Samoan Tattoo Designs

Samoan tattoos have been passed on from one generation to another. These intricately-designed tattoos are performed only expert tattoo artists who have knowledge about the culture. Read the following article to find interesting Samoan tattoo designs that you can choose from... The art of tattooing has been practiced in Samoa for over 2000 years by now. If you go through the culture of Samoa, you will understand the tradition of adorning body with artistic tattoo designs. In fact, the term tattoo is believed to have its roots from the Samoan word for 'correct' or 'workmanlike', tatau. In Samoan culture, tattoos are flaunted with cultural pride and dignity. Both men and women etch tattoos on their body, wherein the designs are much heavier and painful in case of men.

The Tafuga decides the design for every individual. The tattoo artist then explains the hidden meaning to the individual who's getting the tattoo made. The meanings depend upon the design pattern, shapes, and its location. One thing that differentiates Samoan tattoo art from other Polynesian tattoo designs is the absence of circles in the former. Also, it is to be borne in mind that traditional Samoan tattoo designs and applications are restricted to the arms, legs, and other body parts, but never on the face.

Designs to Choose From

Samoan tattoo art is usually prominent, covering a large body area. The design pattern is often symmetrical, comprising lines, solid blocks and interwoven shapes. The traditional designs are applied by a master tattooist (Tafuga) with black ink which is prepared from burning candlenut shells.

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Traditional Designs and their Meanings

Men and women have unique tattoos and are known by different names. However, both have a very important and equal status in body modification. The traditional Samoan male tattoo is referred to as Pe'a, while that of female is known as Malu. These tattoos have specific implements having cultural significance and aren't done for just pleasure.

Pe'a
Pronounced pay-ah, these tattoos are done at the onset of puberty; as a rite of passage. It is more of a ritual accompanied with songs. The Pe'a design is applied in such a way that it covers the whole waist area to the knee line. The motifs inked on men have geometrical shapes, curved lines with thin cross beams (applied on the back), net-like patterns (specially around the groin area), and leaves of pandanus trees.

The Tafuga usually takes 10 days to complete the tattooing process, with 5 sessions and gap of 1 day in between sessions. The 5 sessions are proceeded in a step by step manner, with each session specific for a particular area. For example; height of the design (in back) is decided in the first session, after which the posterior section, thighs, middle thigh to groin and abdominal areas are covered in the following sessions. Nevertheless, it takes several weeks or at times years to complete applying Pe'a. Consequently, the healing period may last for as long as a year.

Malu
The designs for women are simpler and delicate, as compared to the ones men get. They are also not ritualized as in case of Pe'a. The original Malu design is without solid blocks and covers from upper thigh to the area just below knee line. Some women have Samoan arm tattoos with small designs. Popular shapes and patterns among Samoan women are dots, worm-like shapes, structure resembling leg of a golden plover and starfish.

Author: Ningthoujam Sandhyarani

Proper tattoo studio practices

The growing number of tattoo studios in Sydney is making it even more difficult for newcomers to distinguish between good tattoo studios and bad tattoo studios. If you're getting tattooed for the first time, there are a number of things you should keep in mind when deciding on where to go.

The growing number of�tattoo studios in Sydney�is making it even more difficult for newcomers to distinguish between good tattoo studios and bad tattoo studios. If you're getting tattooed for the first time, there are a number of things you should keep in mind when deciding on where to go. Choosing a professional, clean and sterile tattoo studio is absolutely essential to your health and the health of your�tattoo. When we get down to it, tattoo artists deal with blood for a living. Day in day out, their working environment, their clothes, their tattoo equipment and their tattoo needles are exposed to the blood of many different people. Fresh tattoos are essentially open wounds, so realistically, a�tattoo studio�should be no less sterile than a hospital or a surgery room. And you thought it was just about the art!

You can't simply rely on a tattoo studio's reputation to tell you whether or not they follow good practice. Go visiting a number of tattoo studios and have a look around when you enter them. A studio should be clean and orgnised - if it's not, you should try the next one. All tattoo studios should also be fitted with an autoclave - which they should use daily. This is used to sterilise all equipment, and it's the standard machine used by hospitals and scientists for sterilisation. Autoclaves use steam, heat and pressure to kill any living organisms on the tattoo equipment.

