TATTOOS HAVE BEEN A RIGHT OF PASSAGE FOR MANY YEARS
Many cultures in the world have used tattoos, body modification, and scarification as a means for a right of passage. Both males and females had their different rituals. There were multiple reasons for these to occur. Often, a right of passage was a coming of age, such as becoming a man or for a woman, being able to have children. Enduring the pain meant you were ready for your new role in your society.
Other former rights of passage, in all forms of body modification, was in regards to battle or a hunt. Being victorious in battle could earn you certain marks. The more you were successful, the more marks you got. It was to show your peers and enemies you were fierce and someone to respect. To bring down a dangerous or large animal also earned you different marks, showing your prowess as a hunter.
Some cultures that exist today still practice these forms of body modification, and can be found on nearly every continent. It's most commonly seen in African tribal cultures, but it's just as prevalent in many other parts of the world. Traditional rights of passage have been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.
In today's society, most of the advanced cultures don't generally view tattoos as a right of passage. This is particularly true if someone uses numbing agents or get put under anesthesia (yes, it happens) to get their tattoos. They are missing out on part of the experience, and they're looking for the payoff without the price. The pain involved with getting a tattoo is part of what makes it a right of passage.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
THE USA IS UNFORTUNATELY LACKING IN REGULATIONS FOR TATTOOS
Many in the country view regulations as a negative. This may be true for some things, but when it comes to health and safety, they are kind of important. The tattoo industry has virtually no consumer protection in America. Fortunately, Lucky Bamboo Tattoo holds itself to a much higher standard than the industry norm.
What's even stranger still, there are some elements in the tattooing world that push back against any sort of regulation presented. Why wouldn't they want the health and safety of their client put into consideration? It's almost suspicious. Are they trying to cut corners to increase their profit margins? Low quality materials are certainly cheaper, so that would make sense. Oddly, you'll even hear about so-called well known artists fighting against regulations of any kind. What are they afraid of?
Another thing that has many in the industry confused in the topic of permits vs having a license. A permit is just a permit. You fill out a form, pay the fee, and boom...you are a tattoo artist. No verification, no proof of education or skill, nothing. This is a massive disservice to clients. Any unqualified person can simply open a tattoo shop and start working. A license is different. You need proof of your skill and education as a tattoo artist before you can work. Most states do not require a license to become a tattoo artist. Watch our video by clicking the button to learn more about this.
Something else that seriously needs some regulations are materials, inks in particular. Literally anybody can make their own brand of ink and immediately put it on the market. There is nothing stopping them. Who knows the sanitary conditions, if any, were used in the creation and manufacturing of these inks? What's in them? Do they contain materials known to be unsafe? There is absolutely no way to know. There are tattoo artists out there that will actually buy these random inks to save money, and that puts their clients at risk.
Every artist at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo uses EU regulated inks, which are among the strictest in the world in regards to consumer safety and regulations. All the materials used in our studio are top of the line, from the machines, inks, needles, etc. The owner, who's also the head tattoo artist of the studio, does not allow the usage of cheap stuff. No exceptions. Any artist that works under the Lucky Bamboo Tattoo name must adhere to these standards.
This is part of the reason why cheap tattoos are cheap. Combine unskilled scratcher artists with low quality materials, and you get cheap poorly done tattoos. As said in the industry, "Cheap tattoos aren't good, and good tattoos aren't cheap."
All clients, and all serious tattoo artists should welcome regulations regarding licensing and the overseeing of the safety of materials. It's in the best interest for both parties, and people should accept these regulations with open arms. The health and safety of the client should be top priority for a tattoo artist.
Rest assured, regardless of how the United States chooses what or what not to regulate, Lucky Bamboo Tattoo always has and always will adhere to top of the line standards. Our artists will not compromise our clients over cost. As artists proud of their work, they want to make sure all of their clients are happy, and will be able to continue to enjoy their art for many years to come.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment or a consult with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
A consult is sometimes necessary for your tattoo ideas, but not always. Sometimes, very often actually, you can get a quote from an artist without the need to meet with them first. However, if your piece is more complicated, a cover up, or you just feel more comfortable meeting with your artist before they plan out your tattoo, a consultation is there to help you out.
