Your first stop when deciding to remove a tattoo, should be to a dermatologist. The doctor will look at your tattoo and discussion your options, taking into consideration the age of the tattoo, the size, and the color. All of these go into determining the best tattoo removal option that you should use.

The most popular way of removing a tattoo, is through laser or a pulsed light procedure. These procedures are different, but basically, they both use light to break up the pigment in the tattoo. After the pigment is broken up into microscopic particles, the body will eliminate it naturally. These procedures are the most expensive, with the pulsed light being the most expensive. Each treatment can cost upwards of $200, and most tattoos need 5 to 10 treatments. It is not uncommon for a large colorful tattoo to cost $10,000 or more to remove.

Dermabrasion, salabrasion and excision are also surgical procedures to remove tattoos. These procedures sand off or cut out the tattoo. All leave an open wound so there is a high chance of scarring and infection. The cost of tattoo removal by these methods could be about $2,000.

If you want to go for a painless and less expensive method, you can try tattoo removal creams. These work by rubbing in creams that break down the pigment and fades it away. This methods take several months to see an effect - if any. One month of cream can run $100 or more.

If it’s just the design of the tattoo and not the idea of having a tattoo at all that is bothering you, you can get a tattoo cover up. Find a tattoo artist that specializes in cover ups and you can get a new tattoo with no traces of the old design.

Well, for many this has become the Achilles heel so to speak of the tattoo art industry. Buying tattoos this way is definitely contrary to the main reasons people get tattoos. Tattoos and the tattoo industry has always held that tattoo art was the last bastion of personal expression and freedom in America. You see most tattoo enthusiast feel that the tattoo they get are very uniquely theirs and a tattoo, being something you have to live with for a long time, should say something about yourself. So these huge flash tattoo sites come along and sell thousands of the same tattoo to people. These same people go to their local tattoo parlor and get a new tattoo and soon they are sporting it around town feeling proud to assert their individuality. However in reality they have just copied a bunch of other people and probably ended up with a tattoo that says nothing interesting or unique about them. They just bought the design because it was popular.

The other sad part of this phenomena is that most tattoo artists are on the loosing end of the proposition. The big websites that sell tons of designs often have had some graphic designer just create a bunch of low quality tattoo designs to sell. The designer was not even a tattoo artist in the first place. However, the tattoo artists out there are now losing tons of business to these larger companies. That is not to say all tattoo sites selling tattoo designs online are doing this. Of course there are some that have taken this into consideration have have worked hard to value the artists for their original ideas and work.

However it still leaves the tattoo enthusiast who just got the same tattoo as thousands of other people out in the dark. Think about what is going to happen when that person is at a concert of some large public event and a guy comes up to him and says, :hey cool man nice tat.” The guy turns and the notices that the speaker is sporting the same exact tattoo. Here he thought he was unique and individual and doing something really cool. What is one to say in that kind of situation? Other then start looking at all the tattoo removal adds online there is not really much.

It is for these exact reasons that a few websites have started popping up on the internet that have solved these basic problems. At the time of this writing there are in fact only two sites on the internet that have effectively dealt with both of these problems. They are custom designed freelance tattoo art websites. That is kind of a mouthful so I will explain what each of those terms means. It means that a person wanting a unique tattoo design can go to the site and post a job. Then tattoo artists from around the globe can come and bid on the job to design a great custom tattoo to the individuals specifications.

This is really the best of all worlds as it encourages tattoo artists and pays them fairly for their abilities and skills. It also create a unique tattoo to the exact specifications and desires of the person getting the tattoo done. It is a really great way to solve the problem and these sites have had a high rate of customer satisfaction and repeat business from both the tattoo artists and the tattoo enthusiast.

Most who decide to look into the psychology of those with tattoos seem to associate them as criminals and study them with this blinkered, society-conceived view. Contrary to the opinion shared by many so-called experts, those who have tattoos aren’t stereotypical type of people, but are often times actually quite independent. They are out there expressing their freedom of expression. Whether they are expressing what they believe, showing that they belong to a group or clan, or paying homage to the dearly-departed - there are always meanings behind the choices of and displaying of tattoos.

The psychologists who attempt to study those with tattoos normally try to get into their frame of mind to answer why they choose to have tattoos - which in itself is hard to do. For hundreds of years tattoos have been debated from a psychological standpoint; with most people associating tattoos, and the wearers of those as bad people, or criminals. Even though criminals may have tattoos, there are just as many if not more people out there who are some of the friendliest people in the world who have them as well.

To look at tattoos from a psychological standpoint can sometimes be hypocritical. Although those who don’t have tattoos will try and figure out why someone would want them, it can still be considered a psychological point of view. Those who have tattoos almost always have a reason for getting them, rarely are they got for no reason.

No matter where you look these days it’s a common thing to see someone with at least one tattoo. This doesn’t mean that society is less moral in any way, nor does it mean that mankind is becoming branded with a herd-like mentality. Tattoos have built there own reputation over the years, and are in fact gaining in popularity. Over the years more and more people have decided to get them - which only goes to show the age-less phenomenon that are tattoos.

