The tattooing world has very few favorites. Phoenix bird is one of them. Do you know where this interesting picture comes from? What is the symbolic significance of this awesome picture? We will look at the reasons this bird design has become one of enduring symbols of time.
The tattooing world has very few favorites. Phoenix bird is one of them. Do you know where this interesting picture comes from? What is the symbolic significance of this awesome picture? We will look at the reasons this bird design has become one of enduring symbols of time.
Mythology says that the Phoenix is a creature that rises from its own ashes after burning down. The name itself originated from the Greek word for “red”, the universal color of fire. Being the bird of fire, Phoenix can be aptly used to symbolize a person’s inner fire and zest for life. The rage for the Phoenix bird tattoos has started a few years back. The Phoenix bird epitomizes the rebirth and resurrection from the ashes. You can use this symbol if you have had a tough patch in life and successfully overcame it.
It is fairly easy to draw the Phoenix bird tattoos which are normally painted in bright and lucid colours that represent life. The uniqueness of a phoenix bird design lies in its different interpretation by different people. You can very easily personalize a phoenix bird tattoo to highlight emotions close to your heart. You just need to tell a good tattoo artist what you want to depict with your tattoo and he or she will easily give you the best.
Jewish legend says that the phoenix was the bird that refrained from eating the forbidden fruit of paradise, set itself on fire but rose from the ashes three days later. The Phoenix bird was also considered to be the representation of the rising and setting of the sun. However later on it was widely accepted as the symbol of resurrection of life. Originally tattoos were just beauty symbols. Of late, they have become a medium to express ones life experiences and emotions. Therefore, the Phoenix bird designs have attained big popularity. Keeping in line with this, the tattoo artists have creatively designed many forms of the Phoenix bird tattoo.
The emergence of the Phoenix Bird tattoo as a popular one is not documented well but people believe that it has its origins in the Far East. Men like to have a phoenix bird picture on their arms, while the ladies normally prefer to have it on their lower back or on their belly. There are people who consider Phoenix to be the symbol of the devil and that pagans expressed their love for Satan through the phoenix. In the vastly popular Harry Potter series, the phoenix has been depicted as the bird that has healing powers. This is more in line with the symbolic meaning of Phoenix, the resurrection. In the chronicles of Narnia too, a phoenix is pictured saving one of the characters from imminent danger.
Historically the phoenix was used not just as a tattoo. It was also printed on the coins by the ancient Romans, who believed that it would ensure the longevity of the Roman Empire. No matter what the reason, the phoenix tattoo designs are beautiful and at the same time have definite, deeply held symbolic significance. Therefore, these designs are, like diamonds, forever.
http://www.copypastearticles.com/article/7321/phoenix-bird-tattoo-symbolic-beauty/
Monday, October 29, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Nautical Star Tattoos - The Original Meaning
Nautical star tattoos have caused much controversy and heated discussion regarding the true meaning of the design. Over the years, many groups have attempted to tag the design with their own unique interpretation. In addition to the nautical connection, this popular tattoo design has been connected to the military, punk rockers, the lesbian community and the anti-racism movement in recent years.
But what are the origins of the nautical star tattoo? Where did it come from and what did it originally represent?
Almost everybody, without exception, accepts that sailors were the first group of people to wear nautical star tattoos.
In previous centuries, working at sea was a very dangerous and unpredicatable way of life. Sailors had very little to guide them at night, apart from the stars. And the one that they relied upon most was Polaris, or the North Star. As this star is positioned close to the north pole, it appears to be stationary at all times, unlike other stars which appear to move as time passes. This provided early sailors with a fixed reference point. And once they know where the North Star was, they could position their ships accordingly and be reasonably confident that they were going in the right direction.
Over time the North Star became a symbol for finding your way home safely and symbolically finding your way in life. But beyond that, as many sailors were deeply superstitious with a rich history of lore about life and death at sea, they were always looking for lucky charms. So many sailors began to place nautical star tattoos on their forearms or hands as a symbol of good luck and a desire to get home safely.
Skip forward through the centuries and the meaning of the nautical star tattoo has become broader. Not only is it a symbol of the sea, but also a sign of security and guidance for all sailors and travelers. It has also become a sign of following your dreams and achieving success in your life.
However, these is some disagreement concerning the design of the nautical star. Most people accept that the basic design of the nautical star is a five pointed star. But a minority of people claim that the nautical star represents the traditional design of a ship's compass. This consists of the four cardinal directions, North, South, East, West, and possibly the intermediate directions of North East, South East, South West and North West. So their idea of the nautical star is a four pointed design or even an eight pointed star.
Personally, I think that the five pointed star best represents the design of the nautical star tattoo, especially when you consider that on many nautical maps, north is shown by a compass style five pointed star.
But whatever style of design is selected, one thing is clear; the nautical star has had a long connection with naval tradition and was originally a symbol of finding your way home safely. And while other groups may attempt to link themselves to the use of the nautical star tattoo, the sailors of bygone centuries will always retain the distinction of representing the original interpretation of this iconic tattoo design.
http://www.articlebliss.com/Article/Nautical-Star-Tattoos---The-Original-Meaning/124804
But what are the origins of the nautical star tattoo? Where did it come from and what did it originally represent?
