Even with all this, it appears as if there is one thing that this young superstar did not have, at least until recently.  A tattoo of the words “Thug Life” etched on her oh so feminine knuckles.  We saw it, along with millions of others in her tweet.  Sporting a John Lennon T-shirt, and looking proud, Ri displayed her knuckles for us all to see.

Is it Authentic or a Fake?

The jury is still out as to whether or not the rock superstar Rihanna’s new tattoo is real or an exceptionally keen imposter.  The tattoo, created by tattoo artist BangBang is apparently in honor of the late slain rapper Tupac Shakur, who had the same words imprinted on his stomach.  Bold and bright, this tattoo or tattoo look-a-like, is a truly strong pink statement.  Some say that this cannot possibly be real but who knows for sure.

Eye Witness

There may be an eyewitness who could speak to the authenticity of Rihanna’s latest work of art.  Apparently, Machetestar Danny Trejo happened to be in the tattoo parlor when Ri was getting her new tattoo.  He noted: “[She] didn’t stop saying thug life the whole time she was getting it done. [She is] one of the downest female thugs in the world. If I was 40 years younger she would be in a lot of trouble.”

Tattoos Here, There, Everywhere

Rihanna is no beginner when it comes to body ink.  With fifteen other inked designs on her body, we would not put it past this tattoo loving diva to do such a thing.  After all, she rocked her followers in when she proudly displayed her ribcage inked with a gun in 2009.  This followed shortly on the heels of her public fiasco with her ex Chris Brown.  The superstar’s hip also bears a Sanatana Dharma Sanskrit prayer, a musical note charms her ankle, and the word “love” is on her middle finger.  She has a tribal tattoo on her hand and a Pisces symbol hiding behind her right ear.  Tattoo master designer BangBang gets the credit for star tattoos on her back, and the word “Shhh” on her finger.  She even pays tribute to her line or perfume with her neck tattoo “rebelle fleu,” meaning rebellious flower.  As if this were not enough, Ri also sports star tats in her ear, an Arabic phrase on her ribcage and an anklebone inking of a skull and cross bones.

Time Will Tell

But who knows for sure about the authenticity of her latest design, more pictures and time are needed to confirm.  Anyway, it has people talking, people watching and people guessing.  Maybe that is what this is all about.  Sometimes it just gets too quiet!

All Talk No Action

Cole has been talking about removing the tattoo for an exceedingly long time now.  Really, it is old news that keeps getting circulated to the top again.  The removal process involves laser treatment to have the ink removed from her neck.  Some are saying that she may opt to have the tattoo redesigned instead of having a “full” removal.  Friends and insiders report that Cheryl does regret ever having the tattoo and now understands the true meaning of permanency.  Although she understands that the laser treatments are painful and time consuming, Cheryl reports that she wants no memory of her cheating ex left behind as a painful reminder of what she went through.  We will believe the removal when we see it.  Seems like if she truly wanted it gone it would have been gone by now.

Schedule Gap… Are You Kidding?

We all know that Cole has a busy schedule, what with her new album set for release in March and a budding film career.  Perhaps the tattoo removal has not yet made it to the top of the priority list for this popular princess.  There are also rumors of this singer, actress and model launching her very own talk show.  Sources state that removal is slated for the first gap in her schedule.  We don’t see a gap coming any time soon for this ever so popular gal, who has also been working with Simon Cowell on a potentially new talent show.

Moving On

Since the split from Ashley, Cole has made the rounds but has not yet settled down into anything long-term.  Insiders state that Cole wants to focus on her career, not her love life.  Cheryl has supposedly dated a 25-year-old ‘Dancing with the Stars’ pro who helped her through her divorce.  Reports also linked Cole to Black Eyed Peas buddy Will.i.am, her co-judge on X Factor, Simon Cowell and singer Taio Cruz. Her latest sweetheart appears to be 21-year-old Patrizio Pigliapoco who is the driving force behind Cole’s American success.  The two have become close since Cole has spent a considerable amount of the time in the states working on her next new solo project. There have been many late night recording sessions with Patrizio in Los Angeles and the two are said to have become inseparable. Patrizio has commented that he sees no way that any man could ever cheat on Cole, as she is so incredibly beautiful and awesomely talented.

