As They Say, Measure Twice, Cut Once

But in fact, it is better to think 7 times and do once.

We are masters of our life and our own body too. And we are free to decorate it as we want. As you may guess, this conversation will be about tattoos. Many of you already done it, someone is still thinking about it. In a case connected with tattoo's - do not rush. So, here is our list of the top 7 tattoos you should never get.

1. Names of a new boyfriend or girlfriend

It seems that to tell the whole world about your new love is a great idea. It may seem like a grand and romantic gesture, but you have not been with this person long enough to know whether this will continue in the future. Do not hurry with such signs, because life is unpredictable.

2. Crude jokes or images

Remember how certain jokes made you laugh when you were 15, but today they seem stupid. Imagine, what you will think about them at 45. Even such permanent concept as humor can change with time. Depending on the location and quality of course tattoos, it can be difficult to hide or hide if you start to regret it, so it's best to avoid such tattoos.

3. Spontaneous tattoos

Tattoos on your body are forever, so think about what you want to sign. Something that might seem a great idea at the time of a bachelor party or a party in Vegas. But might not seem so terrific for a sober mind the next morning.

4. Tattoos that you don't spell check

When it comes to ink, the auto-correction does not work. Make sure that you get any inscriptions that you double checked the writing and grammar. Believe me, this is very important.

5. Tribal tattoos

Tribal and Maori tattoos are very sacred and important to the cultures from which they originate. If you are not part of this culture, do not destroy the ancient tradition with trendy trends of the 21st century.

6. Tattoos in languages you don't speak or understand

This is an absolute classic. How many people in America and the whole world walking proudly with the name of Chinese noodles on their shoulders! Make sure you know exactly what you are putting on your body.

7. Tattoos by people who aren't professional tattoo artists.

Can you draw a straight line with a vibrating 1 lb barbell duct taped to a ballpoint pen? Probably not. Tattooing is not something that everyone can do. It takes a lot of training, patience, artistic talent and knowledge of sanitation laws to make for a good, clean and safe tattoo.

Indeed, the ideal option is for the tattoo to remain with you, your whole life. Yes, of course, there is another option. You can disguise the first tattoo, change it or even take advantage of tattoo removal procedures. But cover-ups can be really difficult and tattoo removal is painful, so it is important that you make smart decisions every time you make your choice.

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What You Need To Know Before Determining Your Tattoo Cost

So, you finally decided to get your first tattoo, and you can barely contain your excitement. The only real issue you have is knowing exactly what the numbers will be when it comes to determining overall tattoo cost. It's here perhaps that a lot of folks find themselves losing a little of the original excitement of getting their first tattoo, but this waning may be a little too premature.

The fact remains that unless you are intimately familiar with the scale of pricing at a particular tattoo parlor, you really can't figure out what the price of your tattoo may be. First impressions about this conundrum are a bit disconcerting. How often do you decide to purchase something without having an idea of how much it will cost? Moreover, since this is a first tattoo, where do you even begin?

Here are a few things you need to know before you determine the cost of your tattoo:

Design - If you're going with a traditional design that's right off the wall, you're probably not looking at a high-priced tattoo. However, if you decide to get a custom design made for you, the price will most certainly go up. Ditto on the size and its impact on price, too.

Complexity - No doubt that any design that is simple will mean less work for the artist, and that translates into less cost. But if you've got something epic in mind, be prepared for higher price.

To Color or Not To Color - In the same vein of complexity, if you decide to include color into your tattoo, you're adding another dimension of labor into the mix, and you're tapping into the artist's resources.

Placement - A tattoo on your chest may very well differ in price from one that is being placed over your rib cage. As such, inking your knuckles and toes may also differ in price from something being emblazoned across your shoulder blades.

Don't Make A Concession - Getting a tattoo from a great artist is more than just a status symbol among the inked masses. It means you really value the quality and workmanship of the artist enough to save up your money for his or her services. You could always go with an artist that fits your budget that does a good job, but there's no reason you couldn't save up a little more to really get the right person for the job.

