See larger image The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting a Tattoo (Kindle Edition) By (author) John Reardon List Price: $14.95 USD Release date June 12, 2008.

The Pros And Cons Of Tattoos

Well if you haven’t noticed tattoos have become just as common as earrings. More and more people are choosing to express themselves with tattoos than any other form of self expression. Men are more likely to have a tattoo than Women, around 15% for men and 13% for women.

photo credit: tibchris

So what are the pros and cons of having a tattoo?

Well for the pros argument, tattoos are a great way to tell the world who you are. Either by symbolic design or by shouting out with shocking, violent images. Tattoos can be anywhere on the body so the ability to hide them is a plus and that is determined by the area of the body that the tattoo is on. If you belong to a group or tribe, tattoos can be a way of establishing Rank or depicting your Family Lineage. There are many designs to choose from, Tribal Tattoos, Dragon Tattoos, Cross Tattoos, Star Tattoos, Lower Back Tattoos, Butterfly Tattoos, Celtic Tattoos, and much more.

As far as Tattooing ink, it has come a long way. It used to be permanent but technology has produced a tattooing ink that can be removed far more easily than the others, which gives you the choice to remove it if you’ve made a mistake.

So now for the cons. If you get a tattoo you have to consider the consequences. There are many health risks associated with tattooing, such as Hepatitis, and HIV, so you should take that into account. The possibility of getting a skin infection from the tattooing process is also something to consider. Finding a tattooist that is trained to take the necessary health precautions is very important, so choose wisely especially when it comes to your health.

The tattoo removal industry is alive and well primarily from people who made the mistake of tattooing someones name all over their body, and their no longer with that person anymore. Surgery can be very expensive so make make sure you make the right choice when selecting that intriguing tattoo design.

photo credit: amy_b

The Designs I see on many people are as diverse as the people that have them. From a simple rose, to the most intricate dragon design. Intriguing designs as they are, they can be a display of artful mastery or a mindless disaster. As everyone knows tattoos are an expression of one’s self so make sure you like the design and where you put the design on your body.

So who’s going to tattoo that design on your body? A scratcher? Well lets see what a scratcher is. A scratcher is an untrained tattooists. It is a slang term used in the tattoo profession. They usually teach themselves with the help of Videos and Homemade Tattooing Equipment. They know nothing about cross-contamination prevention or any kind of sterilization process to prevent against the various blood related diseases like hepatitis. They’re part time tattooing wannabes. The scary thing about scratchers is they can inadvertently cause dangerous health risks in the name of being “cool” and give the professional artists a bad name. To them it is a way to make a fast buck or make a name for themselves in whatever little circle of friends they may have.

So what does this mean to the person considering having a tattoo done by a scratcher? There are to many risks to list here but the biggest risk is to your health, and some of them life threatening. Just remember your taking a big risk,  not just to your pocket book but to your overall well being.

Looking for that Great Tattoo Click Here!

The 7 minute video below is a perfect example of why it is important to have your tattoo done by a reputable artist. You decide.

Artists on the other hand have been taught through an apprenticeship program usually from another licensed artist. The student is taught health and safety precautions pertaining to the sterilization of tattooing equipment and the area where the tattooing is done along with the use of disposable gloves by the artist. If the studio is run by a professional,  the student should be taught how to use  single-use needles that have been professionally sterilized,  come packaged in a protective pouch that remains sealed until it is opened in front of the customer.

The local department of health regulates tattoo studios in many jurisdictions which should give the person getting a tattoo some piece of mind about health risks. So make sure you ask a lot of questions before you decide to let someone put that intriguing tattoo design you so thoughtfully picked out on your body.

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Oh yea, Tattoos, you gotta love em. If you think you have a intriguing or unique tattoo design, send me an email, and if it’s not to obscene ( no pics of the nether regions ) I might put it up. If you don’t have a tattoo, and need ideas for a design click on the West Coast.

Most tattoos are chosen for their meaning. Beauty, Remembrance, Position and Rank just to name a few. Whatever the reasons for most people it is a very special event, but for a select few it is a spontaneous decision that usually has the person removing or covering up the tattoo later on in life.

To be sure getting a tattoo is usually a permanent decision, but there are some inks like InfinitInk ™ that can be easily removed by a laser,  much easier than some of the other inks.

Choose your tattoo design diligently after a lot of careful research. Or not, there are a lot of tattoo removal guy’s out there just waiting to get your business.

Now lets talk about free designs. The idea of a free design is tempting,  but free tattoo designs are free for a reason.They usually look cheap. Intriguing Tattoo Designs that are proudly displayed, and done by an reputable tattoo artist is a  better choice than a tattoo done by a scratcher.  More than likely your probably gonna be embarrassed by the quality, and be more inclined to hide your tattoo because of it’s amateurish look. If your looking for that unique or intriguing tattoo design, searching for them on the web as you probably already know is a good place to start.

There are many websites that are available that provide you with very good tattoo designs. Try Chopper Tattoos for starters, arguably it is the world’s largest tattoo collection, their website has tattoo designs like Tribal Tattoos, Dragon Tattoos, Cross Tattoos, Star Tattoos, Lower Back Tattoos, Butterfly Tattoos, Celtic Tattoos, and much more. If you find a couple of designs that you like,  go to your artist and with a few tattoo design ideas on paper,  ask him or her what is the best way the design can be personalized. If the tattooist is rude or not very helpful, leave the shop and find  someone who will listen to you, and who will make you feel more comfortable. Remember pick your tattoos for you,  it’s your skin,  so don’t compromise or loose your dignity over some arrogant ink snob.

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