Almost everybody, without exception, accepts that sailors were the first group of people to wear nautical star tattoos.
In previous centuries, working at sea was a very dangerous and unpredicatable way of life. Sailors had very little to guide them at night, apart from the stars. And the one that they relied upon most was Polaris, or the North Star. As this star is positioned close to the north pole, it appears to be stationary at all times, unlike other stars which appear to move as time passes. This provided early sailors with a fixed reference point. And once they know where the North Star was, they could position their ships accordingly and be reasonably confident that they were going in the right direction.
Over time the North Star became a symbol for finding your way home safely and symbolically finding your way in life. But beyond that, as many sailors were deeply superstitious with a rich history of lore about life and death at sea, they were always looking for lucky charms. So many sailors began to place nautical star tattoos on their forearms or hands as a symbol of good luck and a desire to get home safely.
Skip forward through the centuries and the meaning of the nautical star tattoo has become broader. Not only is it a symbol of the sea, but also a sign of security and guidance for all sailors and travelers. It has also become a sign of following your dreams and achieving success in your life.
However, these is some disagreement concerning the design of the nautical star. Most people accept that the basic design of the nautical star is a five pointed star. But a minority of people claim that the nautical star represents the traditional design of a ship's compass. This consists of the four cardinal directions, North, South, East, West, and possibly the intermediate directions of North East, South East, South West and North West. So their idea of the nautical star is a four pointed design or even an eight pointed star.
Personally, I think that the five pointed star best represents the design of the nautical star tattoo, especially when you consider that on many nautical maps, north is shown by a compass style five pointed star.
But whatever style of design is selected, one thing is clear; the nautical star has had a long connection with naval tradition and was originally a symbol of finding your way home safely. And while other groups may attempt to link themselves to the use of the nautical star tattoo, the sailors of bygone centuries will always retain the distinction of representing the original interpretation of this iconic tattoo design.
http://www.articlebliss.com/Article/Nautical-Star-Tattoos---The-Original-Meaning/124804
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tribal Tattoos - How To Find The Right Design
In ancient times, tribal tattoos were used to help identify members of different tribes. They were also used to indicate social hierarchy within tribes and document significant events within the history of the tribe, such as major battles and feats of bravery.
Skip forward a couple of thousand years and tribal tattoos are a popular fashion statement worn by people all over the world. These days, instead of using tribal tattoos to group people into the same tribe, people use them to express their personality and their individuality. Part of the appeal of these designs is that they represent the only link between the present and the mysterious and elaborate tribal rituals of the past which have been lost in the mists of time.
The most developed forms of tribal art originate from locations all over the world, including; the Celts (Scotland, Ireland and Wales), the Maoris (New Zealand), the Marquesans, the tribes of Africa, North America and Borneo.
So once you've set your heart on getting a tribal tattoo, how do you find the perfect design?
At first glance, it might seem easy to find the perfect tribal tattoo design due to the large amount of examples that are available. However, it pays to do your research if you want to find a design that genuinely means something to you.
If possible, try to avoid choosing a design at random. Many people have done this over recent years due to the rapid growth in the popularity of tribal tattoo art. It goes something like this; they decide to get a tribal tattoo (often because one of their friends has just got one), they flip through a few designs and pick the first one that they like the look of. They often don't know what their chosen design means and what other choices they could have made. Shortly after they start to have regrets (especially if they got it as part of a fashion trend that has since died down). Too Late!
If you want to find the right tribal art for your tattoo, it's important to do you homework and find some personal meaning from the design that you finally choose. Don't jump on a fashion bandwagon. Look for a symbol that says something about who you are or what you believe.
Use the internet to browse through as many tribal tattoo designs as you can just to get a feel for the various styles developed by the different ancient tribes. And once you find a tribal style that you like, do some more research into the artwork of that tribe. See what else their history of art has to offer. And only once you've found a design that says something to you, should you end your search. If the design doesn't excite you now, how do you think you'll feel about it in twenty years?
Alternatively, if you find a tribal design with elements that you like, it may be possible for your tattoo artist to incorporate it with various modern design features so that the finished design reflects both modern and ancient art. This approach will take much more time and research to create, but ultimately you'll much happier with your uniquely personal tribal tattoo.
http://www.articlebliss.com/Article/Tribal-Tattoos---How-To-Find-The-Right-Design/122262
Skip forward a couple of thousand years and tribal tattoos are a popular fashion statement worn by people all over the world. These days, instead of using tribal tattoos to group people into the same tribe, people use them to express their personality and their individuality. Part of the appeal of these designs is that they represent the only link between the present and the mysterious and elaborate tribal rituals of the past which have been lost in the mists of time.
The most developed forms of tribal art originate from locations all over the world, including; the Celts (Scotland, Ireland and Wales), the Maoris (New Zealand), the Marquesans, the tribes of Africa, North America and Borneo.
So once you've set your heart on getting a tribal tattoo, how do you find the perfect design?
At first glance, it might seem easy to find the perfect tribal tattoo design due to the large amount of examples that are available. However, it pays to do your research if you want to find a design that genuinely means something to you.
