Sunday 24 March 2013

Zodiac Tattoos


Post by: Victoria Z.

Capricorn Tattoos (December 23 - January 20): Capricorns, who are represented by the goat, have several qualities unique to themselves. On a positive note, Capricorns are generally practical and prudent, disciplined and ambitious, careful and patient, and humorous but reserved. On the down side, this sign of the zodiac often has the following drawbacks: pessimism and fatalism, and a tendency to be miserly or grudging. Your Capricorn zodiac tattoo can be either the astronomical sign for Capricorn or in the form of a goat. 



Aquarius Tattoos (January 21 - February 19): Aquarius, depicted as the water carrier, is a sign of significant meaning to some. Remember the song? This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius? Aquarians have some great strong points which include a friendly and humanitarian outlook, honesty and loyalty, originality and inventiveness, and independence and an intellectual slant. However, these strengths are balanced with weaknesses that include a tendency to be contrary, perversity and unpredictability, and an inclination to be unemotional or detached. Because of the New Age popularity of this tattoo design, you may have an easier time locating several different design variations.



Pisces Tattoos (February 20 - March 20): Pisces, also known as "The Fish" is actually represented by two fish, each one swimming in the opposite direction from the other. Ruled by the planet Neptune, Pisceans generally share the following strengths: sensitivity and imagination, compassion and kindness, a selfless and unworldly nature, and they have strong senses of intuition and often sympathetic. On the dark side, Pisceans also face the following challenges: being too idealistic or an escapist, secrecy and vagueness, and a tendency to be weak willed and/or easily led. When choosing your Pisces tattoo design, keep in mind that the traditional color of Pisces is a soft, sea green tone.



Aries Tattoos (March 21 - April 20): Aries, "The Ram", is also more widely known as the god of war to the Greeks and Romans. Though listed here as the fourth sign, Aries is in fact the first sign of the zodiac, beginning on the spring equinox. Those under the sign of Aries are often adventurous and energetic, pioneering and courageous, confident and enthusiastic, and dynamic and quick-witted. However, when in a bad mood or rubbed the wrong way, an Aries can be selfish and quick-tempered, impulsive and impatient, or foolhardy daredevils. Aries is ruled by the planet Mars and its noted color is, not surprisingly, red.




Taurus Tattoos (April 21 - May 21): Taurus, a.k.a. "The Bull", is the sun sign ruled by Venus. Common strengths of Taurus's include patience and reliability, loving warm-heartedness, persistence and determination (does the phrase "Stubborn as a Bull" ring a bell?), and security in love and loving. However, the bull's drawbacks consist of: jealousy and possessiveness, a resentful or inflexible nature, and self-indulgence and greed. Surprisingly, the traditional color of the Taurus zodiac sign is… light pink!




Gemini Tattoos (May 22 - June 21): The Gemini sign is represented by a set of twins, and not surprisingly, Gemini's can often be dual natured. Ruled by Mercury and traditionally associated with the color green, Gemini's share some of these common strong points: versatility and adaptability, communicative and witty, eloquent and intellectual, and youthfulness and liveliness. Faults include: a tendency to be tense or nervous, superficiality (two-faced), and a certain amount of wily cunning. If you're looking to have a Gemini zodiac tattoo design that has an animal (as opposed to the twins) as the focus, lean towards the wolf which represents the famous Roman twins, Remus and Romulus.




Cancer Tattoos (June 22 - July 22): Cancer, "The Crab" is ruled by the moon and their traditional color is silver. Some traditional Cancer positive traits are being emotional and loving, intuition and imagination, shrewdness and caution and being protective and sympathetic. Cancerian flaws include moodiness, being overemotional and the inability to let go of things (like the past, lost loves, etc.) The zodiac of Cancer is often considered to be the least clear-cut of them all, when it comes to personality traits. If you aren't thrilled by the idea of having a crab tattoo design, you could chose to have a pearl design, since that is the sunstone of the sign.




