Tattoo - wikipedia Tattoo For other uses, see Tattoo ( disambiguation ). Tattoo of the Hand of Fatima A rope - and - anchor tattoo, against the original sketch of the design A tattoo is a form of body modification where a design is made by inserting ink, dyes and pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. The art of making tattoos is tattooing. Tattoos fall into three broad categories : purely decorative ( with no specific meaning ) ; symbolic ( with a specific meaning pertinent to the wearer ) ; pictorial ( a depiction of a specific person or item ). Tattoos have historically been regarded in the West as ' uncivilised ', and over the last 100 years the fashion has been associated mainly with sailors, working men and criminals. By the end of the 20th Century many Western stigmas of the tattoo culture had been dismissed and the practice has become more acceptable and accessible for people of all trades and levels of society. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Types 2.1 Traumatic tattoos 2.2 Subcultural Connotations 2.3 Identification 2.4 Cosmetic 2.5 Functional 2.6 Medical 3 History 3.1 United States 3.1. 1 Protection papers 3.1. 2 Freedom papers 4 Process 5 Associations 5.1 Historical associations 5.2 Modern associations 6 Advertising and marketing 7 Health risks 8 Removal 9 Temporary tattoos 9.1 Types of temporary tattoos 9.1. 1 Decal - style temporary tattoos 9.1. 2 Metallic jewelry tattoos 9.1. 3 Airbrush temporary tattoos 9.1. 4 Henna temporary tattoos 9.2 Temporary tattoo safety 9.2. 1 Decal - style temporary tattoo safety 9.2. 2 Airbrush tattoo safety 9.2. 3 Henna tattoo safety 10 Religious views 11 See also 11.1 Styles 11.2 Others 12 References 12.1 Bibliography 12.2 Notes 13 External links Etymology This section needs additional citations for verification. ( July 2016 ) A Māori chief with tattoos ( moko ) seen by Cook and his crew The word tattoo, or tattow in the 18th century, is a loanword from the Samoan word tatau, meaning `` to strike ''. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology of tattoo as `` In 18th c. tattaow, tattow. From Polynesian ( Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, etc. ) tatau. In Marquesan, tatu. '' Before the importation of the Polynesian word, the practice of tattooing had been described in the West as painting, scarring, or staining. This is not to be confused with the origins of the word for the military drumbeat or performance -- see military tattoo. In this case, the English word tattoo is derived from the Dutch word taptoe. The first written reference to the word tattoo ( or tatau ) appears in the journal of Joseph Banks ( 24 February 1743 -- 19 June 1820 ), the naturalist aboard explorer Captain Cook 's ship the HMS Endeavour : `` I shall now mention the way they mark themselves indelibly, each of them is so marked by their humour or disposition ''. The word tattoo was brought to Europe by Cook, when he returned in 1769 from his first voyage to Tahiti and New Zealand. In his narrative of the voyage, he refers to an operation called `` tattaw ''. Tattoo enthusiasts may refer to tattoos as `` ink '', `` pieces '', `` skin art '', `` tattoo art '', `` tats '', or `` work '' ; to the creators as `` tattoo artists '', `` tattooers '', or `` tattooists '' ; and to places where they work as `` tattoo shops '', `` tattoo studios '', or `` tattoo parlors ''. A tattooed man 's back, Japan, c. 1875 Mainstream art galleries hold exhibitions of both conventional and custom tattoo designs such as Beyond Skin, at the Museum of Croydon. Copyrighted tattoo designs that are mass - produced and sent to tattoo artists are known as `` flash '', a notable instance of industrial design. Flash sheets are prominently displayed in many tattoo parlors for the purpose of providing both inspiration and ready - made tattoo images to customers. The Japanese word irezumi means `` insertion of ink '' and can mean tattoos using tebori, the traditional Japanese hand method, a Western - style machine, or any method of tattooing using insertion of ink. The most common word used for traditional Japanese tattoo designs is horimono. Japanese may use the word tattoo to mean non-Japanese styles of tattooing. Anthropologist Ling Roth in 1900 described four methods of skin marking and suggested they be differentiated under the names `` tatu '', `` moko '', `` cicatrix '', and `` keloid ''. Types The American Academy of Dermatology distinguishes five types of tattoos : traumatic tattoos, also called `` natural tattoos '', that result from injuries, especially asphalt from road injuries or pencil lead ; amateur tattoos ; professional tattoos, both via traditional methods and modern tattoo machines ; cosmetic tattoos, also known as `` permanent makeup '' ; and medical tattoos. Traumatic tattoos This section needs additional citations for verification. ( November 2010 ) According to George Orwell, coal miners could develop characteristic tattoos owing to coal dust getting into wounds. This can also occur with substances like gunpowder. Similarly, a traumatic tattoo occurs when a substance such as asphalt is rubbed into a wound as the result of some kind of accident or trauma. These are particularly difficult to remove as they tend to be spread across several layers of skin, and scarring or permanent discoloration is almost unavoidable depending on the location. An amalgam tattoo is when amalgam particles are implanted in to the soft tissues of the mouth, usually the gums, during dental filling placement or removal. Another