i'd love to get a tattoe of my niece's name but i'm undecided. is it really appropriate?

i know this isn't going to make me very popular here, but isn't this all just a fad? all i can see on tv is tattoo this and tattoo-me, and this ink and that ink and it just goes on and on and now there's a whole generation covered in ink - and loads of it looks horrible - just because kat von whoever told everyone it was a good idea. what' everyone doing!!!!!!!!! this is a fad!!!! what's next? it'll change, and then what?? you're all covered in ink and looking stupid. why's everyone doing something which is so permanent. does anyone actually have a good reason to get a tattoo?

Has anyone got any experience with tattoo removal? What method works best, did it cost a lot, and did it leave any scarring ? Has anyone had a tattoo removed by laser or dermabrasion or cryosurgery and then covered the area with a new tatto? There's a lot of articles around, but I'd like to hear peoples' experience so i know what each method's actually like.

I know I'm relatively new to the site, and perhaps not as knowledgeable as many other members in regards to tattoos and various other body arts, but my love and intrigue into the many different forms of body art is undeniable. Now I can go into my whole religious back round that prevented me from getting my tattoos as soon as I could but instead I'd like to propose a question that I seem to always end up arguing with some of my family and more "conserved" friends. Are tattoos and various other form of body art really art? Now I know that this is probably a question most, if not all members have had had some experience answering, but I propose this question more so to ask what does it take for a brilliant tattoo, whether original or not, to be considered high class art? Just wondering since it seems much harder to convince people that a tattoo is great piece of art rather then some "silly mutilation."

Mine was on my hip, but I've heard people talk about spines, feet and hands being the worst places - there's a lot of pictures on this site of people with their entire rib section inked, and I'm think ooouuccchhh! but I'd love to get something done further up my ribs - my question is, how much does it really hurt, is it worse than other places?

3 in total - my favourite's a swallow, on my upper inside thigh - it's mostly green and pink, sorry i can't show it here, bit too personal

Tramp Stamps I thought i'd put together a little something about 'tramp stamps' just beacuse it's always seemed a strange term to use seeing that the word 'tramp' is really a kinda nasty word, but describes one of the most popular types of tattoo for girls and women - lower back tattoos. We've got quite a few members of the site with lower back tattoos and some have even tagged their own photo as 'tramp stamp', so where does this term come from, is it fair? and who's aout there using it to describe people ...? ok, so firstly, i went and found a tramp stamp video, just to show the sort of thing described as a tramp stamp, and to refresh the memory ... i think the guy or girl who made this might be a little angry (no shit! i hear you saying he's put 'tramp stamps/whore stamps as the title!), but it's the only one i could find that didn't show full back pieces as well as lower back tattoos) O.k, so what's the deal - is a 'tramp stamp' the same as a 'lower back tatoo' or is it more a judgement on wo's wearing it? here's a few images of lower back tattoos - now they placing's a bit different in each, and they've got different styles - also, the girls they're on have different looks - so which one's the tramp stamp, and which is the lower back tattoo? does it depend on positioning, style, quality, or just the underwear the girl's wearing ... 