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A report in the year 2000 by National Geographic News stated that nearly 40 million Americans sport some type of tattoo. That number has most certainly risen in the past near-decade. This body art, once limited to people in gangs or fringe culture, has since gone mainstream. more »
Body art has been a fascination for centuries. Tattoos are not always preferred due to their permanent nature. Temporary body tattoos offer a fun option. It's a process that's rich in history and full of opportunities to try something on for size, experimenting with designs, dressing festively or using in costume wear more »
Gang tattoos are used by gang members to show loyalty and membership in a specific gang. They also reflect the gang member's life choices and gang-related accomplishments, like their specialty areas and skills, various accomplishments and even convictions. Gang tattoos are not random; rather they're sort of a secret code, usually only... more »
Changing tattoos is a difficult decision. Whether you are trying to cover up an ex lover’s name or need to repair a fading favorite, knowing what you want and what your options are is vital in selecting the right remedy for your tattoo problem. These days you have plenty of options, and with the greater access to tattoo artists... more »
The tattoos of the Wichita Indians played such an important role in their lives that they were known amongst the white man and other Native American tribes by names that signified these markings. Used for purposes that varied from identification to spiritual protection, they were a very prominent symbol that differentiated the Wichita... more »
Tattoos have been around for thousands of years. They have represented status symbols, love, religion, even punishment. The history of tattoos is... more »
Tattoos are drawings and designs permanently drawn on human skin using a special needle. Some people may wish to add to their existing tattoos,... more »
As tattoos become more mainstream, many people are finding the cost is not cheap. Even though there are plenty of tattoo artists, the demand for... more »
The popularity of tattoos may appear to be a current fad but history shows this unique art form dates back thousands of years. What began as a... more »
Judaism follows very strict guidelines based on the Torah and other religious texts. One of the regulations in these texts prohibits followers... more »
A tattoo is a marking made by inserting indelible ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.
Tattooing has been practiced worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, traditionally wore facial tattoos. Today one can find Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Maori of New Zealand, and Atayal of Taiwan with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples and among certain tribal groups in the Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Mentawai Islands, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand and Micronesia. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular in many parts of the world.
Etymology
The OED gives the etymology of tattoo as "In 18th c. tattaow, tattow. From Polynesian tatau. In Tahitian, tatu." The word tatau was loaned into English, the pronunciation being changed to conform to English phonology as "tattoo"."somoa"> Sailors on the voyage later introduced both the word and reintroduced the concept of tattooing to Europe.
Tattoo enthusiasts may refer to tattoos as "Ink", "Tats", "Art", "Pieces", or "Work"; and to the tattooists as "Artists". The latter usage is gaining greater support, with mainstream art galleries holding exhibitions of both traditional and custom tattoo designs. Copyrighted tattoo designs that are mass-produced to tattoo artists are known as flash, a notable instance of industrial design. Flash sheets are prominently displayed in many tattoo parlors for the purpose of providing both inspiration and ready-made tattoo images to customers.
The Japanese word irezumi means "insertion of ink" and can mean tattoos using tebori, the traditional Japanese hand method, a Western style machine, or for that matter, any method of tattooing using insertion of ink. read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo
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