Consultations at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo are free.
HOW TO PREPARE AND WHAT TO EXPECT
When you come in for your consult, come with your ideas and an open mind, and come with an expectation that you may be booking after your meeting with the artist. With the expectation, that means, be prepared to put down the ADF (Artist Design Fee), which acts as a deposit which is held until your last appointment (if multiple sessions are booked, otherwise your ADF pays for your upcoming appointment).
Give your artist your ideas and input for the piece you want, and it's even fine to show reference images. Don't expect the artist to do an exact copy of any images you provide. You really don't want that anyway, if you think about it. Why would you want a tattoo that someone else already has? One of the benefits of going to a custom studio, like Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, is the prospect of getting a one-of-a-kind piece designed just for you. Watch our video about the importance of giving artistic freedom by clicking the button below!
It's not the best idea to bring a bunch of people with you for your meeting appointment. We see quite often, when this happens, the people with you may be distracting or possibly even confuse you by throwing their own ideas out there. It's much better for you to meet with your artist by yourself so that the both of you can stay focused and discuss exactly what you are looking to get. The exception to this is if multiple people are getting a consult on a matching piece. Even then, it's good to plan out with your crew what you are all looking to get, and have a main spokesperson to talk with the artist during the session.
After you and the artist have come up with a game plan, they will give you a quote for time, and how much of an ADF that needs to be put down in order to book. For smaller tattoos or single session tattoos, your ADF will likely be for the entire amount of your tattoo. For larger pieces with multiple sessions, your ADF will be a portion of the cost of the tattoo. To full understand how our ADF works, please read our article by clicking the button below.
If you end up booking, and especially if you have multiple sessions scheduled, a very helpful tool for you to use is the Lucky Bamboo Tattoo app, which is available on both Apple and Android! You can find direct links to both below!
The app will keep track of your appointments, any changes to your appointments, alert you when your artist has a sudden opening, offers exclusive promotions, access to new pictures in our gallery and more!
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment or a consult with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
Like other forms of the creative arts, an illustrator has to metaphorically travel many miles on the path before they can become a tattoo artist. Many steps are involved. Some obstacles. Commitment. Determination.
When someone begins the path towards a career as a tattoo artist, one of the first things they'll need is an innate skill for creating unique works of art. Something that catches the eye and that others love to look at. You need to put yourself out there and ask for brutally honest opinions. Sometimes someone may think they're a great artist, but they may be sadly very wrong. The only way to really know is to rely on direct honesty and be open to the truth. Sometimes the truth is very difficult to accept.
Once a person establishes whether they are a good or bad illustrator, next they need education regardless of the answer. If you are a bad artist, it's possible to become good through education and a mentor. If after working hard during this process, and you are still getting mixed or bad reviews, it just may not be the vocation for you. If you were already good, education will only make you better by learning techniques and skills you may not have had before.
After you've honed your skill through practice and education, now is the time to start translating that into tattooing. Drawing and tattooing are NOT the same. They are completely different skill sets. Though nearly all established veteran tattoo artists won't consider taking on an apprentice without producing some sort of skill in tattooing, such as practice on fake skins, some may. It's better to invest in a decent machine, buy some fake skins and inks, and study the actual skills needed to tattoo.
Some of the most basic skills are hand speed, needle depth, angle, voltage (machine speed) vs hand speed, and so on. A prospective tattoo artist will likely spend many hours practicing doing lines, over and over and over. If you can't master the most basic of actions, you simply won't make it as a tattoo artist. After you learn the fundamentals, then you'll need to produce "completed" tattoos on fake skins. You'll need these for your portfolio for your potential mentor to look over.
