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Alvin Starkman M.A., LL.B.

 

Background to Tattoos & Body Piercing in Oaxaca, Mexico, Through the Eyes of a Lawyer

 

Lawyer Kaireddyn (Kai) Orta began fabricating his own, rudimentary tools for making tattoos in 1996, while still in high school here in Oaxaca, Mexico.  One day a neighbor saw him carrying a shoe box, and asked him what was in it.  Kai showed him the adapted motor, needles, ink and other paraphernalia.  The neighbor was the recipient of Kai’s first tattoo.  Kai then began doing tattoos for his schoolmates.

 

Kai had been interested in tattoos (tatuajes) and body piercing (perforación) since boyhood.  It was natural for him, since his father was a history teacher, constantly recounting stories of rituals of Mexico’s indigenous populations. There was no shortage of books around the house with images of pre-Hispanic peoples who were accustomed to self-adornment. Kai ate it up.

 

But throughout Kai’s youth, seeing tattoos in the flesh was a rarity. Aside from in books and occasionally coming across a tattooed person on TV, he would only have an opportunity to actually see real live people with tattoos and body piercings when he would catch a glimpse of mainly North American and European tourists walking the streets of downtown Oaxaca, a Mecca for international tourism.

 

The modern tradition of tattoos and body piercings had been established in countries such as Canada, the US, Spain and Britain, long before it arrived in Mexico.  Like so many representations of emerging subcultures, it takes upwards of a decade for them to catch on in Mexico, especially in the more isolated and conservative regions of the country, like Oaxaca.

 

The state of Oaxaca was by and large physically isolated from the northern half of the country, and indeed

the broader world, until the arrival of the pan American highway in the late 1940s. While the odd adventurer would make his way down to Oaxaca between then and the early 1960s, it was the hippie movement later that decade and into the early 1970s which opened up southern Mexico to the concept of North American and European counter-cultures, including tattoos, and then body piercing.  However the prevailing sentiment of the Mexican middle classes was that their children should be insulated from foreign youth, and all that its subculture stood for.

 

Leap forward to the 1990s.  Change would begin to emerge in Oaxaca.  Tattoos, body piercings and other non-traditional forms of self-expression had begun to be perceived as mainstream throughout the Western World.  The silver screen and magazines promoting its pierced and tattooed stars had become commonplace.  Oaxaca had to take notice. And that included its older generation, which was then forced to recognize if not accept that the ritualized behavior of their grandchildren (and to a much lesser extent their children) could no longer be equated with something devious, dirty and wrong, simply as a consequence of changing their physical appearance through piercing and painting their bodies, permanently. Many in the Oaxacan youth culture were becoming critical thinkers through higher education,  therefore better able to make informed decisions, stand up for them, and celebrate them.

 

Kai is thirty years old.   Practicing law wasn’t for him. By the time he had graduated and had a taste of the working world of attorneys (less than a year), he had already become an established tattoo and body piercing artist, with his own studio, albeit quite smaller than his current digs.  And besides, most lawyers in Oaxaca do not earn the level of income that provides for a middle class lifestyle, at least by Western standards.

 

Kai’s current storefront on Calle Crespo, in the heart of downtown Oaxaca, consists of:

 

The reception area with long desk and computer, tropical fish filled aquariums, display cases with mainly jewelry relating to body piercings, wooden African floor sculptures and masks (as well as a few Mexican masks), a bookcase filled with albums containing drawings and photographs of mainly tattoos, and two comfortable sofas where customers can browse through the “catalogues” at their leisure
A similarly adorned middle room with supply cases by now of course filled with modern, commercial equipment and supplies, and a small adjoining workroom
The back room, with chairs and “operating” table, for attending to tattoos and body piercings

 

“Here in Oaxaca we don’t refer to ourselves as ‘artistas,’ Kai explains.  “In the United States there’s much greater acceptance of the art form and those who are dedicated to the skill, so in the US and other countries such as Canada it’s acceptable to use the term ‘tattoo artist.’ But in Oaxaca we just refer to ourselves as tatuadores.”

