Should Tattooing An Animal Be Conidered Animal Cruelty

This topic is very controversial to begin with. Some people probably have not even heard of pets having tattoos. However, pet tattoos happen a lot more often than one may think. For instance, race horses are given a tattoo in their lip right before their first race so the horse can be identified. This tattoo is used if for some reason the horse's records get lost in between different owner's. The new owner's can then track down the horse's records with the tattoo in their lip. This same practice is used for dogs as well. Many dog owner's chose to get their beloved dog tattooed with a series of numbers on their belly in the event of the dog getting lost. The tattoos are sort of used for the same purpose as a micro chip. With that being said these tattoos don't seem to be very cruel. However, the tattoos are administered the same way as a humans so people may feel that in itself is cruel. But people should know that the tattooing itself doesn't hurt the dog like it does a human because they have more layers skin, but it is still uncomfortable to them. The sound of the tattoo gun is want makes them the most uncomfortable.

With that being said tattooing your pet doesn't sound so bad. However, to tattoo your pet just because you feel it would be "cool" for your pet to sport a tattoo, probably falls somewhere under animal cruelty. Getting a series of numbers tattooed on your pet is a whole lot different that getting an actual tattoo design tattooed on them.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Death Metal Tattoos: part 2

I wish I knew what this was, I really do. It looks like a totem pole of demons? With some kind of weird scarred-out blob in the middle. Is it a tribal-mutant batman logo? AND DO YOU SEE THE SCRATCHED UP FETUS ON HIS ELBOW? I mean really, how could you miss that? I don't even know what the stuff on his forearm is. If anyone can help decipher this, please let me know! I was staring at this guy for ages trying to figure it out.



I wish I knew what was on his back, too. You can see a bit of it poking out. I bet it's incredible.

Death Metal Tattoos: part 1

I went to the Maryland Deathfest this past weekend and OH BOY did I see so many amazing metal tattoos! One million distorted zombies! Ten thousand blurry black and white messes of somethingorother! A good handful of band logos! I have a LOT to share with you guys, but let me start with this gem (perhaps the best of the bunch):



THAT GIRL IS TRUE. EVIL. I love the fancy flourishes added to each word, it really rubs in the brutality of her tattoo.

Tune in soon for more!

Jermaine Dupri Gets Tattoo Of Janet Jackson

If you are not familiar with the tattoo world or tattoo culture you may or may not know that it is pretty much a tattoo no no to get a tattoo of your lover's name or to get a portrait of them. Tattoo artist often refer to this gesture as being overly romantic. Yes, it's great to experience getting a tattoo together but it doesn't have to be something like their name or their picture. It is literally considered the kiss of death to get your lover's name and or their picture tattooed on you. Let's face it people just don't stay together forever anymore and nine times out of ten once someone does this they all of a sudden split up. Well Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson have been dating each other since 2002. So it's been 7 solid years of happiness for this celebrity couple, which in Hollywood 7 years is more like 70 years. Let's just hope for Jermaine's sake that they can beat the tattoo cruse and stay together.

For some unknown reason Jermaine thought it would be a great idea to get a rather interesting tattoo of girlfriend Janet Jackson on his rib cage. Janet is being portrayed as the Virgin Mary of all things. Jermaine had no problem admitting that it hurt like crazy and he had to take at least 100 breaks because he couldn't take the pain.

So take this as a lesson learned. One do not get a lover's name or portrait on you. It's like playing with fire you will end up getting burned, maybe not now but somewhere down the line. And number two getting a tattoo on your rib cage is a very painful place to get a tattoo.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Your Child Wants A Tattoo, What Should You Do?

For a lot of parents out there one of the worst things that can come out of your child's mouth is that they want a tattoo. Of course you can go the route of saying not while you are living under my roof. But this simply little statement might actually persuade your child to go out and get one anyways. So parents you need to be careful with how you handle this. If your child wants a tattoo bad enough and they are of legal age there really isn't anything stopping them.

However, there is a way that you as a parent can ensure that they are going to a safe clean tattoo parlor, and that they are being wise about their tattoo design. Instead of jumping down your child's thoart and immediately saying no you need to have an open mind. Would you rather your child go behind your back and go to a shady tattoo parlor or would you like to take part of this time in your child's life? You as a parent may not condone tattoos and you may not like them yourself. But you should educate your child on tattoos and the seriousness of them. Instead of pushing them away you should embrace this with them. Talk to them about the design that they want to get and help them come to the decision that they design they are picking out is not gaudy, un-tasteful and or too big. Even though you may not like tattoos yourself, wouldn't you much rather your child not regret what tattoo they got and that they got it done in a clean environment. Not to mention what a great bonding experience it is for parents and their children to experience a tattoo together. So before you say NO, think of the above tips.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Where Does The Negative View On Tattoo Come From?

