The New.....

So we all know that tattoos are popular. So when the popularity grows just like the design does, where you get the tattoo gets popular too. Look at the late 90s: Tramp Stamp central, if you don't know what a tramp stamp is I would say go look it up, but basically it's a tattoo usually with some kind of whispy line, that is in the middle of your lower back. It was all the rage back in the day, and now more then half the women who got them that are now around 30 if not older and hate that they followed the trend. Well, after a few years and the lower back was tattooed on what seemed like every teenage girl and everyone else thought it was trashy, so inevidably the spot changed. In the early 2000s the new 'Tramp Stamp' was over the rib cage, which is excessivly painful, which is probably why it didn't last very long. So the fads went on and look at that, today we havge a new patch of skin to call the 'Tramp Stamp' area, on either side of or right above your hip bone. People think it's sexy just like they did those twelve years ago. [One thing to note, this doesn't just happen to girls the guys don't hae a 'tramp stamp' but they do ALL seem to havea tattoo on their upper arm, real unique right?] But I won't lie to you people, I've personally considered getting a tattoo there. But at my high school reunion when everyone is walking around aimlessly how many people are going to hiding our generations version of the 'Tramp Stamp?' I certainly don't want to be one of the many So let's put an end to it and come up with something unique and different. Don't follow the trends.


So what about you, considered this version of a tramp stamp?


Where do you think next generation's Tamp Stamp will be?

Even Barbie has a Tramp Stamp now. ^

Questioning

As we all know, people have been debating for years about how old a person should be before they are old and wise enough to make some decisions, getting tattoos is on that list. At the moment without parent consent you have to be 18 to get a tattoo, though some states will allow it with a parent's signature at as young as 16.

So just like everything else is this right? I mean it IS your life and your decision. But are people truly smart enough to get a tattoo that they will not regret at the age of 16, or will those two extra years make all the difference?

A lot can happen in two years, and you can change your mind a million times, but what about the two years after that when you turn 20? Can't your mind change a million more times in those two years? So are we just delaying what is inevitable... or is there purpose?

If you can talk your parents into allowing you to get this tattoo then why are you not capable of just getting it by yourself? To me this all together does not make sense.

Tattoos are a form of art and self expression, so are we stifling creative minds by not allowing them to get the tattoos they want over age.. It's a complicated subject once you start to wrap your head around it. I mean, commitment is something that most people have a fear of or issue with, and that is exactly what this is, committing to have something inked on to your body for the rest of your life. When you stop to think about it it's a scary thought.
Yes, I am a fan of tattoos, but the more I blog and think about it the less I want to get the ideas I'd had for tattoos. But should the barrier of whether you get a tattoo really be your age? Or should it be your story behind it.. You have to go in and explain why you want it and if they think it is logical then you get it. It's hard to decide on what is right for the majority, because one person will get a tattoo at 16 and love it through their life, when another will get a tattoo at 48 and want to get it removed in two days.

So how old do you think you should be to get a tattoo, and why?

Crazy Tattoos

So many people get tattoos that when another person sees it their initial thought is "Wow, what the heck? What were they thinking? or Just Why??" But why does it matter to you? It's another person's body, another person's choice right?

But no matter who's body it is on or what it is we have judgement. Some people go as far as if you have a tattoo at all you are rebellious and just not right. Well it's changing, and it's changing fast. Sooo many people have tattoos now and it is a well known fact that teens think that the best birthday present for the big one eight is a tattoo complements of mommy or daddy's wallet.

But who cares what you have on your body right?

Actually the population does. You get weird looks and told that you're insane simply because of what means something to YOU. Because that's what a tattoo is right? A personal meaning.. Something that touches your life. Well I figured you guys would enjoy looking at some of the ones I found amusing or really touching.

So what about you? What do you honestly immediately do when you see a tattoo, or someone covered in tattoos?

Tattoo Of The Week.

I had considered actually doing a "Tattoo of the Week" but because I only have a few weeks left of doing this in case I don't decide to carry on with it I thought this one tattoo decided to win the award. To my left there is a picture of a firefighter with a full back tattoo, which takes so long, of the twin towers once they had been hit and two angels flying off with a banner of the names of people he lost and knew in the attack.

