Types of Tribal

 Nowadays when you typically think of tribal tattoos you think of solid black, curving lines, and abstract forms. But the history of tribal tattoos are so much more than that. There have been evidence of tattoos among tribes from all over the world including Maori, Samoan, Iban, Celtic, and many many others. The most famous of all tribal tattoos are those of Otzi the Iceman. He is believed to have lived over 5,000 years ago and his body is covered with tattoos of simple dots and lines. There are many other stories of mummies being found all over the world with tattoos that are thought to symbolize ritualistic, sacred, and therapeutic meanings. 

With so many different cultures and tribes it can be hard to know which type of tribal is which. Here is a basic and short list of some of the known tribal tattoos that are still being tattooed today.

Maori: These tattoos are some of the most recognizable since they are face tattoos. They are very intricate and no two tattoos are alike. The tattoo artists are specialists in their own right as they use chisels and knives vs needles to create these tattoos. Getting a Maori tattoo can be incredibly painful. But there are plenty of designs to choose from such as Te Ora, Pikorua, Te Timatanga, Nga Hau E Wha, Koru, and more. 

Samoan: Another very recognizable tribal is Samoan. There are two different types for male and female. Malu, for females are more subtle than Pe'a for males. Pe'a tattoos are usually on the lower half of the body, very large and intricate, and were traditionally used as a protection from wild animals. The designs include elements such as Marquesan cross, ocean waves, sun rays, and more. 

Polynesian: This type of tribal has helped form some of the main foundations of contemporary tattooing. There is a ton of symbology behind these tattoos. These designs tie in to rights of passage, war accomplishments, affiliations, locations, and much more. The symbolism and placement of each tattoo has a very specific meaning. 

Aztec: These tribal tattoos were traditionally tattooed during spiritual rituals meant to honor their specific Gods. The designs would range based on social status, and achievements. They were also used to differentiate between tribes and to showcase a warrior's prowess. 

Eye of Horus: During ancient times these tattoos had very significant meanings. Inspired by their religious beliefs, the Eye of Horus is meant to be a sign of protection, sacrifice, healing, and royal power for both the living and the dead. Archeologists have found evidence of this tattoo on mummies they have exhumed over the years. 

Overall this is just a handful of different types of tribal designs used by many different cultures. These tattoos are still prevalent today and have been modified by many different people. If you are interested in getting one do your research and find out as much as you can about the design you are interested in. Respect the culture and you can end up with an amazing piece of art that can tie you to lots of historical roots. 

Reasons When You Shouldn't Get a Tattoo

You don’t know your artist: It’s always best to do the most amount of research that you can do when choosing an artist for the tattoo that you are wanting. Are they someone who can do the style that you are looking for? Are they experienced? Do they abide by health and safety standards to ensure they are being as safe as possible? What does their portfolio look like? If you don’t know what the artist is capable of doing, then you shouldn’t be choosing them to be your tattoo artist. 

 

You jumped in without thinking of the long term: There can be so many different reasons that your life can end up going in a different direction then what you thought. Make sure to truly think about how the tattoo that you want to get today can affect you in the future. You might get into a job that doesn’t allow tattoos to be showing. You might decide that the tattoo you want today will be incredibly stupid 15 years down the road. Not to say that you shouldn’t get tattoos ever because you never know what the future brings, but make sure that you are prepared for any hypothetical consequences that can occur. 

 

You don’t know the standards of the shop: Tattoo shops should be clean and be using sterilization processes to ensure the artist and clients safety. You can and should make sure that the shop is using quality inks and needles and there is sanitization happening before, during, and after your tattoo. If they don’t seem to care, you should walk away. You don’t want to risk your health for anything. 

 

You got pressured into a tattoo: Your friends decided to get a tattoo and dragged you along. A partner has been aggressively wanting their name tattooed on your body. If you are getting a tattoo, make sure that you are getting it because you want to get it. Don’t feel pressured into agreeing to allow a permanent body modification to happen. Also, during your appointment if there is something that you truly do not like, please tell your artist and see if there is something that can be done so you don’t get stuck with a tattoo that you hate. If you are not 100% sold on the design that will be on your body forever, you should not be getting it done. 

 

You don’t know what your tattoo means: Your artist can and should double check with any type of text that you are wanting to get tattooed. But if you are adamant that the spelling is correct that is on you. If you are not prepared to double check the spelling or translation of a tattoo, then you maybe shouldn’t be getting that tattoo in the first place. Until you are 100% sure that your tattoo is correctly translated and spelled don’t get it done. 

 

You want a cheap tattoo: In the world of tattoos, you will get what you pay for. If you find a deal that is too good to be true, it probably is. A good tattoo artist is just that, an artist. You need to be prepared to pay them for their worth and quality. If you are 

 

If you still want to get a tattoo that’s great! Find a good artist and shop, make sure you are getting what you want, and be prepared to have that tattoo for a long time. Tattoos are fun and can mean lots of different things to lots of different people. If you feel confident about your choice, then go and get that ink! 

