You’ve heard of Miley Cyrus right?  Originally famous for her Disney Channel show Hannah Montana she is now a “much loved” actress and pop singer in the US.  Well apparently she’s gone and got herself into a bit of controversy due to a tattoo she’s had inked on her middle finger.  Although the tat is said to have been completed back in August last year it is only recently that the 19 year old Disney star has really commented on her tattoo and received a bit of backlash. Gay Rights Miley’s tattoo is said to be in support of gay marriage which she is strongly for.  In fact in a recent interview she told Glamour Magazine that it makes her feel “sick to her stomach” that same sex couples can be completely in love but yet are not allowed to show that love to their friends and family in the same way that heterosexual couples are – via marriage.  Although Miley herself hasn’t actually “come out” as a lesbian, many people have questioned her sexuality in the past. Controversy The criticism for Miley’s tattoo has mainly come from Christian groups who strongly oppose gay marriage.  Miley herself has said that she has received much hate mail and comments in recent weeks asking her what happened as she used to be “such a good Christian girl”.  Miley proudly stood up to her haters, telling them that she IS a Christian and that Christianity is about love.  She dismissed the threats saying that although she has received them she finds them out of order.  Miley has publically said that she does not understand why things need to get so heated “Can’t I have a debate about a sensitive topic without it growing into a threat”? Miley also asked other groups to consider their way of thinking towards gay marriage.  She said that her dad “who is a true man’s man and is as straight as they come” is all for gay marriage and loves her gay friends.  She claims that there is no difference between racism and sexism and says that every United States citizen should be allowed to have the same liberties and civil rights. Is it Personal? Miley’s tattoo has received a lot of criticism as well as a lot of praise, but did she have the tattoo done for personal reasons?  Whilst Miley hasn’t shed any light on the subject herself she has been linked with a few girls in recent years including back in 2008 when photos of her and a friend “almost kissing” were leaked from her private MySpace account.  Miley’s comment at the time was that it was “no big deal” but it does make us wonder whether her recent tattoo is more personal than she is letting on. Either way we think she’s been a great role model and we totally respect her confident stance on such a controversial topic.  She has stuck firmly to her values and been brave enough to share them with the world.  Go Miley!

As soon as you leave the tattoo artist’s salon his or her work is completed and you have to take over responsibility for the care of your tattoo.  If this is a first tattoo you will naturally feel a little nervous but by following his/her advice you should not have any problems.  The aim is for the tattoo to heal completely with a result that pleases you and will give you pleasure for a long time to come. Simple Rules to Follow Your new tattoo will be bandaged when you first leave and you may be advised to leave it on for a few hours.  When the big moment comes to remove it, it’s best to be prepared with warm, (not hot water), a soft cloth and maybe a trusted friend!  And importantly you should be in a hygienic room. Gently wet the bandage with the warm water as this will help the bandage to be removed without any friction.  Once it is removed, carefully wash the tattooed area with soapy water, rinse and pat dry with the soft cloth.  Some tattoo artists recommend allowing the tattoo to be exposed for a few minutes before applying any ointment. Healing the Tattoo Your tattoo artist will have supplied or advised you on the necessary products to care for your tattoo.  Usually you will need an anti bacterial lotion which should be applied immediately, for example, Tattoo Goo, or Helix Gold.  You will apply this morning and night to keep the skin moistened to assist healing. It could be that you have been advised not to have a tattoo during the hottest part of the year, especially if you live in a hot climate.  The reason for this is simple as heat and intense light will cause you discomfort.  Salt water and sand getting onto your tattoo is bad news too as it will sting so keep away from the sea!  In fact, keeping water away from the tattoo for at least three or four days is essential. Resuming a Normal Hygiene Routine Taking a shower or having a bath for the first few days may be a little tricky as it’s best not to wet the tattoo too much.  You should inspect your tattoo as you continue to clean it with warm, soapy water and if there is discomfort or excessive irritation, consult your tattoo artist or seek medical advice.  Scabbing will begin within three or four days and when it does it’s essential not to pick or scratch the scabs!  If you do it can result in ink removal and cause more irritation.  At this stage the tattoo will look cloudy.  This is called ‘onion skin’ and is a perfectly normal part of the healing process.  As the skin returns to normal, the tattoo will become clear and bright. Shaving a New Tattoo The golden rule is not to shave until the skin is completely healed and you are confident that a razor will do no harm.  The cleaning and creaming procedure will be the same as for a hairless area. Following the above, simple routine will ensure a satisfying end result and you will be able to display your latest work of art within a short time.  Enjoy!

No matter how much you really wanted your original tattoo, or how much you loved the design at the time, there may come a point when you no longer want to be reminded of your reasons for getting it, or the love of your life that it was designed to celebrate.  In times like these it’s time to look into either tattoo removal or a cover up to make that area of skin less frustrating to you and lose the stigma associated with the original tattoo. The Idea The basic premise of cover up tattooing is to hide the offensive original artwork with new ink.  Depending on the style and size of the original tattoo it may mean that the entire area can be covered with a completely new design, or that the original design can in some way be adapted to form the basis of a new one.  Most people will opt for a total covering of the original piece of work rather than still being able to identify the old design inside the new work. When considering having cover up work done, look for an artist that has experience in this kind of work, as it does require a good eye and a certain level of creative skill.  Make sure you look through their portfolio’s which should contain a series of before and after shots of any cover up work completed.  Speak to anyone who has had cover up work done and ask questions about their experience and if they can recommend a tattooist for you to speak to. Procedure You will of course still have a tattoo at the end of the process, but you should be a lot happier with the one you leave with than the one you started with.  Make sure that when you consult with your artist that you have a range of ideas for designs that you would like to use as a replacement, ask them for their opinions too.  It may be that your artist will come up with design ideas that you have never considered.  Remember, don’t try and push a design that your artist thinks is unviable, or else you will be left with another reason to be unhappy.  These guys know what they are doing and if they say something won’t work, or will look awkward, listen to them. Tattoos can generally only be covered up once, so whatever you leave the shop with is what you will have to live with for the rest of your life.  Bear in mind that the new tattoo will need to be larger than the original in order to cover it completely, you may also have to get used to the idea of having a darker design so that the darker pigmentation hides the original colouration.  Cover up tattoos can take a lot longer to complete than fresh artwork, and may involve multiple sittings before it is complete.  Make sure you discuss the time required and the cost of the work before you agree to anything.