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. I see lower back tattoos a lot - especially now that summer's coming, and i wondered how many people with lower back tattoos are offended by the term 'tramp stamp' ? why do you think people use this term, is because they are : a. jealous and angry because they don't think that girl will have sex with them b. genuinely concerned about the effect the sexualisation of women has on male/female relations in society, whether done by men or women. c. Idiots who are following everyone else. d. just giving lower back tattoos for women a harmless and fun name. e. happy to be called a 'tramp' because it reflects female sexual empowermnet. f. none of the above. When it comes to people calling their own lower back tattoo a tramp stamp, is it just a harmless bit of fun, or is it like how people of various racial backgrounds began to self-apply terms used by others in hate so that the word became their own and they had some control over it ? i know these a big and strange questions, and maybe i should just be quiet and show pictures of loads of girls with beautiful lower back tattoos and oooooooooooooo and aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh at their underwear but it just seems such a harsh term, and accepting this stuff as normal and just 'yeah, whatever' seems a little crap, and since i'm helping out with the site, i thought i'd ask what everyone thought. There's a lot of this stuff going around at the moment - everyone's so tough and hardened to life that there seems little room to question whether people are actually getting their feelings hurt - i know, i know, this is a tattoo site! everything's black, and we're all adults, but still ... here's a tramp stamps poster i found: So if many girls know this is how they're peceived, then they must get a 'tramp stamp' knowing that's how many guys, and many girls are going to be describing them - as 'tramps' - why do this - is it the same as punks wanting to wear ripped nylons because they're 'torn' themselves or goths seeing signs of physical degradation and an alliance to 'the darkness' as the only way they'd want to be ? o.k, so i've veered off course, and the poster's quite funny, and many folks who associate themselves with destruction and 'immorality' are frequently gorgeous, amazing folks - and some of the most beautiful, kindest and generous souls i've ever known have looked on the surface like the darkest - i don't know why this is so, but it is - those folks i was warned about when a small child because they look terrifying actually turn out to be be such good and great people it's just unreal i still flinch at the term 'tramp stamp' though - maybe because of the sort of guys i've known who might call girls 'tramps' but secretly are just after sex and are angry, and if given the chance would act like they've got no conscience whatsoever, or maybe the girls who self-apply the word 'tramp' and display the same amount of stereotypically-male collousness towards sex just scare me, as she's probably going to hurt you like hell somewhere down the line. I'm not sure. maybe it's just a word, here's what wikipedia has to say : 'Beginning in the late 1990s, the lower back tattoo became popular, especially among young women. Lower back tattoos are often oblong in shape, following the slope of the back on either side of the person's spine. The lower back tattoo is a body decoration, sometimes intended to emphasize sexual attractiveness. Generally, a lower back tattoo will be designed to emphasize the shape and curvature of the figure. While such tattoos have become popular in recent years, in many parts of the world, they are sometimes derided as suggestive of promiscuity or as associated with Raunch Culture, and sometimes pejoratively referred to as "tramp stamps," "arse antlers," or "slag tags".' it's a funny old subject ... anyone got any thoughts on this ?...

