Tattoo Shading - The Key Secret To Great Tattoos

                        Tattooing is a booming industry and growing every single day. Now there are even TV shows dedicated to the art that are catching fire. When you look around, tattoos are everywhere! Now you see them on people you know, see them in advertisements, and even on famous celebrities. So what makes a great tattoo? Of course it is great design, but there is one very big component that is critical to a really stunning and beautiful tattoo.

What is this component to a great tattoo?

It is simple...

Tattoo Shading.

Tattoo shading is the part of the tattoo where a two dimensional tattoo becomes a three dimensional tattoo. It is the part of the tattoo where flat lines take shape and holds a certain degree of depth to make the tattoo "pop" out. There is even a whole style of tattoo shading now that focuses only on black and grey tattoos...no color, just black and white.

If a tattoo artist does not learn the technical yet critical aspect of tattoo shading, then a tattoo just falls flat. It is as simple as that. This one aspect of tattooing can be learned but it takes some real practice and some technical skill. Mastering tattoo shading and becoming known for doing great black and grey tattoos can really boost a tattoo artists reputation in the tattoo industry. Those who have mastered tattoo shading at an expert level are very well revered and respected.

Now there are great information resources online to help aspiring tattoo artists. Of course, the best way to really learn the skills is through an apprenticeship, but gaining the basic knowledge is first and foremost of importance. Learning all you can about tattoo shading and other steps in the tattoo process are key and luckily information is gaining in popularity. An example of a great source or brand for tattoo information is "The Ultimate Tattoo Guide" series. These guides help budding tattoo artists get the basic tattoo knowledge needed to start tattooing including aspects like tattoo shading, etc.

So if you want to break into doing great tattoos that will get make people turn their heads, it is CRITICAL to master the art of tattoo shading. Without it, a tattoo is just not a real tattoo...a piece of real art.

Problems With Healing Tattoos

                  Signs of Normal Healing


At first the tattoo looks shiny, swollen and the colors are extra bright. Within 24 hours the scab forms, this should be very thin, looks like the tattoo and with proper care is slightly flexible.

After about 4-5 days the tattoo will go through a period of peeling. This looks similar to a sunburn peeling. The scab that peels off will be the color of the tattoo, and it will look like your tattoo is flaking off. Sometimes this stage is accompanied by mild itching which can be relieved by rubbing it gently with more ointment or lotion.

Do not ever leave your tattoo slick or sticky.
Always blot off any extra ointment or lotion.

When the tattoo is completely done pealing you will notice a layer underneath the new tattoo that contains healing skin cells that will cause the skin to seem milky rather than transparent. Don't worry about this; it's all part of the healing process and only takes about a month to go away. If you want, you can put lotion on the tattoo to help it look brighter and more healed during this final stage of healing.

Symptoms of Bad Healing

When healing goes wrong there are very few things that can happen. Some of the signs that things are going wrong are; extreme seeping, heavy scabbing, excessive inflammation, and sometimes a rash (little bumps) or pimples.

Often when things go wrong people assume that the tattoo is infected. Unless you work or live in a very dirty environment (see below) it probably isn't. You should always show the tattoo to your artists before heading for the doctors' office.

Most doctors know nothing about tattoo after care and some of them are prejudice against tattoos. They often time prescribe unnecessary drugs and treatment that can make the healing even worse.

A professional tattoo artist has been trained in healing correction. They know what infected tattoos look like and will only send you to a doctor when necessary. Seeing the right person can save you time and money, not to mention the finished look of your tattoo.

Aftercare Mistakes

Neglect -

If you don't practice good personal hygiene, pick your tattoo, wear tight clothing or let clothing stick to it, scrub the tattoo, or take too long or are not careful in the shower, your tattoo will not look nice when it is finished healing. It can have ink missing and sometimes heavy scar tissue over it.
Always follow the care instructions. If you feel like you don't understand them, please call and ask for help. Though we can not correct healing issues without actually seeing the tattoo, we are happy to teach you more about our healing instructions.

We'd rather spend a few extra minutes helping you to have a good healing than to have to try to fix up a tattoo healing gone wrong.

Your Health -

If you have any immunity deficiencies, blood disorders such as diabetes, or are on certain medications such as steroids or blood thinners your tattoo could be affected. It could take longer to heal and not turn out very well.

It is a good idea to consult your doctor before getting a tattoo if you suspect there may be a problem. It is a good idea to inform your artist of any health issues so they can tailor the healing to meet your needs.

