Why do martial arts fighters get tattoos?

Photo by Wade Austin Ellis

Tattoos are as individual as the person it’s tattooed on. And behind each tattoo is a story of why it was chosen and how it got memorialised on the athlete’s skin. Just like most regular people, athletes get tattoos for a variety of reasons, such as:

• Appear more intimidating to opponents

Athletes are fierce competitors. Before going into a fight, it’s important for them to know they’ve got an edge over their opponent. Tattoos may look harmless enough (it’s just ink on skin). But if you’re facing someone with a full body tattoo and he’s looking at you like he’s about to have you for lunch, well, that’s pretty menacing, I think.

Which would intimidate you more? A clean-cut opponent or a tattooed one? Personally, I’d say it’s the latter. While tattoos are becoming more mainstream than ever, there’s still that old stereotype which says tattooed folks are scary, aggressive and just overall bad people.

• Draw more attention

Tattoos get people talking, it’s a great conversation starter! And a lot of athletes like being talked about – it helps boost their popularity which in turn creates more opportunities for them. They get more fans and followers on social media. Best of all, they get sponsorships and lucrative deals with various brands.    

• Commemorate special events and people

Both athletes and non-athletes alike get tattooed for this very reason. In fact, many pro athletes get their first tattoo well before they enter competitive sports – they just add more as they go along.

Some, like MMA fighter Quinten Wyland, got his grandmother’s name tattooed on his forearm as a tribute for loving and supporting him. On the other hand, Joe Riggs got the word ‘DIESEL’ tattooed on his stomach because he bought a Diesel VW Bug (not so sure it was a good idea, but to each his own!).

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• It’s the ultimate form of self-expression

People like being unique, athletes and fighters probably even more so. And what better way to stand out from the crowd than to get inked with something totally unique to you?!

Our bodies are our very own canvas. We can use it to tell our stories to the world. We get tattooed because we want to remember someone or something by, and we want to let everyone know about it.

• Share an important message

Athletes inspire a lot of people. Many of them have their own advocacies in life and they use their platform, i.e. their popularity, to get their message across. For instance, Jon Jones has the Bible verse Philippians 4:13 tattooed on the right side of his chest:

• It’s a cultural thing

Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thai_tattoos_2.jpg

If you follow Muay Thai, you’ll notice many fighters sporting tattoos of geometric patterns, animal and deity symbols. This is because once upon a time in ancient Thailand, people believed these tattoos (known as Sak Yant) made them invincible to enemy attacks. It supposedly provided spiritual protection as well.

If you want to know more about the history of tattoos around the world, check this article: A History Of Tattoos: Skin Art Through The Ages.

• Just because

Martial arts fighters and athletes alike don’t need any reason to get a tattoo – just like you and me. They don’t owe anybody an explanation, and they’re free to get a tattoo any time they feel like it!

Thinking of getting your own tattoo while training in martial arts?

Why not? Whether you’re seriously training or just playfully dabbling in martial arts, you’re welcome to get a tattoo anytime you like. If it’s your first time, you need to be aware that the healing period is going to be far longer than your tattoo session.

You are technically undergoing a minor surgical procedure at the hands of your tattooist. So, take note of these do’s and don’ts of tattooing that are relevant for aspiring fighters like you!

1. Do think and rethink your decision

Think before you ink! Please don’t get a tattoo as a spur of the moment thing. Getting a tattoo whilst you’re drunk is never a good idea, and regret will come hard and fast when morning comes.

When you get to the big stage and fight in front of a huge crowd, your tattoo’s going to get noticed. Unless, of course, you choose to engage in a sport that requires a uniform like karate and judo.

Here’s a case in point: Melvin Costa’s tattoo. Go zoom in on the photo and read what his belly button tattoo says. Cringey, but he appears to be rather proud of having a small p****.

That said, stick and poke tattoos are getting mighty popular, especially among the youth. People are tattooing each other for fun – and to save money. And it’s all fine and dandy, even Manny Pacquaio did his own poke tattoo when he was 13! (Check out the tiny boxing glove tatt on the left side of his chest – yep, he did that).

Image source: https://www.sicovers.com/manny-pacquiao-fight-of-the-century-2015-may-04

But before you go under the needle – whether at your friend’s house or at a professional tattoo parlour – make sure it is absolutely what you want!