If possible, try to avoid choosing a design at random. Many people have done this over recent years due to the rapid growth in the popularity of tribal tattoo art. It goes something like this; they decide to get a tribal tattoo (often because one of their friends has just got one), they flip through a few designs and pick the first one that they like the look of. They often don't know what their chosen design means and what other choices they could have made. Shortly after they start to have regrets (especially if they got it as part of a fashion trend that has since died down). Too Late!
If you want to find the right tribal art for your tattoo, it's important to do you homework and find some personal meaning from the design that you finally choose. Don't jump on a fashion bandwagon. Look for a symbol that says something about who you are or what you believe.
Use the internet to browse through as many tribal tattoo designs as you can just to get a feel for the various styles developed by the different ancient tribes. And once you find a tribal style that you like, do some more research into the artwork of that tribe. See what else their history of art has to offer. And only once you've found a design that says something to you, should you end your search. If the design doesn't excite you now, how do you think you'll feel about it in twenty years?
Alternatively, if you find a tribal design with elements that you like, it may be possible for your tattoo artist to incorporate it with various modern design features so that the finished design reflects both modern and ancient art. This approach will take much more time and research to create, but ultimately you'll much happier with your uniquely personal tribal tattoo.
http://www.articlebliss.com/Article/Tribal-Tattoos---How-To-Find-The-Right-Design/122262
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Preventing Infection When You Get A Tattoo
If you are interested in wearing a tattoo on your skin, you will need to visit a tattoo artist to have it done. When you are choosing the artist, be sure to select one who makes safety and hygiene a top priority, so you don�t risk infection.
Tattoos are created on your body by injecting the ink under your skin. For this purpose an electric powered tattoo gun is used and this gun has a needle which is going up and down very fast. Through this needle the ink is injected under the skin every time the needle punctures your skin.
The components of a tattoo machine includes: tube system, needle, electric motor, and the foot pedal. The needle should be sterile in order to prevent infection of the skin. And the pedal is used for controlling the work of work of the tube and the needle. So, if the pedal is pressed the needle is moving up and down and punctures the skin. This is somewhat similar to the way a sewing machine with a foot pedal operates.
Sanitary conditions are essential. Using the same needle on two people must be strictly avoided. This can cause the spread of infections and diseases such as HIV. For this reason you are advised go to a tattoo artist only if you are sure that the equipment is sterile and materials are disposable so they won�t be reused.
Double check the materials before it is used to you. The tattoo artist should open it in front of your eyes. All of it is sold to them in sterile packaging and it is stated on there it is for single use. The materials that should be used only once are: needles, gloves, ink and ink cups. Also, the hands of the artists should be washed before touching you or the equipment.
Next, the skin area where the tattoo will be applied must be disinfected. After that, the skin is shaved and then disinfected a second time.
The pain of getting a tattoo depends upon your tolerance. Also the pain is determined by the location of the tattoo and if you have decided to get a tattoo on a sensitive part of the body this can be quite painful. And finally the pain depends upon the experience of the artist. If he is more experienced this can mean that you might suffer less.
After the tattoo is applied, the area should be disinfected again in order to avoid an infection in the punctures. Also you should be given instructions from the artist on how to care for the tattoo. The instructions will likely be printed out so you can take it home and follow the instructions without forgetting.
http://www.dotattoos.com/vre/
Tattoos are created on your body by injecting the ink under your skin. For this purpose an electric powered tattoo gun is used and this gun has a needle which is going up and down very fast. Through this needle the ink is injected under the skin every time the needle punctures your skin.
The components of a tattoo machine includes: tube system, needle, electric motor, and the foot pedal. The needle should be sterile in order to prevent infection of the skin. And the pedal is used for controlling the work of work of the tube and the needle. So, if the pedal is pressed the needle is moving up and down and punctures the skin. This is somewhat similar to the way a sewing machine with a foot pedal operates.
Sanitary conditions are essential. Using the same needle on two people must be strictly avoided. This can cause the spread of infections and diseases such as HIV. For this reason you are advised go to a tattoo artist only if you are sure that the equipment is sterile and materials are disposable so they won�t be reused.
Double check the materials before it is used to you. The tattoo artist should open it in front of your eyes. All of it is sold to them in sterile packaging and it is stated on there it is for single use. The materials that should be used only once are: needles, gloves, ink and ink cups. Also, the hands of the artists should be washed before touching you or the equipment.
Next, the skin area where the tattoo will be applied must be disinfected. After that, the skin is shaved and then disinfected a second time.
The pain of getting a tattoo depends upon your tolerance. Also the pain is determined by the location of the tattoo and if you have decided to get a tattoo on a sensitive part of the body this can be quite painful. And finally the pain depends upon the experience of the artist. If he is more experienced this can mean that you might suffer less.
After the tattoo is applied, the area should be disinfected again in order to avoid an infection in the punctures. Also you should be given instructions from the artist on how to care for the tattoo. The instructions will likely be printed out so you can take it home and follow the instructions without forgetting.
http://www.dotattoos.com/vre/
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
New ink promises easy tattoo removal
London’s National Theatre has announced dates for a revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo starring Zoë Wanamaker. Stephen Pimlott’s production, part of the National’s Travelex £10 season, will open March 29 following previews that begin March 19.
