Henna Tattoo Warning

The good ole news reports that the US Food and Drug Administration has found and reports that Henna Tattoos using black ink that contains para-phenylenediamine (PPD), can leave permanent scars on the body of the person who gets it.  Check out the source article here and make sure you find out what kind of chemicals are in the Henna ink that someone may be trying to put on you.  Chances are, many of the Henna artists donʻt realize that black ink is not safe… and if they do, you would not want to go to them anyway!

Henna tattoos are popular amongst Spring Break revelers and with the Beach climate here in Hawaii, many people get these types of pieces year round.  Traditional henna is made from a plant of the same name and have been used for temporary tattoos in weddings and other ceremonies before becoming popular impersonating the custom tattoo designs.

To learn about the safety of tattoo inks, check out this post we did previously on the subject.

If you are in Hawaii and want to commemorate your stay in a more permanent fashion, why not consider getting a tattoo at our Waikiki Tattoo studio, 434 Tattoo.  Our highly trained team of Hawaii Tattoo Artists will create a piece, that if you care for it, will heal nicely and without the burn like scarring as picture in the link above.

Shop Owner and President, Tattoo Adam, has been in the business for over 20 years and we have won Honoluluʻs Best Custom Tattooing Studio for four years in a row and counting!  So come on down to our Hawaii Custom Tattoos oasis for your tattoo today!

The 411 about 434:

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

Your Support!

Aloha!!!

Our Editor here on your favorite custom tattooing site wrote a book and had it published last year.  Just wanted to put a blurb up about it and suggest you hit the link for Adventures in Urban Mysticism and surf on over to Amazon and pick it up because it’s on sale massively and it’ll support a member of the Ohana!

For more information or to check out The Simple Voice, your place online for spiritual blogs!  You can even catch a few stories on here that are about spiritual tattoos as well!

THX for the support!

 

Custom Tattoos as Advertisements

Think twice before you ink something for money.  No matter how good the cause, in time, regrets may come up…

That’s what happened to ‘Billy the Human Billboard,‘ a dude from Alaska who had been taking money for advertisements as an aspiring boxer.  Sounds like the story of a good Heart taking a poor turn here and there as Billy, who donated a kidney to a stranger, took money to get a website tattooed on his back.

Editor’s Note: You might not want to continue the video from the 2:00 minute mark unless you like hearing about grooming…  You’ve been warned.  

When faced with homelessness and not being able to provide for his children, Billy turned to one of the most visible places to serve as a Human Billboard… his face!  Billy has over 20 advertisements on his face and head alone, and is now looking for another sponsor to pay for tattoo removal for the ink on his face.  The cost is over $4,000 and Billy has his regrets.  You can read the original story here.

Facial tattoos are common amongst Polynesian tattoo styles because of the cultural symbolism of them.  Tattoos have long been misunderstood and the association in media and history to tattoos being only for criminals has perpetuated the unfair treatment that people with tattoos have received.  Though with Billy, the art became advertising, for the vast majority, tattoos are a statement of identity, represent an interest in art, and for many, are a form of healing.

Why judge a book by its cover when you haven’t even read it?  In Billy’s case, he was trying to do what he thought best at the time to do for his family.  In the end, he has to be able to live with himself regardless of what the court of public opinion says and at the time he was dealing with a bout of bi-polar illness.

If you or someone else you know is considering an extreme tattoo or something similar to Billy, send them over to our Hawaii Custom Tattoos Shop, 434 Tattoo.  While we love to tattoo, the service and best interest of our customer is always held in the highest regards.  Our Hawaii Tattoo Artists are trained in the most up to date methods and are licensed by the Hawaii State Department of Health so we can help assist in what to do and if to do it.  The last thing we want is for someone to leave with something they don’t want later on in their life.

We are 434 Tattoo and we care about you!  Come on down!

The 411 about 434:

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

 

Hawaii Custom Tattoos: A Fusion

“Brah, it looks like an American and Japanese Tattoo!”  ~ Zach

Greetings from our Waikiki Tattoo studio, 434 Tattoo!  Owned and led by Custom Tattoo Artist, Tattoo Adam, we specialize in any and all things having to do with Hawaii Custom Tattoos!

