2011 is gone, but this year has left many stories to tell, and many tattoos to be remembered! They are recorded forever in the skin of the different celebrities that have had them done, but they are for all of us to admire… or to regret! Some are permanent, some of them are history, but created so much online gossip that deserve a place on our list. Come and see, these are the top five celebrity tattoos of the year 2011.

#5: Demi Lovato’s “faith” tattoo

The former Disney Channel star and singer of “All Night Long”, who is 19 years old, surprised her fans recently when she showed off her latest ink on her right forearm. It is the word “faith”. It is not the first motivational message she decides to spell on her body, since she previously got the words “Stay Strong” tattooed on her wrists. Demi Lovato shocked her dad by revealing the brand new ink during a concert in Pennsylvannia, as she exposed to the camera the word Faith, adorning her forearm. It was no big deal, she laughed about his reaction in Twitter. According to the singer, this tattoo is a tribute to her fans, who supported her last year when she went to rehab: “it’s something that my fans were actually drawing on their wrists while I was still in treatment.”

#4 Justin Bieber’s Jesus tattoo

2011 was definitely the best year for Justin Bieber’s career! And, as if media wasn’t talking about him enough, he got himself a tattoo. During a vacation in Hawaii with his sweetheart Selena Gomez (see below), Justin Bieber was spotted with a new tattoo under his armpit, which was later discovered to be the word Yeshua (Jesus) written in Hebrew. It is not the first tattoo for Justin: he also has a seagull around his stomach that is a family tattoo, representing the book Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, by author Richard Bach. Say what you want: I like Justin and I think these tattoos combine the “tough guy” kind of look with his angelical charisma!

#3: Lindsay Lohan’s lyrics tattoo

She has appeared more times on the media because of her substance abuse problems than because of her inks. Still, the press didn’t miss Lindsay’s new tattoo. She surprised everyone when she decided to get lyrics from… Billy Joel! It goes: “Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife I feel like I’m in the prime of my life”. They are lyrics from the 1989 song “I Go to Extremes”. And it is clearly visible on her rib cage. Apparently, the song represents the place in life where Lindsay is right now, she claims she’s in the prime of her life (not so sure about it, although… extremes… yeah, on a second thought we couldn’t agree more!). Nobody didn’t know Lindsay Lohan was such a big fan of the “Piano Man” –who happens to be from Long Island, just like her-; but well, she is!

#2 Katy Perry’s smiling peppermint sweet tattoo

The “I kissed a girl” singer even went through a whole photography session while having the tattoo inked! She had her new piece of body art tattooed on her right ankle backstage, while she was on her “California Dreams” world tour, just before the San Francisco gig. A mobile tattoo artist inscribe the peppermint with big eyelashes design, and the pictures reflect the pain and agony poor Katy had to go through! She truly deserves to be on our list, right? The finished tattoo was later unveiled on Twitter by Perry herself, and she revealed it is a companion piece to another of her inks, the strawberry on her left ankle. Katy is a huge fan of tattoos, and she was really exited about getting this one done. Her new tattoo, as well as her husband’s (Russell Brand got the logo of the West Ham United) was created by legendary tattoo artist Bang Bang. But, is it the last one? She’s always considering new ideas for ink: “I nearly got a huge tattoo of Freddie Mercury’s face on my back a few years ago. It’s probably for the best that I didn’t get it done, but I still want to do it.”

#1: Flea’s cute birthday tattoo

The bass player of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is famous for his many tattoos, that cover his body, especially his arms and legs. For his 49th birthday, on October 15th, he decided to get a new one, but not just any tattoo. He got his right forearm inked with a beautiful princess of blonde, long hair, a gold crown, and dreamy eyes. And if you think that looks more like a tattoo a five year old girl would get… you are just about right! Flea’s new tattoo was designed by no other than his own daughter Sunny Bebop, and inked by Henk Schiffmacher. We think it is very cute, and a detail that shows what a loving father Flea must be! And, according to what he twitted on his account forty minutes after having the tattoo inked, “All the best tattoos are drawn by five year olds!”

