Really Stretching Things Out

Ear Gauging is a gradual process of stretching your ear piercing. You could easily get your ears pierced with a larger gauge needle. Gauging your ear piercings is a better option than losing a good bit of your ear. For the most part, later on in life if you're not happy with the stretching, you can simply remove the jewelry and after a while your piercing will return to a smaller size. However, there are exceptions to that once you pass a certain size. One thing more people should be aware of is that once you stretch your ears past a certain point your only option to have them return to a smaller size is through surgery.

There are different ear gauge sizes. Standard size ear piercings are usually done with an 18g or 20g needle. Smaller the gauge size...larger the hole. To stretch existing ear piercings, tapering rings and tapering inserts, usually made of metals like gold, silver or steel, are used. As their name indicates, these devices taper along their lengths from small to big and can be used according to requirement.

On your own, especially if you have little or no experience, there is a chance you might hurt yourself and end up with an infection or a scar. Then go easy and have patience with the whole process. Go from one gauge size to another gradually and allow as much time as needed for your earlobe to heal in between. This can take anything from one week to two or more. It really varies from person to person. The process of gauging your ear piercing is slow and gradual, but that beats going about with your ears heavily bandaged. What you should do is select a gauge size that is next in size to your current one and buy metal earrings or insertion tapers in that next gauge size. Metal ones are a better idea than ones made of other materials as the chances of infection are considerably reduced.

To start the gauging process...Do one ear at a time. Go very carefully as they are not going to slide through at once and you don't want to tear your ears. Manipulate the holes using medicinal soap and warm water. After you finish inserting the tapers, dry your earlobes, apply a little petroleum jelly, and leave your ears to get used to the new, unaccustomed weight. Your ears will feel sore for a couple of weeks until they get used to the new size. Keep the piercing holes clean by washing them gently twice a day and be sure to dislodge the crusty formation daily. Disinfect the taper inserts too with a regular application of alcohol. With enough care and patience you shouldnt have any problems. The tapers will stretch your ears as required. You know your ear holes have stretched when you are able to move the earrings about easily and without experiencing any discomfort. It could take you up to two weeks to reach this stages. Wait until your ears are fully healed before you start wearing regular ear jewelery. If you want an even larger ear piercing, then just repeat the entire process with the next ear gauge size. Although, one thing to be very careful of is jumping sizes. You really shouldnt jump more than 2 sizes when gauging. That can result in tearing your ears, and no one wants that.

On of the best things to use on freshly done piercings as a cleanser is...warm salt water. Believe it or not. There are alot of fantastic known healing properties of Sea Salt. One product that is sold specifically for tattoos and piercing aftercare that contains sea salt is H2Ocean. It may be a little more expensive...but entirely worth it.

Just one more way to hang...

Flesh Hooks

For a suspension participants are pierced with hypodermic needles followed by sterile single-use hooks, which are temporary and removed immediately following the suspension. Various types, sizes and amounts of hooks are required for different types of suspensions. Varying levels and types of rigging are also required for different levels and types of suspensions.

O-Kee-Pa

Pulling - Pulling is a form of flesh hook play where the participant uses their own strength and weight to put pressure on the Flesh Hooks, offering a very different feeling to suspension since the participant has much more control over what is happening. Pulling is typically done with between one, two, or four hooks per person. Using more than six or so hooks per person could limit the experience.

Chest (O-Kee-Pa) – A chest suspension is a typical vertical suspension. Two hooks are placed in the chest and you are suspended vertically.

Coma – The coma is a Horizontal Face Up suspension; Hooks are placed in the chest, abdomen, arms, and legs and the body is suspended horizontally. Risks include constriction of breath and more intense pain.

Crucifix

Crucifix – The crucifix is a Vertical Back And Arm Suspension. Hooks are placed in the back and the arms so that the suspended person appears to be hanging on a cross, with their arms held straight out to the side.

Foot Crucifixion suspension - For a foot crucifixion suspension the hooks are placed right through the foot between the bones. Great care must be taken to avoid nerves and blood vessels, and the risks are a lot greater than with 'standard' suspensions.


Knee - A knee suspension is a suspension done where hooks are placed at the knees and the the person being suspended is hung upside down.




Lotus



Lotus - The lotus suspension is a style of suspension based on the yogic lotus position, sitting with crossed legs. Hooks are placed in the back, similar to a suicide suspension, with more in the legs to keep the body in that position while suspended.



Resurrection



Resurrection – The resurrection, or ascension, is a Horizontal Face Up suspension. Hooks are placed in two rows on the stomach. Suspension gives the impression of rising from death since the suspended is all curved back.

