaningless, and the poor handwriting defaces the Chinese characters and makes Chinese Character tattoos look ugly. Wearing meaningless Chinese Character tattoos is embarrassing.
• 2 Chinese Characters Being Tattooed Backwards
  A much more common mistake is that the Chinese characters are flipped horizontally or vertically and thus is a mirror image of what it should be. I think this might be the problem when people use temporary tattoos or work from those because after a while they might get confused as to which side is the correct one. To have a Chinese Character tattooed on you backwards is also embarrassing.

• 3 Mistranslation of Chinese
  Chinese are complex and can easily be mean something other than intended. Get the wrong one and your new Chinese character tattoo will be a permanent source of embarrassment to you! A lady has told me her Chinese character tattoos experiences: After deciding to ink a Chinese character tattoo, She went to Chinese restaurant and pull over a Chinese waiter and asked him to write out the word "free" in Chinese characters for her, free has two meaning in English dictionary, the first one is free of charge and the second meaning is freedom which was the lady wanted, the waiter wrote down the first meaning in Chinese for the lady. The lady ended up with the sign "free of charge" on her skin and then later it was wind up with spending US$900 to remove the tattoos.

• 4 Do not Know the Meaning of Chinese character tattoos
  I have come across many western people who do not know the meaning of their Chinese character tattoos .Tattoo is a way of self expression. if anyone curiously ask you the meaning of Chinese character tattoos, answering them either do not know or make up the meaning is quite awkward.

• 5. Choosing Kanji from Tattoo Parlors.
  Some Tattoo parlors present some dozens of Kanji either on the wall or on the binders for their customers to choose, Most of these Kanji are either missing strokes or being mistranslated, you would make mistake from the right beginning if you choose them from Tattoo parlors. Moreover, do you think you can pick up your dream tattoos which would express who you are from a handful of kanji.

Here are the advice when planning to get Chinese Character tattoos:

• 1. Getting Chinese Character tattoos right at the first time
  Your tattoo will be with you for the rest of your life, please make sure you get a right character tattoo at the first time. Yes, you can remove it later on, but it is extremely painful and very, very expensive. A $100 tattoo “mistake” can cost several thousand dollars to remove.

• 2. Do not Pick up Kanji From Tattoo Parlors
  Many people have gotten what they thought were Chinese Character tattoos only to find later that the characters were drawn wrong, or in one case, the mirror image of the character was tattooed. You would make the mistakes mentioned above if choosing them from tattoo parlors.
• 3. Do You Own Research
  Before you run off to the tattoo parlor to get one done you should do your own research. Selecting Chinese Characters deserve careful study and attention.

• 4. Consulting With a Chinese
  Many words in English can be translated in several different Chinese characters. Each of these may have a slightly different meaning in Chinese. Consulting with a native Chinese to get a exactly CORRECT characters for your intended meaning.

• 5.Choosing Meaningful Words
  Tattoos are forever. If you're planning to get a Chinese Character tattoo soon, be sure to choose the right and meaningful characters. It is important to choose something of lasting appeal not something faddish, and it also needs to be a cool design you'll love tomorrow just as much as you love it today.

• 6.Getting Them Look Right
  Western tattoo artists’ script usually defaces Chinese Characters and makes them meaningless. Again, take the time to do some research and find someone good at Chinese calligraphy to write out your design. Chinese calligraphy is a classic ancient art. The brush strokes must have a certain shape. Each part of a character must be in precise relation to the others. Chinese Characters can be written in a wide variety of calligraphy styles.

• 7. Getting a stencil Outline of the Proposed Design.
  Every tattoo design has a matching “stencil”. It is an exact copy of the tattoo design, but without any color or shading -- just the black line work that makes up the design. Your tattooist will transfer stencil directly to your skin prior to beginning the tattoo process, thus the tattooist will ink the tattoo which is exactly the same as the proposed design.

My Name is Yingying, I am a Chinese tattoo artist, and have been helping the western people get their Chinese character tattoos since I was studying in America three years ago. I provide free Chinese Tattoo Translation Please visit my websit http://www.chinese-tattoos-designs.com and I will make sure your Chinese tattoo means what you want it to.