Tattoo cost shouldn't be something that dampens the excitement you have for getting a tattoo. Whether it's your first piece of body art or another in a long run of dedicated pieces, you're making an expense to showcase you. That said, be a proactive consumer and visit tattoo parlors to get an idea of the prices you may be looking at. If you have a chance, get to know the artists as well. You may find that being comfortable with your surroundings and the artist working with you may supersede your original misgivings about what you're paying.

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Copyrighting Tattoo Art

It is difficult to identify a more personalized statement or method of collaborative endorsement than utilizing our bodies as canvases, permanently marking one's skin. Tattooists might constitute some of the most prolific producers of artwork. Their client's tattooed compositions are more broadly and readily visible than works done perhaps in nearly any other medium. Yet within the tattooing field sufficiently detailed or serious analysis of activity as well as associated technological and socioeconomic impacts are rarely accorded.

We turn briefly to an article from New Zealand. As is most common with online tattoo-related writings, content often primarily serves as an advertisement vehicle for images hyping inking as a practice and is then peppered by quotations from a handful of easily contactable [often just mainstream] artists. Implications of copyrighting tattoo designs and associated body art forms, particularly completed tattoo works, are however worth exploring in greater detail:

"Tattoo artists calling for right to have copyright on their work | There's an unwritten rule in New Zealand - decent tattoo artists don't copy designs. Right now the Copyright Act 1994 is under review, and artists behind the ink say stricter legislation could protect original tattoo designs. House of Natives founder Gordon Toi would champion tattoo protection. "I would like to see some kind of governance over Maori tattooing and Polynesian tattooing... there's so much exploitation." Original designs were often replicated, often overseas without even talking to the New Zealand artist, he said.

"Skin is probably the hardest thing to copyright, because everyone is copying it." Pacific Tattoo owner Tim Hunt wanted artists to respect the meaning of Maori and Pacific cultural patterns and symbols. "Any artist could say, I can do you a design that has korus and looks Maori", Hunt said.

"But if you want something authentic, you will have to go somewhere else." Overseas, tattoo artists are suing when their designs appear on in the media, like television. In 2011, the artist of Mike Tyson's Maori-inspired facial tattoo sued Warner Bros over a depiction of similar facial art on a character in The Hangover: Part II. If copyright law protected cultural images, Hunt would respect the change. "I want more tattoo artists to stand up and say: 'I don't know enough about it, I don't know the history behind it, and I don't know the context behind it'." Overseas, tattoo artists replicate images without a second thought.

New Zealand was different, he said. "It's kind of an unspoken code in New Zealand that you just don't do that." Hunt believed the customer owned the tattoo, not the artist. Union Tattoo owner Craigy Lee agreed there was an unwritten code of conduct to not copy a custom tattoo. Decent artists would not dare to make money from someone else's design, he said. University of Auckland associate professor Alex Sims said technically what is currently occurring in New Zealand is probably copyright infringement - under the banner of artwork. However Sims cautioned against strict enforcement of copyright laws on tattoos, which could include removal of tattoos, preventing the tattoos appearance in films and advertisements, or requiring the removal of tattoos from social media."It would give the copyright owner the power to control images of a person, which would be extremely concerning and just wrong."

Tattoo vs art

For use in the tattooing world, a distinction between copyrighting designed or applied tattoo artwork must be made. We address professional practitioners tattooing as their sustainable, primary means of income.

Tattooists may have multiple images and other as yet non-applied media content such as designs, compositions, sketches or custom artworks. Like representations of various traditional art forms, these are relatively easy to recorded as well as upload allowing clear digital ascription of copyright ownership.

Separately, as worn by clients, tattooists typically have portfolios of tattooed pieces. Using a three-dimensional canvas introduces complexities to automated digital identification. In numerous image copyright tracking software, positioning alone can entirely throw off investigation techniques. While Instagram and alternate photo uploading databases offer some form of time-stamped verification but, due to comparatively openly editable structures subsequent source and ownership attribution can become diluted. Whether tattooist's produced artwork is documented on skin or another type of canvas is the first practical distinction.