Bonus Track: Selena Gomez’s fake “Justin” tattoo

Back in September, Selena caused a huge sensation when she lift her hand and revealed the inked-on name of “Justin,” together with a heart below, in her wrist right under her right palm. At the time, she was performing in Las Vegas. What was the big deal? Well, for a start, Justin Bieber and she are just kids, so getting her boyfriend’s name tattooed was a major risk! Some said it was sweet, most though it was just stupid. It was just a matter of time before Selena confirmed that was not a real tattoo, it was just henna, which the singer adores since she had got other tattoos as well. However, she caused a huge sensation with this public statement, so her “fake” tattoo should definitely be mentioned among the top celebrity tattoos of 2011.

OMG! I cannot believe how amazing white ink tattoos are! I just discovered this new kind of tattoos, believe it or not, I had never heard about them before, but now I can’t wait to have my first white ink tattoo on my skin… I consider myself a real tattoo fan. I think I know a little bit about tattoos. However, these incredible tattoos are brand new to me. Therefore, I did a little research and here’s what I found out.

What are white ink tattoos?

White ink tattoos are a new technique of body art. They are gaining adepts all over the world because they look rather special. In fact, most white ink tattoos are not as noticeable as regular tattoos, and they look like little scars (they kind of remind me Harry Potter’s hand when he was punished with that magic pen that would scratch his skin LOL).

While most tattoo designs are created by beginning with a black outline (which defines the shape and look of the tattoo), this new kind of tattoo doesn’t follow the regular tattoo process. The tattoo is completely drawn with white ink (no black outline and, of course, no colors). This way, the skin gets imprinted with a pale, ghostly image that looks more as the pale shadow of a tattoo. A white ink tattoo is very subtle and beautiful! So if you don’t want your tattoo to be screaming from your skin, but you’d rather have it as a soft whisper, a white ink tattoo may be the right way to go.

But do you actually see white ink tattoos?

Well, there is absolutely no point in going through all the painful procedure of tattooing your skin if nobody’s going to realize about the tattoo, right? Of course white ink tattoos are visible, but you have to look much closer in order to fully appreciate their beauty. This turns white ink tattoos into wonderful alternatives for people who want a tattoo but are concerned about showing it off too much (perhaps because of the dress codes in certain work places).

Which are some designs available?

As with regular tattoos, you can choose your favorite design, of course! Tribal designs, stars, Celtic, Egyptian… they will all look great. Most of the pictures I’ve seen online happen to be text, inscriptions; probably some very personal thoughts one may choose to have tattooed, but not necessarily want to share with the rest of the world. For example, on the inside of Lindsay Lohan’s wrist there’s a small white ink tattoo that says “breathe”. I also believe these tattoos are ideal for romantic occasions, such as getting engaged or married –they could make some very original wedding ring tattoos.

How are white ink tattoos made?

Photo Credit By photosbyjds ~ My family is my anchor they keep me from floating away ~

White ink tattoos are made from a thick, high quality ink which is specially designed to stick out by itself. It is not the same white ink that it is used for mixing shades of colors. As with other tattoos, the tattoo artist may use a stencil or just do the design freehand. According to reviews, a white ink tattoo may take more than one pass over the area in order to guarantee that the white ink sinks completely into the skin, because it is not as easily absorbed as other colors.

Shall I have a white ink tattoo made?

Of course, this is up to you! However, here’s a quick piece of advice. Although white ink tattoos are getting quite popular, they don’t look great on everybody. People with darker skin tones are not able to absorb as much white ink as needed for the tattoo to stand out, and worse, they might even experience an unfortunate reaction, much more frequently than with black ink. As a result, after all the procedure, you might still end with no tattoo! So it is best to go for white ink tattoos when you have a pale skin so white ink tattoos might not be for me after all…

Besides, you should be careful when selecting the place for your new tattoo, since white ink shouldn’t be exposed to the sun. Avoid getting your face or your hands tattooed in white.

Photo Credit By britta.r.walker@gmail.com ~ White sparrow tattoo 3 days old ~

Last but not least…

Before getting tattooed, make sure you absolutely want something on your skin that is going to last forever (although white ink tattoos tend to fade eventually, as new layers of skin grow). Make sure you choose a tattoo artist that has plenty of experience in this modern tattoo design, even when he or she may charge some more money that the amateur.