I saw a body painting video, so had to go and have a look, and found this one - it's a waterproof body painted bikini. I didn't know you could do that

just checking mine's my left nipple so far - took it out now, as it really got irritated by clothing i liked it.

It seems to have become more common in the past year. What are your feelings on them? Are they over the top to you? Would you get one yourself? And where? Most of you have seen at least one of these three images when it comes to corset piercings... (missing image)

How old were you when you got your first piercing?

wanna get a tattoo, know i change my mind a lot, think i might regret it, thought i'd ask you guys anyone regret theirs?

no, not that kind of virgin!! I've got zero tattoos and zero piercings on my body. The reason I think is that while I find them attractive I feel that it is a massive commitment, almost like a conscious decision to adopt a personality aspect. That's why I have never had any works done. Do you find body modification is such a large commitment? I want to see how lightly others take it.

Has anyone on here tattooed themsevles? If so how did it turn out and do you regret it?

I've been looking about and there are some epicly poor pieces of tattoo art out there - some bad ideas, some bad work, and some which just ... i don't know, here's what i mean. Ladies and Gentlemen - Miss Celine Dion .... The dragon - mythical god of the Chinese Ancients - bringer of power and wisdom ... What the hell is this ... i mean really ... O.K, so sometimes you've got a tattoo in the past, but now styles have changed, the old one's faded or you've moved on as a person, so it's time for a coverup tattoo. Here's how it shouldn't look : O.k, so in this next one, we're going to meet a fiersome predator - perhaps one of the oldest creatures to still walk the earth, the mighty crocodile. Huge nashing teeth and powerful muscles enable this apex predator to rip animals to shreds. For as long as man has roamed the earth our species and theirs has been locked in a mighty struggle for land and food as the primitive earth took shape and our ancestors wrestled for control of the wild beasts ... one man, in his wisdom, has sought to portray the epic struggle between ancient man and crocodile ... Since we're already on the subject of the animal kingdom, I'd like to discuss the noble and mighty tiger - perhaps one of the most fearsome and majestic of nature's hunters - a killing machine so feared that its very name is synonymous with power in the natural world, and sexual prowess in men. The world of tattoo art has long held this majestic creature in high regard, and Japanese classical artists have long etched the likeness of this terrible creature into the skins of fearsome warriors ... Fear the Power of the tiger!!!! My God, has there ever been such a beast as this !!! They say that apart from us, Dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals to grace the earth - known to be protectors of men aat sea, they've reportedly saved the lives of countles men and women in trouble in the waves - here's a picture of one : I saw this one in a facebook group, and had to show you not only the tattoo, but also a comment left underneath ... "I don't get why some people are their own c**k-blockers" We think the word was meant to be "Extreme" on this next one - a word wich, when permanently tattooed into the chest of an adult male would really show that he's gotta be as hard as a coffin nail ... Or is he ? Sometimes, after a long day, it's nice to just kick back on the sofa and take a little down-time to just chill out and have a break. Here's one regular Joe just kicking back and doing just that ... So he's got a little facial tat - that's pretty normal ... hold on a minute, what the F&%$! ... No idea with this one ... I think this is some of the finest coverup work I've ever seen ... Whoever did this A. Has skill like i don't think i've seen before B. Really needs to specialise in coverups or C. Needs to apologise and then lop his own hand off ... If you find any more, please post 'em and let me see

Hi, I am a painter and designer ...i has been designed some graphic tattoos . I have 410 graphic tattoos and graphic ...and I've never published. this is some exemple of my work : [link]/ [link]/ my graphic is commercialy good . all my graphic is EPS and JPG file it can be cuting ....my graphic can be modified by photoshop or corel paint well, i m finding site to sell to him all my files or artist to sell him all my work exclusive then he will be the autor and exclusive contributor . iam thinking to earn money buy selling all my files because i need to much money now then even .then if you'll be interesting to buy copy of my art files, i sell then 3 $ each file and 30 $ each if you choose exclusive work. contact me at : Email Removed"> Email Removed Thanks....

I love ancient japanese art, i think it's incredible, different, detailed, and with all of the asian culture, i love what it represents I especially love the japanese warriors.. so of course, i'm looking into getting a tattoo.. but not just any tattoo.. a thigh sleeve, i'm thinking just like a half thigh sleeve, not quite all the way anyways, so i'm having a hard time finding artists in north america that do the japanese style really well and in black and white. any suggestions? cheers!

I want to get another tattoo in the place of another tattoo. I was checking out laser tattoo removal as an option but I am nervous. Does anyone have an opinion?

Hi I'm looking to get my first tattoo. I've been planning for a while so I have a pretty good idea of what I want but I have no one who can draw to acctually see a design I want to get it around my ankle saying Faith Hope Love in some type of caligraphy font then I want the last e in Love to trail of to my foot with either a cross at the end or the faith hope love symbol at the end wich is an anchor with the cross as the top and a heart near the bottom of the anchor. I'm a 21 yr old female and I am very petite so I want a tattoo that is petite and semi classy. If anyone is interested in helping me out. Drawing a design and sending me some ideas that would be amazing! I can't find anything like what I'm looking for online. So help sould be greatly appreciated and you get to make a new friend . my e-mail is Email Removed Thanks!

I am going to start tattooing. I have an extensive artistic background that ive always wanted to take into a tattooing career. There isnt anywhere in my area available for an apprenticeship so im just gonna go it on my own. I realise that this is not the ideal situation, but whatever, thats not the point of this post. Im wondering if anyone could recommend what sort of equipment i should buy to start out with. Im looking for something reasonably priced but good quality. Im willing to pay slightly more for a better quality machine. Could anyone please recommend a particular brand of equipment? Also a good brand of ink to start with? And if its not too much trouble, if someone could compile me a list of everything i should get to start out. Quantity, all that. I have a general idea what im doing (my best friend was an apprentice before being untimely incarcerated) and intend to ask around and find any books i can on the subject. I know sterile technique and all that jazz and am schedualed to take a bloodborn pathogens course at the local community college. Thanks tons who anyone willing to help me out with this! -Lady