CAREFUL WHEN CHOOSING CHINESE CHARACTERS FOR YOUR TATTOO

A TEENAGER who paid £90 to have his arm tattoed with Chinese characters got a shock when he learned the message read: 'At the end of the day, this is an ugly boy.'


Hairdresser Lee Becks thought he had Mandarin for 'Love, honour and obey' etched into his skin. But the 18-year-old found out that he had been tricked when he saw the effect it had on a woman serving at a Chinese take-away.

'At first, she said something about me making people laugh and talked about a crown,' he said.

'But then I realised she was really saying clown, not crown. The young woman blushed and was very reluctant to translate for me. Then she admitted what it really said.'

A 'totally mortified' Mr Becks went back to the tattoo parlour in Southend, the next day - only to find it had closed.

He added: 'I suspect the tattooist knew he was closing and just wanted to get his own back for some reason. I always wanted a tattoo and the design looked great. Now I am stuck with it but have to keep it covered up.'

When he dared show off his arm at a nightclub, a group of Chinese girls came up - and burst out laughing. Even his friends have been finding it hard to keep straight faces.

His employer, Gary Doyle, said: 'He's a bit sensitive about the tattoos - they look very trendy if you don't know what they really mean. I don't think Lee stands much of a chance with any attractive young Chinese lady he may meet.'

Mr Becks plans to spend £600 (UK pounds sterling) to have the tattoo removed by laser.
 
This story does illustrate why you should take due care when choosing a Chinese tattoo. At the very least do the following:

Get a sketch or printout of the proposed design.

Ask several Chinese people what they think.

Don't just ask if it means a certain thing - the person you ask may not wish to disappoint you so may agree that it does, when in actuality it would be better to use different characters.

If relevant, try and explain what deeper meaning you want to convey - maybe somebody will suggest a well known idiom to use instead of a literal translation.

If you want your name translated then be aware that speakers of different dialects may use different transliterations for your name. This is not necessarily a problem but you need to be aware of it.

Remember also that Western names can sometimes not be translated well into Chinese. If you are advised that yours is one of them then ask a Chinese person (preferably one who knows you) to give you a name. Check its meaning with other people and only keep it if you like it. For many people this would be the best option as you effectively get to choose a really cool name that actually means something!

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT TATTOOS

If you are browsing these pages, chances are that you feel your tattoo was a mistake and if so, you're not alone. Tattoo regret is the unfortunate side-effect of body art, with around 50% of tattooed people in the USA having second thoughts.

According to a study by the British Journal of Dermatology, figures are worse in the UK with  75% of British people who have tattoos wishing they had never 'inked'

If your tattoo has become a permanent source of regret or embarrasment to you - you are not alone - in fact - close to 400,000 people Google the term 'tattoo removal' every month! Here are some more facts and figures about tattoos....


■The Pew Research Center, January 2007


- 36% of 18-25 year olds have at least one tattoo

Original source: http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=300



■The U.S. Food And Drug Administration, April 2006

- More than 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo

Original source: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/scienceforum/sf2006/search/preview.cfm?abstract_id=1047&backto=author

■The Gallup Poll, July 2005

- 13-17 year olds on average think that an acceptable age to get a tattoo is 19

Original source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/17485/How-Old-Old-Enough.aspx

■The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, March 2005

- 24% of the general U.S. population has a tattoo

- 5% of those with a tattoo have had it covered with a different tattoo design

Original source: http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/inst/serve?retrieve=pii/S0190-9622(04)03195-0&artType=full)


■Flash2xs.com Poll, August 2004

- 41% of those considering getting a tattoo would pay up to 50% more for a tattoo artist known to have a good reputation and who is certified by their local health department

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll


■Flash2xs.com Poll, June 2004

- 61% of people say that the reputation of a tattoo artist and tattoo studio is most important factor when selecting who will tattoo them and where they will get tattooed

- 23% say the selection of flash to look at and choose from is the most important factor when selecting which shop to get tattooed at

- 8% say the prices for tattooing is the most important factor when choosing who will tattoo them