Over the years tattoos have become more and more popular and the tattoo community is trying their best to change the stigma that is put on them. However, this stereotype of people with tattoos being, up to know good, criminals, or trashy people is hard to over come. In fact most people in the world that dawns body ink couldn't be farther from the above things. Most people who have tattoos are law biding citizens that hold down a good paying job. They devote their life to charities and being a good person. Even sports teams like the Denver Nuggets have fallen victim to this ridiculous tattoo stigma. The Denver Nuggets is one of the most tattooed NBA teams out there and just recently people have started to call them the Denver Thuggests instead of the Nuggets, simply because everyone on the team has tattoos.

So one might start to wonder where does this hatred of tattoos come from? Is it a generational thing? Is it the way a person was brought up? Their religious views? Unfortunately, this question will probably never get answered. But it might be wise to start with the generational thing. For instance men who were in the army, navy, or any other military in the 50's and 60's it was considered semi ok for them to have tattoos. And every since the year 2000 hit the youngsters of that generation have contributed to the rise in tattoos. So thus explaining the generation thing. Because it seems that more people that fall in between those generations have a harder time accepting tattoos and can't seem to get past the negative stereotype that is attached to tattoos, which is complete hogwash by the way. In conclusion, we will probably never find out the reason behind why so many people have a problem against tattoos and where that hatred comes from. The tattoo community just has to keep fighting an uphill battle in hopes of one day overcoming the negativity.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Free Tattoos

One major thing that keeps people from getting tattoos is the money. If you want a good tattoo and you have a pretty descent sized tattoo picked out that has a lot of detail in you. You are looking to pay some big bucks to get the designed inked on you. However, there might be an answer to your prays. There is a tattoo parlor in Omaha that gives free tattoos all day long. The tattoo parlor has done this for nine years in a row and doesn't see any reason to stop. The shop considers it a customer appreciation day. And as you can imagine people start lining up the night before to ensure they have a good spot in line and to make sure they will receive their free tattoo.

Just in case you are wondering there really isn't a big catch to this. In order to receive a free tattoo you have gotten a tattoo from Liquid Courage sometime within the last 12 months. And if you don't fit that bill than you can simply make a donation to a local animal shelter. Your donation can simply be a bag of dog food, some dog bowls, a dog bed or something of that nature. Either which a way you look at it those items cost less than a tattoo.

So if you live in Omaha and love tattoos be sure to mark this on your calendar for next year. And if you don't live in Omaha consider taking a road trip but remember to bring a donation with you.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Some Great Facts About Tattoos And The Tattooing Process

There is so much information out there about tattoos and tattooing it is ashamed that most people who want or are getting a tattoo for the first time don't know. It is a wise to educated yourself about tattoos and the tattooing process so you are not going into it blind. Getting a tattoo is a very serious decision in ones life and shouldn't be taking lightly. There are things that can go wrong when getting a tattoo or that may occur after the tattoo is done, although these things are rare. This is why it is so important to educated yourself about the world of tattooing and tattoos.

First and foremost one should know that there is no school for tattooing. Tattoo artist mainly just develop their skills on their own or go through an apprenticeship program at a tattoo parlor to learn the tricks, skills and information of the trade.

Secondly, people often hear that tattoos are addicting. While this is true it's not because the ink that is used to apply the tattoo has a magical power. Tattoos become addictive because people want more artwork on their body, or they enjoy the rush of adrenaline that they experience while getting one. When the body endures any kind of intense stress or pain it is counteracted by a burst of adrenaline to help ease us through this. However, once the adrenaline rush has worn off, the body can become tired and possibly a bit shaky. It is quite normal to have the shakes after getting a large tattoo, or one with a lot of detail in the outline. The more trauma done to the skin, the more adrenaline is pumped through your body. So basically people are addicted to the adrenaline rush they receive while getting the tattoo.

Lastly, people are well aware that they should not get a tattoo unless the tattoo artist uses a new needle. While it is extremely important to do this because of health reasons there is another good reason why you should never let a tattoo artist re-use a needle on you. After a tattoo needle is used once it becomes dull and does not pierce the skin as it should. This could lead to choppy or uneven lines.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

The Story Of The Tramp Stamp

If you have been living under a rock for the past decade or so you may not know what a tramp stamp is. A tramp stamp is a tattoo located on the lower back of a woman. With nearly 20% of women out in the world having a tramp stamp one starts to think, where did this not so nice term come from. Unfortunately, there really isn't any documentation to who came up with this now popular term. However, if you ponder it for a moment it is a no brainier that a tattoo located on the lower back just above a woman's gluteus maximus is going to being a lot of attention, whether it be considered sexy or vulgar. So rest assured women this term wasn't brought about because women who bare them are more promiscuous than ones who don't have one.