If a person has demonstrated that they indeed have artistic skill, some art education, and the basics of tattooing, they may be ready to look for an apprenticeship. Before you move forward, you will need to have a comprehensive portfolio of completed works of art, including your practice skins. If you are deemed ready and get your chance to become an apprentice, don't expect to be tattooing for quite a while. Likely during this time, you will be learning. You will also be setting up and breaking down for tattoo sessions. This is done so that these necessary sanitary practices become second nature.
Only after you have proven to be ready to your mentor will you be ready to do your first in studio tattoo. It will most likely be monitored by the mentor to make sure you are doing everything correctly. This will probably be the standard for your first several tattoo sessions, or until your mentor is comfortable leaving you on your own.
The last major stage would be to establish yourself in the tattooing community. A new artist needs to spend a good amount of time self promoting so that they can build a client base. It will take some time before a new artists schedule starts to fill up, so patience and determination are very important if they want to make it.
With all that has been mentioned, why would anybody want to become a tattoo artist?
SO WHY BECOME A TATTOO ARTIST?
Well, once you are established and have a good reputation, a tattoo artist can make a rather comfortable living. The tattoo artist can be the rare exception to the "starving artist" trope, if they're good. The same can't be said of most other art forms, such as music and painting. It's far more difficult to make any money in other forms of art. A tattoo artist has a much greater chance at becoming successful in their chosen industry.
It's easier to be able to establish a family, buy a home, pay for vacations, retire younger, etc if you make decent money and know how to properly manage it. Some tattooers also venture into other investments or businesses, which just furthers their ability to take care of their families.
Since most real tattoo artists love the process, they get to do what they love for a living. That's everyone's dream, isn't it? Nobody wants to wake up each morning and dreading going to work. That's not to say that there are days that tattooers don't feel that way, it's human nature. However, in the most part, they don't dread going to work, and quite a bit of the time, look forward to it. Being passionate about seeing a work of art come to fruition on their client is a blessing.
Leaving a legacy is also a good reason. Their artwork will live on, even after both the artist and the client have passed on through images shared. It helps if an artist self publishes books showing off completed tattoos. These books will remain after we are gone.
Through all the hardships on the road to becoming a tattoo artist, the benefit outweigh the negatives. If you have skill, patience, passion, and determination, the life of a tattoo artist can be really nice.
If you'd like to read more about the life of a tattoo artist, click on the button below to read our article!
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
MANDALA TATTOOS ARE BEAUTIFUL WITH A RICH HISTORY OF THE STYLE
The mandala design style has been around for quite a long time in human history, approximately 2000 years, actually. Traveling Buddhist monks helped spread the design and its meaning around Asia over the years. In modern times, the mandala tattoo is very popular in many different crowds. They're not exclusive to any single group.
IN THE BEGINNING
Like previously mentioned, in the first century BCE, the mandalas were essentially created by Buddhist monks. There's no definitive 'for certain' who exactly was the first person to create one was. However, it is very often credited to the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama of Nepal.
As the monks transversed Asia, along with sharing their wisdom and religious dogma, they also shared many other things, including their mandalas. People were immediately mesmerized by the ornate beauty of these designs, their intricacy, the endless possibilities for variation, and the deeper meaning besides just the art that it was.
Monks didn't adorn the design as a tattoo, but rather painted on paper (which was invented in China) and on cloth. Soon, the artwork began appearing on other artwork, including pottery and tile work. Not long after, the symbol became just as important in Hindu as it was for Buddhism. As time moved on, it made its way into popularity into China and Japan. To this day, from Tibet to Japan, the mandalas maintain their importance in Asian cultures.
DEEPER MEANING
Besides just being beautiful art, mandalas have a much deeper meaning and purpose. There are three layers to the meaning behind mandalas: the outer, the inner, and the secret. The outer is a representation of the universe. The inner is enlightenment. The secret is the balance of both the body and the mind.
