Few characters in film and television become the household name of a generation, and even fewer are well-known and cherished by multiple generations. The tales of James Bond have enthralled us all since 1963, and the newest and twenty-fifth edition to the saga, No Time to Die, is set to premiere April 2nd, 2021, and is already attracting quite a buzz. As always, collector items are starting to emerge, including board games and playing cards. Theory11 brings us 007 Premium Playing Cards, a deck of playing cards with impeccable attention to detail that arrives shaken, not stirred.

007 Playing Cards: It’s All in the Details

While James Bond might like to do some things the old-fashioned way, these cards are anything but old-fashioned. Throughout the deck are details arching back to recognizable items in the Bond saga. The pen grenade from GoldenEye, Bond’s classic pistol, the ski pole gun from the Spy Who Loved Me, and more are to be found in the intricate details that litter these cards and make them so exceptional.

As you drive through the deck, you’ll find custom artwork woven into the classic card designs. A king of diamonds with a handgun, a jack of spades holding a pocket knife, and an ace of spades branded with the 007 logo are just some of the unique Bond-themed designs in this deck. Each card has a gold back, complete with an intricate design, the Bond family crest, and the motto “Orbis Non-Sufficit,” which translates to “the world is not enough”.

The box that encases these decadent cards features two layers of gold foil, embossed 3D accents, and the James Bond family crest on the backside.

What might cards at this level of luxury cost you? The price might surprise you, but this deck is yours for just under $10 on the Theory11 website where it rakes in 5-star reviews daily. Head on over to snag a set and get stoked for the upcoming film. Your favorite card games will get a significant visual upgrade when you play with the 007 Premium Playing Cards from Theory11.

Being a Gentleman

What does it mean to be a gentleman? This is a good question to ask yourself whether you are prepping for your first ever date or reading this in a cubicle somewhere.

Back in the day, it meant a man of noble birth — someone who owned land and had a title. Later, it came to mean a man from a good or wealthy family, if not necessarily someone from the nobility. Lately, it’s come to mean someone with good manners.

But I believe good human beings are made, not born. And I also believe being a true gentleman goes way behind the surface level things we tend to associate with the phrase now. Let’s dig in a little, shall we?

A Gentleman Respects Boundaries

You’ve probably heard your parents tell you to “be a gentleman” a lot as you were growing up, usually in reference to how you treated women. Chances are they meant holding the door open at restaurants, opening the car door for your date, and the like. These are all fine things (assuming your date wants you to behave this way), but being a gentleman goes so much deeper.

If you want to really be a gentleman, try this: respect the boundaries of women. You can apply this concept across the whole range of your life. Are things getting hot and heavy? Make sure everyone is okay with it — and any kind of coercion (physical, mental, or emotional) is absolutely, 100% wrong. It’s possible you might have some guy friends telling you that women need (or like) to be pushed or convinced a little in these matters. Do not listen to these so-called friends. That kind of mentality leads directly to sexual assault.

Respecting boundaries also extends to how you interact with women you aren’t actively in a relationship with. Here are a few things that are always worth repeating: don’t whistle, gawk, sneer, leer, poke, pinch, touch, comment upon, or otherwise invade the physical or emotional space of the women in your acquaintance. And don’t, repeat, don’t send unsolicited lewd pictures. Hot tip: nobody, repeat, nobody wants that.

A Gentleman Only Gives Attention When It Is Desired

There’s an insidious belief instilled deeply into our culture that if you ask a woman on a date, and she refuses, that you should keep asking in increasingly dramatic or escalating ways until she finally says yes. This behavior — which is deeply disturbing to most women, especially in the workplace — seems to have been romanticized for dramatic purposes at some point in our past and has appeared in books, movies, and tv shows regularly ever since.

Please don’t do this. That kind of persistence isn’t romantic. It’s creepy. And a gentleman isn’t creepy.

A Gentleman Speaks Up

Do you know when it’s hard to be a gentleman? When no one around you is one.

Oh well. Be a gentleman, anyway.

This situation comes up a lot when it’s just a bunch of guys hanging around. Men tend to say things in the single-gender company that they would never dream of saying to a woman’s face. Here’s a good life tip: if there’s something you can’t say around one group of people, it’s probably something you shouldn’t say at all.

You might find yourself remaining silent while the dudes around you make disrespectful comments about a woman or women in general (or any other group, really). It’s easy to think that as long as you aren’t participating in such talk, that you aren’t condoning it. But silence is complacency. Speak out against this kind of behavior, and know that you are improving the lives of your fellow human beings by doing so. Any friends you lose as a result weren’t worth having in any case.

A Gentleman Doesn’t Believe He is Owed

One disturbing trend of the last few years is the so-called Nice Guy Effect. The Nice Guy Effect is when a man lives according to all of the above but then believes his adherence to that behavior entitles him to the affection or sexual attention of the women he interacts with. When that attention is not given, he either begins behaving terribly towards the woman in question (thus proving that his initial behavior was a sham) or whines to his friends about how badly women treat nice guys.

This belief and attendant behavior utterly misses the point. You are treating women decently — being a gentleman —because they are human beings just like you and deserve to be treated as such. Decency is not transactional. Nobody owes you anything — particularly not sexually — for rising to basic levels of human behavior we expect people to grasp in childhood.

A Gentleman Leads by Example

Embracing this way of living — and talking about it — is meaningless if you aren’t living it out. You can start being a gentleman today — right now. Not because you want to get something out of it and not because anyone expects you to — but because it’s the right thing to do.

Right now, the word “experience” feels like a distant memory for many of us. But we’re about to get a whole new type of virtual experience thanks to Illuminarium. An entirely new concept in VR, Illumarium employs virtual reality to reimagine what is possible in our new world.

What is Illuminarium? First, picture yourself inside the vast expanse of an empty warehouse. Walls barren, the cavernous sound of silence you. Suddenly the light drops to pitch black, and a three-dimensional soundscape surrounds you. You’re clearly in the forest somewhere, and in a moment, state of the art projectors bring all of your senses into a new reality. You sense that you’re crunching across the Kalahari desert. But in reality, you’re in Burbank.

This is the Illuminarium, the future of embodied experiences. But how do they do it?

Leave Your Wearables At Home

An Illuminarium allows you to experience a virtual reality world unencumbered by equipment like virtual reality goggles. It accomplishes this with 46 state-of-the-art 4K laser projectors, which produce imagery to immerse you in a faraway world.

Holoplot supplies the sound, and its “beamforming” system creates what it claims to be an incredibly rich and dynamic audio experience.

Though your feet may appear to be crunching across the sand, you’re actually standing on a haptic flooring system that both senses your presence and feeds back vibrations into your tootsies, further immersing you in the experience.

