About the lasting ability, it depends on the technique, there are temporary tattoos that may be removed by washing the area, and some zodiac tattoos designed with Henna are semi-temporary, while permanent tattoos last for a lifetime, although their quality depends on the technique and devices used by the artist.

However, even when some tattoos may suffer color degradation, they can be retouched if needed. Even people who are not devoted to astrology can wear Zodiac tattoos because of the large number of images available. Of course there is no question when it comes to people who consult their horoscope on a regular basis, but this is not a requisite to wear them.

In fact, many people like to wear the whole circle depicting the 12 signs of the zodiac, so people do not necessarily know which of them belong to the owner of this type of zodiac tattoos. People who see your tattoos generally will not consider your personal beliefs, because horoscopes are part of the common activities of anyone’s daily life, even for those who ignore them or take them like a joke.

However, you must make sure that you really do not care about horoscopes; otherwise, you may feel embarrassed wearing a seductive sign that does not belong to your real zodiac sign. There are zodiac tattoos that can be worn without people even notice they are part of the horoscope, such as Sagittarius, who is also a mythological Archer serving also for other tattooing purposes.

All zodiac signs can be meaningful from different personal approaches, and there are many styles to choose from, ranging from classic and vintage representations, to modern images or just the names of the signs, artistically designed as zodiac tattoos. People who are totally immersed in the horoscope universe usually wear the signs designed as constellations with their names.

Stylized, classic or bolder, zodiac tattoos can only be designed by the person who wants to get them tattooed. Some of these tattoos are really masterpieces, although many others are original cartoons like those commonly found on washable tattoos for kids.

If you are unsure about wearing tattoos, find the images of the signs, representations and constellations. A little research may help you find that zodiac tattoos are more than horoscope-related beliefs.

When there is a situation, in which a tattoo is not convenient or desirable, washable tattoos are an affordable and temporary option. These types of tattoos are also convenient when you have in mind getting a tattoo, but you are not totally convinced of what you want or how the chosen design will look.

Washable tattoos are particularly useful when you are designing your own tattoo assisted by your computer, or when you have found an interesting design or picture on the Internet that you would like to try. Almost anywhere, there are available temporary tattoo paper kits sized 8.5″X11”, which include packs with 5 to 10 tattoo adhesive sheets for your printer.

Almost any printer driver allows you to select a transparency media with normal resolution and adjustment of the colors, often with pre-visualization, to find the right contrast and effect. These sheets act like washable tattoo transfer adhesive, easily removable with warm water or tearing off, although some persons can develop allergic reactions wearing or removing the tattoo.

In addition, pregnant women or those nursing a baby should not wear this or any other washable tattoo, such as Henna tattoos. Henna tattoos are the traditional tattooing art from India, where washable tattoos are called temporary tattoos, usually consisting of complex designs to decorate hands or feet of individuals participating in festivals and religious celebrations.

Contrary to printed sheet tattoos, Henna tattoos look realistic and do not deteriorate with use like occurs with the transfers, and close in quality to airbrush tattoos, all of them different forms of washable tattoos, that kids also wear, calling them “fake tattoos”. Airbrush Tattoos are the most realistic type of temporary tattoos, which are applied with a stencil placed onto the skin.

Lines and color are airbrushed onto the skin, a technique that remains intact for a whole week, after which the colors begin to fade. Whatever, your choice of washable tattoos, the number of designs to choose from is only limited by your own imagination. Wearing a washable tattoo allows you to “test the waters”.

This phrase is particularly true when it comes to trying a design that may cause you acceptance problems, like symbols associated to Satanism or determined gangs. Washable tattoos are also recommended when you want to wear the name of your girlfriend or boyfriend but you are unsure of an everlasting relationship.

Tribal tattoos have different meanings during different periods of times and nations. Today, tribal designs are mostly associated to the origins of kindman and their empathy with the elements of the nature. In fact, even today, there are tribes and native groups preserving the tattooing art almost intact, being part of their traditions and social rites.

Depending on the chosen designs, tribal tattoos can represent symbols or abstract art. Many of them are based on specific cultures, including the Maori, originally from New Zealand, but in the United States, it is more frequently that most people prefer Native American tribal tattoos or those with Hawaiian reminiscences.

In Europe, Celtic tribal tattoos are the most popular among the tribal designs, although with Celtic the trend is also one of the favorite choices of New Agers and Pagan practitioners. Tribal tattoos with African influence were more popular during the late 1970s and the early 1980s, when Reggae and other African and Caribbean influenced tendencies were trendy, however many people still like them.

