Skin art has enjoyed a rich, vibrant and colorful history right from the beginning of time until the present day. Here we look at the evolution of the tattoo, as well as the best and worst tattoos of the past year.
Skin art was valued in ancient cultures for therapeutic, religious, tribal and cosmetic reasons. Today, people wear tattoos more as a form of decorative skin art,
although some sport tattoos are tokens of love and promises.
There was a time when tattoos were stigmatized as a mark of slavery, crime, and disgrace, especially during the Greek and Roman era. In fact, the Latin word for tattoo is Stigma.
Tattoos have now evolved from being a taboo to a pop-culture obsession thanks to celebrities, rock stars, and influencers.
Over the past 20 years, tattoos have enjoyed enormous popularity as the craze for skin art exploded. It’s hard not to follow suit when scantily-clad celebrities flaunt their gorgeous tattoos on Instagram.
Tattoo trends in 2018
The year 2018 saw the tattoo trend of artists working directly over the top or around existing tattoos, using thick dark lines.
Frequent requests also included black and gray fine lines, smaller Illustrations that use black ink with little or no shading at all, minimal tattoos that include scripted lettering,
and blended tattoo styles from different countries.
The most popular tattoo locations were the wrists, hands, and fingers, behind the ears and under the boobs.
The trend for minimal tattoos continued in 2019, with any shading discarded
altogether. In addition to scripted lettering, popular designs now include faces, flowers, and bodies. Even men are sporting tiny little balloons on their forearms!
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But with all the trends that come and go, many tattoo artists still prefer traditional tattoos. Black and grey, photo-realistic tattoos, ultra-realistic tattoos, and geometric work still dominate the scene.
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Ten Best Tattoos of 2018/9
Choosing a tattoo design is like choosing a partner in life – some of them you’ll regret, some of them you’ll cherish. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned tattoo enthusiast, your luck in finding the perfect tattoo boils down to your personal preferences. So here are the coolest tattoo designs that have impressed over the past year.
Our Picks
Emma Watson’s Time’s Up Tattoo would have made it to this list, not because it’s a typo but because of the buzz it created. But sadly it doesn’t qualify as a tattoo, so here are our best picks of 2018-2019.
1. Mamba Out! The sweat beads tho.
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Steve Butcher doesn’t have a million followers for nothing. It was only two years ago when the ink he made of McCaw’s bloodied face on a fan’s leg was dubbed by NewstalkZB and NZME broadcaster Tony Veitch as “the greatest sports tattoo”. This time, he has outdone himself with this ultra-realistic, painstakingly detailed rendition of Kobe Bryant. It’s not even photorealistic because it doesn’t look like a photograph, it looks life-like! “The hardest part about realistic tattoos is getting the likeness 100 percent because unlike a painting, you can’t paint over a tattoo.” says Steve.
2. Finger Candles
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This wicked piece freaked us out the first time we saw it! Jak Connoly’s clever manipulation of negative space, extraordinary attention to detail, and profound symbolism make this incredible skin art absolutely phenomenal!
3. Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?
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This freaking fantastic killer work by Mark Wosgerau made our jaws drop, literally. The perspective of depth, the sharpness and blurriness, the contrast and the subtle transitions come together to create this dramatic effect. It’s, quite simply, a masterpiece.
4. The Brave, the Dead and the Beautiful
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This wondrous portrait of a girl with a tiger headdress was rendered by Guzman Perez of Miami Florida, the man behind the name of Bolo Art Tattoo. According to Guzman, the girl is his client’s daughter, and by the looks of it, no one can mess with her. Guzman’s lifelike
renditions, glamorous compositions never cease to amaze us.
5. New Legs!
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This biomechanical tattoos by Cheyenne artist Roman Abrego just blew us away! They’re so realistic you’d think that the wearer is capable of giant leaps. Uncanny photorealism on a live canvas!
Asking tattoo artists to pick the best tattoo other than their own is like asking Miss Universe contestants to pick their winner for Miss Universe. Of course, they would be coy about picking their own works so the next best thing to do is choose the work of someone whose style resembles theirs most. So we choose 5 well-known tattoo artists and peeped on their preferences.
1. “It was all started by a mouse!” – Walt Disney
Revered cartoon tattoo artist, and illustrator aka “Tattoonist” Thom Bulman certainly did not start with a mouse, but his playful and wonderful colors caught the attention of fans all over the planet and admirers in the tattoon world including Steve Sklepic. For Steve, this Mickey Mouse rendition of Thom Bulman is a total stand out. Steve has over 10 years of experience in tattoo art and enjoys all things colorful – from portrait realism to cartoons and pop culture. It’s little wonder he loves Thom Bulman then.