Illuminarium As A Learning Environment

They say that empathy is the ultimate teacher. Well, with Illuminarium you potentially have the chance to learn about, walk amongst, and empathize with all the creatures of the world. This environment is ripe for teaching children and adults about the broader world, all without boarding a plane and traversing across the globe. Better yet, each Illuminarium Experience is paired with and donates a percentage of revenue to a like-minded social movement.

Dive Into a New Virtual Reality

Illuminarium’s first showing is coming to Atlanta in mid-2021. “WILD: The World’s First Virtual Safari” will plop people down into the beauty and splendor of some of the wildest places on earth.

No word on the pricing or exact dates yet. But the website allows you to register for more information, so if you’re ready to venture back out into the real (virtual) world, this would be a great place to start.

How to Watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship

For even the most diehard stick and ball sports fan, the names Ronda Rousey and Conor McGreggor must ring a bell. To many, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) seems like a circus act: grown men and women pummeling each other for an oversized belt buckle.

But you’re not shallow; you know there must be more depth to the fastest growing sport on earth. Why else would it have entered the modern zeitgeist so deeply? So here you are, you’ve decided to take the plunge and prepare yourself for your first UFC fight, watching it that is.

Look no further than this quick guide to prepare yourself for a night at the fights. We’ve summed the essential intel up, from the unusual terminology to the weight classes, rankings, and beyond. All you’ll need is a few extra bucks for a UFC subscription, and you’ll be ready to throw down.

Ring the bell; it’s time to get it on!

UFC vs. MMA – United but Different

First and foremost, know that the UFC is a promotional body and that it is not a sport in and of itself. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the sport of choice for the UFC, so when you and your buddies sit down to take in the hostilities, keep this fact top of mind!

MMA, as the name would imply, is a mixed modality combat scenario. Competing athletes combine boxing, karate, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and judo to form their cohort of combat skills.

UFC Vernacular

Let’s first dig into the match lingo, so you know how these things play out.

A “bout” is another name for a match. When reviewing the card or lineup of fights about to take place, each pairing constitutes a bout.

The conclusion of the bout itself will result from either a knockout (pretty self-explanatory), a submission (losing fighter quits with a tap), or a decision (an instance in which the judges must call who knocked whom around the most).

Bonus points if you’re able to work a few of these fighting terms into the evening:

A “clinch” is a situation where both fighters remain standing, but they’ve wrapped themselves like warring snakes.

A “takedown”, which typically proceeds the clinch, is, effectively, one fighter forcing the other to the ground.

From there, the fight usually progresses into more jiu-jitsu specific positions and, ultimately, its conclusion.

You remember the three ways a match ends, right? Say it with us: knockout, submission, or decision.

UFC Rules

Though it may appear that there are no rules in this sport, a list has been devised and is a mortal sin to break in the octagon.

The groin is off-limits, and intentional kicks or punches to the “no no zone” will quickly get you thrown out of the ring. Knees to the head or strikes back of the head or spine are verboten.

Under no circumstances should a fighter fishhook his or her opponent, bite them in any way, or pull their hair. Leave that for the schoolyard. The digits of the hands and feet must remain unmanipulated, no matter how much the fighter is a “toe guy.”

Lastly, though the ring encircles these gladiators, they can’t utilize its fencing for an advantage, meaning no grabbing it to create leverage. And under no circumstances should throwing an opponent out of the ring be considered; that’s the province of professional wrestling.

Other than that, everything goes.

UFC Weight Classes

Weight classes in the UFC are a highly contentious topic, mostly because of what the athletes must do to achieve that all-important weigh-in the day before a fight. Often a fighter will train in a “camp” for multiple weeks leading into a fight, training for a better part of the day and hydrating and eating as much as necessary to maintain that kind of workload.

Many athletes approach dropping weight for their date with the scale in a seemingly dangerous way, dehydration. Though this isn’t always necessary, a dangerous “cut” happens with almost all cards these days.

The way the divisions are split up in UFC is very different than boxing, so don’t bring that knowledge to the octagon. You won’t impress anyone.

Flyweight opens the categories with a weight limit of 125 pounds, then Bantamweight (135 lb.), Featherweight (145 lb.), and then Lightweight (155 lb.), which is the last of the 10 pound jumps in classes. Bumping up 15 more points is the Welterweight category with a 170-pound limit, Middleweight (185 lb.) follows, then we get into the big boys. Light heavyweight, which is one of the more competitive categories in the UFC, caps out at 205.

Finally, the big boys. The Heavyweight class features athletes weighing up to 265 pounds, and they look every bit of it. If you want to see two absolute animals go at it, track down the Lesner versus Carwin fight from UFC 116. You’ll be surprised at the athleticism of these absolute units.

Where to Watch the UFC

A good place to start for the fair-weather fan is to peruse the huge volume of fights available on YouTube. An easy search term to get you started would be “UFC Free Fight.” Dig in and see if this scratches an itch for you. If so, consider buying UFC’s “Fight Pass,” which you can utilize either on the web or through an app on Apple TV and many other popular streaming applications.

Good luck and be prepared; if you’re not careful, after a few months, you might find yourself a newly minted jiu-jitsu practitioner and starting to show your co-workers what a rear-naked choke looks like. Sorry HR!

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and prepare yourself for your first UFC fight, we got you covered. Check out our tips on how to watch the UFC.

Virtual Art Galleries, Walks, and Talks

Like professionals in many industries this year, artists have struggled without exhibitions, shows, gatherings, and markets to get their work into the public eye. Canceled shows have produced months of fruitless labor, and careers are all but stagnant. Artists and galleries turn to virtual art tours and talks to continue to offer showings and make an income during these strange times.

We’ve collected resources on ways to enjoy art shows from the comfort of your own home and support artists. We talk a lot about First Fridays here. If you aren’t familiar with the term, “First Fridays” refers to the first Friday of the month, an informally-recognized event in which art spaces stay open late for public crawls in cities across America. First Fridays are the classic day to hold art-related events, and now you can have First Fridays in the comfort of your own home.

ART.V at ADX Portland

ADX Portland is a maker space in Portland, Oregon — a fundamentally artsy city. ADX organizers worked with artists from the surrounding area and utilized their in-house gallery space to bring ART.V to life.

ART.V is an art show that has featured a wide array of events, including virtual galleries, musicians, and politicians. What started as a weekly show on Instagram Live back in March now happens every First Friday. One-hundred percent of all sales go directly back to the artists.

To tune in, head on over to the @ADXPortland Instagram page on the first Friday of each month and check out their live event. You can also view previous shows on their IGTV page.

Virtual Friday Art Walk

The Friday Art Walk is a group of art galleries and businesses in Alameda, California, in the Jingletown Arts District. The galleries have adjusted to a virtual setting and are now hosting virtual second Friday art talks.

You can view the previous month’s virtual shows using the Friday Art Walk website.