Also make sure you can see the�tattoo artists�using disposable gloves and disposable ink cups. Everything should be for single use only, as this reduces the chance of cross contamination. There are plenty of low-grade, shifty tattoo studios who might not follow this practice due to the high cost of throwing things away and constantly needing new supplies. But this is part of the deal when you own a tattoo studio - anything less means the tattoo artist is compromising proper health procedure. A professional tattoo artist should replace his gloves if he's touched anything besides the sterilised equipment or your skin. The old ones get binned and new ones are put on.

In a professional tattoo studio, you should expect to see your artist opening sterilised packets of equipment in front of you before he begins work. All bio-medcal waste should also be safely disposed of, using a proper biohazard disposal company. It's important for tattoo studios to follow such practices, as even after the tattoo is finished and the customer has left, the contaminated waste can still pose problems for the environment or anyone who comes across it.

Tattoo studios have to protect their customers from cross-contamination or infection. Getting tattooed at the right tattoo studios also means you're helping spread awareness reputable�tattoo studios, and helping combat myths and false hype. Even if you hear a studio being called 'the best tattoo studio in Sydney', if they don't have their health practices in check you should look for a better one. There are many tattoo studios out there with lax health standards, and unfortunately many first-time customers don't know any better. Learning about the proper health practices of tattoo studios is important for protecting your welfare and best interests.

Author: Annie Dee

Neck Tattoo Pain

Neck tattoos are gaining popularity because of their originality and visibility. But before getting a neck tattoo, it's important to remember that they are not easy to conceal, and neck tattoo pain is considerably more as compared to pain of tattoo in other areas. Everyone either has a tattoo, or wants a tattoo! What was once used as a religious symbol and then transgressed into a symbol of rebellion, is now used as a popular body art for self expression or as a fashion statement. People are getting tattoos on their shoulders, wrists, backs, necks, ankles and where not! It is estimated that about twenty percent of all the tattoos done, are neck tattoos. Neck tattoos are gaining a lot of popularity, probably because they are one of the most visible tattoos. The famous saying 'no pain, no gain' is applicable in almost all aspects of life, and tattoos are no exceptions. But many people who have got a neck tattoo believe, that neck tattoo pain is comparatively greater than other tattoo pain.

Neck Tattoos

First, let us try and understand more about neck tattoos. Neck tattoos are tattoos which are on the region just below the chin to the collarbone, along with the nape. Most neck tattoos are made on the sides of the neck or on the nape. If you are sure you want a neck tattoo, you can start with a tattoo on the nape of the neck. The nape tattoos are very popular with women, as not only is it a sensual place, but if they don't want to show it, they can easily cover it with their hair. Tattoos on the sides of the neck are not for the faint hearted. You have to be daring and not concerned with first impressions. Usually, this kind of tattoos are seen on tattoo artists or rock stars. The tattoos on the side of the neck are usually done on both sides of the neck for it to look symmetric. The front of the neck is one of the most rare places to get a tattoo. However, it is gaining popularity, especially neck tattoos that originate from the chest.

There are infinite choices of neck tattoos. The majority of those choices are feminine tattoo designs like stars, butterflies, dragonflies, tribal tattoos, floral designs and zodiac tattoos, especially for the nape.

Pain While Getting Neck Tattoo

Neck tattoos are equally notorious for the pain caused while getting them, as well as for the problems one has to face even after getting them! Neck tattoos are also called 'job blockers', as in most conservative jobs any visible tattoos are not encouraged or allowed. Many tattoo artists are not keen to do neck tattoos, especially, if a person is not heavily tattooed. Some tattoo artists also strongly advise not to get them done, by warning you about the neck tattoo pain. But if you are firm on your decision, then make sure the tattoo artist has experience in inking tattoos in such a delicate place.

Most of the people deciding on neck tattoos are always concerned about pain. The most frequently asked question is, if getting a neck tattoo is more painful than getting other tattoos. The skin on the back of the neck is thinner as compared to other parts, and it is closer to the bone with very little padding of fat and muscle in between. Hence, the pain involved in neck tattoos is much more than other tattoos. However, it totally depends on the individual and his pain threshold.

The other factor to consider is the healing time needed. Unlike other tattoos, which usually heal in about three weeks, neck tattoos take a lot longer. The reason being, the continuous motion of the head results in friction, thus, delaying healing and causing the tattoo to scab quickly. So sometimes, it becomes necessary to re-ink the tattoo for covering those areas which, of course, adds to the pain.

Author: Kritika Parwani

Avoid Bad Situations By Buying Quality Tattoo Supplies

If you�re a tattoo artist,� then there�s no doubt that at some point you�ve seen someone have an allergic reaction to tattoo ink.