Common Tattoo Mistakes

 Getting a new tattoo is exciting! During that excitement don't make these mistakes and you will end up with a great tattoo. 

The first and biggest mistake that you can make when you decide to get a tattoo is to not do your research beforehand. The day of your appointment is not the time to realize that you didn't think about how big the tattoo will be, where you want the tattoo to go, how much this tattoo will cost or if you even like the style the artist is planning on doing. The first thing you want to do is plan your tattoo out. Pick a size, placement, style, color or black and grey, and any specific details that you want to include or exclude. Once you do that then find an artist that matches what you are wanting. All of our artists here at Lucky Bamboo are extremely talented, and they have different and various styles. If you need help, ask and we would be happy to point you in the right direction. 

The next common mistake is not trusting your artist. Once you have a design in mind and have chosen an artist you have to be able to allow them to do their job. There needs to be a level of trust in order for the artist to interpret your ideas into an actual tattoo that will end up permanently on your body. It is important to give your tattoo artist the best description and details of what your tattoo idea is, but allow them to have enough artistic creative freedom to create the best tattoo for you. Also don't expect the artist to be comfortable copying another tattoo or artists work. Most tattoo artists will not copy and paste another artists work.  At Lucky Bamboo we are a custom tattoo shop and you can feel confident that the tattoo that you will receive is going to be one of a kind. 

Another mistake that people can make with their first tattoos or if they haven't gotten any in a while is not understanding the cost of that tattoo. Tattoos cost money and good tattoos can cost a lot of money. Keep in mind though that the price tag that you see up front is not what the artist is pocketing at the end. They have a multitude of costs including; equipment, supplies, shop fees, ect that all factor into the rate that you get quoted. You are also paying them for the time and effort it takes to prepare and then tattoo that on your body. It can seem like a lot but in reality the artist is only seeing a portion of that as a profit.  If the price is a bit more than what you can financially do at the moment there are options. You can wait and save up for the future. You can also ask and see if simplifying and shrinking the design down in size or detail could lower the cost for you. Just remember at the end of the day you will end up getting what you pay for.

On the day of the appointment don't make the mistake of coming in hungry or thirsty. Getting a tattoo seems like no big deal but in reality you can getting poked millions of times with a needle and your body sees that as trauma. Your adrenaline will spike and your body will use a lot of energy while you are just sitting there. You want to make sure you can be as comfortable as possible. Make sure to eat before and stay hydrated. Lucky Bamboo offers private rooms where you can bring a snack and/or a water bottle to keep you refreshed during your tattoo. If you don't eat, you might feel sick or dizzy and that can make your tattoo hurt worse than it normally would. 

And the very last mistake you can make is to not listen to your tattoo artists advice regarding aftercare. How you take care of your tattoo will determine how it will heal and look years down the road. The artist could create the perfect piece that in a few years looks tragic because you didn't listen to the aftercare advice and let it heal wrong or didn't use sunscreen to protect it. A tattoo is an investment in art and your artist is going to try to make sure that you have all of the information needed in order to protect that investment. 

In the end, it can be very easy to make a few mistakes here and there but don't hesitate to ask those questions so that at the end you will end up with the best tattoo possible. 

Is Winter the Time for a Tattoo?

 

The weather outside might be frightful, but is it the time to get a new tattoo? It depends. There are a few pros and cons to consider when planning on getting a tattoo either during warmer months or colder ones. 

One of the biggest things that can damage and ruin a tattoo is too much sun exposure. During the summer months you are wearing tank tops and shorts exposing your new tattoo to the elements. One of the perks of the cooler months is that you will most likely be wearing more clothing and spending less time outside in direct sunlight. This will help protect your tattoo, especially during the healing period. No matter the time of year, the less time you spend out in the sun, the better protected your tattoo will be. 

But one of the cons of winter is that the multiple layers of clothing that you wear to stay warm might feel uncomfortable and rub up against a new tattoo and irritate it. You might to stay warm, but consider wearing looser fitting clothing if winter time is your time for new ink. 

Another con of the getting a tattoo during the winter months is that the weather tends to be harsher on your skin. Snow and ice with cold temperatures can make your skin drier than usual. You may need to step up your moisturizing routine a bit more during winter to keep your tattoo from becoming dry and dull.  Drier skin can make your tattoo feel more itchy. No matter how itchy it feels, scratching your tattoo can damage it. 

One of the biggest pros to getting a tattoo during winter time is the fact that by the time weather turns warm your tattoo will be completely healed and ready to show off. You won't have to worry about staying out the pool or getting too sweaty while your new ink heals. 

Another pro of getting tattooed during winter is you might be able to get your tattoo done sooner. When warm weather comes around with the chance to show off a new tattoo, the more people want them. Artists schedules can fill up fast and you will be waiting for a while. If you go during the colder months you might find more availability with the artist of your choice. 

All in all, it comes down to your personal choice. If you are going to get a tattoo regardless of the season make sure that you listen to your artist with the aftercare. No matter what, it is up to you to take care of your tattoo if you want it to look the best that it can for as long as possible.