Museum of Fine Arts Houston, #MFAHatHome

The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston is bringing nearly its entire 300,000 square feet to your computer screen via #MFAatHome. You can peruse their site for a museum tour at your own pace. From the site, you can view works from all of their collections, listen and watch artists and curatorial staff speak about the works on your screen and even take 3D tours of specific galleries.

As a kid, I loved visiting the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and even worked on an exhibit in 2018. I now live across the country from my home base of Houston; touring their site brought all my favorite works and spaces across the miles to my computer screen.

Grab a glass of wine or a warm cup of tea and spend your afternoon enjoying virtual art with a loved one.

Museum of Modern Art, Virtual Views

The Museum of Modern Art is also bringing many of its current exhibits to the safety of your home via Virtual Views. While not all displays are online, a plethora of virtual exhibits are available to explore. If you keep tabs on the events page, you can watch for a chance to catch an online lecture or presentation. There are even a few fine art video collections.

Got any other friends who love modern art? Set up a time to video chat and talk through your thoughts on the various pieces!

Local Window Displays

Galleries that can’t be open at the moment may have window displays instead. Head out on a walkabout around your neighborhood and see what you might find!

In Portland and other cities, artists have taken to the streets and painted boarded-up windows, and more cities are hiring artists to paint lasting murals for their respective communities. Your search for a local window display could open your eyes to art in all kinds of new places.

Your Local Gallery

Your local art galleries likely have virtual options of which you may be unaware. Check their social media pages or websites to see how they are using new platforms to get art in front of new eyes and support artists. Lots of galleries have started offering virtual shows, artist talks, and more.

Not sure which galleries are near you? A quick Google search can help.

How to Support Artists Amidst a Pandemic

Many artists have lost income from the lack of shows and markets this year and turn to social media and their websites to sell straight to consumers. Directly supporting local artists helps them pay their rent and support their families. Consider the following and supporting your favorite artists via their social media channels.

Unable to support financially? Engage with their content, share it with those you love, and help them reach new audiences. It matters!

We hope this list inspires you to explore the world of art from the comfort of your couch or put on some shoes for a walking tour of your neighborhood. Don’t forget that your local galleries and artists could use your support and are likely to offer virtual options.

If you live in a part of the country where galleries are open in a traditional capacity and choose to visit, be sure to follow their operating guidelines and, of course, enjoy all the art!

When it comes to caring for your tattoo, it is best to take into consideration one vital fact; a new tattoo is basically an artistic and, oftentimes, significant wound. You will need to care for it as such. This might sound a bit complicated at first, but there are a lot of good tattoo lotions available designed specifically for aftercare.

In this article, we will be diving into the best lotions for tattoo aftercare. We will be discussing the important factors to look for in a quality lotion for tattoos as well. Using lotions specifically made for tattoo aftercare is key if you wish for your body art to remain in good condition as well as prevent any sort of skin problems that might arise after the tattoo artist has finished their work of art.

The Best Lotion for Tattoos

Hustle Butter Deluxe (BEST CHOICE)

After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer and Aftercare Lotion

Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion

Billy Jealousy Marked IV Tattoo Care

Ora’s Amazing Herbal Tattoo Salve

Tattoo Goo Original Aftercare Lotion Healing Salve

Anjou Coconut Oil Lotion

Fisticuffs Tattoo Balm

Ink Scribd Premium Aftercare Healing Balm

Ink Scribd Premium Aftercare Healing Balm is a highly-rated tattoo healing ointment ideal for those who are aiming for fast-healing with all-natural ingredients. The reviewers on Amazon are positively raving about this product; our only reservation is that the ingredient list is absent. The ingredients are advertised as anti-inflammatory, a key element in expediting tattoo healing, and as all-natural and herbal. Anti-inflammatory ingredients will also help reduce itching and, therefore, the desire to scratch and pick during the healing process. An easy way to have pieces of ink missing from your tattoo is to remove a scab.

The package comes with 2-ounces of product, which should be enough to heal multiple small tattoos or very large tattoos. You can also use this lotion once your tattoo is healed to keep it looking shiny and bright. Adding some extra shine to tattoos is something I love to do, especially in the summers when my skin is a bit tanner, and I want my tattoos to pop!

Purchase

Ed Hardy INK Tattoo & Color Fade Moisturizer

If you spend a lot of time in the sun or tanning, Ed Hardy INK Tattoo & Color Fade Moisturizer is an excellent choice for protecting your tattoos. Sun exposure over time breaks down the ink in tattoos and can fade them. Additionally, as you are tan or as your skin darkens and lightens, you’ll notice this will change your tattoo’s look, especially if you have color in your tattoos. I have a watercolor sleeve and regularly cake it in sunscreen during the sunny summer months! White ink tattoos are especially prone to fading or discoloration with sun exposure. If you aren’t ready to give up the tanning bed, you’ll need to protect your ink.

Ed Hardy INK moisturizer is loaded with shea butter and other skin-nourishing butter to bring moisture back to your skin and your tattoos. This product is a tan extender and specifically nourishes the skin to protect tattoos from fading and discoloration. Other skin-friendly ingredients include lotus extract as well as vitamin C and E. This lotion is also hypo-allergenic, so it is suitable for a wide variety of folks, even those with sensitivities.

Purchase

CannaSmack Ink Guard Tattoo Sunscreen & Ink Fade Shield Stick

Sun protection, healing lotion, and mess-free application? Sounds like a great combo to us! CannaSmack Ink Guard Tattoo Sunscreen & Ink Fade Shiel Stick is a hydrating, healing tattoo lotion in a stick form.

No more icky fingers or other dirt getting into your fresh tattoo. When applying lotion, you want clean hands before you get started, but this product takes that out of the equation. You might need a few fingers to rub it in, but for keeping germs out of your tattoo, we like this approach.

Ink Guard is bursting with nourishing ingredients like hemp seed oil, aloe vera, and beeswax. This product is not a vegan tattoo lotion, but it is excellent for your skin and great for animals, as this product boasts a Leaping Bunny cruelty-free seal. You won’t find any parabens, gluten, colors, fragrances, or sulfates in this product, meaning it’s suitable for a wide variety of people and unlikely to irritate the skin.

As if this product wasn’t already exceptional, it also boasts 30 SPF for additional sun protection for your tattoos, especially if it’s too hot to keep them covered. This product isn’t just for healing either; it is excellent for use long after your tattoo is healed or anytime it needs a pick me up.

Purchase

Piper Cove Color Stay Aftercare Lotion For Tattoo

Tattoo artists tend to know the ins and outs of aftercare pretty well, so we are willing to bet that any product developed by a tattoo artist is likely exceptional. Joey Zuleta is a professional tattoo artist who developed the Piper Cove Color Stay Aftercare Lotion For Tattoos. The recipe for this product boasts organic African shea, cocoa, mango butter, and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, F, K, and trace minerals. That’s a lot of goodness in one little package. The high protein content of organic Australian hemp is especially skin-nourishing and hydrating.