Leo Tattoos (July 23 - August 22): Leo, "The Lion", is the most dominant and extroverted of all of the signs of the zodiac. Generous, warm-hearted and free; creative and enthusiastic; broad-minded and expansive; and faithful and loving, Leo's are generally born leaders. However, their strengths and dynamic personalities can be marred by the following weaknesses: being pompous or patronizing, bossy or interfering, and a tendency to be dogmatic or intolerant. Ruled by the Sun, this sign is also associated with the ruby and the color gold.



Virgo Tattoos (August 23 - September 23): Virgo, "The Virgin", is the only one of the 12 signs of the zodiac that is represented by a woman. Modest and shy, meticulous and reliable, practical and diligent, and intelligent and analytical, Virgos of both sexes can be quite charming. However, on a bad day, you might discover that Virgos can be worriers, overcritical or harsh and overly conservative perfectionists. Virgo tattoo designs can incorporate the most famous of all virgins, the Virgin Mary. Traditional colors of this sign are dark brown and green.




Libra Tattoos (September 24 - October 23): Depicted by a picture of scales in balance, Libra's often exhibit this same balance in their own lives. Diplomatic, romantic, easygoing and idealistic, Libras have in innate sense of right and justice. On a bad day, you may find a Libra of either sex indecisive, gullible or flirtatious and self-indulgent. Libra is the only inanimate sign of the zodiac, all the others being represented by either humans or animals. Many modern astrologers regard it as the most desirable of zodiacal types because it represents the zenith of the year, the high point of the seasons, when the harvest of all the hard work of the spring is reaped.




Scorpio Tattoos (October 24 - November 22): Scorpio the scorpion is the most intense, profound, powerful character in the zodiac. Common strong points are determination, strong emotion and intuition, power and passion and also excitement and magnetism. But, if you know any Scorpios, you also know that they have their weaknesses too. Jealousy and resentfulness, a compulsive and obsessive tendency and an obstinate and secretive nature are a few of the inherent weaknesses of those who share this sign. Ruled by the planet Pluto, it is important to remember the nature of the Scorpio's symbol, scorpions are venomous by birth.



Sagittarius Tattoos (November 23 - December 22): Sagittarians are symbolized by a centaur archer and ruled by the planet Jupiter. On good days, Sagittarians are optimistic and freedom-loving, jovial, straightforward and have an intellectual or philosophical lean. If you catch a Sagittarian while they are out of sorts, you may find them to be blindly optimistic, careless, irresponsible, tactless or restless. The centaur symbolizes mankind's dual nature as an intellectual creature (the human half) which was also a physical animal (the horse half), and makes a great statement as a tattoo design.


Tuesday 19 March 2013

5 Tattoo Myths


Post by: Victoria Z.

1) Every tattooist has artistic talent. Unfortunately, this is false. A good deal of a professional tattooist's time is spent fixing or covering someone else's “artistic talent”.

2) Any good artist can do any tattoo. Not necessarily. While most professionals are capable of a variety of styles, they usually have a specialty, a unique style of tattooing they've developed and are very good at. That artist who's known for his killer tribal work may not be the choice for the portrait of mom and dad you've been planning. Match the design you want with the artist who can pull it off.

3) Don't get any water on your tattoo. Partly true. You must not “soak” a new tattoo, but gentle hand-washing of it is necessary to remove harmful bacteria from the healing tattoo. When you shower, simply apply a little extra coating of ointment to the tattoo and avoid direct shower spray on it. Blot off excess ointment when you're done bathing.

4) Wall certificates prove that it's a good tattoo shop. Not necessarily. With the exception of “APT” certificates, which show the artist is affiliated with a professional organization which is concerned with safe, sterile tattooing procedures, most other “certificates” claiming professional status are merely wallpaper freebies from supply companies. Hardly the “proof” to bet one's health on.

5) Tattoos will look awful when you're 80, and you'll regret them when you're older. Actually, Harris polls taken in America in 2003 and 2008 found that a steady 84% of people with tattoos did not regret them. Of those who did regret, most rued that they had gotten a tattoo too young, with many also stating that their tattoo was poorly executed, or that they picked the wrong design.

old, tattoo

Monday 18 March 2013

2 Tattoo Polls

Post by: Victoria Z.
Please vote below:

Where do you think is the most painful area to get a tattoo?
Ribs
Ankle
Behind the ear
Foot
Neck
Chest
Collarbone
Back
Hands
Other

View Results

How many tattoos do you have?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8+
None, but I'm planning on getting one.
None, and I'm never getting any.