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How Safe Are Body Piercings and Why Get Them

With the rise of antibiotic resistant diseases, such as Hepatitis C, the blame is being placed on unsafe tools used for body piercing and tattoos. Those who work in the industry are mainly unregulated with no health checks conducted or, if they are, they are so random that one can easily slip through unnoticed. In Australia the guide lines are that the customer should make sure the place of business looks clean as well as the artists.

Wow! How does that work when it comes to hidden germs and microbes? People get body piercings to all parts of their body, including their genitals, nipples, and tongue. One would surely need properly autoclaved and germ free tools to carry out any procedure that invades the skin. Yes, body piercing is an operation and mostly done without surgical guidelines.

In New South Wales laws require people under the age of 16 years to have written parental consent before getting such work done on their bodies. Just how clever is a teenager at deciding on whether a premise is clean and if the instruments used are sterile?

The safety lines are so vague that young people would not be interested in them unless they are of a higher intelligence. In the latter case they probably would not be seen dead near such a place. The judgment for most would be their friends who have had procedures done there and have survived.

The hidden side-effects of body piercing and tattoos are often not realised for some time. They can lead to more than infections as many suffer horrendous psychological problems when the art they thought they were getting turns out not to be the same. Things can go wrong and some suffer from infections that can take a long time to heal.

While body piercing of genitals and nipples apparently increases sensations during stimulation the normal body is capable of performing in this way without it. If something is amiss in that area then a doctor might be the best person to consult and not someone in a shop desirous of taking your money.

The bottom line is that no body piercing procedure is safe and anyone with a functioning brain should consider it well before subjecting themselves to it. Why risk the alternative. Hepatitis C and other diseases, such as Aids, are killers. Would you hold a loaded gun to your head and pull the trigger? That is about what it amounts to if you are unlucky enough to choose the wrong operator.

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How Can Models Have a Tattoo

Tattoos have been around for thousands of years, back then it was a symbol to represent themselves or where they're from and what occupation did they carry. Now tattoos are still occasionally use to symbolize something but mostly is an act of self-expression or what represents them - a message. They are for sure permanent and it is going be there till death so proceed with caution and think thoroughly.

It used to be a definitely straight cut 'No!' if you were a model with tattoo(s). But times have changed, now the answer to that is 'depends'. It truly depends on the size and where your tattoo is at. If it's large and obvious to the eye then definitely is a 'no' to designers and photographers. If it's small, it can be covered up with make-up. The reason being why models are not allowed to have big tattoos because clients do not want it to distract viewers' attention. They want all attention on the product itself. Of course occasionally some brands do want inked models to show of some 'grungy', 'street' look that the brand is going for.

Models who have large tattoos on their back, neck, arms, legs, honestly don't get many jobs compared to those aren't inked or inked at concealed places that's not obvious to the eyes of the public. Clients don't need the model to contend with their item. The model is a prop, the item is the star of the shoot. Creators, producers and different clients need a model to wear their garments/embellishments and not meddle. So if you are a fresh model who's just starting to enter the industry but have been longing for a tattoo, kindly do think of these 3 consequences:

How big is your tattoo? Where do you want it to be?

Again, if you want a tattoo and still be able to book jobs and shows. Make sure is small or hidden. If it's small, the make-up artist can easily cover it or photographers can quickly remove it with the power of Photoshop. To top onto that, small and hidden tattoos definitely won't tick agencies off because the chances of them detecting it is so slim.

What product or services will you be modeling?

You can't be modeling for a skin care product or service if you have tattoos on your neck and limbs. It's almost illogical to do so. In short, it really depends on what you're modeling for as well, if it's apparels you better hope that your tattoo are hidden beneath the shirt and not showing or their brand is open to the concept of tattoos.

Who's your client?

A brand's marketing and advertising plans are crucial to the brand's image. Their advertisements define the brand and its target audience - what message do they want to send out to their audience via the advertising efforts. Hence, does your client's target audience include tattooed people? If it is, you'd probably be able to get the job. If not, you won't be landing yourself a spot. Brands that involve cosmetics, family, medical, government interest or food, rest assure that they won't want someone who has tattoos to represent their brand. Your only hope is apparels and bikes.

