The Origins of Tattoos- The Beginings of Tattoos

Tattoos are deep in origin and quite literally mean to mark something. It was derived from the Tahitian word “Tatu”.. Tattoos have been around for hundreds of years. They once were a type of branding to declare ones profession or societal standing. Some cultures used tattoos to ward of evil spirits. Today the have become more common. They have become less taboo and more everyday. Sometimes, they are still associated with popular subculture, such as gang members being initiated with the brand of their gang, or with prisoners which tell their stories upon their bodies. Another common type of tattoo these days, is cosmetic tattoos. It has become increasing popular with some females to get permanent makeup applied. They may have perfectly sculpted eyebrows or facial highlights added. .

The tattoo gun has not changed much in over one hundred years. it was first created in the late 1800’s/ The inventor, Samueal O’Reilly, altered the pattern of an engraving machine. The tattoo machine is actually quite primitive and simple in design. It is composed of a sterilized needle, ink tubes, an electric motor and foot pedal ( somewhat like a sewing machine.).

Tattoos are applied by a small needle moving up and down at a very fast speed, 50-3000 times in a minute, piercing the skin. Each time the skin is pierced and ink droplet is left behind, a form of dermal micro-pigmentation. By repeating the process thousands of times the design of the tattoo is slowly created, drop by drop.

Though the process has changed very little in all the years that tattoos have existed, they have come a long way in terms of sterilization and safety. Standards today are much higher then they were in the past, as we now have proper sanitation methods and understand more the risk of infection from unsanitary working conditions. Shops are now kept clean and sterile and new needles and ink pots are used for each client to minimize risk of infection and spread of disease.

Be grateful you live in a society where you have a choice of studio to have your tattoo applied at, and the ability to choose who does your tattoo as well. You can make an educated and informed decision on where to get your tattoo done and protect yourself from risks of infection and minimize the likelihood of having an unpleasant experience. Just remember the origins of tattoos the next time you sit in the nice clean parlour getting your tattoo applied, and recall how far they have come in just over 100 years.