 

Kai & Colleagues Participate in Twelfth Annual Tattoo Fest in Oaxaca, Summer, 2010

 

During the course of a 3 ½ hour interview at Kai’s studio, his friends and fellow tatuadores from Mexico City, Daniel (Tuna) Larios and his girlfriend Angélica (Angy) de la Mora, were in the shop working and otherwise serving customers, while for part of the time Kai was out running errands.  

 

Tuna has been a tatuador for 12 years while Angy began doing tattoos only a year ago, when she began living with Tuna. Together they opened up a shop in the nation’s capital.  Before then Tuna had been doing tattoos for customers at other studios. He was introduced to the trade from having had his body tattooed.  Angy learned the skill from Tuna. 

 

But for Angy learning to be a tatuadora was a natural extension. She already held a degree in fine arts from a university in Chihuahua, and had participated in several collective traditional art exhibits.  “But it’s easier to make a living doing tattoos than as an artist,” Angy concedes. As distinct from Angy and Kai, most tatuadores in Mexico do not have advanced training for other career paths options. 

 

Tuna and Angy had come to Oaxaca to participate in the twelfth annual Tattoo Fest, held on August 21 & 22, 2010, a couple of days earlier.  Kai is one of three festival organizers, and was on the ground floor of the concept when the first fest was held back in 1998.  “Until this year the event was called Expo Tatuaje,” Kai clarifies. “We decided to change the name with a view to attracting more foreigners. But back in the early years we held the expositionso that we could meet to exchange ideas, improve access to modern equipment and supplies, and raise the level of consciousness of the Oaxacan community, so that hopefully there would be a greater acceptance of what we were doing.  Now the purposes and functions of the event are much broader, since we are well on our way to achieving our earlier goals.”

 

The success of Oaxaca’s Tattoo Fest 2010 was evident from the crowds (hundreds by all estimates) and sales.  Tuna and Angy between them did 11 tattoos over the two-day period. “I’ve been coming to the fair for the past four or five years,” Tuna explains, “but this is the first year I can actually say that it was worth my while, profit-wise, to come to Oaxaca.  You know I had to close my shop in Mexico City to come here. I think this show has finally turned a corner.”

 

This year there were approximately thirty booths, about a dozen of which were dedicated to doing tattoos.  In the course of a one-hour visit on the Sunday, during that entire time each and every tatuador was kept busy working – and in many cases there were onlookers in queue awaiting their turn.

 

Many vendors had come from other parts of Mexico to participate.  They converged on Oaxaca to not only do tattoos and piercings, but to also sell a broad diversity of related materials including:

 

Tattooing and body piercing equipment, supplies and other paraphernalia
CDs, DVDs and posters all with alternative themes (both Bob Marley and Alice Cooper live on in Oaxaca) 
Body piercing and other personal adornments, wrestling masks, and clothing, custom-painted while-u-wait.

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The event was much more than a sales opportunity for retailers, however.  It provided a chance for those in the business to promote their industry, source state-of-the-art and otherwise imported equipment and supplies (since many tatuadores don’t get to Mexico City very often, and most imported machinery, needles and paints arrive initially in Mexico City), and entertain tattoo and piercing collectors, aficionados, and the curious, all under one roof, the Salón Señorial located across from Oaxaca’s renowned Abastos Market.

 

As Kai contends, there appears to be three classes of people in Oaxaca, and presumably in other countries, who get tattoos:

 

The colecionista who usually ends up filling most parts of his or her body, attempting to adorn with as broad a diversity of designs as possible, or with a particular class of design or artistry (i.e. demons, pre-Hispanic figures, animals, famous faces), often seeking to get the work done by several different top tatuadores from various states and countries if possible
The aficionado who wants a few tattoos strategically placed on select body parts
The casual individual who desires one or two tattoos for self-expression or to make some kind of statement, having seen a tattoo he or she likes, whether on a celebrity, friend  or stranger on the street, or electing to do a specific design; a tattoo of the logo of one’s favorite sports team exemplifies this type work

 

It’s not unlike other hobbies and interests.  Human nature remains the same. The first category represents an obsession with collecting, just as in a class of antique, salt and pepper shakers, folk art, weigh scales, and so on.  The second is an enthusiast who imposes boundaries, either by design or subconsciously based on personality trait.  The third does only selective thinking about it, whatever the product, holding some interest, often fleeting but long enough to result in a purchase or two.

