Why Is Black Temporary Henna Tattoos Dangerous?

Henna is NOT Black and does not cause blisters and open sores.

There are several products marketed as "Black Henna", some of which is harmless but others are very dangerous

PPD (Para-Phenylenediamine), black hair dye CAN cause blisters and sores.

When PPD is used to make black temporary tattoos, often called "black henna", it can cause blistering, open sores,scarring, and lifelong health problems.

PPD should never be used directly on skin in plain format or mixed with another product. It is illegal to put synthetic Black Hair Dye on your skin because thats not what it has been approved for.

Para-Phenylenediamine is a strong sensitizer. A sensitizer is something that your body is naturally allergic to, or may become allergic to. Some people are born sensitive to PPD. Others become sensitive to PPD. If you become sensitized to PPD, that allergy will never go away and you may become cross-sensitized to many related things. That means other similar things may set off an allergic reaction and make you sick. Hair dye, sun block, cosmetics, even black clothing, may cause an outbreak of itching and hives.

Why Do People Use Black Hair Dye To Make Body Art Instead Of Safe Henna?

1. Its Cheap Black Hair Dye can be purchased from any beauty store at a low cost. If purchased off the internet, it can be repackaged and mixed to be sold as "Black Henna".

2. Easy To Mix And Apply To make normal henna for tattooing takes time and patience to learn to do beautifully. With Black Hair Dye you just mix it with water and use. It easily stains your skin giving you a nice looking tattoo.

3. Big Profits Because Black Hair Dye is cheap to buy and prepare to use as a dye for tattooing a street artist can make thousands of dollars a day from just 1 packet of black dye that may have cost under $10.

4. PPD "Black Henna" looks like a Tattoo People want something that looks like a tattoo. At first, PPD "black henna" may look like a tattoo. Later, there may be itching, blisters, open sores and scarring.

How Can You Tell If The Henna Artist is Using Safe Henna For Tattooing

1. Does it Smell Traditional henna paste smells like spinach, or you may smell fragrances like Pine, Tea Tree Oil, or Mentholatum from essential oils they're using. PPD doesn't have a smell.

2. What's The color Traditional safe henna paste is khaki green, greenish brown, or very dark brownish green. If the stuff they are using is jet black, stains the skin quickly it's probably PPD based black hair dye.

3. Ask The Henna Artist whats in the mix They should say something on the lines of essential oils, lemon juice henna powder. You should be able to smell them, this is a very sure sign that the henna is safe and not black dye.

4. Ask them how long the stain will last. PPD "Black Henna" stains typically last more than a week and stay black throughout that time. Henna stains last 1 - 3 weeks, fading to orange during that period. There are some safe body art products, such as body paints, that come in black, but they don't last longer than 3 days. If it's black and long lasting, it's probably PPD "Black Henna"!

5. Ask them what color the stain will be when the paste comes off. If they say it will leave a orange stain that will darken to red brown or dark brown, but will not be black when the paste flakes off, then it is henna. If they tell you the stain will be BLACK when the paste comes off and that it will stay black, they're using PPD

There are some black body art products that may be safe and do not contain PPD.

Ask to see the ingredient list! If the artist cannot supply a complete ingredient list, don't let them put it on your skin! If you don't like what you see in the ingredient list, don't put it on your skin.

Sniff it. If it smells vile, don't put it on your skin.

The safer black body art products only last a few days at most. Ask the artist how long the design will last.If the answer is "Not more than 3 days" the body art product may be safe. Nita is a professional Henna Artist, Urban Henna. who has practised the beautiful art of henna for a number of years. She not only does henna for brides but also for special occassions.

Everything You Need To Know About Tattoos

If you are considering tattoos, keep in mind that they are a permanent part of your skin. Because tattoos are created with permanent ink being placed underneath the skin, they are a lifelong fixture unless you later decide to have them removed. Having a tattoo removed involves surgery, which is very expensive and carries it’s own risks. As with any surgery, there is always the possibility of complications. If you are thinking of getting tattoos, it’s best to make sure that you really want them in order to avoid having to later go through surgery just to remove them.