View Results

Friday 15 March 2013

3 Great Tattoo Blogs

Post by: Atia Syed

We want to educate our readers as much as we can which is why this post is about 3 other great tattoo blogs besides us. You're welcome to leave comments about the tattoo blogs you may visit as well!

Body Art Diary:
- This blog is great because it has such a wide variety of different tattoos for both men and women of all different kinds. It also has interesting posts such as the "Most Offensive Tattoos Celebrities Wore". The blog also has a tab for its most popular posts which currently has pictures of the world's most funniest or worst tattoos ever!

http://www.bodyartdiary.com/

Body Art Diary

Needle Buzz:
- This is another blog with amazing tattoo pictures. Most of the pictures are arm tattoos so its great for first-timers that plan on getting a tattoo on their arm where it would hurt less!



ContrariWise:
- This blog is interesting for people involved in the literature world because it has posts and pictures of tattoos of certain quotes and phrases - some of them are from authors of books.









Thursday 14 March 2013

What Are The Risks?

Post by: Mitwa P.

It's important to educate yourself about the health risks related to tattoos before deciding to get one. 

Getting a new tattoo can become a source of infection. People can also be allergic to certain pigments being used which can result in a reaction and/or thick scars.
If the equipment that is being used to place a tattoo on you is not sterilized, you can catch serious diseases such as hepatitis C and even HIV/AIDS.

Some ways to avoid a serious infection:

  •  Look around the tattoo shop when you enter. Is it kept clean?
  • Make sure the needles are sterilized or autoclaved. Autoclave is a heat sterilization machine. 
  • Make sure the artist does not reuse old ink for your tattoo
  • Ask the artist questions. Where did he/she get trained? How do they go about keeping the equipment clean?





Above all, make sure you feel comfortable in going ahead with the procedure. It’s better to be safe than sorry.


Things To Remember Before Getting A Tattoo

Post by: Mitwa P.

Procedure:

A tattoo comprises of pigmentation or ink which is inserted into the second layer of skin. An instrument which vibrates vertically is used to inject the ink 50 to 3000 per minute. Depending on the tattoo design you are getting put on, multiple needles can be used to complete the tattoo.


Some things you should remember before getting a tattoo:

  •  A tattoo is permanent, which is something you might to consider when choosing the tattoo design and where to get the tattoo.
  • The procedure to remove a tattoo is very expensive and can even leave a scar.
  •  If you are a woman, the tattoo will stretch and will be deformed in the case of the tattoo being on the abdominal area and if you get pregnant.
  •   Taking care of a tattoo is really important and will affect the result of your tattoo and can lower the chances of getting an infection.


Tuesday 12 March 2013

FOLLOW US!

Post by: Atia Syed

Hey guys!

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter! 


https://twitter.com/PainfulTattoos


We'll be tweeting regularly on our Twitter page and will include links to any updated or new posts that we will share on our blog. Please help us in spreading the word so we can educate more people about tattoos and the body parts to get them on. 

Let us know when you've spread the page and we'll be sure to follow you back! You guys are welcome to ask questions, recommend other blogs, or even share your tattoo pictures with us through Twitter! Just don't forget to use the hashtag #painfultattooareas !

We hope to interact and communicate with you all through there! 



Amazing Watercolour Tattoos

Post by: Daniel V.

Tattoo artist must have remarkable techniques to make tattoo ink appear like the subtle movement of watercolor. It’s quite remarkable, really. Whether the skin will allow these subtle nuances to hold up in the long term is of course still to be proven, but that is worry is true of a great many modern color artists, and only time will tell whether modern tattoo techniques and inks will allow for new expression in the art form that was not previously possible.

