This product is multi-faceted and can be used before your tattoo appointment to prime the tattoo landing site, after your appointment for expedited healing, and once your tattoo heals for maintaining color, keeping skin healthy, and giving your tattoos a chance to shine. The lack of fragrance means it won’t agitate your skin, but you should do a skin test if you have nut sensitivities. Lastly, four ounces of the product means you’ve got plenty to heal whole arm tattoos or lots of small ones.

Purchase

Lotions for Tattoo Aftercare Buying Guide & FAQ

Features to Look for in Lotions for Tattoos

Ingredients – My personal rule of thumb is to avoid ingredients you can’t pronounce. While this is my rule of thumb, not everyone is on board so let’s talk about some ingredients first. You should generally avoid any after-tattoo lotion or ointment containing lanolin, parabens, or petroleum. These ingredients can damage the ink in the healing process, and petroleum-based products like paraffin oil can give the appearance of healthy, hydrated skin but block your skin’s ability to release moisture and suffocate it. This suffocation creates a prime environment for bacteria and viruses to fester inside your freshly healed tattoo.

In the past, folks fresh from under the needle have been told to use A&D Ointment or Aquaphor, we know better now, and you should avoid these products because they are petroleum-based.

Now that you know what to avoid, let’s talk about the good stuff. Generally, you’re going to want to look for ingredients that calm redness and irritation. Lavender, aloe vera, and honey are great additions. You’ll also want to look for moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil, and other butter and oils that will provide thin layers of moisture for your fresh ink! Hopefully, this goes without saying, but be sure you aren’t allergic to your new tattoo aftercare lotion, do a spot test on a different part of your skin before slathering your new inky beauty.

Consistency – Consistency of your chosen post-tattoo lotion is a personal choice. Some folks want something thicker. Others, like myself, opt for something thinner. The first key is getting something that lines up with the consistency of your current skincare products, so your skin is used to it.

One other consideration is to make sure your product isn’t so thick that it suffocates the skin. Thin, consistent, and frequent layers of your favorite healing lotion are vital to maintaining a healthy environment in your skin while your tattoo heals. Your tattoo needs to remain moisturized at all times to avoid scabbing, itchy sensations, and damage to your new work of art.

SPF – Your tattoo aftercare product may include SPF, which is okay but not a requirement. While in the healing process, your tattoo shouldn’t be in direct sunlight. It’s critical to keep your tattoo covered from the sun as much as possible while it’s healing. If there just isn’t any way to avoid sun exposure, then a healing lotion with SPF is alright. However, don’t put sunscreen on your healing tattoo.

Sunscreen and products with SPF are great for protecting your tattoo from damage via sun exposure. You shouldn’t apply sunscreen until your tattoo’s entire healing process is complete, at least six weeks after you get it. Until then, SPF as part of your chosen healing lotion is up to you!

Coverage – The coverage of your tattoo lotion will vary. If you have a small tattoo, you shouldn’t have to worry about this too much. If you’ve got a large tattoo, ensuring the product you purchase will last and provide ample coverage for the entire length of your tattoo’s healing process (four to six weeks) is crucial.

When thinking about coverage, keep in mind that your healing tattoo lotion should be applied in thin layers regularly for the best healing. A little should ideally go a long way when you’re applying your lotion. Thick coats of ointment can and will suffocate your tattoo and use excess product.

Skin Type – For most folks, thinking about skin type when choosing a tattoo lotion isn’t terribly crucial. However, it is best to choose a lotion with similar ingredients and consistency to your current skincare products for an easy transition. Additionally, certain skin types may want to take extra care when selecting a tattoo lotion.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, choosing a tattoo aftercare lotion may take some additional forethought. If you have generally dry skin, choosing something very moisturizing is crucial as that lotion will take the place of your regular lotion for the time being. Additionally, if you have sensitive skin or particular allergies, you should take a closer look at the ingredients and make sure your lotion doesn’t have any potential irritants. If you’re at all concerned about an adverse reaction to your chosen product, do a test spot on another area of your body before applying it to your fresh ink.

Absorption Capabilities – If your lotion isn’t absorbing into your skin well, you’ve got a problem. A thick coat of ointment will sit on your tattoo and suffocate it, making it a breeding ground for nasty bacteria. Too thin a layer or absorbing rapidly means you might be applying more regularly, which isn’t a bad thing but an essential consideration if you’re unable to pause your day and care for your tattoo.

Your tattoo lotion should easily absorb into your skin and keep your tattoo moisturized for at least a couple of hours. Avoid thick coats of lotion, and don’t be afraid to switch to a different lotion if your current one isn’t working out for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best lotion to put on a new tattoo?

This answer depends on your skin type, tattoo, and personal preferences. It’s also the reason we put together this list and buying guide. The question of which tattoo lotion is best is one for you to answer, but we’re here to help.

As you read through this guide and our products listed, consider your personal preferences and needs. Is your skin already really dry? Are you trying to avoid aloe vera? All these things matter!

What lotions are bad for tattoos?

Generally, lotions that are petroleum-based or have excessive perfumes and fragrances. Your favorite warm vanilla sugar body lotion should stay in the cupboard for this one. We’d recommend avoiding anything that is not moisturization-focused, has excessive fragrances, or a lot of ingredients you can’t pronounce.

Lotions that are too thick or come with a petroleum base can clog pores. Excessive fragrances in lotions like a candy apple or Japanese cherry blossom can irritate the tattoo and don’t provide enough moisture. You’ll also likely feel an intense burning sensation if you try this. Look for simple ingredients and nourishing butter and oils.

What does a lotion do to a tattoo?

Lotions or healing ointments nourish and moisturize a tattoo. Similar to when you scrape yourself, your body forms a scab to protect the open wound; your tattoo will attempt to do this too. Keeping your tattoo moisturized keeps it from scabbing and keeps it healthy.

Skin-Nourishing and hydrating ingredients can keep your skin healthy as well as speed up your tattoo healing process. The less your tattoo scabs, the less it will itch, and the less you’ll be tempted to scratch or pick at it!

Can I put Vaseline on my tattoo?

We’re going to recommend you don’t do this. Vaseline is petroleum jelly, and while it has many powerful applications, tattoo healing isn’t one of them. We’ve mentioned this above, but you should avoid petroleum products.

Petroleum-based products like Vaseline coat your tattoo in a thick layer of moisture that clogs the pores and suffocates them. This trapped moisture creates a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi — not things you want in your new tattoo.

How many times a day should I moisturize my tattoo?