Photo Credit By dance addict

What shall I have tattooed: a design or an inscription? How about you? What do you think about white ink tattoos?

Are you getting married soon and are you thinking of getting wedding ring tattoos? That is a terrific idea. You just have to think it through and not rush into it… I mean, getting married! Tattoos rule! Ok, seriously, wedding ring tattoos are a new fashion trend: Celebrities like Maria Carey, Angelina Jolie, and Paris Hilton have turned popular the wearing of tattoos to represent the commitment to a significant other. And, of course, as go the celebrities, so goes the public. Whether modern, Celtic or religious, everyone nowadays seems interested in this way of demonstrating to their beloved one (and to the rest of the world) how much they adore them.

A few decades ago, tattoos belonged to rock stars, rebels, punks, sailors, few people were brave enough to undergo the needle. However, times have changed, and now it’s common to see a lovely new mom with her baby on her arms and a tattoo on her wrist. So any couple old enough to get married applies for a tattoo.

If you feel you could change your mind about your tattoo, you probably feel the same about getting married… well, that shouldn’t stop you! After all, tattoos also can be removed with an expensive procedure -and so can marriages! It’s called “getting divorced”… A wedding ring tattoo can be the ultimate romantic gesture, an expression of the everlasting love you two sweethearts share. Think about it for a second: while an ordinary ring can be taken off, get lost or get stolen, a tattoo lasts forever.

Afraid of a little pain? Well, we all know love hurts, doesn’t it? Come on, a wedding ring tattoo is just a small design around your finger, and that won’t take too long. Look into the eyes of that special one as you share this significant moment that will mark your skin as well as your heart –forever.

You say your mother wouldn’t appreciate it. She probably wouldn’t. Nevertheless, since when do you have to ask permission to your parents to marry someone –least of all what kind of ring you two wear? It wouldn’t harm her to know tattoos are perfectly safe, as long as they are done with disposable needles in a hygienic environment. One piece of advice is to go to an expert, especially for such a special occasion.

Celtic Tree of Life Tattoo by Monica and Joe

And the designs for your wedding ring tattoos can be beautiful and unique, the same as your marriage. You can choose your wedding ring tattoos ring design inspired by your culture, your religion or a piece of art. It could be shaped into flowers, or simply be each other’s names tattooed on the other one’s finger. It could be a meaningful verse from the Bible, or from your favorite song (that one that instantly transports you to the time when you first danced together, or shared a first kiss…).

Last but not least, if you find wedding ring tattoos too visible, you may consider sharing a special design on any part of your bodies. Wedding ring tattoos will still be a symbol of your eternal love!

Wedding Ring Tattoos

Thanks to Stacy for finding those.
[Credit: Each picture linked to Source]

Tattoo Barbie Not Proving Popular

Mattel: no plans to discontinue doll

Parents in the US are furious over fashion doll Barbie’s latest reinvention, which sees her covered in tattoos. The new “Totally Stylin’ Tattoo Barbie” comes with a set of body art stickers to be placed anywhere on her body.

The set also comes with a tattoo gun so kids can stamp designs on themselves. Manufacturer Mattel says the tattoos for children are temporary and wash off. But some parents believe the toy is not appropriate for young children and would not buy the Tattoo Barbie
doll.

Jenn Alcayaga, a parent from Sacramento, California, is against the message the new Tattoo Barbie could send to young girls.

“It’s attracting kids too young to want to expose parts of their body to show off tattoos,” she said.

Another parent, Brandon Thompson, is more open to the idea.
“Maybe it’s a sign of the times,” he said.

“Every generation is different. Elvis was evil at one time.”

It is not the first time Mattel has tested the limits of what parents see as acceptable in a children’s toy. In 2002, they released a pregnant doll, whose stomach opened to reveal an infant doll.

Complaints forced retailers like Wal-Mart to stop selling it.

Despite the complaints surrounding the Tattoo Barbie, sales are exceeding expectations. Mattel says it has no plans to discontinue the doll, insisting it gives girls a chance to express themselves and be creative.

Mattel says the tattoo Barbie lets children express themselves and be creative

What’s your take on this? Would you let your daughter have a Tattoos Barbie?

