The people of the Polynesian islands are traditionally heavily tattooed, using the designs to signify things like sexual maturity, genealogy and social status. Generally, the more tattoos a person had, the more respect they had from their peers, thus the higher their position in the community. A man with no tattoos was virtually ignored.

They did, and still often do use a handmade tool that involves carving and sharpening many needles out of tortoise shell, or some kind of animal bone. The blunt end of the needles was inserted and bound into a stick. The end result looks similar to a very sharp hair comb. The needles were then dipped into the ink, pressed against the flesh and the comb was tapped into the skin with a mallet-like tool. The ink was a concoction of soot diluted with water or oil so that it’s easier to work with.

For years the Japanese only used tattoos as a way to mark criminals so that society would know what crimes the wearer had committed. The Yakuza, the Japanese mafia, traditionally encouraged the used of tattooing to promoted unity in their ranks and test the strength and endurance of a man. As with other cultures, the more tattoos a mobster has, the more respect he is given. In recent years, the current generation of Yakuza has opted for simpler, less conspicuous tattoos so they would be harder to identify.

Today in Japan, tattooing is accepted to much the same extent it is in the United States. It has developed into quite an exquisite art form, revered and studies by tattoo artist all over the world. To this day, the process is preformed in very much the same method the Polynesians used, only they use a single sharp object rather than many fastened together.

Some tribal cultures required that people be tattooed by a certain age or before they are allowed to participate in certain rites, like marriage. A marriage tattoo often signifies the wearer’s commitment to their intended spouse. In some of these cultures, the entire design of the tattoo is painted on all at one time. The ink is then tapped into the skin, by hand, with a sharpened thorn.

Some cultures created tattoos by cutting designs into the flesh of a person and then rubbing the wounds with a pigment of some kind. The pigmenting agents would get into the skin and remain there long after the cuts had healed. Inks made from plants and flowers or ashes mixed with water were commonly used. Because the cuts tended to be larger and deeper than the needle pokes associated with most body art, they were very easily infected. This practice may have evolved into what we now call scarification.

Today, in modern civilizations, tattooing is preformed with an electric tattoo machine, or gun, which uses groups of needles inside metal tubes to place ink under the skin. The machine repeatedly drives the needles in and out of the skin, between 80 and 150 times a second. Thanks to this modern technology, this process is faster and much less painful than what out inked forefathers had to endure.

Credit spreads is just one of the other many popular strategies available and it is quite profitable. Credit spreads when created put a "credit" into your trading account instead of a "debit" when you pay for a stock or derivative. That is why they are called credit spreads, they allow you keep the credited funds if the options in the spread expire and the share price has not reached a certain level.

You might wonder why it creates a credit and not the traditional debit. The reason is quite simple, you are selling an option at a price quite close to the current price, But at the same time you are limiting your risk on investment by buying the same number of option contracts at a strike price further apart, with both having the same expiry date. This activity has simply put your sell option closer to "the money" or the obtainable share price and which is higher than your "bought option" and that earns you a credit.

A trick of the trade is to sell credit spreads with a short expiry time, which allows you take advantage of the "time decay" factor in options. Options normally have a time decay which falls as the expiry date approaches. A credit spread with 4-6 weeks expiry is thus desirable. You can even have just less than 2 weeks expiry; you just have to be careful you know the way the share would move since the time frame is shorter.

Basically in a given time frame, in any market, share price can only move in five patterns:

1. A small upward move
2. A small downward move
3. A side ways move - i.e. market price goes practically nowhere or returns to its original point.
4. A large upward move
5. A large downward move

Out of the above five possibilities, four of them would favor you if you have created a credit spread. Even when the undesirable fifth option occurs, losses can still be minimized by rolling out or extending your expiry date and waiting for the market to return to a more favorable profitable position. You can also buy back on your sold option and make enough profit to break even or realize a small profit.

As you can see credit spreads are quite profitable they offer you an opportunity for fortune making while practicing option trading. It also offers wonderful flexibility! Imagine 4 out of 5 possible market movements are all in your favor, which is an 80% success rate.

The word "tribal" has a different connotation for different people, largely based on their geographic location. For example, in the Southwest United States, it may bring to mind stereotypical notions of Native Americans living in teepees and hunting buffalo in other parts of the world, it may make someone think of mysterious peoples living in the jungles of the Congo or the African Bush. The art of tattooing has been practiced for centuries in cultures all over the world, so it’s impossible to narrow it to a single group of people.

The very same word, for the purpose of the tattoo industry, is a bit misleading. In the context of tribal tattoos, it simply means a tattoo in a style inspired by Polynesian body art. I guess if you happen to be a Pacific Islander, then your mental image of tribal tattoos is probably the closest to correct.

The word may give some the impression that the art is somehow more meaningful or closer to the roots of tattooing, when the truth is no one is 100 percent sure what the origin is. The fact that tribal tattoos are always solid black makes some people think it is a more pure and undiluted form of the art.