Set in the Sicilian community of New Orleans, Williams' heroine is Serafina whose truck-driver husband is killed while smuggling drugs. For three years she mourns the man whose chest bore the emblem of the play's title. Then another truck driver comes knocking at the door.
The last major London revival of the play was Peter Hall's 1991 production starring Julie Walters. The forthcoming National production will feature Sheila Ballantine, Darrell D’Silva, Susannah Fielding, Stephanie Jacob, Rosalind Knight, Andrew Langtree, Maggie McCarthy and Jules Melvin.
Wanamaker was previously seen at the National in His Girl Friday, Battle Royal and The Crucible. She recently appeared at New York’s Lincoln Center in Awake and Sing!, earning a Tony nomination for her performance. Other credits include Donmar productions of The Boston Marriage and the title role in Electra for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress.
Pimlott directed the National production of Sunday in the Park With George and, more recently in the West End, And Then Were None and Bombay Dreams. The Rose Tattoo will be designed by Mark Thompson.You once adored Janie, but Laura is your honey now. That dragon circling your arm wowed your college buddies, but the executives in the office aren't nearly as impressed.
Just as the number of Americans sporting tattoos has soared in the past decade, so has membership in another group: people who want their bodywork removed. Only then do they come to know the truth -- that laser tattoo removal is painful, expensive and may not do the job completely.
Soon there may be a solution to the phenomenon of tattoo regret -- removable tattoo ink. A company founded by doctors says it will begin selling such ink early next year. The ink is applied just as with any tattoo, and will remain in place as long as desired. But if the owner later decides that the artwork has to go, it can be removed fully and safely with a single laser treatment.
The founders of the New York company making the removable ink, Freedom-2 LLC, say their goal is to help those who have come to regret permanently decorating their bodies. But backers say the technology will not only simplify tattoo removal, it will create an expanded market for body art -- since consumers can be now assured that the tattoo will come off easily and without exorbitant cost.
"I think it will open a floodgate for people who want tattoos," says Dr. Bruce Saal, a Los Gatos dermatologist who specializes in laser tattoo removal and has invested in the company. "People will say, 'I want to do something a little wild. Now that I know it's not a lifelong commitment, I'll do it.' "
But others wonder if tattoo artists and their customers will spurn the new ink if it doesn't meet their artistic needs.
Almost one-quarter of U.S. adults have at least one tattoo, according to a study of 500 Americans published September in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Of those, 17 percent were considering removal, the survey found.
Many doctors who perform laser tattoo removal, however, say that as many as half of all people with tattoos eventually want them off.
"A very high majority of people would desire to have them removed if there was a simple and easy way," Saal said.
Most conventional tattoos can be removed, but even a simple, small, one-color tattoo can require several laser treatments at a cost of around $1,000. Removals of large, multicolored tattoos can require more than a dozen laser treatments and cost $5,000 or more. And no, laser tattoo removal is not covered by medical insurance.
Multiple treatments are needed to avoid skin damage from the laser. During conventional tattoo removal, brief pulses of energy are aimed at the tattoo, heating skin cells and breaking up the ink particles. Then the body's natural ability to remove foreign particles clears away the ink fragments. The top layer of skin, however, often bleeds slightly and forms scabs. Because of the inflammation produced by the laser, only a small area of skin can be treated at one time.
There are other complications, too. Doctors often don't know which type of ink was used, at what depth the ink was applied and other factors that could help make removal easier, Saal said. (He is a member of Freedom-2's scientific advisory board.) Scarring can occur if multiple treatments are needed, and some tattoos can't be completely removed.
Some people who have gotten tattoos in recent years may have assumed that laser tattoo removal would deftly deal with any regrets, says Dr. Tina Alster, director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington and who is not associated with Freedom-2.
But, she adds, they are often stunned to learn of the cost and time involved. "They thought it would be as easy to take off as to put on -- in just one session," she said. "But now with this new dye and polymer, we will be able to remove it in one session."
Freedom-2's ink is removable because it is encapsulated in tiny beads made of polymethylmethacrylate, a synthetic material commonly used in surgical glue and in many types of artificial joints. The fact that the ink is encased in the tiny spheres doesn't affect the application of the tattoo or its appearance, says Martin Schmieg, chief executive of Freedom-2.
"Our inks look and feel and give a result equal to the current tattoos," he says.
Because of the way the beads are constructed, they fall apart when laser energy is applied, Schmieg said. Unpublished tests on humans and animals show that only one laser treatment is typically needed to fully remove a Freedom-2 tattoo and that most Q-switched lasers that doctors use for tattoo removal can be used for the job. A one-time laser treatment to remove a tattoo should cost less than $1,000, Schmieg predicts.
The new ink will be slightly more expensive than conventional ink but will likely add only about $50 to the cost of most tattoos, Schmieg says, because most of the cost related to tattooing is for the artist's time and talent.
The company will sell only black ink initially but will eventually add other colors. It is also developing a "time-limited tattoo," which will consist of ink in biodegradable polymer beads that dissolve and fade over time.