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Tattoo Mistakes - How To Avoid Them

Every day, thousands of new tattoos are completed, but unfortunately for many people their tattoo does not meet their expectations. And while it's possible to make a tattoo fade using laser removal technology, it's time consuming, costly and painful. So here's how to avoid the most common mistakes that people make with tattoos.

1) Never Agree To Get A Tattoo When You're In The Wrong State Of Mind

Getting a tattoo when you're in the wrong frame of mind is a shortcut to disaster.

So don't even think about getting tattooed when you're drunk, depressed or under pressure (it's not a good enough reason just because all your friends are getting one, or have got one). And don't get a tattoo done on a whim.

You know it's a whim when you find yourself in a tattoo studio and you hadn't even considered getting a tattoo the night before!

It's good to be spontaneous, but not with something that will last you the rest of your life. So before you get a tattoo, always ask yourself "Do I want to get this tattoo?"

And keep asking yourself that question every day for a fortnight. And only after you genuinely answer yes every day, do you go anywhere near a tattoo parlour.

2) Choose The Right Design

Choosing the right design is absolutely vital to the amount of pleasure you get from your tattoo.

Let's face it, if you want a dragon, you won't be happy with a flower design. And if you want a large tattoo, you won't be happy with a small design.

So don't compromise on what you want. The final choice of tatoo design must be yours and not that of your friends, partner of tattoo artist. After all, you're the one who'll have to live with it.

It should be a piece of artwork that you absolutely love. And something that you're certain you'll continue to love for years into the future.

Another mistake that many people make is believing the they have to select a design offered by their chosen tattoo studio. If you choose a reputable artist, they'll be able to create a tattoo from any design that you take along with you.

In fact, this is one of the best ways to get the right tattoo.

Browse the internet where you can find thousands of high quality tattoo designs to choose from. Most cost less than $20. Take time from the comfort of your own home to decide which design you want. Take a few days to think about the designs that you like. Then, once you've made up your mind, print out both the color reference guide and the tattoo stencil and take them to your chosen artist.

This option is much more relaxed, and you're much more likely to select the right design. It certainly beats picking a design on the spot when you're waiting in the tattoo studio.

3) Cheap Isn't Always Best

Whatever happens, make sure that you select a high quality stencil for your tattoo design.

All high quality tattoo designs consist of two parts, the main tattoo design which includes the color reference, and a matching stencil of the design.

What many people don't realise, is that the stencil is applied directly to your skin by the tattooist using a machine caller a "liner".

So don't be tempted to do things on the cheap. Buy a quality tattoo stencil (most cost less than $20). Trying to create a tattoo from the color reference design or trying to trace a stencil is a shortcut to a tattoo disaster.

A poor stencil will always lead to a poor tattoo. Traced stencils are not accurate and will translate into a shaky looking design. Regardless of how good they are, a tattoo artist can only quality work from a quality stencil.

4) Test Your Tattoo First

Okay, you've found the tattoo design that you want, but you're not sure where to place it and what size to go for. Do you take a risk?

No. There are millions of people around the world who wish they'd chosen a slightly different tattoo design, gone slightly bigger, or placed it further to the left etc.

So if you want to avoid adding to these regrets, it's important to test your tattoo before you take the plunge.

It's now possible to get special tattoo test paper that will allow you to turn your design into a temporary test tattoo. Just print your chosen design onto the test paper and apply it to your skin.

Then it just a case of living with it for a day to two and forming your own opinion. How does it make you feel? Are you happy with the size and the position that you've selected? Does it catch your eyeline when you're not looking at it? Is it distracting? And then comes the big question; ask yourself, "could I live with this for the rest of my life?"

Testing your intended tattoo is the only way to confirm whether you've made the right decision.

5) The Tattoo And Aftercare

On the day your tattoo is created, a better overall affect will be achieved if you are well slept (it will help to keep you relaxed and to sit still) and well fed (an empty stomach can lead to feeling faint). If you are tense, full of stress or restless, it will take longer and the tattoo won't be as perfect.