Suicide - A suicide is a common Vertical Back Suspension. Hooks are placed in the upper back and the body is suspended vertically. This is one of the easier, less confining suspensions and one that many people choose to start with. Vertical back suspensions generally allow greater freedom of movement while suspended

Superman - The superman is a Horizontal Face Down suspension. Hooks are placed in the back, arms, and legs and the body is suspended horizontally. Superman suspensions allow alot less motion than in other suspensions, but are generally considered more "tranquil". Due to the fact that the hooks can be distributed to a larger area of the body, this style is considered to be the easiest of the suspensions.

Coma

Suspension is not easy; indeed, it is one of the more extreme types of body modification. But for those who do choose to go through with it, the spiritual nature and physical testing of the experience is worth the risks.

Hanging by a thread

Suspension is a ritual, ordeal, form of body play, or rite where a person hangs from flesh hooks put through temporary piercings. I know it seems strange, but suspensions can change people's lives for the better...and occasionally the worse. There are many more possible placements of hooks for suspensions. The preparation for a suspension is a combination of different mental, physical, and spiritual aspects. You really do need a different state of mind for something like this. If you walk into suspensions frightened, you are far more likely to have a bad experience, and your chances of falling into deep shock are increased. Remember that suspensions are more mental than physical.

Historically, suspensions have been performed as rites of passage, vision quests, healing rituals, penance, rituals of deity devotion or as means to gain visions by leaving the body and/or communication with the spiritual realm. They have been used for testing the endurance of the mind and body, or even just to freak people out. Most notably, some Native American tribes and different parts of the Hindu religion have used suspension-like rituals. Although other cultures may have used suspensions ritually, these two are the best documented in that they are still in practice today. Thanks to artists like Stelarc and modern suspension groups like TSD, suspensions are being increasingly used as performance art and even for entertainment.

Only you know if you are ready. Suspension readiness is much more of mental state than physical. As with any form of body modification, one must make the decision based on personal experience and research. At the same time, no amount of research or even watching suspensions in person can really prepare you for the feeling of it. Take a long, hard look at the experiences of others. Ask yourself why it is worth it to you to face these outcomes and whether or not simply trying would satisfy you. If you can seriously say that it is worth it to simply try, then wait and think about it more. A good test of whether anything in life is something you really want and are ready for is if you can stand to wait to have it. A serious commitment will withstand the wait and only strengthen your resolve. Dont be surprised if you still find yourself overwhelmed with fear. This fear will disappear if you accept it and let it pass through you...resist it and your suspension will not be a pleasant one.

There is no way around suspension being traumatic. Regardless of how many times you do it or how 'tough' you are, you are putting your body through an ordeal. This means that your mind will be affected. Generally, a suspension is not something that one should be doing when not felling mentally 'well'. Trauma forces you to focus on the act at the time and that focused state can extend beyond and to other aspects of your life. Of course, it can just as easily make a confused and troubled time worse by adding to the stress you are under. To be mentally prepared to suspend, a person must be first and foremost calm, collected, and very sure about their motivations behind suspending. And you must have complete trust and faith in the people helping you as well as the rigging you are hanging from. The simplest way to achieve this is to research suspension and become heavily involved in the planning of the suspension. This will make it much easier to relax, which is essential—to have a positive experience, you must be in a good state of mind. If you find that you are not, cancel the suspension and do it another day.

Spirituality is entirely a matter of individual perspective. You must realize that if you go in looking for something, you'll probably find something else. Suspension tends to give a person what they need, not what they want. Sometimes they are the same thing, but more often they are not. Trust in your beliefs, but don't attempt to force them on the experience.

Physically, the experience is a feeling of pulling, burning and pain all at once, but for most people, this physical aspect is "tuned out" very quickly. Individual experiences differ greatly. On one end of the spectrum you find people that enter a trance like state, feeling no pain whatsoever, and on the other end you find people that experience extreme pain, nausea and panic attacks. In general, most people enter a shock-induced state of disorientation spiked with moments of pain and euphoria.There are some general commonalities expressed by most suspendees, such as the feeling of intense tugging which gives way to a more relaxed sensation as the body leaves the ground. Some people find it boring, others are changed forever, and some don't ever even think about it beyond simply performing the act. However, many find that it is not what they expected. Almost everyone agrees that the hooks are painful, but some people find the sensation of tension on the skin moving and inspiring. For some people, the experience is much lighter; they just want to try it, and when they do they get no emotional release and find themselves smiling and just enjoying the feeling of flying. Where spirituality is concerned, there is nothing necessarily spiritual about suspending, but, like fasting, drug use and many other activities, it can be used and play a major role in a person's spiritual and religious life.

