Best Tattoo For You

The Basics of Tattoo Lettering
Tattoo lettering is the simplest form of tattoo in some ways, and the hardest in others. It takes a steady hand and a true artist to make tattoo lettering more than words tattooed on skin. Here are the basics of lettering in layman’s terms.

Tattoo Lettering Fonts

A font is a style that a letter can be written in. If you have a word processor on your computer open it up and take a look at the fonts it can type. There are really fancy fonts like Script and Vivaldi and there are bouncy, fun looking fonts like Comic Sans and Curlz. On your word processor you can pick a font to match your mood when you are writing. It works the same way with tattoo lettering. Choosing the right font starts with choosing a mood, then going from there.

Asymmetrical Ambigrams and Symmetrical Ambigrams

Ambigrams are made by adding extra curves in the letters to create sort-of an optical illusion. When flipped upside down these extra curves form letters with the original upside down curves of the letter.

Asymmetrical ambigrams are tattoo lettering that says something different when turned upside down. A popular version of this is a tattoo that says Angel when viewed one way, then Devil on the flipside. Toryn Green, lead singer of the band Fuel, has this tattoo. Some people get their name made into an asymmetrical ambigrams with their loved one’s name as the upside down word. For example, Michelle on one side and Michael on the other.

Symmetrical ambigrams are tattoo lettering that says the same thing when turned upside down. These kind of lettering tattoos are nice on areas of the body that don’t really have an up or a down, like the back of a hand, the tops of the feet, or the back of the forearms. The person with the tattoo never has to look at it upside down while showing it to a friend, either.

Tribal Lettering

Tribal lettering is a font with very sharp, almost torn looking lettering. It can also resemble lightning streaks. This type of font is very popular with males.

Celtic Lettering

Celts often used endless knots in their artwork. These knots had no end and no beginning to symbolize never-ending love, faith, or life. Often they would use the knots in lettering and this lettering is what is used today in Celtic tattoos. Celtic lettering often also often incorporates animals into the knots of the lettering.

Now that you’ve spent a lot of time, soul-searching, cash and many nerves on getting your special tattoo design needled and inked onto your skin, you need to be able to take care of it as it heals.  Usually, new tattoo designs need at least 30 days to completely heal.  Hopefully, you chose a tattoo parlor that uses clean needles, or infection is a distinct possibility.  Many professional tattoo parlors are proud to show off their sterilization equipment.  Dying from a new tattoo is practically unheard of in these modern times.  Tattoo parlors are not regulated by the federal government, but are subject to both sate laws and their own profession’s strict self-regulation.

Owie. Stingy.

A new tattoo design on your skin will hurt. This is normal.  Everyone has a different threshold tolerance for pain, but you don’t need to be completely stoic throughout the healing process.  The worst stage is usually the first week.  In that time, your new tattoo design will be very sore (duh), the skin will look swollen and may turn red.  The new tattoo design might look distorted during this part of the healing process.  It’ll settle back to normal once the healing process is well under way.

During this time, you can wash your new tattooed area with soap and water.  A mild, baby or an antibacterial soap is best.  You’re aiming to use as plain a soap as possible.  Any heavily scented or moisturizing soap may have chemicals which will irritate your new tattoo even further.  Gently PAT dry (not scrub) with a clean cloth or paper towel.  After a wash, spread a thin layer of antibacterial ointment on the new tattoo.  You should wash the new tattoo design at least 4 times a day.

Getting There

In the later healing stages, your new tattoo design will suddenly become very dry.  The natural skin moisturizers just aren’t there.  You can use plain creams or lotions to ease the severe dryness and chapping.  Again, you don’t want to use any cream or lotion with heavy perfumes in them, as they can contain chemicals which may make your skin worse.  There are commercial products available on tattoo specialty websites such as Tattoo Johnny that sells healing lotions.

You also want to protect your new tattoo design from getting too much sun as it heals.  Too much sun can not only burn your skin, but can dry out the new tattoo too much and cause scarring which will, in the least, distort the tattoo’s design.

One of the most fascinating symbols and elements in the ancient world that still in a way, mesmerize so many people up to now is the sun which could be a representation of so many things depending on the person who views it.  And when it comes to tattooing, it also is one of the most popular designs which were chosen by many people to adorn the part of their bodies which may also mean a different thing or could represent the true inner self of the tattoo bearer.

Since we all know that the sun tattoo is the most common and popular choices among the people which was often requested to most of the tattoo artists but there are ways wherein we may personalize it and make it our own through colors that can compliment them or by incorporating them with other designs.  Here are some of the best meanings of sun tattoo that could be related to history and other religious beliefs that have truly touched the lives of many people throughout the centuries.

