What is a Tattoo?
Tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars. In this process, the pigment (ink) is permanently deposited (implanted) under the skin (well, into the non-exfoliating layers of skin).
The Origin of Tattoo
Although the practice of tattooing the body is very old, the English word 'tattoo' is relatively new. Archaeological records suggest the history of tattoos going beyond 3300 BC. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology of 'tattoo' as 'tattaow, tattow'. The word is introduced by explorer Captain James Cook (who also gave us the word 'taboo') to English speakers in his account of a voyage around the world from 1768 to 1771. When the sailor visited Marquesas Islands (one of the Islands in French Polynesia) in the year 1769, he saw typical custom of printing signs on people's body. The people referred this body printing as 'tattaw'. Sailors introduced this custom into Europe from the Pacific societies in which it was practiced, and it has remained associated with sailors, although many landlubbers now get tattoos as well.
'Tattau', a Tahitian word translates essentially as 'to mark'. The first syllable 'ta', meaning 'hand', is repeated twice as an onomatopoeic reference to the repetitive nature of the action, and the final syllable 'U' translates to 'color'. The instrument used to pierce the skin in Polynesian tattooing is called a 'hahau', the syllable 'ha' meaning to 'strike or pierce'.
In the Japanese context, the most common word used for traditional designs or those that are applied using traditional methods is 'irezumi' ("insertion of ink"), while "tattoo" is used for non-Japanese designs.
Fast Historical Tattoo Facts
- Tattooing has widely practiced in Eurasia since Neolithic times
- Archaeologists have discovered mummies bearing tattoos at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau, which dates back from the end of the second millennium BC
- Tattooing in Japan started some ten thousand years ago
- Many cultures down the ages left their mark on the art of tattooing varying from rubbing cuts and other wounds with ashes to hand-pricking the skin to insert dyes
- Māori, a Polynesian tribe from New Zealand still wear intricate moko, a type of tattoo, on their faces
- The yantra tattoo in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, is used for protection against evil
- Jews were forcibly tattooed with the ka-tzetnik identification system during the Holocaust (approximately six million European Jews were killed during World War II).
Uses of Tattoos
Tattoos are basically used as a type of decorative body modification on humans. Tattoo has always been a form of expression in one form or another. The relevance of tattooing varies from culture to culture. here is a list of the various purposes or uses of tattoo:
- In some cultures, tattooing is done for health & protection
- It is regarded as a religious practice in some cultures, especially as symbols of religious and spiritual devotion
- Tattoos are regarded as marks of status and rank
- Pledges of love are exhibited in the form of tattoos by many a beloveds
- They are decorated as amulets and talismans
- They are referred as decorations for bravery in some cultures
- Tattoos symbolize the belonging to or identification of certain people with particular groups
- Nowadays tattooing is primarily confined to the fashion world
- Tattoos are also used for identifying criminals and political prisoners, race horses and other animals
- Pets, show animals, and livestock are often tattooed for identification
- There are tattoos which are used as permanent makeup in the cosmetic industry, especially in enhancing eyebrows, lips, eyes (liner), and moles.
Designs of Tattoos
Tattoos are available in a variety of designs. The following are the most conventional designs used in the art of tattooing:
Animals
Celtic
Fantasy
Floral
Japanese
Kanji
Religious
Symbols
Traditional
Tribal
Zodiac.
Materials Used in Tattooing
Dyes and Pigments: During the early stages, natural pigments were used for tattooing, but today, any color can be created by mixing pigments together. Inorganic materials like titanium dioxide, iron oxide, carbon black, azo dyes, acridine, quinoline, phthalocyanine, naphthol derivates, ash dyes, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic), etc. are the dyes and pigments used today on a large scale. In the cosmetic tattooing industry, iron oxide pigments are used widely
Tattoo Inks: Carbon based pigments, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic), metallic inks (these may cause reactions), etc. are the tattoo inks generally used. Higgins, Pelikan or India ink brands, which often contain impurities and toxins, are not advisable to use as they may lead to illness or infection
Temporary Tattoos: These are waterproof tattoos, intended to last only a few days, which can be removed with oil-based creams. These tattoos are decorated with vegetable dyes, silver nitrate, henna, paint, and glue.
