Celebrities Love Tattoos

It is not really surprising to learn that many celebrities love tattoos, nor is it surprising that those who are in the public eye and in the media have quite a significant influence on the American population's fascination with tattoos. The stars have tattoos, so all of their fans want tattoos also. For celebrities, age is not a factor; older stars as well as the younger ones have them. We know all of these people-- but how much do we know about what unique styles of artwork they have?

One of America's most longtime popular movie stars, Robert DeNiro, has appeared in movies sporting numerous tattoos. Whether or not his fans realize that they are only accessories for his films, the fact is in real life Robert DeNiro has only one tattoo, that of a black panther. Another actor who shows off many tattoos in his movies is Johnny Depp; all of his, however, are real. Bruce Willis also has a few tattoos; most notably the symbol of his movie "Die Hard."

Tattoos have long been in style with musicians. Former teen idol Justin Timberlake has a guardian angel, amongst others. Rapper Eminem has more tattoos than can be counted, including his daughter's name and his own. The wording on Keith Urban's wrist, "Omni Vincit Amor" is Latin for 'Love Conquers All;' he also has an eagle on one arm.

Some sports celebrities also go for tattoos. Michael Jordan has his fraternity symbol tattooed above his heart, while Dennis Rodman is a virtual canvas of artwork.

Not to be outdone, many female stars also show various degrees of artwork. Young actress Drew Barrymore is essentially a canvas full of tattoos; it is said that she created most of the designs herself. Reese Witherspoon is more subtle, wearing only one small star tattoo which is rarely visible. Pamela Anderson has a variety of tattoos also, the most notable being the word 'Mommy' on one finger, which reportedly used to read 'Tommy.' Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has five stars to represent each member of her family, her husband's initials, and the traditional Jewish phrase 'I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.'

Some of today's supermodels also sport tattoos. Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and Stephanie Seymour all have these permanent forms of fashion accessories. Most supermodels who opt for tattoos show fewer and smaller designs than celebrities in other fields.

While many celebrities have had tattoos for a very long time, the popularity of tattoos amongst stars has been increasing, both in the number of celebrities who have them and the number of tattoos that they have. A very few have only one tattoo; more and more are taking on a large number of tattoos as well as more and more visible tattoos, using skin as a canvas for nearly unlimited varieties of permanent artwork.

As celebrities show off their tattoos, and this is picked up by the media, it presents an ever-increasing influence for their fans, especially amongst the younger generation, to want to do likewise. As with anything else that stars do in the public eye, their influence with tattoos helps this form of artwork become more widespread, more popular, and more acceptable to most of the American population in general.

How to Find a Good Tattoo Artist

Let's say that you've considered all the effects of having tattoo. It's been considered that it'll be a lifelong commitment and is a permanent mark on the body, aside from having it surgically removed. You know what type of design you'd like to have created. You know exactly where on the body you'd like it imprinted. Now, you've got to find a good place to have it done.

The first thing to do is some research. Ask friends and family members who currently have tattoos where they got theirs done. Find out what their experiences were like. Ask if it was a clean environment, if it was comfortable and if the designs turned out to their satisfaction. Many times, tattoo parlors will be able to refer names of customers who can recommend their services.

While word of mouth is typically the best advertisement, you can also simply try opening the phone book. Locate local tattoo parlors and give them a call. They should be more than willing to answer any questions you might have. At best they should allow you to come and visit the facility to become comfortable with the surroundings prior to committing to becoming tattooed.

During a tattoo parlor visit, first determine the cleanliness of the facility. Make sure tools are sterilized between each customer and disposable and single use needles are indeed disposed of after each use. General cleanliness is just as important; if care isn't taken with building upkeep, then it can be believed that care won't be taken elsewhere in the business.

Chat with the tattoo artists and the staff members. If you don't feel comfortable asking any questions or expressing concerns with them, chances are you won't feel comfortable having them put a permanent mark on your body. You should feel completely at ease as it's possible that a large amount of time may be spent with them.

Check the designs of particular tattoo parlors. One very helpful tip is to compare art with an actual tattoo to compare how closely the tattoo resembles the tattoo itself. It's wise to inspect what kind of design range the tattoo artist is capable of. One might have a hundred different photos of skulls and crosses but it can be very different than having a butterfly, rose or a name tattooed on. Be sure the artist is very flexible.