There are various images commonly found in a mandala. First, is the center point, the beginning where you start your focus. Surrounding the center often starts with either a circle or square of geometric patterns. These patterns delve into deeper meanings with their symbolism. Some of the more commonly used are explained below.
Sun: The sun represents energy, life, and the universe, and is found very often in a mandala.
Triangle: When pointing up, triangles can represent energy and movement, and when pointing down, they can represent the seeking knowledge, creativity, and inspiration.
Bell: Bells can represent the clarity of emptying of the mind to allow the passage of wisdom.
Lotus flower: One of the more sacred symbols in Buddhism and Hinduism, the lotus often stands for balance and mankind's enlightenment and spiritual awakening.
Eight Spoked Wheel: With a wheel being a circle, it represents the universe in its perfection. The eight spokes represent the eightfold path of Buddhism which lead to reincarnation and freedom.
TYPES OF MANDALAS
There are multiple types of mandalas, and each have their own different meanings. There are many, so we'll share just a few of the more dominant ones seen in this ancient society.
Kalachakra Mandalas
The Kalachakra is used for meditative reasons and means "The Cycle of Time". Monks would meditate on the Kalachakra mandala, ritualizing the qualities of their diety as a means to become a diety themselves. This mandala is used in a way to turn regular minds into an enlightened healing mind.
Teaching Mandalas
Another popular type is called theTeaching mandalas. Teaching mandalas are largely symbolic and all aspects of the mandala represent different tenets of Buddhism. During a monks monastic education and learning, they often create their teaching mandalas.
Mantra Mandalas
Mantra mandalas are supernatural in nature, focusing on the deities and the powers and abilities of these otherworldly beings. Focusing on a mantra mandala, a monk can invoke their deity during a deep meditative state and be blessed with their power.
Healing Mandalas
Healing mandalas are created to focus on meditating towards a deeper sense of wisdom, concentrating and getting balance and aligning the energies of the body, mind, and soul.
MANDALAS ARE BEAUTIFUL
Besides all the spiritual and religious connotations, mandalas are just a beautiful work of art with endless design possibilities. They also make a great subject for a tattoo!
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
As time changes, so do trends. Tattoo designs and styles come and go, but not forever. Something that was really popular in the 40s may have died out, but often there's a resurgence of interest. Sort of like the high-waist "mom jeans" of the 80s making a comeback in recent years. So, what should we look out for in 2024 for tattoo trends?
WHAT'S THE BUZZ IN WHAT'S GOING TO BE POPULAR?
There are many designs in the tattoo industry that there's a certain buzz going on. There are tattoos people are talking about getting done once their holiday spending has subsided and tax refunds start to roll in. Here are some of the more talked about, searched for, and discussed tattoo trends.
FULL SLEEVE TATTOOS
Sleeve Tattoo by Christina
Although always popular, sleeve tattoos seemed to be having an uptick in interest. People that weren't interested before are not showing signs it's something they're looking to get done. A full sleeve tattoo can be of any style and topic. There really is no limitation. It will take your artist more time to conceive, design, and draw out a sleeve tattoo, but the results are worth the wait. This one trends more than any other.
FLORAL TATTOOS
Floral Tattoo by Leah
Another staple in the tattoo industry, the trends of floral tattoos continue every year. It doesn't look like a design that will ever go away, and with good reason. There are so many things you can do with a floral tattoo regarding style and design. A good artist will probably create several hundred unique floral tattoos over their career, and in the thousands for those who specialize in the subject. If you take into consideration of how many tattoo artists there are globally, that's millions of unique floral designs.
COLORFUL/VIBRANT/WATERCOLOR TATTOOS
Colorful Tattoo by Jared
Before we get into it, no, black & grey tattoos aren't going anywhere. They will be popular forever. B&G is well loved internationally and it's a given to be popular. With that said, there is a bunch of internet chatter and in-studio discussions with clients that makes it appear there are trends happening in the desire for extremely colorful and vibrant pieces. These differ from typical tattoos with color and are more like color tattoos on steroids.