If you�re a tattoo artist, then there�s no doubt that at some point you�ve seen someone have an allergic reaction to tattoo ink. It�s very rare, but there are always a couple of people at some point in your career who just have sensitive skin or who aren�t aware that they�ll have such a reaction. There�s not much you can do about this, and you simply don�t have control over people who have reactions to the ink you use. If you�ve just gotten started in the tattoo industry and haven�t seen this experience yet, then odds are, you will at some point. Don�t let it alarm you or frighten you out of your career, because at least one of the people that have an allergic reaction will try to point a finger at you and blame you for their reaction, even though it�s probably their body to blame.

To avoid this situation though, there are a couple of things you can do to help prevent something like this happening. First of all, you can help avoid any kind of situation arising from the tattooing inks you use by making sure you order quality tattooing inks from a supplier that is reputable and trustworthy. If you�re a tattoo artist and you own a shop, there are probably times, especially at the beginning, that you�ll be tempted to buy cheaper inks from an unknown supplier just because the price is so attractive. Don�t be lured into this trap though; the quality of the supplies you use on your customers will show in their tattoos, and even if they don�t have an allergic reaction to the tattooing inks you use, the tattoo may simply look bad or fade quicker. The way your business or your work appears to the rest of the world will affect how well your business does, so proceed with caution.

If you�re just getting started in the business and are looking at tattoo kits for the first time, use discretion here also. You�ll find tattoo kits filled with supplies that may be of poor quality, and you could end up purchasing tattoo kits that include bad tattooing inks that will cause an allergic reaction in a customer. The ingredients in ink are just pigments and carriers, and different vegetable dyes, minerals, and salts are used to color the ink; all of which could cause an allergic reaction.

Bottom line, no matter where you�re at in your career, be cautious so that you don�t have a customer coming back to point a finger at you.

Author: Dan Wilders

Foot Tattoo Swelling

Foot tattoo swelling is a normal occurrence. A little bit of care and precautions can help it go down very soon. Read this article to know what you can do to check foot tattoo swelling. Foot tattoos look very beautiful, sensual and attractive. So more and more people, particularly women, are interested in getting a tattoo done on their feet. However, foot tattoo healing time is very long. It can range between a few days to few weeks depending on the size and location of the tattoo. Once the tattoo is done, the possibility of inflammation is high. The entire foot including the toes and ankle get swollen. It is maximum in the area surrounding the tattoo which becomes red and is warm to the touch.

Why does the Foot Tattoo Swell?

When you have decided to get a tattoo on your feet, you should be mentally prepared to experience more pain followed by swelling because of the tattoo. There are several nerve endings and capillaries in the foot. They are not cushioned with muscles like in other parts of the body. As a result, you will get more pain and more bleeding is going to occur. The greater the amount of bleeding, the higher the chance of swelling. This is one part of the body where blood circulation is not adequate and is therefore susceptible to a lot of stress which makes it prone to swelling. If you wear shoes and socks, heat, sweat and friction worsens the situation further. And of course, the feet are exposed to a lot of dust and dirt which also make it more susceptible to infection.

Preventing Foot Tattoo Swelling

When you have got a foot tattoo done on your feet, you must take all possible measures so that it does not get infected. This will help to reduce the risk of swelling and even if you get swelling, it should go at the earliest.

Keep the size of the tattoo small. Avoid any such designs that require too much of detailing. You are bound to get a number of foot jerks when the tattoo is being done and the tattooing requires a long time to finish. When the tattoo work requires more time then it is likely to give a lot of swelling.

During the tattoo's healing process, allow as much of air possible on the foot tattoo by not wearing shoes. When you are required to use footwear, wear flip flops. If you go barefoot for maximum time, both the foot tattoo pain and swelling will diminish faster. After the swelling goes down, if you want to wear shoes, wrap the foot with sterile gauze and then wear a pair of socks. Or else, the swelling will flare up once again due to friction with the shoe.

As swelling and soreness of foot tattoo is likely to occur, you may have to take time off from work until the tattoo gets healed up. In case, your job demands that you stay on your feet for long hours, then you have to take a break for not just few days but a couple of weeks. If you cannot afford to take such a long break, wait and go for tattoo only when you can take time off.