Some of you would say 'Hey Cara Delevingne have tattoos, why is she still able to book so many shows?' You just said her name, Cara Delevigne. Once a model becomes a supermodel, the rules do not really apply to them anymore. But I can bet that all current supermodels that we know and have heard do not have a single ink on them when they first started. It was only later on during their career where they decided to get ink.

If you're an aspiring model and a 'freshie' to the industry, how do you want your client to see you? What sort of message do you want to send out? Are you ready to face the consequences of a inked model at the start of your journey? Think wisely before you get yourself into a responsibility that last a lifetime.

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Feeling Beautiful Always With Tattoos

Who wouldn't love to look beautiful always? Makeup is an essential feature of looking beautiful, but sadly, it fades away. Cosmetic tattooing, micropigmentation, permanent makeup or demographic are a way of introducing pigments into the facial skin akin to tattoos which can be as permanent as you want. Eyes and lips, the defining features of our face with regard to make up are the ones that undergo cosmetic tattooing. The process is just like getting a tattoo. A needle containing the pigment releases it into your skin. Proper sterilization, techniques and a valid license are key to safe cosmetic tattooing.

Cosmetic tattooing does fade with time and needs color enhancement or color refreshing.

The pigments are made of inert iron oxides and care should be taken that cobalt and cadmium are not used.

Getting it done

First, you will have to be checked for allergic reaction to the pigment, through a patch test.

After that, in consultation with the make-up expert, you will choose the colors.

Using a sterile surgical pen the outline of the area to be tattooed is drawn. An anesthetic gel is spread over the area to be tattooed.

Using a hollow vibrating needle the pigment is applied into the top layer of the skin. Tattooing machines that are hand built are the best. Coil machines such as a liner machine, shader and color packer are essential for any tattoo artist. Rotary machines are also used, though they are considered unsafe by some. Basically, each time the needle pierces the skin, a droplet of pigment is released into it, causing a brief stinging sensation.

The color initially will be very bright, and the surrounding tissue swollen, but the colour fades into its correct shade after a few weeks and cold compress and antibiotic creams will reduce the swelling and prevent any infection. Going out in the sun should be strictly avoided in order to prevent further color changes. Use of sunscreen during this period, with UV block is recommended.

What parts of the face or make-up are amenable to cosmetic tattooing

· Eyebrows

· Eyeliners top and bottom

· Lip liner, color and blend

· Scar camouflage and Beauty marks, hair imitation eye lash enhancement etc.

What kinds of population benefit from permanent makeup?

· People past a minimum age and those who have a normal healing mechanism

· Sportspeople who want to look their best during any sports activity, be in cycling, playing tennis etc.

· People who tend to sweat a lot

· Those who have allergies to cosmetic ingredients.

· Those who are visually challenged or have difficulty in applying make up due to physically debilitating conditions like arthritis Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis

· Busy people who do not have the time to reapply makeup.

The difference between a tattoo and a cosmetic tattoo is that permanent makeup or cosmetic tattooing requires the study of facial features and skin tone. The idea here is to look naturally more attractive not as in regular tattooing which is an adornment. The procedure is basically the same, though.

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How to Buy Tattoo Machine

Tattoos have become increasingly popular and as an artist, the best you can do is get yourself a reliable high quality machine for the job. Tattoo equipment allows you to work easier and faster and they also make it possible for you to meet the needs of your clients however sophisticated they might be. Considering that the tattoo machines work on human skin, they ought to be sterilized and hygienic at all times. The last thing you want as an artist is to have a machine that ends up causing infections on the tattoo wound.

When looking for a machine to upgrade your services or to start you off, you must know what to buy and how to maintain the machine that you buy. Below are some useful tips that will help you buy and keep the machine in top shape.

Know the tattoo machine types. The most common that you will find in the market are coil tattoo machines and rotary tattoo machine but there are also pneumatic machines. Because each of the options comes with highs and lows, ensure that you check and weigh them out before settling for the type that you feel will serve your needs as an artist. Coil machines are less costly and offer increased power, but they can be very heavy and hard to handle especially over long periods. Rotary machines on the other hand are less harsh on skin and are lighter whereas pneumatic machines are easy to maintain but they cost more.

