THE use of tattoos is recorded to have begun thousands of years ago, and the history of the use of tattoo is as varied, colourful and diverse as the people who carry tattoos.

The etymological origin of the word ‘tattoo’ is believed to have two major derivations: The first is from the Polynesian word ‘ta’, which means striking something; and the second is the Tahitian word, ‘tatau’, which means ‘to mark something’.
From a simple scientific standpoint, tattoos are created by the insertion of coloured materials beneath the skin’s surface, or epidermis. The first tattoos were most likely created unintentionally. Someone with a small wound or gash happened to rub it with a dirty hand that was covered with soot or ash. Once the wound had healed, people realized that the skin had healed over the ash, and that the mark became a permanent addition.
For hundreds of years, the practise of tattooing was believed to be reserved for sailors, cultural outcasts, the marginalized, and criminals.
The prevalence of tattooing during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries owed much to the once popular circus. When these travelling carnivals were prevalent, tattooing, in turn, prospered.
For nearly 100 years, all major circus acts hired numerous individuals who were completely covered in tattoos. Some of these tattooed men and women were exhibited in ‘sideshows’, whilst others performed in traditional circus acts, like juggling and sword-swallowing.
Sailors often returned to port with tattoos they had received during their voyages. Those tattoos usually consisted of extremely basic or primitive styles that used minimum amounts of detail, thus making the tattoos look two-dimensional or ‘flat’. The typical motifs would consist of flowers, hearts, mermaids, ships, anchors, snakes, birds, and names or scripts.
Prison tattoos can be quite professionally done with homemade or improvised materials that convey an inmate’s autonomy and, in many cases, identity.
A commonly known symbol for gang members is the tattoo. Receiving permanent markings on the body is a sign of absolute loyalty. These gang tattoos often speak volumes about the wearer: What gang they are in; what their ideologies or beliefs might be; what they have done; where they have been incarcerated or lived; as well as details of up to and including how many individuals the member is said to have killed. Known Western gang tattoo symbols include teardrops under the eyes as well as spider webs on the elbows, which are said to symbolize that the wearer has killed.
Maybe you want to make a statement, or simply commemorate an event or something personal to you. But before you get your guitar gently inked on your bicep, it’s important to do your research and know what you’re getting into.

Tips for getting your first tattoo
Getting your first tattoo is a rite of passage. The air of walking on the wild side can be intoxicating, because you know your parents likely won’t approve. They still think tattoos are for bikers and sailors, but you see this beautiful art on all kinds of people, and you want to join the ranks of the alternative kids.
While a spontaneous trip to the tattoo parlour always sounds like a fun idea, you should take a bit of time and pick out a good one prior to hopping in the car. Cutting corners for the sake of a convenient location is not a great way to begin your life as a tattooed person.

Be picky about the parlour
You want to choose a parlour that’s renowned for taking proper health precautions. Talk to other well-tattooed folks for their recommendations.

Follow aftercare instructions
A tattoo isn’t complete and fully set until the healing process is finished. Each tattoo artist will have a set of aftercare instructions, and it’s important that you follow them to the letter to prevent infection. You have carved into your flesh, which exposes you to bacteria. There are some variations in care advice, but it generally consists of repeated daily washing and drying and application of a moisturizer. Under no circumstance should you allow your tattoo to be covered with plastic wrap during the bandage phase. Yes, people can see it without exposing it, but it can create a bacterial breeding ground.

Avoid alcohol
Drinking a little bit to take the edge off might sound like a good idea, but don’t do it. Alcohol thins the blood, making you bleed more during the tattoo process. This blood pushing out makes it more difficult to push the ink in. So, not only could it mess up your design, it might also impair your judgment sufficiently to cause you to make a decision to get something you regret later. With a little liquid courage, the cute little dolphin on your ankle can easily become an angry shark on your forearm. And it won’t make it hurt any less.

Check your spelling
And a few lines from Confucius on the nape of your neck definitely give you some street credibility. Japanese characters are beautiful, and there’s nothing wrong with getting something from a different culture that you find meaningful. Just make sure you don’t choose fashion over form and pick something simply because it looks neat. You really need to know what all those symbols mean before permanently etching them into your body. That African tribal symbol may look groovy planted on your bicep, but if it means “one who lies with goats,” the joke is on you.

Get a bid
Here’s something many tattoo virgins fail to consider. A good tattoo from a respected artist costs lots of money. You need to keep this in mind when designing your tattoo. Size and detail are the two most important cost-determining factors, because it means one thing: Time. The longer it takes, the more expensive it is. Find a good artist with a solid portfolio, and ask about prices beforehand.

Location, location
Where you get your tattoo is equally as important as the design, especially depending on your lifestyle. So when planning the location, you need to consider your wardrobe, and then decide when you want your tattoo to be exposed. Generally, it’s considered taboo to get work done on the hands and face, so as a tattoo virgin, go ahead and take that off your list. If your job is a corporate one that prohibits tattoos, it’s probably wise to skip forearms, ankles and necks. Tattoos on certain parts of your body will get more wear and tear, so they need to be touched up more frequently to keep them looking good, which means more money. And if you don’t have a very high pain threshold, choose a meaty part of your flesh, because tattoos on the bone hurt like the dickens.

Design challenge
Tattoos are forever, unless you want to engage in an expensive and painful removal process; so be sure you choose something you’ll love for years to come. Take your time, scour tattoo parlours, books, magazines and the Internet for ideas. Make an inspiration book and narrow it down from there. Your design doesn’t have to have significance, it can just be something that you think looks cool. When choosing colours, consider what would look best with your skin tone. And don’t forget about the price — the larger and more detailed, the more money you’ll part with.

Size isn’t everything
Aside from the costs involved with a large tattoo, there are a couple of other things to consider, and time is one of them. A large, full-back tattoo of an American eagle could take weeks’ worth of visits, depending on how many hours you and your artist can go in one sitting. And don’t forget that more time equals more pain. So if you’re a tattoo virgin, you probably want to keep it on the small side with something that can be completed in a single visit of a couple of hours or less. If you decide that life as a walking piece of art is for you, then you can always add to your collection later.

Go with a friend
Just like most things in life, getting tattoos is more fun if done in pairs. This could explain why going with friends to the tattoo parlour is long-standing tradition. Your tattoos don’t have to be matching to make it an occasion. It’s just good to be with someone who has your back when someone else is carving on it. Even if your buddy doesn’t want his/her own tattoo, see if he/she will come along for company and support. Besides, it never hurts to get a second opinion.

You will suffer for your art
Depending on your pain threshold and where you get your tattoo, the discomfort can range from “a bit uncomfortable” to “I passed out in the chair, it hurt so badly.” Keep this in mind as you approach the hot seat. You’re going to have a temporary version of your tattoo to serve as a guideline for the artist.
This is your last chance to look it over and make sure it’s what you want and where you want to put it. While the artist may not be too thrilled and you may have to pay a nominal fee, backing out at this stage is allowed and encouraged. unless you’re 100 per cent committed to moving forward.