Once completed, most tattoos will take up to a month to heal properly. During the first five days, the area may be uncomfortable, irritated and slightly swollen. Make sure that you keep the area clean during this time. If possible, wash the area gently with an antibacterial soap four or five times a day. Gently pat the area dry with a clean cloth or piece of tissue.

It's also suggested that you apply a thin skin of antibiotic ointment after every wash. A good quality aftercare product will help to reduce scabbing and protect your skin from infections which can cause scarring and make your tattoo appear blemished. They will also help to reduce irritation and redness and keep your skin supple.

The second stage of the healing process (weeks 2-4) will have the biggest influence over the look and lifespan of your tattoo. Taking care of the affected skin during this stage will ensure your tattoo stays bright and clear for as long as possible.

Just make sure that you use aftercare products that are specifically recommended for use with tattooed areas, as these won't contain any artificial colors or fragrances which might irritate your skin.

Different artists will recommend different aftercare techniques, but the vast majority agree on three things.

Number One: Keep your tattoo clean

Number Two: As your tattoo heals, the skin will naturally dry out, so it's vital to keep the area moist.

Number Three: Keep your tattoo away from direct sunlight.

If you want to get a new tattoo, Gustavo Gomez can help. Visit SuperTattooDesigns.com to find out everything you want to know about tattoo designs.

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Your Hip Tattoo - How to Care For It

So you’ve finally gotten the hip tattoo that you’ve always wanted. What do you need to do now to make sure it stays looking this awesome?

As great as your tattoo looks, right now, it is a fresh and open wound and as with all wounds, it can become infected very easily. To prevent this, make sure you leave it bandaged for at least an hour or two after getting tattooed. By doing this, you will lower your risk of getting an infection. Getting an infection is not only painful, but it can mess up the finished look of your hip tattoo.

After you have waited for one to two hours, slowly and very carefully, remove the bandage. You need to be careful when doing this because chances are the bandage has stuck to the hip tattoo. The best way to do this is to use clean, warm water and let it soak into the bandage. Then slowly and gently, start to remove it a little bit at a time. Do not quickly rip it off. This will not only be painful, but you might rip off a “chunk” of scabbing and this certainly won't help the looks of your tattoo.

Next, you need to clean the tattoo. Don’t worry. It is normal for the tattoo to have some oozings and dried gunk. Gently clean using a soap such as Ivory. Do not scrub your hip tattoo and do not use liquid soap or hand cleanser. After thoroughly, but gently, cleaning and rinsing your tattoo, gently pat it dry making sure your towel is clean. Remember, you don’t want to take the chance of getting your hip tattoo infected.

Apply lotion or an ointment to your hip tattoo frequently to prevent it from becoming too dry. Dryness causes the tattoo to sting and hurt and will slow down the healing process. The most popular ointment to prevent the tattoo from drying out is A&D. If you use a lotion, use one that doesn’t have fragrance added.

Make sure you don’t scratch, peel, or pick at your tattoo. You can reopen the wound if you do this and, once again, expose yourself to infection. Believe me, you don’t want the pain; you don’t want to mess up your new hip tattoo and an infected tattoo on your hip isn't the greatest looking thing.

Remember that tattoos don’t look that great while they are healing. The colors tend to be dull and you will have a moderate amount of scabbing and peeling, but don’t worry. It generally takes ten to fourteen days for your hip tattoo to completely heal and with patience and the proper care, it will be a tattoo that you will be proud to show off for the rest of your life.