Check out machine condition. After you have decided what type you would be better off with. Next should be to check that the tattoo machine is in good condition. The parts should not be worn out or damaged otherwise you risk injuries to you and your clients. Review the machine carefully when buying online and opt for a new machine over a used one to be on the safer side.

Think about the machine cost. It would be best to save enough so you are able to invest in a high quality tattoo machine. Expensive models come with durable, efficient constructions and features. However, if you are tight on budget and you want to get a machine quick, you can still consider used machines that are in good condition. You will just need to closely inspect the machine before making your purchase just to be sure of the condition.

Keep the machine bagged before and after use. This is a simple way of ensuring that the machine stays cleaner and acts as a barrier against ink splats. Ensure that you thoroughly clean and sterilize the machine after every use to keep it hygienic for next use.

Avoid bleaching your tattoo machine. This will only eat up your springs and rusts the machine faster. You should also never wash it under tap water because it will find its way to the wiring causing damages. Also very important to mention is that you should never disassemble the machine to clean.

Spray it with disinfectant to clean. Ensure the deposits are well-cleaned to prevent rust. You can use a clean paper towel to wipe down the spray after sitting for at least 10 minutes. Rubbing alcohol is also a good product in getting rid of the deposits.

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The Burmese Tattoo Tips

In this article I am not only writing about 'Burmese tattoos' but put this topic into the relevant historical and cultural context. Let us begin with our journey into the realm of tattoos.

What do you remember from or know about the year 1991? Not much? Let me help you to remember. It was the year in which the 1st Gulf War began, the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated and the Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Cape Canaveral to take Spacelab into the orbit. With respect to the topic of this article the most important event of the year 1991, was the discovery of 'Oetzi' the Iceman on 19 September 1991 in Europe. The extremely well preserved mummy was frozen in ice high on the glacier of the Fineilspitze, a mountain in the Austrian Alps on the Austrian/Tyrolean (Italian) border at a height of 10.530 ft/3.210 m.

Now I can clearly see the question marks in your eyes and hear your questions for what on earth so-called Burmese tattoos have to do with a place in Europe, 4.140 nautical miles/7.670 kilometres away from Burma and who for God's sake Oetzi', the Iceman' is. Do not get impatient I will give you the answers right now; you will be surprised.

Firstly, I will tell you who or what Oetzi' is. Oetzi' is the nickname Oetzi, because he was found in the Oetztal Alps) given to a middle aged man (about 46 years old) who was most likely of higher status (he carried a copper axe with him what back then was a status symbol). His life found at some time between 3239 and 3105 BCE a violent end (because he was murdered) at the place where he (what is left of him) was found or in close vicinity to it. He (his mummy) is at the time of this writing some 5.300 years old and remains to this day a treasure trove of valuable information for scientists.

Now I will let you know what the connection between him and Burma is. 'Oetzi' is the so far oldest definite proof ever found that already in the copper age people wore tattoos because he had 61 of them spread over 19 parts (wrists, lower legs, lower back and chest, etc) of his body. Some sources speak of 49 tattoos, which was the first amount of tattoos that were found on him in 1991 when he was discovered. This number increased over time because more and more tattoos, which are sometimes barely visible against the dark background of the skin, were found. The last one was discovered in December 2015 what has increased the total count to 61.

Although there are connections in form of migrating and travelling people from Western Europe to central Europe Eastern Europe Russia and China (some mummies found in China are definitely Caucasian and Eurasian of European origin) I do by no means want to claim that the art of tattooing spread from Europe to Burma because it would - I think - be rather foolish to assume that tattooing originated at one specific place and started to spread throughout the world then and from there.

Archaeological findings that are hinting at the existence of tattoos have been reported from different places from all over the world what makes it more likely that at the very beginning tattooing started at different times and in different cultures independently from one another and spread from these regions and cultures into the respective neighbouring regions and cultures until there wasn't any place on this planet left in which tattooing was not known and practised. No one will ever know how it really was but this is my idea of how it has most likely been.