The emotion and drive to get a tattoo like that is something I have never felt. To have such a strong reason behind it. It is something I would think you had to have to get any tattoo no matter how small or big.

But having a tattoo like this means more to the one that wears it then anyone in the WORLD can understand.

My question is, have you ever had that moment? You KNEW you had to have something like a tattoo to commemorate?

Statistics

Years ago you were a war vet to get a tattoo, now you go to Miami or San Diego and look around. More and more people have tattoos and as I have said soooo many times before it's a growing fad because our generation doesn't mind tattoos as the last did and if we don't mind neither will our children. I thought you guys might be pretty intrigued by some statistics I found.


The U.S. News and World Report, October 1997
-Tattooing is the United States' 6th fastest growing retail business

In April of 2005 it was said that
-The number of women with tattoos quadrupled from 1960 to 1980

Harris Interactive found out in July of 2003
- 16% of all adults have at least one tattoo
- 31% of people with tattoos are gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- 36% of those with tattoos are between 25-29 years old
- 34% of people with tattoos feel sexier because they are tattooed
- 29% of adults with tattoos feel more rebellious
- 17% of those with tattoos regret getting them
- Democrats are more likely to be tattooed than Republicans, but Republicans are more likely to regret them

A 2006 a study done by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that
- 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed or almost one in four
- about 36% of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo
-17% of those people have thought about having a tattoo removed
-5% of them have had a tattoo covered up with a different design


So pretty much women who are Democrats and lesbian are most likely to have tattoos?
Not necessarily. But it's pretty interesting to think about.
So what about you... What do you think our children will be like if the statistics keep growing as they are?


Thanks to: http://ezinearticles.com/?Tattoo-Statistics&id=1636218 and
http://www.people.umass.edu/aes1/final_2.html

Types of Tattoos

Did you know not only is there a world of tattoos that is filled with different shapes, sizes and genres of tattoos but more then anything there are different types of tattoos. Many people don't realize that there are so many different types and ways of styling tattoos. Most of which are really impressive and you really should look into before picking a tattoo, some might change your mind.



So to start, there are Pledge or Dedication:

These are your old time "traditional" out west tattoos that war heroes would get before going off to war to show their love or after to show their time served. They usually consisted of a heart and banner with a name, or anchor with a ship name, of a representation of your military regiment.

Simplified and Stylized

These are the tattoos that look like cartoons in a sense. Some are known as flash, they are tattoos that have been simplified to the very least they can be like hearts, some simple flowers, leaves and some other images and characters.


Abstract

When you see a Celtic, modern symbol, or tribal tattoo you are looking at abstract. It may stand for something else but it really is just a symbol.


Naturalistic

These are the tattoos that look so real you think you could touch it and it will jump off some one's arm. There are few tattoo artists in the world that can do these well but the ones that can are impressive. Portraits also fall under this category. Anything that looks realistic.


Complex and Combination

These are some of the most popular tattoos there are. like the traditional Japanese body suits and people that have sleeves that each picture really doesn't have too much to do with the one beside it but they are woven together. The down fall to these kinds of tattoos is that they can look really messy if you are not careful and get someone that doesn't care as much.



So what about you? What kind suits your fancy?

Full-Body Tattoos

I'm all about expressing yourself, and doing it to your absolute fullest. But some people are too crazy for me.

Full body tattoos are cool, but can you even imagine the pain that you would have to go through to get something that detailed? And yet if you don't do something that detailed then you'll just have a lame tattoo that in a few years you'll realize was nothing but a mistake.

Some people do it though, they have more guts then I ever would and most are the people you least expect. As you can see my man to the right, has a cross, more then one mural of Jesus. In a survey it was found that more then 60% of tattoos either were a religious symbol or gotten for religious reasons. Most of the tattoos you see on the streets don't necessary look religious, and some people don't even take the time to look and see what the tattoo is of before they judge.

Tattoos are a huge part of many people's lives, and that makes sense. But to cover your body, not just mark it, is a difficult decision. You have to love your body and your ink in a way I doubt I will ever know.

So how much tattooing could you endure?