Different cultures developed a vast variety of different tattooing methods.

In many North and South American Indian tribes the tattoos were applied by simple pricking. Other tribes simply rubbed color, mostly made out of ash into scratches they carved into their skin and many Arctic and Subarctic tribes mostly Intuit.

Some tribes in eastern Siberia made needle punctures through the skin, and a thread was drawn under the skin coated with pigment to apply the color.

In Polynesia and Micronesia the pigment was pricked into the skin by tapping on a tool shaped like a small rake. A similar method is still used today by famous tattoo artists in Asia and other different countries. It still is almost the same procedure than it was 300 years ago, except for the sterilizing, and it is considered a honor to receive a tattoo that way by a Japanese Tattoo Master.

The Maoris of New Zealand, who are probably the most famous people in the world for their tattooing, used the same technique for tattooing as they used to carve wood. A small bone cutting tool was used, to carve shallow, colored grooves in complex designs on face and buttocks, by striking it into the skin.

In the 1700s, after the Europeans arrived and introduced metal to the natives, the Maoris began using the metal settlers brought for a more conventional style of puncture tattooing.

Believe it or not but most scientist believe the origins of tattoos date back to about 3300 B.C. They believe that certain marks found on the skin of the "?TZI", a mummified body of an iceman found in the italian alps, were considered tattoos back in his days. If their acceptance is true, these marks on his body represent the earliest known evidence for tattoos in history. All we know for sure up until now is, there are tattoos found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies dating from about 2000 B.C. Classical authors also mention the use of tattoos in ancient societies like the old Greeks, Germans, Britons, Romans and Gauls.

The tattoos we know nowadays were discovered by Europeans while exploring north america and the south seas of the pacific ocean. Their first contact with cultures like the American Indians and Polynesians also were the first contact of so called "civilized" people with tattoos. The word tattoo was first mentioned in James Cook's records from his 1769 journey to the south seas. The natives of Tahiti, this is were Cook's expedition went to, called the marks on their bodies TATTAU which was translated into TATTOO by Cook. Due to their exotic appearance, tattooed Indians and Polynesians where showcased at circuses and fairs during the 18th and 19th century all over Europe and the US.

When lasers where developed in the early 1960's, they had been developed for industrial uses only. As researchers invented lasers which emitted wavelengths of light in short flashes called pulses, medical use became an option. These lasers can effectively remove tattoos with a low health risk according to the American Academy Of Dermatology.

There are different types of lasers used for the removal of a tattoo depending on the tattoos pigment colors. Usually blue and black are the easiest to remove and yellow and green the hardest. Three different lasers were developed specifically for use in tattoo removals using a technique known as Q-Switching. This refers to the lasers Short - High energy pulses.

* The Q-Switched Ruby
* The Q-Switched Alexandrite
* The Q-Switched Nd:YAG, this latest system in this class of lasers is particularly advanced in the removal of red, blue and black.

The laser works by producing short pulses of intense light harmlessly passing through the Epidermis, the top layers of the skin, to be absorbed by the pigment in the tattoo ink. The energy the laser emits causes the pigment to fragment into smaller particles which can then be naturally removed by the body's immune system.

A lot of research went into determining the right wavelengths of light to be used and how to deliver the lasers output to get the best results. The laser is conceived to break up only the pigments in the tattoo ink and not the natural pigment in the skin.

One of the biggest problems with permanent pigments is that the best ones are unsafe for use on humans. This leaves the the industry with just a few save alternatives. For the most part, very light fast and permanent colors are used. But this is not always the case. When it comes to yellow, purple, orange or magenta, the fade resistance is still not very high. The most common reason for fading colors is Ultraviolet Light, especially the light from the sun.

This does not mean once you get a tattoo you have to stay out of the sun forever. It's just that excessive amounts of sun will fade tattoos. It fades about the same rate your skin degrades when exposing it to the sunlight too much.

Another factor is the application of the tattoo itself. I have noticed the more experienced an artist is the better he can apply the pigment correctly and the less it fades.

People often say their tattoo looks much older than it really is. All I can say to it is they probably exposed themselves too much to the sun, didn't take care of it properly during the healing process or the artist simply did not apply the pigment correctly.

Your skin ages and with it the tattoo. That's a fact and there is no way around it. If you want the tattoo to look good as long as possible take care of your skin and you will take care of your tattoo at the same time.