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll

■Flash2xs.com Poll, September 2003

- 43% of people polled say they get tattooed to represent something personal

- 32% say they get tattooed because they are addicted to ink

- 19% of people say they get tattooed because they like the artwork

- 4% of people say they get tattooed because they enjoy the feeling of it

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll


■Harris Interactive, July 2003

- 16% of all adults have at least one tattoo

- 31% of gay, lesbian, or bisexual people report having tattoos

- 36% of those with tattoos are between 25-29 years old

- 34% of people with tattoos feel sexier because they are tattooed

- 29% of adults with tattoos feel more rebellious

- Democrats are more likely to be tattooed than Republicans

Original source: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=407

■Flash2xs.com Poll, May 2003

- 76% of people say that the biggest issue in preventing them from getting a tattoo is Finding the Perfect Tattoo Design

- 10% of people say that either finding the right tattoo artist or having the money for a tattoo are the biggest reasons preventing them from getting a tattoo

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll


■Flash2xs.com Poll, April 2003

- 32% of people prefer traditional plain black tribal tattoo designs over tribal with other design elements, texture, or color variations

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll


■Health Canada, April 2003

- The number of women with tattoos quadrupled from 1960 to 1980

Original source: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/life-vie/tat_e.html



■Flash2xs.com Poll, August 2001

- 38% of people say they choose a tattoo because it has special meaning to them

- 32% say the quality of the artwork is how they choose their tattoo

- 27% of people say they choose their tattoo for its originality

Original source: Flash2xs.com, LLC Online Poll


■The U.S. News and World Report, October 1997

- Tattooing is the United State's 6th fastest growing retail business

Original source: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/971103/archive_008193.htm

TATTOOS AND NEGATIVE ASSOCIATIONS

As if you needed more reasons to remove or fade your tattoo... here are some negative associations as listed by Wikipaedia that relate to tattoos.

Conspicuous tattoos and other body modification can make gainful employment difficult in many fields.In Japan, tattoos are strongly associated with the Yakuza (organised crime groups), particularly full body tattoos done the traditional Japanese way (Tebori). Certain public Japanese bathhouses (sentō) and gymnasiums often openly ban those bearing large or graphic tattoos in an attempt to prevent Yakuza from entering.

In the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behavior, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation. A tear tattoo, for example, can be symbolic of murder, with each tear representing the death of a friend. At the same time, members of the U.S. military have an equally well established and longstanding history of tattooing to indicate military units, battles, kills, etc., an association which remains widespread among older Americans. Tattooing is also common in the British Armed Forces.

Insofar as this cultural or subcultural use of tattoos predates the widespread popularity of tattoos in the general population, tattoos are still associated with criminality. Although the general acceptance of tattoos is on the rise in Western society, they still carry a heavy stigma among certain social groups.

The prevalence of women in the tattoo industry, along with larger numbers of women bearing tattoos, appears to be changing negative perceptions. A study of "at-risk" (as defined by school absenteeism and truancy) adolescent girls showed a positive correlation between body-modification and negative feelings towards the body and self-esteem; however, also illustrating a strong motive for body-modification as the search for "self and attempts to attain mastery and control over the body in an age of increasing alienation."

TATTOO REMORSE STORY

Tattoo Removal central brings you a tattoo remorse story from CNN.com as follows...

Laura Hathaway initially had no regrets after getting a tattoo on her lower back when she was 21. But now, 10 years later, she wants it gone.

The pharmaceutical sales representative from Atlanta, Georgia, says it doesn't fit in with her current lifestyle as the mother of a 2-year-old boy who just started to talk. "The other day I bent over and he said, 'What's that?' and it just confirms why I'm having it removed."

Dr. Scott Karempelis of Atlanta Dermatology Associates is performing a multitreatment laser procedure that will gradually erase Hathaway's tattoo with little or no scarring. The process is painful, expensive and time-consuming.

Karempelis says that in spite of the drawbacks, "business is booming." He and three other dermatologists in his office see more than 30 patients a day who want tattoos removed by laser.

The American Academy of Dermatology reports tattoo regret is common in the United States. Among a group of 18- to 50-year-olds surveyed in 2004, 24 percent reported having a tattoo and 17 percent of those considered getting their tattoo removed.

Karempelis uses a state-of-the-art laser that targets the pigment in the tattoo. "It goes through the skin without damaging it and hits the pigment depending on which wavelength and which color you have, and it blows it into small pieces."

The tattoo ink is then reabsorbed into the body through the lymphatic system. The process must be completed over several sessions in order to protect the skin from damage.