Tattoos can be very expensive depending on the size of the design. They can range from the tiniest of symbol to a large detailed image. Because tattoos can be priced very high, many parlors offer an unconventional, yet practical, way to purchase your design of choice. Many businesses offer a convenient layaway plan with the tattoos being created after the last payment is made. If you have the cash to pay upfront, you may be able to make an appointment and get the design imprinted on the same day as payment. Depending on the design and complexity of the tattoos that you select, the process can be brief or may last for hours.

When considering tattoos, it is important to do some research on the design parlor before hiring them. How long have they been in business? Have there been any complaints lodged against them with the local Better Business Bureau? If you have friends who also have tattoos, who do they recommend and what was their experience? It is very important to follow up with references and as much of a background check as you can possibly get before agreeing to have your tattoos created.

In your research, try to find out which businesses have the best history with make sure their equipment is clean. This is the most important thing to consider about tattoos because, if the business is not licensed or the artist is not a professional, there is no guarantee that their instruments are clean or properly maintained. Your health is your biggest concern so, if you are considering tattoos, be sure to select the best parlor for the job.

Tattoos are colorful and can be an expression of art if done correctly. They often reflect a person’s lifestyle, name of a spouse or other sentiment. At the same time, they can cause a concern of infection. If you decide that tattoos are right for you, be sure to follow the parlor’s instructions in order to maintain and preserve your tattoos. If you decide that butterfly tattoos or star tattoos are right for you, be sure to follow the parlor’s instructions in order to maintain and preserve your tattoos.

Get Yourself Marked - Get Tattooed

Tattooing has been around for centuries. No longer restricted to travelling performers, rough-n-tumble sailors and burly bikers, many in today's hip brigade are heading to the nearest tattoo artist to get themselves marked, as a sign of self-expression.

Tattoo is probably the most popular form of body adornment in America today. Current estimates have one in seven, or well over 43 million people in North America alone, who have one or more tattoos.

How painful is the entire process?

Pain is an interesting side effect of getting a tattoo. Some people don’t mind the pain so much. For others, they want the art very badly, but wish they could get it without the pain. Whatever group you fall into, know that tattoos do hurt. But it hurts less than a tooth extraction or even body waxing. It also depends on the spot you choose - it would hurt more when you get it done close to the bone, like on the ankle or close to the ribs. But the shoulders and lower back remain the favourites. Keep in mind that your mental state also has a lot to do with how well you handle the pain. You should not be overly tired or emotionally exhausted, nor too cold or too hot.

Tattoo Tips

Stay away from coloured tattoos, if you have tanned skin. Just stick to black and grey instead. But if you can't resist the appeal of a multiple hue, make sure you avoid the sun to keep it looking bright. As for infections, make sure you do your homework before taking the pricky plunge. First, check out the outlet and tattooist. Make sure you see some samples of work done there and see how clean it is. If you have skin which is very sensitive or have ailments like diabetes, avoid getting a tattoo.

Design Deluge

When it comes to designs, you're spoilt for choice. From bold tribal motifs to intricate celtic themes, from cutsie flowers and birds to heavy-duty skulls and demons, from oriental calligraphy to your own personal creations - take your pick. Popular choices include flowers, butterflies, dragons and barbed wine. The current trend, however, veers towards tribal designs which are bold and simple. And what if you get fed up of the design? Get it removed by laser or plastic surgery, which is not only expensive but can also leave a scar.

Needle Points

1. A tattoo takes approx two weeks to heal. Avoid getting it too wet during this time, as the ink could fade. Just wash it with hot soapy water three times a day, and dry gently.
2. After a tattoo is healed, apply a high SPF sunblock to keep the colours bright and beautiful.
3. Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly on the area, before showering.
4. Don't scratch or peel the scab
5. Don't swim for a month
6. Don't expose it to the sun as the colours might fade
7. Do not sleep or rest on your tattoo
8. Keep the area covered till all the scab falls off. But once it's clear of scabs, apply lots of moisturiser
9. Do not apply any kind of oil unless recommended

Now you are ready for it. Moreover, you should know that having a tattoo is one of the 100 things you are supposed to do before passing away..., so..., what are you waiting for?