 

In the course of the two day celebration of all that is still somewhat considered counter-culture in Oaxaca, there was:

 

Live entertainment including seven predominantly rock and reggae bands, as well as belly dancers and other forms of choreographed performances
An outdoor makeshift restaurant serving beer, soft drinks, and real barbecued hamburgers
Panel discussions and forums with themes including methods for advancing the reputation of this alternative art form in Oaxaca, and dealing with allaying health and safety concerns through the adoption of US-style norms

 

Health & Safety Issues a Concern of the Body Piercing & Tattoo Trade in Oaxaca, Mexico

 

Throughout the US there are health and safety regulations relating to tattooing and body piercing; not so in Oaxaca, though it’s a hot topic throughout the Mexican tattoo and body piercing community.  The word “normas” is constantly being bandied about.  The tatuadores at Tattoo Fest, and more particularly Kai, Tuna and Angy, made a point of indicating that most in the industry follow US norms for health, safety and hygiene. According to Tuna, the United Kingdom has the strictest, all-encompassing laws relating to tattooing and body piercing, which he views as a good thing.

 

It appears that virtually all tatuadores are sensitive to the clout carried by the authorities, even without specific laws relating to tattooing and body piercing.  In Oaxaca it’s the Secretaria de Salud (ministry of health) which does in fact conduct spot checks of studios, much the same as it does of restaurants in Oaxaca.  It has the ability to shut down a restaurant, eatery or comedor, on the spot. And the same holds true for a tattoo studio.

 

The threat or perceived threat of incarceration perhaps serves a positive function in the tattoo and body piercing milieu.  While Oaxaca’s inquisitorial, Napoleonic legal code is slowly changing (oral trials arrived in the state of Oaxaca in 2007, albeit for only the most heinous criminal offences), the attorney general’s office still has the right to jail alleged offenders of virtually any rule, law or regulation, where a personal injury has resulted.  Without specific laws relating to tattooing and body piercing, perhaps Oaxaca’s current legal system, as high-handed as it might appear, serves an important function for the tattoo-buying public.  Certainly it appears to keep those in the industry in check.

 

“We won’t work on a minor, plain and simple, without parental authorization,” Tuna stresses.  “And in fact, rather than relying on written permission from a parent, for me, I personally want the father right there in my studio when I’m working on his son or daughter.”

 

Having been trained as a lawyer, Kai has a special appreciation for the implications of not ensuring a clean, safe work environment in his studio, and following health, safety and hygiene procedures established in other jurisdictions, “to the tee:” packaged needles; equipment kept under wrap; gloves and masks; first aid, fire and related health, hygiene and safety equipment close at hand; a “surgical” workspace segregated from the retail portion of the shop; etc.  The back of his business card lists steps that should be taken by recipients of tattoos from the moment they leave the studio, to reduce and hopefully eliminate the risk of infection or other complication. Other tatuadores hand out leaflets listing the same or similar precautions that should be observed.

 

According to Tuna, in Mexico City one can take courses in tattooing and body piercing at a couple of different institutions.  But they are for learning the trade, and are not government regulated.  Tuna views an inconsistency between government treatment of dental offices and tattoo and piercing studios, and unfairness:  “There are a lot of dental offices around which are much less clean than our studios, and whose staff do not follow the most sanitary of practices; and yet the dentists are not subjected to the suspicion and innuendo that we are.”  [At least dentists are required to have a minimum level of training regarding matters of health, safety and hygiene.]