Many people have already had this revelation and have accepted the tribal tattoo for what it really is: still a really sweet looking tattoo.

It is seriously doubtful that the body art industry is deliberately trying to trick anybody with this misguided term, but maybe they should consider renaming the trend as a service to the public. Maybe something like "Polynesians", would be better, or "shadow", in reference to its typically solid black coloring. "Faux tribal" would certainly be more accurate.

Most think the design has some sort of mysterious, deep meaning, when the truth is the popular form of tribal tattooing usually has no symbolic meaning other than the sentimental value placed on it by the wearer. Hopefully you have done your research well before you get into the artists chair. He may offer some guidance, but it’s not his responsibility to tell you what kind of tattoo you want.

Don’t be disappointed in your tribal art. If you feel you have chosen you design in error, just think back to what attracted you to it in the first place. Was in the unique flow of the shape or the intensity of the solid blackness? All those things are still there and permanently on your body for better or worse.

Don’t waste time regretting your decision on a mere technicality. The point is, if you like it and it means something to you, and then wears it with pride. When people ask you what your tribal tat stands for, just tell them how it’s symbolic to you. Maybe you got it to memorialize a loved one, or mark a major event in your life. That’s usually what they want to know anyway. Just love your tattoo for what it is.

While there are a large number of tattoos, firefighter tattoo is a definite hit and is most sought after by the youth. The firefighter tattoo was actually designed to honor the firefighters who are the heroes. In its classic form, it involves drawing the portraits of the firefighters on the body. It calls of specialized tattoo artists who are adept at drawing portraits which is not a child’s play. Only an experienced artist can capture the fine nuances of the tattoos. It pays to find out the artist’s background and experience before one entrusts the job to him.

You will find the most devoted tattoo lovers among the Japanese and Americans. Since the Japanese were mainly using homes build of paper and wood, the firefighters were always busy. And many of them laid down their lives in the line of duty. People started decorating their bodies with the portraits of their heroic friends. Similar feelings are expressed by the Americans who show their pride in their firefighter colleagues. They etch the company numbers and logos on their bodies in the honor of the martyrs. In a similar show of solidarity, many Americans got the red, white and blue tattoos on their bodies after the Sept 11 tragedy. The colors of the national flags also form a part of firefighter tattoo designs. Quite a few friends and relatives of firefighters chose to get the images of WTC building on their skin.

Post a national calamity or a disaster, many people have voluntarily chosen to get their skin tattooed with firefighter tattoos. Sometimes the companies themselves get the tattoos done in order to exemplify their people’s strong will and valor. While time is the natural healer of such tragedies, a tattoo can last for a lifetime. It is true that a temporary firefighter tattoo can be etched on your back or on the armband to mark certain occasions.

A beginner can have many questions in his mind when he wants to get tattooed. Internet is one good source of a large collection of firefighter tattoos. While free samples can be good but the paid varieties are definitely worth because of their quality. Indeed, there are many combinations of art that can make tattoos look very good. Whatever be the reason, to remember a friend or just to have fun, firefighter tattoos are literally on fire!

The tattooist uses a gun that’s about the same size as the drill a dentist would use. The number of needles it holds at one time depends on how much ink needs to be deposited to achieve the desired affect. Your skin has two layers: the dermis and the epidermis. The epidermis is the surface layer, and the dermis is underneath. The ink is deposited about a millimeter under the skin in the dermis.

Your tattooist will bandage his newest work of art before you leave his shop. Leave it wrapped up for at least 10 to 12 hours. This protects it while the skin is its most vulnerable, and gives it time to properly scab over. Once the bandage is off, don’t cover your tattoo up again. Rebandaging can trap foreign particles such as dirt and lint under the gauze, irritating your skin increasing your chances for infection.

There are as many recommendations for tattoo lubrication as there are tattoo shops, but a few facts hold true. Petroleum-based products used to be the aftercare of choice, since it was inexpensive and could be found just about anywhere. It has since been discovered that they can take color out of your tattoo, and does nothing whatsoever to promote healing and stave off infection.

For a while, Neosporin was the favored alterative. It has antibiotic properties and preserved the color beautifully. However, some people developed small, red bumps on their new tattoos. The bumps generally healed without much problem, but they took some color with them when they went. Hoards of Neosporin users are walking around with spotted tats.

Bacitracin is the big thing in tattoo aftercare right now. It’s good for fighting infection and keeps the tattoo moist to keep the healing skin healthy. It’s not perfect; some people still have allergic reactions. There is no one thing that will work perfectly for everyone. A&D Ointment or Micotracin are good alternatives.

A&D is a great choice for people who don’t do well with antibiotic ointments. While it doesn’t have infection-fighting proprieties, it does have vitamins that promote healing. Unless you’re prone to infection, keeping your tat clean should be enough. If your immune system is compromised for any reason, you don’t need to get a tattoo anyway. Wait until your back up to speed.