SMALL/MINIMALIST/SIMPLE TATTOOS
Small Bee by Vitalii
People more and more are recognizing the simplistic beauty of a small and/or minimalist tattoo. A tattoo doesn't have to be grandiose and take 30 hours to be impressive. A very well done small and simple tattoo can also have a degree of impact simply due to its innate beauty. They are the epitome of "less is more" if done perfectly.
FINE LINE/UNSHADED TATTOOS
Fine Line Tattoo by Leah
Fine line tattoos have been popular for a while now, but there seems to be a larger interest as it trends in this coming year. Finely detailed tattoos with little or no shading seem to becoming more popular each year, and it appears to be really focused in the majority with women. Men do enjoy this style as well, but the ratio is much smaller than with the female tattoo crowd. They are also a popular choice for people that are looking at getting their first tattoo, which would indicate it's also age related to a certain degree.
MEMORIAL TATTOOS
Pet Memorial Tattoo by Christina
Memorial tattoos have been around for a very long time, and they will always have a place in the tattoo industry. As time goes by, more people seem to be inclined to get a memorial tattoo for someone they loved and lost or for a lost pet. These kinds of tattoos span all age groups, and surprisingly, it's the older crowd that dominates the request for one of these tattoos. Older people that have never had a tattoo before in their entire life are starting to book memorial tattoos.
WHAT TATTOOS ARE TRENDING ON THE DOWNSWING?
With some trends swinging in the upward direction, that always means others will swing on the downward. It doesn't mean these tattoos are passé or lame, it just means they aren't currently as popular as other styles. Sometimes, a particular design or style has its moment in the sun, and then it fades away, perhaps forever. This could be said about the stereotypical "90s tribal". It did go away for the most part, but it appears to have been given sort of a new life with neotribal as that style trends. So what's out in 2024?
CLICHE TATTOOS
What is a cliché tattoo? It's something that's been done a million times before. Some of these include, but not limited to, infinity symbols, feathers blowing away and turning into birds, lovers name tattoos, "carpe diem" or "memento mori" tattoos, cheesy quotes such as "Live, Laugh, Love", and so on. People are starting to not only stray away from cliché pieces, but are also looking to get them covered up.
HARRY POTTER TATTOOS
There's nothing wrong with Harry Potter or enjoying the books/films. However, it's had its day in the tattoo world, mostly with either "Always" or the Deathly Hollows logo (or sometimes the two designed into one tattoo together). So many of these designs have been done over the years, there are actually some artists that flat out refuse to do any more of them. Fortunately for those artists, the request for HP tattoos have dropped quite a bit, and it looks to continue that way into 2024.
IGNORANT STYLE TATTOOS
There will always be a special place in the hearts of many who enjoy this bizarre trendy tattoo style. If you're not familiar, they're cartoonish style tattoos that often have some sort of stance on society usually done in a humorous way. They're easy to identify because they are generally and purposefully done to look like they were drawn by a child. Some artists absolutely hate that these even exist. It's a trend that lasted a few years, but it looks like it's nearing its end in 2024.
AMERICAN TRADITIONAL
Sad as it may seem, it looks like American Traditional style continues its downswing. Once very popular, particularly in America, these classic tattoos just aren't resonating with the younger crowd like they used to. There will always be people out there getting the traditional style, and most tattoo artists have a certain degree of love, if for nothing more than nostalgia, for American Traditional tattoos. Unfortunately for those that still love it, the style continues to fall further down the line for requested tattoos outside a shop that only does flash.
FOREIGN WORD LETTERING
Let's face it, quite a few of us have something like this done. A few decades back, it was "cool" to have some Chinese or Japanese characters tattooed on you that meant something like 'strength' or 'power'. Not so much these days. There doesn't seem to be any upcoming interest in these tattoos by practically anybody. Roman numerals and Norse runes are still trending, but Asian characters have all but died off for tattoo requests.
TRENDS COME AND GO, BUT HERE'S TO 2024!
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
