16 Interesting and Surprising Tattoo Facts

Tattoos emanate a quirky, intriguing and interesting personality. Today, it is the ultimate means of self-expression and assertion. While you are drawn to the person and may want to know the meaning and significance of your friend’s tattoo or the Brisbane tattoo artist who created it, here are some cool facts about tattoos and the culture of tattooing that you will truly surprise and impress you. Prepare to be blown away by these interesting, surprising and amazing tattoo facts;

1.       More women are getting inked than men. It was in 2012 when tattooed women outnumbered inked men. Women are also more likely to have their tats removed.

2.       Tattoo means ‘stigma’ in Latin. But, the word is derived from ‘tatau’ the Polynesian noun that means a puncture skin mark. ‘Ta’ is the Polynesian word for ‘to strike.’

3.       During a tattoo session, the skin gets pricked from 50 to 3,000 times per minute. At every perforation, your Brisbane tattoo artist with the needle will deposit insoluble ink into your skin.

4.       Tattoos are applied to the dermis, the second and more stable layer of the skin. The outer layer or the skin we see and touch is called the epidermis.

5.       It is not very uncommon to find blood, urine, animal bones, metal salts, rusts, ash, soot and even melted boot heel in some DIY and fly-by-night tattoo ink mixes.

6.       Most female Egyptian mummies discovered have tattoos. The markings include symbols of fertility, rejuvenation and life. Many of the tattoos were identified to signify that of a royal concubine.

7.       The Maoris of New Zealand use tattoo as a sign of social status level. The higher the tattoo is placed in the body, the higher is the social position of the person. Face tattoos are reserved for leaders and the upper classes.

8.       Tattoo ages with the skin. As you age, so does your skin, and your tattoo. What is sharp and snappy five years ago might go blurry and faded today. Tattoo wear depends a lot on its location. Tattoos on high traction areas like the hands, feet or shoulders will wear faster than those on the back, legs or hips. Have your trusted Brisbane tattoo artist retouch your tats every few years to keep it looking snappy.

9.       Cosmetic tattoos are gaining popularity. Permanent eyebrows, beauty moles and lipliners are among the top cosmetic tattoos requested.

10.   The extensive full-body tattoos of the infamous Japanese Yakuza gang are called Irezumi. Getting an Irezumi is painful, expensive and time-consuming. Unlike the standard tattoo process of using a tattoo machine, the Irezumi still uses the traditional method with only one needle.

11.   The most tattooed man is Gregory Paul McLaren from Scotland, He is 100% covered in tattoos, including his inner lids, the inside of his ears, and mouth. The second most tattooed man is Tom Leppard who is 99.9% covered.

12.   Angels and hearts are the most popular tattoos. Cartoon characters are also popular choices. Top favourites include Popeye, Betty Boop, Taz the Tasmanian Devil, Winnie the Pooh and Batman.

13.   Sailor tattoos have significant meanings and are still among the top favourite requests from vintage tattoo artists in Brisbane. The dragon design indicates that the person has been to China, a turtle tattoo signifies crossing the equator, while the most popular sailor tattoo design – the anchor, means the person have crossed the Atlantic.

14.   While today’s tattoos are mainly for aesthetics, ancient tattoos have more practical, cultural and medicinal purposes. Amongst Polynesians, Egyptians, American Indians, and ancient Europeans, tattoos were the main means of identifying a person. Tattooing was also common to denote one’s station in the society. Early Chinese and European civilisations used tattoos for medicinal, acupuncture, and pain management. Tattoos were even used to pass messages and identify bodies during the medieval wars.

15.   Think hard before getting inked. Carefully consider the design, location, significance and the tattoo’s impact to you. This is a friendly reminder as tattoo removal costs and hurts a lot more that getting one.

16.   There are many factors that affect the pain level of getting a tattoo. Location of the tat, pain tolerance of the person, intricacy and size of the tattoo, and the artist’s tattooing skills. While you cannot take away the pain, you can manage it by picking a good location and choosing a professional and skilled Brisbane tattoo artist.