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with the Tattoo Barbie doll, it is just a doll with stickers on it.

Well we do get our kid’s ears pierced at a young age, an age where they can’t really say whether they would like their ears pierced or not, so why not get them a tattoo?! Only kidding, but this guy was obviously not kidding…

CANTON  – Whatever his reasoning, Lee M. Deitrick thought it wise to tattoo a toddler’s bottom. It was not even his child.

Now the 20-year-old Louisville man has learned his punishment. He was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison.

Deitrick pleaded guilty in Stark County Common Pleas Court to two felony child endangering charges as part of a plea deal with county prosecutors.

Deitrick tattooed the outline of the letter on the child’s buttock. The mark covers about one-half inch.

The mother a friend of Deitrick’sleft her then-19-month-old at Deitrick’s W. Main Street home for a few hours on Nov. 7 while she visited a friend in the hospital, said Katie Chawla, assistant Stark County prosecutor.

One of the child’s relatives, 17-year-old Brandi Nelson, held the girl across her lap, Chawla said.

I do not know whose idea it was. It was late in the evening and apparently somebody thought it was a good idea, Chawla said.

County prosecutors maintain the tattooing caused the girl serious, permanent disfigurement and involved sharp and or prolonged pain. Deitrick had the tattoo equipment and has given tattoos to others, Chawla said.

Deitrick declined when asked by Judge Lee Sinclair if he wished to say anything during his court hearing.

Defense attorney Eugene Byrne told the judge that Deitrick wanted to take responsibility and move on.

Deitrick watched the child — whose name begins with “A” — often, O’Byrne said.
-There was no malice, he said. More of an error in judgment.

Nelson, in March, had pleaded true the juvenile equivalent of guiltyto a felony child endangering charge in Stark County Family Court and is awaiting sentencing in June, court officials said.

Deitrick had faced up to eight years in prison on one charge and five on the other had he been given the maximum term.

His 3-year term will start after he completes his current prison sentence for previous, unrelated convictions. He had been released early for felony domestic violence and misdemeanor violating a protection order convictions. That 18-month prison term was reimposed in February. [via]

Do you think it’s okay for parents to tattoo their toddler?

Mendhi is the usage of henna to decorate one’s skin in South Asia. Henna is a small tree that is considered very auspicious.Henna is also used as a medicinal plant in some countries.

The usage of henna goes way back to the 1600 BC when the Egyptians dye the hands and hairs of their Pharaohs before they are mummified. In these days, menhdi is applied on a bride during a wedding, birthdays and during the celebration of the completion of 7th month pregnancy.

There are many traditional Mendhi designs. For example: Arabic floral designs, geometrical floral designs, designs using fine lines, Arabic leaf designs. However, in these modern days, people use any type of designs that relate to their culture. Chinese will use their symbols, whereas new age Americans will use some spiritual designs.

During weddings, Mendhi is applied on the bride’s palms with fine lines and figurines that depict a wedding ceremony. The mehndi sometimes extend till the forearm. It is applied on the feet as well and sometimes extends upwards to the knee.

In order to prepare to Mendhi, the henna’s leaves are taken and dried. Next, you have to ground it so it turns into powder form. After that, the powder is turned into paste form. Then add half a lemon’s juice, a few drops of eucalyptus oil, cloves paste and 2 tablespoons of coffee. Mix the mixture evenly and transfer them into the Mendhi cone. Make a hole at the end of the cone so that the henna mixture is able to come out.

Then, you can freely design on someone’s hand as if you were decorating a cake with cream. It is better that you keep the tattoo moist for as long as possible after applying Mendhi. You can do that by applying a mixture of sugar and lemon juice on the Mendhi. When it dries up, clean up the caked Mendhi. Unless your Mendhi comes into contact with water, its color will continue to darken.

If you would like to remove the tattoo, you can wash it under hot water if it has just been applied recently. For at least 10 minutes, soak the affected area in a hot, soapy water. Then scrub the henna away with a brush. This only brushes it off the surface as some of it may have penetrated into your skin. In order to completely remove it, continue soaking in a hot water with bleach and scrub it. Repeat till Mendhi tattoo is gone.