Keeping the foot clean all through the day is a major big challenge. Wash the foot 2-3 times a day with the help of a mild anti bacterial soap and warm water. Dry it up thoroughly with a soft piece of cloth without rubbing the cloth over the tattoo. Apply a tattoo care lotion that contains vitamin A and D. Rub the lotion with a gentle hand and dab off the excess using a paper towel. Do this a number of times a day to keep the skin moisturized which in turn will help to heal the tattoo fast.

Drinking plenty of water will keep you hydrated and decrease the chances of water retention in your feet. This will prevent the tattoo from further swelling. Eating a balanced diet and intake of vitamins during the recovery period will speed up the healing process. Light aerobic exercises will improve the blood circulation of the feet and thus help to bring down the inflammation.

You can get a lot of relief from the swelling, if you keep feet in an elevated position while sleeping or sitting in a chair. Application of ice wrapped in a soft cotton cloth will help if the swelling starts itching. Most importantly, strictly follow the foot tattoo aftercare instructions given by the tattoo artist.

Author: Bidisha Mukherjee

Laser Tattoo Removal in Southern California

Many persons have received a tattoo that they are not joyous with, like for example if one has a girlfriends name on your leg and you two break up, obviously you are going to need to get the tattoo removed.

Many persons have received a tattoo that they are not joyous with, like for example if one has a girlfriends name on your leg and you two break up, obviously you are going to need to get the tattoo removed. In this article I can discuss some options on tattoo removal that everyone who is thinking of moving down this path could know.� One big question that individuals ask, does laser tattoo eradication hurt? The answer is that it might hurt when it is being done, it is not supposed to hurt as bad as when one got the tattoo, the sensation is almost like being snapped with rubber or leather.

�The process of laser eradication would take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple hours and several treatments, there are a lot of decisions that go into it, how old the tattoo is, the color, the size etc.. The tattoo could still be there after your treatment, it will take many months for it to fade away.

�The success rate has been quite excellent, no physician can guarantee a 100% eradication rate, it depends on the dependencies that I mentioned earlier, age, color, size, to be honest the lighter that your skin is, the better the results will be.� The risks associated with laser tattoo removable are surprisingly quite low as long as one follows the proper sessions after the laser part is done, if one does not one must develop an infection that will have to be treated with a cream or antibiotic.

The cost of laser elimination is unique, it all depends on the factors that was mentioned, it must run one an average of $100 per square inch, you must have to get a consultation for more accurate pricing.

Author: Dustin Tenpor

Locate Tattoo Studio for Stylish 3D Tattoos

In the contemporary age, peoples are crazy about 3D tattoo piercing on their body. This is a symbol of new-age fashion and youth is very adoring to have three dimensional (3D) tattoos on their body. Each embossed tattoo on body for specific perspective has its own notion and peoples want to enclose it in specific patterns. These patterns are generally catching the attention of famous personalities and they are obsessive about this stylish tattoo artwork.

There are furthermore, a number of varieties of 3D tattoos which append shadow to your tattoo. It seems like something is placed on your body. This sort of tattoo, imprinted on your body is a sign of a wholehearted attitude an individual personality. This attracts many people towards you and gives a different look. But when it comes about to design a 3D tattoo on your body, you must be careful to choose a tattoo artist.

If you think about designing a 3D tattoo on your skin, then selecting a tattoo studio plays an important an imperative role. Select a tattoo studio nearby your city or town. You can make ease of your exploration through the web. There are huge lists of artists, but choosing a good artist or studio for 3D tattooing can be a little complicated. But spending a few minutes on Internet can assist you a lot. You can easily find the best tattoo makers through their artworks and user reviews.

If your discovery has come to an end, then choice a design with eye-catching patterns and have various magnificence to grab the consideration of one and all. When you have preferred the art or design, must reflect the image of that tattoo and appearance on your skin, in your mind. Picking colors and shadows is also an important factor to pierce. Colors, pattern and shade does matter a lot for your fashionable perception.

Ask the designer, where on your body piercing tattoo will be give you an extraordinary impression. As the trend is amending, and tattoo is recognized as symbol of fashion, people are willing to sketch tattoo on whole body. The old notion like tattoo on hand and shoulder has been amalgamated in entire body artworks. Especially girls are extremely ardent about tattoo illustration on their backside. Most of tattoo zealous opt a design of spider, lizards, eyes, stars and butterfly etc. on their body. These selections of tattoos give an elegant look and graceful shadow underneath its design and appears like these signs are put on or moving on your body.

Author: teamfhs