Rose Tattoo Designs

Rose tattoo designs show life, birth, procreation, death and rebirth. They are the embodiment of nature and the elements.

Flower tattoo designs are popular but the red rose beats them all, especially with women. It is nearly as popular with men too, since the rose has tremendous spiritual significance in the west. The red rose is considered to be a symbol of true love and has been revered in both, secular and religious context.

The rose has many accepted traditional meanings that are applied to the rose tattoos by association. It has become the ultimate floral symbol on account of its unmatched beauty and fragrance. The red rose can symbolize martyrdom. It is associated with Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Rose tattoos are sometimes worn to honor a loved one who has passed away. If you want to have a black rose tattoo, It's important to know the meaning behind the specific rose colors.

A dark red rose stands for unconscious beauty.

The red rose is for love, courage, beauty, respect and romance. A red rose bud tattoo symbolizes loveliness and purity.

The blue rose is a symbol of impossibility.

Coral roses indicate desire.

Black roses are traditional representatives of death.

White roses are for purity, charm, reverence and innocence. White rose buds also celebrate the girl-child.

The golden or yellow rose tattoo shows achievement or friendship.

black rose with thorns body art design is also popular. Tattoo artist say, a rose with thorns tattoo reminds the person that beauty does not surface in the absence of adversity and sacrifice. The rose can be flaunted singly, as trailing vine or as a bouquet.

Red rose designs have been getting much more popular in the west in recent years. This tattoo shares the most intriguing history and symbolism. They are a traditional choice and more popular than the hibiscus, daisy, lily or even the orchid tattoos. The lotus body art designs are probably the only ones that can be compared to these designs. Artist from around the world have made it a point to promote the flower tattoo. The rose tattoo is available in many different shapes and sizes. You can mix the flower design with a heart or fairy or even a butterfly. You can add it with a Celtic armband, a dagger, a cross or even a tiger. You can have a red rose with barbed wire put on your chest or even your shoulder. There are many different options you can choose, its all about your style.

I am the owner of http://www.tattoodesignshop.com , a site dedicated to finding the meanings and directories for the best tattoo designs. We have a great site where you can find over 3,500 tattoo designs split up into their own categories for easy browsing.

History of the Henna Tattoo

Temporary henna tattoos have become quite the rage in recent times. However, henna has been around for a long time and has been used by Indian and African women for its colouring and nourishing properties. In fact, the beginnings of the use of henna can be traced back thousands of years to ancient Egypt. It is only over the past decade or so that temporary tattoos have emerged as the hottest accessory in the West. The absence of chemicals and temporary colour are the main advantages of a henna tattoo.

Egyptian roots of the Henna Tattoo

The Henna plant traces its roots to Egypt, from where it was brought as a gift for the Queen Mumtaz in India. The Mughals then encouraged the usage of henna as a beauty product and a decorative application on the skin, especially at the time of weddings. The history of the henna tattoo dates back nearly 5,000 years, when the Egyptians used them on their hands, hair and nails. Even the fingers and toes of Pharaohs were stained with henna before mummification. Henna is also believed to be a  symbol of good luck and is applied before any auspicious event in various countries, such as India, Turkey, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Henna tattoo and its advantages

This tall shrub like plant grows in hot and humid climates and is generally found in Egypt, India, Africa and the Middle Eastern countries. The leaves of the Henna plant are ground into a powder, which is then made into a paste that colours the skin in a rich shade of mahogany.

The foremost advantage of using Henna is that the colour is temporary and fades away quickly. So for people who hate the thought of having tattoos that require piercing of the skin and are most often permanent, henna offers an attractive and easy opportunity. Henna tattoos are not only temporary tattoos, but can be applied quickly and in various designs. Henna has been an inexpensive way of adding to one’s beauty. It allows people to add exotic designs on their body at very little cost.

