Chinese tattoos that include authentic characters and symbols can form the basis of beautiful designs which carry a deep and personal meaning.

But due to the complex nature of Chinese writing it’s extremely easy to end up with a permanent embarrassment trapped under your skin unless you take a few basic precautions. So to help you avoid these Chinese tattoo disasters, here are the top five mistakes to look out for;

1) Mistranslation

Chinese writing is very complex and carries many subtle meanings. It’s extremely easy to end up with something unexpected written all over your skin. Here are two classic example of these “misunderstandings” that I’ve heard about recently;

a) A woman wanted a Chinese writing tattoo, but she knew about the dangers of mistranslation. So she went in to a local Chinese restaurant and asked one of the waiters to write out the Chinese characters for the word “free”. He duly obliged and she took the design to a tattoo artist who provided her with the tattoo of her dreams.

Unfortunately, he didn’t understand what the design meant and the word “free” has two meanings in English. It can mean freedom, which was the meaning that the lady wanted, or it can mean free of charge.

And you can guess which version the waiter translated into Chinese symbols!

So she ended up with the words “free of charge” tattooed on her skin. And when she discovered the mistake it cost her almost $1,000 to get the tattoo removed.

An expensive misunderstanding!

b) A women with a Chinese tattoo was under the impression that the symbols said “love birds”. Wrong! Due to a mistranslation it meant one of three things, that she loves birds, that she is a bird lover, or that she loves the male reproductive organ.

A slightly extreme example, but it shows you the mistakes that can happen and the amount of embarrassment that they can cause.

2) Poor Quality Designs

Chinese writing is extremely complicated so the design of your tattoo has to be precise otherwise the meaning will be lost. One slight alteration or a missed stroke can completely change the meaning of the design.

Unfortunately, due to a combination of poor quality tattoo designs and western artists who try to add their own style to the Chinese characters, thousands of people end up with Chinese tattoos that are incorrect and meaningless.

3) Not Knowing What They Mean

I know this might sound unbelievable, but you’d be amazed at the number of people walking around who don’t know the meaning of their Chinese tattoo.

But tattooing is a form of self expression, and if you don’t know what your design means it becomes rather pointless. So if you plan to get a Chinese character tattoo, make sure that you know what it means before the treatment begins.

4) Misalignment

Chinese characters become meaningless if they are applied upside down or back to front. But this mistake is often made by tattoo artists who don’t understand the symbols that they are using. Once they lose track of which way round the designs should be used, it’s just luck whether your design is applied correctly.

End result? Another meaningless embarrassment.

5) Standard Tattoo Parlour Designs

Most tattoo studios offer hundreds of Chinese symbol designs to choose from. The different options fill binders and walls in tattoo parlours all over the world. Unfortunately, many of these designs have been wrongly translated or have missing strokes which renders them meaningless. And even if the design that you choose is correct, there will be thousands of people around the world with the same design.

If you want a Chinese writing tattoo that enhances your individuality it’s important to avoid these standard designs and get a native Chinese speaker to create a custom design which will express your own personal values.



By: Gustavo Gomez

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Let’s discuss tattoo ideas on some of the most popular tattooed body parts, for men and women.

Lower back tattoos - often tattoo ideas on the lower back are the most popular, especially for women! You may ask yourself why? Well, it is a part of a woman’s body that can be discreet, but also easily exposed. The lower back is a sensual area, exposed on the weekend, perhaps to a lover, and hidden for the corporate environment. Not just that, but the correct tattoo on the lower back looks very attractive. Two celebrities that have a tattoo in this area are Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba.

Ankle tattoos - this includes tattoo ideas such as tribal or celtic designs. An ankle tattoo can be quite obvious and distinctive, or delicate and extremely feminine.

Sleeve tattoo designs - This is growing in popularity for men. Sleeve tattoo ideas include those which cover a whole arm, or a ‘half sleeve’. Nonetheless it is a design which is extremely difficult to hide, and is an extremely masculine statement. The correct sleeve tattoo ideas can be very elegant, whereas the wrong sleeve design may look like a big mess.