• Follow tattoo aftercare instructions to the dot

Tattoos may be permanent, but if you don’t take care of it, then it’s going to look patchy, old, and faded before too long. Tattoo aftercare is essential to making sure your skin art lasts forever!

Now, there are a lot of do’s and don’ts in tattoo aftercare. First and foremost, the most crucial stage of the healing process is the first couple of days. Your skin will be at its most tender at this point. It will be swollen, painful and extra sensitive. But you need to power on and wash it carefully a few times a day to clean up the goo that’s accumulated on the surface.

Apply healing ointment like Aquaphor or A+D (but never Vaseline!) to protect your skin. Then once it stops ‘weeping’, it’s time to hydrate and moisturise your skin so it can heal underneath.

• Avoid training for at least 1-2 weeks after getting tattoo

Even if your tattoo looks healed on the surface, it’s still repairing itself underneath. When training, especially grappling, it will be easy enough to cause trauma to the tattooed area. You can cover it up, sure, but if you’re not careful you can easily get a tattoo infection. I mean, gyms, dojos, cages, and rings aren’t exactly germ-free places.

So, get some rest please. If your body can’t handle going without exercise for a couple of weeks, then go lift some weights at the gym or go running. Just make sure your tattoo is well-protected, and won’t get irritated and chafed by strenuous physical activities.

• Don’t train out in the sun

The sun is great and all, but once you get a tattoo, every time you face the sun you will need to be prepared. Why? Because the sun’s UV rays will break down the ink pigment in your skin; this can cause some loss in colouring. Once your tattoo’s fully healed, you can wear UV-protective clothing like this tattoo sleeve cover or just get yourself some sunscreen lotion with high SPF.  

• Do talk to your tattooist

They’ve been around and they know what’s best for you. If you have any allergies or skin conditions, let them or your GP know. You don’t want your body to end up rejecting the tattoo because you’re allergic to tattoo ink.   

Conclusion

There’s no denying it – tattoos in martial arts are prevalent nowadays. And it shows no signs of slowing down. As time goes by, we’ll see even more fighters and athletes showcasing their inked skin to the world.

These all refer to the same tattooing technique our ancestors have used for ages. But this ancient, time-tested technique refuse to die out. Instead, it’s even making a comeback in today’s youths. Are you thinking of getting one? Read on to find out if this is the right tattooing technique for you!

But first, what are stick and poke tattoos?

Stick and poke tattoos are usually simple pieces like these (Photo by Elizabeth Tsung).

Well, these are tattoos done by hand (no machinery involved). This manual technique involves these steps:

1. Dipping a sharp object (like a needle) into ink, and then
2. Repeatedly poking the skin using the needle to deposit or insert the ink in the skin’s dermis layer.

As you can probably imagine, this process is a whole lot slower (and sometimes more painful) than modern tattooing techniques. It’s the same principle, of course, but highly inefficient since you’re only using a single needle.

With each proper poke, you get one tiny dot of ink embedded in your skin. The good news, however, is that you get quite a few more breathers with poke tattoos because the ink needs to be refilled more often than machines.

It’s therefore not surprising that most stick ‘n poke tattoos are usually small in size. It will be extremely difficult to do a full sleeve using this ancient method (it’s doable but not the best way to go about it!).   

That said, DIYing tattoos have recently increased in popularity. And with skyrocketing prices of professionally-done machine-made tattoos, this trend is not surprising at all. According to Meg Zulch who lived on a college campus, she’s “surrounded by people giving and receiving stick and poke tattoos.”

Now, depending on where you live, professional tattoos can cost an arm and leg, but stick ‘n pokes can be had for cheap – or even free. Perfect for a college student’s budget!

How stick and poke tattooing works

Alright, so here we are at the most exciting part of this article! Here’s what you’ll need to get started with poke tattoos.

Stick and poke tattoo tools

In the old days, you only needed two things, a sharp-tipped tool and the ink/pigment. Of course, nowadays, there’s a whole bunch of things you need to prepare for if you don’t want your new amateur skin art to get infected.

Required:

• Sterilised tattoo needle
• Tattoo ink or india ink (no pen ink please!)
• Thread to wrap around needle and absorb ink
• Pencil or something similar to support needle

For hygiene and sanitation:

• Medical-quality gloves
• Cotton pads (also known as makeup remover pads)
• Kitchen roll or hand paper towels
• Green soap to disinfect surfaces including skin
• Cling film or sterile bandage to protect tattoo afterwards

Optional:

If you’re going to be tracing your tattoo, you’ll need tattoo transfer paper and skin marker pen. Otherwise, you can skip these and just free-draw the tattoo directly on skin.

