My Favorite Celebrity Ink

Celebrities are the ultimate trendsetters when it comes to whats cool & whats not cool. Theres no doubt that they have a big influence on tattoos as well.
Some celebrities have meaningful tattoos while others have tattoos that are a pathetic cry for attention, so it seems.
My advice, which should be pretty obvious, is to aim for a tattoo that no one has, not even a celebrity. I know that their tattoos may be awesome, but unfortunately the idea is already taken! Be different.
If you do decide to follow the trends of a celebrity, make sure it has a little bit of taste!

Here are some of my favorite Celeb Tattoos

1. Angelina Jolie

In my opinion Angelina is one of the most desired actresses in Hollywood. She might have been a rebel at the start of her career but now she is one of the most well known philanthropist in the world. 

Her tattoo of a Bengal tiger (Done in Bangkok) on her lower back is always a hit on the big screens. Although she has a few smaller tatts through out her body, this tattoo is the most recognized. #badass

2. David Beckham

Let us all take a moment to appreciate one of God's best masterpieces...a.k.a David Beckham.

David's tattoos are a plus on top of being one of the most well known athletes in the world, along with being a devoted husband and father. He currently is breaking the stigma of modeling with tattoos as he recently modeled for H&M. I wont go into detail of each and everyone of his tattoos (he has over 30), but in my opinion he pulls off his tatts very, very well.  

3. Rihanna

I think its safe to say that Rihanna has the biggest influence on tattoos in my generation. I know of a few people that have the same or similar tattoos as Rihanna. I don't blame them, Rihanna is very talented and extremely creative when it comes to trend setting. From the red hair, the shaved head, to the retro 90's sense of fashion -she started it all! (or brought it back, I should say) What would we do without her?

Im not one to condone imitation, but if i had to pick a tattoo that I would love to own, it would be this one. Rihanna got this rib tattoo of the Egyptian Goddess Iris in memory of her Grandmother. It is an original tattoo that couldn't be placed in a better spot. Good Job RiRi!

4. Amber Rose

Okay, I know the majority of you probably think that this sleeve is completely stupid & a horrible mistake, but I personally think that its simply cute! I would so get my dog(s) tattooed on me! People get things that they love tattooed on them all the time! Why is it corny to get your dogs tattooed on you? Personally I am a dog lover, so I love her tattoo of her cute little pugs. Now on the other hand, I wouldn't get a portrait of my husband on me, however if you're "bout that life" then go for it! So basically she has a sleeve of her loved ones, its nicely done and its meaningful, therefore I love it. 

- Now lets all hope that her & Wiz don't split up!

#baldheadscallywag

5. "The Rock"

"60 Hours of work, Three sessions, 20 Hours a piece...."

This is how long it took to finish The Rocks tribal piece. 

This is a beautifully done tribal piece that is truly unique, even though tribal is one of the most common types of tattoos. He says it represents his family, culture, and his struggles. 

Yes it's an intriguing piece of work, but most importantly, I just wanted to include him in one of my posts because he is extremely...attractive. 

But for real, here's what he personally has to say about his tattoo...

There are a ton of tatted celebs out there but I hope you enjoyed my top 5! What do you think?

Against the Evil Eye

I know I haven't written a post in awhile. I don't know if it was because I have been busy, or if it is because I just haven't found that one tattoo that is worth writing about. Luckily I came across a co-worker's tattoo that I absolutely had to write about. Thank goodness I finally found the chance to dust off this blog. Therefore, I took the time to do a little research for an awesome post that is well over due. So, I guess you could say that I was just waiting for the right tattoo....

The Hamsa

This tattoo belongs to Rebecca Wylie. She's a beautiful, free spirit. She has an eccentric sense of fashion & likes to make flower crowns. May she be prosperous and protected from bad luck, as that is the purpose of her tattoo. 

The Hamsa is a hand-shaped amulet, a hand that consists of three dramatized fingers along with a pinky and a thumb. In the center of the palm holds an eye. This eye represents protection against an “evil eye” – The Evil eye, a particular stare from one that may wish bad luck on another. Anyone may cast an “evil eye”, whether it may be an average person, or a person with status or power. Envy is said to be the origin of one’s “evil eye”. This symbol is famous among different cultures. Although each of those cultures might come from a different origin, the meaning of the Hamsa remains the same. For example, in the Christian culture, the hand itself is known to be the hand of Mother Mary (Mother of Jesus Christ). The symbol of Mother Mary’s hand alone was known to protect women in particular. In Islam, the hand is known to belong to Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. In India, particularly Hinduism, the five fingers of the amulet represent the five energy flows of the human body and the five elements of nature. The Hamsa is one of India’s most sacred symbols for prosperity.  This universal symbol may also be found in Judaism, Egyptian mythology, and other cultures.

