Tattoo history

Tattoo history

The history of tattoos goes as far back as the history of humanity. From our very first steps on this planet, we have coloured our skin and pierced different parts of our body. Mostly, this was for religious or other symbolic purposes. Nowadays, tattoos have become a way of showing yourself and your inner thoughts to the outside world. It is a way to be different.

Even the word “tattoo” has roots in power and might. Since is is widely considered that the Polynesians first started using ink to put patterns on their bodies, it is their word we used for the now-so-popular art form. Tattoo means “real, manlike”, but these days we have a lot of different terms for this intricate work.

James Cook first told about theses tattooed people after coming back from his voyage in the 18th century. Since then the tattoo industry has boomed and paved its way through all seven continents, with a huge chunk of the world population today sporting at least one tattoo, if not several. Tattoos have since then also been used for a bunch of different things, including murder. Jews were “branded” with tattoos when they entered the different concentration camps. As a stark contrast to that grim use, women these days use tattoos to have permanent makeup, which saves them time.

Tattoo has come a long way since its first days back in Polynesia. It has developed, and the techniques as well as the mechanics behind the process have evolved. Now you could even get an eye-tattoo, which is extremely rare but still exists.

In the 21st century we have also seen a new type of tattoo make its way up the popularity scale: the medical (http://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/all-about-those-diabetes-tattoos) tattoo. These are mostly used to cover up scars from bigger operations, but can also make an amputated arm look cool. Women that had one of their breasts removed after cancer, can also use beautiful tattoos to cover up their abnormality. Tattoos have come a long way since the first Polynesians coloured their faces. Now, its a part of our global society, global culture.