Cross Tattoo Designs

The cross, or crucifix is one of the worlds oldest and most widely used symbols. In fact, cross designs even predate Christianity, and at that time symbolized elements of nature. For these reasons, it’s easy to see why cross tattoo designs are so popular.

The cross is a very simple symbol, and it lends itself to a huge variety of potential tattoo designs. For example the four arms of the cross can represent the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) each pointing to the central point of life’s synthesis.

There are also celtic cross tattoo designs characterized by traditional Celtic knotwork. Medieval designs such as St. Andrew’s Cross tattoos, the Knight’s Templar cross tattoos, and St Peter’s cross tattoos are also quite popular.

When considering a cross tattoo, an important consideration is the fact that it is composed of long straight lines. This means it needs to be placed in a spot that won’t undergo a lot of skin or muscle movement, as this will distort and wobble the straight lines of the cross.

Zodiac Tattoo Designs

For as long as man has been looking at the sun and the stars, they have studied astrology and the zodiac. Different cultures have developed their own zodiac symbols over time, with Chinese zodiac, Native American zodiac and Aztec zodiacs being popular subjects for tattoos as well as the traditional Greek zodiac symbols.

Zodiac tattoos are popular for many people who study astrology. Zodiac tattoos and they can take the form of the simple symbols of the zodiac, or more intricate designs that integrate the shape of the actual zodiac constellations as well. Zodiac symbols can also take the center of an armband tattoo.

The 12 Signs of the Zodiac

Capricorn Tattoo Designs (December 23 thru January 20) represented by the goat.

Aquarius Tattoo Designs (January 21 thru February 19) Aquarius, depicted as the water carrier.

Pisces Tattoo Designs (February 20 thru March 20) Pisces, “the fish” is actually represented by two fish, eachone swimming in the opposite direction from the other.

Aries Tattoo Designs (March 21 thru April 20) Aries, “the ram”, is also more widely known as the god of war to the Greeks and Romans.

Taurus Tattoo Designs (April 21 thru May 21) Taurus, “The Bull”.

Gemini Tattoo Designs (May 22 thru June 21) The Gemini sign is represented by a set of twins.

Cancer Tattoo Designs (June 22 thru July 22) Cancers “Crabs”.

Leo Tattoo Designs (July 23 thru August 22) Leo, the lion.

Virgo Tattoo Designs (August 23 thru September 23) Virgo, the Virgin, the only signs of the zodiac that is represented by a woman.

Libra Tattoo Designs (September 24 thru October 23) A picture of scales in balance.

Scorpio Tattoo Designs (October 24 thru November 22) Scorpio the scorpion.

Sagittarius Tattoo Designs (November 23 to December 22) Sagittarians are symbolized by a centaur archer.

One of the first things you will will ask yourself after deciding to get your first tattoo is, “where can I find tattoo designs?” It seems you have already been searching the Net for designs, and that is a good thing. The Internet is one of the best places to find tattoo designs and tattoo design ideas.

The Top 3 Places To Find Tattoos Online

There are three main options when it comes to finding tattoo designs online. The three best places to search are: Tattoo design sites, Google, and Youtube.

#3) YouTube- This is a good place to start finding tattoo design ideas because there are a good number of videos posted with a large variety of different tattoo designs. The only problem is that there is also a lot of crap and if you happen to find a good design you can’t really print it out.

#2) Google - Searching Google to find tattoos is another excellent way to get that tattoo design you’ve always wanted. However if you have spent any time looking, you will find that most of the free sites don’t have much selection, and the designs aren’t even always unique across the various sites.

#1) Tattoo Design Websites - By far the best way to find tattoos online is to use tattoo gallery websites. The benefit of these sites is that they have thousands of tattoo designs that are easy to search and download. Simply search their tattoo database until you find the tattoo you like, print it out, and take it to your tattoo artist. You can browse these sites whenever you want and print as many different tattoo designs as you want. Most of these sites offer lifetime memberships for as little as $34, so they are well worth the small initial investment.

Click Here For a Review of the Best Tattoo Design Sites

Remember that choosing a tattoo design is the most important step when it comes to getting a tattoo, so take your time! Your tattoo will likely be on your body for your entire life, so it’s important that you are very happy with the design before it is applied.

The spiritual and religious significance of the sun has led people to get sun tattoo designs for centuries. The sun is a giver of life and sustains mankind. Today however, sun tattoos are popular for other reasons besides their appeal to primeval man.

Sun tattoos designs can be executed in a wide variety of styles and colors, and in almost any size, from full back piece to a small tribal design. With their simple circular design, sun tattoos place well on most parts of the body.

Shoulders, shoulder blades, chest, legs, and the back are popular places for men to get sun tattoos. Women often choose the lower back, nape of the neck, or around the navel or hip for a sun tattoo.

Because of the flexibility of sun tattoo designs, you can pick a design you like, but give it your own personal style by selecting a non traditional color, or leaving it black and gray. Personified suns are also popular, using the image of Father Sun and/or Mother Moon.  Sun tattoo designs are also sometimes combined with a moon or star to make a  set of heavenly bodies.