Into regions and cultures that do nowadays belong to those that make up Burma (since 1989 also called Myanmar), tattooing was introduced long after it was already integral part of many cultures in other parts of the world.

I admit that at one time I have seriously contemplated getting a tattoo myself. I have, finally, decided against it for fear of health problems such as HIV and do not have one. The same goes for my wife, daughter and grandson (OK, the latter is still much too small to be tattooed). But otherwise I see them (the tattoos) every day. Everywhere and from morning to evening they are around me in all qualities and from unichrome to multi-coloured.

Burmese - especially men - without at least one tattoo are a very rare thing to see for tattoos are an integral part of what is called 'Burmese Culture' and are much treasured by the predominantly highly superstitious Burmese people. That is why I have decided to write an article on Burmese tattoos.

All I knew about tattoos when I decided to write about them was that a tattoo is a picture that is more or less artfully inserted into the skin. Believing that that was all with respect to tattoos I assumed that to write about them would not be a big deal, I was afraid even that I would not have enough stuff to fill a single page; far off the mark. To be sure, what I knew about tattoos was not wrong, but to think that was all that there is to know about it was. It was like believing that all that maths comprises of are the multiplication tables. Quickly I found out that there is much more to the topic 'tattoo' but, alas, only a few authentic, reliable and not easily to find sources (most of what you can see on the internet are plagiarism or copyright infringement) on the subject of tattoos and that tackling the topic 'body art' better known as 'tattoo' means to embark on a huge and vastly complex albeit tremendously interesting subject. Subsequently, this article isn't meant to cover and explain everything about tattoos, tattooing and related matters. I will confine myself in this article to what I deem the minimum needed to cover the topic tattoos, in general, and 'Burmese Tattoos', in particular, as brief as possible and as detailed as necessary.

Let's go back to the very beginning of the topic 'tattoo', shall we? To me the beginning means to, firstly, find answers to the general questions, which are when, where and why people started to get tattooed or to tattooing other people?

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White Vs. Black Ink Tattoos

Many people have their body parts tattooed for art's sake, though most would do so to remind them of a life experience or a promise that they've made. One of the best things about it is that one can show this to the world. The bad thing about it is that, when one ages, the skin starts to loosen and the tattoo looks different from what it was before.

Some cultures also prohibit having a tattoo and in some societies, having a tattoo can mean that you had done something wrong or joined the wrong crowd. That said, these are just some of the stigmas that tattoos are related to. What if you can have a tattoo but can hide it? This is where white ink tattoo comes in.

White Ink Tattoos

Contrary to the old school of stenciling and outlining tattoos with black ink, making tattoos using white ink takes a different approach as it uses high quality white ink instead of the black ink. Doing a white ink tattoo is the same as that of the black with the option of skipping the stenciling part as the color may bleed to the white ink and cause discoloration. This is best suited for individuals who are looking for a more subtle way of expressing their art or those with pale skin as they can easily be hidden compared to the ones that use black ink. One disadvantage however is that it is prone to fading as well as discoloration when exposed excessively to the sun's rays. It can also be mistaken as a scar or brand and as such, it is important that one choose the best design or talk with their artist before doing the procedure.

Choosing Your Tattoo Artist

If you opt for a white tattoo, it is important to seek a professional tattoo artist to work on your design. One reason is that the process would result in open wounds and if the artist is not a professional, there is a tendency that the skin thus staining the design for life might absorb some colors. Remember that the white color is not an opaque pigment and as such, stronger color pigments can cause the staining. Inks may also turn green or yellow when the design is exposed or if the artist is not careful when doing the procedure.

Should You Get One?

If you are interested in getting a tattoo, it is important to consider if you want it exposed or a subtle one. A black one has darker pigments and is stronger which makes the design more impactful; however, it can be a problem especially if it is not allowed in your workplace. A white one is subtle and can be perfect but it is important to choose the right design as not doing so would make the design look like a scar or a health problem and can look unsightly.

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