Welcome to February! I hope no one did anything foolish tattoo-wise for Valentine's Day. Those tats of boyfriend's or girlfriend's names just always seem like the designs that people regret the most. I've been getting a lot of questions, so this issue features a lot of answer-type articles.

New and Recommended Articles:

When Do Stretched Ears Become Permanent?
Recently a reader asked about enlarged ear piercings and permanency. This is definitely something to consider before you get started stretching. Read what I wrote back as my reply.

Don't Let In The Door-to-Door Tattoo Salesman!
Some tattoos deals might seem good, but in reality you´re just risking your own health. Here are some tips for avoiding bad tattoo artists.

Is Facial Hair The Next Body Art Battleground?
Given the long histories of men and facial hair, you´d think that whether or not to wear a beard wouldn't be a problem. However, more and more different organizations are starting to regulate men´s facial hair.

Koi Tattoos
Learn more about the symbolism of koi tattoos, the popular Japanese-bred carp that come in nearly endless colors and pattern variations.

Hot Links:

• The Tattoos of David Beckham
  David recently got a new piece of ink, a portrait of his wife Victoria.
• Tattoo TV with LA INK
  Have you seen what Kat Von D has been up to since she split Miami?
• All About Nose Piercings
  Learn more about the types of nose piercings (nostril, septum and bridge), jewelry (rings, bones, studs, screws), see how nose piercings are done and get healing and aftercare advice.
• Tribal House Body Jewelry
  Tribal House offers you the hottest tribal body jewelry styles anywhere! Steel, stone, glass, acrylic, and rubber; claws, spikes, talons, flares, plugs, spirals and more!

You can upload a picture of your tattoo to Bellaonline and have it rated alongside dozens of other tattoos worn by your fellow Bellaonline members. It's fun and free, and you can upload or vote here!

If you have a body art question, we've got an online forum that you can visit. It's a great place for discussing the latest developments in body art and getting an answer to your questions.

I enjoy your feedback and welcome your questions, so if you have something to tell me, please send an e-mail or drop by the message boards! Feel free to pass this message along to family and friends who you think might be interested.

Rae
Body Art Editor
http://bodyart.bellaonline.com