Tattoo’s weblog.

With the current resurgent trend in tribal tattoos, its surprising that African tattoos are not much more common in the western world of body art designs. However as beautiful as African Tribal designs are, do you understand the meanings behind them?

Well here are five facts that explore some of the lesser know ideals behind African Tribal Tattoo designs:

Fact 1

Some African body art are drawn to give the wearer protection from harm, the symbolism in the images guarding them throughout life.

Fact 2

African body art were never meant to be merely drawings for bodily decoration. They are drawn so that the wearer of the art can take on an almost Supernatural state. Given the term scarification, represent a way for the wearer to appear more than human.

Fact 3

African scarification or tattooing, often uses symbols that reflect the wearers character, and is used as proof of courage and braver; which are the things one needs to undergo the painful application of the body art.

Fact 4

The first African tattoo found was dated back to a mummy in 1994 BC, although it is estimated that there are tattoos dating back to 2000BC; and images showing Egyptian High Priestesses with tattooed arms have been found.

Fact 5

There is a type of body art that is done by those in Africa whose skin is generally too dark for regular tattoo coloration to appear. It is called cicatrisation and it works by opening a small part of the skin to create a designed wound. They then rub ash into the wound so that when it heals, it results in a permanent raised scar.

About The Author

Allen Stevens writes for www.TattooDesignOnline.net, a website that has an easy to search, free online database of tattoo designs.

Share This

Body art and tattoos have become so popular now that people who would have ran the other way are exposing their skin to the tattooists needle. It is not uncommon to get a glimpse of some office worker in the boardroom sporting a sexy rose tattoo on her chest, floral design on her lower leg or even some tribal artwork tattoos on her lower back. This is a testimony that tattoos are becoming more and more acceptable in a corporate environment traditionally no go zones for any form of personal expression.

What are the hottest tattoo designs?

‘New School’ Style Tattoos. These are a modern version of the ol’ sailor Jerry style of tattoos such as anchors and swallows. They are much brighter and more animated than their predecessors which look very flat in comparison. A lot of people especially females are asking for tattoos of swallows and anchors on their neck.

Japanese Kanji Tattoos. Japanese style tattoos are so popular amongst females who are going for “full sleeve” style tattoos depicting Japanese characters such as koi or carp fish.

Floral and Love Heart Chest Tattoos. This style can look so sexy on a girl! There is a certain timeless look with these tattoos harking back to the good ol’ days of the 1950’s.

Star Tattoos. These have always been popular but more people are getting them done on visible places such as wrists and on the lower legs. Unsuprisingly Hollywood stars are lining up for the tattooists chair and demanding tattoos that reflect their lives.

Tribal Tattoos. Tribal tattoo designs have been around for hundreds of years but are becoming more and more complex and constantly evolving and morphing into what has become known as neo tribal tattoo styles. Tribal styles can be traditional ‘black work’ covering the arms or more colorful styles characterised by the ‘Modern Primitive’ look covering the entire body.

Tips for Getting Tattoos

Choose your tattoo carefully. Don’t go for some off the wall ‘flash’ tattoo. A good tattoo artist loves doing ‘custom pieces’.

Try not mix different tattoo styles such as Japanese and Tribal styles. It doesn’t work!

Go to a reputable tattoo artist not some backstreet ’scratcher’ who is cheap but you will inevitably regret later. Build a relationship with the tattoo artist if you plan of getting a lot of tattoos.

Take proper care especially of newer tattoos. As summer approaches a lot of people get tattooed and can’t wait to flash them off. Be careful that you do not expose your new tattoos to too much sun which will fade them.

Review different styles of tattoos and view pictures of tattoos in Tao of Tattoos new galleries. Subscribe for FREE to ‘Kinky Ink’ ezine for the kinkiest tattoos and coolest people. Strictly for those with a serious fetish for body art and tattoos!

Share This

Tribal tattoos are fast becoming popular among tattoo enthusiasts. These tattoos have gained increasing exposure not just in America, but also in Asia where tattoos have been long associated with secret societies.

The reason why tribal tattoos are gaining popularity is because of the meanings behind them. Tattoos were used to indicate a person as a member of a group or to represent religious or spiritual beliefs. In certain ancient societies, tattoos were used as ranks to indicate seniority and power. Tribal tattoos were also used as a form of tribal identification. If you put on the wrong tattoo, it will risk your chances of being one of the tribe and they might just permanently mark you as an outsider. In some Asian tribal societies, tattoos were deliberately used to mark you as a rebel and enemy. So be careful when you have a tattoo and are walking in the jungle, you might just have an arrow pieced through you by mistake.

Today in the modern society, besides tattooing for aesthetic reasons, these tribal tattoos on the body can also be used to subtly command a certain amount of envy and respect among those looking. The LV sign of Vuitton bags is a symbol and they exemplify affluence and wealth. Tribal tattoos have the same effects when done tastefully. They symbolize power, energy, force, ability and skill. This can help to instill and reinforce our positive feelings, just like what famous brands of luxury goods do to people. By drawing a few simple dark thick lines and curves, tribal tattoos drawn in a shape of dragon or rose, it can bring as much pride to the inked body, only much cheaper than the LV bags.

So what kind of tribal tattoos is popular? Tribal sun is good, Celtic knots are extremely popular, flowers are favored by women, armbands are worn by those with muscular biceps. In fact most tribal tattoos can be worn anywhere; the upper back, the lower back, the ankle, the navel, shoulder and chest. I have seen one on top of the head! You can have anything drawn to your imagination; just make sure they fit the right places. You don’t want to put a short barbed wire on your chest because most would look better around the arms. Neither do you want to put a flame around your nipple. So use some judgment and exercise some creativity. Maybe you can observe what others have done and have the tattoo artist’s advise you a little before you commit yourself.

For more free Tribal tattoos designs, visit http://www.miluping.com

Ong Hui Woo
http://www.miluping.com

Share This