In fact, some tattoo artists think this popular tattoo got so popular when low rise jeans became a huge fashion trend. These low rise jeans gave women the chance to show off their lower back tattoo and be flirty and coy about them at the same time. And in doing so it prompted men to let their other brain get ahead of themselves and presume something that is probably not true. Thus bringing the stereotype that women with lower back tattoos aka tramp stamps are more promiscuous than women that don't have a tattoo there. This is more than likely where the term tramp stamp came from.

So women don't let the term tramp stamp bother you. Embrace it and prove people wrong!

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Some Great Tattoo Tips

The tattooing business is booming right now even though the stock market and economy isn't doing so well. So with that being said more and more people are heading to their local tattoo parlor to get some fresh ink. Some of these people are repeat customers while others are first timers. If you are a first timer there are probably a hundreds questions, thoughts and concerns going through your head about actually going through with the whole tattoo process. Below are a few useful tips that you should familiarize yourself with before you head to your local tattoo parlor and get inked.

* Make sure you educated yourself on tattoos and tattooing. It is better to know how the tattoos work and what all is involved in the process. Also it also helps to find out how much pain and discomfort will be involved before hand so you can prepare yourself. A no brainier is that this tattoo will be with you for the rest of your life so make sure you are making the right decision. After all it is better to be a little cautious than to get one on the spur of the moment and regret it later.

*Make sure the tattoo parlor of your choice is clean and follows the proper cleaning and sterilizing that is required for tattoo parlors in your state. All tattoo parlors should have an autoclave, use new needles for every customer and wear new disposable gloves with every client.

*Select the right designs. This is very important. You have numerous outlets to find a design you will be happy with the rest of your life. If you can't find one at the tattoo parlor look through magazines, the internet, books, or come up with one yourself. But keep in mind a custom tattoo will end up costing you more.

*Ink proofing is very important. If you like black ink tattoos this rule doesn't apply to you as much. However, if you want to add some color to your tattoo it is best to ask the artist to proof the ink to make sure it will look right on your skin tone. Some ink colors look good on some skin tones while other's don't. Lastly, some ink colors tend to fad and look dull on certain skin tones.


Your Tattoo Friend


Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

MOM Tattoo Not That Popular Anymore

Perhaps it should be said the traditional tattoo of the word MOM in a heart or on a banner is not popular anymore but getting tattoos to represent your mom is still very popular. Many tattoo artists have commented that they have seen this extremely popular tattoo that has been around for decades fizzle out here lately. However, they are quick to say that, that doesn't mean people are not coming in to get a tattoo to represent the woman that gave them life. In stead people are getting their mother's favorite flowers, a saying she would always say, a portrait of her or even her actually name tattooed on them. For some unknown reason the plan old MOM tattoo doesn't seem to strike people's fancy anymore, but there still are a few men that come in and request the very popular traditional tattoo.

Another trend that tattoo artist are seeing is that particular mother's and daughters will come into the tattoo parlor and get tattoos together, sometimes it will be the same tattoo and other times it will be different tattoos. Either way the bonding that comes along with the just getting a tattoo together can never be broken. So if you are thinking about getting a tattoo to honor your mother think outside the box and think of something that represents your mom, like her favorite flower, animal, saying or anything of that nature. Of course if you are a guy nothing says love like the good old MOM tattoo.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Can Tattoos Help Cause Skin Cancer

People who are against tattoos and have nothing good to say about them are constantly trying to find ways to prove tattoos are bad. The latest bit of news to hit the newsstands is that tattoos may help contribute to some people getting skin cancer. This claim came about when a few people reported some cases of skin cancer in the area of their tattoo. These tattoo haters claim that the metals that are some tattoo inks increases the chances of one getting skin cancer later on down the road.