Hawaiians tribal tattoos have become trendy again during the 2000s, and people find them fashionable even as part of their wedding ceremony. Whether to invoke protective Gods or as meaningful phrases such as “No Keia La, No Keia Po, A Mau Loa” (From this day, from this night, forever more).

There are many native artists, both American Indians and Hawaiian Islanders, who are specialized in tattooing people, many of them highly acclaimed by their magnificent work portraying images of temples, or depiction of traditional ceremonies in miniature tribal tattoos. In fact, many tribal artists begin a tattooing session with a prayer or invocation to the Gods to protect and guide them.

Because Native American tattooists are superstitious, you must be respectful of their beliefs, even if those practices do not mean anything to you, except the desire of having an incomparable tribal tattoo. Otherwise, you can get tribal designs after browsing the common tattooist’s catalogs, or doing an online search to find a tribal pattern or image, including neo-tribal art.

Star Tattoos also have the personal interpretation of people having this image tattooed, including the expectation of social brilliance or wanting their wishes to somehow come true. Stars are both powerful and popular images, which allow the development of astounding designs incorporating colors, especially shiny pigments or temporal cosmetics to make them glow.

Like that occurs with other tattoo designs, stars are also related to old-time tattoo wearing of sailors and fishermen. In fact, Nautical Star Tattoos are commonly seen today, sometimes accompanied by the sun, the moon or both and some others as a depiction of the Northern Star, symbols of guidance and protection in the dark

However, there is a fact about Nautical Stars Tattoos that you should consider. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a nautical star tattooed anywhere on the body was a symbol to denote homosexuality, often hidden on the wrist by day and revealing it to the world by night at gay clubs and bars. Even today, intolerance to gay lifestyle is not widely accepted.

Another point of consideration is the choice of Star Tattoos worn by Wiccans. Pagan beliefs are everyday more commonly accepted, there are different types of stars associated to witchcraft practices or just magic elements, including the pentacle, a five-pointed star obtained from a pentagram, used first in ancient Greece and Babylonia.

Although the pentagram by itself represents the five wounds of Jesus, and it is also associated to Venus, the Greek and Roman Goddess of Love, when one of the star’s point is downwards and two upwards, represent the Devil and is associated with Satanism and obscure evil practices. Make sure that your tattoo represents the pentacle you want, when it comes to your choice for Star tattoos.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, an American psychedelia-influenced rock band began to change the popular conception of death, opening the doors to the Skull Tattoos culture. The Grateful Dead led by Jerry Garcia popularized skulls in many original representations.

Fans of the band called themselves The DeadHeads were the precursors of Skull Tattoos’ popular acceptance, tattoos usually inspired on the LPs cover art. Every album of the Grateful Dead portrayed different skulls, from rose crowned to rebel pirate-like that when applied on the skin simply looked great.

Speaking of pirates, before the band, the criminal and urban gangs, sailors and fishermen were the first to wear skull tattoos as remembrance for pirates and buccaneers of the past. In fact, there are individuals who feel fascinated by wearing pirate flags tattooed on their skin.

In the early 20th century, the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration brought the art of the international famous Mexican painter José Guadalupe Posadas. Posadas was immortalized after his “Calavera Catrina”, a skull wearing a fashionable hat and motif of many tattoos today, although his work is full of artistic skeletons depicted with folkloric elements, which are very unique in the world.

Posada was not the only artist inspired by death, a few centuries before, the German painter Hans Holbein the Younger depicted a significant number of skeletons in his famous “Danse Macabre”, artwork from where many followers of the Middle Age movement have taken designs to have their own Skull Tattoos.

Although skulls may have many social connotations, Skull tattoos are still the preferred for Gothic tendencies. The Goth culture is characterized by its unusual fashions and beliefs, where the macabre and death is well accepted as part of every day life, being elements more versatile than anyone could think.

If you are attracted by the “dark side” or it is already part of your lifestyle, Skull Tattoos allow you to explore many different designs, and even develop your own art adding to a skull some ingredients from your imagination or inspiration. However, make sure of what you want, otherwise a temporary tattoo can help you close to the dark side without facing the problem of a permanent unwanted tattoo.

People with Irish roots will be proud wearing Shamrock Tattoos, but if nationality comes into play, a shamrock is also the unofficial Boston’s symbol in the United States. Away from identity matters, shamrocks are appreciated for environmentalists from around the world. Shamrocks are symbols of many cultural traditions.

However, not all the people feel a special appeal for shamrocks. In fact, in the United States, Shamrock Tattoos are not as popular as you might think, except among Irish descendants. Americans see a shamrock not as a sign of good luck, but the Kelly Green Shamrock of Boston, a cartoon-like character, which maybe Bostonians are probably interested to wear.

