FLORAL TATTOOS PART II 

In our last post on floral tattoos we took a closer look at the symbolism of the very classic rose motive. But there are, naturally, so many other beautiful flowers to choose from when planning your tattoo design. Some you may hear of, or see, on a regular basis, and others more rare and unusual. Let’s dive a little deeper into the floral kingdom, and perhaps you will find some inspiration for your next piece of body art.

ALSTROEMERIA >>>

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIP PIERCINGS – PART II

Before we get into more details on the lip piercing and aftercare process, there are still a whole bunch of types of lip piercings we couldn’t fit into our previous post. 

While we took a closer look at all types of ‘bite’ piercings, with double punctures either above or below the lips, there is also a double piercing known as the Dahlia, where two piercings sit correspondingly on either corner of the mouth. This type of piercing has also been nicknamed ‘the Joker’ after the infamous Batman villain and his perpetual scarred smile. Dahlias can take from 12 all the way up to 20 weeks to heal, due to the difficulty of keeping the area still. 

DAHLIA >>>

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIP PIERCINGS – PART I

A lip piercing can be so much more than just a ring through the lower part of your lip. You could get them on the side of the upper lip, centred on the indent beneath the nostrils, or symmetrical so-called Angel Bite piercings with each sitting on either side above your top lip. Most types of lip piercings don’t actually pierce the lips themselves. Rather they are placed through the skin above or below the upper or lower lip – with the exception of the vertical labret piercings. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the types of lip piercings available – some you may never have thought to look for. 

LABRET >>>

FLORAL TATTOOS

Trends in tattoos may come and go, but florals will probably never go out of style. From tribal patterns and the classic traditional rose to the dainty watercolours and single needle peonies of latter years, flowers are some of the most requested motives of all times. Floral tattoos can be aesthetically pleasing but also deeply symbolic. Let’s take a closer look at some of the styles floral tattoos are most prevalent in, but also the symbolic meaning behind some of the more popular floral designs and their colours. 

LONG HISTORY OF FLORA IN TATTOOING >>>

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PIERCING AFTERCARE

So you have decided to get a piercing (or two) and we could not be more excited for you. All the piercings done at Vivid Ink are done with the highest grade titanium jewellery. This means that long-term allergies or other complications are highly unlikely to occur. However, as with any wound, a piercing needs care and attention to heal nicely and properly without any risk of infection.

The piercing itself is done in a flash, really, with some potentially lingering minor tension and pain. However, the real work begins when you walk out the studio doors and are left to your own aftercare devices. It is imperative that you listen to your piercer how you should go about caring for yourself and your new piercing, to avoid any risk of infection. 

NO TOUCHING! >>>

CAN YOU GET A TATTOO WHILE PREGNANT? 

Our existence may have been incredibly different than what we have been used to over the past year and a half. However, life does go on. Or in the words of Jeff Goldblum’s character in Jurassic Park – if there’s one thing the history of evolution has taught us, it’s that life will not be contained: “Life, uh… finds way”. As such, babies have kept being born, and more are on the way.

When you are used to getting your tattoo fix on once every few months, the thought of going without a new piece of ink for nearly a year may seem daunting. Or perhaps you had finally managed to book in with that elusive artist who only opens up their books once per year, or the traveling artist doing a guest spot at your local studio before knowing you had a baby coming, and now you are wondering if you should give it up. The prudent and short answer is – unfortunately, yes. While it is extremely rare, there are complications that could arise from getting a tattoo that could be detrimental to the health of you and your baby.

EVEN AN INFINITESIMAL RISK COULD BE CONSIDERED TOO HIGH >>>

A GUIDE TO EAR PIERCINGS – PART III 

Ear piercings may be classic, but they certainly continue to have a moment right now. And as the age of the mask may be here to stay for a little while yet, they are a wonderful way of displaying more of your character and style above the nose-line. As long as you take care not to catch and irritate healing piercings with the elastic bands attaching the mask behind your ears.

