Cosmetic Tattoos

 

     Cosmetic tattoos became popular in the early 20th century.  These tattoos generally last 2-5 years before needing a touch up.  Eyeliner, eyebrows, lipstick, and lip liner are just a few cosmetic procedures individuals can get done.  Cosmetic tattoos can save a lot of time when it comes to getting ready; that is particularly why many fashion icons have permanent makeup.  Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, and Halle Berry are just a few that have cosmetic tattoos.  Although these tattoos are becoming more popular, they do have pros and cons- just like any trend.

    

 

 Cons         

•  Infection
• Allergic Reaction
• Hard to remove once applied
• Irritation during MRI
• Adverse Reaction

     Pros & Benefits

• Men and Women benefit from cosmetic tattoos
• Individuals who like their faces more visual appeals are in luck with permanent makeup!
• Those who have watery eyes
• Those who experienced hair loss
• Individuals who are allergic to ingredients in regular cosmetics

    
     Yes, cosmetic tattooing can save time and make both men and women look beautiful; but, just think.. is it really worth all the risk and pain?  That is up to you.  Cosmetic tattoos are a huge part of the fashion and beauty industries.  Today, hundreds of thousands of individuals have chosen to get cosmetic makeup procedures performed.        

 

 

 

 

 

   

Tattoos of the future...

     Tattoos have come a long way from doing each tattoo by hand and taking hours or even days to complete a small tattoo.  Our society depends on the advancement of technology and this is where the hand held machine to tattoo comes into place.  But, the real question is...what is the future of tattoos?  If the technology and people of our society have come up with these amazing advancements thus far, what can they do in the upcoming years?

 Well, Nokia recently patented a magnetic material that can be "tattooed" on your skin.  It would supposedly vibrate when you get an incoming call/text.  This is very helpful to those who always have their phones on silient or even those who are hearing impaired.  The image to the right it how Nokia envisions this material to work on the average humans skin.  You think that's crazy?  Researchers have developed a medical tattoo to monitor glucose levels as they rise and fall.  And, lastly tattoos don't necessarily have to be on your skin.  In the future, dentists have created a tattoo that can monitor the bacterial levels in your mouth.  Tattoos on the skin is scary enough, but putting dentistry and tattoos together is pretty risky.



         In my opinion, these ideas are so innovative and fascinating.  The upcoming generations want new and unique ideas to play with and make better.  According to National Science Foundation, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University an electronic tattoo that bends with body tissue and is able to sense brain wave activity, muscle movement, and heart actitivy is already in the works for the near future.  Big things are going to happen...               

Henna Henna Henna

 

     Many people are unsure what henna tattoos are and the meaning behind them.  Henna has been used since the Bronze Age to dye many things including hair, skin, fingernails, leather, etc...  Henna tattoos start with a ground paste that must be on the skin for hours or even overnight.  These tattoos can last one week to a few months depending on the quality of the paste they used on you.

     The most common use of henna tattoos is marriage and fertility celebrations.  Women would mark their hands with henna in hopes of meeting their significant others.  Brides usually had the most henna, although the groom did have some.  In Yemen, it took 4-5 days to complete the henna tattoos for the bride.  All the designs that are put onto the skin are thought out through their own creativity as well.   

     Henna tattooing is still around today and made popular by Madonna and Demi Moore.  In fact, henna tattooing something you and a friend can do on a Friday night.  It is a very long and intricate process.  Below is a tutorial how to create a henna tattoo.  This is a very interesting video because people with these religions still use these techniques. 

          

 

 

 

 



Is white the NEW black?

