I will admit that I have wanted to get some sort of Asian type tattoo because I think the Asian symbols are really cool. Plus it is a great conversation piece because people will also want to know your tattoo says/means. But to be honest you have got to be super careful about what you get tattooed on you. Mainly, because there are a lot of cases where people get some Asian symbol tattooed on them thinking it means something to find out later that it means something completely different and often something embarrassing.

So if you want to get an Asian type tattoo you need to make 200% sure what you are getting is really what you think you are getting. I would first do a lot of research about what word you want and make sure that every search you find is the same symbol. Or even better, if you know someone of Asian descent then ask them for clarification. I for one wanted to get the symbols for Karma tattooed on me but after doing research I found several different symbols. So to be on the safe side, I decided not to get that because I didn't want to be walking around with a tattoo that I thought said Karma and in reality meant evil one or something like that. Also you have got to take in consideration that some American words may not translate in Asian culture so you might have to think of something else. So if you want some sort of Asian styled tattoo make sure you know what you are getting into.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Ashley enjoys writing on her Tattoo themed blog at http://infinitetattoos.wordpress.com please stop by and drop a comment :) For more information and access to over 15,000 tattoo designs online, check out Ashley's sponsor at http://InfiniteTattoos.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_M_Ford

Once you decide a tat is for you, coming up with a killer design is the next step. There are many ways to go about doing it, but you need to make sure you understand what the design means or risk some bad surprises.

Tattoos are so popular today that many people don't really know much about the symbolism many of the designs used to have. From the warrior meanings of many of the Polynesian designs through the biker tattoos, there were certain images that not only stand for something, but can be a real challenge to others. Get one of these designs and you can be advertising something you might not realize nor want!

There are two areas you really want to be careful with when it comes to modern designs - gang and prison tats. If you get a gang tat on purpose or accident and are not in that gang, it is going to be a very bad day when you meet someone from that gang. The same goes with prison tats. Consider the following.

Like four leaf clovers? They are pretty popular, but some of the designs carry some serious claims. If you have "AB" or a "666" on your body as well, it can mean you are claiming to be a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, a serious prison gang. You are asking for serious violence if either a member of that group or another gang sees the tat!

Spider webs on the elbows or shoulders are a common prison tat. They mean the person did time in the "grey motel". Doing time is something people take seriously and you are going to have problems if someone finds out you have the tat, but did not actually do time. You will be viewed as a fraud and treated accordingly.

Most people go about coming up with tat designs one of two ways. They see something they like and ask for it from the tattooist or they draw it themselves. You have to be pretty unlucky to pick up a design that is going to cause you problems, but it happens more often than you might think. To avoid these problems, make sure to check out the design against known lists of gang and prison tats. You should also go ahead and ask the tattoo artist if there are any meanings you should know about.

That is, of course, unless you intentionally want one of these tats. In that case, buyer beware!

Boris Gibson is with CustomTattooStudios.com - find info on tats as well as custom tattoo studios across the country. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Boris_Gibson

Tattoos are a great way to express your individuality. As a matter of fact, there are a wide range of tattoos that carry their own meaning and symbolism specifically intended to convey a symbolic visual representation. All you have to do is simply choose from the many available tattoo designs that you encounter.

A great choice for a tattoo design is from among the many different kinds of flowers. Lots of people choose floral tattoos and one type that has become popular is the lotus flower tattoo. As well as being a beautiful and exotic plant the lotus flower holds some strong, unique, and deep meanings.

The symbolism behind the lotus flower is directly related to how the lotus flower begins its life and continues to grow. Imagine a body of still water in the depths of a tropical forest; when you think of the bottom of that pond, it becomes difficult to imagine anything pleasant. Perhaps the first term you would associate with that type of water is "pond scum". Yet, this is where the beautiful and majestic lotus flower begins to grow.

The lotus flower begins its growth at the bottom of the pond as a small bud attached to a vine. Gradually, the vine climbs toward the surface of the water though strangely the bud of the lotus flower faces downward whilst the vine grows toward the sunlight. But as the bud gets closer to the surface it finally turns to meet the sunlight. When the vine has grown long enough for the bud to become clear of the water it blossoms into a stunning flower.

The symbolism attached to all this is the miracle that something so beautiful could begin its life and develop from the depths of such slimy muck. When it finally finds the sunshine of the daylight and grows free of the muck and the slime, it blossoms into something very beautiful. Some of the meanings of a lotus tattoo are below:

* It represents a separated love and the nostalgia associated with it.
* It sometimes symbolizes birth as well as the real beauty deep within.
* It represents a new beginning in life.