But tattoo artists may prove lukewarm to the idea of removable artwork. According to Dr. Stuart Kaplan, a dermatologist in Beverly Hills who does laser tattoo removal and isn't associated with Freedom-2, tattoo artists are picky about the colors of their inks. They care about whether they blend well and are durable. An inferior or expensive ink won't fly.
Tattoo artists are also unlikely to be swayed by the convenient removal factor because as a rule, they don't think about tattoo removal, says Sailor Bill Johnson, executive director of the Orlando, Fla.-based Alliance of Professional Tattooists.
"That's not our concern," he says. "If someone comes into my tattoo studio and says, 'I may want to remove it later,' we'd just try to talk them out of getting one."
Johnson says part of the experience of tattooing is the commitment. When someone has "Sophia Forever" inked on his biceps, the sentiment is that Sophia is permanent, just like the tattoo. Besides, says Johnson, "You make that decision in your life that you are going to put this artwork on your body. It's a statement that you don't worry about what other people think of you."
Johnson says he won't use the ink. "To me, it's a negative to the profession."
But Chris Winn, a San Diego tattoo artist, says he was instantly intrigued when he heard about the ink at a tattoo convention.
"I think it will be interesting to see the different ways this can bring in clients," he said. "I think it will bring in a group of people who love tattoos but are afraid to get them."
http://www.tattoohealth.org/news/news_details.asp?ID=70
Set in the Sicilian community of New Orleans, Williams' heroine is Serafina whose truck-driver husband is killed while smuggling drugs. For three years she mourns the man whose chest bore the emblem of the play's title. Then another truck driver comes knocking at the door.
The last major London revival of the play was Peter Hall's 1991 production starring Julie Walters. The forthcoming National production will feature Sheila Ballantine, Darrell D’Silva, Susannah Fielding, Stephanie Jacob, Rosalind Knight, Andrew Langtree, Maggie McCarthy and Jules Melvin.
Wanamaker was previously seen at the National in His Girl Friday, Battle Royal and The Crucible. She recently appeared at New York’s Lincoln Center in Awake and Sing!, earning a Tony nomination for her performance. Other credits include Donmar productions of The Boston Marriage and the title role in Electra for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress.
Pimlott directed the National production of Sunday in the Park With George and, more recently in the West End, And Then Were None and Bombay Dreams. The Rose Tattoo will be designed by Mark Thompson.You once adored Janie, but Laura is your honey now. That dragon circling your arm wowed your college buddies, but the executives in the office aren't nearly as impressed.
Just as the number of Americans sporting tattoos has soared in the past decade, so has membership in another group: people who want their bodywork removed. Only then do they come to know the truth -- that laser tattoo removal is painful, expensive and may not do the job completely.
Soon there may be a solution to the phenomenon of tattoo regret -- removable tattoo ink. A company founded by doctors says it will begin selling such ink early next year. The ink is applied just as with any tattoo, and will remain in place as long as desired. But if the owner later decides that the artwork has to go, it can be removed fully and safely with a single laser treatment.
The founders of the New York company making the removable ink, Freedom-2 LLC, say their goal is to help those who have come to regret permanently decorating their bodies. But backers say the technology will not only simplify tattoo removal, it will create an expanded market for body art -- since consumers can be now assured that the tattoo will come off easily and without exorbitant cost.
"I think it will open a floodgate for people who want tattoos," says Dr. Bruce Saal, a Los Gatos dermatologist who specializes in laser tattoo removal and has invested in the company. "People will say, 'I want to do something a little wild. Now that I know it's not a lifelong commitment, I'll do it.' "
But others wonder if tattoo artists and their customers will spurn the new ink if it doesn't meet their artistic needs.
Almost one-quarter of U.S. adults have at least one tattoo, according to a study of 500 Americans published September in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Of those, 17 percent were considering removal, the survey found.
Many doctors who perform laser tattoo removal, however, say that as many as half of all people with tattoos eventually want them off.
"A very high majority of people would desire to have them removed if there was a simple and easy way," Saal said.
Most conventional tattoos can be removed, but even a simple, small, one-color tattoo can require several laser treatments at a cost of around $1,000. Removals of large, multicolored tattoos can require more than a dozen laser treatments and cost $5,000 or more. And no, laser tattoo removal is not covered by medical insurance.
Multiple treatments are needed to avoid skin damage from the laser. During conventional tattoo removal, brief pulses of energy are aimed at the tattoo, heating skin cells and breaking up the ink particles. Then the body's natural ability to remove foreign particles clears away the ink fragments. The top layer of skin, however, often bleeds slightly and forms scabs. Because of the inflammation produced by the laser, only a small area of skin can be treated at one time.
There are other complications, too. Doctors often don't know which type of ink was used, at what depth the ink was applied and other factors that could help make removal easier, Saal said. (He is a member of Freedom-2's scientific advisory board.) Scarring can occur if multiple treatments are needed, and some tattoos can't be completely removed.
Some people who have gotten tattoos in recent years may have assumed that laser tattoo removal would deftly deal with any regrets, says Dr. Tina Alster, director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington and who is not associated with Freedom-2.