example of such accidental tattoos is the result of a deliberate or accidental stabbing with a pencil or pen, leaving graphite or ink beneath the skin. Subcultural connotations Tattooing among females of the Koita people of Papua New Guinea traditionally began at age five and was added to each year, with the V - shaped tattoo on the chest indicating that she had reached marriageable age. Photo taken in 1912. Many tattoos serve as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, amulets and talismans, protection, and as punishment, like the marks of outcasts, slaves and convicts. The symbolism and impact of tattoos varies in different places and cultures. Tattoos may show how a person feels about a relative ( commonly mother / father or daughter / son ) or about an unrelated person. Today, people choose to be tattooed for artistic, cosmetic, sentimental / memorial, religious, and magical reasons, and to symbolize their belonging to or identification with particular groups, including criminal gangs ( see criminal tattoos ) or a particular ethnic group or law - abiding subculture. Although tattoos can represent solidarity with a particular group, they can also showcase the opposition of another group or concept. For example, women can challenge beauty ideals by getting a tattoo of traditional symbols of femininity but alter it into something that does not align into the expectations of femininity. Like getting a tattoo of ``... a beautiful woman, such as Marilyn Monroe, or a traditional pinup, and turning her into a zombie ''. Some Māori still choose to wear intricate moko on their faces. In Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, the yantra tattoo is used for protection against evil and to increase luck. Text - based tattoos including quotes, lyrics, personal mottos or scripture are popular in western culture. As an example some Christians might have a Psalm or verse from the Bible tattooed on their body. Popular verses include John 3 : 16, Philippians 4 : 13, and Psalms 23. Extensive decorative tattooing is common among members of traditional freak shows and by performance artists who follow in their tradition. Identification An identification tattoo on a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp People have also been forcibly tattooed. A well - known example is the Nazi practice of forcibly tattooing Nazi concentration camp inmates with identification numbers during The Holocaust as part of the Nazis ' identification system, beginning in fall 1941. The Nazis ' SS introduced the practice at Auschwitz concentration camp in order to identify the bodies of registered prisoners in the concentration camps. During registration, the Nazis would pierce the outlines of the serial - number digits onto the prisoners ' arms. Of the Nazi concentration camps, only Auschwitz put tattoos on inmates. The tattoo was the prisoner 's camp number, sometimes with a special symbol added : some Jews had a triangle, and Romani had the letter `` Z '' ( from German Zigeuner for `` Gypsy '' ). In May 1944, the Jewish men received the letters `` A '' or `` B '' to indicate particular series of numbers. For unknown reasons, this number series for women never began again with the `` B '' series after they had reached the number limit of 20,000 for the `` A '' series. The practice continued until the last days of Auschwitz. Tattoos have also been used for identification in other ways. As early as the Zhou, Chinese authorities would employ facial tattoos as a punishment for certain crimes or to mark prisoners or slaves. During the Roman Empire, Roman soldiers were required by law to have identifying tattoos on their hands in order to make desertion difficult. Gladiators and slaves were likewise tattooed : exported slaves were tattooed with the words `` tax paid '', and it was a common practice to tattoo `` Stop me, I 'm a runaway '' on their foreheads. Owing to the Biblical strictures against the practice, Emperor Constantine I banned tattooing the face around AD 330, and the Second Council of Nicaea banned all body markings as a pagan practice in AD 787. In the period of early contact between the Māori and Europeans, the Maori people hunted and decapitated each other for their moko tattoos, which they traded for European items including axes and firearms. Moko tattoos were facial designs worn to indicate lineage, social position, and status within the tribe. The tattoo art was a sacred marker of identity among the Maori and also referred to as a vehicle for storing one 's tapu, or spiritual being, in the afterlife. Tattoo marking a deserter from the British Army ; skin removed post-mortem Tattoos are sometimes used by forensic pathologists to help them identify burned, putrefied, or mutilated bodies. As tattoo pigment lies encapsulated deep in the skin, tattoos are not easily destroyed even when the skin is burned. Tattoos are also placed on animals, though rarely for decorative reasons. Pets, show animals, thoroughbred horses, and livestock are sometimes tattooed with identification and other marks. Tattooing with a ' slap mark ' on the shoulder or on the ear is the standard identification method in commercial pig farming. Branding is used for similar reasons and is often performed without anesthesia, but is different from tattooing as no ink or dye is inserted during the process, the mark instead being caused by permanent scarring of the skin. Pet dogs and cats are sometimes tattooed with a serial number ( usually in the ear, or on the inner thigh ) via which