Representation And Meanings

When we see people who are donning sun tattoo, we see that they were incorporated with different colors, wide range of influences, and of course, a creative imagination of the person who has them or the imagination of the tattoo artist.  And when it comes to slight changes in color or even the size of the sun tattoo, it could instantly change in a totally unique meaning or representation.

And when it comes to the meaning of the sun tattoo, one of the most popular beliefs about what it represents is the centralizing force that sustains, integrates, and gives design to our lives.  Also, the sun tattoo may represent or mean as the principle of selfhood, the will that is necessary to participate in the greater whole, means power, vitality, and dignity or leadership.  Aside from that, a sun tattoo could also symbolize the soul rising to heaven which could often be found on gravestones that were carved on them.  But above all and probably the most beautiful meaning a sun tattoo can convey is that it could represent a new beginning, eternal renewal, and the shining virtues of both the truth and light.

So next time that you will have a tattoo or if you are thinking of having one for the first time, make it something that is meaningful that could convey a beautiful message to many.  Choose the design of sun tattoo, that even if they are one of the most popular choices, you could always incorporate different complimenting designs to personalize it.

…don’t freak out.  Tattoos are becoming common these days.  Not just bikers and drunken sailors get tattoos.  Models, celebrities, mothers and fathers get them.  A star is one of the most popular symbols since man learned how to scribble.  In this case, when referring to a star tattoo, we mean the twinkly lights up in the night sky, not popular actors.  Identifying the kind of star on the star tattoo of the complete stranger will let you know a lot about the person.

Star Of David

The six-pointed star is commonly called “The Star of David” and sometimes “Solomon’s Seal”.  The bearer of a six-sided star tattoo is not necessarily Jewish, but certainly identifies with aspects of Jewish history and culture that personally resonate with the tattoo wearer.  In Nazi Germany, Jews were forced to wear a Star of David as a bulls-eye target.  Perhaps the star tattoo wearer is feeling a little prosecuted, too.  Or, perhaps he or she had a relative or a hero who died in the concentration camps, and the six pointed star tattoo is a permanent memorial to them.

The Pentagram

The five sided star, the pentagram, is one of the most powerful and misunderstood symbols of modern times, although it has been around for thousands of years.  It is commonly thought today that a pentagram wearer must somehow be associated with Satanism.  That is not true, although some Satanists do indeed wear pentagrams, but they usually wear upside-down pentagrams (where the single point is downwards) which symbolize the elements over spirit.  And upside-down five-sided star pentagram does often mean the wearer is a Satanist or likes to shock people for the sake of shocking people. 

But what is the pentagram tattoo is pointy-side up?  Then this is a good thing, as this symbolizes spirit having mastery over the elements.  This is the religious symbol of Pagans, Wiccans and many other variants of Earth-based religions.  They believe in peace, speaking about their beliefs only when asked and to live and let live.  If a pentagram is shown inside a circle, it’s called a pentacle.  This has always been a protective symbol.

Other Stars

A shooting star tattoo tends to symbolize happy times full of special promise, when a wish is made on a star.  These events happen very rarely in a person’s life, especially with modern lighting.  Shooting stars also tend to symbolize great changes.  A red five pointed star is the symbol of Macy’s.  The founder was reputed to have one.

If you really are fascinated with stars, especially the shooting stars, you may want to embed the image to your body and you may do that through tattooing but at the same time, you get to express your true self, artistry, and create a statement.  And when it comes to having a tattoo that truly represents the heavenly bodies, shooting star tattoo would be the best choice and that is why more and more people are opting to go for that popular design which was proven by tattoo artists.

On the other hand, having a shooting star tattoo is be incorporated with different styles, designs, and colors to make it more personal and unique when being compared to other tattoos of that kind.  And here are some of the known facts and different meanings about shooting star tattoos that are truly remarkable and could signify a true expression of oneself especially those who are considered to be dreamers and sentimental in nature.

Why Shooting Star

Some people may be wondering why the shooting star tattoo is one of the most common tattoo designs that were being chosen and worn by many people but when it comes to the meaning of it, you will be fascinated as to how magical and at the same time, dreamy it is.  They say that one of the main reasons why the shooting star tattoo has become one of the popular choices among many is because it could express their inner desire to become stars and they generally look beautiful and cool especially on females who may have them.

Aside from that, a shooting star tattoo could also symbolize a brief fleeting moment in one’s life that you want to always be reminded of it and it could be likened to the brief moment that you see a shooting star across the sky.  It symbolizes having a wonderful feeling that lasted for a very short time but feels like it is within you forever but some people may view the meaning of a shooting star tattoo as a symbol of reaching one’s own ultimate destiny in the world.

Plus, having one may also be interpreted as a new beginning of life or a new birth and even an expression of desire to have a better life.  Nowadays, we see many musicians and other celebrities who may be donning this shooting star tattoo design and whatever other people’s belief may be when it comes to its meaning, we could be sure that it could only be a symbol of beauty.