There are many large health concerns with suspensions. People suffering from blood pressure issues, heart conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, immune deficiency, hepatitis, and blood clotting problems should seek the advice of a doctor before suspending. If you suffer from any medical conditions, it is essential that the people helping you are entirely aware of them. If you are approaching a suspension team to help you suspend, you MUST inform them fully of your health. The risks associated with a suspension are very high:

Extreme shock

Convulsions

dizziness

pain bleeding

loss of consciousness

nausea

vomitting

scarring

numbness

infection after the suspension

There are many diffenrent suspension groups spread out over the US and even the world. They are all professionals, and if you are seriously considering doing a suspension...these are the people that should be consulted.

Ascension

Body Evolution

Circus Carnis

Constant Elevation

The Hanged Man

IHung

Life Suspended

Modern Body Suspension

Perth Pirate Core

Rites of Passage

Swing

TSD

Horiyoshi III

One of the greatest Tebori masters was born Yoshihito Nakano on March 9th, 1946. Like many tattooers, he had an early interest in the tattoo arts and his first forays into it were experimental in nature, crudely executed on his own body. At the age of twenty one, he met the man who would become his master, Yoshitsugu Muramatsu, Horiyoshi of Yokohama. Like many apprenticeships all over the world, the apprentice often begins as a client. In this case, the client would prove his devotion by obtaining and enduring a full long sleeve body suit, tattooed entirely by hand. In 1971, Horiyoshi retired and named two apprentices to continue his lineage. He passed the title "Horiyoshi II" to his own son and the title "Horiyoshi III" to Yoshihito Nakano, his star pupil.

Horiyoshi III describes his master as a man with the truest passion for tattooing and has worked diligently to honor this ethic. In the mid-eighties Horiyoshi III came in contact with Don Ed Hardy, a union that would change his life in many ways and start a lifelong artistic and spiritual friendship. This was also the point when he began using electric machines, a process he would use in conjunction with the traditional hand needles to create a new world of Japanese tattoo art. Machine outlines have allowed Horiyoshi III to realize his own expanded repertoire of designs and with the utmost respect to past masters of the woodblock print world, he is creating a new pool of tattoo art. To this end he has published three collections of tattoo art, 100 Demons, 108 Heroes of the Suikoden and The Namakubi. He has also opened a tattoo museum with his wife in an effort to further educate the Japanese public about the global history and artistic merit of the tattoo. Even now, with over thirty years of tattooing, Horiyoshi III tattoos six days a week and plans to do so until his hands give out.

Tebori

The word Tebori comes from te meaning 'hand' and hori or horu, 'to carve, sculpt or inscribe.' The word used to describe the technique of tattooing that arose in the late 18th and early 19th century in Japan, with the appearance of professional tattoo artists in the capital city of Edo.

Tebori or traditional Japanese tattoo involves using a set of needles attached to the end of a handle made of wood or metal. The tattooist dips the needles in ink and creates a tattoo by pressing the needles rapidly and rhythmically into the skin. According to many tebori enthusiasts the hand method does not do as much tissue damage as is possible with an electric needle.

Tebori is just as safe as machine tattooing. Like any professional tattoo studio the needles and the handles are sterilized in an autoclave before they're used. Because this traditional method takes longer it tends to hurt more. But is a different type of pain. The one main drawback of tebori over a tattoo machine is that the modern method gets the job done a lot faster but then again a lot of people like pain and are happy sitting in a chair for hours taking it.

There are only a handful of artists in the United States at any one time that can do this traditional Japanese tattoo style. One of the hardest parts about learning tebori is not just the skill of making the tools but also getting your head around how to use them. It is made all the harder when most artists are conditioned to holding the tools at the tip the way you would hold a pencil. Whereas traditional Japanese masters of the technique hold the handle at its far end which is much harder. As a result the time factor time from being a tebrori apprentice to a fully fledged tebori master is so much longer than it would take a Western tattoo apprentice to learn the ropes.

There are 2 main types of Tebori tattooing. Tsuki-bori is a methodology of traditional Japanese hand tattooing that, according to the records of the Tokai Tattoo Club of Japan, is a reference to the "thrust" method of tattooing based in Osaka and western prefectures. Hane-bori is a reference to "sweep-up," a method of Tebori hand tattooing rhythms employed by artists of Tokyo and the Eastern Areas of Japan.
Often, the tsuki-Bori method is looked upon as a simplistic method of Tebori tattooing, less difficult to master than hane-bori.