The picture above is great example of the type of custom tattooing that we do.  This customer had the words tattooed originally and then Tattoo Adam did the Angel chest piece.  He tied in the Japanese inspired cloud tattoo background to a pre-existing tattooed arm sleeve that he also worked on.  This customer also has some Hawaiian roots so maybe we will see some Polynesian tattooing  as the background for the other side.

Come on down and meet the team!  We have a whole crew of talented Hawaii Tattooists and have recently welcomed artists, Lions and Kazan aboard, now joining Andy Burley who has been here since his apprenticeship with Tattoo Adam. We can do just about anything like the examples seen above and including but not limited to Hawaiian Tattoos, New Skool Tattoos, Old Skool Tattoos, Asian Tattooing, and more.

Stay tuned for more news, views, and lots about tattoos here!

The 411 about 434:

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

Electronic Tattoos.. Say what???

It has been brought to our attention here at our Hawaii Custom Tattoos Studio, aka 434 Tattoo, that those Science folk have created the first electronic printed tattoo!

Check out the article here for the scoops and details.  While this opens the door for new types of custom tattooing, we have to ask what kind of implications does such a novel creation hold?

Well, if the trend grows, it could lead to people choose to get tattoos printed as opposed to the traditional way in which tattoo artists have done their work, with the needle and the tattoo machine.  There are already a number of people, who never get licensed or trained properly, doing homemade tattoos with kits purchased off the Internet.  What’s next, buying an HP Printer with electronic tattoo capabilities?

Aside from what this does to the trade, the scarier thought is the idea that people could end up with mandated electronic tattoos in the form of bar codes or as a way to scan information.  Those sci-fi movies have gotten a few things right in the past, could the age where microchips in our bodies holding information be replaced with scans that gather data about us?  Will we see a black market trade of fingers or eyeballs?  Will said body parts be like Credit Cards, easily stolen?  Even scarier, are we reaching an age where they could just as easily be replaced?

Editor’s Note: I love how technology connects and simplifies our lives in many ways because it truly does a great deal of good to enhance our experience.  However, some times we needn’t open Pandora’s Box… 

Anyhow, we are still in the business of traditional tattooing!  If it comes to an age where tattoos are printed, we’ll cross that bridge.  For now, these new electronic pieces flake off within a few weeks because they don’t get as deep as real tattoos. One silver lining can be seen with that is people can get a piece done to see what it looks like as a preview before digging in and getting the whole piece.  BUT, the article does note that the age where it is embedded in the skin can’t be far off; let’s hope that Blade Runner and Total Recall  like futures are far, far away…

What do you think?  Leave a comment or come on down and talk with us at our tattoo studio in Waikiki.  We are open 7 days a week, rain or shine, and we are sure to bring a shine to any rainy day mood you may have!

Aloha!

The 411 about 434:

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

What is the Most Painful Tattoo?

“When people asks if it hurts, I tell them that it doesn’t hurt me.” ~ Tattoo Adam jokes

For a variety of reason, people often ask the question:

What is the most painful place to get a tattoo?

Answers to this question will vary per person because each person is unique and have a differing threshold for pain in the body.  Despite that, there are a few areas that you can bet will be painful…

Anywhere that hits the bone

Tattoos that hit the bone can be painful because there isn’t much ‘meat’ or skin to pad the impact of the needles from the tattoo machine.  It’s pretty much just a bunch of nerve endings bundled up without much around it to absorb the impact and feeling of the machine as it does its job.  So when people say that it really hurt on the extremities like a foot tattoo or tattoos on fingers, now you know they aren’t kidding!

Inner areas

Inner Thigh Tattoos or Inner Arm tattoos tend to be a bit painful and we can’t really tell you why.  A best guesstimate is that these are naturally the more sensitive and less exposed areas of the body and as a result, receive less touch period, so any touch, in particular, that of the needle can be pretty intense for the recipient.

Back up

There are differing views on what part of the back hurts the most as some people can’t take the spine, others the kidneys, others yet the shoulder area.  This seems to be one of those that just depends on the person.  One thing is certain, most people can agree that the bottom of the back canvas aka butt tattoos tend to hurt alot even though there is alot of padding there.

How about a rib or two?

Ribcage tattoos suck.  Enough written.