     White Ink tattoos seem to be a trend sweeping the fashion industry on the west coast.  Celebrities such as Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan, and Rihanna all have white ink.  Pictured to the left is Lindsay Lohan's tattoo on her wrist that reads "breath."   
     Everyone is wondering what led to the rise of white ink tattoos?  They are barely visible and if you are going to get a tattoo, mine as well let it show.. right?  Well, Mark Pinto from Primitive Tattoo in Australia says a white tattoo is something you do for yourself.  It is a personal message you do not want on display, a little more subtle.
     There are definitely pros and cons of white tattoos.  White ink is more discreet, which means you do not have to cover this up at work.  This is good for high fashion models and individuals pursuing a career in the fashion industry.  You do not have to stop getting tattoos, you can simply get white ink.  You can put them anywhere on your body and people struggle to see them.  They are at the same price point as a regular tattoo.  Now, with the good..there comes the bad.  A white tattoo shows up very nicely with pale skin with little pigment, darker skin tones seem to block the white ink from coming through.  Also, someone who spends a lot of time in the sun should avoid this trend.  UV light seems to fade white ink progressively fast as well.  The following video gives us a visual of what the the white ink would look like if you would have a pale skin with little pigment or even a darker skin tone.
     So, the white ink tattoos an ever changing trend, just like the fashion industry itself.  Go give it a try..you might like it!
           

 

Tacky or Tasteful?

Are tattoos tacky or tasteful?

 

 

     Well, everyone has their own opinion about this subject.. and it seems to cause an uproar amongst those who think differently.
     Dr. Dave is a medical doctor with private general medicine in New York City.  His tattoos are becoming more popular in corporate and professional America.  The tattoos on Dr. Dave are covered up with his medical coat.  When he is seeing patients, you would not know he is covered in them.  This individual saves peoples lives on a daily basis.  So is it okay for society to call these tattoos tasteful?

...And these tacky?  

   

 

The answer is no.  Our society as a whole look at these people with tattoos in any profession and categorize them.  People as individuals have decided to decorate themselves with art and we think they are "weird" or "different."  This persons tattoos are considered tacky because they cannot be hidden.  But really, he is just an average person like the rest of us.  Everyone has the right to their own opinion but..people need to stop judging a book by its cover.. get to know someone before you jump to conclusions.            

   

Tattoos in Disguise

     According to statistics, in 2011 every 4th person in the USA has at least one tattoo.  In a rating ‘Top 100 Sexiest Women Alive’ 38 have at least one permanent tattoo and 3 have temporary tattoos.
     Freja Beha, pictured below, is a runway and campaign model for HUGO.  Freja Beha has 16 tattoos, most of which are all small but are visible when you are looking at her.  Looking at the picture, you cannot see any tattoos..showing the viewers that she has a clean and postive image.  Beha has 16 tattoos and but yet when being professional you cannot see one.  In this situation, the makeup artist did a excellent job with makeup as well as posing her so you cannot see any of her tattoos; makeup does wonders nowdays.  Tattoos are sometimes deceiving in certain industries, but they can always be covered up - whether it is with makeup, clothing, or even with another tattoo.    
     On the other hand, there are many labels who use tattoos to promote their brand.  A great example of a label who uses tattoos to promote their brand is Don Ed Hardy.  Don Ed Hardy is best known for his tattoo work.  All of his clothing have tattoo designs on them.  Some of the long sleeve shirts has an appreance of tattooed sleeves, so individuals who do not have tattoos on their arms can dress to make it look they have tattooed sleeves.  Buckle brand, Affliction, and Pacific Sunwear brand all use tattooed models to promote their brand as well.            

          
   

History of Tattoos

       First off, the word tattoo came from the Tahitian term "Tatua" which means "to mark."

       Different practices of tattoo art have been experienced for centuries by many different cultures all over the world.  The first tattoo is said to be documented by the Egyptians in 4000 B.C.  The Japanese began tattooing around in 500 B.C.  The art of tattooing began in America by immigrants in the early 1800s.  Martin Hildebrandt, a German immigrant, was the first professional tattooist in the United States.  Every single tattoo was done by hand with a long needle.  In 1891, the first electric tattoo machine was invented.  This made life a lot easier.  Samuel O'reilly had the first documented tattoo parlor to open in New York City. 
       Tattoos had been used for many different ways for individuals to express themselves such as religion, feelings, and style.  They even used tattoos to punish the criminals.  The art of tattooing is growing everyday.  It is a form of art that was once looked down upon and very rare; and today growing into something popular and more common into todays society.  I believe it is a way to show someone who you are without speaking.  The future of tattoos will be accepted no matter what your profession may be.                        



This is ancient tattooing that took many hours to complete because these tattoos were all done by hand.  The tattooist had to have a very steady hand when doing this.