 

Kai, for one, is clearly an expert at his trade.  From the outset, dating to his high school days, he would invariably read and otherwise learn before starting to work on someone.  He would always work in consultation with a doctor, a relative of the family.  The doctor was a most valuable resource for Kai in terms of guiding him through all the appropriate health and hygiene procedures, for every step. Kai has never worked on anyone without approaching the task with a high level of confidence.  But, he acknowledges, “you never stop learning.” 

 

The Economics of Tattoos and Body Piercing in Oaxaca

 

Angy is working at the counter, doing a pencil drawing of a 1950s pin-up – with a twist.  A young woman had come into the studio the day before, wanting a tattoo on her leg of a vintage pin-up girl, but part of the body to be non-traditional, as in one leg and half the head perhaps with skeletal bone exposed, the rest shapely and feminine; as in a Mexican catrina, as Angy puts it, “but with a bit of flesh on her body.”  The customer is due back today at 4 p.m.

 

Two men in their twenties come in to look at tattoo samples.  They sit down and browse through two albums for about 40 minutes, then arrange for one of them to come back the next day for a fairly large black tattoo of the Pumas Mexican soccer team logo.  Then two younger girls come in looking for eyebrow rings or other similar adornments, in the 250 – 300 peso range.

 

Kai’s studio does a brisk business.  He charges a minimum fee of 400 pesos for a simple tattoo, a tribal, literally “tribal,” as they’re known, or perhaps a letter. It was the same minimum charge at the Tattoo Fest:  “Sure, some tatuadores will do a tattoo for 150 – 200 pesos,  but most of us prefer to start with prices where we can take our time to do quality work that the customer will definitively appreciate, and therefore want to come back, show off to friends, and so on.  I’ve been doing tattoos long enough, and my quality is such that I should command that kind of price, and the customer is more than satisfied.”

 

Kai and Tuna charge within the same range.  They both are happy to work by the job, or per daily session.  Kai charges 1,000 – 1,500 pesos per session, which can result in a fairly substantial, detailed, color image.  Tuna will do a full back for 10,000 – 15,000 pesos.  Each has done large, complex multi-color tattoos for as much as 20,000 pesos.  That seems to be the top price in Oaxaca.

 

There appears to be a desire to reinvest profit into securing a better work environment, and higher end equipment.  Regarding the latter, in most cases it’s simply a matter of imported machinery and supplies commanding a higher price, and the fact that the options for Mexican-made equipment and supplies are much more limited.  Hence the desire to search abroad for more diverse product lines.  “Don’t get me wrong,” Tuna cautions, “there is high quality equipment manufactured here in Mexico, but we lack the range in products, and of course everything imported is perceived as better and therefore fetches a higher price.”

 

Continuing education also seems to be a priority for tatuadores.  A few years ago Kai traveled to Guadalajara to take an intensive course. According to Angy, sometimes tatuadores will take a brief, area-specific art or drawing course to enable them to keep up with market demand.  Most tatuadores do not have training in fine arts, so seizing the opportunity to learn is something to which many aspire. In some cases rather than turn away a prospective customer for lack of particular expertise, it’s better to invest in learning a new aspect of the trade through training.

 

It’s rare for a tatuador to turn away business, but it does happen.  It’s usually a result of the artist not being able to do quality work based upon the requested design, than finding it repugnant. Perhaps it’s simply that tatuadores do not often encounter someone who wants, for example, a swastika on the forearm. “Usually what happens is someone comes in and wants a small tattoo, of whatever, on a finger or arm, and I know that I cannot do a good job given the requested size, or that after a short period of time the quality will diminish,” Kai admits.  “So I suggest something different, something larger or with a different color scheme, or for a different part of the body.  Sometimes the customer agrees, sometimes he leaves, and sometimes he insist, in which case I decline the job.”

 

“We can all use more business, but it’s a skilled trade which we want to elevate in terms of its reputation, so we must all strive to maintain standards, as well as our personal integrity;” Kai asserts.  