Also, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of buying each material one by one, you can buy a complete stick & poke tattoo kit. The caveat is this will be a more expensive option.

But if you’re a newbie and you don’t know what you’re doing, a complete kit should help you out. Some even include a silicon skin you can practice on, before you tattoo actual skin (yours or someone else’s!).

How to stick and poke tattoo – the process

Here’s a short demo video which I think explains the process best. Check it out:

Pros and cons of stick ‘n pokes

Let’s weigh in on whether getting a poke tattoo is a good idea. Here are some pros and cons of this technique:

The positives

• It’s extremely cheap, and in some cases, even free

A simple needle and thread plus some ink is literally all you need to have for your very first tattoo – simple items you most likely already have at home. If not, you can get these supplies for a few quid.

• It’s a bonding opportunity with friends

What better way to make memories with friends than to literally leave a mark on their skin? A lot of young people do S&P’s on a whim or dare. But hey, it’s fun, right? And for many, that’s really all that matters.

• If done right, can look really nice

DIY tattoos look far from professional, but it does have a certain appeal to it. Most homemade tattoos look really cool and cute – two things young people are really into!  

• It’s personal

I mean, all tattoos are personal. No one’s forcing you to go under the needle, after all.  However, poke tattoos are usually done by friends on each other, which makes the experience totally unique and memorable.  

The negatives

• More time-consuming

One poke is one dot. A small tattoo can take upwards of 1-2 hours whereas a machine can get the whole thing done in under 30 minutes.

• Riskier and less sanitary than professionally done tattoos

Obviously, homemade tattoos will be riskier than those done in studios. The tattoo industry is heavily regulated in the UK. And professional tattooists take great care at ensuring their workplace is sterile for tattoo sessions.

Tattooing, after all, is a process that involves pricking and cutting the skin. If done in an unsanitary place, the risks dramatically increase, which is, unfortunately, the case with homemade tattoos.

• Won’t be winning tattoo design awards

Poke tattoos are cute, yes, but they’re not nearly as intricate and detailed as machine-made ones. ‘Real’ tattoos – depending on the design and the artist – can look amazingly lifelike, like this one:

Machine-made tattoos are vibrant and can be life-like (Photo by Annie Spratt)

• Fades faster than ‘real’ tattoos

Even the steadiest hands on the planet can’t compete with a tattoo machine’s precision. For poke tattoo to really last, ink needs to be deposited in the skin’s dermis layer. You think you or your friends can do that? Consistently?

Are stick and poke tattoos safe?

Well, all forms of tattooing come with inherent risks, it’s just the nature of the beast. And when you’re DIYing your tattoo in your kitchen, bedroom or garage, then chances of cross-contamination are much higher.

The safety of a stick and poke tattoo will ultimately depend on how well you clean the space you’re going to work in, as well as how sterile your tools are. That said, the risk of infection is much higher with a DIY tattoo than in studios. Here are some of the more risk-prone aspects of poke tattoos:

• Needle sterilisation

Single-use needles best used for hand poke tattoos (click on image to buy online!)

One common way wannabe artists sterilise needles is by holding a flame to said needle. However, this method is not as effective as, say, using an autoclave to sterilise it. But then again, autoclaves are expensive and would be out of reach for most people.

The point is that flaming a needle isn’t fool-proof and if the needle is contaminated with tetanus, then you’re out of luck. To minimise risk, it’s best to just use pre-sterilised, single-use, disposable needles. These only cost a few pounds, so it’s not going to make you poor, don’t worry.

• Choice of tattoo ink

Considering you put the ink inside your skin, you’re seriously putting your health at risk if you don’t know what you’re doing. The US Food and Drugs Administration has recently recalled a number of tattoo inks from the market because these were contaminated with microorganisms.

Here are pictures of the offending inks taken from the FDA website:

Professional tattooists certainly know what they’re doing, but even they may inadvertently use contaminated ink.

For best results, use recommended tattoo ink. Or if you’re on a budget, india ink will do, too.

Can you use pen ink for a stick and poke?

Well, this is an easy one. You can, but you shouldn’t. Using pen ink for a stick ‘n poke is a big no-no. This may be acceptable in places where there’s no other ink options, like prison, but in the outside world, do yourself a favour and get proper ink.