The skull

And we aren’t talking about Skull tattoos (though those are cool!), we are talking about getting a tattoo on your skull, so either shaving that head or getting one over your bald areas.  These are known to hurt.  Karl ‘Doubledown’ Juthans, who apprenticed under Tattoo Adam and is one of our Waikiki Tattoo Shop Ohana, can attest to that!  See below:

Face tattoos:

Did you say the face?  Yes.  Facial Tattoos are quite a common Polynesian Tattoo Style and many have shared that this hurts quite a bit.  Read more about tattooing the face here.  If it means something to you great, if not, think about it!

Getting Personal:

Getting personalized tattoos of your Lover’s name can be painful later on and cause a cover-up later perhaps.  Getting tattooed in personal, private areas can be even more painful if you catch our drift…

Whatever it is, whether your face, your bottom, your private areas, getting a tattoo hurts in places that don’t hurt as much as those sensitive spots of the body, so just be advised.  It is a beautiful experience but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its moments…  But fear not as we will be sure to give you the best in service and take the best care of you at our Waikiki Tattoo shop, 434 Tattoo.

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

Tattoos News from around the World

Couple quick updates from Hawaii Custom Tattoos Studios

In World News

The New York Daily News posted a story of a woman who let herself get a Face Tattoo of her boyfriend’s name… less than 24 hours after they met.  The Tattoo Artist Rousian Toumaniantz who did this, was in trouble a few years back in Belgium for tattooing the face of a sleeping woman.

He had to flee Belgium after that incident…

And on the West Coast…

Andy Burley will be in his Native California for a convention this month!  Stop by, hit him up, keep the Hawaii Tattooist busy and take advantage of the opportunity of him being here.

Note: There is a Facebook Rumor that Karl ‘Doubledown’ Juthans might show up too.  Or at least that’s what one comment said.

In Tattoo Studios in Waikiki News…

We are keepin’ on, keepin’ on!

We welcome the addition of Hawaii Tattoo Artist Kazan, previously at Tiki Tattoo now closed.  Tattoo Adam is now available from 10a-4p Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday by appointment so please call ahead and book your slot.  Of course walk-ins are more than welcome but appointments are always preferred.  So come on down to the Happiest Place around and get your custom tattoos from our award-winning Honolulu Custom Tattoo Studio!

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

Tattoos: A Family Affair

My Dad was getting a Custom Tattoo from his Dad

Howzit from our friendly neighborhood Honolulu Tattoo shop, 434 Tattoo.  We had a little downtime from keeping you posted due to some illness and family happenings in this Writer’s Life, but fear not, we are back to write, stronger than ever, about everything and anything 434 and Hawaii Custom Tattoos related!

That being said, family is one of the most important things in Life and recently, my family had a chance to meet up with our 434 Tattoo Family at the tattoo shop in Waikiki.  Let’s rewind a bit…

In January of 2012, Tattoo Adam, Owner and President of our Honolulu Tattoo Parlor, began this massive backpiece tattoo on my back.  I posted this same pic above of the tiger tattoo online and my Dad really liked it.  Growing up, my Dad had a few homemade tattoos that he got with some friends in the era where being tattooed still carried a heavy stigma.  Though those of us with tattoos still face prejudice and people jumping to conclusions, the times have changed greatly.  But along the way, both my older Brother and myself were often told by our Dad not to get Tattoos.

My brother would go on to get a number of tattoos, starting small and ending up with two full sleeves.  I have a sleeve, my ribs, and small pieces on an arm and leg to go with the giant tiger.  Oh yeah and a bunch of writing and a chestpiece, almost all of it done by Tattoo Adam or Andy Burley, whom was the first to ever make it through an apprenticeship with Adam, at 434 Tattoo.

LOL, did we listen?

It wasn’t being rebellious for my Brother and myself, it was just something that happened, that we enjoyed, and I certainly have no regrets about these custom tattoos in Hawaii that I have received.

If you notice in the pic of Adam working on my back, there is an image of the famous Samurai and Swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi.  My Dad loved Adam’s Asian Custom Tattoo Style so much, he wanted to get a Musashi tattoo himself!

From telling his sons no to tattoos to getting tattooed twice by Adam, there must be something magical about the ole’ Waikiki Tattoo studio…

What are you waiting for? Come on down, feel the pain, and be a part of the magic!

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287