 

The main reasons that customers do not return is lack of funds for either additional tattoos or to continue with the same project, or pain.  “Different people have different pain thresholds,” Tuna advises.  “The sex of the customer sometimes is a determinant of the pain one can expect will be felt, depending on the particular part of the body. Working on the same part of the body can affect men differently than women.”  Only 50% of Tuna’s work is repeat business.

 

Kai has a preference in favor of working on men rather than women.  Why men?  Men tend to want larger tattoos, which translates to more artistic license and a greater ability to produce a true masterpiece.  “But don’t get me wrong,” Kai adds defensively, “I love working on women, and do just as high quality work, always.”

Customers in their twenties make up the largest age group.  Otherwise, occasionally a teen comes in with a parent, perhaps 20% of tattoo-seekers are in their thirties, and a much small percentage comprises an older clientele.

 

Advice for Americans, Canadians, Europeans and Those from Further Abroad Wanting a Tattoo in Oaxaca

 

Tuna admits that in Mexico there are perhaps two high quality tattoo artists per 300 tatuadores, stating that in the US the numbers are very different, two per hundred.  It’s difficult to accept his figures, having seen several quality tattoos on the bodies of Oaxacans, and having had an opportunity to speak with many Oaxacan tatuadores and evaluate their dedication to the skill, and their desire to elevate its reputation through self-improvement.  Tuna contends: “If someone wants a tattoo that I know another tatuador can do better, I refer him to a colleague. That builds public confidence.  For me, I know that in black, I’m at the top of my game.”

 

The triumvirate of tatuadores is ad idem when it comes to passing along advice for tourists visiting Oaxaca and wanting a tattoo: 

 

Don’t rush; spend as long as required with the “tattoo artist,” chatting, looking at his or her designs, and examining the surroundings of the studio
Ascertain if the tatuador has a particular specialty, or higher level of competency in one area versus another (i.e. color as opposed to black)
Address any health, hygiene and safety concerns, since while the ministry of health does have rules and regulations of general application, and spot checks of tattoo studios are conducted, no specific body exists for policing the tattoo industry
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated the lion’s share of the tatuadores in Oaxaca do follow the American normas, those in the industry wanting to elevate their trade to having a more mainstream perception amongst the Oaxacan populace
Look for instructions regarding how to care for a tatttoo, starting with the moment after leaving the studio, to reduce and hopefully eliminate the chance of complications – either on a flyer or on the back of a business card
Ask questions, questions and more questions until satisfied that both the process and the end result will meet or exceed expectations

 

Tattoo Removal in Mexico

 

Tuna confirms some obvious reasons for seeking to have a tattoo removed:

 

As required by an employer (i.e. change in job position)
For the purpose of attempting to secure employment
The individual was very young when he or she received the tattoo, and later had a different attitude towards this type of body adornment
The quality of the tattoo was poor or questionable from the outset
A change of mind regarding the image or towards body alteration, conceivably later perceived as adulteration

 

With the modest cost of quality plastic surgery in Oaxaca, tattoo removal in the state proves to be an attractive option for those wishing a return to a tattoo – free existence.

 

References for Tatuadores in Oaxaca & Mexico City, & A Oaxacan Plastic Surgeon for Laser Tattoo Removal

 

Dermografics, Primera Calle de Crespo #106, Centro Histórico, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, cel: 0449511198642; e: casadeldolor@hotmail.com (Kaireddyn Orta)
Toltecan, Eje Central #191, esq. Dr. Duran, Col. Doctores, Mexico City, tel: 55 31266558 or 55 31469578; e: sucubus6@hotmail.com (Daniel Larios & Angélica de la Mora)
Dr. Filiberto Fajardo, Circuito la Cascada #1|03, Fraccionamiento la Cascada, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, tel: 513 8921 or 515 3715

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Article by Gordon Powles

There are many different styles of tattoos:

Tattoos have managed to pull itself up from its suspect and seedy past with a bad reputation to become an art form that is the subject of human exhibition and self-expression today. Today tattoos have become an art form with new and better tattoo artists coming up with a huge number of styles of tattoos.

