BellaSugar

Now, You Can Get a Golden Tattoo

Jaime Richards — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:00:52 PST

Have money to burn? Do you love gold? Then you might just want to hit up the luxe Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, where you can get a tattoo made of real 24-carat gold. But here's the catch: this pricey ink is only temporary.

The Precious Skin tats ($50 to $5,500) are comprised of gold or platinum leaf and were originally developed by Japanese designer Nobuhiko Akatsuka several years back (see his work here). With the recent launch of these luxury temporary tattoos in Dubai, along with plans to extend into more Middle Eastern outlets in the near future, I have a feeling this won't be the last we see of these body art-meets-jewelry accessories. Would you consider getting gilded yourself?

5 Ways to Beautify Yourself For Day of the Dead Festivities

Jaime Richards — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Day of the Dead (or Día de los Muertos) is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated each year on Nov. 2, when family and friends gather together in remembrance of those who have passed. Along with symbols like skulls, marigolds, and crosses, bright colors commemorate everything from grief and loss to joy and hope. So put a little joy into your own celebrations with these Day of the Dead beauty finds.

Where Would You Get a Tattoo?

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Certain stars may have star tattoos on various parts of their bodies, while others have different sizes and styles of designs on their necks. But what I'm wondering is this: If you got your own ink (or if you already have one), where would it be? Would you go the conspicuous route, or would you opt for something a bit more hidden?

Is It OK That More Teens Are Getting Tattoos?

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:00:00 PDT

More people in general have tattoos these days (a full 40 percent of the population between ages 18 and 29 now have some ink), but apparently the trend is especially strong among high schoolers, an increasing number of whom are getting body art before they reach legal majority.

It's a tricky thing to get inked so young. I love my tattoo, but I thought about getting it for years, and even as an adult there's always the specter of future regret lurking. Even if you love your piece, there are still pockets of people who think a tattoo makes you look unprofessional, which is hard to run up against in job interviews. Do you think it's OK that so many kids are looking to get stamped, or do you think it's a fad they'll be desperate to laser off in 10 years' time?

The Return of . . . Can You Guess Which Stars Have Star Tattoos?

Jaime Richards — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:00:00 PDT

As it turns out, a whole slew of celebrities have star tattoos, ranging from the small and discreet to the big and bold. Perhaps you've taken my first celebrities with star tattoos quiz, and now it's time for more. Can you guess who's been celestially inked? It's time to play:

Question 1 of 5

Which edgy lady used to have this star tattoo on her wrist? (It's since been replaced by a colorful flower.)

Kelly Osbourne to Part With Some Tattoo Art

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:00:00 PDT

I've always loved Kelly Osbourne's quirky beauty sensibility and whimsical tattoos, but Kelly herself isn't as big a fan of her body art. This month in her column for Closer Magazine, Kelly revealed that she's planning on lasering away several of her tattoos, including the keyboard on her arm and the heart and bones on her wrist.

She's not removing all of her ink (15 tats in total), because some pieces "still have a special meaning, like the matching ones my brother Jack and I have of each other's names," she says. It really sounds like Kelly's making the right decision for herself, but not everyone gets (or removes) their body modifications for the same reasons. Would you or have you ever removed a piece of body art? And if you have, what spurred you to do it?

Can You Guess Which Stars Have a Star Tattoo?

BellaSugar — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:00:00 PDT

Recently, a certain celebrity (see question number three) walked the red carpet wearing what's believed to be a temporary tattoo of a small star underneath her right eye. And this star is not alone when it comes to sporting some celestial ink. You might know that Rihanna has a series of stars tattooed on her neck and back, but do you know what other celebrities are members of the star tat club? Take the quiz to find out.

Question 1 of 6

Guess which model showed off her wrist tattoo while plugging some colorful flip-flops?

Can You Guess Who Has a Neck Tattoo?

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:00:07 PDT

While admiring Jaime King's braided updo I couldn't help but notice her two neck tattoos. There are plenty of other celebrities who also have gotten inked in this spot. Can you guess who they are?

Question 1 of 6

Can you guess who showed off her lion tattoo a few years back?

Henna Tattoos: All in Good Fun or a Health Risk?

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:00:34 PDT

A couple weeks ago, I went to my local farmers market and celebrated my growing baby bump by getting a henna tattoo. I've had henna done many times before on my hands and feet, so having my pregnant belly done was something I'd always wanted to do. You have to keep the area exposed for a few hours so the henna paste can dry, so while walking around the market, I got many smiles and sweet comments. But one person said to me, "Oh how beautiful, but isn't that bad for your baby?" I felt like being snippy and saying, "Yes, of course it's bad for my baby. I like to do harmful things to my unborn child." But instead of being snarky, I explained that henna tattoos are completely safe for your skin, your body, and a growing baby.

Also known as Mehndi, these tattoos are not actually permanent and only last between one and two weeks, depending on your skin, the quality of the henna, and how often you wash the area. The tattoo is applied in the form of a paste that looks like chocolate frosting. It's made by grinding up dried leaves from the henna plant and is mixed with water, lemon, and essential oils. After the paste dries, it's peeled or picked off after about 24 hours, and you're left with an orangey-brown tattoo that stains the first few layers of your skin.

This henna is completely safe, but there is a type of henna that is bad for your skin. To hear about it,

read more. There is a trend among some henna artists to apply something called black henna, which will stain your skin black instead of brown. This type of henna is dangerous because it contains paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a hair dye. When applied to your skin, it may look like a real tattoo, but allergic reactions to PPD can cause blisters, open sores, and scarring. It's easy to tell traditional natural henna apart from black henna. Traditional henna paste will look dark green, khaki, or greenish brown, not black, so if a henna artist is applying a slick black paste, do not get a tattoo from her. You can also ask the artist how long you're supposed to leave the paste on. If they say less than one hour, they're using PPD. Traditional henna doesn't stain your skin that quickly. Also ask the artist what color the stain will be once the paste comes off. Henna will leave an orange stain that will darken to red brown or dark brown, but it's never black. If you're just not sure, it's best to skip out on the henna tattoo or apply it yourself with a home henna kit.

FYI, the Sun Fades Tattoos

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:00:20 PDT

If you've been inked, you probably know there's a possibility your body art will fade over time, but did you know sun exposure can also speed up your tat's disappearance? Along with not getting proper moisturizing and care, sun exposure, especially tanning beds, can totally destroy the bright colors in a tattoo and even fade the blackest ink. So how can you keep your art looking fresh without getting reinked? Wear sunscreen on it every time you go outside, keep your skin hydrated, and don't bake yourself - it's terrible for you anyway.