            This tattoo would be, in my opinion, an example of a meaningful tattoo. It is a universal tattoo, yet it is very unique. It fits Rebecca's personality and she also chose the perfect spot for it on her body. The artwork is very intricate, which makes it a very well-done tattoo.

We could all use protection against an "evil eye".

This is the type of tattoo that is worth writing about...

Works Cited

"Hamsa and Hinduism | A Symbol of Protection." Hamsa and Hinduism | A Symbol of Protection.       N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013.

"Hamsa." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Jan. 2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2013.

Pelaia, Ariela. "What Is A Hamsa?" About.com Judaism. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013.

Creepy Tattoos by an Award Winning Artist

Marco Hyder is a talented, award winning tattoo artist. To have this guy as a guest artist in one's tattoo shop is a true honor! What's exciting is that he started out at a shop right here in Richmond, VA! He has done most of his work between Richmond and Virginia Beach; but now his work is desired in tattoo shops and conventions nation-wide! He is currently tattooing in Austin, Texas.

Being that Halloween is very close, I wanted to share some awesomely creepy tattoos that Marco has done. His intricate details make all of these pieces look so realistic, but then again all of his pieces look very realistic. He does amazing portraits, animals, and Asian inspired tattoos. If a person were to get only one tattoo in his or her lifetime, Marco Hyder would be the number one candidate to do it!

I heard about Marco Hyder through my uncle. My uncle was lucky enough to book appointments with Marco while he was in Virginia Beach. At that time, Marco was tattooing at Trinity tattoo in Virginia Beach. 

Here is a photo of my uncle's sleeves (obviously it took more than one session):

Now here are some of the tattoos that are creepy yet awesome!

Here are a few more beautiful tattoos that do not relate to Halloween, I just wanted to show you what he's capable of!

To have a tattoo done by Marco Hyder is well worth the pain, time, and money! I know my Uncle is extremely pleased with the final product of his sleeves.

If you are planning on getting a tattoo, make sure the artist loves what he or she does & is good at it; do not settle for a mediocre tattoo artist. Do your research and find the best!

Happy Halloween!

marcohyder.com

"Live Now, Die Later"

          Ryan Garza, a Marine from San Antonio, Texas, went through one of the most traumatic experiences that my ears have ever heard. One could say he experienced his worst nightmare.

            Ryan has been on four tours to Afghanistan. Little did he know that his fourth tour would be his last tour ever. Since he had spent many days in Afghanistan, he was no rookie to the environment around him. He became too familiar with the dangers that came along with being a marine. He had to witness the deaths of good and bad people. He had to spend months, even years away from his family. People get to a point in their life where they hit rock bottom and have no other choice but to go up. For Ryan, joining the marines was a turning point in his life. It was a way to move up.

          On October 3^rd, 2011, he and one other marine were sent out in a truck called a “7 Ton” to recover other hurt marines. They were headed towards Nowzad, Afghanistan. Suddenly, the truck drove over a 120lb. IED (improvised explosive devise), also known as a roadside bomb. One could only imagine the fatal outcomes from an explosion like that. For Ryan, a fatal outcome was not an option. However, he was instantly knocked out. The blast was so severe that it made him temporarily blind and caused a traumatic brain injury. As he was still in shock by the blast, he didn’t realize right away that one of his legs was crushed by the steel dashboard and door of the vehicle.

            Thankfully both of the men were okay. Ryan was in pretty bad shape but he was still alive -being that the explosion took place directly under his side of the vehicle. He said that the thought of his family is what kept him alive. The other marine in the vehicle suffered cuts, bruises, and a concussion. In my opinion Ryan’s story is very powerful. We hear about what it's like in Afghanistan on the news; we read about it on the Internet, but it is a blessing to actually hear it personally from a marine himself. Ryan was awarded a Purple Heart Award. This award is for those in the military that have been wounded or killed while doing courageous acts in war. Although his leg injury has caused him great pain, it is luckily healing day by day. I think the award was well deserved. I don’t that have that much knowledge about the Marine Corps, but I do know that they are the definition of a Patriot. In many eyes, they are heroes.

           Ryan got his tattoo in San Antonio, done by a friend of his.

I find the story behind his tattoo truly inspirational. The cemetery of skulls represents the death of his grandfather, uncle, and two of his best friends. One of Ryan’s best friends was shot twice in war. The other best friend was crushed in a similar vehicle explosion like the one Ryan experienced. He says the tattoo “is to up rise the death of his loved ones”. The whole piece symbolizes the prevalence of good over evil (hence the skulls are above the ground).  This is a real example of a meaningful tattoo.

“Live now, Die later” –Ryan Garza