We have already looked at several iconic and more unusual ear piercings in parts I and II of this guide, but the list goes on. It would be amiss of us not to tell you about the following placements, providing for beautiful options to make your ears into your very own unique pieces of art. They are too good prime real estate for bejewelling to pass up after all. 

THE FLAT PIERCING >>>

TRIBUTE TATTOOS 

Vivid Ink Sutton Coldfield’s Mario had the honour of tattooing Safiyya Vorajee, aka @miss_safiyya_ with a portrait of her gorgeous little angel, baby Azaylia Diamond Cain, earlier this week. Azaliya was only eight weeks old when she was diagnosed with AML Leukaemia. Heartbreakingly, after several rounds of chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants and despite a massive outpouring of support via a GoFundme campaign in support of extended treatment with specialists in Singapore, her body gave up the fight, but not after bringing a community together in support of children and their parents who may face similar battles. Her parents have set up a foundation in Azaylia’s name, and people can still donate to the page which can be found here. 

Many people request tattoos in memoriam of loved ones they have lost. And what better way to pay tribute to their lives, even the heartachingly brief, than to carry their image or something symbolic to carry them with us always. Just as they always go on existing inside of us. 

KOBE BRYANT TATTOOS >>>

A Guide to Ear Piercings – Part II

Ears are important for many things. Well, perhaps mainly hearing and balance, but those are pretty massive. However, they are also a fantastic area of your body to adorn and bejewel. Piercing your ears also require quite little investment in terms of time, money – or pain, for that matter. In our last post we walked you through a short list of ear piercings – the Helix, the Daith, and the Tragus. But there are so many more to choose from for you and your piercer to get creative and play around with. So we keep going to bring you a whole range of other styles.  

Conch >>>

A GUIDE TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF EAR PIERCINGS – PART I

Ear piercings are pretty small. But they pack a big punch in terms of aesthetics. And with so many different kinds to choose from, it is easy to make them a true statement of personal style. Because of their minute nature, it can be easy to think you could just get them done at a beauty salon. However, you are likely to have a much better, and safer, result coming to a professional body piercer – such as the incredibly talented crew at Vivid Ink. 

Few people today settle for a standard pair of lobe piercings, although they most certainly provide options for impressive decoration – or work as preparation for ear lobe stretching. If you are considering going beyond-lobe we are here to help you with some of the various styles you have to pick from to create your very own ear constellations. 

HELIX PIERCINGS >>>

WHAT IS UP WITH EYELID TATTOOS? 

With the end of restrictions, we are all going a little crazy (even though it seems as if the predicted recurrence of the ‘roaring twenties’ is still some way off). Ideas that may have seemed far off in the imagination might all of a sudden feel reasonable as we come back to life full force and affirming the preciousness of the time we are given. Tattoo studios have seen an increase in requests for larger pieces, because hey, life is too short not to get that gorgeous full-back design done, right?

However, there may be a few tattoo ideas that are perhaps better left in the realm of daydreaming – or at least engaged in with caution and after careful consideration. In either case, we thought we’d take a closer look at what is really up with the growing trend of getting your eyelids tattooed.

Eyelid tattoos began gaining in popularity some ten years ago and were spurred on by Lil Wayne getting ‘Fear’ and ‘God’ inked on his. While effect producing (we all need to blink from time to time, flashing some art while you do so is a pretty impressive upgrade to such an ordinary occurrence), tattooing these delicate but essential body parts is not without its controversy or particular challenges. Plus, you will never get to see them yourself except for in photos.

DELICATE DIFFERENCES >>>

The Olympians – Lamont Marcell Jacobs

Before Sunday the 1st of August 2021, not many had heard the name Lamont Marcell Jacobs. And not many would have bet on an Italian taking over the title of fastest (active) athlete in the world after Usain Bolt’s three consecutive Olympic gold medals. However, after last evening’s 100 meter final and new European record, much of the world is asking who this – heavily tattooed – sprinter making history in Tokyo is.

Texas-born, Italy-raised >>>

What does getting a tongue piercing actually feel like?

