Say It All With A Tattoo

As many of you might have presumed by now, tattoo is actually a practice that have endured both time and criticism.

We don't know exactly how many years or centuries the world has wakened into tattooed body parts. But the earliest that we can note by now (for which other resources may contend otherwise) is the remains of the mummified iceman dated as far back as 3300 BC. For the Egyptians however, along with the Nubian mummies, the records of tattooing have only been known for only around 2000 years. For other records, classical authors shed information on the existence of the practice among the earliest Britons, Gauls, Thracians and Germans.

The discovery by the Europeans led to the wide acceptation of the practice in the western world. Yet, since tattoos were closely associated with criminals, pirates and the likes, it was not as welcomed among other societies. And presumably, this is the point of view that went with the passing of the years.

Obviously enough, people, societies and cultures connote different meanings with the practice of tattooing. Although it is normally viewed as an instrument of self-expression through body decorations. For some groups, tattoos act as marks to signify the social position of an individual. For some, it signifies as a passage of rite especially in entering manhood (or womanhood).

While modern tattooing methods feature the use of a machine to create skin injections of ink, more primitive methods include literal scaring of the skin to produce bruises where pigments are implanted. With more advanced methods among tribes that employ the practice, metals are used to scrape the surface of the skin and sooth is the typical marker.

Fortunately, we need not experience extreme pain with such techniques. Nowadays, tattoos are made by punching ink into the dermis layer of the skin by means of a needle. Now, what we see is the ink that remained.

While the epidermis seems to hold most of the ink, the reverse is true. The dermis, where skin cells are more stable does not renew (or exfoliate). This is why once the skin is stained with ink, the tattoo will remain drawn into it for life.

One may notice that the main principle propelling the process is patterned after the sewing machine. The tattooing machine itself is composed of a needle that drives ink into the dermis. This solid, sterilized needle moves at an average rate of 50 to 30,000 per minute depending on the control of the powered foot switch. The needle is regularly dipped into the ink for continuous supply and will then be punched into the skin.

Much of the concern while undergoing the tattooing process is focused on the safety of the person. This is mainly because the skin is susceptible to infections when wounded. And that exactly how the whole process goes. Besides, all paraphernalia used hold great possibilities for contamination. This is why it is important that 1) all disposable items are discarded once used and 2), all items undergo sterilization after each session.

Tattooing starts with outlining of the pattern. Understandably, this is the process where the tattoo artist shows his mettle. Clear lines must have proper depth, otherwise the skin may not absorb the ink properly and blurring of the image may occur.

Afterwhich, the artist will continue on with the shading of the design. Color will then be added as part of the finishing touch.


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