Monday 11 March 2013

Top 3 Male Tattoo Designs

Post by: Victoria Z.
Tribal

tribal, tattoo, men, back, designOne of the most popular and significant trends to come out of the tattooing industry in the past twenty years has to be those designs that feature tribal artwork. Done in solid black with curves that end in points and sometimes interlock in complex patterns, these tattoos have various meanings to different people. They have been associated to social status, achievements, and identification. Celtic tribal artwork consists mainly of a variety of intertwining knot work, spirals and key patterns which at first glance appear somewhat random and completely abstract in nature. The Celts believed that the balance of body and soul was imperative to the individual’s well beings and that by adding lines that continually cross over and under each other built up a level of protection, thus the tattoo served as a talisman against evil. 



cross, tattoo, men, design


The ultimate symbol of Christianity is also one of the most prevalent symbols in tattooing. They come in all shapes and sizes, from simple crossed lines to intricate Celtic knot work versions. The deep symbolic meaning of cross tattoos have stretched to include a wide range of personal creations that may or may not depict religious importance. As one of the most flexible of tattoo designs, the cross is often integrated with several other additions that use hearts, flowers, animals, names, and faces that augment the overall meaning, crosses are usually proffered as the design for many first-timers, which often follows the loss of a loved one.





nautical, star, tattoo, men, design

The nautical star tattoo is among some of the oldest tattoo symbols. The five-pointed star of mariner’s charts is found on the compass rose, straight up, at the North position. Somewhere back in the salty mists of time, it represented the North Star, also known as Polaris, which was so crucial to navigation. It is a popular tattoo for men since they do not like to stop and ask for directions. (Kidding!) Today, it is a tattoo symbol that goes back to finding one’s way home and the luck that it sometimes takes to get there. More symbolically, it means finding one’s path in life. The nautical star tattoo can be big, small, two colors, one color–pretty versatile really.




Wednesday 6 March 2013

Best Tattoo Parlours in Toronto


Pearl Harbor Gift Shop   
Post by: Mitwa P.

Pearl Harbor Gift Shop

Pearl Harbor Gift Shop also is known as The Pearl. It has 6 different tattoo artists at the parlor. They usually take appointments but also accept walk-ins depending on the day and the tattoo artist. Contact them to book an appointment or to get any additional information.

Location
24 Kensington Ave.
Toronto, ON, Canada

Phone
(416) 595-7184

Email
pearlharborgiftshop@gmail.com




Archive Tattoo Studio

Archive Tattoo is located in Brockton Village, within Toronto. It is a result of a husband and wife team, David and Elyse Glantz who work together to operate the business. David has apporixmately a decade worth of professional tattooing experience. Check out their website by clicking on the link above!

Location
1528 Dundas St. West. Brockton Village
Toronto, ON M6K 1T5

Phone
(647) 342- 8494



                        Chronic Ink Tattoo

Are you looking to get some authentic asian tattoos ? Well this is the right place. Call or e-mail them for a free consultation. Chronic Ink has won many tattoo expo awards and is known to have excellent artists.  Click on the link above to check their awesome gallery.

Location
2352 Yonge St. 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M4P 2E6 

Phone
(416) 544-0311

Email
info@chronicinktattoo.com

Top 3 Painful Tattoo Areas

Post by: Victoria Z.
Ribs

rib, tattoo, girl, flower, design

One of the most revealing and vision-pleasing tattoo designs are applied to the ribs. However, it must be also claimed that it is undoubtedly a sensitive area which might harden the tattoo session a little. Indeed, tattoo artists got used to several breaks during the complex session as many individuals might consider the pain pretty unbearable. Therefore, make sure you ask your tattoo artist for several breaks if you don't feel fine, moreover some might even forget to breathe as they concentrate on the suppressing of the pain. In this case accidents might happen and some can even faint. However, self-control is the best remedy to handle pain as well as the tricky situation that challenges your pain endurance level.




ankle, tattoo, feather, design
Ankle tattoos are extremely popular both among men and women. However, delicate as they may seem, ankles pull their weight as one of the hurtful spots to ink regardless of their size.  In this case you might expose yourself to a less pleasant experience with burning and pain as the skin is super-thin in this section and the spot is bonier than the other sections of your leg. Tattoo artists may use special products to relief the pain and reduce the unpleasant feeling of the tattooing process. Nonetheless, if you have pain-phobia, make sure you know about the risk you take when choosing an ankle tattoo.





ear, tattoo, behind, flower, design

This popular, yet super-sensitive spot might give you a pretty painful experience if you choose to have your tattoo here. If you analyze the area, you'll notice the thin and delicate skin around the ear. Because of this, the needle has the chance to penetrate into the skin and hit the bones which can cause serious pain. Consider this fact before deciding to have a tattoo behind the ear. Both the size as well as the complexity of the design can determine the experience. As mentioned before, tattoo artists often use a numbing cream to ameliorate the pain.

