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M. is for the Man-ly MAN HUG

While watching a marathon of L.A. Ink the other day (Don’t judge me those tattoo stories are really touching.) Anyway, I noticed that every single man who entered the shop to get tattooed by a male tattoo artist would do the same greeting, EVERYTIME! The first man, the customer, enters and approaches the second man, the tattoo artist, and greets him immediately before even introducing himself and they enter into the sacred ritual of the…..wait.for.it……. MAN HUG! (DONDondon) Ok, we have all seen it or perhaps been a part of one. It starts off as a handshake and from there it snowballs into a full-blown hug, with two pats to finish it off. Not three pats because that is lingering, not four pats unless you want to be more than friends 😉 Just two pats! Then you walk away like nothing happened and go on with introducing yourselves.

I have seen this before but as I watched all of those super tough, macho men coming in to get their tattoos, where they make sure not to show emotion or affection, but they greet EVERY stranger they meet with a hug! I have never questioned this before but as I watched and started playing the “Handshake or Hug” game. ( <—– It’s always hug) I started to wonder because every single women who entered the shop did not greet their tattoo artists with a hug or a handshake even, they just gave a polite greeting maybe a smile and introduced themselves…..then after the tattoo was done a few hours later and they have talked to each other and established a relationship or friendship then they hug to celebrate such a wonderful tattoo. With girls I guess you have to work for that hug! As, a girl who is friends with girls, I realized that when my friends and me meet someone new we do not hug them…..but, maybe that’s just me. So, now I keep an eye out for the infamous Man Hug! But, if you are unfamiliar here is what to look for.

I found these steps at this link… http://artoftransliness.tumblr.com/post/6813360134/how-to-perform-the-american-man-hug

“Some men in America are not even completely comfortable with the fully embracing style of hugging, even when done correctly. For men who cannot quite bring themselves to use both arms in the hug, the American Man Hug is an appropriate compromise.

1. Begin with the traditional handshake

2. Keeping your hand clasped with your buddy, wrap the left arm around the shoulder of your friend

3. Slap your friend’s back two times. As in the international style, the back slap is key.

4. Release embrace”

Here are some images of the much more intense two-armed Man Hug

Oh So Manly!! They Pu the MAN in MAN Hug!

Not enough detail…here’s a How To of the slightly intimidating Two-Armed Man Hug!

But, be warned……it is not as easy as it looks! Just a couple of inches in the wrong direction and the Man hand or head can slip into uncharted and inappropriate territory!