Damaged Skin -

Long term cigarette smoking, drinking too many soft drinks, eating poorly, and over exposure to the sun damages skin. A tattoo on damaged skin will rarely look as good as one on healthy skin.

Sometimes the colors and lines aren't as bright or clear as they would have been and the artists can not do anything about it. If you have damaged skin you will have to keep your expectations reasonable. Sometimes if the skin is damaged the artist will want to do the tattoo in stages as avoid overworking* it and to hopefully make the healing process easier on you.

If your skin is older, thin, weak, or sun damaged it can also be harder to heal. However, with a little patience and care the tattoo can heal out fine. So be sure to follow the directions carefully and for the full length of time, which can be longer than healthy skin

(*When the skin is damaged it is very easy for the artist to accidentally overwork the tattoo. Doing this it can also cause the scabbing to be thicker. If this happens it isn't the end of the world. Just be patient and when the tattoo is completely healed your artist will want to touch it up for you.)

Sun Exposure -

The sun is your tattoos worst enemy, if you expose your healing tattoo to the sun it can fade the ink before it is even healed. Tattoos that are exposed to the sun too soon look faded, blurry, washed out and much older than they should. Under no circumstances expose your healing tattoo to prolonged direct sunlight or tanning.

Even a healed tattoo, with time, will fade when exposed to the sun or tanning beds. If you must expose your healed tattoo to those evil UV rays are sure to use a high SPF sun block (at least 45)

Allergic Reactions to Latex -

If you are allergic to latex you will more than likely know before you get your tattoo. Let the artist know so they can accommodate you. The signs of an allergic reaction to latex are extreme rash/redness in the case of latex (from gloves worn by the artist) we can use non-latex gloves and tape on you.

Allergies to Tattoo Ink -

Allergic reactions to tattoo ink are very, very, rare but unfortunately possible. Most professional tattoo pigments are made out of natural ingredients that shouldn't cause a problem. They have been proven by their use successfully in the tattoo industry for many years.

Most people don't have any idea they are allergic to certain colors of ink until after the tattoo has been applied. However we have noticed that people who are allergic to metals and have reactions to cheep jewelry often do react. At our shops, we have only seen reactions with one particular red which we rarely use.

If you are allergic to a pigment it will be evident by just that particular color bubbling and raising off of your skin. It looks like a blister or a raised red mole. It will itch and not look completely healed no matter how long it has been.

You have two choices. One is to remove the offending color or to use hydrocortisone cream to control the itching and promote healing which can take up to 5 years. Removal is not any more painful than the tattoo process and after it heals another color can be used to finish the tattoo.

If you are concerned about having a reaction to tattoo ink ask your artist about doing a "prick test" where a small dot of each color to be used in your potential artwork is tattooed under your skin at least 10 days before your tattoo. This will cost you extra money, but if you have a lot of allergies sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry.

Exposures to Toxins or Bacteria -

If you work/live in an environment with dirt and filth you run the risk of infection. Emergency rooms, nursing homes, hospitals, being around animals & their waste, toxic chemicals, and filth of all kinds can cause serious infections.

It is nearly impossible to get an infection in a professionally applied tattoo. Tattoo shops are required to use more safety precautions than hospitals, doctors, and dentists do. Most shops are inspected regularly by the local health department and display a certificate of their status. If you are still worried about the shop, go someplace else.

Be smart and use common sense. If you have a dirty job, wear loose protective clothing and do not touch your tattoo unless you have washed your hands. Dirty bedding is another problem. Put fresh sheets on your bed if you haven't done so within a few days of getting your tattoo. Wear clean clothing. Use clean towels and washcloths.

Advices from Family & Friends -

When things go wrong people tend to panic. Tattoo healing problems are not an emergency.
If you think that you are having a reaction to your tattoo or the aftercare, the best thing to do is to go back to the tattoo shop where you got the tattoo. It is very important that you consult your artist.

After looking at the problem and asking a few basic questions they can tell what the issues are and help you over come them. Very few healing problems are unsolvable or require medication.

Do not go to your friends and family for advice. They do not have the training to help you. There is a lot of out of date tattoo folk lore going around. Everyone you talk to will have a different opinion and idea of what to do. This can be dangerous.

Advices from Other Tattoo Shops -

Do not go to another tattoo shop. Each artist uses the care instructions that they know will heal their work the best. This is usually different from one artist to another. What works well for one artist can mess up someone else's work.