A lotus flower tattoo can represent something truly significant and, provided they are drawn well, they are also very beautiful to look at. If you can find a tattoo artist who can truly capture the essence and beauty of a lotus flower on your skin, a lotus flower tattoo on your body can be a work of beauty. Most lotus flower tattoos reflect the range of vibrant colours they have in real life.

If you are planning to have a tattoo inked onto your skin, a lotus tattoo design is indeed a great choice and you will certainly be able to flaunt your tattoo with confidence and pride anytime you want. So, what are you waiting for, go grab your own tattoo with a lotus flower design now.

For tips on tattoos and reviews on tattoo designs visit: http://www.TattooGuide.info

Tattoos, and the associated art of tattoo, have seen an enormous growth in popularity over the last few years. This is due to the concept of permanent body art becoming more socially acceptable and the greater availability of tattoo artists.

There are many skilled tattoo artists from whom you can obtain professionally created body art. But if you are unsure what kind of design you would like, most parlours offer catalogue books full of art from which to choose or to base your preferred tattoo design on. You will not only have to select the tattoo design you desire but also the location you would like the tattoo placed. Wrist tattoos are one possibility you can consider and in fact wrist tattoos are one of the most popular types of tattoos.

If you are considering a visit to a tattoo parlour for some artwork on your wrist it is advisable to keep the following in mind:

Pain Level: As with any tattoo you will always experience some pain no matter what the location of your ink. However, wrist tattoos can be more painful than other body areas because the skin is thinner here than on other parts of your body. However, as the available area is comparatively small, the tattoo is likely to be smaller and will therefore be completed quicker. This means that even though the pain may be more intense you should not have to endure it for too long.

Healing Time: Due to their exposed position, and because the hands and forearms are in constant use, healing time for wrist tattoos can be as much as two or more weeks longer than for a tattoo on a less exposed area of your body.

More Touch-Up Work: As already mentioned, the wrists are more exposed than other parts of the body; your wrist tattoo may fade quicker as a result of this greater exposure thus requiring more touch-up work to maintain its appearance.

Good Value: Because wrist tattoos are considerably smaller than the tattoos you would put on other parts of the body, the cost is lower. The larger and more colourful the design you choose, the more you will have to pay, but as wrist tattoos are usually small and relatively simple in design, two colours are often sufficient.

Easily Concealed: A definite advantage in choosing a wrist tattoo is that they are fairly easy to hide if you should need to. Simply by wearing a long sleeved shirt or by using a suitable watch or bracelet you can continue with your professional job or any other situation where a more discrete design is called for. Overall getting a wrist tattoo is a reasonable option, as long as you remember you may have to hide it.

Wearing a tattoo is a great way to express your inner self but choosing where you wish to have the tattoo is just as important, almost as important as knowing what design you want. The location will dictate the dimensions of the tattoo you will be able to have. Wrist tattoos are very popular and worth considering if you desire a smaller, more discrete type of tattoo.

For tips on tattoos and reviews on tattoo designs visit: http://www.TattooGuide.info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernice_Eker

It's not like that are a lack of quality ankle tattoos on the internet. While there is a huge amount of quality artwork out there, most people are stuck seeing the same kind of generic designs over and over again. Why does this happen? I will tell you why this goes on, as well as a simple way to avoid it. I will also share a simple tip, which can help you find tons of the great ankle tattoos you may have been missing out on.

Let's start with revealing why so many men and women keep seeing a sea full of generic, cookie cutter art when looking for ankle tattoos. It all boils down to one very simple tool: Search engines. This is what 95% of us will end up using when looking for tattoo artwork. While it is good for pulling up thousands of results, most of the galleries are low end places that have nothing but the same bland artwork as two hundred other websites.

If you like generic ankle tattoos, then this is the way t look for them. There is also the fact that most of these galleries are posting artwork that was not even meant to be used as a real tattoo! That's right. These galleries only care about one main thing, which his to fill their website up with as much content as they possibly can. They don't really care about what "kind" of artwork it is. Who cares if it wasn't meant for people to uses as real ankle tattoos?

Well, you should care, because picking this kind of design could have bad effects. People that choose these designs end up getting inked, only to realize that the finished products doesn't look anywhere near as good as it looked on the paper they printed the design on. I don't think those would be ankle tattoos you would be proud of.

While you are going to bum into this kind of low end artwork in many places, you can cut a lot of it out of the equation by using internet forums. Forums are always packed with topics on tattoo artwork, so it's the perfect places to locate galleries that have quality ankle tattoos. Why? Because there are very knowledgeable people in these topics who are always sharing their links to the great tattoo galleries they have uncovered. You can find a slew of posts where people are sharing their information like this. If anything, it beats trying to weed tough and endless amount of generic ankle tattoos, just to find the one diamond in the rough.

