African tribal tattoo art is among the most unique forms of indigenous tattoo art. While most types of tattooing techniques and designs ultimately originated with the principles of opening the skin and rubbing in some sort of pigment that would remain under the skin after the wound had healed, African tribal tattoo art is actually a texturing process rather than simply a dying or pigmentation process. This makes it not only unique due to...

Ever since the United States military was founded in 1775, military tattoos have been an integral part of the brotherhood that unites all branches of the military. Tattoos are not only a means of expressing individuality, but they are also a means of identification and even a rite of passage for many members of the military. For military men and women in particular, tattoos are a particularly personal way of taking pride in service and dealing with the emotions of anger and loss that inevitably accompany military service as a portion of ones comrades ultimately meet their demise in service of their country.

In ancient Japan, an armband tattoo was not a good thing. In fact, any potentially visible tattoo often meant that you were ostracized from society due to committing a terrible (or not so terrible, depending on the judge or emperor in question) crime. Interestingly, the tattoos which once meant a fate that some considered worse than death one merciful emperor saved a mans life when he was sentenced to death, but commanded him to be tattooed...

The United States Army and the United States Marines have been serving their countrymen at home and abroad for literal centuries now. As with any combat-oriented service group, the sense of pride, brotherhood and honor that marines and soldiers feel for their units, their fellow servicemen and their country is nearly tangible. Through Army tattoos and Marine tattoos, this deep, unspoken emotion can be manifested in a uniquely individual way that still enables all bearers of these tattoos to recognize each other as brothers.

When most people think about getting an animal tattoo design, they think of leopard tattoos, butterfly tattoos or, at the most extreme, maybe a full back eagle tattoo or a jaguar tattoo that appears to be ripping through their skin. They might even decide on an elaborate wolf tattoo that symbolizes their inner wild side or a snake tattoo that coils around an arm or leg. Usually, people do not think of actually becoming the animals that they have tattooed on their bodies...

It is likely you know multiple people with tattoos, as there are millions of people all over the world sporting incredible tattoo art. Whether your inked friend is a stock clerk at your local grocery store, a waitress at the bar or a co-worker in your office, the popularity of tattoos is undeniable. In fact, those who get one tattoo often get the tattoo bug and continue to get inked throughout their entire lifetime. Popularity of the world wide tattoo culture has spread tattooing from taboo to pop culture. While tattoos were once reserved for those in the military or those who owned Harleys, today tattoos adorn soccer moms and everyone in between.

It is likely you know multiple people with tattoos, as there are millions of people all over the world sporting incredible tattoo art. Whether your inked friend is a stock clerk at your local grocery store, a waitress at the bar or a co-worker in your office, the popularity of tattoos is undeniable. In fact, those who get one tattoo often get the tattoo bug and continue to get inked throughout their entire lifetime. Popularity of the world wide tattoo culture has spread tattooing from taboo to pop culture.

Celtic knot tattoos are extremely popular for many reasons. The knot designs, which have no beginning and no end, date back to artwork, jewelry and armor that the Celts (a group of Europeans that ultimately became the Scots, the Irish and the Welsh) used to symbolize a variety of things and create an extremely unique and beautiful art design. Today, Celtic knot tattoos, just like the Celtic knots themselves, can symbolize many...

Celtic knotwork tattoos are extremely popular and highly symbolic, and have been for many years. These highly ornamental styles of tattoo are very common in a wide variety of images and patterns, and many people enjoy customizing Celtic knotwork to fit their own ideas and tattoo designs...

Since the mid to late part of the nineteenth century, circuses and carnival sideshows have been displaying so called self-made freaks. These freaks are often unique and usual, varying from one show to the next. However, many of these people are those who have transformed their bodies with tattoos and body modifications. Today, circus tattoo freaks are less common as society is more...

In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, tattooing was not at all common, but it was far from unheard of. Explorers had been encountering it for years among the savages that comprised the indigenous tribes of various uncivilized areas of the world, and many traders and fortune hunters sailors in particular ultimately returned to their native lands sporting tattooed souvenirs of their adventures. However, the arena in which tattooing was most directly linked to acclaim and success at this time in history was definitely the circus.

If elaborate and ornate crosses are not your thing, then when it comes to your cross tattoo design you may prefer to go with something that is a little more military in style. While of course there are thousands of cross tattoo designs that imitate and replicate extremely flowery, intricate crosses in churches and chapels around the world, it can be a little harder to find a solid, no-nonsense cross design that really represents a solid, firm feeling about your...