Cross Tattoos For Men - Symbols and Meaning of Each Kind

                     Cross tattoos for men are one of the top ten most popular tattoo designs worn by bearers. Among them are angels, flowers and zodiac. When choosing a permanent tattoo, you should always consider your beliefs and feelings. Make sure that whatever design you put on your skin, you seriously accept it for the rest of your life.

There are many designs of cross tattoos for men. The big question has always been which kind of cross tattoo should one get. Your decision of course, mainly depends on your belief and character. The cross is a symbolical shape to so many religious sectors, spiritual groups and other tribes. Well, I've narrowed the choices down to these four classifications of cross tattoos for men.

Christian or Catholic Cross Tattoos

The Christian design mainly symbolizes the bearer's faith. If you are looking for a design that can express your individuality, identity and most of all, your faith, then this kind of cross tattoo is for you. The wearer sees his body as a canvass where he can express his love for God and proclaim his faith and belief in Him.

Celtic Cross Tattoos

This certain design classification centers mainly on heritage more than faith. For the Irish, Scottish or Welsh and other Celts, this symbolizes their ethnicity. The complexity of the Celtic design mimics the elaborate interrelation of nature. The intricate weaves, spirals and mazes of their design showcases the cycle of life where there is no beginning and there is no end. It is a deep symbol for life and the seasons of nature.

Cross Moline Tattoos

Originally of English design, cross moline tattoos represent a time of knights, fair maidens, jousting tournaments, Renaissance period, slaying dragons, kings, queens and magic swords. The design of each cross was a way of identifying the combatants during battle when their faces are covered with iron masks and shields.

Gothic Cross Tattoo

More than a symbolic tattoo, the Gothic design represents pain, suffering and darkness. If you have a deeper understanding of the universe and if you find yourself out of place in the world because you feel different in a certain level, then this design can be very suitable for you. It is for someone who can truly relate to the dark side of life and is not afraid of living in it because he accepts it as it is - life.

Tattoos For Men - A Guide to Choosing a Design and Body Area

                    When planning tattoos for men, the two most important decisions to make are choosing a design style, and choosing a location on the body to ink it. Some men prefer to start by choosing a design, and then think about the location later, while other men decide where they want a tattoo, and then search for suitable designs. Neither way is better than the other, and most men consider both the design and the body area simultaneously during the planning process.

There are a huge variety of design styles that make fantastic tattoos for men, and there really is something for everyone. Some of the most popular tattoos for men include Celtic, cross, dolphin, eagle, fish, heart, scorpion, star, tiger, tribal, and zodiac design styles. There are a wide variety of ink colours available, meaning that you can get your chosen design inked in whatever colours you want. It is important to remember however that some of the more traditional designs, such as Celtic and tribal designs, look best inked in black, so if you want a very colourful tattoo these designs are probably not for you.

Tattoo enthusiasts see the whole body as a canvas, and pretty much any area of skin can accommodate some kind of tattoo. That said, the most popular tattoo body areas for men are the arms, back, chest, legs, neck, and shoulders. When deciding on a body area to ink, its vitally important to think about how easy it will be to cover up, and expose. Many men have to think about the practicalities of their working lives, as many employers have no tattoo policies. Other men prefer to get tattoos in very conspicuous places. It all depends on your individual situation.

Your choices of where to ink your chosen design may also be limited by the size of the design. Large designs need large areas of skin, such as is provided by the back, chest, arms and legs. Smaller designs are not so restricted, and can be inked pretty much anywhere. Some areas of the body are too small to accommodate anything but the smallest tattoo designs, such as the wrist and ankle.

Whatever combination of tattoo design and body area you choose, please take your time to do so. I find it astonishing just how many people ink tattoos on the spare of the moment without really thinking about it. Needless to say these men often regret their decisions later on. Do not make the same mistake, think long and hard about what you want before committing to anything. Tattoos are permanent and the design that you ink will be with you forever.

Good places to find tattoo designs include the internet, collections held by tattoo artists and tattoo shops, as well as tattoo design books. I recommend that you browse through as many designs as possible to get some ideas and ensure that you get a really good feel for what is available. I also recommend that you talk to a reputable tattoo artist about your ideas, and show them some of your favourite designs. Any good artist will be able to give you expert advice and guidance to ensure that you get a tattoo that you really love.

For more information and advice about tattoos for men, please visit the Tattoos For Men page at the Premium Tattoo Designs Website. Additional information about tribal tattoo designs can be found on the Tribal Tattoos For Men page of the same website.

Pete Wood is a passionate tattoo enthusiast from the United Kingdom. Petes passion for the art of tattooing, combined with his anguish at the huge number of people that end up regretting thier tattoos, lead Pete to create the Premium Tattoo Designs website. The ethos of the premium tattoo designs website is to provide high quality information and advice so that people can make informed decisions when planning a new tattoo.

Zodiac Signs As Tattoos

                     Zodiac signs have always been a powerful cause of fascination for people since constellations were created and named, since men used stars to navigate their way at sea. The notion that the heavens can somehow shape our personalities and influence our actions and even daily activities is alluring. This, more than anything else, is why zodiac symbols are among the most sought after tattoo designs today.

Zodiac characters are cross-cultural symbols; various cultures have their own versions of the zodiac system and provide different names for each sign. The widely known and commonly used Roman names of the symbols have been used for centuries, but the signs of the zodiac themselves had already existed and been used by ancient Babylonian astrologers for millenniums. Each sign has its own specific identity and meaning. According to astrology, people who are born under the same sign are believed share common characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The twelve Roman zodiac symbols are Aquarius, Capricorn, Pisces, Aries, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, Libra, Scorpio, Virgo, and Taurus.

Many of us feel a profoundly personal spiritual connection with their personal Zodiac sign. 95% of people who choose to get a zodiac tattoo pick the sign they we born under, while the remaining percent pick the zodiac symbols of their family and loved ones. That means that choosing a zodiac sign as a tattoo is a very personal and spiritual statement, an extension of your own identity.

Are you wondering if a zodiac tattoo design would work for you? To answer that, you have to ask yourself whether you really take astrology to heart. For instance, do you always refer to your horoscope every day? Have you gone as far as having a personalized chart made for you? Are indicated zodiac sign compatibilities a guide for you in choosing a romantic partner? If your answer is yes to all questions, then it is clear that you seriously take astrology and that it is an integral part of your belief system. You should really get a zodiac tattoo then.

To make your zodiac tattoo more interesting, you might want to add in other styling items that are also symbolic by themselves. Here are some suggestions:

o You can choose black ink or colors, and bold tribal-style designs or lines with an Asian or Celtic flair. You can also incorporate zodiac symbols into larger or more intricate designs.
o Each zodiac sign has its own color, although astrologers still disagree about the matching of colors with the signs. For instance, Taurus is represented by pink, white, or blue, depending on what reference you use. You may want to use one or a combination of those colors to tattoo your design.
o You can also choose your tattoo's colors according to your birth stone. Birthstone charts vary according to the culture where they originated as well. But these charts give you a few color options while still being technically correct.
o Aside from gemstones, certain flowers are also connected to each sign. The Aries' flower is tiger lily. Cancers might choose a tattoo integrating honeysuckle and pomegranate. Astrologers may again have different lists on this, so be sure to research carefully on your own.
o You could also incorporate the element-earth, air, fire, or water-your sign is part of into your design.
o Zodiac signs are cross-cultural symbols. You may want to check out zodiac illustrations of other cultures, such as Chinese or Celtic images. These may appeal to your more aesthetically. Just be sure research well to find the right design, symbol, and meaning for you.