The ingredients used in pen ink varies widely, and it’s best not to risk putting unknown stuff in your skin. You might be putting something toxic and not know it till you’re in hospital (or worse, you never find out at all because you died from infection).

India ink is cheap and good enough for most beginners; it’s safe and natural and even professionals use it to tattoo themselves and their clients. But if you can afford it, professional tattoo ink from a reputable brand will help you keep your mind at ease that you’re not injecting poison in your skin.  

The risks involved with DIYing your tattoos

Poke tattoos are fun and all, especially if you’re young and under the influence of alcohol. However, there are certain risks you should be aware of before you put needle to skin (or more accurately, cut skin with needle):

• Skin inflammation

Inflammation may occur right after your tattoo is done, or during the healing process. For instance, if you use too much ointment or cream during aftercare, inflammation may occur and delay the healing process.

• Skin infection

Since DIY tattoos often occur in non-hygienically controlled environments (like in a professional tattoo studio), the risk of infection is much higher. For example, if you’re getting tattooed in your college bedroom, chances are it’s not 100% sterile.

The most common infection brought about by poor tattooing practice is staph infection. The staphylococcus bacteria are commonly present on our skin. However, there’s a chance that this bacteria can enter the bloodstream and infect vital organs via a tattoo.   

• Allergic reaction to ink

This is understandable enough. You’re essentially putting a foreign object in your body, and if you turn out to be allergic to that object (the ink), then tough luck. Fortunately, most allergies can be treated with medication. If the tattoo ink allergy turns out to be severe, please speak with your GP asap.

• Bloodborne diseases

This can be avoided by not using shared needles. Always, always sterilise your needles or better yet buy a bunch of pre-sterilised, single use needles for when you feel the urge to tattoo yourself or your friend. This study might convince you to do the right thing.

• Keloids

If you’re prone to developing keloids, then a poke tattoo – or any other form of tattoo, for that matter – should probably be off the table for you. Please speak to your GP before you do anything you’ll regret.

A brief history of stick and poke tattoos

If you’re wanting to know more about stick ‘n poke tattoos through the millennia, scroll down. I gathered some of the most relevant facts I thought you may be interested in!

So, long before tattoo machines came into the picture, hand poke tattoos were probably the only way to get inked. Obviously, different cultures and different places meant different materials were used. But the general idea of sticking and poking the skin remained the same throughout the history of tattoos.

Polynesia

A pointed bone (Photo by Alexander Andrews)

The oldest tattoo kit discovered in Polynesia dates back almost 3,000 years! And what’s even more fascinating is that these bone combs are thought to have been carved out of human bone and sea bird bone. Of course, since electricity was still a few millennia away, inking the skin was – without a doubt – a manual process.

Take note, however, that even though modern tattooing machines are widely available, the islanders continue to use similar tattooing implements as part of their culture and tradition.

Otzi the Iceman

A snapshot of Otzi’s tattoos on the wrist (Image source)

Otzi the Iceman (not his real name because we have no way of knowing what it is) was discovered in the Otztal Alps in 1991. He is said to have lived 5,000 years ago (between 3400 and 3100 BC). What’s really interesting about Otzi is that he had 61 geometric patterns tattooed on his body, however, scientists think these tatts aren’t decorative. They believe these tatts were therapeutic or medical in nature since the tattooed area aligns with known acupuncture spots.

The women of ancient Egypt

Common location of tattoos in ancient female Egyptian mummies (Image source)

Ancient Egyptian men also got tattoos, but the oldest mummies were of women who sported tattoos in interesting parts of the body. Scientists and archaeologists initially thought the tattooed women were nothing but lowly prostitutes and slaves. But the discovery of high priestess’ Amunet’s tattoos showed this theory to be false (she can’t be both priestess and prostitute, right?).

It was discovered that the women’s tattoos were often located in the abdomen, breasts and upper thighs (see image above). The current theory is that these tattoos offer spiritual protection for women as they go through pregnancy and childbirth. And unlike Otzi’s geometric patterns, the women’s tattoos were figurative and decorative in nature.

Lastly, according to researchers, the process of tattooing in ancient Egypt was highly similar to current techniques, which is tattooists stuck and poked ink-tipped needles on skin.