their owners can be identified. However, the use of a microchip has become an increasingly popular choice and since 2016 is a legal requirement for all 8.5 million pet dogs in the UK. Tattooed lip makeup Cosmetic Main article : Permanent makeup The cosmetic surgery industry continues to see a trend of increased popularity for both surgical and noninvasive procedures. When used as a form of cosmetics, tattooing includes permanent makeup and hiding or neutralizing skin discolorations. Permanent makeup is the use of tattoos to enhance eyebrows, lips ( liner and / or lipstick ), eyes ( liner ), and even moles, usually with natural colors, as the designs are intended to resemble makeup. A growing trend in the US and UK is to place artistic titoos over the surgical scars of a mastectomy. `` More women are choosing not to reconstruct after a mastectomy and tattoo over the scar tissue instead... The mastectomy tattoo will become just another option for post cancer patients and a truly personal way of regaining control over post cancer bodies and proving once and for all that breast cancer is not just a pink ribbon. '' The tattooing of nipples on reconstructed breasts remains in high demand, however. Functional Functional tattoos are used primarily for a purpose other than aesthetics. One such use is to tattoo Alzheimer patients with their name, so they may be easily identified if they go missing. Medical Main article : Medical tattoo Medical tattoo : blood type. Medical tattoos are used to ensure instruments are properly located for repeated application of radiotherapy and for the areola in some forms of breast reconstruction. Tattooing has also been used to convey medical information about the wearer ( e.g., blood group, medical condition, etc. ). Additionally, tattoos are used in skin tones to cover vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder. SS blood group tattoos ( German : Blutgruppentätowierung ) were worn by members of the Waffen - SS in Nazi Germany during World War II to identify the individual 's blood type. After the war, the tattoo was taken to be prima facie, if not perfect, evidence of being part of the Waffen - SS, leading to potential arrest and prosecution. This led a number of Ex-Waffen - SS to shoot themselves through the arm with a gun, removing the tattoo and leaving scars like the ones resulting from pox inoculation, making the removal less obvious. Tattoos were probably also used in ancient medicine as part of the treatment of the patient. In 1898, Daniel Fouquet, a medical doctor, wrote an article on `` medical tattooing '' practices in Ancient Egypt, in which he describes the tattooed markings on the female mummies found at the Deir el - Bahari site. He speculated that the tattoos and other scarifications observed on the bodies may have served a medicinal or therapeutic purpose : `` The examination of these scars, some white, others blue, leaves in no doubt that they are not, in essence, ornament, but an established treatment for a condition of the pelvis, very probably chronic pelvic peritonitis. '' History Main article : History of tattooing A pe'a is a traditional male tattoo in Samoa. Samoan tattooing was practiced continuously despite attempts at suppression during the 1830s. Preserved tattoos on ancient mummified human remains reveal that tattooing has been practiced throughout the world for many centuries. The Ainu, an indigenous people of Japan, traditionally had facial tattoos, as did the Austroasians. Today, one can find Atayal, Seediq, Truku, and Saisiyat of Taiwan, Berbers of Tamazgha ( North Africa ), Yoruba, Fulani and Hausa people of Nigeria, and Māori of New Zealand with facial tattoos. Tattooing was popular among certain ethnic groups in southern China, Polynesia, Africa, Borneo, Cambodia, Europe, Prehistoric Age Japan ( Ainu People ), the Mentawai Islands, Mesoamerica, New Zealand, North America and South America, the Philippines, Iron Age Britain, and Taiwan. In 2015, scientific re-assessment of the age of the two oldest known tattooed mummies, identified Ötzi as the oldest currently known example. This body, with 61 tattoos, was found embedded in glacial ice in the Alps, and was dated to 3,250 BC. In 2018, the oldest figurative tattoos in the world were discovered on two mummies from Egypt which are dated between 3351 and 3017 BC. It is a myth that the modern revival of tattooing stems from Captain James Cook 's three voyages to the South Pacific in the late 18th century. Certainly, Cook 's voyages and the dissemination of the texts and images from them brought more awareness about tattooing ( and, as noted above, imported the word `` tattow '' into Western languages ), but Europeans have been tattooed throughout history. On Cook 's first voyage in 1768, his science officer and expedition botanist, Sir Joseph Banks, as well as artist Sydney Parkinson and many others of the crew, returned to England with tattoos, although many of these men would have had pre-existing tattoos. Banks was a highly regarded member of the English aristocracy that had acquired his position with Cook by co-financing the expedition with ten thousand pounds, a very large sum at the time. In turn, Cook brought back with him a tattooed Raiatean man, Omai, whom he presented to King George and the English Court. On subsequent voyages other crew members, from officers, such as American John Ledyard, to ordinary seamen, were tattooed. The first documented professional tattooist in Britain was established in the port of Liverpool in the 1870s. In