There’s no concrete number here, but likely many. If your tattoo begins feeling or looking dry, add another thin coat of your chosen healing lotion. You shouldn’t be slathering on thick coats each time, as this can suffocate your tattoo and clog pores.

You should always keep your tattoo healing lotion handy in a pocket, purse, or backpack. If your chosen product is large, consider grabbing a travel size too so it can easily go everywhere you do. Without fairly consistent access to your healing lotion, your tattoo will be lacking in moisture.

What happens if you put too much lotion on a tattoo?

Too much lotion on a tattoo, either applied in too thick of a coat or too thick of a lotion in general, is not healthy for your tattoo. Both of these ways of using too much lotion will clog your pores, suffocate your tattoo and allow it to become a breeding ground for infection. Infected tattoos usually don’t heal well.

What happens if you don’t moisturize a tattoo?

If you don’t moisturize a tattoo, be ready for some serious discomfort. Without moisturization, your tattoo will develop tight scabs and will do so fast. When this happens, moving the recently tattooed area will be difficult, and an extensive range of motion could rip a scab and cause other potential issues.

A scabbed tattoo is an itchy and uncomfortable one that leaves the wearer of said tattoo itchy, irritated, and potentially in pain. If your new tattoo is on a body part that needs to move consistently, you’re going to need to moisturize consistently, and dry-healing is not an excellent option for you. As scabs rip out and pull with movement, they can take pieces of ink with them, leaving you with a blotchy tattoo in need of a touch-up.

Ready to go down the tattoo rabbit hole? Hop in:

• How to Choose a Tattoo Artist
• Tattoo Styles Explained
• The Best Biomechanical Tattoos

Understanding Tattoo Styles

Describing which tattoo styles you want to your friends without knowing how to name a style can be tricky. Maybe you’re looking for reference photos for your artist, but you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for. Worst case scenario, you send ideas to your artist but misname the style and show up to your appointment and see a drawing that’s nothing like you’d hoped.

Today, we’re going to discuss the different tattoo styles so you can better communicate and research precisely what you’re looking for to your friends, your artist, and google. Walking into your appointment wanting an Egyptian tattoo but walking out with something traditional will likely be disappointing.

Traditional Style

Traditional Style is also known as western, American traditional style, or old school tattoo style. This style is one of the most iconic and classic tattoo styles popularized by Sailor Jerry, Don Ed Hardy, and Lyle Tuttle.

This style of tattooing uses iconic symbols such as roses, anchors, lady heads, swallows, banners, and features mostly red, black, grey, and green colors. Features of tattoos done in this style are bright colors and bold lines. This style is one of the most classic and beloved and ages beautifully over time. Some military tattoos and marine tattoos are often done in this style, especially flash designs from the legendary Sailor Jerry.

Neo-Traditional Style

Much like its traditional brother, this style encompasses the same bold lines and bright colors but offers a brighter range of motifs, colors, and ideas.

Neo-Traditional style usually involves adding additional flora and fauna themes or additional detail work. Neo-traditional tattoos still capture the essence of a traditional tattoo but offer a more modern take on the same ideas. Some neo-traditional tattoos are considered neo-traditional just because of the shift in colors. I have a butterfly and three swallows, done straight from a piece of Sailor Jerry flash. Still, I wanted to add some lavender, teal, and blues as highlights, it became a neo-traditional piece because it didn’t follow the standard color guidelines.

If you love the feel and look of a traditional tattoo but aren’t as psyched about some of the flash options or strict guidelines for that forearm sleeve tattoo, a neo-traditional tattoo could be for you!

Japanese Tattoo Style

This style mostly speaks for itself. Japanese tattoo style originated during the Edo period in Japan. At the time, decorative wood blocks became popular, and the imagery made its way onto the bodies of those who loved them. Japanese style tattoos will feature classic iconographies like dragons, phoenixes, and koi and share a story about Japan’s rich past or mythology.

Tribal Tattoo Style

Tribal tattoos are tattoos based on the imagery and body art adorned by indigenous cultures such as the Aborigines of Australia, Maori of Polynesia, or Native Americans. Tribal tattoos are often done in black, and while these tattoos fit under one umbrella, someone familiar with the cultures can spot the differences in each style.

Realistic and Hyper-Realistic Tattoo Styles

Realism tattoos look just how they sound — realistic. These tattoos capture the details, light, and shadows of portraiture on skin. Usually, this style focuses on portraiture, but animals, nature, mountains, and other elements are often present. The central theme of realistic tattooing is that they are as realistic as possible. Before getting a tattoo in this style, research your artist carefully and know that moving and stretching of skin over time can affect these tattoos often more so than other styles.

Watercolor Tattoo Style

Watercolor style tattoos aim to capture the same dabbled textures and soft lines seen in watercolor paintings. This style has exploded in popularity over the last two decades; I’ve got a full watercolor sleeve of my own! Recreating watercolor paintings on the skin takes a skilled hand and a lot of time with a shader needle.

Illustrative Tattoo Style

A large variety of work fits under this umbrella. Each artist often combines their own style within this realm to create something unique. Generally, if the tattoo looks like you could find it on a canvas, it is an illustrative tattoo. Art styles like German expressionism, cubism, abstract expressionism, and fauvism have impacted illustrative tattooing.

Blackwork Tattoo Style

Blackwork style tattoos are tattoos done solely in black. This style encompasses a huge range of tattoos, so if you’re trying to communicate what you want to your artist in this style, get ready to be more specific.

Sub-categories of blackwork tattoos include sacred geometry, ornamental, pointillism, Spanish blackwork, Chicano, and henna-style tattoos. Tribal tattoos often take up a large portion of this realm, but artists inspired by etching and engraving have created unique styles in this monochromatic world of tattooing.

Conclusion

This list is by no means comprehensive. We encourage you to continue to research and always have plenty of reference images before approaching an artist. Google searches and Pinterest are excellent for finding resources, or you can check out tattoo lists on particular styles like marine tattoos, military tattoos, watercolor tattoos, and more! Lastly, don’t forget to make sure you have an excellent healing lotion for your fresh ink post-appointment.

Choosing a Tattoo Artist

You have a tattoo idea; you’ve thought about placement, dreamt up the color palette and styling . . . but you’ve got one problem: who are you going to trust to ink that idea onto your skin forever? There’s an art to how you choose a tattoo artist; it’s no easy feat.

For works that are really involved, like backpieces or forearm sleeve tattoos, you might be sitting with your tattoo artist for hours, so let’s hope you don’t mind their company. You need to make sure that the style of the artist you choose meshes with your idea for that perfect Egyptian or Marine tattoo. You also need to ensure that your artist listens to your needs, is safe, sanitary, and professional. Tattoos are a lifelong commitment; you want a tattoo that lasts and is of high quality.