Without symbolism, Shamrock Tattoos are an appealing plant that can be tattooed as any other without any other reason than their beauty, color, design, or the combination of all of them. Celtic crosses and other tribal designs often include shamrocks in their center.

Shamrock Tattoos placed with monochrome designs acquire a unique dimension when the shamrocks are tattooed with a contrasting color. Ironically, many people prefer to have the tattoo placed out of sight, as an example on the lower back, shoulder, ankle or foot, due to migration and identity conflicts.

It is said that ancient Druids were the first that planted and cultivated shamrocks, to honor the resemblance between the Celtic triple spiral image and the shamrock leaves. When Christianity took place in Ireland, Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain to the Celts the meaning of the Holy Trinity, converting the Irish people to Christianity with ease.

Getting Shamrock Tattoos is not only a decoration for your body with an original design but also involves a number of personal beliefs, feelings and background for those with Irish ancestors. Like medicine “use them with caution” in the sense to determine if you will feel uncomfortable after awhile.

In addition, do research of the artwork you want to have. Perhaps you have no difficulty wearing a shamrock tattoo, but the designs can make the difference between a tattoo you are proud of, or one that makes you feel embarrassed.

There are more than a hundred species of wild roses, all from the Northern Hemisphere and mostly from temperate regions. The species form a group of generally thorny shrubs or climbers, and sometimes trailing plants, reaching 2–5 m tall, rarely reaching as high as 20 m by climbing over other plants.

The name “rose” was originated in Persia as *vrda” later translated to the Greek “rhodon” that originated its actual denomination. Because there are more than a hundred species of wild roses, the number of Rose Tattoos designs is literally thousands of different representations, including styled, modern and abstract versions of the traditional rose.

In the United States, Rose Tattoos represented the love of the sailors and soldiers, leaving their girlfriends and wives after the call of duty during the 1940s, and also a way to honor the names of their beloved ones. Roses were part of other tattoo designs, including heart tattoos, mermaid tattoos, skull tattoos, crosses tattoos, etc.

Ancient Greeks identified the rose with Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, who pricked herself on the thorns, making the blossom red with her blood drops. Probably this myth changed the original conception of the flower, supposedly to be only white before this fact, and viewed as a masculine flower in Persia, but changed to feminine in Greece.

Rose Tattoos are designed with all the colors that people can imagine. Romans believed that a rose should be placed on the door of a room where confidential affairs were discussed. Today many tattoos are designed with the word “confidential” flanked by 2 roses, although many people prefer a single rose, a group of roses or as a trailing vine, particularly in lower tummy and the lower back.

During the 19th century, roses were gifted with symbolic meanings based on their color: red represent true love and passion, orange enthusiasm, pink is the color of the grace and elegance, white was the symbol of purity, innocence and youth. Yellow roses were formerly associated with jealousy during the 20th century with indifference, and today is the expression of familiar love and friendship.

In modern times, Rose Tattoos can be blue, symbolizing fantasy and fascination for the impossible, purple for the enchantment derived for love at first sight, or even black roses, which in nature are really deep purple, and the favorite for Gothic and Dark Culture designs.

Incidentally, many people living in countries with strong religious roots like to wear Religious Tattoos disregarding the opinion of their corresponding Churches. In Ireland, people have tattooed crosses with Celtic symbols, if not the traditional Celtic Cross, while in Mexico, Argentina, Cuba and other Latin American nations, their strong religious feeling matches perfectly with these types of tattoos.

From crosses to traditional saints and virgins, Latin Americans and North American with Hispanic heritage, have popular Religious Tattoos as protection, such as the virgins of Guadalupe, Caridad del Cobre, Las Mercedes, etc. Some religious symbols are not recognized officially by the church but they have an underground cult such as the religious cult of the death.

Contrary to the approach given by other cultures, including Goth culture and Satanism, Hispanics have a symbol of death elevated to saint, known as La Santísima Muerte or San La Muerte, popular also in Spain and other Latin Europe Cultures. La Santísima Muerte is perhaps the most popular Religious Tattoos after the cross and Guadalupe.

Other religious symbols have an international recognition, particularly those associated with religious Christmas or Easter. In Roman times, Christians were prosecuted, having a fish as a common symbol to identify each other and avoiding Roman mistrust. The Cross and fish are in fact part of many Religious Tattoos and other pagan designs.

Paganism is in fact, another type of non-fully accredited religions rich in symbols because of the many beliefs and tendencies enclosed within the term. Religious Tattoos with pagan inspiration are more common that any of the others because of their beauty and special powers.