So

While it appears as though there is no evidence of a reunion with ex Ashley Cole, Cheryl is not exactly speeding to remove his mark from her neck.  Perhaps it is a sign of something to come, or maybe just a time factor?  We will have to wait and see.

Simple Rules to Follow

Your new tattoo will be bandaged when you first leave and you may be advised to leave it on for a few hours.  When the big moment comes to remove it, it’s best to be prepared with warm, (not hot water), a soft cloth and maybe a trusted friend!  And importantly you should be in a hygienic room.

Gently wet the bandage with the warm water as this will help the bandage to be removed without any friction.  Once it is removed, carefully wash the tattooed area with soapy water, rinse and pat dry with the soft cloth.  Some tattoo artists recommend allowing the tattoo to be exposed for a few minutes before applying any ointment.

Healing the Tattoo

Your tattoo artist will have supplied or advised you on the necessary products to care for your tattoo.  Usually you will need an anti bacterial lotion which should be applied immediately, for example, Tattoo Goo, or Helix Gold.  You will apply this morning and night to keep the skin moistened to assist healing.

It could be that you have been advised not to have a tattoo during the hottest part of the year, especially if you live in a hot climate.  The reason for this is simple as heat and intense light will cause you discomfort.  Salt water and sand getting onto your tattoo is bad news too as it will sting so keep away from the sea!  In fact, keeping water away from the tattoo for at least three or four days is essential.

Resuming a Normal Hygiene Routine

Taking a shower or having a bath for the first few days may be a little tricky as it’s best not to wet the tattoo too much.  You should inspect your tattoo as you continue to clean it with warm, soapy water and if there is discomfort or excessive irritation, consult your tattoo artist or seek medical advice.  Scabbing will begin within three or four days and when it does it’s essential not to pick or scratch the scabs!  If you do it can result in ink removal and cause more irritation.  At this stage the tattoo will look cloudy.  This is called ‘onion skin’ and is a perfectly normal part of the healing process.  As the skin returns to normal, the tattoo will become clear and bright.

Shaving a New Tattoo

The golden rule is not to shave until the skin is completely healed and you are confident that a razor will do no harm.  The cleaning and creaming procedure will be the same as for a hairless area.

Following the above, simple routine will ensure a satisfying end result and you will be able to display your latest work of art within a short time.  Enjoy!

Superstition

Though not always obvious or visible, even today’s modern sailors will have tattoos that celebrate superstitions that have followed mariners down through the centuries.  For example one of the oldest sets of tattoos that offer sea farers protection is the pig and rooster.  The pig is tattooed on one foot and that rooster on the other.  Both of the animals depicted fear the water, therefore by having them on your feet; you should never be in the position of getting them wet and sinking, combined with the desire of the animals to be far from open water they would also influence the safe and swift return of a vessel to port.

Polaris, the North Star is another traditional tattoo, generally representing the theory that a sailor will always find his way into port and never be lost at sea.  The traditional image of an anchor with its cable or chain entwined around it is known as a ‘fouled anchor’ and was traditionally used to illustrate that a sailor had successfully crossed the challenging Atlantic Ocean.  Other anchor tattoos are symbols of strength and power, which when considering how much weight an anchor holds in place is a very good illustration.

A sailor with a set of blue stars on his hand has probably sailed around Cape Horn several times, adding a new star for each safe trip completed.  In recognition of long distance travels and the immensity of the oceans, sailors who have crossed the equator during their journeys will be tattooed with a sea turtle.  Images of swallows on the shoulder symbolise crossing the tropics of Capricorn and cancer.  There are probably others whose meaning has been lost over the centuries too.