Another problem with going to a different shop is that tattoo shops are very competitive with each other and an unethical unprofessional tattooist will lie to persuade clients to switch artists. They will sometimes go so far as to give out bad advice to ensure the failure of the tattoo.

Do not call around, or look for advice on the internet. NO ONE can help you without seeing the tattoo first.

Your artist knows how you can save your tattoo if you deal with the situation right away. Do not rely on outside sources.

Do the right thing. Take care of your investment. You're going to have it the rest of your life...

Kita Kazoo has 20+ years of tattoo experience and is co-owner of Happy Valley Tattoo & Piercing in American Fork, Utah. You can see photos of her studio and some of the tattoos she has done at her website - tat2me.com.

Star Foot Tattoos - Locating Great Star Designs For Your Feet

       Most people will stumble through the internet pretty aimless, trying to find good star foot tattoos. A hue portion on these folks will not even find "one" websites that has the quality artwork that they want and that is necessary to make a real live tattoo. This needs to be reversed and I know just that way to do it, so that you can get the quality star foot tattoos most people never get to see.

The internet is always growing and more tattoo art is thrown on the web on a daily basis. It's too bad that most of it is the same generic, cookie cutter junk that's been floating around for over nine years. Every new gallery that pops up seems to have the same exact old artwork that every other low end website has. The sad part is that this is all people see, even when looking for something as simple as star foot tattoos.

Why is this happening so often? It happens mainly because nine out of ten people will only use search engines to find them. It's just not a sure way to locate the good, crisp, quality tattoo designs. All that pulls up is a completely randomized list of these low end places and each of them have the same old, generic junk. The truly good tattoo galleries wind up mixed up in the middle of the thousands of websites that pop up when you conduct a search engine result. It might take weeks (unless you have a whole lot of spare time) to find even a couple websites that feature good star foot tattoos.

So, what can you do about this problem? Well, you have two ways to go about locating the galleries that have quality star foot tattoos. The first way to do it would be to keep on chugging along through those 1000's of search engine results. Thats not very reasonable, though. The second way would be to start using the power of forums. If you use the bigger forums on the web, you can easily find many of the hidden galleries that most people never get to see.

Why is this? Because the larger forums are usually packed full of past and present topics on tattoo related subjects. If you want to get a hold of great star foot tattoos, spend a little time skimming through some of those topics, because you will get to read about where people all over the globe are coming up with fantastic tattoo art. New, fresh designs are out there and this can show you where a lot of them are. It's that simple.

Finding good star foot tattoos can be as hard as catching a caffeinated cat, unless you take a different approach and use it to your advantage.

Star Tattoos Naturally Shine

         No matter what size star tattoos are rendered on ink, they seem to shine all the time. This makes them a favorite choice for those who are looking to get tattooed. Their flexibility in terms of color, size and symbolism ranked them in top spot for being one of the most sought after designs for tattoo newbies and veterans alike.

Stars were believed to influence human life during the early days as divinities or agents of divinity. They can symbolize many things such as supremacy, constancy, vigilance, aspirations or guidance. Meanings can also differ depending on how many points a star has. In the world of tattoos, stars as designs vary for both men and women.

Nautical star tattoo is a favorite design for men because it can make them appear very masculine. The nautical star is a 5-pointed star with 3d illusion; the points are split in half and filled with an alternating color (usually black-red or black-white). Sailors during ancient times rely on stars to find their way and get them back home safely. Thus nautical star tattoos stand for protection and guidance, probably an indication of finding one's path in life. Men usually prefer them embedded their on arms or chest.

Traditionally shooting stars were meant to denote a new birth and changes in ones life and also a wish for a better life. Shooting star tattoos are very pretty and versatile on women. They are placed on lower stomach, shoulder blade, arm, foot or ankle, usually to exude sex appeal. They are suggestive of going for one's dreams or goals in life or an indication of wishes coming true. They can also be an expression of one's inner desire to be a star and they generally look cool and sexy. Just like the brief wonder of seeing a shooting star race across the night sky, shooting star tattoos can also symbolize a brief fleeting moment in ones life. Whether inked in variety of colors or just plain black, shooting star tattoos always come out very striking and interesting.

Aside from nautical and shooting stars, there are literally hundreds of variations for these tattoos. There are star tattoos group together with the sun, or the moon, or all three of them together. There are Star of David, pentagram and six pointed stars. There are even designs combine with other celestial bodies like planets and comets as if mimicking the galaxy. They can also be executed and look great wit tribal or Celtic touch.