Britain tattooing was still largely associated with sailors and the lower or even criminal class, but by the 1870s had become fashionable among some members of the upper classes, including royalty, and in its upmarket form it could be an expensive and sometimes painful process. A marked class division on the acceptability of the practice continued for some time in Britain. Recently a trend has arisen marketed as ' Stick and Poke ' tattooing ; primitive figures are permanently inscribed by the user himself after he obtains a ' DIY ' kit containing needles, ink and a collection of suggestions. United States Tattooed sailor aboard USS New Jersey in 1944 As most tattoos in the U.S. were done by Polynesian and Japanese amateurs, tattoo artists were in great demand in port cities all over the world, especially by European and American sailors. The first recorded professional tattoo artist in the United States was a German immigrant, Martin Hildebrandt. He opened a shop in New York City in 1846 and quickly became popular during the American Civil War among soldiers and sailors of both Union and Confederate militaries. Hildebrandt began traveling from camp to camp to tattoo soldiers, making his popularity increase, and also giving birth to the tradition of getting tattoos while being an American serviceman. Soon after the Civil War, tattoos became fashionable among upper - class young adults. This trend lasted until the beginning of World War I. The invention of the electric tattoo machine caused popularity of tattoos among the wealthy to drop off. The machine made the tattooing procedure both much easier and cheaper, thus, eliminating the status symbol tattoos previously held, as they were now affordable for all socioeconomic classes. The status symbol of a tattoo shifted from a representation of wealth, to a mark typically seen on rebels and criminals. Despite this change, tattoos remained popular among military servicemen, and the tradition continues today. Many studies have been done of the tattooed population and society 's view of tattoos. In June 2006, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology published the results of a telephone survey of 2004. It found that 36 % of Americans ages 18 -- 29, 24 % of those 30 -- 40, and 15 % of those 41 -- 51 had a tattoo. In September 2006, the Pew Research Center conducted a telephone survey that found that 36 % of Americans ages 18 -- 25, 40 % of those 26 -- 40 and 10 % of those 41 -- 64 had a tattoo. They concluded that Generation X and Generation Y are not afraid to express themselves through their appearance, and tattoos are the most popular form of self - expression. In January 2008, a survey conducted online by Harris Interactive estimated that 14 % of all adults in the United States have a tattoo, slightly down from 2003, when 16 % had a tattoo. Among age groups, 9 % of those ages 18 -- 24, 32 % of those 25 -- 29, 25 % of those 30 -- 39 and 12 % of those 40 -- 49 have tattoos, as do 8 % of those 50 -- 64. Men are slightly more likely to have a tattoo than women. Richmond, Virginia, has been cited as one of the most tattooed cities in the United States. That distinction led the Valentine Richmond History Center to create an online exhibit titled `` History, Ink : The Tattoo Archive Project. '' The introduction to the exhibit notes, `` In the past, western culture associated tattoos with those individuals who lived on the edge of society ; however, today they are recognized as a legitimate art form and widely accepted in mainstream culture. '' Since the 1970s, tattoos have become a mainstream part of Western fashion, common among all genders, to all economic classes, and to age groups from the later teen years to middle age. For many young Americans, the tattoo has taken on a decidedly different meaning than for previous generations. The tattoo has `` undergone dramatic redefinition '' and has shifted from a form of deviance to an acceptable form of expression. Protection papers Protection papers were used by American sailors to prevent themselves from being taken off American ships and impressed into the Royal Navy. These were simple documents that described the sailor as being an American sailor. Many of the protection certificates were so general, and it was so easy to abuse the system, that many impressment officers of the Royal Navy paid no attention to them. `` In applying for a duplicate Seaman 's Protection Certificate in 1817, James Francis stated that he ' had a protection granted him by the Collector of this Port on or about 12 March 1806 which was torn up and destroyed by a British Captain when at sea. ' '' One way of making them more specific was to describe a tattoo, which is highly personal, and thus use that description to identify the seaman. As a result, many of the later certificates carried information about tattoos and scars, as well as other specific information. This also perhaps led to an increase and proliferation of tattoos among American seamen. `` Frequently their ' protection papers ' made reference to tattoos, clear evidence that individual was a seafaring man ; rarely did members of the general public adorn themselves with tattoos. '' `` In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, tattoos were as much about self - expression as they were about having a unique way to identify a sailor 's body should he be lost at sea or impressed by the British navy. The best source for early American tattoos is the protection papers issued following a 1796 congressional act to safeguard