When you visit a tattoo parlor or look at an online tattoo gallery, you find that there is a wide range of tattoo styles available and a massive range of styles to choose from. The usual criteria used for choosing tattoos is usually its size, the love for someone, depicting a certain culture or sect or as a status symbol.

Men prefer strong and powerful styles of tattoos:

Men prefer to use identity symbols more than decorative devices that have traditional images like snakes, black panthers and eagles. The most popular option in men are skulls, daggers dripping blood, dragons and basically any image that depicts male strength and valor. Heart tattoos are best used to depict love for both men and women. This is a tattoo that has endured the test of time and is still growing in popular. Tribal styles are becoming more and more popular.

The symbol depicting mystery, power, wisdom and good will is the dragon tattoo. This is because dragons are considered to be good luck and have qualities including strength and courage.

Animal tattoos are the most popular of all. This is because animal tattoos relate to animals that we use to demonstrate the inner connections we have with fine beasts and the similarities we exhibit with these animals. Snake tattoos and reptiles are becoming more and fashionable.

Similarly, bird tattoos have lots of reverence in the tattoo world. Some of the most popular bird tattoos are the eagle, dove, swallow and birds of prey tattoos. Once again, the nature and attitude of the birds are taken into consideration when choosing the bird tattoo.

Women prefer floral styles of tattoos:

Women prefer having floral tattoos and styles of tattoos that are a lot subtler in nature. Other options are of cherry blossom, lotus flower tattoos, blossom, lily and tree tattoos.

Sea creatures are very popular that people like wearing. Sea creature tattoos connect us with our past and the mythical creatures of the deep have a wide appeal. Those who are very spirituality prefer angel tattoos, as they are important in many religions like Christianity, Jewish and Islamic faiths. These angels are considered to be the messengers of god who are protective to us, like guardian angels looking over us.

There are some tattoos that have specific meanings and are meant to cater to specific people while there are generalized tattoos. In Japan, households are represented by the chrysanthemum to depict determination and steadfastness while the peony is used to depict wealth and good fortune.

For more information on Tattoos go to http://www.arts-art.net

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For more information on Tattoo Art go to the Tattoo art Website

The Tribal Designs for Tattoos is a quite old, but still very popular and has many different designs to choose from. Someone who wants a design that will be associated with some part of their life is called a Tribal Tattoos with Meaning. Others just choose this design because they find something they really like.

Tattoos can be placed just about anywhere on the body. Some people like the idea of having their tribal tattoo on the back of their shoulders, while others prefer their tattoos on the leg. The design that resembles a band going all the way around the arm is a very popular. These designs are readily available for this specific purpose but you can also choose to have the tattoo artist create an armband tattoo with the design of your choice. Many people like to combine cross and tribal tattoos to create a band of crosses that encircle the arm or they use one of the native tattoo designs and add a cross as a central design.

Although these tribal designs have a deep history for different cultures, some people use them to represent their heritage or a group that they are affiliated with that represents an important part of their life. Many tribal tattoos with meaning are related to the person’s spirituality. This is one reason that it isn’t uncommon to see a tribal cross tattoo. Another type of cross and tribal tattoo is the type that symbolizes the Celtic heritage. The variety of elaborate tribal cross designs are very appealing and meaningful.

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Maori Moko tattoos are some of the most elaborately detailed tribal design tattoos and are normally worn on the face. They are created with many whirls and the designs have a long history with the Maori tribe of New Zealand. However, a Maoris tattoo may be worn on any part of the body. Many people choose these tribal designs, with meaning ignored, as a factor in their decision.

While it is common for men to choose a cross with tribal design or tribal dragons tattoo, women may choose a butterfly tattoo as well as tribal tattoos for the lower back. Although women still like the elaborate tribal designs for tattoos, they are more likely to choose a basically feminine design like a butterfly or flower and then choose a less visible area for the tribal tattoo. Shoulders and hips are common areas for women to get their tattoos, whereas men might choose to wear the tribal tattoos on the arm or on the leg.