Henna has been known to have medicinal qualities as well. In Ayurvedic therapy, Henna is used as an anti-irritant and antiseptic  for various skin allergies, heat rashes and to cool the body during hot summers. Due to its cooling properties, Henna is used in lotions and ointments for application on skin inflammations and even burns. Henna is also known to be a deodorant.

Henna tattoos and varied designs

Different kinds of henna tattoo designs are in vogue in countries such as Morocco, India and the Middle East. While African designs are generally geometric in nature, Indian designs are more floral and ornate. Celtic designs are based on intricate pictures and animal designs and give a mysterious look. Even Chinese and Japanese designs have become popular for the application of temporary tattoos.

These designs can be traced on or copied very easily with Henna Pens. It is as easy as drawing on paper. Several other henna based cosmetic products, such as eyeliners and lipsticks, are also available.

About the Author: Juell Rahman has written numerous articles on the subject of skin decoration and the use of henna tattoos, he is an expert in this field.

Is A Tribal Tattoo Right For You

No matter what corner of the world you visit or what culture or history you examine you will run across some reference to tattooing or body art. From the cold blistery shores of Ireland where the Celtics defended themselves against the Romans to the Islands of Sumatra where cannibalistic tribes roamed the islands, tribal tattoos have been in existence for a long time. The reemergence of tribal tattoos has become a popular venue for tattoo enthusiasts and tattoo shops across the United States and around the world. Even celebrities are embracing tribal tattoos. Why are tribal tattoos back in popularity and why should you as a tattoo consumer want to get one?

Tribal tattoos have been apart of the cultural heritage of many people from different times. Sometimes adorned to put fear in an enemy’s heart and sometimes used as a story board, tribal tattoos had a message and a meaning for both the wearer and the beholder. For example ancient tribes in Samoa wore intricate tattoos that covered most of their bodies. This was not for some warrior attribute but to show respect for the gods that governed their world. The Samoan’s tribal tattoo would tell stories of honor and courage to appease their gods and let them know that they were held in the highest respect.

But why are tribal tattoos popular today? Most tattoos have grown from the genre of cartoon figures and funny pictures to a more mature perception. The ‘I love Mom’ tattoo with the cupids and the hearts has fallen to a want for a tattoo that actually means something and reflects the feelings and desires of the wearer. Not only does it reflect a primal wanting, but the tribal tattoo also reflects a aura of mystery. If you wear a tribal tattoo and someone is staring at your or asking your questions, you have met your goal in inspiring awe and curiosity.

Some people get tribal tattoos for the erotic effect it has over their lovers. The black intertwining stripes and symbols cause partners, either present or future, to think about the mysteries of where those curves go and where the tribal tattoo will end up under the clothing. Women particularly like to put tribal tattoos on the small of their back to entice their mates with seduction as tattoo floats back and forth from sight by the waistline of her jeans. Some tribal tattoos are drawn on women’s breasts to accent the curve of the breast or the depth of the cleavage. Erotic attraction trough tribal tattoos have happened throughout the centuries and the reemergence in our culture and time is not surprising.

Tribal tattoos can be exciting and adventurous. When shopping for a tribal tattoo you might want to check on the history of the tattoo and what culture it comes from. The tattoo you might think is exotic might mean that a warrior has had a lot of kills or that you own many cattle. Just like when you tattoo a Japanese character on your body, the meaning is sometimes more important than the shape and form. The tribal tattoo design is one of the world's most popular tattoo designs. A tribal tattoo can be combined with any other tattoo to create a very unique design that only you have. Many different syles can go along with a tribal tattoo such as any angel tattoo design.

Koi fish tattoos

The word "koi" comes from Japanese. Koi fish are specially bred in Japan for their color. A prize example can be valued in the $100,000 range. Koi are a type of carp and have been cultivated and bred in Japan for possibly thousands of years.