American seamen from impressment. These proto - passports catalogued tattoos alongside birthmarks, scars, race, and height. Using simple techniques and tools, tattoo artists in the early republic typically worked on board ships using anything available as pigments, even gunpowder and urine. Men marked their arms and hands with initials of themselves and loved ones, significant dates, symbols of the seafaring life, liberty poles, crucifixes, and other symbols. '' Freedom papers Because these protection papers were used to define freemen and citizenship, many black sailors and other men also used them to show that they were freemen if they were stopped by officials or slave catchers. They also called them `` free papers '' because they certified their non-slave status. Many of the freed blacks used descriptions of tattoos for identification purposes on their freedom papers. Process Main article : Process of tattooing Main article : Tattoo ink Play media Man getting a tattoo Tattooing involves the placement of pigment into the skin 's dermis, the layer of dermal tissue underlying the epidermis. After initial injection, pigment is dispersed throughout a homogenized damaged layer down through the epidermis and upper dermis, in both of which the presence of foreign material activates the immune system 's phagocytes to engulf the pigment particles. As healing proceeds, the damaged epidermis flakes away ( eliminating surface pigment ) while deeper in the skin granulation tissue forms, which is later converted to connective tissue by collagen growth. This mends the upper dermis, where pigment remains trapped within successive generations of macrophages, ultimately concentrating in a layer just below the dermis / epidermis boundary. Its presence there is stable, but in the long term ( decades ) the pigment tends to migrate deeper into the dermis, accounting for the degraded detail of old tattoos. A two coil tattoo machine Some tribal cultures traditionally created tattoos by cutting designs into the skin and rubbing the resulting wound with ink, ashes or other agents ; some cultures continue this practice, which may be an adjunct to scarification. Some cultures create tattooed marks by hand - tapping the ink into the skin using sharpened sticks or animal bones ( made like needles ) with clay formed disks or, in modern times, needles. The most common method of tattooing in modern times is the electric tattoo machine, which inserts ink into the skin via a single needle or a group of needles that are soldered onto a bar, which is attached to an oscillating unit. The unit rapidly and repeatedly drives the needles in and out of the skin, usually 80 to 150 times a second. The needles are single - use needles that come packaged individually. Tattooing is regulated in many countries because of the associated health risks to client and practitioner, specifically local infections and virus transmission. Disposable plastic aprons and eye protection can be worn depending on the risk of blood or other secretions splashing into the eyes or clothing of the tattooist. Hand hygiene, assessment of risks and appropriate disposal of all sharp objects and materials contaminated with blood are crucial areas. The tattoo artist must wash his or her hands and must also wash the area that will be tattooed. Gloves must be worn at all times and the wound must be wiped frequently with a wet disposable towel of some kind. All equipment must be sterilized in a certified autoclave before and after every use. It is good practice to provide clients with a printed consent form that outlines risks and complications as well as instructions for after care. Associations Historical associations See also : Religious perspectives on tattooing Mrs. M. Stevens Wagner with arms and chest covered in tattoos. An 1888 Japanese woodblock print of a prostitute biting her handkerchief in pain as her arm is tattooed. Based on historical practice, the tattoo is likely the name of her lover. The Government of Meiji Japan had outlawed tattoos in the 19th century, a prohibition that stood for 70 years before being repealed in 1948. As of 6 June 2012 all new tattoos are forbidden for employees of the city of Osaka. Existing tattoos are required to be covered with proper clothing. The regulations were added to Osaka 's ethical codes, and employees with tattoos were encouraged to have them removed. This was done because of the strong connection of tattoos with the yakuza, or Japanese organized crime, after an Osaka official in February 2012 threatened a schoolchild by showing his tattoo. Tattoos had negative connotations in historical China, where criminals often had been marked by tattooing. The association of tattoos with criminals was transmitted from China to influence Japan. Today, tattoos have remained a taboo in Chinese society. The Romans tattooed criminals and slaves, and in the 19th century released US convicts, Australian convicts, and British army deserters were identified by tattoos. Prisoners in Nazi concentration camps were tattooed with an identification number. Today, many prison inmates still tattoo themselves as an indication of time spent in prison. Native Americans also used tattoos to represent their tribe. Catholic Croats of Bosnia used religious Christian tattooing, especially of children and women, for protection against conversion to Islam during the Ottoman rule in the Balkans. Modern associations Wilfrid Derome Tatto Collection, 1925 Latin Kings gang member showing his gang tattoo Tattoos are strongly empirically