When you decide to look at the psychology of tattoos, you must first try and understand some of the meanings behind them. A tattoo can tell you a lot about the individual who is wearing it, and his past. Although some tattoos may be a somewhat offensive, that individual may have got the tattoos in the past when they were a different person maybe going through a ’stage’. They may not be anything like that now. As with others out there - the tattoos that were obtained in the past may be left as a reminder for the future.

This surge in popularity of celebrity tattoos began in the 1960s. Lyle Tuttle the forefather of American tattooing tattooed Janis Joplin. Time was when tattoos were the preserve of those on the fringes of society but now it is not uncommon to see celebrity tattoos. Even super models such as Kate Moss and Sarah O’Hare strut around flashing their body art on the cover of glossy magazines or on the cat walk.

Actor Johnny Depp ranks as heavily tattooed for his caliber of talent and breadth of acting work. His tattooed arms are as often painted to be blank flesh as left with their own tattoos showing and incorporated into the character.

Vin Diesel is covered with a mix of modern tattoos styles, as befitting an underground government secret agent in the movie xXx. The character he plays agent X has one full sleeve, one partial sleeve, chest work and tattoos on his stomach.

As vampire slayer BLADE, Wesley Snipes has tribal blackwork on his arms, chest and back, as well as the sides of his head and the back of his nect. Pamela Anderson had her arm tattooed for real with a barbed wire armband for her role in the movie BARBWIRE. Following her split from husband Tommy Lee, (who is heavily tattooed) she had the “Tommy” tattoo on her finger edited to read “Mommy” in reference to her two sons. She also has tribal tattoos on the small of her back and a tattoo on her ankle.

Musicians have traditionally enjoyed more freedom than actors when it comes to body art. For movie stars having to transform into a different character each time they shoot a movie can be limiting especially if they are playing historical figures. But that has not stopped a lot of actors from getting tattooed in very visible places.

Historically rock stars were renowned for getting tattoos. The band Red Hot Chili Peppers are an example where the band members have a well-developed collection of tattoos. Singer Henry Rollins began his tattoo collection as the lead singer of Black Flag. Eminem continues to add to his tattoo collection but some critics have claimed that it will inhibit him if he wants to play a bigger acting role. Eminem’s tattoos are a combination of a style that is typical of Hip Hop and R&B artists such as Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent and Pharrel.

Of all the celebrities with tattoos sports stars tend to sport more tattoos than most especially basketball players. You can be big in sports and be tattooed, but the clean cut type still seems to be favored amongst Madison Avenue advertising gurus.

While the fade creams are popular, their effectiveness remains a big question.  That leaves laser technology– which is considered the safest method and produces the best results for most people. But laser tattoo removal does not come without its drawbacks.  It can be expensive, very uncomfortable and still comes with the risk of possible scarring.

How painful is laser removal?  That is different for each person, because every person has a higher threshold for pain.  It also depends on the parts of the body where the tattoo being removed is located. Areas like the toes and feet can be much more painful than other parts of the body.   The feeling having a tattoo removed by lasers is said to feel like a rubber band snapping over and over again in a very concentrated area.  To minimize the pain, some people prefer to have a topical numbing cream applied over the tattoo prior to the treatment.   The laser procedure actually goes pretty fast-just takes a few minutes for each visit.

The cost of having a tattoo removed with lasers will vary depending on the size, the type and color of ink that was used, how deep it has penetrated the skin, age of the tattoo and skin type.  More than one application is normally needed.   After each treatment you will need to give several weeks for the wound to heal before returning for follow up visits.  For complete removal it can take anywhere from just a few visits to more than a dozen.   This is only meant to be an estimate, but a 3 inch square tattoo, requiring 9 visits, can cost between $800 and $1,000.

Scarring associated with laser tattoo removal used to be more prevalent than it is today.  This procedure does not come without its risk for scarring, and you should always consult a dermatologist or medical professional first, but with the newer lasers the risk for scarring is much less common today.  The one factor that comes into play with scarring is the skin type of each individual.

Certain styles of tattoos might not suit the image you want to project. For example certain work environments may not accept highly visible tattoos even though tattoos are becoming more and more accepted. It may be wise to hold off getting that sacred heart tattoo emblazoned across your chest if your boss is going to flip out if (s)he sees it!

So in saying that what I hope to do in this short article is offer my insight and experience within the tattoo industry for the past 9 or 10 years and point out the current tattoo trends and what the most popular styles of tattoos are for girls. At the end of the day you want a tattoo that has lasting appeal and not a tattoo that was done on a whim. If I give you some good ideas for your next tattoo all the better…

Trends come and go. What was cool ten years ago is no longer cool. In the nineties certain types of tattoos such as cartoon characters like Betty Boop, barbed wire armbands and dolphins were in. Looking at them now they appear very cheesy and basic.