Below, I’ll share my tips for selecting a tattoo artist. Why should you trust me to tell you how to make this huge decision? I’m a heavily tattooed lady who’s spent the last 9 years decorating her body with ink from a few select tattoo artists. Between my full sleeve, sternum, and chest tattoos, down to the teacup tattoo on my finger, I’ve spent some time under a tattoo needle. So, it’s without further ado that I happily share my insight in the hopes of making your tattooing experience a positive one.

Beginning Your Search

Your first step to finding the tattoo artist is gathering names. A simple place to start is to talk to friends and family whose body art you like, ask them about their artist and their work location. They’ll usually be happy to share! I recommend casting a wide net initially, and social media sites like Instagram are great for finding artists near you and styles you admire. Google searches for studios in your area can also broaden your search and give you ideas.

Another element to beginning your search for the best tattoo artist is knowing which tattoo style(s) you like. Are you into traditional or neo-traditional tattoos? Do you love pointillism or linework? Do watercolors and brightly colored tattoos float your boat? Knowing the style you want will make the rest of the process much easier.

Start with a larger pool to give yourself options, and don’t get overly excited about a singular artist until you’ve met them and scrutinized their work.

Reviewing Their Work

So, you’ve got a shortlist, and you want to see what other tattoos this person has done. An artist’s Instagram, personal website, or physical portfolio are all great places to start. As you explore various avenues, keep the following questions in mind:

• Does their work appear professional and high-quality?
• Does their work look similar to your ideas or at least represent a style you like?
• Have they tattooed anything like what you have in mind?
• Do they have positive reviews and a decent body of work?

You should be looking for quality work, a professional artist, and someone who’s style lines up with what you want. If you ask a sculptor to paint you a painting, you might not get the best result. If you want a watercolor tattoo or a military tattoo, you don’t want to select someone whose specialty is in pointillism or linework.

Contacting and Meeting Your Artist

You’ve got someone in mind, or maybe a few artists, and it’s time to contact them. Be sure you go through their chosen channels. Some artists are okay with a direct message on Instagram, some prefer an email and others use booking systems. A great way to get on a tattoo artist’s bad side is to contact them about tattooing through inappropriate channels. These folks are professionals; respect their boundaries, and follow the process.

Most tattoo artists will either start with a formal consultation or drawing session or talk about the idea with you via email to make sure it’s in their wheelhouse. Your artist may require deposits for drawings and consultations.

Keep in mind, if an idea or style is outside an artist’s specialty, they may tell you no. Telling you no and encouraging you to find someone better suited is a professional response, not personal. They are trying to ensure you get the tattoo you want and that they maintain a high-quality body of work.

If you’re committing to long or multiple tattoo sessions, it’s imperative that you like your tattoo artist enough to sit with them for hours at a time. If the communication you’re receiving from the artist doesn’t seem professional or makes you uncomfortable, that might be a sign to cross that name off your list. I once left a truly beloved tattoo artist that I worked with for years because communication started lacking. I’d wait months for email replies; my appointments were double-booked and then canceled. While I loved their work and was a faithful client, it wasn’t worth the hassle.

Prioritizing Cleanliness and Safety

In pre-pandemic times, you may have been able to stop by a shop and get a visual on the space to verify its cleanliness, above-board, and to meet your artist before getting inked. This option isn’t as common these days and with that in mind, remember you can terminate the professional relationship at any point in time if you feel uncomfortable. Clean, professional spaces are non-negotiable in tattooing. They are working with bodily fluids (blood and perspiration), and there are cleaning protocols that are essential to preventing potential infections.

A professional tattoo artist will also require you to complete legal paperwork and provide you with aftercare information and recommendations for the best healing lotions for tattoos; you can also check out our list!

Other Considerations

While we’ve now covered most of the basics on selecting your tattoo artist, keep the following in mind, too.

First, high-quality work that lasts usually comes at a price. Hourly rates vary by artist, but don’t be drawn in by a low hourly rate — there’s usually a reason for it.

Second, if possible, find tattoos from the artist you’re interested in that are several years old. It will give you an idea of how experienced they are and how well their work holds up over time. Did the lines bleed and crack? Are there blocks of color missing? Does the tattoo now barely resemble its original design? Some of these issues can be due to placement or improper healing.

Third, look into your artist’s touch-up policy. Most artists offer free or low-cost touch-ups within a specified period. Tattoos on hands, fingers, feet, joints, and other movement-prone locations won’t hold up as well over time and will need more frequent touch-ups.

Bottom Line

At the end of the day, clear communication to and from the tattoo artist you choose is key. Communicate what you want to them, and a sign of professionalism will be timely and appropriate communication from your artist.

Tattoos can be a significant investment in skin, money, and time. As such, I highly recommend doing your research, taking your time, and investing in quality work. The effort is worth it in the long run, and few things are as permanent as tattoos.

Alright, you now have the information you need to find and choose your tattoo artist. Go forth, be discerning, and enjoy your new ink masterpiece!

Some folks might hear sensory tools and think about occupational therapy or those with special needs. While these items are important in managing special needs in children, there is a wide variety of sensory tools for adults, too. Many of these are excellent for adults as well and help manage day-to-day anxieties and frustrations. These can range from fidget spinners and items to occupy the hands to essential oil diffusers and unique lights.

There doesn’t need to be anything potentially “wrong” with you to employ calming strategies and sensory tools in your day-to-day life. These items are excellent for all folks in moments of anxiety or stress.

This year has been an anxiety-inducing one, and a lot of folks have spent more time than ever before cooped up and need some ways to let off steam. We’ve rounded up a list of powerful sensory tools for adults, some may surprise you, and others are regular household items that can play a large part in relaxation for some! If you’re curious about how to add an extra dose of calm to your life, check out our list of the best sensory tools for adults.

The Best Sensory Tool for Adults

Aculief Wearable Tension Relief (BEST CHOICE)

Our best choice utilizes consistent pressure to promote more energy and help with headache relief. Ever have a brain freeze and pinch that web of skin between your thumb and pointer finger? That’s acupressure at work. There’s a pressure point in that space that helps with headache relief. If you’re suffering from a headache or tension, or if you just want more energy, place the Aculief Wearable Tension Relief on that pressure point, and with some time, you’ll start to feel some relief and blood flow.

The pressure point that Aculief targets is the LI4 pressure point. This pressure point is related to headaches, eye problems, and fever. This product’s design is ergonomic and allows you to go about your day and continue regular activity as usual. The Aculief is available in three colors, so you can choose the option that best matches your style.

Ohm Tibetan Singing Bowl Set

For those who enjoy auditory sensory tools, we’ve got an excellent choice for you. This Tibetan Singing Bowl Set was handcrafted and hammered by Nepalese artisans. This bowl is small but can be an exceptional addition to a meditation or yoga practice, both of which are great calming strategies and ways to cope with anxiety and day to day frustrations.