associated with deviance, personality disorders, and criminality. Although the general acceptance of tattoos is on the rise in Western society, they still carry a heavy stigma among certain social groups. Tattoos are generally considered an important part of the culture of the Russian mafia. Current cultural understandings of tattoos in Europe and North America have been greatly influenced by long - standing stereotypes based on deviant social groups in the 19th and 20th centuries. Particularly in North America tattoos have been associated with stereotypes, folklore, and racism. Not until the 1960s and 1970s did people associate tattoos with such societal outcasts as bikers and prisoners. Today, in the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behavior, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation. A teardrop tattoo, for example, can be symbolic of murder, or each tear represents the death of a friend. At the same time, members of the U.S. military have an equally well - established and longstanding history of tattooing to indicate military units, battles, kills, etc., an association that remains widespread among older Americans. In Japan tattoos are associated with yakuza criminal groups but there are non-yakuza groups such as Fukushi Masaichi 's tattoo association that sought to preserve the skins of dead Japanese who have extensive tattoos. Tattooing is also common in the British Armed Forces. Depending on vocation tattoos are accepted in a number of professions in America. Companies across many fields are increasingly focused on diversity and inclusion. In Britain, there is evidence of women with tattoos, concealed by their clothing, throughout the 20th century, and records of women tattooists such as Jessie Knight from the 1920s. A study of `` at - risk '' ( as defined by school absenteeism and truancy ) adolescent girls showed a positive correlation between body modification and negative feelings towards the body and low self - esteem ; however, the study also demonstrated that a strong motive for body modification is the search for `` self and attempts to attain mastery and control over the body in an age of increasing alienation ''. The prevalence of women in the tattoo industry in the 21st century, along with larger numbers of women bearing tattoos, appears to be changing negative perceptions. Advertising and marketing Retired wrestler CM Punk is well known for his tattoos. Former sailor Rowland Hussey Macy, who formed Macy 's department stores, used a red star tattoo that he had on his hand for the store 's logo. Tattoos have also been used in marketing and advertising with companies paying people to have logos of brands like HBO, Red Bull, ASOS.com, and Sailor Jerry 's rum tattooed in their bodies. This practice is known as `` skinvertising ''. B.T. 's Smokehouse, a barbecue restaurant located in Massachusetts, offered customers free meals for life if they had the logo of the establishment tattooed on a visible part of their bodies. Nine people took the business up on the offer. Health risks Main article : Tattoo medical issues Modern tattoo artist 's nitrile gloves and sterilized equipment Because it requires breaking the skin barrier, tattooing carries health risks including infection and allergic reactions. Tattooing can be uncomfortable to excruciating depending on the area and can result in the person fainting. Modern tattooists reduce risks by following universal precautions working with single - use items and sterilizing their equipment after each use. Many jurisdictions require that tattooists have blood - borne pathogen training such as that provided through the Red Cross and OSHA. As of 2009 ( in the United States ) there have been no reported cases of HIV contracted from tattoos. In amateur tattooing, such as that practiced in prisons, however, there is an elevated risk of infection. Infections that can theoretically be transmitted by the use of unsterilized tattoo equipment or contaminated ink include surface infections of the skin, fungal infections, some forms of hepatitis, herpes simplex virus, HIV, staph, tetanus, and tuberculosis. Tattoo inks have been described as `` remarkably nonreactive histologically ''. However, cases of allergic reactions to tattoo inks, particularly certain colors, have been medically documented. This is sometimes due to the presence of nickel in an ink pigment, which triggers a common metal allergy. Occasionally, when a blood vessel is punctured during the tattooing procedure, a bruise / hematoma may appear. Certain colours - red or similar colours such as purple, pink, and orange - tend to cause more problems and damage compared to other colours. Red ink has even caused skin and flesh damages so severe that the amputation of a leg or an arm has been necessary. If part of a tattoo ( especially if red ) begins to cause even minor troubles, like becoming itchy or worse, lumpy, then Danish experts strongly suggest to remove the red parts. In 2017, researchers from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France say the chemicals in tattoo ink can travel in the bloodstream and accumulate in the lymph nodes, obstructing their ability to fight infections. However, the authors noted in their paper that most tattooed individuals including the donors analyzed do not suffer from chronic inflammation. Removal Main article : Tattoo removal While tattoos are considered permanent, it is sometimes possible to remove them, fully or partially, with laser treatments. Typically, black and some