If you have been to Japan you will notice they are a common feature in most traditional Japanese gardens. They most likely originated from Eastern Asia, Aral, Black and Caspian Seas. Earliest records of Koi have been found in China and have been widely spread in Japan.

For the Japanese Fish Koi represent strength and power because they are often able to lift their entire body up and jump out of the water. Koi fish tattoos are beautiful and wildly popular right now. Koi fish tattoos of course have a long history and go all the way back to ancient Japanese times and it is a definite Japanese or Asian tattoo theme. Therefore the tattoos that represent koi fish often show them splashing in the water and water flying everywhere which shows of their strength. Plus as an added bonus they are an absolute beautiful fish and the colors of them lend themselves to a tattoos.

The beautiful bright oranges mixed witht he blues of water make for an ideal tattoo plus since they are traditionally a Japanese tattoo they lend a sort of forgien mystery to their air.

Fish Koi tattoos are now very popular among men and women. Typically men get them on their shoulders or calf and women like to get them as a lower back tattoo.There are a few out there that also get them as full back tattoos with more of a tradition Asian design.

The color scheme of the Koi fish tattoo is very important element. A common color scheme would be the Yen Yang design of black and white. Most of the cases, the color scheme work the best if integrate with your shin color. For instant, if you have a dark or olive skin color it may be more suitable to choose a bright hue so the Koi fish tattoo to make it more visible.

The natural colors of white, red, black, yellow or gold or perhaps a mixture of those colors would be applicable if you really want the test of more traditional style.Always remember that Koi Fish tatto o needs a place of honor on your body. Men generally get them on their shoulders or calf and women like to get them as a lower back tattoo. Additions- Along with the koi fish tattoo you can always put some water in the background that splashes around the fish. Also Cherry blossom flower are very traditional and go well with a Japanese themed tattoo. Cost-It all depends on what size, how many colors, and type you want.Additions and if you want the work custom designed or you are going to use flash. They typically run between $50 to $250 dollars.

More Koi fish Facts:

1. The Koi is associated with the family. On Children's Day Koi flags are raised, Black Koi the father, Orange/Red mother, Blue/White for a boy, red/pink for a girl.

2. The Koi Fish symbolizes courage in the Buddhist Religion. According to Buddhists, humans 'swim' through the 'ocean of suffering' without fear, just like a fish swims through water.

3. Another word to describe "love" is "koi". The kanji character for "kokoro (heart)" is included as part of both kanji characters. Both "ai" and "koi" can be translated as "love" in English.

Aleks Kos: Visit http://fish-koi-tattoos.blogspot.com/

Understand Tattooing Cost

Now I decide to get a tattoo, but how much should I prepare for the budget? is there a reasonable price or is tattoo price regulated?

How much will tattoo cost you? this is a common question. But once again, there is no one straight forward answer. Tattoos are not cheap, but they are definitely not beyond the means of the average employed individuals who save up for a while in order to get a high quality tattoo.

To make it simple, you get what you pay for when getting a tattoo. If you bring in your own design, the tattoo artist generally charges anywhere from forty dollars to two hundred dollars per hour. If you want a custom design, you may need pay more. Expect to pay between a few hundreds to ten thousand dollars for your tattoo.

Our advice is to find an artist and design you like first, then find out how much it will cost. Look for qualities, and be willing to pay for it, it is important not to consider compromising price for quality. You will find it is a very reasonable price to pay for a fine work of art which you can't lose or be stolen.

If your tattoer really outdoes with a truly outstandling professional tattoo, consider tip the artist just as you would do after having a fine dinner.

www.tattoo-symbol-design.com - the starting place for exploring and learning all about tattoos, tattoo ideas, tattoo design concept, tattoo supplies and equipments.

Five Must-Knows When Getting a Kanji Tattoo

Japanese tattoos are cool. But if a personal translator is out of your league how can you avoid becoming a kanji fashion victim and get stuck with a tattoo you will really regret?

