Cherry Blossom Back Tattoo

Cherry blossom tattoos are some of the most popular tattoo designs for women currently. The beauty and delicate nature of a cherry blossom can't be denied. In both Japanese and Chinese cultures the cherry blossom is full of symbolic meaning and significance. Before deciding to get a cherry blossom tattoo design it makes sense to understand the symbolism and deep cultural connections and meaning that this tattoo might hold. After all the best tattoo designs are ones that hold a great deal of symbolic significance. Typically the tattoo that is universally regretted is the one that was gotten while out with a bunch of friends just because they were getting one. So don't fall into the trap and regret your tattoo later in life. Instead if you are planning on getting a tattoo at least take the time to research the symbolism and meaning behind it and see if it speaks to you and if the ideas are significant in your life.

Tattoo Aftercare Tips

1. Clean the tattoo with an ointment or lotion, do this on a regular basis so it does not get infected. Do not use products with tiny or scent, it could ruin he tattoo.

2. Steer clear of hot tubs and water for up to two weeks. Do not swim anywhere or take showers, take baths instead so you don not get the tattoo wet. If you use soap, make sure you remove it quickly.

3. It is normal to experience some peeling or scabbing after a couple days of getting your tattoo. This is normal. However, if you do not like the peeling gently rub it off with a moist towel but be sure to be gentle.

4. Itching is normal as well, but do not pick or scratch as it can ruin the tattoo. As silly as this sounds, a slap will help stop the itch without you ruining the tattoo.

5. Never expose your tattoo to the direct sunlight; the UV rays are detrimental in trying to preserve your tattoo, as it causes it to fade if there is not proper sun protection. Make sure to use sunscreen.

Tribal Back Tattoos

Many ancient tribes used tattoos to mark themselves as a sign of identification and also as a sign of loyalty to a particular tribe. The Maori tribe from New Zealand still use tattoos to mark members of the tribe, and some tribes in Africa too use tribal back tattoos to mark tribesmen. Tattoos have long been a mark of individualistic expression and a symbol of ones faith and belief system. Using the body as a moving canvas, many people are getting tattoos to showcase their views and preferences. The word tattoo comes form the Samoa word 'tatau', Polynesian tribal tattoos are deemed to be as old as the art of tattooing itself. Hawaii has similar culture as the other pacific islands and Hawaiian tribal tattoos are also in great demand nowadays.

Tribal Animal Tattoos

When you visit a tattoo studio, there are so many different tattoo designs to choose from. If you go with a set mind, things are easier. But if you are confused about which type of tattoo you want, the procedure becomes very lengthy and tiring. Tattoos are permanent and hence, you will need to be careful in deciding the tattoo that you want. So, here are some ideas about tribal animal tattoos that can help you in your decision to get inked.

Tribal tattoos have a lot of meaning. In the good old days, these tribal tattoos were used as a means to identify the people based on which group they belonged to, what were their religious beliefs, etc. Thus, people used the tattoos as a means to distinguish between different clans. Tribal animal tattoos also represented the same. Be sure that you go through the tattooing tips before you get yourself a tattoo. People want to get themselves a tribal animal tattoo as they not only look amazing but also have a lot of history behind them.

Native American Tattoos

Nothing catches the eye and brings on awe better than a really good tattoo on a well-toned body. It instantly becomes a fashion statement with the deepest impact. Literally too. But those of us who think of tattoos, as merely a striking fashion statement would need an awakening to what tattoos are really all about. Tattoos aren’t just a fascinating form of art. They delve deeper into the traditions and culture of civilizations that came into existence centuries ago. Tattoos, beyond enhancing beauty, symbolized different aspects of the person it was created on. Tattoos were used for various purposes, as a mark of identification of a particular tribe, to signify the rank or grade of the individual in a tribe, to bestow praise for accomplishment or achievement, and in hope to attain special powers.

Among the oldest in the art, tattoos have been a significant part of the Native American culture for centuries now. There were a variety of reasons why the Native Americans would get tattooed. Many men from the winning tribes of a war would often receive a tattoo signifying their conquest and victory. Many Native American tribes were known by their tattoos. There were different markings that distinguished tribes and the regions they were from. Some Native Americans, especially those from the northwestern parts of America, used tattoos to distinguish and recognize a women’s village. Alaskan tribes used tattoos to mark the killing of an enemy. Many Native American tattoos held mystical or spiritual meaning. Native Americans believed that tattoos gave power to those who wore them on their bodies and/or faces. These tattoos were believed to endow a person with supernatural powers or strength. Native Americans took the tattoo of an animal, object, mythical beings and even gods whose strength and power they wanted to emulate. The Lakota Indians required that both men and women get tattoos to allow them to enter the afterlife, or they believed the spirits of their ancestors would not allow them to enter the afterlife.