colored inks can be removed more completely than inks of other colors. The expense and pain associated with removing tattoos are typically greater than the expense and pain associated with applying them. Pre-laser tattoo removal methods include dermabrasion, salabrasion ( scrubbing the skin with salt ), cryosurgery, and excision -- which is sometimes still used along with skin grafts for larger tattoos. These older methods, however, have been nearly completely replaced by laser removal treatment options. Temporary tattoos A temporary tattoo being applied. See also : Mehndi and Ballpoint pen artwork A temporary tattoo is a non-permanent image on the skin resembling a permanent tattoo. Temporary tattoos can be drawn, painted, airbrushed or needled as a permanent tattoo with an ink which can be dissolved in blood within 6 months of art as a form of body painting. Types of temporary tattoos Decal - style temporary tattoos Decal ( press - on ) temporary tattoos are used to decorate any part of the body. They may last for a day or for more than a week. Metallic jewelry tattoos Foil temporary tattoos are a variation of decal - style temporary tattoos, printed using a foil stamping technique instead of using ink. The foil design is printed as a mirror image in order to be viewed in the right direction once it is applied to the skin. Each metallic tattoo is protected by a transparent protective film. Airbrush temporary tattoos Although they have become more popular and usually require a greater investment, airbrush temporary tattoos are less likely to achieve the look of a permanent tattoo, and may not last as long as press - on temporary tattoos. An artist sprays on airbrush tattoos using a stencil with alcohol - based, FDA - approved cosmetic inks. Like decal tattoos, airbrush temporary tattoos also are easily removed with rubbing alcohol or baby oil. Henna temporary tattoos Another tattoo alternative is henna - based tattoos, which generally contain no additives. Henna is a plant - derived substance which is painted on the skin, staining it a reddish - orange - to - brown color. Because of the semi-permanent nature of henna, they lack the realistic colors typical of decal temporary tattoos. Due to the time - consuming application process, it is a relatively poor option for children. If you do choose henna temporary tattoos, ensure that they are pure henna. Dermatological publications report that allergic reactions to natural henna are very rare and the product is generally considered safe for skin application. Serious problems can occur, however, from the use of henna with certain additives. The FDA and medical journals report that painted black henna temporary tattoos are especially dangerous. Black Henna or Pre-Mixed Henna Temporary Tattoos May Be Harmful - see below for safety information. Temporary tattoo safety Decal - style temporary tattoo safety Decal temporary tattoos, when legally sold in the United States, have had their color additives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) as cosmetics -- - the FDA has determined these colorants are safe for `` direct dermal contact. '' While the FDA has received some accounts of minor skin irritation, including redness and swelling, from this type of temporary tattoo, the agency has found these symptoms to be `` child specific '' and not significant enough to support warnings to the public. Unapproved pigments, however, which are sometimes used by non-US manufacturers, can provoke allergic reactions in anyone. Understanding the types of temporary tattoos available to consumers, knowing where they are manufactured, and ensuring they come from a reliable source are keys to determining whether temporary tattoos are safe. Airbrush tattoo safety The types of airbrush paints manufactured for crafting, creating art or decorating clothing should never be used for tattooing. These paints are not approved for direct contact with skin, and can be allergenic or toxic. Always ask the airbrush tattoo artist what kind of ink he or she is using and whether it meets FDA approval. Henna tattoo safety Dermatitis due to a temporary tattoo ( dolphin ) made with black henna. The FDA regularly issues warnings to consumers about avoiding any temporary tattoos labeled as black henna or pre-mixed henna as these may contain potentially harmful ingredients including silver nitrate, carmine, pyrogallol, disperse orange dye and chromium. Black henna gets its color from paraphenylenediamine ( PPD ), a textile dye approved by the FDA for human use only in hair coloring. In Canada, the use of PPD on the skin, including hair dye, is banned. Research has linked these and other ingredients to a range of health problems including allergic reactions, chronic inflammatory reactions, and late - onset allergic reactions to related clothing and hairdressing dyes. They can cause these reactions long after application. Neither black henna nor pre-mixed henna are approved for cosmetic use by the FDA. Religious views Main article : Religious perspectives on tattooing This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2017 ) Judaism generally prohibits tattoos among its adherents based on the commandments in Leviticus 19. Jews tend to believe this commandment only applies to Jews and not to gentiles. A Christian couple with matching cross symbol tattoos to associate with their faith There is no specific rule in the New Testament prohibiting tattoos and most Christian denominations believe the laws in Leviticus are outdated as well as believing the