While crosses, virgins and saints are chosen as protection and other religious symbols as belief identity, Pagan Religious Tattoos offer unique designs ranging from tribal art, astrology signs, medieval charms, runes and metaphysical symbols, to special powers and virtues attributed in accordance to the chosen design.

Due to controversy, you must consider the pros and cons before getting Religious Tattoos. Many people prefer to have them tattooed on parts of the body not visible at first sight, such as the lower back. Some others prefer to make a choice from temporary, washable tattoos to see how people react to such tattoos, or how they look, before going for permanent tattooing.

There were many tribes living in ancient Mesoamerica, but particularly in Mexico. Olmecs, Zapotecs, Tarascans, Chichimeca, Huastecs, Mixtecs, Toltecs, Teotihuacans, Mayans, Tepanec and Aztecs were the most famous inhabitants from north to south and from coast to coast, each one with their own manifestation of art, inspiring modern Mexican Tattoos today.

Tattoos can have ornamental designs, mostly based on geometrical designs, but more often are representation of the ancient Gods and their representation in codices and carved on rock and other surviving vestiges. Mayan and Aztecs are the most popular of the pre-Colombian tribes, closely followed by Teotihuacans and Olmecs.

Quetzalcoatl, the “feathered snake”, is one of the most popular Mexican Tattoos today, whether it is represented in the Codex Borbonicus, or the popular head decorating the stairway in the Teotihuacán pyramid, that honors this God. Tlaloc, the God of Water, Rain and Thunder, is the actual guardian of the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City, and another popular tattoo motif.

There are many other ancient Mexican Gods recognizable around the world for their look more than their names, which are somewhat hard to pronounce, sometimes. Chalchihuitlicue, another water deity is another of those portrayed Gods and Goddesses, which name is hard to recall, but its image is easy to wear if you find the right artist, and some are specialized in Mexican Tattoos.

Although, the images can be rendered in rich color, you need to opt for monochrome tattoos or sepia, when it comes to relatively recent vestiges with no color reference in codices. Actual historians have colored many of those images but you can do the same adding to Mexican tattoos your own personal touch.

Coyolzauhqui is the Goddess of the Moon, daughter of Coatlicue and sister of Huitzilopochtli, a stone disc discovered in 1978 when the excavation to rescue the Great Temple of Tenochtitlán began. Depicted in some Mexican coins for awhile, there is no original colored reference of deity, leaving to your imagination the color pattern for your Mexican Tattoos.

Not only the Mesoamerican Pantheon offer you a large number of deities, such as Centeotll, Tezcatlipoca, Chacmol, Tonatiuh, or Xochipilli, but there are also many codices and murals (called “Frescos”) showing you the history of pre-Colombian civilizations and colorful motifs for your Mexican tattoos. A little research will also help to avoid future regret by choosing the wrong deity.

Mermaid Tattoos were first used by sailors, who where in fact, the ones that spread the myth of beautiful women with fish tails singing to their death, or squeezing the life out of drowning men when trying to rescue them from water. So beautiful and charming, more than one sailor tried to catch them, but not being possible, they decided to reveal them.

Whether on their chest or arms, Mermaid Tattoos were the patrimony of sailor and fishermen around the world, until people began to accept tattoos as body decoration that anyone can enjoy. From classic designs based on classic depictions or mythological variations such as water fairies, nymphs and selkies, to well known characters like Disney’s Ariel, do not miss the opportunity to catch this being.

Tales of mermaids are universal and they have been depicted regularly in popular culture, literature and film. You can have one Mermaid alone, a group of them or an aquatic scene tattooed with excellent artistry. In heraldry, they are commonly represented with a comb and a mirror, depiction that many like to have tattooed as a coat of arms.

Mermaids are also used as mascot for different purposes or representing brands and logos that people like to have tattooed. Mermaid Tattoos can be permanent or washable. Many artists recommend people to place a washable tattoo on their bodies to see how their tattoos will look before getting the permanent tattooing.

Because Mermaid Tattoos represent a female creature, there are many voluptuous pinup-like designs, popular among sailors during the 1940s. Retro tattoos are in fact, another trend in tattooing that many people like because of the originality. Mermaids are also part of stylized modern tribal designs, particularly from the pacific Islands.

Delightful poses, variation in color of hair, eyes and skin, colored tail, and many other variations can be worked out from a single and simple mermaid design, that can be placed anywhere on the body, including on the arms and chest as old sailor men did. Myth and fantasy, Mermaid Tattoos display all the charms of the age-old magic creature that many modern sailors still want to find and catch.