The Internet can be a very useful too when it comes to business searching. Simply type in "tattoos" and the name of your geographical location into any search engine and you should be given a list of choices for places to check out. The Internet can also prove helpful to get opinions on certain tattoo parlors through blogs, forums and chat rooms. Information obtained from the Internet should always be double checked and checked again for confirmation as opinions will widely vary.

When finding a tattoo artist in your area, it's important to always be comfortable with your decision. While it is understood that the tattoo will be a permanent mark on the body and great thought should be put into the design and the location on the body in which it will be placed, it is also imperative to be sure you are completely comfortable with the tattoo artist. After all, you'll want to be positive that this lifelong design will be done accurately and correctly.

Tattoo Designs

If you walk into a tattoo studio, you can easily see that there are virtually no limits to tattoo designs. Most studios have a plethora of books, posters, and stencil samples; and, as the work of a tattoo artist is much more than simply putting designs on a person's skin, most are very skilled and very talented artists in general. Nearly anything you can visualize, either by description or in a sketch, can be made into a unique creation by those who practice this form of art. While many customers prefer a tattoo which is either quite simple and basic, such as one's name or initials, or a design which is totally unique and special to them, there are a number of styles which are widely popular.

Tattoos of Native American designs is one of the most popular. While most people who do not have direct information about tribal significance may simply select a design which looks good and appeals to them, traditional Native American artwork is by far the most often chosen in this category, as it symbolizes the Native American culture in general. However, for those who are knowledgeable, designs can be produced which symbolize tribal affiliation. If this is what a person prefers, it is a good idea to first do a bit of research to learn the difference between the tribes and which ones use which symbols. For people who have Native American ancestry, this is an excellent way to both learn about and display pride in one's heritage. One's name can also be made into a tribal design if you or your artist has the knowledge to do so.

Oriental designs are also quite popular. Most tattoo studios have a large variety of these, ranging from intricate artwork to smaller symbols. Some of those which are chosen most frequently include the Chinese symbols for luck, prosperity, eternity, harmony, and love; the zodiac signs are also popular. Although these designs may appear simple, and do have a rather unobtrusive effect, it takes a considerable amount of skill to draw them properly, as the thickness and thinness of the characters is very important. If you are looking for something which is stylish and tasteful, an Oriental design will have that effect.

For those whose religious beliefs are an important part of their lives, a tattoo of a religious symbol can be a permanently-displayed expression of this. Religious tattoos range from the most basic small crosses to large artwork depicting Saints and Jesus to nearly everything in-between. While most religions tend to frown on the subject of tattoos, they are represented in large varieties nonetheless. You will probably see crucifix tattoos and Star-of-David tattoos, despite the fact that the traditional religious belief is that one should not get tattoos. For most modern people, even those who take their religious beliefs very seriously, getting such a tattoo is not seen as violating religious standards, but a matter of pride in what they believe.

Celtic designs often appear in tattoos, also. From the most basic designs which everyone understands, such as shamrocks, to the intricate Celtic cross which fewer recognize the original meaning of, this culture has produced a wide array of beautiful artwork that can be used in tattoos.

Most people have some idea what they like, and each person's individual preference is no more difficult than finding it or having your artist create it. Whatever your background, interests, lifestyle, you are sure to find a tattoo design that appeals to you and is special to you.

Tattoo Removal

Tattoos are desirable for many reasons. Often times it's for decorative purposes. Other times the designs represent an important person, time or event in one's lifetime. On the other hand there are many reasons why one would want to have the tattoo removed. Reasons may include that the art was bad, the tattoo itself came out wrong or it is simply no longer wanted.

Tattoos are permanent things. The ink is injected deep into the skin, into the secondary layer of skin called the dermis. The repeated injections deposit the ink in this part of the skin for the purpose of lasting a lifetime. Having tattoos removed can prove to be quite an involved process.

One key to keep in mind is that some scarring is likely to occur when having a tattoo removed. After care will be necessary as well and may include bandage changes or a suture removal. Even with tattoo removal, some individuals will still experience some colored areas on the skin that have simply been lightened.

Many factors influence the success rate of a tattoo removal. The tattoo size and color have a great effect on how and if the tattoo can be completely removed. The tattoo's location on the body also affects removal.