Check out more great information on hip tattoos. Got to http://www.squidoo.com/hip-tattoo

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Tips for the Perfect Hip Tattoo

You’ve thought it out and made up your mind – you're going to get a hip tattoo. This is a pretty big decision. After all, the decision you make now will be with you for the rest of your life. So how should you decide what tattoo design to choose for your hip? Here are a few tips to help you decide:

• Find a design that has meaning to you; your child’s name, a religious symbol, a design that inspires you. This is your hip tattoo so you want it to be special.
• Make some sketches. Even if you can't draw very well, you can do a rough drawing or an outline of your idea and a good tattoo artist can turn it into a great tattoo.
• If you have an idea in mind, ask the tattoo artist to make a custom design for you. This way, it will be a unique, one-of-a-kind tattoo that only you have.
• Visit several tattoo studios and ask to see the portfolio of the tattoo artists. Each artist will have his or her own unique style and this will help you choose which artist is right for you.
• Before you have a name (other than your child’s) tattooed on your hip, think carefully. Name tattoos are the tattoos that are most commonly removed.
• Know what your design means or represents.
• Try a temporary design. By getting the design in Henna, which will last up to a month, or a stencil or printout of your favorite design, you can see how it will fit and look on your hip.
• Don’t rush into getting a tattoo. It is painful and expensive to have tattoos removed so more than likely, you will have your hip tattoo the rest of your life. Take your time and make a wise decision that you can live with.
• Asian characters are currently a popular choice for hip tattoos, but make sure you know the correct meaning. You don’t want to walk around with something ridiculous tattooed on your hip, and you don’t want to offend anyone’s culture.
• Consider a design that matches or complements a loved one’s tattoo.
• Your choice of a hip tattoo doesn’t have to be deep or meaningful. If you like butterflies just because you like butterflies, go ahead and get one – it’s your body and your tattoo. You don’t always have to make a statement.
• It’s best not to choose something “faddish” like the name of a celebrity or favorite band.

Check the Internet for tattoo design ideas. This can be a great help if you have absolutely no idea what to choose for your hip tattoo design. Choosing your hip tattoo design can and should be fun. Take your time. Take the above tips into consideration and enjoy the process of making the decision. Above all, don’t rush out and get a hip tattoo on the spur of the moment. If chosen carefully and thoughtfully, you will have a tattoo that you are proud of and enjoy for the rest of your life.

Find the perfect design for your hip tattoo. Got to http://www.squidoo.com/hip-tattoo

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Everything You Need to Know About Christian Cross Designs

You may not realize it, but there are actually various different designs of crosses. The most famous tend to be the Christian style crosses as obviously Jesus was crucified on one and it is a huge part of the Christian belief. There are a variety of styles of Christian crosses so it is always worth doing a little research to see which style would suit you better.

The Various Types of Christian Crosses Available

Christian cross design tattoos are extremely popular and if you didn’t know that there was more than one different design, you may want to read on! Whether you are choosing one just for show, or if you are choosing one for your own religious beliefs, you are bound to be interested in what each Christian cross design actually means.

• The Latin Cross Design

By far the most common cross design, the Latin cross is just a simple, long vertical line with a short, horizontal line going through it. Many people, who have the Latin cross in their tattoo design, tend to have it looking slightly wooden. A good tattoo artist will be able to give you this effect. It is completely possible for different nationalities to incorporate this type of cross into their lives, for example the Irish could add shamrocks around the cross. If you believe more in Pentecostal designs, then you could always add wings at either side of the cross. No matter what your individual style it can be incorporated onto the Latin cross design.

• The Crucifix

The Crucifix is again a popular Christian cross design and it is designed for the more religious types of people. It is based on the Latin style cross but it also combines Christ’s crucifixion and death. This type of cross is particular common with Catholic followers.

• The Celtic Cross

The Celtic cross is otherwise known as the Cross of Iona and it tended to be a common design amongst early Christians in Britannia. Again it is based on the Latin style cross design, but it also has a small circle around the arms intersection. If you like Celtic style tattoos and you would like to add a little faith into one then this is definitely the tattoo design for you.

• The Anchor Cross

This type of cross design tended to be popular with sailors and it started its design in Egypt. Christians decided to adopt the design as their own and as it was used quite a lot, it is now known as one of the most common types of Christian crosses.

Overall there are various types of Christian crosses as well as non-Christian crosses and you do have to find a little information one each one before you can truly make your mind up about which one you want to use. Each design looks slightly different so if you are just going for the appearance, it is still worth doing a little research beforehand.