It takes some time to learn to play a Tibetan singing bowl, so be patient when first trying out this product. This bowl is smaller than most others and will take a little learning even if you have prior experience. This gift set comes with a striker, bowl, and cushion, everything you need to start playing right out of the box.

If auditory sensations are proven to help you focus and key in your calming strategy, then this bowl set is an excellent instrument for you.

EQUSUPRO Essential Oil Diffuser

If you’re anything like this writer, different smells in your home can make a huge difference in comfort and relaxation levels. Lavender and Eucalyptus for relaxation and citrus oils like orange and lime for energy boosts make a massive difference in the home. Smells have strong sensory ties and can evoke different emotions. Adding a diffuser to your home and experimenting with aroma can significantly impact your comfort levels.

This essential oil diffuser comes with a beautiful and elegant tree design, bringing nature to your home. This diffuser also changes colors and has seven LED color options to set the mood in your home, making this product both a smell and visually calming device—an excellent choice for creating a relaxing space in your home. The EQUSUPRO Essential Oil Diffuser is one of the best sensory tools for anxiety and your home.

Speks Magnetic Balls

Fidgeters, rejoice! We’ve got a product for you. Speks Magnetic Balls are a set of, well, magnetic balls. These balls are made for smashing, crushing, molding, shaping, building, and any other constructive or destructive fidgeting tendencies you may have. You can build towers, shapes, endless amorphous blobs; the world is your oyster when you have Speks in hand.

The Speks Magnetic Balls set comes with 512 2.5-mm rare earth magnet balls. They are strong magnets, so breaking off individual magnets and losing them is tricky, but they are malleable enough to become whatever your heart or mind desires. Some of the reviews mention that the colors chip off relatively quickly, so as long as you don’t mind that potential problem, these balls are excellent for those who love to fidget and build. Only people 14 years of age or older should use this product, and be sure to keep it up and away from pets, as it can present a choking hazard.

Kinetic Sand Kalm

Building and constructing items can be as therapeutic as destroying them — but it’s hard to find socially appropriate ways to build and destroy.

You might have heard of kinetic sand or moon sand advertised as toys for children, but these are not just for kids anymore. Have you ever seen a tiny sand zen garden on someone’s home office desk? We’ve got an upgrade on that for you. Kinetic Sand Kalm is essentially a miniature sandbox for adults, think desktop size, but filled with kinetic sand for the extra element of fun and calming.

The Kinetic Sand Kalm tray features a sleek design that allows it to blend in effortlessly with any décor in your home or office without being an obvious distraction. The set comes with three tools, a slicer, a rake/rolling ball, and a 2-in-1 scoop and shifter, as well as an instruction guide.

You can play, build, and sculpt to your heart’s content or until your anxiety is calmed, making this an excellent sensory tool or toy for a calming room.

Sunny Present Stress Less Cards

Sometimes the most challenging part about managing stress is that you just don’t know what to do, or maybe you’re so overwhelmed you just can’t remember. Perhaps you have a myriad of excellent techniques, but your brain is so wrapped up in what’s happening — you just don’t know how to pause.

We present the Stress Less Cards for the concrete and physical reminder of how to destress or additional ideas on new calming strategies. These cards are easy to keep on hand and feature reminders and ideas of how to pause, destress, and take a moment for yourself.

The Stress Less card pack features 50 mindfulness and meditation exercises for any situation. If you can’t remember what to do, simply grab a card and do what it says. Alternatively, you can review a few and select your favorite.

These cards fit in a compact case that measures 3.39 inches wide, 5.08 inches long, and just 0.75 inches thick. These pocket-sized cards are easy to take with you anywhere in a bag, pocket, purse, backpack, or briefcase, so you have on-the-go ideas on how to chill out.

Many of the instructions and ideas may seem like small steps, but when anxiety runs amuck in our minds — those little reminders may help when the ideas seem so far away.

YnM Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets are, without a doubt, the most popular and most often purchased sensory tool for adults. The compression provided by a weighted blanket evokes calming feelings for the wearer as if you’re in a big bear hug. So, naturally, there’s a weighted blanket on our list.

The YnM Weighted Blanket is a favorite of ours due to its size. This blanket measures 60 inches across and 80 inches long, far exceeding the dimensions of standard weighted blankets. This sizing allows taller folks to adequately fit underneath or for multiple folks to use this blanket simultaneously.

The unique seven-layer structure keeps its wearer calm and cool. The segmented baffling allows the glass beads to distribute weight evenly across the surface of the blanket and fit your body contour.

To keep it in ship-shape, we recommend picking up a duvet cover that you can regularly wash, as you should only wash the weighted blanket by hand.

Purchase

Wilbarger Therapy Brush

With most things on this list, you may be familiar with therapy brushes in one way or another. If not, take a look at the Wilbarger Therapy Brush.

In a professional occupational therapy setting, these brushes help people with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorders respond better to touch stimuli. These brushes mimic a deep pressure massage and offer a chance to adjust to touch stimuli. These brushes have a variety of textures for calming in various ways. In some instances, it may be best to first use therapy brushes under the guidance of an occupational therapist, but it isn’t necessary.

With these brushes, you’ll want to brush the skin with firm pressure in a singular motion, generally downwards. You don’t need to have a sensory processing issue to utilize these brushes. If you like the way you feel and they help calm you down — great, enjoy them! Therapy brushes are great, proven calming aids for both children and adults. This set comes with six brush options in a variety of densities.

ARTEZA Coloring Book for Adults

One of the most popular sensory toys for adults behind the weighted blanket is the coloring book. No animated characters here; adult coloring books feature more intricate designs to maintain focus and provide relaxation to the person using this book. The ARTEZA Coloring Book for Adults, Floral Designs is an adult coloring book loaded with floral designs, pictures, and ideas for you to color in. This book also makes an excellent gift for any flower enthusiast!

Seventy-two pages of high-quality paper compile this exceptional coloring book. The pages are detachable, so you can gift your works or hang them on your wall as décor. The book itself is 6.4 inches by 6.4 inches, so it’s portable and nests easily into a backpack, purse, or briefcase. This portability allows you to utilize this book anywhere — so you can bring calm with you on the go, no matter where you’re off to.

Marpac Dohm Classic The Original White Noise Machine

The next product in our lineup of the best sensory tools for adults is over 50 years old. Alright, the product you get isn’t 50 years old, but the brand and the machine design has stood the test of generations. The Marpac Dohm Classic is the original white noise machine. Marpac invented the fan-based white noise system in 1962, and that same idea is what they are still producing now. Some things stand the test of time, and this machine is one of them.

If you love background noise while you sleep, specifically white noise, then this machine is the choice for you. This fan-based white noise machine has two speed modes and allows you to adjust the volume and tone of your white noise for a perfectly curated sleeping experience.