Tradition

Non sailors may claim traditional sea faring tattoos for their own without realising the significance of them at all, adopting them because they look cool or want to present a certain image to their peers, which is a shame.  Like many ancient cultures the tattoos of centuries of sailors have marked milestones and events in their lives, signifying transitions and achievements, overcoming immense danger and peril.  Just like the ancient cultures of the South Pacific from where the original sailing expeditions took their initial inspiration.

Many of the world’s iconic art masterpieces were created by inspired genius’ that also suffered from a touch of madness, whether that was in the form of depression or other mental illness, but however they managed to produce their works they left behind an artistic legacy that is inspiring a new genre of artists, tattoo artists.  Their life’s work will now live on in new and interesting ways through body art.

Artistic Praise

They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  No matter what the original artistic masters were thinking when they created their master pieces, they could never have believed that it would be replicated as body art on generations of colourful individuals, hundreds of years down the line.  Artist works by Alfred Gockel (View Through A Window), Salvador Dali’s ‘Melting Clocks’ and ‘Elephants’ and Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ have all been successfully replicated on skin.

Van Gogh’s style of painting lends itself well to tattooing as it is not about fluid lines and picture perfection.  Dali’s work is popular more because of its quirkiness and obscure subject matter than the style of painting.  Other artists whose work has made the transition include Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, Rene Magritte and the old masters, Rafael and Michelangelo.  Pablo Picassos ‘Peace Dove’ is incredibly popular by people looking for a small yet poignant statement piece to wear.

Statement Piece

Though an ancient and long standing masterpiece represented in a tattoo may be seen by some as pretentious, in reality is there anything more suitable as a choice than such fabulous artwork as a statement piece?  Everyone looks for originality in the search for their own individuality, but the replication of an old master on your body shows a deeper appreciation of art in all its forms.  By choosing a piece that moves the heart, stimulates the mind or raises a smile you are giving yourself something more meaningful than a design selected from a chart on the wall in a tattoo parlour.

Some tattoo artists may consider it an honour to replicate a classic piece of art work for you; others may ask if they can give it their own distinctive and artistic twist.  You may find that your new masterpiece tattoo attracts a lot of public attention; after all it shows people just how truly talented tattoo artists are in being able to recreate something so beautiful, distinctive and easily recognisable, regarded by many as one of the finest masterpieces in the world.

Henna

Derived from the plant Lawsonia Inermia henna is commonly found in regions of North Africa, Egypt, areas of the Middle East and of course India.  The leaves of the plant are dried and ground up then mixed with carrier oil or binding agent to make excellent dyes in shades that vary from pale woody browns to the deepest, richest reds.  Over the centuries a variety of uses have been found for henna.  It has been found to be an excellent hair dye, nail tint, mild astringent and even has a use as a sedative.  However it is better known for its prolific use in body art around the world.

History

Evidence of henna tattooing has been found to date back more than five thousand years.  Henna tattooing was a practice that was thoroughly embraced by the ancient Egyptians.  Having gained a reputation throughout history as being quite a vain culture, they found ways of using henna to enhance their natural features to make themselves more attractive.  It was used to alter their hair colour, stain the skin and nails and mixed with other pigments to form designs for the body.

Different Cultures

The process of receiving a henna tattoo is believed to have spiritual significance, connecting the body with the soul and the universal energies that surround it.  For the Indian Bride however the process of receiving her henna tattoo’s or Mehndi show that she is to be idolised and revered.  Once they are in place she is not permitted to take part in any work until the designs have disappeared from her skin.

In the poorer countries of the world henna was and is still used as a safe and inexpensive method of body adornment.  Again in the Middle East it is brides who receive the delicate henna work on their skin and countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq consider the application of henna to provide good luck to its wearer.

Pregnant women in Morocco have henna designs pained around their ankles as forms of protection, with families having their own sacred designs that are passed down through the generations.  The henna designs that are seen in Africa are more geometrical that designs seen elsewhere, nothing like the flowing ornate designs used in other cultures.