But, she adds, they are often stunned to learn of the cost and time involved. "They thought it would be as easy to take off as to put on -- in just one session," she said. "But now with this new dye and polymer, we will be able to remove it in one session."
Freedom-2's ink is removable because it is encapsulated in tiny beads made of polymethylmethacrylate, a synthetic material commonly used in surgical glue and in many types of artificial joints. The fact that the ink is encased in the tiny spheres doesn't affect the application of the tattoo or its appearance, says Martin Schmieg, chief executive of Freedom-2.
"Our inks look and feel and give a result equal to the current tattoos," he says.
Because of the way the beads are constructed, they fall apart when laser energy is applied, Schmieg said. Unpublished tests on humans and animals show that only one laser treatment is typically needed to fully remove a Freedom-2 tattoo and that most Q-switched lasers that doctors use for tattoo removal can be used for the job. A one-time laser treatment to remove a tattoo should cost less than $1,000, Schmieg predicts.
The new ink will be slightly more expensive than conventional ink but will likely add only about $50 to the cost of most tattoos, Schmieg says, because most of the cost related to tattooing is for the artist's time and talent.
The company will sell only black ink initially but will eventually add other colors. It is also developing a "time-limited tattoo," which will consist of ink in biodegradable polymer beads that dissolve and fade over time.
But tattoo artists may prove lukewarm to the idea of removable artwork. According to Dr. Stuart Kaplan, a dermatologist in Beverly Hills who does laser tattoo removal and isn't associated with Freedom-2, tattoo artists are picky about the colors of their inks. They care about whether they blend well and are durable. An inferior or expensive ink won't fly.
Tattoo artists are also unlikely to be swayed by the convenient removal factor because as a rule, they don't think about tattoo removal, says Sailor Bill Johnson, executive director of the Orlando, Fla.-based Alliance of Professional Tattooists.
"That's not our concern," he says. "If someone comes into my tattoo studio and says, 'I may want to remove it later,' we'd just try to talk them out of getting one."
Johnson says part of the experience of tattooing is the commitment. When someone has "Sophia Forever" inked on his biceps, the sentiment is that Sophia is permanent, just like the tattoo. Besides, says Johnson, "You make that decision in your life that you are going to put this artwork on your body. It's a statement that you don't worry about what other people think of you."
Johnson says he won't use the ink. "To me, it's a negative to the profession."
But Chris Winn, a San Diego tattoo artist, says he was instantly intrigued when he heard about the ink at a tattoo convention.
"I think it will be interesting to see the different ways this can bring in clients," he said. "I think it will bring in a group of people who love tattoos but are afraid to get them."
http://www.tattoohealth.org/news/news_details.asp?ID=70
UV tattoos: for those who want to get marked up but be, like, discrete
Dominique McDaniel’s right arm looks normal enough: tan and lined with light-blue veins. But when she moves a black light over her forearm, three glowing stars emerge.
McDaniel stumbled into a culture she found fascinating one afternoon when she was sitting in her mother’s one-story ranch home outside New Orleans: the world of UV tattoos--body art done in a reactive ink that appears invisible under normal light and emerges under black lighting.
“I saw UV tattoos one day on television, on 'Ripley’s Believe it or Not,' and thought, ‘Wow, that’s really cool,’” said McDaniel, a student at Louisiana State University who got her first tattoo when she was 18. “I started hanging out at a local tattoo studio that made their own UV ink and became friends with the owners.”
Within months McDaniel was sporting a band of three stars on her right forearm done entirely in white UV ink, and a tattoo on her wrist that has UV ink accents, allowing the design to morph under black light.
The popularity of UV tattoos--also known as black-light tattoos--has skyrocketed in recent years. Long found on the rave scene, the tattoos have blossomed, reaching teenagers, body art enthusiasts and people looking for a way to sport tattoos in a discrete way.
However, safety concerns about UV tattoos abound. The chemical makeup of the different inks used has been questioned, individuals have reported skin rashes and infections, and some scientists suspect the inks might be carcinogenic. Because of these concerns, some tattoo artists will not work with UV inks.
Others, however, have no qualms about inking black-light work. With no regulation over what ink is safe, and with studios often concocting their own blends, it can be hard to tell exactly what pulses through tattoo guns.
In the past, serious skin problems have resulted from the use of inks containing phosphorous--a substance that can often cause the body to reject the ink. Horror stories about UV tattoos turning brown after a few months or recipients developing serious skin rashes have circulated for years.
Many of those fears are valid, according to Dr. Joshua Fox, a dermatologist in New York who has treated people with skin rashes resulting from UV tattoos and who is researching new techniques for tattoo removal.
“Statistically, there have been more reactions with UV tattoos than with normal tattoos,” Fox said. “Sometimes the inks don’t mix as well, and your body reacts against the foreign agents.”
Fox added that despite the chemical advances with UV tattoos--mainly the elimination of phosphorous in some inks--there will be no way to tell how safe they are until the federal government starts regulating tattoos.
For McDaniel, safety was a prime concern. She had her work done by Imperial Tattoos, a studio located in Chalmette, La., a suburb of New Orleans. While volunteering at the studio, McDaniel witnessed exactly what went into the reactive concoctions pumped under people’s skin.