1. Know the difference hiragana, katakana and kanji

Before you talk to your tattoo artist, make sure you know what you are talking about. You say you want a Japanese tattoo, but what do you know about Japanese characters? You need a quick stint in 2-minute Japanese boot camp.

First off, let's be clear that there is no Japanese "alphabet". There are three sets of Japanese characters hiragana, katakana and kanji and each group has its own history, function and style. Get your head around these facts and you will already know more than 99% of the people walking around with Japanese tattoos right now:

Hiragana These simple, rounded characters represent sounds, but have no independent meaning. They were developed by women in the Heian period and are still considered feminine by Japanese people.

Katakana Developed by Buddhist monks around the same time as hiragana, these are simple, angular characters that also represent sounds and have no meaning of their own. You saw them cascading down the screen in Matrix (although they were backwards!)

Kanji Originally from China, these characters are like pictures, representing a meaning and also several different sounds depending on the situation.

Just reading this has probably given you an idea of which style you might like for your tattoo but don't stop just yet! Now you know what kinds of Japanese characters there are, let's move on to...

2. Writing styles

Come a bit closer. Lean forward towards the screen. That's right. Now, look at the words in front of you. Take a good, close look at the shapes of these letters. OK? Now tell me honestly: Would you want a tattoo in Times New Roman? How about Tahoma? What's that? You don't want a tattoo by Canon or Epson? Sure you don't. And in the same way, you don't want to have your Japanese tattoo looking like a printout either!

So, now we move on to writing styles. Just like there are three kinds of Japanese characters, there are also three ways they can be written. Don't worry. This is easy! I know, you are thinking that you can't even read Japanese, so how on earth will you be able to recognize these different styles? Well, try this:

Kaisho Block letters. You learned to write your ABCs like this, and Japanese kids learn to write their characters in just the same way: Like a Volvo boxy but good.

Gyousho Cursive letters. You moved up to middle school and learned you could write faster by letting the parts of some letters flow into the next. Yes, you guessed it - the Japanese do the same thing, and they call it gyousho.

Sousho Super-cursive letters. Ever seen a prescription from a doctor? Then you know what sousho is like in Japanese: Sure, the writer or some other trained person can (probably) read it, but no one else has a clue what it says!

Are you getting the picture? If you want to look like a computer printout, then be my guest and go for the kaisho style. That's your choice. But I think you probably want to use either gyousho or sousho for your tattoo. My personal preference would be gyousho: It's stylish, but it won't leave even native speakers baffled.

3. Real or fake?

Remember I mentioned Mel C at the beginning? Well guess what kanji she got tattooed on her arm? That's right "Girl Power": Great in English, but show this kanji combination to most Japanese people and you'll get a blank look at best. Want a worse example? Try "big daddy". Now, you know what it means in English, but put it into kanji and you end up with "large father"! It just doesn't work.

I'm sure you remember that kanji are the only characters that have meaning as well as sound. And their beauty means that they are what most people want for their tattoos. But watch out: As well as being popular, they can also be the most dangerous!

Let's see if we can find a pattern here: Look carefully at the examples above. What are they communicating - concrete concepts or abstract ideas? Can you see the difficulty the translators had? The kanji for "dragon", "samurai", "love" or any other concrete ideas are pretty easy to discover. But go for anything with an idiomatic meaning and whoever is trying to help you translate it is going to get a major headache!

Just an idea, but how about this suggestion: Rather than trying to force a round English peg into a square Japanese hole, why not find a real Japanese phrase that you like and get that instead? Bushidou (the Way of the Warrior) and Ninjutsu (The Art of Stealth) are two good examples of real Japanese terms that would make great tattoos.

4. Your name in Japanese

As I'm sure you remember from 2-minute Japanese boot camp, katakana are the characters usually used to write foreign words and names. So, if you want to get a tattoo of your name, technically these would be the characters you would choose. But I am guessing that, like most people, you want your name written in kanji.

Do a quick search on Google and you can find a number of sites that specialize in translating names into kanji. Basically there are two different methods that these sites use, so let's look at them here.