Greg's tattoo design blog called "Getting a Tattoo" provides plenty of information on finding popular tattoo designs.

Tune in to his blog for more great tattoo design ideas and information.

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The Godliness of Tattoo Removal

Looking back just a few decades, tattoos were associated with bikers, rockers and sailors. If I had dared to get one, I might as well leave town as my parents would have disowned me. Nowadays tattoos are quite mainstream, appearing on a fair percentage of every demographic group. Some favor this type of “body art”, claiming some sort of statement. Some wish to immortalize a loved one. Others want to “wear” a symbol of their personality. From a conservative perspective, this trend, along with extreme piercings, suggests a downward shift in personal standards.

Most people experience much change throughout their lifetime. Compare the perspective, desires, and lifestyle of today’s young adults to the those of middle age. Likely, a tattoo that seemed adventurous and appealing will become an unwanted distraction. I believe a deep respect for the body, as a gift and miracle of God, will result in a disdain for permanent body markings. There are numerous other ways in which one can express their grief, individuality, sensuality, or whatever prods them along to the tattoo parlor.

As a Christian owner of a laser tattoo removal clinic, I have been able to offer a solution to those who regret their tattooing decisions. One client fretted over small, but degrading former gang markings. A young woman wanted to walk down the aisle without wearing a regretted “stamp” from the past. Countless others wish to put forth a clean image at a job interview, for their children, or just for themselves.

Yes, it is a rewarding mission to aid others in undoing a past decision. How many professionals can claim to be able to “change history” for someone else? There is meaning behind: “Be comfortable in your own skin”. The skin that God gave you, ink-free out of respect and gratitude, will be quite comfortable.

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Tattoos in the Marine Corps and the Military

The Marine Corps has revised its policy on tattooing as of April 1, 2007. The new policy prohibits large tattoos on the forearms and lower legs, as well as large tattoos on the upper arms that could be visible with a work-out T-shirt on. Previously small tattoos on the hands and any tattoo of an offensive nature were banned. Marines had the opportunity to get the tattoos placed before April 1, 200 to be grandfathered in. Failure to comply with the new policy could lead to jail time of 2 years, court martial, and dishonorable discharge.

The new policy on tattooing reads:

The Marine Corps takes a conservative approach to personal appearance. Uniform regulations stress that personal appearance is to be conservative and commensurate with the high standards traditionally associated with the Marine Corps. No eccentricities in dress or appearance are permitted because they detract from uniformity and team identity.

Marines are prohibited from:

a. Tattoos or brands on the head and neck.

b. Sleeve Tattoos. A sleeve tattoo is a very large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos, that covers or almost covers a person's entire arm or leg.

c. Half-sleeve or quarter sleeve tattoos that are visible to the eye when wearing standard PT Gear (T-shirt and shorts). A half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoo is defined as a very large tattoo or collection of smaller tattoos that covers, or almost covers the entire portion of an army or leg above or below the elbow or knee.

d. Tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale, or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps. These may include, but are not limited to, any tattoo that is sexist, racist, vulgar, anti-american, anti-social, gang related, or extremist group or organization related.

Tattoos have a long tradition among our military personnel. They first became popular among sailors that brought the fad to our country. Subsequently, tattoos became popular among all the branches of the military. Soldiers often tattoo the insignia of the branch of the military, names of fallen comrades, or other symbols relevant to their military service. As with the general population, tattoos are often placed at times of stress or life-changing events. Military duty is both stressful and extremely life-changing, making it understandable for soldiers to try to both commemorate and to visually display some aspect of their experience. Many describe tattooing itself as a cathartic experience.

Due to the highly significant nature of the tattoos soldiers receive and the thought that they usually place into their tattoos, it is far less common for soldiers to have their tattoos removed than others, such as teenagers that get tattoos as part of the teenage rebellion. More commonly, soldiers may want tattoos removed that they had prior to their military service and that are no longer a source of pride or significance for them.