Final thoughts

Stick ‘n poke tattoos are just as permanent as machine-made tattoos. However, there are certain risks involved with DIYing your tattoo at home or having a hopefully sober friend do one on you. Weigh the pros and cons of tattooing before getting one, so you don’t regret it later on.

The first tattoo in history: how long have tattoos been in existence?

A man with a full sleeve tattoo (Photo by Matheus Ferrero)

Unfortunately, we can’t pinpoint when the first ever tattoo was done on human skin. But the well-preserved body of a tattooed man was discovered in the Otztal Alps in 1991 (he was buried in a glacier which only recently started to melt).

The man didn’t die last decade; he didn’t even die in the last century. Otzi the Iceman, as scientists call him, is said to have lived between 3400 and 3100 BC, which makes him at least 5,200 years old!

Now, what’s really interesting about his 61 tattoos is that the placement and distribution suggested the markings were therapeutic in nature. They were not a form of artistic expression or marker of his status in society.

Apparently, each tattoo mark revealed bone degeneration over that particular spot, which, according to the Smithsonian, implies that the tattoos were applied to alleviate joint pain.

Here’s a photo of Otzi the Iceman:

A photo of Otzi the Iceman. (Source)

Otzi may have been really old, but the ancient Egyptians are not to be outdone. According to this National Geographic article, a previously discovered 5,000-year old mummy recently underwent infrared imaging. And they were in for a surprise! The dark smudge on the mummy’s arm turned out to be a tattoo of a bull and barbary sheep!  

A second female mummy from around the same time and region was also discovered to have figurative, abstract tattoo on her skin. This discovery pushes back the oldest known tattoo on human skin by at least 1,000 years, which makes it significantly older than Otzi the Iceman.

In addition to Otzi and the Egyptians, other ancient tribes and peoples have also been marking their bodies with ink and pigment for ages. These include ancient Greeks, Romans, Celtics, Chinese, and Indians. Even tribes from far-flung islands like Samoa and the Philippines have a colourful history of tattooing!  

How did people tattoo in ancient times?

Our ancestors used ash and soot for tattooing. (Photo by Jenelle Hayes)

Modern tattoo machines and ink didn’t come into existence until the 19^th century. Before that, people were rubbing fireplace soot or ash into open wounds (a stick and poke method, if you will). If you think that sounds painful, you can bet your favourite pet it was!

I can just imagine the horrors of getting a tattoo in ancient times. They probably didn’t get tattooed under the most sanitary of conditions, so the risk of getting an infection was very high.

Let me breakdown the process for you, just so you can understand – in fine detail – what it was like to get tattooed thousands of years ago:

• You get your skin cut by a thorn, stick, bone, metal, or some other pointy thing.
• Then you pack ash or soot or charcoal (or quite literally some dirt) into the wound.
• As the skin heals, it traps the dirt particles inside, thus making your skin appear discoloured.

Later on, as people started becoming more adept at tattooing, they started tying together a bunch of pointed needle-like objects to create various patterns.

No, green soap and cling film and sanitary practices didn’t exist back then, so this entire process was painful. And depending on the person’s pain tolerance, one small tattoo probably took take several hours to finish!

Aren’t we lucky we were born in these modern times? Samuel O’Reilly’s electric tattoo machine has been a game-changer. The whole tattooing process can now be done in minutes instead of hours.

Nowadays, there are all sorts of aftercare products to choose from to ensure optimal healing rates. I bet our inked ancestors would have loved to have been born in this century!

History of tattoos in ancient cultures

People tattoo themselves for various reasons. In some cultures, tattooing was done to denote social status. While in others, it was a mark of punishment. Here’s what tattoos meant to ancient cultures around the globe:

Ancient Britain

According to this BBC article, the name ‘Britain’ was derived from the Celtic word ‘Pretani’ which means the painted or tattooed ones. This name was given to them by the ancient Romans who invaded the island in 55 BC, and discovered them to be covered in body art. Apparently, it was common for Britons to dye or tattoo themselves with woad, which turned them into scary-looking blue warriors!

Ancient Greece and Rome

Some ancient Greeks and Romans practised decorative tattooing, but it wasn’t really all that popular. This is because tattooing was commonly used to mark criminals and prisoners of wars, and of course, their lowly slaves. Later on, soldiers and arms manufacturers were tattooed by the Romans; this continued well into the 9th century.