Whether you are thinking about getting a design of tribal tattoos with meaning that is significant to you or you just like some of the native tattoos designs, there are many different ones to choose from. Every tattoo store will have tribal design tattoos of all sizes to fit on different areas of the body.

There are some decisions you want to make before you get the actual tattoo. You need to decide exactly where you want to wear the tattoo and how large a tattoo you want. Getting exactly what type of tattoo you want is just a matter of planning and getting answers to your questions. If you really want to find a tribal tattoo with meaning you should take some time to research as much as possible in order to find the right one for you.

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Back tribal tattoos for men may be one of the sexiest tattoos a man will get. Whether you need a maximum, lower, or full back tribal design you can be sure to locate your right diamond necklace. Before you decide to begin the car and head to the tattoo parlor know which tattoos you are interested in first. Going through pictures and catalogs of back tribal tattoos for males can assist you have an idea of the trunk designs readily available for your back.

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One of the more popular back tribal tattoos for men is the shoulders tattoo. This form of tribal will often stretch from shoulder for the other and go down to the bottom of the neck. You can place any design you would like her nevertheless the most typical seen has swirls and interlocking tribal. Your tattoo shoulder be unique though so if you look for a picture of a design you prefer, think about something you want to add or modify regarding it to make it your own. This tattoo can also be great because it is easily covered for work or school purposes.

Back tribal tattoos for men also can are available in the total back tattoo. This design is pretty self explanatory because it covered the entire back from the bottom from the neck for the small of your back. The look options here are simply endless as you’ve this kind of huge space to utilize. This style can also be good for those who have a far more upscale job as your back is well covered by work shirts. This method will of course run you far more money in contrast to an upper or back tattoo, and can sometimes take multiple trip to the parlor to complete.

Among the least common back tribal tattoos for men may be the back tattoo. Typically this design is much more fitted for females, but there’s a select group of men who is able to get them and pull them off. This design is way better termed as a “tramp stamp” so men have a tendency to veer far from this method.

However, if you’re enthusiastic about this design be sure you get one that matches your look and personality. Try enlisting the aid of your tattoo artist to attract up less back tattoo which works for you.

If you are searching for unique, excellent tribal tattoo designs and inspiration, visit Tattoos Designs for Back.

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Check out these men tattoos images:

My Tattoo-1


Image by Glatze mit Kamera
Ich hab mich mal an Lowlight Fotografie rangetraut.
Abgedunkelter Hintergrund und eine Schreibtischlampe die ich rechts auf hüfthöhe aufgestellt hatte.

Did my first shoot on lowlight. Darkened the background and had a desktop-lamp on the right.

My Tattoo-2


Image by Glatze mit Kamera
Ich hab mich mal an Lowlight Fotografie rangetraut.
Abgedunkelter Hintergrund und eine Schreibtischlampe die ich rechts auf hüfthöhe aufgestellt hatte.

Did my first shoot on lowlight. Darkened the background and had a desktop-lamp on the right.

Tattoo designs are popular since ancient times and animals are perhaps the most widely spread images for tattoos. Such tattoos are universal and understandable for everyone. Earlier people thought animals to be totems and this only added animal tattoos their popularity. And lion tattoo designs are favorite animal tattoos for men.

The main reason for lion tattoos popularity is the meaning of these designs. People often made tattoos of animals to gain some their qualities, such as power, wisdom, etc. And here lion tattoo designs are the best choice for men, because lions always were honored as kings of jungles. That’s why such tattoos are believed to add power to their owners. Men make lion tattoos to represent their might and power. Such tattoo reveals a strong character of the owner and emphasizes his leadership abilities and high status.

The other reason for making a lion tattoo is its connection with courage. There was a famous film telling the story of a coward lion, who most of all wanted to become brave. And many men who want to change their attitude to life and to become more self confident and brave make lion tattoo designs. These tattoos remind them of their inner power and add courage.