Though Celtic designs are quite complicated with intricate knot work they too can be perfected by a henna professional, and look stunning when completed.  Modern artists draw on cultures from all over the world to provide the perfect henna tattoo for their clients adding a subtle twist of their own to make their designs truly unique.

The Idea

The basic premise of cover up tattooing is to hide the offensive original artwork with new ink.  Depending on the style and size of the original tattoo it may mean that the entire area can be covered with a completely new design, or that the original design can in some way be adapted to form the basis of a new one.  Most people will opt for a total covering of the original piece of work rather than still being able to identify the old design inside the new work.

When considering having cover up work done, look for an artist that has experience in this kind of work, as it does require a good eye and a certain level of creative skill.  Make sure you look through their portfolio’s which should contain a series of before and after shots of any cover up work completed.  Speak to anyone who has had cover up work done and ask questions about their experience and if they can recommend a tattooist for you to speak to.

Procedure

You will of course still have a tattoo at the end of the process, but you should be a lot happier with the one you leave with than the one you started with.  Make sure that when you consult with your artist that you have a range of ideas for designs that you would like to use as a replacement, ask them for their opinions too.  It may be that your artist will come up with design ideas that you have never considered.  Remember, don’t try and push a design that your artist thinks is unviable, or else you will be left with another reason to be unhappy.  These guys know what they are doing and if they say something won’t work, or will look awkward, listen to them.

Tattoos can generally only be covered up once, so whatever you leave the shop with is what you will have to live with for the rest of your life.  Bear in mind that the new tattoo will need to be larger than the original in order to cover it completely, you may also have to get used to the idea of having a darker design so that the darker pigmentation hides the original colouration.  Cover up tattoos can take a lot longer to complete than fresh artwork, and may involve multiple sittings before it is complete.  Make sure you discuss the time required and the cost of the work before you agree to anything.

Pigments and Carriers

It would be very unwise to attempt a tattoo with pigment alone as a carrier assists in keeping the pigments balanced and fluid during application.  There are five main carriers that are used, either on their own or as a mixture; these are purified water, witch hazel, ethyl alcohol, glycerine and propylene glycol.  This is what each artist uses to develop a recipe blend that works the best for them and goes on to use throughout the majority of their career. Henna is possibly the most widely used pigment.  Derived from the Lawsonia Inermis plant it provides a natural and intense level of colour.  Henna is very safe to use as allergic reactions to it are very rare.  Used mainly for temporary tattoos and hair colouring henna is a very practical and harmless pigment.

Some pigments can cause severe allergic reactions, especially across the yellow and red range of colours.  Red inks often contain mercury or other heavy metals such as iron oxide or cadmium; it is the addition of these metals to the inks that give them their permanence.  It is also the addition of these metals that is responsible for the majority of reactions.  Reactions can range from scarring and eczema to lifelong mercury sensitivity, including any existing tooth fillings.  Other colours also contain heavy metals like antimony, cobalt nickel, lead, arsenic and chromium, all of which can lead to reactions in the skin.  A huge variety of pigments are available readymade, called pre-dispersed inks, which remove the need to mix carriers and individually dry pigments to create inks.

Safety

With a vast colour palette available to artists there is literally nothing from nature than cannot be recreated on a living canvas.  There are over fifty different shades and pigments available with more being regularly added to the list.  However, though readily accessible there is very little available in the way of governance that regulates their supply and use.  In fact you would be hard pressed to find a product that has been licensed for injection into the skin as tattooing pigment is not regulated as closely as pigments used in the general cosmetics and beauty industry.  If you are considering having a tattoo, and have had any form of allergic reaction to any chemical based products in the past, you would be wise to check with your chosen tattoo artist to check just what ingredients are in the inks he or she will be using before you start.