Whether it be a nautical star for men and shooting star for women or combine with other heavenly bodies, star tattoos are exuberant and naturally dazzle and will always be a favorite.

Small Feminine Tattoos - A New Frontier in Ink

      Tattoos are rapidly growing in popularity across the United States. At one time, they were considered culturally taboo - something that only rock stars, or members of the military, or bikers, got. Would it surprise you to learn that these boundaries are breaking down? Now, many women are choosing to take the plunge and get inked, and they're often getting small feminine tattoos.

The wonderful thing about tattoos is how much individuality you can demonstrate through them. For example, a tattoo doesn't just have to be your name in plain script anymore. You can choose to embellish your initials with flowers or butterflies, or with your favorite colors. If you like elaborate cursive scripts, you can ask your tattoo artist to use one of these scripts. It's sure to accent your femininity.

Tattoos can also vary by size. If you like the idea of a tattoo, but are afraid of the potential ramifications, you still have many options. You can get a small tattoo on your back, or your foot, or your stomach - somewhere that employers, colleagues, or co-workers won't be able to see.

If you think that tattoos are not feminine, think again! A small tattoo can be a wonderful way of accenting your most feminine features. A small butterfly or rose on the small of your back can draw attention to your sensuous curves. A sun or other ring around your navel can be an incredibly sexy turn-on.

Do you consider yourself religious? If so, you can show just how important your spirituality is by getting a tattoo that represents its importance to you. Some Christian women choose to get small crosses tattooed on their bodies to remind them of Jesus' sacrifice. Some women who practice Asian religions may tattoo the yin-yang symbol to remind them of the importance of balance. Some Jewish women may tattoo the Star of David to tie them to their ancient tradition's history and lineage.

When you think about getting a tattoo, you should always do your research. Safety is the most important concern to keep in mind. Even if you're just getting a small tattoo, you are still at risk for infections, so make sure you choose a clean studio that has all the appropriate certifications. The vast majority of tattoo parlors are perfectly safe, but it's always best to be sure.

You should also meet with the artist who will be doing your tattoo before your appointment to make sure that you get exactly what you want. You should be as clear as possible about your desires, and might even want to bring a drawing to use as an example. Remember, it's your body and your money - make sure get what you pay for!

The American tattoo culture has undergone dramatic changes in the past few years. Tattooing is a game that's not just for the boys anymore. Instead, women are free to make their own choices, and more and more of them are opting for small feminine tattoos. You can truly stand out as an individual without losing your femininity.

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Rap Tattoo - The New Trend of Rap Stars

     Many different tattoo designs gain popularity, especially owing to their meanings, symbolism and the interest they create among individuals. Some good examples are tattoos in relation to civilizations (like Aztec, Celtic, etc), flowers (like lotus, rose, etc) and many more. Similar to these tattoos, sport-savvy people tattoo their favorite sports team's logo or sports star's number and lovers of rap artists tattoo their favorite rap artists.

Recently rap tattoos have become more popular among the music lovers. This has led to an extraordinary blend of cultures. Many of us want to copy the hot trends among the celebrities. Though only celebrities, singers, movie stars, etc had the public attraction, now the rap artists have come up similar to their levels and form the next class of celebrities. Among those artists, the anti-hero sort has won over all other types.

News in the 24/7 television channels are mostly regarding these rich gangsters and their experience in making their rap videos. This particularly fits in those rap stars like Hummer appearing with gold chains in his videos or Lincoln Navigator appearing with hot babes and wearing tongs in his videos. Which guy in his right mind will never want to be in such a dream? Even those who are not interested in rap or who comment outwardly that it is never their dream, will certainly have an internal attraction to such a life.

These dreams were the basis for the new trend of rap artists in tattoo art. Recently, there are a huge number of individuals getting a tattoo of their favorite rap artists. Even the most visited pages on the internet will be those tattoo galleries, which contain some great ones like Nelly tattoo, 50-cent tattoo or Tupac. In addition, many more are requesting the latest photos or copies of their favorite rap stars to get tattooed. The most popularly requested one is the copy of Nelly with cards, spelling the letters N E L L Y one on each card.

Such items are gaining fame and they have produced a strange blend between the celebrities and the gangster rap artists. All those days when people expected a tattoo with an angel are gone.

tattoos star new