A tattoo is a permanent mark, and whether it is for ornamental purposes or memorial purposes, it should be a mark that suits you. Even if you know roughly what you want put on your skin, there are still many choices to be made when it comes to style. There are many types of tattoos to choose from, so consider your options before you talk to an artist.
For example, tribal tattoos are iconic in that they use sharp black lines arranged to form an abstract design. The lines of a tribal tattoo can simply be used to compliment the line of your body or they can be arranged to evoke a specific thing, like a rose, a bull or a scorpion. Tribal tattoos are a good choice for people with dark skin, as the black shows up very well.
Black and gray tattoos use only different shades of black ink. The black ink is diluted with water to create tones of black and gray, and using this simple monochrome palatte, extremely delicate tattoos can be created. Black and gray tattoos do well when you want a hyper-realistic look to your body art, as the black and gray can create shadows and shading. In some cases, a black and gray tattoo is highlighted using white ink.
Ultraviolet tattoos, also known as UV tattoos and blacklight tattoos, use a type of ink that glows when it is held under blacklight. The tattooing process is identical to that of a regular tattoo, but when the ultraviolet tattoo is held underneath a blacklight in the dark, the pattern becomes visible. In normal light, the UV tattoo is invisible. However, before getting a UV tattoo, it is important to remember that as with any tattoo, some scarring might occur, which makes the design more noticeable.
Another type of tattoo is the type drawn in the Asian style. Asian-style tattoos draw from Japanese and Chinese art traditions, and they may also incorporate Chinese characters or Japanese kanji. These tattoos cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from animals, to gods, to nature scenes. If you decide to put either Chinese characters or kanji in your tattoo, however, find a translator who can assure you that the characters you are getting say what you think they are saying.
Before going to get your tattoo, spend some time online looking at tattoo galleries. Plenty of artists have examples of their best work on display, and this helps you figure out what kind of work you want. Consider whether you want color work, or a tattoo done only in black, and whether you want something simple or elaborate. With all the options to choose from, there is no reason not to get the tattoo of your dreams.