Hathaway expects to go through 10 sessions several weeks apart, each lasting less than a minute. She admits it's a lot more painful than getting the original tattoo. "It's prickly," describes Hathaway. "It feels like a bee is sitting on your back stinging time and time again. Afterwards, the pain does go away and you're a little sore for a few hours.
Patients with bigger tattoos are sometimes given the option to use a topical anesthetic, but Karempelis points out that it adds to the cost.

Like other dermatologists, he charges by the square inch for the laser treatment. By the time Hathaway's done, she expects to pay more than $2,200.

There's no guarantee that she won't have a scar. "Scarring is your major risk," says Karempelis. "Almost everyone gets a little bit of discoloration, a little lighter, a little darker for a while. But in most cases if you wait a year, you cannot see where it was done initially."

Certain tattoo colors, such as green, yellow and purple, are harder to remove, Karempelis says, especially for people with darker skin. Some parts of the body also pose a challenge. "The farthest away from the heart are hardest to treat, so the ankles are the toughest," Karempelis says.


 
He predicts his business will increase in the future, after a new type of tattoo ink hits the market. Freedom-2 is a microencapsulated dye. It's designed to be easily removed by a single laser treatment. "The laser would hit that pigment and it would completely dissolve immediately. ... You wouldn't need repetitive treatments," the doctor says.

But until the ink becomes available, Karempelis expects to see a variety of patients going through long sessions to remove reminders of their past. He says the most popular tattoos to be removed in his office are the names of old boyfriends and former spouses.

In Hathaway's case, her tattoo of a flower didn't fit the image she wants to portray. She says she got the tattoo long before low-rise pants became popular. "It's just something I wanted to be private and now it's not”

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Read here  about  Actress Helen Mirren who revealed to People Magazine that she is now  'utterly disgusted' by her 'drunken' tattoo (a symbol on the back of the thumb of her left hand)

ISSUES TO CONSIDER BEFORE HAVING A TATTOO

Tattoo Removal Central would like to inform you about what to consider before deciding to go ahead with a tattoo.

Health dangers

Skin infections -  These can range from minor bacterial infections, like impetigo, to serious antibiotic-resistant skin infections, which can lead to pneumonia and blood infections.

Blood-borne infections - Dirty equipment will put you at risk of infection from serious diseases like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV or tuberculosis.

Allergic reactions -  You may have a reaction to the ink or latex gloves, though alternatives can be used.

Skin disorders

Anyone prone to keloid scarring - permanent, raised scars - should stay away from tattoos. Some people also get skin bumps called granulomas around a tattoo.

MRI complications

Some people find the tattooed area swells and burns after a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan - but it is rare.

Before you get the needle ask yourself these questions:

How might I feel about this in 30 years?

It's unlikely you'll be wearing the same clothes or have the same hairstyle so consider how your taste may change. If it's a name, for instance your boyfriend, are you really sure you'll be together for ever and, if not, how will subsequent partners feel?

Where should it be?

Very visible tattoos are incompatible in certain workplaces. If you need to cover it, how would it restrict clothing? Also, consider the pain factor. The fleshier the area, the less painful it will be.

How big?

If it's your first tattoo, it's best to start small in case you suffer an allergic reaction. And the bigger it is, the harder it will be to remove.

If you're not satisfied...

According to the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (in the UK), the tattooist's work should be done with "reasonable skill and care".  Otherwise, they may have to pay for it to be put right or for you to have it removed.

However, this doesn't apply if you've just changed your mind. If you want it removed, methods include laser treatment and dermabrasion but discuss pros and cons with your GP first. Go with a doctor who regularly carries out the procedure.

Alternatively try the many creams that will fade your tattoo, often to the point of being barely noticeable.

Eight ways to protect yourself

(1) Find a reputable tattooist

By law, all tattooists must be registered with the local authority and have an up-to-date certificate to prove it. They should also have a health and safety certificate on display. Look in the Yellow Pages or contact your local authority's environmental health department for the addresses of registered tattoo parlours. Also check that the tattooist is a member of a professional body such as the Tattoo Club Of Great Britain (visit www.tattoo.co.uk).

(2) Give it the once-over

A tattooist's parlour should be as clean and tidy as a dentist's surgery. They should wear gloves while tattooing and a new needle and ink should be used for every customer. Other equipment should be sterilised between customers. And a reputable tattooist won't mind you asking.