Many ancient drew life from the sun, and you can find tribal style sun tattoo designs in almost any culture. Evidence is in the ancient Egyptian texts, Pueblo Indian art, Aztec astrological charts, or ancient sailing maps.

Sun tattoo designs are truly one of the most diverse, flexible and enduring tattoo designs.

Any good tattoo shop will give you detailed aftercare information when you get your tattoo.

The details may vary slightly, but there are a handful of standard procedures like proper cleansing, moisturizing, and protection. Following your tattooists instructions will ensure your tattoo stays looking good, and that you won’t face any unnecessary complications during healing.

Failure to follow the aftercare instructions can result in faded ink, excessive scabbing, rejection of the ink by your immune system, a spotty or broken design, and even severe infection. Aftercare is essential, and there are products specifically designed to help your tattoo heal properly. Your tattoo shop will fill you in with all the details.

Related to proper after care is the importance of sun protection for your tattoos (and long term health).

These days, most people know that exposure to the sun can wrinkle your skin and even cause cancer. And so, we cover up our skin and protect it from the sun using SPF lotion. But, did you know that along with your health, you risk destroying your tattoos with repeated exposure to the sun?

Wearing sunscreen and protecting your tattoos from the sun is especially important in the months after getting a tattoo, but it should really become a lifelong habit. Sun protection will protect your health, as well as you body art investment. Protect your skin and you will look beautiful for years to come!

While most people spend a lot of time thinking about design, an often neglected area is thinking about where to put the tattoo on their body.

There are a few main factors you should take into consideration: social, aesthetic, and professional. Depending on your career and social life, you may want to consider tattoos that won’t be seen by casual acquaintances: this rules out the forearms arms, calves and feet as tattoo locations. However, for some people, anything covered by a business suit is OK.

Remember, how your body looks is in part of how you express yourself to others, and thus how you are judged.

Things that are OK with your friends may not fly during a job interview or when you need something from someone with a negative attitude toward tattoos.
This is why most people, and especially people new to tattoos, should avoid getting tattoos,  on their hands, neck, or head and face. In fact, most shops will refuse to do the work unless it is obvious you are already ‘in the tattoo game’. The reason is that these are areas you cannot easily hide behind clothes, and no matter who you are, there will be situations where you don’t want to show that ink to the world.
When Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling, he didn’t just copy artwork that he had drawn earlier on paper, he went one step further and estimated the curvature in the domed ceiling, and was able to slightly distort the images he was painting so that it would look proportionate to someone on the ground.

In the same way, when considering your own body art, you have to take into account your body’s natural shape. This is something you can work on with your tattoo artist, but keep it in mind as you consider a design.

For example, if you have thin arms, a full on vertical portrait is not going to look right. The edges will curve around your arm and distort the image.

If you are thinking about a tattoo on your leg, know that the shape of your calf will have the same effect; long, straight vertical or horizontal lines will distort. It’s best to match the type of lines in a design to the curves on the body part being tattooed.

Designs with a lot of straight lines, or images that cannot be distorted are best on simple, flat areas like the back or shoulder blade. Similarly, designs with many flowing curves are best paired with a body part that’s natural curves will complement the design, like a shoulder, arm, or leg.

You can use tattoos to break up blank space, this is why wide, short tattoos are popular on the lower back.

There are lots of tattoo parlors out there. Did you pick the right one? We’ll teach you how to know if a parlor is right for you. Don’t settle for second rate work!

Getting a tattoo isn’t like having your house painted, where just anyone with a brush and some paint can do a passable job.

First and foremost, tattooists are artists, and like any profession some are better than others. There are several criteria you should consider when choosing a tattoo parlor. First, it is vital to pick a tattoo shop that follows all the legal health regulations in your area.

Saving an extra $20 dollars isn’t worth contracting hepatitis, a blood infection, or AIDS. Any reputable tattoo parlor is clean, sterilizes all equipment, covers your skin to avoid contamination, and always uses latex gloves while working.

If a parlor refuses to sterilize or remove equipment from sealed packaging in front of you, leave and find another shop.

Second, pick a shop that takes a personal interest in providing you with the best tattoo. These parlors will support you with proper aftercare suggestions, free or cheap touch-ups if needed, and will work with you to make sure your design fits your lifestyle, your wallet and your body.

Finally, make sure that you pick a parlor that has experience in the type of work you want done. For example, a shop that specializes in tribal designs isn’t the right place to go for a portrait of your child, nor is a run-of-the-mill studio where you want to go for a traditional Japanese black and gray shading tattoo.

Ask to see portfolios of the artist’s previous work if you have an concerns, and discuss your design with the artist. Often, being a professional tattoo artist, they can make suggestions that will improve your tattoo’s design and your enjoyment.

Just as picking the right tattoo studio is important, avoiding amateur artists is equally vital. Your friend with the homemade kit consisting of a sewing needle and Bic pen is not doing you any favors by saving you money on a professional tat, no matter how many tats he’s done.