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Lion tattoo designs have a great history, Firstly they became popular in Africa and Asia where people saw real lions and admired them. Lions were totems of many tribes and symbols of chiefs. Lion tattoo designs symbolized high social status and could be made only by chiefs or shamans. Such tattoos were believed to give protection and to make their owners as strong as lions. Later on lion tattoos became widely spread but they still symbolize might and power and reveal a strong will of their owners.

The meaning of lion tattoos can differ depending on how a lion is depicted. If a lion looks aggressive it usually reveals the character of its owner. The snarling lion shows that a man who wears such tattoo is able and ready to defend himself. Such tattoo designs add people confidence in themselves and are extremely popular among young men.

But if the lion looks calm, the owner of such tattoo doesn’t have to prove his power. He is sure in himself and such tattoo usually reveals self-confidence. Lines are highly respected animals and are named kings of jungles. That’s why they are often depicted on tattoos wearing a golden crown. Such tattoo designs were made by chiefs and now they reveal that the owner is a leader and emphasize his power.

Lion tattoo designs are also associated with astrology. Men who’s zodiac symbol is lion often make lion tattoo designs and their choice is not accidental. Such tattoo will help to reveal their best qualities and lion’s traits of character.

Lions are often associated with king’s power that’s why they are present in heraldic of many countries. Lion are popular emblems and reveal strength, firmness, courage and nobility.

If you choose to make a lion tattoo design it will always look great and impressive. Lion tattoo will reveal your might and power and add you confidence.

 

These days it seems like tattoos for men have almost all but been forgotten.  With the huge craze of female tattoos and the growth in the tattoo industry of women the good old stand by of tattoos for men have all but been forgotten.  However, just in the last year or so tattoos for men have been making a come back.  There are a ton of new designs and new areas that have hit big time in the area of male tattoo designs.  Here are some of the top locations and design styles to watch out for.

Chest And Back Tattoos Make A Come Back
According to search trends and also local tattoo shops more and more men are getting traditional tattoos and some of the older styles are really come back in style big time.

Chest Tattoos
The chest tattoo is one of the new and hot designs that have come out and come into popularity over the past year and a half or so.  The chest is a popular area because it is easy to cover in a professional setting yet also very manly and easy to show off when you want.  Just go out with your shirt buttoned down or a v neck t shirt and you are set to show off your exceptional art work.  The chest is also a very large canvas and a big blank slate which allows vor very intricate and cool looking designs.  This coupled with new bright inks and retro styles in fashion have all fueled a huge growth in chest tattoos for men.

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Back Tattoos
These of course have also been around forever and a day.  Yet the back is coming back in fashion and really risen in popularity over the last year.  Again the back offers a very large space for a tattoo design which allows a person to come up with a very intricate and detailed design.

Popular Tattoo Design Choices

Tribal Tattoos
Yes you guessed it tribal tattoos are definitely back in fashion for men.  For a while there in the mid 90′s tribal tattoos were becoming over done and no longer the big hits.  They fell out of fashion for a while there.  However, they have been adapted and brought back to life.  Now and days however, tribal designs are not just the abstract line work and interwoven patterns that used to be done.  Now men are choosing tribal designs that are more authentic to ancient tribes and cultures.  For example Maori and Hawaiian tribal designs as well as Australian aboriginal designs are also become very popular.

Cross Tattoos
This is another good old stand by that has risen in popularity once again.  The cross has always been a pretty major player int he tattoo design world but now they are becoming very popular and big time again.  There are so many design options with the cross that they make for a really diverse and great tattoo design.  There is the traditional crucifix cross and the Celtic knot work crosses.  Also very popular are the dark Gothic cross designs.

These  are all trends in male tattoo design that have been around for ever but recently have been gaining in popularity again.  As many styles in fashion come back in fashion and the whole cool retro movement has really brought back some of these traditional locations and designs for male tattoos.