Infected Tattoo Care

Having a tattoo is a completely thrilling experience. Tattooing is known to be one of the best ways of expressing yourself and your personality. Tattoos have become widely popular these days and many are seen flaunting them on different parts of the body.

Tattoos can become risky at times though. A tattoo can become infected just like any open wound if neglected. Infected tattoos are not rare and the first step in your best interest is to make sure that your tattoo artist is properly licensed and operates out of a clean shop. This is your first opportunity that can ensure you a good tattooing experience. However, you might develop an infection later on. It is highly important that you follow tattoo aftercare instructions and also learn how to recognize a tattoo infection before you ink. Before we learn about infected tattoo care let us know how to recognize an infected tattoo.

Butterfly Tattoos on Back - Colors

As I said earlier butterflies being so colorful creatures, the butterfly tattoo designs are equally colorful. Usually, a tattoo doesn't look good if you add more than three colors in it. In case of butterfly tattoos on back, you can add many colors, just as a real butterfly has. If you love black ink then you might feel this one is not for you! But, you can always try black butterfly tattoos on back, believe me they look awesome. When you plan to have colorful butterfly tattoos on back, just see to it that the color combination is good. A bad color combination can make your butterfly tattoo look weird. Single colored butterfly tattoos on back with a black outline to it look simply amazing.

Vine Tattoo Designs

The best thing about vine tattoo ideas is their versatile and flexible nature. Thus, there are no specific rules when you want to design a vine tattoo for you. All you need to do is decide the tattoo placement and the type of vine you want in your vine tattoo. The design of the vine tattoo can be decided according to the placement. Vine tattoos that are carved on legs and arms are usually designs that either extend through the complete arm or leg length or that which wrap around them. Ribs, legs, foot, back, shoulders, etc. are some of the popular places for getting a vine tattoo. These tattoos require very less ink but the tattoo design can cover large area of the body.

The tattoos can be very well combined with other tattoo designs like flower tattoos, heart tattoos, angel tattoos, etc. You can go for a vine tattoo that encircles a small heart tattoo or even carve your name along the flow of the vine tattoo. Vine tattoos on leg can be carved to cover the complete leg area or just a part of it. You can place them anywhere between the foot and the hips. Vine tattoos designs for feet, when carved to wrap the ankle and extend over the foot area give striking looks. To know some vine tattoo designs on foot take a look at, vine tattoos on foot. Vine tattoo designs on back can be carved either on the lower back or upper back. One can also go for symmetrically drawn vine tattoos on both the sides or a complete large vine tattoo over the back. One more advantage of vine tattoos is wide scope of using different vibrant colors. Thus, you will not go wrong at all when you want a vine tattoo on your body.

Flower Vine Tattoo Ideas

Flowers and vine tattoos are extremely versatile, as so many flowers and vines are there to choose from. The flowers that are most commonly used for tattooing are, rose, lilies, orchid, plumeria, daisy, jasmine and hibiscus. Among the vines, you can choose ivy, grapevine, kudzu, and also holly. These vines have several deep symbolic meanings attached to them, which too can help you to make a choice. As for example, ivy is regarded as a symbol of love and friendship and for the Romans, it stands for immortality. On the other hand, grapevine was the emblem of the 'chosen people' in Hebrew, and it was used to represent luck and strength.

In Greek mythology, grapevine is the symbol for the God of wine, Dionysus. But, in the Christian art, grapevine was depicted to form the crown of Gluttony, when this sin was portrayed in human form. For the Celtics, vines in general, stand for both strength and determination, while for the pagans it was the symbol of life and death. So, vines could mean several different things in different cultures of the world and you can choose the particular vine, which seems to represent your personality or a particular characteristics. Like vines, different flowers have different meanings such as, rose is the universal symbol for love and passion, while lotus represents spirituality. Read more on flower meanings.