The Marine Corps’ revision of their tattoo policy will likely lead to marines being more cautious of what part of the body they get tattooed. It remains to be seen whether Marines will also be sent for tattoo removal by laser if they don’t comply with the new policy.

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Volvo LKS - Keeping Your Vehicle Straight On The Road

The Volvo brand has been in the industry for decades already and it sure has proven that it can stay in the game with their own share of perks that would take in the market’s attention. Volvo has been providing the market with vehicles that do provide the utmost safety and sure enough, that seems like the kind of products that the consumers want. And this is very true not only for Volvo Cars but also for its sister Volvo Trucks.

Safety systems have been one of the utmost concerns for Volvo and they are much especially applying it when creating heavy trucks. And because of such a goal, the brand has been able to create breakthroughs and milestones in the industry. Of course, there is the use of Volvo belts to keep the vehicle on the road, the use of the safety cab, the utilization of seat belts as standard features, and the creation of the collapsible steering wheel column.

Claes Avedal is one of the head researchers for Volvo Trucks’ team that focuses on accidents and Avedal expresses, “The fast pace of technological development these past few years has created entirely new opportunities when it comes to accident-preventive safety. One good example is the implementation of the active stability-enhancing program, ESP, one of the most important advances in this area. With our new systems, we are taking yet another step in the right direction.”

One of the most recent safety technologies used for the current breed of Volvo trucks is the Lane Keeping Support (LKS) which comes as a system that monitors all of the lane marker lines. This system becomes activated once the vehicle starts speeding at 60 kph. When the vehicle is about to go off the lane, the system would then alert the driver.

Avedal furthermore explains the system, “Situations where the truck leaves its current lane for one reason or another are behind a large proportion of all truck accidents and is also the most common reason for frontal collisions with other vehicles. Using this system can now significantly reduce the risk of lane changing accidents.”

Jenny Blomqvist is Volvo Trucks’ product manager for electronics for in-cabs and she does recall, ““We had a prototype ready back in 2004 and now, after a comprehensive series of tests to ensure the system’s functionality, we’re ready to launch it on the market. This type of system should be regarded as assistance for the driver and should under no circumstances be perceived as causing irritation. For example, it is important that the system never gives false warnings for roadside fences, lamp-posts or irregularities in the road surface. It should also be easy for the driver to handle and understand, so that is why we’ve invested immense resources in developing a system that offers truly high precision and excellent functionality.”

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field. You can visit Volvo belts for more information.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Volvo-LKS---Keeping-Your-Vehicle-Straight-On-The-Road&id=531278

Tattoo Designs - Ideas To Consider

Every day thousands of people elect to get a tattoo, but can't decide which design to use. It's a difficult decision unless you know what you want. Not only are there an unlimited number of tattoo designs available, you've got the permanancy factor to overcome. In all likelihood, your new tattoo will be with you for life, so you've got to be certain that your choice of design will be as relevant to you years into the future as it is today.

Tattoos are a highly personal items and can mean so many different things to each person. For example, some people use tattoos to express their personality, some people use them to show their love for another person, while some people see tattoos as art and their body as an empty canvas.

Perhaps the best way to go about finding your perfect tattoo design is to ask the basic question, "Why do I want a tattoo?". Hopefully that should help you to narrow down your options.

The next stage is to look at as many different tattoo styles as possible. Weed out the styles and the types of design that you don't like and see what's left. At present, some of the most popular tattoo designs include;

1) Angel

Angel tattoos are popular with people who want to reflect the religious or spiritual side of their personality. Alternatively, if you would like an angelic design without the religious overtones, why not consider a fairy tattoo?

2) Butterfly

A butterfly tattoo represents grace and freedom. They also symbolize beauty, which makes them popular with women. They're also perfect for people who have never had a tattoo before or those who want a small tattoo.

3) Celtic

These ancient patterns and designs, which are often represented by elaborate knots and crosses are perfect for anyone with Scottish or Irish family connections.