There are several methods for tattoo removal. Very small tattoos can be removed with excision. This is the procedure when a small tattoo is simply cut away. An incision is made, that tattoo is removed and the skin is then sutured closed.

Larger tattoos may be removed by excision as well; however it may take several attempts to remove the entire art. Many times, the middle portion of the tattoo is removed and allowed to heal before attempts are made to excise the outer portions. Another technique for excising larger tattoos is to take a skin graft from another area on the body to make it possible to close the incision.

Another technique is called dermabrasion. This method for tattoo removal involves the use of a special chemical that is applied to the tattoo. The tattoo and skin around it are frozen, providing a local anesthetic effect. A rough surfaced tool is then used to rub down the tattoo in the same fashion one would use sandpaper.

Lasers have recently grown in popularity in the medical field and tattoo removal has certainly benefited from them as well. For the purpose of removing a tattoo, the laser is used to break up the ink and coloration of the design. Cells in the body are then able to attack and eliminate these colored cells naturally. When lasers are used, repeat visits are often needed to continue the break down of the ink that was used.

Tattoo removal can be done with one of a variety of methods. A physician is needed for this type of procedure. The physician should be consulted with any concerns regarding the size of the tattoo to be removed, the coloration, the location on the body and the required after care that will be needed once it has been removed.

A tattoo is thought of something that lasts a lifetime. Although they can be removed with surgery, lasers or dermabrasion, some scarring is likely to be encountered. Getting a tattoo should be seriously considered first as it will always be a permanent mark in the skin.

Tattoos Around The World

As tattoos are slowly but surely gaining acceptance and popularity amongst most of the American population, it is interesting to note how widespread the appeal of this practice is becoming in other countries around the world. It is also interesting to consider how various other cultures view this practice, and whether those views have changed over time as has been the case with the United States.

Although it may be surprising to Americans whose main source of familiarity with Oriental symbols and other artwork comes from viewing this lovely, traditional art in tattoo studios all across the United States, due to the significant influence of Buddhist and Confucianist religions both the Japanese and Chinese societies take a very negative view of tattoos. In these societies, tattooing was a means of branding criminals; it was not acceptable for citizens to engage in the process. In today's society, tattoos are still unacceptable. Although their younger generation usually takes a more liberal view of tattooing, the youngsters who have them generally keep them covered.

Tattoos have long been a part of life for royalty in Great Britain. Following in the footsteps of his predecessors King George the fifth and King Edward the seventh, one of today's most well-known royal figures, Prince Charles, also sports a tattoo. Unlike in the distant past, however, tattoos in Great Britain are no longer limited to the class of royalty; during the past few decades, tattoos showing up on their rock stars has brought the practice to the mainstream population. What was once a status symbol for wealthy public figures has become a widespread part of everyday life for the younger generations.

In Mexico, tattoos were originally thought of as a symbol of courage. The early explorers who arrived in Mexico in 1519 believed the practice to be the influence of Satan. In a recent survey, more than half of those polled who were over age thirteen stated that they would consider getting a tattoo. While most expressed a preference for designs such as flowers, religious symbols, or names, some said they would like a tattoo of their favorite brands of soda or beer. This is assisting in marketing to some degree, as many people in Mexico City now consider tattoos to be a fashion accessory, not only widely acceptable but in style.

In Vietnam, tattooing is still currently illegal, and is rarely done except in prisons. For those who insist on having some type of body modification in light of the laws against tattooing, cigarette burns are used instead. It is rare that anyone other than gang members utilize this practice.

Considering both the Biblical prohibitions against tattooing and the still-present memories of the Holocaust, it is not surprising that most of the older generation in Israel continues to hold a negative view of tattoos. It is a little surprising, though, that the younger generation not only does not always share this viewpoint, and actually considers the practice of getting tattoos of religious symbols to be a visible sign of pride in their Jewish heritage and identity.

In assessing both the historical aspects and present-day points of view, it's not difficult to see that for many countries around the world culture plays a significant role in whether or not tattoos are thought of as an acceptable form of self-expression. In most cases it is also clear that with or without cultural influences, times change and with the changing times comes different ways of looking at the subject of tattoos. What took a very long time to gain widespread popularity in the United States has proceeded in a similar fashion in most other countries also.