‘Armband’ tattoo designs - This style is sported by the likes of Pamela Anderson. Any tattoo artist will tell you that the armband style tribal tattoo was a major revenue raiser for artists, with its incredible popularity from men and women.

Neck tattoos - tattoos on the neck used to be a very scary thing to do. With most people, they would like tattoo ideas that were able to be covered at any second for any conservative arena. A neck tattoo could never be hidden. Previously it may have been seen as a taboo by tattoo artists, however now people are more than happy to cover their necks, hands, and feet without feeling too shy.

Hope these tattoo ideas on body parts gives you a few ideas. Now its up to you to find the best detailed unique designs!



By: Ryan Jefferson

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Getting a tattoo is an adventurous, but not easy thing to do. Among withstanding the pain that is inflicted as they perform the procedure, there are other precautions after. Also, be careful about which tattoo parlors to go to. Whoever you go make sure that they are very intense and serious about the procedures for sterilization and precautions,

After you get your tattoo, it is then your responsibility to take care of it from here on after. As soon as the tattoo artist is done, time yourself. Maker sure that your bandage is on for at least 2 hours before removing and when you do remove it, make sure that you use an antiseptic.

There are five important things to remember for tattoo aftercare.

1. Regularly clean up the tattoo read with some sort of ointment or cream. Do not se anything that has scents or colors when cleaning, it could infect it.

2. Avoid hot tubs for the next two weeks after getting your tattoos. Do not swim anywhere and be weary of getting it wet in the shower. Soap can really mess up your tattoo so make sure it does not get near the tattooed area.

3. If you notice peeling or scabbing, this is normal after a few days. If the scabbing makes you uncomfortable then feel free to remove it with a moist rag (do not rub). Repeat 2-3 times a day.

4. If you notice ithcing, it means that your tattoo is just healing. Do not pick at it or itch it. Gently slapping it will aid in getting rid of the inching temporarily. If you find yourself itching a lot then perhaps getting a lotion would help.

5. Do not expose your tattoo to sun! While showing it off is great, in the sun so soon after getting it is tattooed a good idea. The UV rays can have a damaging affect on your tattoo, which is why to make sure to cover it from the sun.



By: Jackie Reyno

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With the tattoo industry becoming more popular, the potential for making a career out of tattooing is opening up for a lot of people. If you are one of the individuals who can see themselves working as a tattoo artist, then there are some things you need to know first. In this article you will learn how to become a tattoo artist.

Learning how to become a tattoo artist isn’t easy. And it isn’t for everyone. If you don’t have some raw artistic talent, then it probably isn’t the job for you. But if you’re artistic side is one of your strongest, then you just might have what it takes. The first step is to exercise your artistic skill. Books, classes and fellow artists can help you do this. Once you’ve put in the time you need in order to be the best artist on paper, put together a portfolio of your work. This is essentially a collection of your art put together in a professional looking way to show to potential employers.

The next step in learning how to become a tattoo artist is getting an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is like an internship, where you work for someone for free and learn from them as you go. Apprenticing will give you valuable knowledge about the tattoo business. You can get an apprenticeship by networking. Ask your friends and their friends if they know of one available. You can also approach tattoo parlor owners with your portfolio to ask them about becoming an apprentice.

There is no formal ending to an apprenticeship. It ends when the teacher, or shop owner decides that the apprentice is ready and prepared to tattoo professionally. Sometimes a contract is signed at the beginning of the apprenticeship. Other times, the teacher might hire you as an employee. Now that you have learned how to become a tattoo artist, you will be free to look for a job elsewhere, or even open your own tattoo parlor.

Learning how to become a tattoo artist is like many other professions, it’s never really over. As time goes on, you’ll learn new techniques and processes from employers, co-workers, workshops, conventions and even employees. As a tattoo artist, you should always be open to learning and developing your skill. This is the best way to become and remain successful in the business.



By: Sarah Freeland

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The number of people with tattoos these days is amazing. Once upon a time, tattoos were normally found on males and with that, males usually involved with motor bikes. In the modern age, that has changed significantly with many women taking the plunge and getting themselves a tattoo. The interesting thing is that it is not just teenage girls, but

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