I have often wondered about tattoos, some of them look artistic and then others kinda look dirty. I can understand why someone would want one, but personally not me; not my idea of fun adding inorganic compounds such as heavy metals with a needle into my body, but everyone is different!

Whilst most high quality, professional inks are safe for use, it’s important to check which inks the tattoo artist uses and whether they comply with safety standards. It’s always best to go to a licensed and reputable tattoo shop to minimise any risks.

The History Of Tattoos

They’ve existed for thousands of years, crossing boundaries of culture, class and geography. From their ancient roots to their place in contemporary art and self-expression, tattoos have always held deep meaning; whether spiritual, social, personal or aesthetic.

The history of tattoos stretches back to at least 5,000 years ago. The discovery of Ötzi the Iceman, a naturally mummified body from around 3300 BCE. This revealed some of the earliest known tattoo markings. Ancient Egyptians used tattoos as early as 2000 BCE, often linked to rituals or status.

The word “tattoo” comes from the Polynesian word “tatau.” Indigenous communities around the world from New Zealand to North America who used tattoos to signify identity, rites of passage or protection.

Tattoos Today

More recently; tattoos which were once associated with sailors, criminals and counterculture movements have now gained mainstream acceptance. They’re becoming a popular form of personal expression, in fact last year 34% of the UK population had tattoos.

This shift has been fuelled by influence from celebrities and social media, in particular Instagram has helped popularise tattoos styles and artists turning one a niche practice into global trends.

People follow trends to connect, express and belong and whilst some tattoos can have an emotional meaning to some certain trends can also be shallow or short lived and then it’s hard (and sometimes expensive) to get removed.

Thoughts…

Although tattoos are widely accepted, some industries or employers may still view then as unprofessional or possibly distracting depending on where you have them and what they are. Some conservative associations may see them as associated with criminality or rebellion, as in some cultures this is the case.