Translating the meaning

This method involves finding out the original meaning of the English name, and then researching the kanji equivalent.

For example, my name has its origins in Greek and means "crowned one". The one who is crowned is the king, so I could translate my name into the kanji for king and call myself ohsama. (Perhaps a little pretentious and disturbingly similar to Mr. Bin Laden's first name!)

Translating the sound

This is a lot more difficult! Flick through a dictionary and you will find a bunch of kanji that can be combined to sound like your name. But sound isn't everything: Remember that kanji have meaning as well. In fact, it is even more complex than this! Be sure to check each of the following factors with anyone who translates your name like using this method:

1. Sound Does it sound like your name or not? I have seen my name "translated" on certain websites to sound like Stefan. Shame my name (Stephen) is actually said the same as Steven!

2. On-yomi and kun-yomi Yes, more technical words! But don't panic they are easy to understand: Basically, kanji have two kinds of reading. One kind, on-yomi, is their original Chinese sound. The other, kun-yomi, is their Japanese-only sound. What to watch is that (like oil and water) on-yomi and kun-yomi don't mix. Use either all on-yomi reading or all kun-yomi readings to make the sound of your name.

3. Meaning Do the kanji have a good meaning together? Now, it can be very difficult to find kanji that sound right and have a good meaning, so you may need to compromise a little on one of these.

4. Masculine or feminine I guess this is more like a sub-category of meaning, but it is something you need to check out to avoid embarrassment. For example, while "Asian Beauty" may be a great combination for a woman, I get the feeling most men would not be too happy about having that permanently written into their skin!

5. If in doubt, check!

First, use your new-found knowledge of Japanese to ask a few difficult questions to your tattoo artist or kanji "specialist". If you get the feeling they don't know what they are talking about, you probably want to look elsewhere.

Next, before you get anything permanent done, use an online dictionary to check whether the Japanese really means what you want it to. You may not be able to input Japanese yourself, but you can copy and paste characters from an email or web page and see what they mean.

Finally, if you are lucky enough to know any, ask a Japanese person what they think. Their confused expression may tell you that you have come up with another "big daddy"!

Follow this advice and you will avoid the most dangerous pitfalls of Japanese tattoos and get a kanji tattoo you can be proud of.

Looking for a Japanese Kanji Tattoo?

It is a good idea to keep in mind before you decide upon a tattoo that kanji as an art is based on a different form of language unlike english in its construction. Be should be sure to spend time researching the authenticity of each symbols' meaning. It could be rather embarrassing to learn later on after you have been tattooed that the Kanji tattoo you thought meant one thing turned out to be something completely different.

It has to be said that Japanese kanji tattoos seem to be much more popular in the West than they are outside of Japan. I would be like an American going into a tattoo studio and asking to have "Wealth" or "Power" tattooed onto their chect or arm!

If you don't speak Japanese it is very hard to find characters that say what you want and are not something that will turn heads with native japanese speakers for all the wrong reasons. Trusting a non native speaking tattoo artist is recommended either as the tattoo artist may be as much in the dark as you are. It is highly recommended that you do your reasearch before rushing off to get a kanji tattoo character done.

Famous tattoo artist Lyle Tuttle speaking about traditional Japanese kanji tattoos, which he says are elaborate, multi-coloured pictures that tell a story and can cover a person's body turns away requests to write specific things in kanji. Tuttle instead suggests customers talk to native speakers before getting a kanji done.

The popularity of kanjis in the West hasn't impressed many of those who speak or read Japanese or Chinese fluently. Kanjis may look cool to non Japanese or Chinese speakers but don't always make sense to native speakers. A true Japanese tattoo has meaning.

Kanjis are NOT really a traditional Japanese tattoo BUT more a style of tattoo. If you are getting a kanji be sure that what you are getting done is something that means a lot to you and is translated correctly.

Don't make the same mistake thousands of others have!!

Before you get a kanji tattoo you might want to see THIS!