Forever: NASCAR Tattoos

Project Forever follows the fans of NASCAR by telling their stories through their tattoos. On one day in Arizona we walked around the parking lot with one goal discover who these fans by talking to them about their ink. We took scores of photos and interviews and this is what we came up with. We plan to continue this idea with a little more funding.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8DPwgfgsEg&hl=en

Bay Area Tattoos (Part 3) - Ed Hardy

Bay Area Tattoos (Part 3) - Ed Hardy about the history of tattoos in the Bay Area.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEta7vsd4tM&hl=en

Tattoos and Time

Tattoos have represented personal identity, affiliations, philosophy, and creative choices from Paleolithic man to Corporate Execs, and are gaining a new interest and popularity with both sexes. It’s a fact that 10% of the people in the United States have at least one tattoo somewhere on their body.

A tattoo by definition is permanent. Pigment is inserted under the epidermis with a needle or sharp object into the dermis where the color is captured by the body for all time … well almost.

Tattoos change over time because the skin is constantly changing from regeneration, sun, wind, water and other assaults. The appearance of a tattoo therefore must also change as the skin stretches, shrinks and ages. Pigment moves imperceptibly over time on a cellular level and elasticity and skin resiliency naturally decline. Age spots, tanning and wrinkles can take a toll on the clarity and color of tattoos too.

How well and how long a tattoo stays defined and the color vibrant is most affected by the immediate aftercare, and then the lifelong skin maintenance. Aftercare guidelines vary, but the common denominator is: prevent infection and promote healing to retain as much ink as possible in the tattoo. Tattoos generally heal completely within two to three weeks, but must be kept continually moist to prevent scabbing, which removes color from the tattoo.

A tattoo’s number one enemy is sun; tattoo pigments fade like all other color under direct sunlight; red and yellow are the most difficult color to maintain, black and blue is the most stable. Tattoos are part of the living skin organism and a minimal amount of color is treated like foreign molecules and transported away through the lymph system. The best defense in the battle of the fading tattoo is to stay out of the sun, cover the tattoo with clothing and wear a really good sunscreen.

Tattoos reside in the dermis layers and are seen through the epidermis. Simple common sense steps will keep the epidermis clean, healthy, smooth, and hydrated for optimal clarity of body art. Use a gentle cleanser weekly to remove the build-up of body oils, dirt, grime, and the dull ashy film that blocks the color of your tattoos. Daily use of a moisturizer (that dries with a residue free finish) reflects deeper color.

A tattoo that is expertly applied, healed properly and protected from the sun can remain vibrant for decades, but there is no escape from those changes that come, simply as a result of time.

© 2005 Jolene Schwartz

Jolene Schwartz is a grooming specialist for over 20 years; as a master barber and licensed cosmetologist in her own men’s salon. She launched http://appearancesformen.com e-com site; writing monthly columns about men’s products, lifestyle, and offering the finest in men’s grooming products.

Hawaiian Flower Tattoos - Orchid, Plumeria and Hibiscus Tattoo

Hawaiian flower tattoos are exotic and beautiful and not as cliché as rose or lilies. They can be an expression of one's heritage if he or she is originally from the island. Or it can also be a representation of one's unforgettable moments spent in Hawaii; the island being considered as a perfect getaway and vacation spot because of its beaches, fresh air and natural scenery. While some have significant meaning attached to the design, a lot of enthusiasts also choose this theme just for its sheer beauty and artistic appeal.

The most popular Hawaiian flowers are hibiscus, plumeria and orchid. Each flower has its own symbolism and individual characteristics. Hibiscus stands for delicate beauty as the bloom of the flowers are open for just a short period everyday. Hibiscus, in fact, has been called "Flower-on-an-hour". Plumeria is a flower commonly used as tattoo designs along side hibiscus as if to complete the whole Hawaiian flower theme. In the island, it is the flower traditionally used as a lei, it will always say "Aloha". Orchid is also prominent in Hawaiian and used as lei too, just like plumeria. It can stand for a lot of things like love, beauty, wisdom, and thoughtfulness.

Hawaiian flower tattoos can be seen incorporated with other imagery that the island is known for like sea turtles, mountains, surfboard and tiki. They are best executed on the body in full color to make them more visually appealing. They are also usually seen in a tribal style - with thick black lines and little accent of color or detail. They would look good as sleeve tattoos, or on the foot, shoulder blade, back, rib cage and lower back.

Check out Hawaiian flower tattoos for more tattoo designs and ideas. Or if you are looking for that perfect design for your tattoos, check out the Best Tattoo Gallery Online