Getting a Tattoo

Monday, April 16, 2007

Everything You Need to Know About Christian Cross Designs

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

The Various Types of Christian Crosses Available

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

• The Latin Cross Design

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

• The Crucifix

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

• The Celtic Cross

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

• The Anchor Cross

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

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

Friday, February 23, 2007

Designs of Tattoos

Getting a tattoo is quite a common thing. Whether it is a small one that is placed on the hand, or a huge design which covers an arm or even the whole of the back, whatever it is people love having them. Everyone is different and they will have a different idea as to what they would like on their body.

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There are many different types of tattoos which a person can choose from, but a lot of people like to come up with their own designs. That way the tattoo is completely personal to them. So, just what makes people want to have a tattoo then? Well, tattoos can help to give people confidence and some of the designs can look quite eye catching too. It can help to show a person’s personality by the type of tattoo that they have.

The History of Tattoos

When it comes to tradition and rituals, tattoos have been really important for this. They have been used to put symbols on people’s limbs and bodies in order to show certain things about themselves. For instance, women in Borneo tattooed symbols of their trade on themselves which helped to increase their chances of getting married.

Over the years and even today there are many reasons why tattoos have been used, whether it is spiritual, status or just because they like the look of them. Tattoos go back for thousands of years and even early cavemen used to use natural properties to tattoo various symbols onto themselves.

The Tattoos Which Can Be Used

There is literally a non stop supply of designs which you can have tattooed onto yourself. One of the most popular designs includes Celtic and tribal, but generally you can have absolutely anything that you want on your body. It is even possible to have a picture of a person tattooed onto your back whether it is a loved one or a famous person of some kind. These are not as popular but they can be done.

Another common type of tattoo design is Japanese and Chinese lettering. Some like to have words such as ‘love’ or ‘luck’ tattooed on them in Japanese, whilst others prefer their own name. Often if the right type of tattoo artist is not chosen, people end up with incorrect Japanese wording and it may not necessarily say what it was meant to. That is why it is so important to choose a professional who has a lot of experience within their field.

Overall all you need in order to find the right design for you is your imagination. What do you feel drawn to? Do you like certain shapes? Would you like a love heart with a small Celtic design around it? No matter what you want it can be created so look around for inspiration in order to find the right design for you. If you are good at drawing you could even design your own tattoo from your imagination. Whatever you choose to have, there is certainly a design out there for you.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Everything You Need to Know About Star Design Tattoos

Not many people think of having star tattoos done, but they can actually look quite good if they are designed properly. You may not think about it, but there are actually a variety of different shapes, sizes and types of star tattoos to choose from and each can look unique in its own way.

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It is mainly women who choose to have a star tattoo done; after all, it is not a very manly image! Many women prefer to have the stars quite small on areas such as the hip, just above the breast or on their bottom. Some even like to have them on their ankles or on their neck. Generally though they are small, but it is entirely possible to have a large one covering the whole of your back if you prefer!

What Various Star Designs Mean

As well as looking pretty, star designs do tend to have different meanings. There are 4 pointed stars, 5 pointed stars, 6 pointed stars and so on and each has its own meaning. Some of the most popular pointed stars include:

The 4 Pointed Star

The 4 pointed stars are by far one of the most common stars designed today. The points are designed either extremely sharp or quite curvy, depending upon the individual’s personal taste. It is thought that early American native tribes especially liked the 4 pointed stars and they used them on pottery and on rocks as well as in other parts of their lives. So, if you are interested in associating your tattoo with Native American culture, the 4 pointed stars may just be for you.

The 5 Pointed Star

If you choose a 5 pointed star, you are usually generally into things such as pagan, the devil or pentagrams. These are another extremely common design and they do have a lot of history behind them. Most types of 5 pointed stars are associated with a dark meaning so if you do not want that, it would be better to have a more comical 5 pointed star design and perhaps stick with a pentacle instead.

The 8 Pointed Star

The 8 pointed stars are not generally as common as the others, but it does have a lot of meaning behind them. It is the symbol of the cross of Saint John and it was the emblem of the Knights of Malta. They used the star to symbolize each of the knight’s virtues and those were Tact, Perseverance, Gallantry, Loyalty, Dexterity, Explicitness, Observation and Sympathy. These days the design is common with fire-fighters across America

Sunday, February 4, 2007

How to Make Your Celtic Tattoo Unique to You

If you have been thinking about getting a Celtic style tattoo, you may have been wondering just how to make it personal to you. It could be that you are looking for something which is popular, but at the same time you still want to stand out. If that is the case, you should find that it is extremely easy to find a Celtic design especially to suit you. You just have to know what Celtic designs are as well as having a little imagination!

The Types of Celtic Design Tattoos

There are a large number of Celtic designs available and you can choose form animals, armbands, knots, crosses and other various shapes. Mainly Celtic tattoos are black with skin showing through to finish the design. However, it is completely possible to have color added to your tattoo to make it a little brighter.

The knots are particularly common because they symbolize to many people, a never ending and joining unity. It represents their life and many people also think the knots look really good. Now, generally the knots can come in a large variety of shapes and sizes and you can add whichever color to them that you want to. So, if you are interested in having a knot done, make sure that you have an idea of what colors you would like and how you would basically like it to look. A trip to a tattoo store will allow you to see the various designs that the store offers, or you could always take in your own design to see if they could do it for you.