4) Cross

Again, these designs can symbolize religious faith, but they're also commonly used with eternity symbols to show enduring love or friendship. So they're good if you want to get a tattoo with your children's names on it.

5) Flowers

Flower tattoos are a sign of beauty, growth and regeneration. And if you want a bright, vibrant tattoo with plenty of color, flowers will give you an endless number of possibilities.

6) Stars

Star tattoo designs are extremely popular and as such have come to symbolize a different cultural, social and religious meaning for many millions of people. In general, star tattoos represent positivity, dreams and high ambitions.

7) Tribal

Tribal tattoo designs have got a long and diverse history. Over the years different styles and shapes have come to represent many different historical tribes and cultures. So they're great for people who want to show a connection with their past ancestors.

But beyond the actual design that you choose, there are a number of factors that will help to personalise your tattoo.

Some tattoos, mainly the larger designs, such as dragons, angels, birds etc, are much more elaborate and intricate. The attention to detail is amazing and the end result is a highly lifelike piece of artwork. Alternatively, many tattoos, mainly the smaller designs, such as hearts, stars, flowers etc, are much simpler and more like a cartoon character in style. Colorful but with less detail.

Which brings us to the issue of color. The colors chosen for your design play a large part in the overall look and spirit of your tattoo. In general, women tend to select smaller tattoos with bright, vibrant colors. On the other hand, men go for larger designs with more muted color and extra detail to make the design look as lifelike as possible.

If you want to emphasize a side of your life, such as your beliefs or your culture, it's possible to combine traditional tattoo designs with items that reflect these values. For example, your design could incorporate a small cross, tribal lettering or even the colors of your home country's flag.

And finally, if you want the ultimate in personalisation, some people have their tattoo custom designed by an artist to combine several items that represent the various themes of their life. So in effect their tattoo or tattoos tell their life story.

Thinking about a new tattoo? Find out everything you want to know about tattoo designs from Gustavo Gomez at SuperTattooDesigns.com

http://ezinearticles.com/?Tattoo-Designs---Ideas-To-Consider&id=531452

Tribal Tattoo - In The Beginning

Tribal Tattoos, Exactly how long have they been around? Well from my understanding they have been around for 1000’s of years. Except for back then they were not worn for decoration it was a tool to blend in with the surrounding area. And another thing was the method used to tattoo, would not be something anyone would opt to having done in this day and age.

Quite painful, or should I say extremely painful. Nothing, like sharpening a stick, placing that stick into a fire gathering some ashes and then using a mallet to pummel the ashes into your skin. Also if you were lucky enough to heal back then it stayed permanent.

Do you know anyone willing to go through that today? I don’t think so… Anyway, the great thing about Tribal Tattoos as time went by. Is how creative and beautiful they have become depicting battle scenes. Or telling a story of someone close to you passing on...

Of course now, you don’t have to worry about having a tattoo done by using a hammer. Isn't technology great…? Now a day some of the quality works I’ve seen, and some of the detail just blows me away. It really is amazing the work that can be done by these incredible artists.

Another cool thing, is when you get a tribal it really does not have to mean anything it’s a design that looks great. “Not everything has to have a reason.” If you like it and can see yourself spending the rest of your life with It.” more power to you.” Besides that tribals will grow with you and your age. Don’t want to be the guy who got the Tasmanian Devil when he was 18 years old. Only to find out when your 60 years of age. “Not so Hot.”

Important bit of advice… Once you do decide to have a tattoo done… Make sure you follow the tattoo artist’s advice on the aftercare. Follow it to the letter, he is not telling you this just to hear him self speak. Believe me, they do genuinely care about you and if you want your tattoo to be as brilliant as the day you received it, do not skip or forget the steps laid out for you. “I Promise, You Will Be Happy You Did.”

Randy Tillman is a Tattoo Enthusiast who is dedicated to finding only the best of the best of products / opportunities, to bring to your table... And has extensively Reviewed each and every product and or opportunity for you the consumer, If this is an Opportunity you would like to get more info on... or just get started Click On The Link Below...

http://www.squidoo.com/pictureoftribaltattoo

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