(3) Do your research

Shop around but don't make price the deciding factor. A tattoo should always be regarded as permanent since removal is expensive, difficult and can scar. You need to consider their style as well as skill. Go on recommendations and ask to see a portfolio of their past work.

(4)The right questions

The tattooist should ask you certain health questions. This should include whether you've had particular conditions, including allergies, impetigo, anything that affects your immune system, blood infections such as hepatitis or HIV, seizures and high blood pressure.

(5) Find a rapport

If you don't have a rapport with the tattooist, move on. It's vital that you communicate well and are both clear about the exact design, colours and size of the tattoo.

(6) Don't do it on holiday

There may be good tattooists abroad but hygiene standards are lower in many countries. Also, if something goes wrong, you may not be protected by law. You're

also more likely to be reckless on holiday.

(7) Don't have a drink first.

Drinking affects your judgment.

(8) Be clear on aftercare

You should be given detailed advice on how to look after your tattoo to avoid infection. And see your GP if the skin becomes red, inflamed, discoloured, itchy or painful.

TATTOO HISTORY

Tattoo Removal Central brings you this extract from Wikipaedia about the history of tattoos.

A tattoo is a marking made by inserting indelible ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons.

Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.

Tattooing has been practiced worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, traditionally wore facial tattoos. Today one can find Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Maori of New Zealand, and Atayal of Taiwan with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples and among certain tribal groups in the Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Mentawai Islands, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand and Micronesia. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular in many parts of the world.

Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since around Neolithic times. Ötzi the Iceman, dating from the fourth to fifth millennium BC, was found in the Ötz valley in the Alps and had approximately 57 carbon tattoos consisting of simple dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle. [19] Other mummies bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered, such as the Mummy of Amunet from Ancient Egypt and the mummies at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau.

Pre-Christian Germanic, Celtic and other central and northern European tribes were often heavily tattooed, according to surviving accounts. The Picts were famously tattooed (or scarified) with elaborate dark blue woad (or possibly copper for the blue tone) designs. Julius Caesar described these tattoos in Book V of his Gallic Wars (54 BC).

Tattooing in Japan is thought to go back to the Paleolithic era, some ten thousand years ago.[citation needed] Various other cultures have had their own tattoo traditions, ranging from rubbing cuts and other wounds with ashes, to hand-pricking the skin to insert dyes.

Tattooing in the Western world today has its origins in Polynesia, and in the discovery of tatau by eighteenth century explorers. The Polynesian practice became popular among European sailors, before spreading to Western societies generally.

TATTOO COVER UP - HOW TO DO IT

So you have a tattoo that you'd like to cover up - perhaps you'd like to conceal it for a special occasion such as a wedding or maybe you're going for an interview or to meet you partners' parents and so you would prefer to hide your tattoo for a few hours.

Unlike  specialty products such as 'The Tattoo Coverage Kit', the solution given below  will not  be flawless and it will not be smudgeproof - but it might just help you out in an emergency.


Here's some tattoo cover-up advice sourced from EHow.com...

You'll Need:

Concealer

Powder

Powder pad (or brush if you don't have one)

Foundation

Eyeshadow or blush that is close to your skin tone

Small cosmetic brush

Step 1  Apply concealer. If you happen to have two shades, use them both. Put on the lightest shade first, applying it as you would when covering up the dark circles underneath your eyes. Blend it well into the surrounding area. Repeat this using the darker concealer if you have some.

Step 2  Apply powder on the tattoos. Although a brush will work, a pad is much better. Press the pad firmly into the compact before dabbing evenly and gently across the concealer.

Step 3  Apply foundation. Once again, if you have a darker shade and a lighter one, use both. Put it on as you would on your face, using a light touch, applying the lighter shade first. You can always apply more but, if you put too much on, you'll have to remove it all and start over with the concealer. Instead of using makeup sponges, as you would when applying theatrical makeup, use your fingertips to blend it in well. This gives you more control and better coverage. Do the same with the darker shade of foundation if you have it before repeating Step 2 and applying powder.

Step 4   Apply eyeshadow or blush. Choose a shade that is close to your skin tone. Use a small cosmetic brush to sweep it over the tattoos, dabbing in areas that seem harder to cover. Put it in light coats, building the coverage and color as needed. Make sure to blend it into the surrounding areas as you go. Repeat step 2 to seal it all in.