Once you make up your mind for a particular vine and flower, you can find a number of designs to create your own unique flower vine tattoo designs. Along with flowers and vines, you can include leaves and tendrils in your tattoos. However, these are not the only characters that you can include in your vine flower tattoos. A few other inclusions such as, butterflies, letters, initials, birds and heart can too enhance the visual impact of your floral vine tattoos. Flower vine tattoos are usually colorful and you can include flowers of many different colors along with the attractive crawling vines. But, many tattoo lovers prefer only a monochromatic color scheme to create these tattoos. However, be sure to select the right color scheme to make your vine flower tattoos more attractive. Read more on vine tattoo ideas.

As far as placement of flower vine tattoos are concerned, they can look great in almost any part of the body. A crawling vine along with a few small flowers carved along your arms can look really fascinating. Similarly, a long swirling vine with a few small flowers across the lower back region and on the leg, from the ankle to the calf can look equally beautiful. Another favorite area for placing vine tattoos is the side, which provides a lot of space for creating large and elaborate tattoos. The simple and small vine tattoos can be placed on the foot and ankles. Flower vine tattoo on foot is usually kept small, as this area provides limited space. But still, foot is one the favorite location for flower and vine tattoos.

Rose Vine Tattoo Meanings

Roses are perennial flowering vine, that belongs to the genus Rosa. they are popular garden shrubs and also most popular and commonly sold flowers at the florists. Roses have been valued for its beauty and also have a long history of symbolism. For the ancient Greeks and Romans rose was identified with goddess of love, namely Aphrodite and Venus respectively. When a wild rose was placed on the door of a room, it was an indicator, that secret or confidential matters were discussed in the room. The origin of the phrase ‘under the rose’ lies in ancient Roman tradition. It means to keep a secret. For the early Christians, five petals of the rose symbolized five wounds of Jesus Christ. However, since roses also had association with Roman excesses and Pagan ritual, the leaders of the community refused to adopt it. Eventually red rose was accepted as a symbol of the blood of the Christian martyrs. Later roses and white roses to be more precise also came to be associated with Virgin Mary. Read on vine tattoos for women.

Along with all these symbolism attached to the traditional rose tattoo, there are also other meanings attached to the rose vines. The most important symbolism attached to the rose is that of love and beauty. They are also looked upon as symbols of passion and romantic love. Rose tattoos are not only popular with women, but also with the men. A single red rose signifies ‘I love you’, whereas a thornless rose tattoo stands for ‘love at first sight’. On the other hand yellow rose tattoos have come to stand for joy, while white for reverence, light pink for sympathy and admiration and orange rose tattoos for enthusiasm.

Tattoo Aftercare

• Always listen to what the tattoo artist has to say. Most tattoo artists have their own set of instructions about the dos and don’ts of tattoo aftercare. Ensure you follow this routine even if you find it difficult to maintain it everyday. Sometimes, you may need to have the area bandaged to prevent it from being infected. Always stick to the instructions suggested by the tattoo artist in this case.
• Ensure you keep the area bandaged for at least 2 hours once the tattoo is done. Every person has a different texture of the skin and sensitivity factors so make sure you consult with the tattoo artist about this point. Never reuse any bandage.
• Once the bandage is off, wash your new tattoo under running water and use a gentle soap. Use your fingers to gently wash off the surface of the skin.
• Pat the area dry with the help of a clean paper towel. Avoid cloth as it may harbor certain bacteria and cause some reaction with skin.
• Consult your tattoo artist to know which cream would work the best for you. This will help skin to heal faster. Apply a thin layer of the cream and use it at least for 2 days. This will keep the area moisturized and it will also act as an effective disinfectant.
• Keep a check for two days and by the third day, you can switch to a light lotion. Look in the market for specific tattoo aftercare lotions that would be mild and without all the perfumes and additives. This will help to keep the area moist.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun in the first week. After a few weeks, your tattoo will definitely need loads of light and air but overexposure to the sun may not really be good for the tattoo. The UV rays can cause the tattoo to fade at a faster rate. Later on, you can go in for a good quality sunblock.
• It is definitely fine to shower with a new tattoo. Tattoo aftercare in this case would be necessary when it comes to having a luxurious bath in the tub. This should be definitely avoided as soaking a tattoo for longer hours in the water does not exactly prove to be a good idea. You may even have to avoid a good swim for the initial weeks.
• The skin in that area may also peel off after a few weeks. This is normal and would happen because the skin has heeled. In such cases, do not touch that particular area of the skin. This is the time when your tattoo is healing, so simply avoid touching it fretting about it.
• Always try to wear loose fitting clothes. This would help prevent the constant rubbing of the cloth against the skin and also help the tattoo to heal faster.
• In case of specific allergic reactions, you may need to consult the doctor immediately. This can happen because of the inks used or the skin may have reacted in a different way to the cream that is being used. Sometimes, you may require a change in the cosmetics or creams. In such cases, the doctor would be able to guide you which step you need to take with regards to tattoo aftercare.
• In case of swelling, use ice packs on the area. This will help to soothe the inflamed skin.