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians loved their tattoos! (Photo by British Library)

Tattooing has been a common practice in Egypt since ancient times. Imagine that, two 5,000-year old mummies both discovered to have tattoos! But apart from these two mummies, it’s also important to mention other tattooed Egyptian women like Amunet (a priestess of Hathor). She and others like her apparently got tattoos for medicinal reasons, such as possibly treating a pelvic condition.

Samoa

The Samoan tradition of ‘tatau’ (this is widely viewed as the root word for the modern term ‘tattoo’) has been around for more than 2,000 years. Even with the advent of modern tattoo equipment, Samoan tattooists prefer to follow the ways of their ancestors. That means more pain and longer tattooing sessions, but in the Samoan community, this is viewed as bravery and endurance. Backing down from the pain is a big no-no, and such cowardice will be the cause of shame for the entire family.

China

China’s contribution to art is indisputable. However, when it comes to tattooing, not so much. This is because tattooing is traditionally shunned by the Chinese, and is usually reserved as punishment for criminals and bandits alike. But bandit or not, several tattooed Tarim mummies dating back to 2100 and 5500 BC were discovered in multiple cemeteries in present-day Xinjiang province. This goes to show that even in an ancient culture which looked at tattooed people as barbarians, this art refused to die and instead continued to thrive.  

Japan

‘Irezumi’ means ‘tattoo’ in Japan. This art has been around for millennia as evidenced by clay figurines (called ‘dogu’) from the Jomon period (10,000 BC to 300 BC) showing tattoo-like markings. But the first written depiction came from the third century Chinese history text called Gishiwajinden that said Japanese men tattooed their faces and bodies. Over the next several centuries, the popularity and symbolism of tattooing will alternate between being accepted and shunned by society.  

India

An ethnic Indian woman with tattoos on her face. (Source)

Different regions in India practised tattooing for different reasons. Tattooing is known as ‘godna’ in Hindi, which literally translates to burying the needle. For some communities, it was to flaunt them as permanent jewellery – something no one can ever take away from them. In some tribes, they’d tattoo their girls to make them look unappealing to men from rival tribes. Tattoos also helped establish tribal identities, especially in interior regions in India.

A brief history of the modern tattoo machine

A modern tattoo machine (Photo by Andrej Lišakov)

This history of tattoo article won’t be complete without an introduction to the tattoo machine. Without this machine, tattooing might not have become as widespread and as popular as it is today. It is efficient for both tattooist (in terms of time spent tattooing) and customer (time spent closing your eyes in pain).

Now, the predecessor to the modern tattoo machine is actually Thomas Edison’s electric pen. It was slightly modified by Samuel O’Reilly to provide an ink reservoir and insert pigment to the skin (dermis layer). This is the rotary tattoo machine which is still widely used up to now.

However, the most popular machine is the coil tattoo machine. It was first developed by Thomas Riley just a few weeks after O’Reilly came up with his machine! It’s ideal for lining and shading work which is perfect for large and complex tattoos.

Here’s a short video explaining how these two modern tattoo machines work:

The tattoos of today: why it’s become so popular

Surveys and news reports confirm it – tattoos have gone mainstream in today’s society. Obviously, trends come and go. But for now, tattoos are making a serious comeback. It’s become so popular that a recent survey says that a fifth of British adults have tattoos (that’s 1 in 5 adults!).

In the US, tattoos are even more popular with 47% of millennials having gotten at least one tattoo. And the thing is, this trend doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down anytime soon.

The media and social media’s probably to thank (or blame) for this phenomenon. Everywhere you look, you see celebrities and athletes sporting their colourful and oh so beautiful tattoos.

When you go out in public, observe how many regular people you see out in the streets wearing a tattoo. You’ll likely see lots of visible tattoos – imagine how many more are hidden under clothing!

The stigma associated with tattoos are probably a thing of the past. Here in the UK, even older citizens are getting inked! Gone are the days when other people will look down on those who have tattoos – visible or not.

If you show your tattoo in public, you no longer need to worry about being stereotyped as a lowly criminal. In fact, the opposite is now true – you’ll be perceived as someone cool, fashionable and modern!

Concluding the history of tattoos…

Tattoos really have come a long way, and the entire process can only become easier and safer in the future. That said, there’s a corresponding rise in the number of tattoo removal procedures, but that’s a topic for another day. Fortunately for us, we live in a time where tattoo removal is now possible. Our ancestors lived and died with their tattoos – whether they liked it or not!