2.Top of the Game
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Marc Roy loves the black and grey realism of Thomas Carli Jarlier. “His level of realism is just off the charts,” Roy says of Jarlier. Many fans of Jarlier share Roy’s sentiments, and needless to say, Roy’s works are also outstanding pieces of real and surreal black and grey. He enjoys inking ornate and intricate subject matters, especially subjects that are off the beaten path.
3. Wait till you see the eyes open…
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Daniel Armitage, a hyperrealist and surrealist, points to Dmitriy Samohin’s hyperrealistic work. “Dmitriy Samohin has always been a big inspiration”, says Daniel Armitage. We totally agree. Ukrainian tattoo artist Dmitriy Samohin takes tattoos to a whole new level. The details are uncanny – the beard, the hair and the beads, this work is so lifelike you can’t help but wait for the eyes to open. But sorry to disappoint you guys, only Pinocchio comes to life. Or does he, really?
4.The Man with a Dragon Armpit.
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Lexi Hanna of Honor Bound Tattoos goes for Jeff Gogue’s masterpiece. “I love solid big pieces that cover the body and become a part of you,” says Hanna. JeffGogue is considered by many as one of the best in the tattoo industry. Seeing the quality of his works, it’s easy to see why clients travel from distant lands just to get tattooed by Jeff. You can also see traces of Jeff Gogue’s influence in Hannah’s amazing full sleeve tattoos.
5.The Most Famous Tongue in the World
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Carlos Torres picks the work of Robert Hernandez. “He’s the one who influences me the most. He’s the Dali of the tattoo world, I love his surrealism”, Torres says of Hernandez. This 3d tattoo is so mind-boggling you can almost feel Gene Simmons’ tongue stick out of the wearer’s skin. Torres himself is a popular surrealist. “Black & grey was something that I was attracted to. I find it timeless; like a black & white photograph will always look cool no matter what. It also works well with tattoos. I am happy to just do black & matter what” bulmantattoons.com
Best Tattoos Picked by Users
1. “Is it weird that I want to peel the rest of the skin off?”
This tattoo is easily the most popular tattoo of 2018, not because it is extremely good or a horrible tattoo, but because of the attention it attracted on the internet. The first few layers of the above tattoo were burned, exposing the dermis that holds tattoo pigment. Man, you won’t believe the funny comments and responses that it got.
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2.The Prettiest
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“I love permanent makeup if done tastefully. There is a tattoo artist here where I live who does areola restorative tattoos for breast cancer survivors. Terry is a master though she’s humble. Check out the 3D nipple tattoo. This has got to be one of the most beautiful
tattoos… there are so much love and meaning in these,” says Dianna Sierra, Disabled Veteran at U.S. Army
3. Simply stunning!
One of Sheila Hughes’ picks for the year 2018, she just saw this on the internet and posted it as one of the best tattoos she has ever seen.
4. Those lines tho.
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“I admit to an inordinate amount of bias, but I think my niece Andy Revenant does some of the best workarounds”, says Loretta B DeLoggio. We agree!
5. Aweficent!
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“As they say, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, so it’s pretty subjective.
But the most amazing tattoo I’ve ever seen was done by Nikko Hurtado, says Dean Hamack
Worst Tattoos of 2018/9
And then there are the shitty tattoos that make you cringe. Here are a handful of those monstrosities
Worst Tattoos: Our Choice
1. A fashion statement or a lifestyle?
Uh-uh… Is she auditioning for the Drag Queens of Comedy, or is this intended to be a carnival mask? Whatever, not even a Jessica Rabbit hairstyle can help this.
2. You get what you pay for!
3. Don’t do it when you’re drunk
4. The Vagina Monologues
5. Sinfully Delicious
Worst Tattoos: Tattoo Artist’s Section
1. Badass Kitty
2. One Love
3. Fuck the World
4. BFF
5. One Direction
Worst Tattoos: User’s Section
We looked for users’ recommendation for the worst tattoo award and here’s what we found:
1. The Black Hole
The thing is, it’s not even a hole, it is a rape of human flesh as one commenter
observed. Austanaa found this on Facebook
2.Tattoo or Infection?
3. Guess What
4.Tinder Dating Tips
5. Shitty Cover Up
Best Body Part Tattoos
Best Neck Tattoos
1. David Beckham Rules!
2. Rihanna Rocks!
Best Hand Tattoos
1. Intense Dragon Eye
2. Winged Grace
Best Ankle Tattoo
1. Innocent Charm
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This delicate and detailed rendition of a dainty bouquet is a sure-fire winner!
2. Moon Hammock
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3. Floral Ankle Tattoo
The charm that this pretty tattoo exudes is simply alluring.