However, what these people don't realize is the these materials that are in tattoo ink like, cobalt and aluminum are not causing skin cancer. In fact dermatologist have cleared this claim, by making it known that the tattoo ink is unlikely to do any harm because it is confined to cells in the skin called macrophages, whose job is to absorb foreign material. The culprit to the skin cancer was more than likely a mole that a tattoo was tattooed over so the person wasn't able to notice the changes in their mole. So the bottom line is, there is no evidence to prove that tattoos lead to skin cancer. Once again all the tattoo haters are proven wrong. Tattoos are not evil things, they are a right of self expression, just like someones hair color or hair cut. People need to start realizing that just becaue someone may look a little different or dress a little different it doesn't mean they are a bad person. Having tattoos doesn't make you less of a person but if you have something against someone because they have tattoos that does make you less of a person.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

It's a dog going through a divorce

This is another tattoo in my favorite category ever: friends convincing other friends to get ridiculous nonsensical tattoos. Hilarious and awesome. And awful.

This was the first tattoo for this poor/rad soul. Description from the friend whose idea and drawing it was is below.





"i dont really remember what led up to the idea of swift getting a 20 second drawing i did of 'a dog going through a divorce' as a tattoo, but it was certainly assisted by it being 3am and a fair amount of alcohol on his part.. he woke up that next day and said "you know what? fuck it. lets do it." so less than an hour later i was paying someone $60 to permanently put it on swifts arm. dudes got sad depressed moppy divorced hair, hes unshaven and mopey, and hes got a little suitcase and dufflebag. he just needs to crash on your couch for a week or two. you know what happens when you call a tattoo shop and tell them you "want to get a cartoon dog getting a divorce", they dont believe youre serious. like 3 places didnt believe us."

Tattoos More Popular Than One May Think

There is no doubt that tattooing has grown in popularity over the last ten years, with more celebrities and other public figures dawning them it makes more people want to get them. However, to some people's surprise the tattooing business hasn't been effected by this horrible economy, they are actually seeing an increase in business. On the flip side of that not only are more people getting tattooed but more people are enduring the painful sessions to get a regrettable tattoos removed. Even more incredible is that tattoos, and tattoo related words are the most search words on the internet beating out the adult market, which is pretty impressive.


So this does bring some sort of hope to the tattoo industry in one way and it also hurts the industry. It's great that more and more people are getting interested in tattoos. The only down fall is that could mean more and more people are not thinking clearly about their tattoo decisions, thus is the reasoning why the laser tattoo removal business is booming right now. Either which a way you think about it the tattoo business is still on a rise and clearly isn't going anywhere anytime soon and the popularly of tattoos doesn't seem to be falling either. However, what certain people need to realize is the tattoo industry and tattoo artist can not be blamed for people's poor decisions when it comes to a tattoo design.



Your Tattoo Friend



Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!

Now THIS is what a zombie should look like!

I got a spur-of-the-moment zombie tattoo last week from Alex at Three Kings in Brooklyn. If you've seen my millions of bad zombie tattoo posts, you know that a good, gory zombie is hard to come by. And I got one!!!!



Because it was a TOTAL impulse tattoo (I just dropped by the shop to hang out and watch my friend Myles tattoo my friend Josh for a couple minutes and ended up getting tattooed myself!) I didn't know where the image was from. It was just something AWESOME that Alex had drawn up (he had a bunch of drawings for their Friday the 13th Zombie day that were too involved for the $40 zombie deal they had going). Turns out it is from this obscure comic that not one, but TWO of my friends knew about!



In other new tattoo news, I also got my other crow filled in. They're by Myles, also at Three Kings.



I'm so stoked on them! They look great.

I'll post some legitimately bad tattoos soon, I promise. I just wanted to share these awesome ones because I am so excited about them.

Pharrell Williams Gets Tattoos Removed

Believe it or not the tattoo removal business has been booming in recent years. More and more people are heading out to laser tattoo removal facilities and getting their inked they no longer want or regret removed from their skin. Even though these laser removal sessions can cost a whopping $1,000 a pop, people are still flocking to these facilities. Obviously, the pain that they will endure from the multiple laser session are worth it to get those tattoo mistakes removed from their body.

The very talented and successful Pharrell Williams is one of these people. He has decided to get rid of all if not most of his tattoos. He has not gone into detail to why he has decided to get his tattoos removed. Perhaps, he regrets the ones he has or wants a clean canvas to start over or simply doesn't want tattoos anymore. Pharrell has gotten tattoos removed from his back, both biceps and both forearms. This is a great example to many young people out there. You should think extra hard about your tattoos. Getting a tattoo just to get one is not the best reason to get a tattoo. The best advice that anyone can give a young person or anyone who is thinking about a tattoo is simply wait. Think about your design and keep thinking about it and wait a month or so and if you still want it then go and get it. After all if you wake up one morning and decide you don't want or like that tattoo design you got you can't just scrub it off.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Here are some great Tattoo Designs you can check out!