Categories of Tattoos
- Body Tattoos
- Logo Tattoos
- Belly Tattoos
- Arm Tattoos
- Mini Tattoos
- Glitter Tattoos
- Henna Tattoos (Mehndi)
- Nail Tattoos
- Crystal Body Tattoos
- Sticker Tattoos
- Hair Tattoos
- Body Tattoos
- Temporary Tattoos
- Premium Tattoos
- Glow in Dark Tattoos
- Color Tattoos
- Glitter Tattoos
- Crystal Tattoos
- Tribal Tattoos
- Cross Tattoos
- Butterfly Tattoos
- Dragon Tattoo
- Mehendi Tattoos
- Star Tattoo
- Flash Tattoos
- Religious Tattoos.
Popularly Used Tattoos
Heena Tattoo: Henna or Mehendi has originated thousands of years back. It is derived from the henna plant which has been used for many centuries by innumerable cultures as a dye. Henna possesses many curative as well as conditioning abilities. Thus, its tattoos is a natural way to adorn bodies for decorative purposes. Men, women, kids - anyone can enjoy this cool temporary painting or dyeing art of body parts. These tattoos are prepared by using henna paste derived from natural powdered leaves of henna plants.
Henna contains a number of medicinal properties. It has been used for burns, wounds & ulcers, anti-hemorrhage effect, anti-viral effect, hair dye, pains and sore throat since time immemorial. Henna is a cosmetic and a medicine, but most importantly, it is a marker of beauty, auspiciousness and celebration. Thus, henna tattoos are totally natural and free from any site-affects. However, persons suffering from any sort of allergy are advised to stay away from this vogue culture, since tattooing may bring troubles for them.
Body Stickers/Temporary Tattoos: They are generally applied to the skin by using water to transfer the design to the surface of the skin. Temporary tattoos are easily removed with soap and water or oil-based creams, and are intended to last a few days. They are much popular among kids.
Body Tattoo: They are basically meant for the full body of a person, preferably the back portion of the body. The history of full-body tattoos in Western culture straddles the lines between circus sideshows and the lifestyles of the eccentric and individualistic. Sometimes the tattooed transformation is accompanied by tales of wild fantasy and sometimes they are explained as simply the actions of someone just trying to be their true self.
Health Tattoos: In some regions of the world, like the South East Asian and South Pacific nations, tattooing is done for health purposes. Health tattoos are quite popular in Tibet, where people tattoo their bodies with sacred mantras, mantra wheels and mantra flags. The Tibetans believe that tattoos help the tattoo wearer to achieve inner as well as outer balance and harmony.
Tattoos for Protection: Tattoos are also regarded as protective amulets by many cultures and many magical applications are closely linked to religious beliefs. For example, Ainu women in Japan, for instance, tattoo themselves with images of their Goddess, which is able to repel evil spirits and thus protect them from disease. The practice of tattooing a dot at the end of a child's nose to guard against illness is a common practice in Iraq. A tattoo of Hanuman is used to relieve pain among Hindus.
Religious Tattoos: Early Christians used tattoos as symbols of recognition, until they were banned by Papal edict. Among the most devoutly tattooed groups anywhere is the community of Ramnaamis. Scattered across the Indian states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, this sect of untouchables found refuge from harm in their distinctive tattoos the name "Ram" repeated in Sanskrit on practically every inch of skin, even on the tongue and inside the lips.
Relevance of Tattoos in Contemporary Era
Tattooing is quite popular these days among people of all age groups. These eye-catchy items fascinates everyone throughout the world in general and the US and Europe in particular. Nowadays, everybody, right from big celebrities, film stars to the sport stars have been sporting fancy tattoos over their bodies. There is a bullish trend in the culture of tattooing at every corner of the globe.
(Sameer Abbas Zaidi)