* Anchors
* Angels
* Bars
* Cats
* Children
* Dots
* Fishes
* Fists
* Hands
* Horror & Death
* Kiyo Hime
* Kois - Japanese Karps
* Lions
* Palm Trees
* Pin Ups
* Roses
* Skulls
* Snakes
* Suns
* Tigers

Anchors

They are the synonymy for the everlasting sailors love.
Angels

In the beginning of this century the angel symbolized hope.
Bars

Bars showed, in the beginning of this century, the days a criminal had to serve in prison. Similar to dots
Cats

This animal symbolizes the extremes of our own nature. Warmth and sense of family on one hand and untamed nature on the other.
Children

A symbol for for innocence and low-brow joy.
Dots

In the beginning of this century dots showed, similar to bars, the days a criminal had to serve in prison.
Fishes

As a traditional motive the fish in its for symbolizes Health and happiness. In contrast the japanese Koi which stand for strength, courage and endurance.
Fists

They symbolize the thirst for revenge.
Hands

Two devoured hands signalize friendship. Two devoured hands with a rising sun mean everlasting love.
Horror & Death

In the beginning of tattooing horror and death motives were rather rare. Only the soldiers of the world wars who were confronted with dead on a daily basis had them tattooed, maybe even to protect themselves from death. The 70's were the high times of bikers and their harley davidsons. Time of crushing heavy metal, brawl rock music and ingenious horror movies like Halloween or Friday the 13th. An inspiring and never ending resource for tattoo fans of devils, witches, skeletons, zombies and grinning skulls who told us the end of the world had come. Today, since death surrounds us all the time and life becomes more difficult every day those motives symbolize a fear of the future.
Kiyo Hime

As it was told in a japanese legend Kiyo Hime fell in love with a monk who regularly came into her fathers harborage. Since the monk could not return her love she turned into a Hanney demon and killed the monk. She is one of the most popular tattoo motives in japan.
Kois - Japanese Karps

Based on the motives of the firefighters of Edo, who were mostly associated with water, developed the red and orange karp which jumps or swims up a waterfall. He symbolizes strength, courage and endurance and as a phallic symbol he stands for virility.
Lions

This animal symbolizes bravery and strength.
Palm Trees

One of the first tattoo motives the sailors decorated their skin with after the discovery of Tahiti was the palm Tree. It should remind the seamen of their "sweet" journey to the southern seas.
Pin Ups

Together with the palm tree, the pin up, a sexy, topless blond with a pout is one of the first modern tattoo motives. The girl reminded the seamen of their journey to the southern seas where they devoted themselves to the seductive women.
Roses

The rose symbolizes a life full of thorns.
Skulls

This motive symbolizes the modern fear of the future, the fear of the unknown.
Snakes

Accordingly to the biblical history, the snake symbolizes the sin. In the japanese tattoo tradition the snake also embodies a negative character.
Suns

The sun gives warmth, comfort and light and is a live spending element. It rises and sets constantly therefore symbolizing a new beginning. It also stands for justice and equality since it shines for all people in the same way.
Tigers

This animal symbolizes boldness and savageness. In Japan, the kingly and powerful tiger like the Koi and the dragon a symbol of power.

Believe it or not but most scientist believe the origins of tattoos date back to about 3300 B.C. They believe that certain marks found on the skin of the "?TZI", a mummified body of an iceman found in the italian alps, were considered tattoos back in his days. If their acceptance is true, these marks on his body represent the earliest known evidence for tattoos in history. All we know for sure up until now is, there are tattoos found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies dating from about 2000 B.C. Classical authors also mention the use of tattoos in ancient societies like the old Greeks, Germans, Britons, Romans and Gauls.

The tattoos we know nowadays were discovered by Europeans while exploring north america and the south seas of the pacific ocean. Their first contact with cultures like the American Indians and Polynesians also were the first contact of so called "civilized" people with tattoos. The word tattoo was first mentioned in James Cook's records from his 1769 journey to the south seas. The natives of Tahiti, this is were Cook's expedition went to, called the marks on their bodies TATTAU which was translated into TATTOO by Cook. Due to their exotic appearance, tattooed Indians and Polynesians where showcased at circuses and fairs during the 18th and 19th century all over Europe and the US.