Bokashi; the fading of black work used to graduate shading in traditional, often used in clouds and sword swipes.

Kakushi-bori; sometimes referring to tattooing near the armpits, on the inside of the thigh or in the private or "secret" places on the body, also the hiding of words in the petals of flowers.

Kebori; fine lines, such as, but not limited to, hair.

Keshow-bori; secondary images in order to support the other image.

Nijuw-bori; when an artist tattoos a traditional character in Tebori that was tattooed, the tattoos of that character must be correctly portrayed in the received tattoo.

Nuki-bori; to tattoo only the main image without the support of keshow-bori.

Suji-bori; outline of a tattoo, "Suji" meaning “line.”

Seeing Scars in a whole new light.

Scarification is the creative and artistic application of scars in a controlled manner to achieve an aesthetically or spiritually pleasing result. Scarification is considered to be different than Self-Harm, in the body modification community because it is mainly for cosmetic purposes rather than a way to cope with undue stress. Many people that do these forms of body modification are doing it to mark a rite of passage in their lives. Even though many people hold that scarification is no more painful than tattooing, it is somehow more "intense" to most people. It has very symbolic meaning to them and often their peers or partners. Typically the goal of scarification is to get raised scarring, preferably keloid scarring, but most people usually heal to hypertrophic scarring. Because scarification has a three dimensional aspect, many people enjoy the feeling of healed scars. As a rule of thumb, darker skin tones usually have better scarring than lighter skin tones.

Scarifying involves scratching, etching, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification. In the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting or branding the skin.

Strike branding

This is the same process used to brand livestock. A piece of metal is heated and pressed onto the skin for the brand. However, the brand is usually done piece by piece rather than all at once. For example, to get a V-shaped brand, two lines would be burned separately by a straight piece of metal, rather than by a V-shaped piece of metal.

Cautery branding

This is a less common form of branding that uses a tool similar to a cautery-iron to cause the burns.

Laser branding

The technical term for laser branding is "electrocautery branding". The electrocautery unit is more like an arc welder for skin than a medical laser (though it is possible to use a medical laser for scarification). Electric sparks jump from the device to the skin, vaporizing the skin. This is a more precise form of scarification, because it is possible to regulate the depth and nature of the skin damage being done to it.

Cold branding

This rare method of branding is the same thing as strike branding, except that the metal branding tool is subjected to extreme cold rather than extreme heat. This method will cause the hair on the brand to grow back white and will not cause keloiding.

Ink rubbing

tattoo ink is rubbed into a fresh cut. Most of the ink remains in the skin as the cut heals, and will have the same basic effect as a tattoo. As with tattoos, it is important not to pick the scabs as this will pull out the ink. The general public often interprets ink-rubbings as poorly done tattoos.

Skin removal/skinning

Cutting in single lines produces relatively thin scars, and skin removal is a way to get a larger area of scar tissue. The outlines of the area of skin to be removed will be cut, and then the skin to be removed will be peeled away. Scars from this method often have an inconsistent texture.

Packing

This method is uncommon in the West, but has traditionally been used in Africa. A cut is made diagonally and an inert material such as clay or ash is packed into the wound; massive hypertrophic scars are formed during healing as the wound pushes out the substance that had been inserted into the wound. Cigar ash is used in the United States for more raised and purple scars; people may also use ashes of deceased persons.

Hatching

similar in appearance to flesh removal this method of scarification relies on using a sterile surgical scalpel to cut into the skin. Where a larger area is required to be scarred you cut with a hatching technique similar to the sketching technique. This method is easier to perform than flesh removal and can be done with one hand which could be beneficial in some situations. While this technique can take longer for larger pieces it is useful for smaller, more detailed designs and enables shading to be used.

Abrasion

Scars can be formed by removing layers of skin through abrasion. This can be achieved using an inkless tattooing device, or any object that can remove skin through friction (such as sandpaper). Chemical scarification uses corrosive chemicals to remove skin and induce scarring. The effects of this method are typically similar to other, simpler forms of scarification; as a result there has been little research undertaken on this method.

Scarification produces harm and trauma to the skin; thus it is considered by many to be not safe. Infection is a concern. Not only do the materials for inducing the wounds need to be sanitary, but the wound needs to be kept clean, using antibacterial solutions or soaps often, and having good hygiene in general. It is not uncommon, especially if the wound is being irritated, for a local infection to develop around the wound. The scarification worker needs to have detailed knowledge of the anatomy of human skin, in order to prevent tools cutting too deep, burning too hot, or burning for too long. Scarification is not nearly as popular as tattooing, so it is harder to find workers experienced in scarification. Precautions are made for brandings, such as wearing masks, because it is possible for diseases to be passed from the skin into the air when the skin is burning, that can lead to death from the tool they use. You can also run into the problems of irritation, keloids, and having to get touch ups. It is something that should be thoroughly thought out. It is much more permanent than tattoos. With tattooing there is the option of laser removal. That option isnt available for something like this. 