No matter which ankle tattoos you are considering, just make sure you are 100% sure about the one your choose before getting it inked.

Want to know where to find the largest, most original websites to browse for the perfect Ankle Tattoos? Adam Woodham is the author of this article and runs the site Quality Tattoo Art, which features the 3 top websites, with the absolute largest gallery of artwork you can imagine. Finding the perfect ankle tattoos has never been easier. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Woodham

When you're a girl thinking about getting a tattoo, there are lots of options open to you. But the most feminine spots for tats are the lower back and the ankle. Ankle tattoos in particular are a great choice because they draw attention to the leg and look great in heels. Cute ankle tattoos for girls are found in many different styles, designs, and shapes.

A lot of women and girls think that the ankle is the ideal location for tattoos because it's easy to show them off and easy to cover up if you need to. They are a great way to show off the smooth and sleek shape of the leg, so if you have toned and beautiful calves then the ankle is a great location for a tattoo. They're great ways to celebrate summer, as you're mostly living in shorts and sandals during the hot summer months. But it's easy to pull on a pair of jeans and pants if you need to cover up for work or a formal occasion where you want to conceal your tattoo.

Ankle tats are also small, so they are usually on the cheaper end of the tattoo spectrum. Taking a look at the flash art displayed in tattoo studios, or online at Internet tattoo design galleries can show you just how many designs are possible. You can go with something soft and classically girly, like a butterfly, flower, or heart. Or you can go with something a little rougher to show your tomboy side. You can choose from wraparound styles that look like anklet bracelets, or you can tattoo a single image on the outside of the ankle.

There are a few logistical drawbacks to getting an ankle tattoo, namely irritation and pain. Because the ankle is at the end of the leg, ankle tats are prone to bleeding more, so try to stay off your feet for at least a few hours and take it easy for the next few days after getting inked. And if you're getting an ankle tat, it's best to get it in the warm months when you can keep jeans and pants from rubbing on it to irritate it.

Ankle tattoos are also typically more painful than other types of tattoos because of their location. Fleshier areas of the body with more muscle tissue like biceps and thighs are less painful, but areas of thin skin overlaying a bone are going to hurt worse. Unfortunately, this means your ankle tattoo will probably be one of the more painful types.

For more tattoo ideas and designs, please visit: Tattoo Ideas! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsy_Emery

Bird tattoo designs have taken precedence over all other forms and types of tattoo designs universally. Across time, space and cultures, the bird has stood as a symbol of freedom, of spirit, of soul, of beauty. Flying high in the blue skies, birds are said to be closer to the gods and the heavens, and in many cultures, are viewed as creatures that carry the spirits of the departed to the heavens above.

In the days of old, heroes were always accompanied by birds as they went in pursuit of fiends, ogres, dragons and monsters. In most tales of yore, the birds would fly ahead to spy and return to inform the hero of looming obstacles, thus bringing about the famous phrase, 'a little bird told me'!

Bird tattoos are also very popular due to their connection with religion as well as the mystical. Birds can be found in every era of history; stick figurines of birds have been discovered in the ancient Egyptian tombs in the pyramids, bedecking Arapaho Ghost Dance costumes, at African traditional rituals and weddings across all religions. Christian portrayals of cherubs and angels show them having wings, which are synonymous with birds. In almost all instances, birds are symbols of all the positive things in life, which is why many people tend to go for bird tattoo designs, especially for their first tattoos.

Generally, a bird tattoo design will consist of a pair of birds, depicted together. They tend to be opposites in characteristics; fair to dark, black to white, big to small. This merely shows the dual nature of the universe; where sadness exists, so does happiness. Where night exists, so does day. In other cases, good and evil are also portrayed by birds, for example, when we have a bird tattoo design of a bird fighting a serpent.

Decidedly, there are some implications to birds that are not completely normal. In China, the bird is called the niao, which also means penis, thereby bringing in sexual overtones into bird tattoos. Also, the double meaning of a cock as either a rooster or a penis dates back to eras past in the Rome of old. Some portrayals of birds are quite negative in impact. In Germany, to be insane can be put politely as to 'have a bird'! 'Bird-brain' is also one of the most famous insults in the Western World, although most people do not associate these negative impressions with bird tattoos designs.

You can get plenty of bird tattoo designs on the internet. In the animal kingdom, bird tattoo designs are only a small part of the entire spectrum. To see other types of animal tattoos, do visit our pages on animal tattoos, insect and reptile tattoos, and sea world tattoos!

Some of the most popular bird tattoos include dove, birds of Prey, eagle, birds of Paradise, peacock, sparrow bird, swallow bird and hummingbird tattoos.

Find out more about the swallow bird tattoos at the best animal tattoo gallery. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Tony