Tattoo art has come such a long way in the past few years even. Certain styles of tattoos have become perennial and have risen to a point where they are getting the respect and acknowledged they deserve for their intricacy and artistry.

Styles as diverse as Japanese tattoos, Indian/Hindu tattoos, Anime, Traditional American and Floral designs are raising the bar higher and higher and becoming increasingly popular.

Alongside that is the fact that people are beginning to see their skin as a human canvas and not just settling for random tattoos placed haphazardly on a part of the body that is hidden. Nowadays more and more girls are getting larger tattoos and more of them.

This may explain the popularity of Japanese tattoos. In traditional Japanese tattoos each character has a meaning and interacts with the other tattoo designs as part of the whole.

The same is true for Traditional American tattoos. Previously what were once done as individual tattoos from disparate elements of American culture are now being woven into an organic and is more like a story unfolding.

Top Five Most Popular Tattoos for Girls

Irezumi - Traditional Japanese tattoos - More and more girls are asking for large tattoo designs such as koi fish, dragons on their hips, back and arms.

Traditional American tattoos - Old school ‘Sailor Jerry’ tattoos and images such as classic American cars, pin-ups, swallows and nautical stars are becoming more popular on girls chests, abdomen, back and legs.

Floral tattoos - So many girls are getting flower tattoos as full sleeve tattoos or covering their entire back or legs with floral designs. Flower tattoo designs such as lotus flowers, peonies, orchids, chrysanthemums and flowering vines are the most popular.

Anime - Japanese animation has become massive and doesn’t show any sign of disappearing any time soon. As a result Anime tattoos have become popular in the past five years or so. The only risk with Anime tattoo is that unlike other styles will probably age much quicker even though it looks great now.

Indian / Hindu tattoo designs - Like ancient Indian texts and spirituality being rediscovered by people in the West since the 1960’s it has been reflected in the demand for Indian tattoo designs. They say everything old become new again.

Finally the most important decision is not to get a tattoo on a whim or choose a tattoo that you think is cute or trendy. Give it a lot of thought. Good art should last. Think of Mona Lisa’s smile…

But with a little luck we can get something unique just like they did. Remember most famous people who are in the public’s eye have to have something that others do not have. In that case so should you, No matter how much you like what someone else has. It should be done in a different inconspicuous way.

If everyone had the same Tattoo, We would all be the same which isn’t good.

When we look into getting tatted we should also have our own designs that will set us apart from everyone else. Take the initiative to be different, Make your designs say who you are and what you like.

Also, If this is your first Tattoo remember there may be some pain involved. But when you see the beautiful design that you took care in making. It will all be worth it in the long run. Like the old saying “No pain, No gain”. The only thing that now will limit you is your own imagination.

1. The number one after care tip for your tattoo is to keep it out of the direct sunlight as often as possible. If you are going to be in the sun be sure to put a high SPF sunscreen like 45 or 50 on it and be sure to reapply as needed. Also never ever expose your brand new tattoo to the direct sun.

2. It is important not to go swimming, get in a hot tube or take a bath after getting a new tattoo. This can cause it to not heal properly and can cause fading to occur.

3. Be sure to keep your tattoo moisturized for the rest of your life. Take two seconds in the morning after you get out of the shower and apply some lotion to your tattoo. Some people recommend using Vaseline to help from fading.

4. It is very important not to shave any areas where you have gotten a tattoo for at least 30 days after those 30 days you can but be carefully and try not to cut yourself.

5. When your tattoo is healing make sure you only touch it with clean hands.

6. Your tattoo will itch after you have gotten it and it is healing. It is very important to not pick or scratch at your tattoo. This will cause the scab to fall off your tattoo and your tattoo could end up having a bunch of white dots in it.

For some unknown reason Jermaine thought it would be a great idea to get a rather interesting tattoo of girlfriend Janet Jackson on his rib cage. Janet is being portrayed as the Virgin Mary of all things. Jermaine had no problem admitting that it hurt like crazy and he had to take at least 100 breaks because he couldn’t take the pain.

So take this as a lesson learned. One do not get a lover’s name or portrait on you. It’s like playing with fire you will end up getting burned, maybe not now but somewhere down the line. And number two getting a tattoo on your rib cage is a very painful place to get a tattoo.

However, what these people don’t realize is the these materials that are in tattoo ink like, cobalt and aluminum are not causing skin cancer. In fact dermatologist have cleared this claim, by making it known that the tattoo ink is unlikely to do any harm because it is confined to cells in the skin called macrophages, whose job is to absorb foreign material. The culprit to the skin cancer was more than likely a mole that a tattoo was tattooed over so the person wasn’t able to notice the changes in their mole.

So the bottom line is, there is no evidence to prove that tattoos lead to skin cancer. Once again all the tattoo haters are proven wrong. Tattoos are not evil things, they are a right of self expression, just like someones hair color or hair cut. People need to start realizing that just because someone may look a little different or dress a little different it doesn’t mean they are a bad person.