See it to believe it.

Tattoo lovers have left no place, untouched with body art, almost every part of their body is covered with a tattoo.

1. Eyeball Tattooing

Forget about every weird tattoo or piercing you have ever seen. Twenty-seven-year-old David Boltjes was the first prisioner to be brave enough to let his prison mate stab him in the eye with an unconventional, untested, tattoo method. The tattoos change the sclera (the white part of the eye) to be blue or even red and really change the look of the eye. Although it seems like a new trend, corneal tattooing has been known and done now for over 2,000 years — it became almost commonplace in the late 19th century and into the 20th century to correct defects such as corneal scarring and leucomas. These days, it is done less often because contact lenses are very effective at covering these defects, and prosthetic technology is also more accessible. However, not everyone can wear contact lenses, and not everyone wants their eyeball popped out even if it is blind; hence, cosmetic tattooing of the eye.


2. Palate Tattoos

The palate is the rough of the mouth that separates the oral cavity and nasal cavity. Your palate is divided into two different parts. There is the anterior bone called the hard palate and the velum, which is the posterior fleshy soft palate.


3. Tongue Tattoos

Many people think that when the tongue is pierced during tongue tattooing then the next morning there is a mouthful of blood but it is not a correct notion. If it happens then the thing is clear that something during tattooing has been done improperly and that is the actual cause of bleeding. So it is good to get tongue tattooing done by a professional tattoo artist. Tongue tattooing takes one to three weeks to heal thoroughly. For the first few days it feels somewhat sensitive but later on a crust of skin develops which gradually flakes off. In this period the colours used in the tattoos may appear pale or odd but there is nothing to worry about as they are normal. Tattoos on tongue take a long time to heal as the tongue is slightly tender. Therefore if proper hygiene is not maintained then the possibility of infection is there. To prevent tongue infection, the tattoo should be kept clean.

4. Teeth Tattoos 

Tooth tattoos were first done by Dental technician and founder of Heward Dental Lab, Steve Heward.  These permanent tooth etchings can range from $75 to $200 depending on the detail. Some people have gone to the extent of removing a tooth in order to get this work done. However, it is no necessary and it is much easier to get it done if you need a crown. If you decide you no longer want the artwork it can be easily removed in a couple minutes with the grinding of a rubber wheel.

5. Flourescent Tattoo Ink

UV tattoo ink is not commonly known or used, as very few varieties of UV inks are approved for use in the US. It is also many times more expensive than regular tattoo inks. Some people have had reactions to ingredients in the ink, ranging from minor itching to dermatitis. Several UV inks are suspected carcinogens and allergens and at this time, no research has been conducted into the side effects of long term exposure. Although many people who have received black light tattoos have had physical effects on the skin, any ink could cause a reaction. This can be a result of not protecting the tattoo from UV rays within 3 months of receiving the tattoo process or by using scented cremes or lotions on the tattoo area. This can damage the ink, causing it to become a normal ink color in all light. In time, it may also not glow in black lighting. Clear/blue UV inks are known to yellow or turn slightly brown with sun exposure. Color/black UV inks are known to become colored in all lighting. Therefore, it might permanently appear as a regular tattoo. Over recent years, as the formulas for UV inks have been improved upon, it has become more common to hear reports of success with little or no reaction. UV inks are not as bright under normal light as normal tattoo inks, and do not blend during application, as normal inks do. Their effect will be dulled if regular ink is used on top of them. Therefore, for vibrant, high impact tattoos, normal ink should be used, allowed to heal, and then highlighted with UV inks. Only highly experienced tattooists should apply UV tattoos, and should have a blacklight within arm's length of the tattoo chair. When applying white or clear UV ink, this blacklight should be turned on throughout the procedure. UV inking takes a little bit longer than normal, due to UV inks being a little thinner and harder to work with, and because the tattoo must be wiped and checked under a black-light frequently during application. Also note that for non-colour based UV work, it is possible that outlines can become an issue. If the artist isn't careful, any ink or other materials they use to outline their design can become part of the work. This is not normally an issue with standard tattoos as normal coloured ink covers this. However for fully hidden UV art, this can be a problem, as it will most likely not be even, or well distributed within the work, and reveal some of the art instead of being mostly hidden (scarring can always give away the art).


