About Me

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I am a hardworking and creative individual in the process of completing an Associate Degree in Fashion Merchandising at Virginia Marti College of Art and Design. Training in textiles and color theory and have an eye for fashion. Reliable student with an excellent attendance record and recognition for performance. Developed strong teamwork and leadership abilities through longtime involvement in volunteer activities.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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.        
 
 
 
 
 
   

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

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...               

Saturday, February 23, 2013

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. 
          
 
 
 
 


Monday, February 11, 2013

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!
           

 














Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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.