Best Arm Tattoos
1. Dreamcatcher
This is simply gorgeous and enchanting, something you’d love to flaunt anywhere
2. Solid Marble
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This sculpture effect is just incredible, it can easily take you to another dimension!
3. Beyond
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Incredible torso tattoo with a touch of mystery and the dark world.
2. Bold Move
This very creative and colorful full body tattoo is the epitome of sensualityBest Chest Tattoos
1. Tribal Eagle
The balance, color harmony and execution of this chest tattoo is simply incredible!
2. Lotus in the Valley
Worst Body Part Tattoos
Worst Neck Tattoo
1. Redneck
2. Head Over Head
1. Oh God, Why?
2. Child’s Play
Worst Ankle Tattoos
1. Beach Party
2. Socks Galore!
Worst Arm Tattoos
1. All Seeing Eye
2. Mama’s Boy
Worst Full Body Tattoos
1. I Want My Skin Back!
2. Vintage
Best and Worst Tattoo Themes
NBA players have their share of the best, and worst too.
We love this Chinese proverb etched vertically on his sexy side.
Simply delicious! And who doesn’t love Zayn Malik’s glow in the dark light saber?
Adam Levine’s sexy whole back tattoo is still a hit.
While Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott’s matching butterflies are still the buzz
If there’s anything that Kendall Jenner learned about tattoos, it’s that you should never get inked when drunk.
And if we can learn anything from Ryan Gosling, it’s that we should leave it to professionals.
Which celeb are you most like according to your tattoos?
You can feel the love for Michael Jackson here, but it just doesn’t resemble him a bit.
“Mama, just killed a man”… We’re wondering if Freddie was referring to the artist who did this?
How to Cover Up or Remove a Tattoo Gone Wrong
Maybe you got it right in the beginning but you’ve fallen out of love with it.
Live With It
Cover it
Remove It
There are several ways to remove bad tattoos. A quick search will yield natural methods such as this,
But good luck with that one!
Laser Removal
The most effective way to remove tattoos gone wrong is through laser removal. Laser centers have popped up anywhere, but if you don’t want to make another mistake about your skin, the safest place to go for a laser removal is a Dermatologist’s office.
Myths About Laser Removal
Myth #1 Laser Removal is a Quick Solution to RemoveBad Tattoos
Laser removal is not a magic eraser. It may take several months or up to two years to complete the process, and sessions can be at a 2, 6, 8 or 12 weeks interval.
Myth # 2 Laser Removal is Accessible to Anyone
Sorry to break the news, but it’s not. It may cost hundreds of dollars per session over a period of two years.
Myth # 3 It’s a Simple, Painless Procedure
On the contrary, it’s an invasive procedure that can cause swelling, bleeding, and pain.
Myth # 4 It Works for Everyone
Laser removal works best for lighter skin. It can cause burns and hyperpigmentation to those with darker skin tones
Myth # 5 It Works for All Kinds of Tattoos
Brightly colored tattoos are difficult to remove, especially white, yellow and purple. Tattoos done by professionals can also pose a greater challenge than amateur tattoos.
Myth # 6 It’s a very safe method
Laser removal works by breaking up the pigments which will be carried to the lymph nodes through the bloodstream and may cause a systemic reaction. Hypersensitive patients may be at risk for anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. People with allergies must opt for the abrasive laser which removes the top layer of the skin. Healing may take 4 to 8 weeks depending on your health condition and aftercare.
Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare
After each laser removal session, you may experience bruising, swelling, and blistering. Here’s how to care for the affected skin.
1. Apply a cold compress for the first 24 hours to ease discomfort and inflammation.
2. Keep the area bandaged with sterile gauze over an antibiotic ointment for at least 3 days. Keep the area dry and clean during the healing period.
3. You may take a pain reliever but never aspirin as it can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising
4. Never pick any scabs that form
5. Avoid baths, hot tubs, or swimming to protect the affected area from infection.
6. Avoid the sun and avoid wearing make-up on or around the affected area
7. During the healing process, use Aquaphor, Vitamin E ointment, or hydrocortisone cream to counter the dehydrating effect of the laser treatment.
8. If you suspect infection – spreading redness, oozing and honey-colored crusting, seek medical help immediately
Here are some examples of tattoo removal gone wrong because of cheap laser therapy options:
Her skin formed scabs and started peeling away after the procedure:
Two months after enduring unbearable, excruciating pain, this is the final result of Pasuda Reaw’s chemical tattoo removal:
Student reveals painful scars left when tattoo removal went horribly wrong The 21-year-old got the tattoo a year ago.
How to Find a Reputable Tattoo Artist Near You*
* Study the artists’ work. Check their lines, gradation in shades, contrast, smoothness, and accuracy. Remember, your tattoo is meant to last a lifetime. Give it enough effort to find the best.