6. Inner Lip Tattoos

An inner lip tattoo, as the name suggests, is carved on the inner side of the lip, generally the lower lip. Thus they are easy to hide and can be exposed completely upon the wish of the tattoo bearer. Lip tattoos tend to fade quickly because, of the acid and chemical content in the mouth. The body tends to absorb the pigment due to which the tattoo fades. This absorption is quicker in individuals with a high chemical content in their bodies. These tattoos normally last for anywhere between one to five years, but in some cases it is also seen that they fade away in a few months or even weeks. These lip tattoos may hurt when they are made and the healing procedure can be tormenting sometimes. The worst of the lip tattoo facts is that they make eating, drinking and speaking difficult for a few days, until the tattoos heal. Just a word of precaution, before you get the lip tattoo made. You should get the tattoo done from a certified tattoo artist and make sure that the parlor and the conditions to make the tattoo are clean and hygienic. This is to avoid any infection arising out of the tattoo.

Chicks Slingin' Ink! Pt 3

So this should be my final rant on girls and tattoos...well at least the two of them together haha Lately tattooing has exploded and with that came a rush of artists into the limelight. Girls doing tattoos is nothing new. It is however highly unappreciated. Tattooing is a male dominated field. Thats not sexism....its just the truth. Theres no denying it or dancing around it. When it comes to "well-known" female artists...most people think of the girls from LA Ink. Ms Kat Von D, Ruthless and Amy...but theres so many more with so much talent.


The annual Marked for Life Female Tattoo Expo was held this year January 13-16 at the Radison World Gate Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. It featured the best female tattooers around the country. Deana and George Lippens of Deana's Tattoo in Orlando, Florida are the driving force behind it all and deserve much praise for all the hard work they put into it. As one of the pioneers in female tattooing, Deana has helped promote aspiring female tattooists for the last decade.

Joy Rumore ~ She began her career in tattoo art apprenticing for Jerry Schwartz of Accupicture Tattoo in Middletown, Rhode Island in February 2001. Since then, she has worked at X Body Art Emporium (Swansea, Massachusetts), University Tattoo (Providence, Rhode Island), Darkside Tattoo (East Haven, Connecticut), PURE BODY ARTS (Brooklyn, New York), and Venus (New York, New York).She opened her own tattoo parlor in May 2007 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She was the first person in her family to get a tattoo, and it has now grown to over 60. A friend who had a tattoo shop offered to teach her how to tattoo, and she signed on as his apprentice at age 21. By 22 she had her license. Now 28, Rumore is happy to have her own shop—Twelve 28 Tattoo, named after her birthday. She is also a member of the Rites of Passage Suspension Group.
Twelve 28 Tattoo
28 Marcy Ave - 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: 347.602.2560
1228Tattoo@gmail.com
http://www.1228tattoo.com/

Ashley Love ~ Ashely is the second full-time artist at Twelve 28 Tattoo, along side Joy. She moved to New York City in the Fall of 2010 from Winston-Salem, North Carolina after doing a few guest spots at Twelve 28′s first tiny location. Her style is traditional with a mix of folk art, a decorative twist & a stunning color pallet. Even though she can be a bit of a hermit, this premature cat lady uses her time wisely. A hard worker at heart, she always finds time for handmade valentines, late night adventures & extreme baking.
Twelve 28 Tattoo
28 Marcy Ave - 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: 347.602.2560
1228Tattoo@gmail.com
http://www.1228tattoo.com/
http://ohashleylove.com

Michelle Myles ~ was an early convert to tattooing, and, like Rumore, is a shop owner. Myles got her first tattoos in high school in Texas, then more in St. Louis. At Parsons, where she earned a BFA in painting. Myles co-owns Fun City Tattoos (it is the oldest pre-existing tattoo shop in New York City) and Daredevil Tattoo (since 1997) with partner Brad Fink. Eleven artists work at the two shops.
Fun City Tattoos
94 Saint Marks Place
New York, NY 10009
(212)353-8282
ink@funcitytattoo.com
http://www.funcitytattoo.com/

Jen Beirola ~ Owner and operator of Grinn and Barrett, Jen Beirola is an east coast transplant who started her tattoo career in 2000 while serving a 7 year term in the Airforce. Her residency at G&B led to her eventual purchase of the shop and she has since developed a reputation that has made her one of the most respected studio owners / tattoo artists in the Midwest. Jen has been featured in such national and international magazines as Savage, Tattoo Review, Pain, Prick, Tatuales (Mexico), International Skin Shots (UK) and Tattoo Revival (Australia) as well as several local and regional publications. As a multi-award winning artist, Jen is equally skilled at vibrant color, photo realism, detailed portraits, script and creative cover ups. She especially enjoys putting a new twist on traditional tattoo imagery. Grinn & Barrett won a Best of Omaha Award for 2006 and 2008 and a Reader’s Choice Award for Best Tattoo Studio in 2009.
Grinn & Barrett Tattoo
5002 Center Street
Omaha, NE 68106
(402) 553-7714
info@omahatattoo.com
http://omahatattoo.com