“I got to talk to the artists and found out how they made the ink,” she said. “Knowing what was in the ink, I knew it was 100 percent safe, with no phosphorus.”
Some tattoo parlors advertise that they use UV ink approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A dangerous caveat often goes unnoted, however. According to the FDA, the most widely used UV inks are approved for use only as tracking liquids to be injected into fish, not as tattoo ink for human body art.
Marisa DiMattia, an attorney and writer in New York who has traveled the world in search of fine tattoo art, advises people to take note of the ambiguity that exists around government approval and UV ink.
“Companies claim to have FDA approval, but when you read the fine print it says nothing for human use,” she said. DiMattia said some inks were even suspected of containing carcinogens or allergens that can cause severe itching and rashes. No long-term studies on the side effects of UV inks have been done, she said.
With no definitive answer on the safety of the inks, tattoo artists lean both ways.
Craig Latimer, an artist at Black Dragon Tattoo in Shreveport, La., has been on the fence regarding the safety of UV tattoos for years. Recently, when a customer approached Latimer with a UV ink he wanted to use, Latimer began researching the substance and agreed to give it a shot.
Taz, a tattooist in St. Joseph, Mo., avoids the potential pitfalls of UV ink altogether. He said that even though the quality of UV inks seemed to be improving, he won’t do any black light work.
Richie Streate does extensive UV work at Electric Soul Tattoo, a studio in Lancaster, Calif. He believes UV tattoos are suffering from old stigmas.
“The new inks have been tested extensively,” he said. “A big part of the problem is the old-timers don’t realize the advances that have been made in the ink. They all think it causes cancer and other problems, and we’re not seeing that.”
http://www.tattoohealth.org/news/news_details.asp?ID=71
McDaniel stumbled into a culture she found fascinating one afternoon when she was sitting in her mother’s one-story ranch home outside New Orleans: the world of UV tattoos--body art done in a reactive ink that appears invisible under normal light and emerges under black lighting.
“I saw UV tattoos one day on television, on 'Ripley’s Believe it or Not,' and thought, ‘Wow, that’s really cool,’” said McDaniel, a student at Louisiana State University who got her first tattoo when she was 18. “I started hanging out at a local tattoo studio that made their own UV ink and became friends with the owners.”
Within months McDaniel was sporting a band of three stars on her right forearm done entirely in white UV ink, and a tattoo on her wrist that has UV ink accents, allowing the design to morph under black light.
The popularity of UV tattoos--also known as black-light tattoos--has skyrocketed in recent years. Long found on the rave scene, the tattoos have blossomed, reaching teenagers, body art enthusiasts and people looking for a way to sport tattoos in a discrete way.
However, safety concerns about UV tattoos abound. The chemical makeup of the different inks used has been questioned, individuals have reported skin rashes and infections, and some scientists suspect the inks might be carcinogenic. Because of these concerns, some tattoo artists will not work with UV inks.
Others, however, have no qualms about inking black-light work. With no regulation over what ink is safe, and with studios often concocting their own blends, it can be hard to tell exactly what pulses through tattoo guns.
In the past, serious skin problems have resulted from the use of inks containing phosphorous--a substance that can often cause the body to reject the ink. Horror stories about UV tattoos turning brown after a few months or recipients developing serious skin rashes have circulated for years.
Many of those fears are valid, according to Dr. Joshua Fox, a dermatologist in New York who has treated people with skin rashes resulting from UV tattoos and who is researching new techniques for tattoo removal.
“Statistically, there have been more reactions with UV tattoos than with normal tattoos,” Fox said. “Sometimes the inks don’t mix as well, and your body reacts against the foreign agents.”
Fox added that despite the chemical advances with UV tattoos--mainly the elimination of phosphorous in some inks--there will be no way to tell how safe they are until the federal government starts regulating tattoos.
For McDaniel, safety was a prime concern. She had her work done by Imperial Tattoos, a studio located in Chalmette, La., a suburb of New Orleans. While volunteering at the studio, McDaniel witnessed exactly what went into the reactive concoctions pumped under people’s skin.
“I got to talk to the artists and found out how they made the ink,” she said. “Knowing what was in the ink, I knew it was 100 percent safe, with no phosphorus.”
Some tattoo parlors advertise that they use UV ink approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A dangerous caveat often goes unnoted, however. According to the FDA, the most widely used UV inks are approved for use only as tracking liquids to be injected into fish, not as tattoo ink for human body art.
Marisa DiMattia, an attorney and writer in New York who has traveled the world in search of fine tattoo art, advises people to take note of the ambiguity that exists around government approval and UV ink.
“Companies claim to have FDA approval, but when you read the fine print it says nothing for human use,” she said. DiMattia said some inks were even suspected of containing carcinogens or allergens that can cause severe itching and rashes. No long-term studies on the side effects of UV inks have been done, she said.
With no definitive answer on the safety of the inks, tattoo artists lean both ways.
Craig Latimer, an artist at Black Dragon Tattoo in Shreveport, La., has been on the fence regarding the safety of UV tattoos for years. Recently, when a customer approached Latimer with a UV ink he wanted to use, Latimer began researching the substance and agreed to give it a shot.