In this case, what your friend is doing is ensuring you get a poor design, with potentially dangerous inks, greatly increased risks of infection, and a tattoo that looks like you spent a bad night in a Tijuana prison. It surely isn’t the piece of individual expression you wanted permanently on your body.

In summary, if you go to an amateur, you will later regret it. No matter how much money is saved at the beginingt, you will end up spending two or three times that in hospital bills, cover-up jobs, or removal.

Of all the body modifications available, none are as individualistic and artistic as tattoos. A well done tattoo can say quite a bit about your life. However, the power of an skillfully executed tattoo design can be ruined if you ignore the common mistakes people make when deciding to get a tattoo. However, choosing a tattoo design doesn’t need to be a difficult or scary process. As a conservatively tattooed man, with a large group of friends with a wide range of tattoos, from the pedestrian to the extreme, I have learned more about tattooing and piercing than most people do in a lifetime. I want to pass this knowledge on to you so that you can avoid the mistakes most people make, and so that your tattoo experience is a positive and rewarding lifestyle choice that you will be happy with for decades to come.

Why Get A Tattoo? Let’s discuss the top 13 reasons you may want to get a tattoo in the first place!

1. Self Expression - Tattoos are works of art that can be used as a vehicle to display your unique sense of individuality to the world. For instance, if you are into the “undead scene” others will be able to identify you by the ghostly spirit tattooed on your arm. If you are an art lover, an Andy Warhol or Leonardo Da Vinci inspired tattoo will deliver the message to others. The tattoo can also give others some idea of your occupation.
2. Tribal Identity - The original intention of a tattoo was to mark an individual as part of a tribe or a group. This type of tattoo warns others if you happen to belong to some kind of gang (good for them) and allows other kindred spirits to identify you (good for you.) For instance, an iron cross can identify a Goth individual, the Serenity Prayer an AA member, a Harley Davidson logo a biker, a crucifix a Christian, an anchor a member of the Navy and so on..
3. Spiritual Growth - Many individuals will get a tattoo after they experience an epiphany or leap of faith that has led to their survival against great odds. Examples of this kind of tattoo are the lung cancer survivor who gets a tattoo of the wind blowing and the student of Buddhism who gets the “ohm” symbol tattooed on his chest after receiving teachings from a master.
4. For Spiritual Protection - Cab drivers will boast a tattoo of St. Christopher on their arms to prevent accidents on the road. A very familiar tattoo for protection is the eye within the hand or the eye within the triangle that finds its origins in the ancient Mediterranean. Crucifix’s, sacred hearts, St. Michael and gods or goddesses are often used for the same purposes.
5. Marking Important Events - Weddings, anniversaries, divorces, surviving a war and other occasions sometimes warrant a tattoo. Some couples are getting tattoos marked around the fourth finger of their left hand rather than opting for the traditional engagement ring.
6. Paying Homage - Sometimes a tattoo is in order after the death of a celebrity, favorite pet or relative. Usually these tattoos are portraits commissioned by a very talented artist who can reproduce likenesses of such personages as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy or Malcolm X.
7. To Enhance Luck - Getting a tattoo to enhance your luck is as old as primitive man. Today you can see everything from pairs of dice to four leafed clovers to the Greek Goddess Fortuna marked on the arms of those who wish to court Lady Luck.
8. To Express Commitment - Getting a tattoo in this day of “disposable everything” is an expression of commitment to yourself that is forever. The sages say that making an irrevocable decision is good for the soul!
9. Totem Symbols and Animals - Some people consider a tattoo to be an expression of their soul or spirit guide. Fairies, hummingbirds, butterflies, angels, wolves, tigers and other animals are popular examples of this kind of tattoo.
10. As a memorial - Some tattoos are used to remember a beloved family member or pet that has passed away.
11. Enhancing Sexuality - There is a theory that getting a tattoo on the lower back helps open up the base chakra (near the bottom of the spine) and enhances the kundalini (life force) that governs such matters as survival and sexuality. A tiny tattoo on the female hipbone or on the inner thigh is considered to be very sexy.
12. Multiple Births - In this age of fertility drugs, more mothers than ever are giving birth to identical twins, triplets and quadruplets. Tattooing the bottom of the newborns’ feet is one way to guarantee that you will always be able to tell your children apart from each other.
13. To Make People Laugh – Best of all, tattoos do have a way of “breaking the ice” when it comes to starting a conversation. There is nothing wrong with adding a little levity to the world. After all humor dissolves all karma!

What You Should Be Thinking About?

There are literally as many motifs and symbols for tattoos as there are ideas for art in the world. When choosing a design it might benefit to ask yourself the following questions:

• What inspires me?
• What do I aspire to?
• What gives me strength?

These three simple questions should trigger your gray matter to come up with an idea of what is meaningful “marking” for you. So… are you ready to get inked? If you like the idea of getting a tattoo but want more insider information and you would like to download over 10,000 top tattoo designs be sure to sign up and visit TattooFever.com