Tonya Van Parys ~  She moved to San Diego from South Bend Indiana in 2004 with the
goal of becoming an artist. Within the year she found herself a cozy new home doing
local art shows, enjoying the sunshine and eating California burritos. Soon after she got my first tattoo she knew what her next goal was, to become a tattoo artist! After two years of cleaning toilets and fetching coffee in a few random shops she got a break in a busy beach shop in early 2007 and has been tattooing ever since. She works at Avalon Tattoo in San Diego, CA. Avalon features 12 professional artists between its two locations.
Avalon I
Pacific Beach
1035 Garnet Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92109
(858) 274-7635
Avalon II
2nd floor
3039 Adams Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92116
(619) 280-1957
http://avalontattoo.com/

Eva Huber ~ She has been tattooing for 7 years. Originally from Buffalo NY. She currently works at Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Tattoo in Chicopee, MA, which is owned and operated by Tattoo Andy. Her preferred styles of tattooing are traditional, realistic, and custom. She paints and draws obsessively and has a summer-time split personality where all she does is party. Then spends the rest of the year being anti-social and hibernating into artistic endeavors.
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Tattoo
6 Center Street, Chicopee MA, 01013
413.331.0636
tattoosbyeva@gmail.comhttp://www.allegoryofeva.wordpress.com
http://www.myspace.com/tattoochicopee

Kim Saigh ~ Kim is an American tattoo artist and television personality. She is best known for her work as a featured tattoo artist on the TLC reality television show LA Ink. She got her first tattoo at the age of 16. At the age of 18 she became an apprentice at one of her friend's tattoo studio. In 1994 she relocated to Chicago to work in Guy Aitchison's tattoo studio. She later opened the Cherry Bomb Tattoo Studio, and was then invited to Los Angeles to work as an artist in High Voltage Tattoos; the shop which is followed by the reality television show, LA Ink. She currently works at Memoir Tattoo in LA with fellow artist Shawn Barber.
Memoir Tattoo
7377A Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323)272-3870
http://memoirtattoo.com/

Kat Von D ~ Katherine Drachenberg is an American tattoo artist and television personality. She is best known for her work as a tattoo artist on the TLC reality television show LA Ink, which premiered August 7, 2007 in the United States and November 11, 2007 in the UK. To be completely honest...I dont care for Kat's work, but she is however a highly recognized female artist so I couldnt leave her out of this list. Von D was asked to work at Miami Ink when Darren Brass hurt his elbow preventing him from tattooing. She appeared in the first three seasons of the same-name reality TV show taped there. She had a falling out with Ami James which led to her being asked to leave the shop. On the show, she gained the Guinness World Record of most tattoos given by a single person in 24 hours, with a total of 400. This was broken shortly after by her ex-husband Oliver Peck with 415, then Robbie "Coon" Koch with 577, then Derek Kastning with 726, and after that by Hollis Cantrell with 801.
High Voltage Tattoo
1259 N. La Brea Avenue
W. Hollywood, CA 90038
http://highvoltagetattoo.com/

Amy Nicoletti ~ she has been a tattoo artist for six years. Move to California from New Jersey, and starred on La Ink at the  shop American Electric. She prides herself on excellent customer service skills and has the ability to build a large clientele very quickly. She is the designated driver who doesn’t drink or party. She is passionate about music, having acquired an eclectic taste over time. Amy prefers to stay sober in all aspects, always drug-and-alcohol-free. She has a 16 year old son, Cameron, who lives in New Jersey. Her boyfriend, Michael, lives in Scotland. She is currently working at Sinful Art Tattoo in Vineland, NJ. She wont be there for too long, which means if you live in NJ...take the chance to get a piece done by her ASAP.
Sinful Art Tattoo
3929 N. Delsea Drive
Vineland, NJ 08360
(856)362-5873
http://sinfularttattoo.com/

