There are many things you should know before you get a tattoo. You can get tattoos anywhere on your body, including tattooed eyebrows, but you always want to ensure you know what the tattoo you’re getting means. After all, there are some tattoos that artists are tired of seeing, presumably because people get them too often without understanding them.
Flower tattoos are naturally fairly popular. Most common is the rose, which has been adapted into countless tattoo designs over the years. However, lilies are on the rise and being tattooed more. The name lily is Hebrew and Egyptian in origin, and names today such as Susan and Suzette also mean lily (via Bloom & Wild). With Lily becoming a popular name for girls across the globe, it’s no surprise that this flower would begin being tattooed more and more.
If you’re inspired to get a tattoo in the popular floral design, here’s exactly what a lily tattoo means.
A lily tattoo can have a variety of meanings
Where rose tattoos symbolize passion, elegance, and love, lily tattoos represent partnerships and femininity. Moreover, the Ancient Greeks believed that the first lily flowers were born from Hera’s milk. Because of this, they also represent mothers and motherhood (via Pacho Tattoo). With these meanings, we can see lily tattoos being the perfect matching tattoos for mothers and daughters, or even just a mother wanting to show her pride in motherhood or a daughter wanting to show love to her mother.
These tattoo meanings make perfect sense with the symbolism of the lily flower itself. While lilies of different colors carry different symbolic meanings, they generally represent purity and fertility. Lilies’ colors get more specific, too (via Bloom & Wild). White lilies, for example, symbolize rebirth, while pink lilies symbolize femininity, and red lilies, like roses, symbolize love. No matter the color, though, you can’t go wrong with a lily tattoo because their meanings are all rooted in life, love, remembrance, and the authentic bond between mother and child.
No matter what kind of tattoo you get, make sure you take care of it so that it properly heals and continues to look good forever.
Why You Should Think Twice Before Getting A Watercolor Tattoo
The art of tattooing has been around almost as long as mankind itself. Archaeologists have found tattoos on bodies dating back as far as the Iceman of 5,200 years ago (via Smithsonian). Over the millennia, inking has been used for different purposes: As a sign of status or tribe, as an identifying mark for slaves and criminals, as a protective charm for expectant mothers, and as a rite of passage. In more recent years, tattoos have been used for both good purposes (memorializing loved ones) and evil ones (labeling concentration camp prisoners). The Navy even has its own traditional tattoo symbols that sailors can claim, depending on their rank, position, and where they’ve traveled. For instance, a sailor who has crossed the International Date Line can rightfully have a Golden Dragon symbol tattooed on their body (via Military).
Just as certain tattoo designs have trended in recent years, so have techniques. One of the biggest inking trends today is watercolor tattoos. Though it’s a very new form — only about five years old — it has enjoyed huge popularity among clients looking for unique body art (via RebelsMarket). As the name implies, the technique involves using vivid colors that blend and blur in much the same way watercolor paintings do. Because the designs use little to no outlining, the effect is softer than a traditional tattoo. As gorgeous as watercolor tattoos can be, there’s a big caveat to keep in mind before you schedule your tat appointment.
There are ways to keep a watercolor tattoo from fading too fast
Because the watercolor trend is so new, it’s hard to tell at this point how well the art will stand the test of time. As Business Insider explains, even the best tattoos tend to fade and blur over time as the skin ages and is exposed to sun. Since watercolor tats get their distinct look from their lack of black outlining, there’s a risk that the colors could eventually become so muddied that the original design gets lost.
But if you have your heart set on getting a watercolor tattoo, there are ways to help make sure it stays looking good. Authority Tattoo explains on its website that the key is laying a good foundation. “While … lighter colors do tend to fade quicker than darker colors, an experienced artist will be able to greatly reduce the chance of watercolor tattoos becoming unrecognizable as they age by applying a good black base layer to create more depth in contrast,” they explain. Before committing to a tattoo artist, ask how long they’ve been doing the watercolor technique, and what method they use for the base.
Authority Tattoo also offers suggestions for preserving tattoos. Avoid getting inked on body parts that get a lot of contact with clothes and surfaces, such as the buttocks — constant rubbing can make a tattoo fade faster. Use tattoo lotion on the area during healing, and a good daily moisturizer from then on. Finally, use sunscreen whenever you’re outdoors for any length of time. Sun exposure will fade any tattoo, but watercolor tats will be especially affected because of the lighter gradient shades.
Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Get A Tattoo
Tattoos can be a form of artistic expression, a memorial to a loved one, or just something that you enjoy looking at. But whether you’re considering getting tattooed for the first time, or you’ve got several tattoos and want to go back for more, there are a few things you should know about the risks of getting inked. While some of these effects happen pretty often, there are a few more rare reactions that you need to watch out for.
