Tattoos and Body Art on Hollywood Celebrities

Celebrity tattoos are becoming more and more visible and socially acceptable in mainstream pop culture these days. Angelina Jolie recently voted most sexy woman has plenty of tattoos and is probably the most famous and desirable celebrity with tattoos in Hollywood. Her tattoos to date consist of tribal dragons, a Thai tiger, and various Latin sayings across her shoulders and arms.

This surge in popularity of celebrity tattoos began in the 1960s. Lyle Tuttle the forefather of American tattooing tattooed Janis Joplin. Time was when tattoos were the preserve of those on the fringes of society but now it is not uncommon to see celebrity tattoos. Even super models such as Kate Moss and Sarah O'Hare strut around flashing their body art on the cover of glossy magazines or on the cat walk.

Cherry Blossoms, Rose, Lotus Tattoos and More - Beautiful and Classic Flower Tattoo Design

Flower tattoos are classic and never go out of style. It started way back with a rose tat which was a favorite among bikers in the '60s. When more complicated shading of tattoos were introduced, other floral styles follow - the Hawaiian flowers like hibisus, orchid and plumeria and of course, the Japanese sakura or cherry blossoms. The very meaningful lily and lotus also became favorites not only because of their beauty but also because of the deep symbolism attached to them.

Flowers have always been a favorite among tat enthusiasts especial with the females because of their naturally exquisite beauty and the meaningful representation attached to them. When it comes to preferred tat locations for floral designs, anything goes as you see them everywhere. Lately, the rib cage have been becoming a trendy and sexy location for flower images. Perhaps, the cherry blossoms is the most popular one you can see on the rib cage;some have focused on the beauty of the sakura itself while others chose to have it tattooed as a cherry blossom tree.

Dragon Tribal Tattoo Designs - Top 4 Dragon Tattoos

One of the most popular and commonly seen tattoo designs are the dragon tribal tattoos. Many people have always been attracted to dragons and these tattoo designs can be inked any where on the body. It's because of this versatility why dragon tattoos are so popular. They symbolize power, danger, luck, freedom, rage, and destruction. Men are seen as the guardians of their family, so some men get images of dragons tattooed on their body to represent protection.

Although some people get dragon tribal tattoos to follow their tradition, others get these tattoos simply because they love them. There are many different designs and as you can expect, all of them are unique in their own way. Take a look at the top 4 dragon tattoo designs.

Cherryblossom Tattoos and The Meaning

Women in search of the perfect tattoo have millions of designs to choose from, including the distinctive cherry blossom.

But the task can often be overwhelming. Many women don't want anything too "girly" or ultra-feminine, but at the same time don't want something that's too strong or brash for their personalities. There's also the added danger of getting anything that's too generic or overused.

In reality, the cherry blossom tattoo is the best of both world's a perfect balance of strength and femininity. Because the varieties and styles of this tattoo are nearly as numerous as tattoo artists themselves, it's important to keep some specific things in mind. Since a tattoo will last for the rest of your life, you don't want to make the mistake of deciding on something that you may change your mind about a few years down the road.

A lot of people don't realize that the decision of choosing the appropriate tattooist can be just as important as choosing the tattoo itself. Asian artwork is notoriously intricate and complicated, so it's vital that the artist has a lot of experience with this style of design. Ask to see the portfolios of the tattooists you encounter. Make sure the person you choose has adequate or (preferably) vast experience with the cherry blossom tattoo. It helps if he or she understands the cultural and iconic background of this symbol as well. Its meaning can shine through in the most unexpected of ways.

The Japanese use the cherry blossom as a symbol to demonstrate how fleeting life is. This interpretation can be double-edged can carries two meanings. Although the idea that life is ethereal and transient can bring sorrow, it can also encapsulate the idea that "This too shall pass." In other words, no hardship that we encounter in life will last forever. Just as our joys can be temporary, so too can our sorrows be impermanent. We must learn to be grateful for both.

Tattoo art - tattoo studios

The first thing you need to do before actually getting your tattoo, is to do your research. I say this because as much as I love the art of tattoos, I have also heard too many stories of disappointment and tattoos gone wrong. All of which could have been easily avoided by doing some research.

Apart from the fun and exciting part of searching for or designing your very own special tattoo design, you need to spend time researching various tattoo studios and tattoo artists. It is very important that the tattoo studio that you go to has a reputation for keeping high standards of hygiene and cleanliness and is professional about their business. If you walk into a tattoo parlor and the staff are drinking beers while tattooing, then that's a sure sign for you to walk out the door straight away. However, if you find you are having to pay a little more for going to a tattoo studio that uses quality machines and needles, and high grade inks, then it is definitely worth it. The last thing you want is to get a skin infection or disease because the tattoo equipment was not sterilized properly or the inks were of a low grade. As for the tattoo artist, you also want to make sure they have high standards of personal hygiene and artistic skill. You're basically allowing them to stick a whole bunch of needles into you, so it would be a good idea to ask him/her about their experience with tattooing. Find out how long they have been doing it and ask to see a portfolio of their work. Seeing examples of their work will help you with choosing the right tattoo artist, as each artist has their own style, which may or may not be what suits you. There are not lack of directories of tattoo studios and tattoo shops. So it is not hard to "find tattoo studio" per-se. However, it is difficult to tell which one has good tattoo artist and equipment. After you've flipped your list of tattoo studios, the next thing to do is to visit them. Before you even enter a studio, get in your head that you are THE customer, and don't let anyone or the atmosphere intimidate you. A lot of tattoo studios are a small, a little dark and the people inside has all sorts of fierce looking tattoos. Go in confidently and look around. If you meet with mean artists, leave immediately. Getting a tattoo should be a pleasant event. Next, do take a look around the shop. Akin yourself to window shopping. Look at the neatness of the stop. It is likely that there will be pictures and Flash (tatoo designs) all over the walls. There may also be price list and regulations. Look for signs that indicate sanitation. This is important in an age of infectious disease