Unbox it, grab the plug, plug it into your standard wall socket, and turn it on. That’s all you need to do to create an incredible sleeping environment crafted just for you.

Sensory Tools for Adults Buying Guide & FAQ

Features to Look for in Sensory Tools for Adults

Whole Body Sensory Products – Whole-body sensory products can include a variety of things such as bodysuits, loungers, swings, and other items to sit in or on. These items generally provide calming pressure for the whole body for a relaxing and soothing experience. Weighted blankets tend to be the most popular choice in sensory tools for adults. The weight of a lap pad, blanket, or vest provides a soothing sensation reminiscent of a bear hug, and we all know how good that feels at the end of the day.

Small Sensory Items – Small sensory items are excellent handheld sensory devices. These can look like anything from a fidget spinner to a Rubik’s cube. These items can keep the hand or fingers busy and engaged. Generally, these items are highly portable and great for traveling and day to day use. Many of these also fit in a pocket or purse so that they can go with you anywhere. Many of these items make excellent sensory tools for adults.

Noise Sensory Items – Noise sensory toys are often of use for non-verbal children. In the adult world, most noise sensory items help block out or simplify noise and noise pollution. Noise-canceling headphones that allow the wearer to block out other noises can be a powerful tool in productivity and focus. For sleep, a white noise machine or a recording of rain noises may be an excellent way to relax before you snooze!

Sight and Smell Products – For smell sensory products, consider candles, essential oils, incense, or other pleasing and calming aromas. For sight, sensory products, coloring books are always a great option. Coloring books are powerful anxiety calming tools that provide an activity to engage in that is also aesthetically pleasing. A large variety of adult coloring books exist. Additionally, if you’d like to make your home a more calming space, you could opt for various lighting options that better suit your needs. All of these things can be home improvement items or stress relief tools.

Sensory Tools for Adults FAQ

Q: What are sensory tools?

A: Sensory tools are various items that allow for sensory engagement and boost an individual’s ability to focus. These tools can include weighted items for a sense of comfort, fidget toys for keeping hands engaged, or things like balance boards or seats. These items allow those who need it a chance to filter out extraneous sensory information or occupy a distracting hand to promote better focus and engagement on a task, school, or work.

Q: How do sensory tools work?

A: Some folks have difficulties processing sensory information and are often overloaded or need a way to focus excess energy, and a sensory tool allows for a healthy outlet. Sensory tools can be used by children, teenagers, and adults of all neurological states to release excess energy, reduce anxiety, or promote focus. When you allow someone to work with a putty while engaging in conversation, all that thought about what to do with their hands and need for movement is channeled, which allows the person to focus more intently on the discussion at hand. Additionally, if nervousness and anxiety create a need for movement, sensory tools are an excellent option for channeling that.

Q: What are calming strategies?

A: Calming strategies are about how they sound: strategies used to calm down a person. These can include stretching or going for a walk, or utilizing tools such as a fidget spinner, balance board, or stress balls. All these options are valid and customized to the individual. You likely have a calming strategy, whether you know it or not! If you don’t, it’s a valuable thing to have for all people, we all tend to get frustrated sometimes, and a surefire way to calm down is essential. Calming strategies involve sensory calming tools, as well.

Q: How do stress balls help relieve stress?

A: Stress balls require a squeeze and release motion, which helps alleviate tension and thereby reduces stress. Stress balls are also excellent for the muscles of the hands and fingers and can help with carpal tunnel and arthritis symptoms, but it’s okay if you just use this tool for stress relief. The pattern of tensioning and releasing can also regulate breathing, create more relaxed breathing patterns, and reduce stress.

We’ve written it here before — you’re a lucky person if you’ve got enough room in your house for the exercise equipment you need to sculpt a rocking bod. And we don’t know if you’ve tried to buy free weights or a squat rack lately, but iron is hard to find these days. In the early days of the Covid-19 shutdowns, dumbells flew off the shelf like nothing else shy of toilet paper and cleaning products — and the few things you can find on Craigslist are selling for many times their regular market value. JAXJOX Interactive Studio is a compact home gym solution for both problems — space and availability — with its innovative system pairing adjustable kettlebells and dumbells with an interactive touchscreen, real-time data tracking, and a subscription-based series of programs and classes.  It doesn’t have a treadmill, but hey — cardio isn’t everything!

The Weights

We love the idea of adjustable weights because you get all of the benefits of swinging free weights around, but none of the downsides — namely, that a complete weight set takes up so much darn space! Adjusting the weights on the JAXJOX Interactive Studio is as easy as pressing a few buttons. You’ve got access to up to 100 lbs of dumbbell weight and kettlebell weight ranging from 12 to 42 lbs.

On top of that, the dumbbells and kettlebells are smart-weights — connected to the rest of the Interactive Studio and an app on your phone via a system called DumbellConnect and KettlebellConnect. The upshot is that while you are working out, the JAXJOX Interactive Studio keeps track of all sorts of interesting workout metrics. Another advantage to smart weights — you can take your workout out into the yard or garage if that suits your fancy. As long as you have the app on your phone, your workouts (and associated metrics) will be saved.

The JAXJOX Interactive Studio also comes with a smart push-up bar and a foam roller. That’s a pretty well-rounded home gym experience in such a compact package.

The Screen

A crisp 43-inch 4k display can tilt 15 degrees towards the floor so you can see it as you crunch your abs into oblivion. The display rotates horizontally and vertically as well. The screen gives you access to all those metrics we just talked about, including power, calories burned, the current weight you are lifting, total weight lifted, and average heart rate.

The screen also lets you access the full range of JAXJOX classes and programs for $39/month. The subscription is required for the first year after purchasing the Interactive Studio, but we think you’ll find it worthwhile. Everybody needs a little motivational help sometimes, and that $39 covers six other people in your house as well. Classes are live and on-demand and include live coaching and workout suggestions.

As a bonus, the JAXJOX Interactive Studio is Bluetooth enabled. So go ahead and sync your Apple Music or Spotify playlists, and toss some weight around your compact home gym as the surround soundbar blasts out pump-up music.

Fitness IQ

Tracking progress over time is a key component of any successful workout plan. But how do you measure progress? Weight? BMI? Heartrate? Power output? How about all of those and more? JAXJOX compact home gym comes to the rescue by combining several handfuls of critical metrics into one number — your Fitness IQ. Show up and sweat regularly and watch your Fitness IQ climb, even as your waistline shrinks.

Buy. Sweat. Don’t Regret.

The JAXJOX Interactive Studio is now available for pre-order and will be delivered anywhere in the contiguous states. Units will begin shipping sometime in late 2020. You can reserve your compact home gym for a $250 deposit, and the whole unit will run you $2,199. The good news is that 36-month financing is available for qualifying customers. Burpee your way over to the JAXJOX website and see it for yourself.