Ruth "Ruthless" Pineda ~ She got her first tattoo when she was 19 years old at Physical Graffiti in Bridgeport, Connecticut by an artist named Tattoo Joe, who later agreed to put her through a rigorous seven month apprenticeship so that she could channel her artistic vision into her favorite art form. Drawing from her Filipino roots in a non-traditional way is exactly what Ruth “Ruthless” Pineda does as a modern-day tattoo artist. By combining long-established forms with new techniques, while focusing on artistic influences from Eastern art and even some Americana, Ruthless has created her own unique style of tattooing that takes Neo-Traditional to a whole new level. Before coming to American Electric, Ruthless gained experience working in Los Angeles shops such as Vintage Tattoo Art Parlour, Madison Tattoo Shoppe, and Ink Candy. She also guest spots in Hawaii and Honduras.
American Electric Tattooing
3532 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323-664-6530
http://americanelectrictattoo.com/

There really isnt much more to say. The work these girls put out speaks for itself. And it speaks volumes. So do yourself a favor, and when you go into a shop and see a girl behind the chair....dont underestimate her or dismiss her... You may end up passing up the best tattoo of your life. <3

Pretty in Ink!! Pt 2

In the last several years tattooing as an art form as well as a professional has exploded. Tattoos were originally something that were taboo and that most people only associated with biker gangs and old military vets. Thanks to the likes of people along the line of Kat Von D, Amy Nicoletto & Ruthless Pineda the idea of heavily tattooed women is no longer as taboo. As things progress and the generations pass tattooing has become much more widely accepted. Some people have even made careers and world records from it.

The one thing i don't agree with is how everyone and their mother are hardcore bashing on Michelle "Bombshell" McGee. Yes...what she did was wrong. Cheating on someone or assisting another in cheating is never ok or acceptable. But it seems that because of her tattoos and appearance she is getting severely outed, and it is absolutely not fair. If you disagree with someones life choices, that's fine. But some of the things being said are ridiculous. And it is obvious that her appearance is really whats fueling the fire. There's a nice big post on the site www.celebslam.celebuzz.com bashing her to no avail:

          ~"I don't know why everyone is so upset and disgusted by Bombshell -- she's just teaching the future whores of tomorrow some valuable life lessons. Lessons like it's okay to have your breasts artificially enlarged, sleep with married men, and take off your clothes for money. No, Michelle doesn't deserve the proverbial scarlet letter -- she deserves the Medal of Honor. I can't wait to go through my midlife crisis and enroll in a class at the local community college so I can hit on dumb 18-year-olds! Thanks Bombshell!"~

Female tattoos are as varied and unique as the individuality of all tattooed girls. Some of the ladies like show off their pin up girl tattoos, sparrows, sacred hearts, angel wings, butterflies, hearts and cherry blossoms. These are often popular ones but you know they are just the tip of the iceberg of the variety of female tattoos. You'll also see plenty of demons, vixens and any number of all kinds of fascinating girl tattoos. You never know what to expect but "seeing is believing".

To top it all off more and more sites have been built that focus on the modeling and beauty of tattooed girls. Playboy and Maxim can move over. They have nothing on these girls. Sites like Suicide Girls, Gods Girls, and Burning Angels idolize the tattooed female form.

As far as i'm concerned, tattoos are a personal preference. Just because you don't like skulls and spiders doesn't mean its an ugly or pointless tattoo. Yes...there are poorly done tattoos, But that is an entirely different category in itself. There is a difference between a bad tattoo and just something that you don't like. And honestly...if you don't like it...keep it to yourself. Just because a girl is all tattooed up definitely doesn't make her a bad, shady or ugly person. The people that sit back and called the tattooed community "freaks" are kind of sad. It has always been easy to just pick out the different person. The odd one out is always the easy target. Anyone who has tattoos shouldn't be concerned about concealing them because other people cant help themselves but gawk. I have tattoos. And i plan on getting many many more.

Its more difficult for a woman with tattoos to be respected and appreciated. I'm not trying to be sexist and play the "pity us" card. But women and men were not created equal. We keep fighting for it and fighting for it, but the truth is that were not. And because of that it is much harder to get someone to take a tattooed woman seriously. Its hard enough for men with tattoos to not be looked down upon. And it definitely wont be any easier or a girl. We have our gender and years of sexism working against us, but i'm ok with that. There's tons of feminist that walk around with a chip on their shoulder saying that we can do whatever a man does just the same. So if you're a girl and you're planning on getting a tattoo in a visible spot or covering yourself with a lot of them...prepare for the criticism. If you don't think you can handle the gawkers and comments...then put your tattoo in a place that is less seen or don't get one. If you do get one...more power to you. And be strong and confident in your choice of ink. Don't let someone steer you away from your decision or placement if you know it's what you want. Wear it proudly and know that it is on you forever.

 

Wear the art on your skin proudly & don't let others dictate your ink.