For most, tattooing is a private, artistic decision. Tattooing isn’t just a guy thing anymore. Over the past twenty years a steadily increasing number of women have been spotted wearing this ancient form of art as well. There is just something fascinatingly beautiful about having a tattoo, whether it’s a permanent work of art or simply a temporary one.

Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since Neolithic times. Mummies bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau. Tattooing in Japan is thought to go back to the Paleolithic era, some ten thousand years ago. Tattoos have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent decades in many parts of the world, particularly in North America, Japan, and Europe. The growth in tattoo culture has seen an influx of new artists into the industry, many of whom have technical and fine art training.

Permanent tattoos are applied by injecting color pigments into the second layer of skin using a needle that is attached to a motorized instrument. The tattoo may take anywhere from a few hours to several months to complete, depending on size and detail of the design.

Having a permanent tattoo done requires research. You most certainly don’t want to have your tattoo done by just anyone. Imagine getting a tattoo, only to later discover you contracted the disease hepatitis from an unclean tattoo needle. Having a tattoo done safely should be your number one priority. State health departments in Texas, Oregon and Wisconsin monitor and inspect tattoo studios. However, tattoo studios operate in many states in the U.S. but are NOT inspected by a local health department. New York City currently has over 400 licensed tattoo artists. Tattoo studios are still illegal in several states in the US: Vermont, Massachusetts and Oklahoma being a couple at the time of this writing.

You also have to remember tattoo aftercare is vital to the longevity of your tattoo! How your tattoo looks three months or three years from now depends upon how you treat it right away. Follow these steps to promote a healthy tattoo.

If you have already had a tattoo done and have since then regretted it, there are several ways to have the tattoo removed. The method of removal however, will depend on the pigment used, amount of time the tattoo has been on the skin, the location of the tattoo and if it was professionally done or not. Keep in mind that tattoo removal is a very costly procedure and it’s not always possible to completely remove the tattoo. Often there is permanent scarring where the tattoo once was.

The most common removal methods are laser treatment, dermabrasion (which involves freezing, then sanding the skin) or salabrasion (which requires the use of a salt solution instead of freezing. The skin is then sanded).

If you’re looking for a less permanent and safer approach to tattooing, try a temporary or henna tattoo.

Although not permanent, Henna tattoos are a more temporary ink, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of body art. Colors however, are limited. Usually henna inks come in shades of red, green or brown and depending on your skin tone, the colors may react differently than others.

For many celebrity, getting tattoos can become a media circus with future employment ramifications. A tattoo design that was crafted with personal intention can suddenly become the latest must-have copycat item for hundreds of fans worldwide.

Part of being a celebrity is having every detail of your life opened up to the attention of the public. With the rise in popularity of body art, and the lessening of the stigmatic perception of things like tattoos and piercings, those who enjoy celebrity watching now scrutinize every little inking and puncture of their favorite stars.

The first Western celebrities to make tattoos fashionable were the British upper class in the late 1800s. Family crests and other small signets were popular on forearms.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) get a colorful variation on their “Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” advertisement campaign. After a series of ads featuring unclothed female models, the latest ads are spun off under the concept “Think Ink, Not Mink.” In addition to bared bodies, the ads feature the appearances of both male spokesmodels and celebrity tattoos.

If you have a tattoo please, leave me a comment, and let me know if you get a nice experience with your tattoo studios