Monday 4 March 2013

Top 3 Least Painful Tattoo Areas





Post by: Atia Syed


If you're thinking about getting a tattoo and are scared of the pain it may cause, this post is just for you! After hours of research, you've finally arrived to the perfect blog which talks about the top 3 least painful places on your body to get a tattoo.











leg, tattoo, calf, design
The arm is the most usual place for most guys to get a tattoo on. The muscles inside help prevent the pain besides a little sting you may feel. The most common tattoos on the arms are words such as "MOM" in a heart or the names of loved ones. People also tend to get certain designs or "sleeve tattoos" where the entire arm is covered - but this doesn't just happen in one visit!





                                         Legs/Calves






back, tattoo, design
Like the arms and shoulders, the calves have a large amount of muscle and fat which should make your experience almost painless. Both girls and guys get tattoos around these areas - some even get them done on the legs for their first time since it's a good location for minimal pain.

Because of the thick skin on your back, this is the ideal spot to get big tattoos. The most common tattoos in this area are a cross, dragons, or flowers. The back does not have as many nerves as other parts of your body so it tends to have less touch receptors.




Basically any area on your body that has a large amount of muscle or fat is the ideal place to get a tattoo because it provides minimal pain and is perfect for first-timers!

Don't forget to check out our post about the Top 3 Painful Tattoo Areas!

Saturday 2 March 2013

Top 3 Female Tattoo Designs

Post by: Daniel V.
stars, tattoos, girl, wrist
Stars
Either as a standalone tattoo or incorporated in another design, stars are one of the best tattoo designs for women. Being the light that shines in the darkness, stars are considered to be symbols of truth and hope. They represent a fight with the darkness and a hope for a new, better, path, and are often seen on people that have gone through some tough times in their lives. Stars also represent happiness and our wishes.

tattoo, butterfly, girl, arm


Butterflies


A butterfly, apart from being one of the most popular tattoo designs, is also one of the most meaningful ones. A butterfly, primarily, stands for beauty and grace. Many people believe that as the butterfly freely soars in the sky, it signifies freedom and independence. As a butterfly itself is very delicate, it also symbolizes fragility and impermanence of life.






tattoo, fairy, girl



                                Fairies


Fairy tattoos are a common favourite among women because of their symbolism to beauty, grace, and femininity. The fairy signifies a link to the magical and enchanted aspects of nature. It often represents childhood or youthful innocence because of the obvious connection between fairies and fairy tales, or children's stories that have fantastical elements and a happy ending.

Friday 1 March 2013

Do Tattoos Hurt?

Post by: Victoria Z.

Although there is no way for us to tell each individual what it will feel like for them, we will do our best to offer some encouragement. As we have mentioned before, everyone has a different pain threshold. So, the short answer to this question is yes, tattoos hurt, to some extent. The experience of tattoo pain varies widely, depending on many factors. These include:
  • the placement of the tattoo
  • the size of the tattoo
  • the skill of the tattooer
  • the pain tolerance of the client
If you have a fear of needles or blood, getting a tattoo is not going to be easy. However, we would like to point out that a tattoo needle does not enter the skin very far as many fear - actually, it only goes in about 1/16 of an inch. The needles move in an up-and-down motion, carefully pushing the ink just below the surface of the skin.  Some people describe this feeling as a “hot scratch”. The damage to your skin is so minimal that many people do not bleed at all - or very little. The tattoo artist will also be constantly wiping up your skin to clean off any traces of blood, so it's done in a very clean and professional manner. Excessive bleeding usually only results when the patron has been drinking alcohol or taking some kind of blood thinner (like aspirin). 


Remember - What one person considers painful could be non-painful to another!
                        

tattoo, needle, skin, gloves