Whatever your choice of ointment, use it frequently. Don’t ever let your fresh tattoo dry out. Keeping the tat moist will keep your scabs from falling off too early. Eventually, the tattoo will develop a layer of dry skin over the top. Resist the urge to peel or scrub it off. That’s just another way to get it infected. Let it fall off naturally.

Don’t scrub or scratch your new tattoo. Don’t pick at the scabs. They are natural way of protecting newly traumatized skin. Picking them off is not only gross, it’s painful, will bleed and you’re just asking for infection. It will make your tat look ugly, and who wants to show that off?

The color in your new tat is especially susceptible to fading in the first two weeks. During that time, avoid direct sunlight. Soaking in the bathtub is a bad idea too. In fact, spending time in any water, specifically water than has chemicals in it, such as swimming pools or hot tubs should be avoided as well.

Any tattoo can be prepared in a smaller size, however, up to a certain point. Particular designs cannot be made small owing to their meticulous and intricate style. Small tattoo designs are mostly favored as they are less conspicuous and obstructive and can be hidden very easily. Now it is important to know where a tattoo should be carved on your body. Although this question may appear insignificant to some, bear in mind, a tattoo will remain on you for the rest of your days. Therefore, placing it well is vital. This short editorial brings into focus the pros and cons of inking different parts of your body with a much loved small tattoo.

The head, neck and face are much preferred areas. An unusual and interesting position or spot is the back of the neck for the tattoo work. This is one place which increases the beauty and makes the look much more elegant, when deep necks are worn. Even at parties and in the sleeveless and strap apparels, this region of the body is the best choice. Wearing your hair in a long untied fashion can easily hide the small tattoo pictures. For tattoos done on a head region, generally, the sides of the head over the ears or the area immediately above the nape of the neck is chosen. This is advantageous as you can grow your hair if you want to hide it. Breasts and upper chests are another tattoo spots which are in vogue for males as well as females. This largely flat area is chosen for a colorful and detailed tattoo. Breast tattoos are very popular with the female gender. For women who have strapless outfits and wear deep necklines, tiny tattoo designs on the breast make their looks even more appealing. These are considered sexy and cool.

Inking tattoos at the belly button is one of the places chosen by women who intend to look hot. Slim figured tummies increase the beauty of this region with tiny designs used to decorate the belly button. Another fantastic place for small tattoo pictures design is the ankle. This is becoming widely popular and is preferred by artists too.

Thus small tattoo pictures are a cute and sexy way of flaunting your style in any part of the body. They give a choice to enjoy the body art in daily life, while hide them in office hours.

The biggest concern you have when getting a tattoo is unsanitary equipment. If the equipment isn’t cleaned and disinfected after each use, the risk for getting a disease is very high. You can also end up with a serious skin disease as well, if the tattoo gun is dirty or if the tattoo artist doesn’t clean his equipment. The tattoo studio should be clean as well. With a lot of visitors, a studio can get dirty quickly - which is why it should be cleaned on a daily basis.

After getting your tattoo, if you notice any swelling or excessive redness around the tattoo, you should visit a doctor immediately, to find out if the tattoo is infected. In most cases, tattoo infections can be treated with medicine. If the infection is severe, you may be admitted to the hospital so they can further treat you. In the more severe cases, you may end up having to get the tattoo removed to prevent further infection. Removing a tattoo requires surgery, which also involves risks as well.

If removal of the tattoo is recommended or requested, the procedure can either be performed as an out patient surgery or one that requires a minimal stay in the hospital. The surgeon or physician will determine the removal, based on your health and overall chances of developing an infection. In most cases, tattoo removal is safe, with most patients given medicine that will treat infections and prevent any type of pain.

Although health risks are a concern, one of the biggest concerns for may is the overall appearance of the tattoo. Tattoos that are done by amateurs or not applied well, normally result in the appearance being ruined. Tattoos are something that will stick with you for the rest of your life, which is why the appearance is so important. If you get a tattoo removed, chances are that a scar will always remain. Even though most scars will become less noticeable as years go by, they will never completely go away - and always provide a reminder that a tattoo was once there.

Before you get a tattoo, you should always make it a point to examine the studio and ensure that it’s clean. You should also ask questions, and make sure that the tattoo artists clean the equipment they use. If you stick around for a bit at the studio, you can normally find out a lot about the way they do business and how clean they are. If the studio appears to be clean and tidy, chances are you won’t have to worry about dirty equipment or infections.

As with everything else in life, there is always decision to make. If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, you should first decide your reason for getting it, how you will feel about having it later on in life, and if the tattoo is something you can see yourself with. Before you put a permanent tattoo on your body, you should make sure that you are getting the tattoo for you because you want it. Whatever you do, you should always avoid getting a tattoo simply because someone else suggested it.