Taz, a tattooist in St. Joseph, Mo., avoids the potential pitfalls of UV ink altogether. He said that even though the quality of UV inks seemed to be improving, he won’t do any black light work.
Richie Streate does extensive UV work at Electric Soul Tattoo, a studio in Lancaster, Calif. He believes UV tattoos are suffering from old stigmas.
“The new inks have been tested extensively,” he said. “A big part of the problem is the old-timers don’t realize the advances that have been made in the ink. They all think it causes cancer and other problems, and we’re not seeing that.”
http://www.tattoohealth.org/news/news_details.asp?ID=71
Body art tattoo
So, you,re going to take the plunge - or you have already, either one. I bet that felt great! At any rate, you,re enjoying the tattoo, but you want to know if there's anything you can do to keep it from looking like trash a few decades from now.
I,ve got great news - there are several things you can do to help make sure that over-priced ink underneath your skin stays put and continues looking great until they bury you - or cremate you, either one.
BEFORE YOU GET THE TATTOO:
Decide what you want and where. If tattoos are in places that are exposed to much light (especially sunlight) they,ll quickly fade. That, and wrinkles don,t flatter many tattoos - so keep your tattooing in places that are usually sheltered from the light and the ink should look sharp and clear, without fading.
Also, tatoos that are scratched at, scraped, bruised, or otherwise traumatized won,t look great forever. For example, if you,re a mechanic I would advise against having obscene four-letter words tattood on your knuckles, as that's a part of your body that takes a beating almost every day. I hate to say it, but tattoos that aren,t exposed very often - such as on your lower back or the back of your shoulder - are generally the longest-living.
If you,ve got a skin type that doesn,t recover fully from injuries, you might want to re-consider the tattoo. For example, if you,ve got dark skin, but it heals several shades lighter after you cut it, you,ll most likely have to live with either not having a tattoo or having a tattoo that looks very, very bad in a few short years or less. Let's face it, not everyone can get a tattoo and still look good.
Also, please keep in mind that impulsive tattooing just isn,t going to work itself out in the end. Don,t ever have your lover's initials tattooed on your ankle, for example. It,ll cost too much to have it removed should things not work out between you and Mr./Ms. Wonderful. The same story applies to artwork that's decided on while you,re under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a Smashing Pumpkins album.
AFTER THE TATTOO:
Keep Vasoline smeared on the site for a couple of weeks - this is to keep it moist so that you don,t scratch. (If you scratch, the tattoo goes bye-bye.) Keep the Vasoline covered with a gauze bandage, and don,t get the site wet. Do this for just a couple of weeks, then you can go about the task of showing your new ,too off to all your friends.
As noted before, sunlight is murder on artwork. Don,t sunbathe with the tattoo exposed, as that,ll just fade the ink. Besides which, who wants to increase their chances of skin cancer?
Take care of your tattoo and it,ll provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment.
http://www.nutricraze.com/Article_about_Body-art-tattoo-a-4538.html
I,ve got great news - there are several things you can do to help make sure that over-priced ink underneath your skin stays put and continues looking great until they bury you - or cremate you, either one.
BEFORE YOU GET THE TATTOO:
Decide what you want and where. If tattoos are in places that are exposed to much light (especially sunlight) they,ll quickly fade. That, and wrinkles don,t flatter many tattoos - so keep your tattooing in places that are usually sheltered from the light and the ink should look sharp and clear, without fading.
Also, tatoos that are scratched at, scraped, bruised, or otherwise traumatized won,t look great forever. For example, if you,re a mechanic I would advise against having obscene four-letter words tattood on your knuckles, as that's a part of your body that takes a beating almost every day. I hate to say it, but tattoos that aren,t exposed very often - such as on your lower back or the back of your shoulder - are generally the longest-living.
If you,ve got a skin type that doesn,t recover fully from injuries, you might want to re-consider the tattoo. For example, if you,ve got dark skin, but it heals several shades lighter after you cut it, you,ll most likely have to live with either not having a tattoo or having a tattoo that looks very, very bad in a few short years or less. Let's face it, not everyone can get a tattoo and still look good.
Also, please keep in mind that impulsive tattooing just isn,t going to work itself out in the end. Don,t ever have your lover's initials tattooed on your ankle, for example. It,ll cost too much to have it removed should things not work out between you and Mr./Ms. Wonderful. The same story applies to artwork that's decided on while you,re under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a Smashing Pumpkins album.
AFTER THE TATTOO:
Keep Vasoline smeared on the site for a couple of weeks - this is to keep it moist so that you don,t scratch. (If you scratch, the tattoo goes bye-bye.) Keep the Vasoline covered with a gauze bandage, and don,t get the site wet. Do this for just a couple of weeks, then you can go about the task of showing your new ,too off to all your friends.
As noted before, sunlight is murder on artwork. Don,t sunbathe with the tattoo exposed, as that,ll just fade the ink. Besides which, who wants to increase their chances of skin cancer?
Take care of your tattoo and it,ll provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment.
http://www.nutricraze.com/Article_about_Body-art-tattoo-a-4538.html
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