If you are reading this, you are either a very curious sort, or you already have a few piercings and are considering getting one more – the fabled but potentially quite subtle tongue piercing. This form of body art, just as other types of piercings, has a long history.

It is known to have been practiced by the Mayans and the Aztecs in Central America. Done for ritualistic purposes, it is even believed that they would pull strings back and forth through the wound to increase blood flow as part of the sacrifice in honour of their deities.

It was also practiced by North American shamans and medicine men to help induce states of trance and communicate with the spirits. The same has been true for Sufis and Fakirs in more eastern parts of the world. And it was from the Fakirs of India that Britons and then Americans picked up the practice and as with so many other body art forms, took it to the carnivals and the sideshow attractions.

Tongue traditions thousands of years old >>>

THE TATTOOS OF THE TOKYO OLYMPICS

We dedicated our last post to gold Olympian and Staffordshire son and swimmer Adam Peaty and his ancient Greek and Roman-themed sleeves. But of course, not only Britons and gold medalists have their tattoos on display at the Tokyo Olympics. Let’s take a look at some of the more prominent ink proudly sported by the athletes in a country that has a, to say the least, conflicted relationship to the art of tattooing.

Of course, there are plenty of Olympic rings featured on various body parts and locations across the field. However, many athletes at the top of their game have spent many more hours in a tattoo artist’s chair.

NYJAH HUSTON, SKATEBOARDING >>>

THE OLYMPIANS – ADAM PEATY’S TATTOOS

When Staffordshire-born Adam Peaty touched the wall in the men’s 100 meter breaststroke in Tokyo on Monday morning, bringing home the first gold medal for team GB in the one-year delayed Olympic Games, he did so with a whole lot more body art on display compared to when he won in Rio in 2016.

TATTOOS FOR THE WIN

When then 21-year old Peaty stepped up onto the blocks to claim the first Olympic gold by a male British swimmer in 24 years, his arms were as bare as the day he was born. However, the past five years have seen a lot of work go into two full sleeves, proudly on display in the pool and during his victory roar as he finished the race in Tokyo ahead of Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands and Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi.

As many Olympians, Peaty has gotten the Olympic rings tattooed. Sitting on the inside of his left bicep, they are the only representation of coloured ink we can discern. Underneath them he has the word ‘equilibrium’, representing his belief in balance in all areas of life to support a performance mindset.

The first of Peaty’s black and grey collection came about after his historic world record Rio win five years ago. As many other male athletes, Peaty chose to symbolize his dominance in the sport with a lion. Carrying the additional reference of a British lion, it sits on his left shoulder and is supported in space by the Roman numerals XXVI – 2016.

GREEK GODS AND HEROES >>>

SPACE THEMED TATTOO INSPIRATION

We continue on our journey out into the cosmos and the worlds beyond our solar system. Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson may not have gone all that far on their first space explorations. However, we aim a little higher and look to the heavenly realms for our next round of tattoo inspiration.

Whether or not you feel that we should colonize Mars or keep our feet and investments on the ground, you have almost certainly at one point or another looked up into the night sky and marveled at the vastness of it all. Not to mention the sheer mind boggling number of stars twinkling back at you. If you have ever been fortunate enough to escape the light pollution from our cities, that is.

COSMIC POP-CULTURE >>>

The Space Race – Alien Tattoos

With Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos nearly tripping over each other in their own private billionaire space race, we thought this would be a good time to dedicate a few posts to sci-fi and other things cosmos, and their intersection with the world of tattooing. No one has yet (to our or the general Internet’s knowledge) etched an image of the Virgin Galactic VSS Unity or the Blue Origin New Shepard on their skin.

>>>

Blog Post Archive:

HOW DOES EARLOBE STRETCHING WORK?

STRETCHING IN BODY PIERCING

PRO TENNIS PLAYER TATTOOS

PET TATTOOS

A HISTORY OF PIERCINGS – PART II

TATTOOS OF THE EURO AND COPA AMÉRICA FINALS