One of the most common risks of getting a tattoo is having an allergic reaction (via Mayo Clinic). Tattoo needles pierce the skin repeatedly in order to inject drops of ink. Because a tattoo is introducing something foreign into your body, there is a chance that your body may have an allergic reaction to the ink when you get it. However, it’s also possible that your body could react to your tattoo years after it’s healed. Certain dye colors such as green, yellow, red, and blue, are more likely to cause itchy skin or raised bumps because of the chemicals they contain. If you already have allergies to certain dyes or perfumes, it’s more likely that you’ll be allergic to tattoo ink (via Penn Medicine).
Bad Hygiene can be bad news for tattoos
If you don’t properly care for your new tattoo, the chances of a bad infections are pretty good. Keeping the tattoo clean and drying it gently after washing can keep it free of dirt, bacteria, and anything else that might cause an infection. It’s important not to submerge your tattoo in any water that could have pathogens in it, like a bathtub, hot tub, pool, or lake (via Mayo Clinic).
It’s equally important to go to a clean, reputable place to get a tattoo. Only get tattooed by someone who is licensed and takes proper health and safety precautions. You should be able to see your tattoo artist remove the sterilized equipment they will be using from a sealed package. They should be wearing gloves both for your safety and theirs. Taking these important steps can help you avoid bloodborne infections such as MRSA or hepatitis that can be transmitted through contaminated equipment.
In rare cases, your tattoo could cause complications when getting an MRI. Some of the ink used in tattoos can interact with the magnets and cause raised skin, swelling, and even burns during an MRI (via Penn Medicine). Tattoo ink can also cause MRI images to be less clear than they normally would be.
Making an informed decision before you get a tattoo, choosing a reputable tattoo artist and shop, and taking proper care of your new ink can greatly help you avoid harm to your body, while enjoying your new body art.
Tattoo Trends You’ll Be Asking For Throughout 2021
With a new year comes new trends, including some surrounding tattoos. Getting ink permanently put on one’s body is a way to commemorate something personal, show expression, and put appealing art on display, according to Psychology Today. While every piece of body art is unique and special in its own way, there are often fads and crazes that make specific styles more popular than all the rest.
In 2021, sought-after tats include tiny ones and those that show off important words, phrases, and messages. As StyleCaster reported, Bella Hadid has ink that says “I love you,” and “my love” in Arabic, while Miley Cyrus has “I’m proud of U, Yoko”, which is based on a note written to Cyrus from Yoko Ono.
Small options not only create a cool minimalist look, but they are also more affordable, quicker to get done, and easier to cover up, if/when necessary, adding to their popularity.
Where to get a tattoo this year
When it comes to placement for tattoos, this year’s trending spots are on fingers, the rib cage, and the neck.
A word in a pretty cursive script, for example, is commonly found going across ribs. Dainty symbols can regularly be found behind the ear. For example, when Pretty Little Liars ended, the stars all got little initial tattoos on their index fingers … the fingers they used for this teen drama’s iconic “shhh.” Many couples also get their initials on their ring fingers in place of or in addition to a wedding ring and band.
Of course, just as a tat’s artwork can always be distinct and different for each person, where it ends up going is also a personal choice. And there is no wrong option, if it truly makes a statement and brings happiness. Just think carefully before getting ink, and be sure to keep this year’s trends in mind.
This Is The Least Painful Place To Get A Tattoo
If you’re thinking about getting your first tattoo, pain is likely a major concern. And if you haven’t thought about it, you should because the size, design, and location of the tattoo you are considering will likely impact just how painful the process will be. When a bunch of tiny needles are delivering ink into your skin, there will be blood and some pain. That’s the reality of the process. Take it from the experts at Inked Magazine, that bluntly state, “All tattoos hurt, no matter what.” They go on to advise, however, that for first-timers especially, certain areas of the body hurt significantly less than others.
According to Healthline, the least painful parts of the body for tattoos will have a little extra fat and thicker skin, and fewer nerve endings. They will also be areas of the body that aren’t bony, like the outer thigh. It’s important to note, however, that pain is subjective, and what might be excruciating for some could feel like a minor irritation to others. Aftercare is also a major concern in terms of pain tolerance. As Tattoo.com points out, for many, the itchy healing process can be a longer more uncomfortable experience than the actual tattooing.
If you’re ready to book your appointment anyway, experts say these are the least painful parts of the body to consider getting a tattoo if you’re worried about how much it might hurt.
