For thousands of years tattoos have been used as a status symbol, a way to intimidate enemies, and now tattoos are used as a form of expression. As the meanings of tattoos have changed, the technology behind tattoos has changed as well. While there are still societies who use their original way of tattooing, there has been plenty of progress for healthier and better tattooing.
Polynesian Tattoos
Polynesian tribes have used tattoos as a way of showing status. Tribes administer tattoos to men with an extremely sharp instrument that resembles a comb. This pierces the skin and a small hammer drives the blades deeper while ink is tapped onto the comb.
Japanese Tattoos
Japanese prisoners were tattooed with their crimes so even after upon release the community still knew what they did. Crude needle methods would be used to create tattoos.
German Tattoos
While German tattoos are mostly known for the serial numbers of concentration camp prisoners, before world war two German tattoo artists were known for decorating their wives and daughters to show off their work. Unlike WW2 where crude needle methods were used, German tattoo artists would have elaborate kits to make their work as detailed as possible.
Thai Tattoos
Thai monks will use long branches of bamboo to administer tattoos. With a needle on one end, the tattoo ink will drip into the flesh as it is pierced. Other tattoo methods in Thailand involve cutting the skin and rubbing the dye into the skin.
Western Tattoos
North American tattoos have their own rich history. Originally only sailors and soldiers owned tattoos. Since the turn of the century however, it is not uncommon for someone under the age of 18 to have a tattoo.
Hygiene is paramount in North American tattooing. Each tattoo artist much go through bloodborne pathogen training before beginning his tattoo apprenticeship. They must reach bloodborne pathogen training requirements before being able to tattoo. This is so they understand the diseases that travel through the blood and how to avoid transferring them from one client to another.
Tattoo artists must also use sterile needles and are subject to random health screenings.
By taking bloodborne pathogen training online, keeping all their tools clean, and artists educated, tattooing in North America has become incredibly popular and safe to get.
Before considering a tattoo, the tattooing methods, the artwork, and the artist should all be heavily researched before hand. No one wants a poorly drawn tattoo or one that no longer has meaning to them.
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