Procedure

Just as with any other tattoo the procedure involves the introduction of pigment into the dermis, to enhance lips, eyebrows and any other facial feature.  The procedure was pioneered in the 1930’s by a tattooist named George Burchett.  Many women actually received the procedure without their knowledge.  Told that they were going to receive some beauty enhancing treatment by the staff in their beauty salon they were actually injected with vegetable based dyes that would enhance the colour and tone of the skin.  One of the most common modern procedures is to the eye area where eyebrows and top lid eyeliner are permanently tattooed.  For clients wishing to make their existing brows fuller and better defined, a ‘powdery’ technique is used rather than hairline strokes.  The top eyeliner acts as enhancement to the lashes so that though the eyes look shaped and defined whilst the overall look remains natural.

Lip Tattooing

Lip tattooing gives lips definition and shape and of course restores colour where the natural pigmentation has been lost.  Lip tattooing eliminates the need for lip pencils and liners and reduces the need for application of regular lip cosmetics.  It can restore symmetry to the mouth and for clients that have had reconstructive facial surgery for example to correct a cleft palate, lip surgery can hide scarring and restore regular balanced features.  Techniques vary from a blended lip line, which looks like regular lipstick that has started to wear off, to fully coloured and contoured lips which, with a slick of gloss look like regular lipstick.

The initial lip tattooing procedure will take approximately three hours and you should take with you your favourite shade of lipstick and liner to aid in choosing a colour matching your tattooing pigment.  Lips are numbed with local anaesthetic and a template design is drawn that is agreed with the client before any permanent marks are made.

Following the procedure the lips will be swollen and tender, occasionally with bruising and at first the new colour may look shocking and harsh, though it will lighten once your lips have peeled and the colour will soften over the next couple of weeks and the pigments stabilize.  The tissue of the lip is different to the skin on other areas of the body and a lot of the initial colour will be lost which is why a second application is often recommended to adjust any areas you feel need reshaping or more colour added.  The common recommendation is that you have your lip tattoo ‘topped up’ every two to three years to keep your lips looking at their pouting best.

Why did this Practice come to be so Widespread?

Penetrating the body with sharp, invasive instruments, and introducing minerals below the skin is what tattooing involves. Imagine a Samoan adolescent boy subjected to over 50% of his body being cut into and soot inserted.  The bleeding and pain would be so great that it took ten days to complete this ‘rite of passage’ into manhood and high rank. Failure to endure this torture meant lifelong humiliation and shame. Better to have died, which so often was the outcome. Fortunately for women they didn’t have to suffer the same ordeal. However, tattooing could display a girls’ skills and so increase her chance of a good marriage.

A ‘rite of passage’, a sign of rank, decorative adornment, commitment or rebellion, all these diverse messages could be visible and understood by communities throughout the ages. Sometimes, heavily tattooed armies such as the Picts, scarified with blue woad, (copper based) so terrified the Romans that mention of their appearance was made in Julius Caesar’s account of the Gallic Wars!

The influence of Christianity as it slowly spread throughout Europe and the western world, also spread the idea that tattooing was a pagan activity and must be banned.  Muslims and those of the Jewish faith have never allowed tattooing believing the practice to be a desecration of the body, which is a gift from God. What better symbol for rebellion to be taken up by dissenters throughout the ages than the tattoo? It was adopted by many sects including the Samurai warriors and their descendants, the Japanese “Yakuza” mafia.  A tattoo cannot be seen without arousing conflicting emotions. Pictures imprinted on your body make a powerful statement.

Nowadays

Today we have relatively painless and hygienic methods of tattooing.  The instinctive urge for body and facial enhancement has resulted in the skill of tattooing booming into big business. Cosmetic tattooing has entered the modern world allowing women to perfectly shape their eyebrows, eyeliner their eyes, have well-defined lips which never feel a lipstick and enjoy long luxurious eyelashes.  Thread veins can be removed; and don’t think it’s only women who have a ‘little job’ done to boost morale!  Cosmetic tattooing can help rebuild a life following surgery. There is so much choice in tattooing for the expression of adornment, faith, commitment, rebellion and renewal.  The tattoo has a remarkable history and endures as a fascinating expression of our creativity.