If you are stuck for inspiration, the Internet is a great resource and there you will find thousands of pictures of Celtic designs and that should help you to find one which is right for you! It is important to know what you are interested in. The only way you can have a tattoo which is personal to you, is by adding something in it which is personal to you in some way. What do you believe in? Is there a certain Celtic design which you feel represents how you are as a person? If so go for that and ask the tattoo artists to include it in the design for you. It might take a while but with a bit of thought and effort, you will eventually come up with the perfect design for you.

Overall Celtic designs are popular, but they are also extremely difficult to do. This means that you will need to find a suitable tattoo artist in your area. They should specialize in Celtic tattoos; otherwise you could end up with something you are really not happy with and the tattoo could even end up getting infected if they do not know what they are doing.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Thinking of Having a Tattoo? Then Why Not Try Out Celtic Designs

If you are thinking of having a tattoo but you are not sure which style to go for, a Celtic tattoo may be exactly what you need. They are by far the most popular forms of tattoos and they come in a variety of different colors and styles to suit most people’s tastes. So, just what are they and what do they mean?

The Meaning behind Celtic Tattoos

Most people choose their tattoos for the meaning behind them. Many like to have their names or the names of their partners, tattooed in Chinese letters on their body. Others like to have various animals tattooed to represent their character. So just why should you choose a Celtic design? Well, the meaning behind each one is different and so the reason you choose one particular design will be personal to you.

Celtic tattoos generally are quite old and the meaning behind them differs for each person. Mainly people see Celtic tattoos as ancient and as a chance to get in touch with a certain feeling rather than making the tattoo look like a physical object. There are no real particular sets of people who use the Celtic tattoos, though they are sometimes associated with a gothic theme.

The Most Common Celtic Style Tattoos

One of the most common Celtic tattoos has to be the Celtic armband tattoo. Many people, including various celebrities, like to have the armband tattoo as a popular symbol. Whilst they are extremely popular, it is possible to make yours unique, as there are literally hundreds of styles which you can choose from. You can even combine two styles to create that extra unique look for you.

If you do like a particular animal such as a tiger, frog or a wolf, often tattoo artists can create a unique Celtic tattoo incorporating that animal for you. Animals do play a big part in Celtic designs as many people believe that they have a sacred animal associated with them since they were born. That was especially true in the olden days but today many people still believe it. So, if you do believe it an animal’s Celtic tattoo design of your choice would obviously be a great choice for you.

Overall Celtic tattoos are definitely one of the most common types of tattoos around today and there is an almost unlimited number of designs available for you to choose from. Whether you want an animal tattoo, a Celtic knot tattoo or even a Celtic cross tattoo, it can be achieved. It is completed possible to take more than one Celtic theme and incorporate it into something which has meaning to you. So, just because they are so popular, it does not mean that you have to use something which hundreds of other people have too. All tattoos can be personal to you no matter whether they are Celtic or not.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Cross Tattoo Designs

You do not have to be particularly religious to have a cross design tattoo. However, many people do have spiritual beliefs and the cross often symbolizes those beliefs for them. Whilst many of us see the cross in only one way, it has actually been redesigned over the years and different beliefs use it in a different way. So, if your intention is to have a cross design tattoo for yourself, make sure that you learn a little more about them beforehand in order to get the right type of tattoo for you.

Non Christian Crosses

If you are looking for a non traditional, non Christian cross tattoo design, there are actually many to choose from. It all depends upon your beliefs or your own individual taste as to which ones you actually finally decide upon. Some of the most popular non-Christian crosses include:

The Greek Cross

This design in particular dates back quite a while. It is supposed to symbolize the sky and the God ‘Anu’ and it has also been linked as a sun worship symbol throughout the years.

The Tau Cross

Whilst this is widely used for non-Christian designs, it is still used in Christian designs too. The T shape in the design is used to symbolize the hammer of Thor and in some ancient Mayan inscriptions, there are people captured worshipping with a T-shaped cross and a bird perched on its horizontal arm. As well as that, this cross has also been used to represent the God ‘Tammuz’.

The Chinese Cross

Many people love the Chinese tattoo designs and the Chinese cross is certainly no different. The cross itself is associated with the Chinese ideogram for the word ‘earth’. Some Chinese people go by the old saying that ‘God fashioned the earth in the form of a cross’ and that is where their cross tattoo comes from. Many people who are not Chinese themselves, like the way that the Chinese think about this type of cross and that is what spurs them on to get one of their own.

Gothic Crosses

The Gothic cross has become more and more popular as time as gone on. There are many fans of the Gothic theme and Gothic crosses have fast caught up with Christian crosses as people like the way that they look. The cross itself is generally dark colored and it is designed in a Germanic style. They are associated with Anne Rice’s New Orleans tales.

Overall there are a large range of non-Christian crosses and the ones listed above are some of the most popular. So, if you are thinking of using a non-Christian cross as a tattoo design, ensure that you find out the true meanings behind them before rushing ahead and having one done regardless.