Cool Chinese Dragon Tattoos

Undoubtedly, the Classic Chinese tattoos have a somewhat unique attraction that can be appreciated very easily irrespective of the fact that very few people who adorn these tattoos fully understand their subtle meanings.

When you are getting a tattoo, aesthetics should be your primary concern, and the Chinese dragon tattoos has this and a lot more – they are indeed well suited for every purpose. While tattoos have always been looked upon as a unique work of art, whether good or bad, Chinese tattoos add to the essence.

For many centuries now, the Chinese dragon has symbolized mystery and power. Depicted in thousands of legends, both Eastern as well as Western, the dragon has indeed provoked man to not only fear it, but to worship it as well. In medieval Europe, it was looked upon as a fire-breathing, bloodthirsty figure. Its ferociousness and malevolence struck terror in every person. However, as you traveled east towards Asia, the opposite was believed of the Dragon. In Asia, the mighty dragon was looked upon as a mythical beast and was celebrated by all for its intelligence, benevolence and good will. Today, the Chinese dragon has become a common symbol amongst many of the Far Eastern cultures.

In fact, most Chinese people are affectionately known as the ‘lung de chuan ren’ or the ‘descendants of the dragon’. So, if you are planning on getting a Chinese dragon tattoo done, then you should know that there seven distinct species of these dragons, namely:

• The Horned Dragon, which is looked upon as the mightiest of all.
• The Celestial Dragon that protects the Gods and supports Heaven.
• The Earth Dragon that rules Mother Earth.
• The Spiritual Dragon controls the rain and wind.
• The Treasure Dragon is considered to be the keeper of precious gems and metals.
• The Winged Dragon is the only type of dragon to have wings.
• The Coiling Dragon lives within the oceans.
• The Yellow Dragon is hornless and is famous for its scholarly importance and knowledge.

Dragons are often viewed, as defenders of treasures and homes and some tattoo designs are amongst the most colorful you will ever see. Many times you will see people with a dragon tattooed all across their backs or extending all the way down their arms. The tiny little tattoo tattooed on a woman’s ankle wont have that big an impact as it would if you had to see a man with a dragon tattooed all across his back.

Of all the mythical beings we know about, the Chinese dragon is by and large the most universal and is usually prominently featured in many different cultures, as they represent the different elements and the four points of a compass. In china, the dragon would symbolize Water, Sky, Earth and the Underworld. In terms of culture, the dragon is indeed a far-ranging character whose bad temper should perhaps be interpreted as being amoral, neither good nor bad. Nature not only nurtures, it has the ability to destroy as well, and this is the same for the dragon. Rain, floods, lightening, comets – all the uncertainty and chaos of the universe is represented in the symbol of the Chinese dragon.

The image of the dragon has always been imagined as a dragon breathing fire. Those are fire dragons. There are water dragons as well that cause the springs to bubble up and sometimes drown people. Whatever may be the type of tattoo you choose for your tattoo, dragons are powerful and are sometimes balanced with other designs like the yin and yang.

The fire dragon tattoo conjures images of conquering all things, while the water dragon represents repressed feelings and emotions and fear. So, if you are planning on getting a Chinese dragon tattoo done, then it is best you do your research well and find out the true meaning of each dragon before you go ahead and allow yourself to be needled. You don’t want to evoke feelings of fear in your onlookers when you only wanted to portray a peace-loving image in the first place.

Equally important is the tattoo artist. Choose the best and most reputed tattoo artist before you make your final decision. The art of drawing Chinese dragon tattoos is indeed a complicated one and you don’t want any amateur artist doing your tattoo and making your dragon look like a crossbreed between an iguana and a T-rex do you? Your dragon tattoo shouldn’t come across as ridiculous looking. So the tattoo artist is very important.

As with most artistic styles and cultural trends, the art of tattooing and tattoos have long since endured various different cycles of popularity – waxing and waning with each passing season. But, the Chinese dragon tattoo has lasted the years and is still one of the most popular tattoo styles.