commandment only applied to the Israelites, not to the gentiles. While most Christian groups tolerate tattoos, some Evangelical and fundamentalist Protestant denominations do believe the commandment does apply today for Christians and believe it is a sin to get one. Many Coptic Christians in Egypt take a cross tattoo in their right wrist to differ from the Muslims. Tattoos are considered to be haram in Sunni Islam, based on rulings from scholars and passages in the Hadith. Shia Islam does not entirely prohibit tattooing, although it may be looked down upon in Shia communities. See also Fashion portal Styles Black - and - gray Body painting Body suit ( tattoo ) Borneo traditional tattooing Chinese calligraphy tattoos Christian tattooing in Bosnia and Herzegovina Criminal tattoo Finger moustache tattoo Genital tattooing Irezumi, traditional Japanese tattoo Lower back tattoo Marquesan tattoo Mehndi ( also called henna ) New school ( tattoo ) Old school ( tattoo ) Pe'a Prison tattooing Sailor tattoos Scarification Sleeve tattoo Soot tattoo SS blood group tattoo Swallow tattoo Watercolor Others Biomechanical art Body art Foreign body granuloma Fusen gum Legal status of tattooing in the United States List of cutaneous conditions List of tattoo artists Lucky Diamond Rich, world 's most tattooed person. Religious perspectives on tattooing Tattoo convention Tattooed Lady Scleral tattooing References Bibliography Anthropological Buckland, A.W. ( 1887 ) `` On Tattooing '', in Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 1887 / 12, p. 318 -- 328 Caplan, Jane ( ed. ) ( 2000 ) : Written on the Body : the Tattoo in European and American History, Princeton University Press DeMello, Margo ( 2000 ) Bodies of Inscription : a Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community, California. Durham NC : Duke University Press Fisher, Jill A ( 2002 ). `` Tattooing the Body, Marking Culture ''. Body & Society. 8 ( 4 ) : 91 -- 107. doi : 10.1177 / 1357034x02008004005. Gell, Alfred ( 1993 ) Wrapping in Images : Tattooing in Polynesia, Oxford : Clarendon Press Gilbert, Stephen G. ( 2001 ) Tattoo History : a Source Book, New York : Juno Books Gustafson, Mark ( 1997 ) `` Inscripta in fronte : Penal Tattooing in Late Antiquity '', in Classical Antiquity, April 1997, Vol. 16 / No. 1, p. 79 -- 105 Hambly, Wilfrid Dyson ( 1925 ) The History of Tattooing and Its Significance : With Some Account of Other Forms of Corporal Marking, London : H.F. & G. Witherby ( reissued : Detroit 1974 ) Hesselt van Dinter, Maarten ( 2005 ) The World of Tattoo ; An Illustrated History. Amsterdam, KIT Publishers Jones, C.P. ( 1987 ) `` Stigma : Tattooing and Branding in Graeco -- Roman Antiquity '', in Journal of Roman Studies, 77 / 1987, pp. 139 -- 155 Juno, Andrea. Modern Primitives. Re / Search # 12 ( October 1989 ) ISBN 0 - 9650469 - 3 - 1 Kächelen, Wolf - Peter ( 2004 ) : Tatau und Tattoo -- Eine Epigraphik der Identitätskonstruktion. Shaker Verlag, Aachen, ISBN 3 - 8322 - 2574 - 9. Lombroso, Cesare ( 1896 ) `` The Savage Origin of Tattooing '', in Popular Science Monthly, Vol. IV., 1896 Pang, Joey ( 2008 ) `` Tattoo Art Expressions '' Raviv, Shaun ( 2006 ) `` Marked for Life : Jews and Tattoos '' ( Moment Magazine ; June 2006 ) `` Comparative study about Ötzi 's therapeutic tattoos '' ( L. Renaut, 2004, French and English abstract ) Robley, Horatio ( 1896 ) Moko, or, Maori tattooing. London : Chapman and Hall Roth, H. Ling ( 1901 ) `` Maori tatu and moko ''. In : Journal of the Anthropological Institute vol. 31, January -- June 1901 Rubin, Arnold ( ed. ) ( 1988 ) Marks of Civilization : Artistic Transformations of the Human Body, Los Angeles : UCLA Museum of Cultural History Sanders, Clinton R. ( 1989 ) Customizing the Body : the Art and Culture of Tattooing. Philadelphia : Temple University Press Sinclair, A.T. ( 1909 ) `` Tattooing of the North American Indians '', in American Anthropologist 1909 / 11, No. 3, p. 362 -- 400 Thompson, Beverly Yuen ( 2015 ) Covered in Ink : Tattoos, Women and the Politics of the Body, New York University Press. ISBN 9780814789209 Wianecki, Shannon ( 2011 ) `` Marked '' Maui No Ka ' Oi Magazine. Popular and artistic Green, Terisa. Ink : The Not - Just - Skin - Deep Guide to Getting a Tattoo ISBN 0 - 451 - 21514 - 1 Green, Terisa. The Tattoo Encyclopedia : A Guide to Choosing Your Tattoo ISBN 0 - 7432 - 2329 - 2 Kraków, Amy. Total Tattoo Book ISBN 0 - 446 - 67001 - 4 Medical CDC 's Position on Tattooing and HCV Infection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, retrieved 12 June 2006 Body Art ( workplace hazards ), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, retrieved 15 September 2008 `` Tattoos and Permanent Makeup '', CFSAN / Office of Cosmetics and Colors ( 2000 ; updated 2004, 2006 ), United States Food and Drug Administration, retrieved 12 June 2006 Haley, R.W. ; Fischer, R.P. ( March 2000 ). `` Commercial tattooing as a potential source of hepatitis C infection ''. Medicine. 80 : 134 -- 151. doi : 10.1097 / 00005792 - 200103000 - 00006. Paola Piccinini, Laura Contor, Ivana Bianchi, Chiara Senaldi, Sazan Pakalin : Safety of tattoos and permanent make - up, Joint Research Centre, 2016, ISBN 978 - 92 - 79 - 58783 - 2, doi : 10.2788 / 011817. Notes ^ Jump up to : https://cpb-us-west-2-juc1ugur1qwqqqo4.stackpathdns.com/hawksites.newpaltz.edu/dist/1/2245/files/2018/01/Yuen-Thompson_Heavily-Tattooed-Women-1cyuu89.pdf Jump up ^ Meaning of Tatau 1, Pasefika Design ^ Jump up to : `` tattoo ''. The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide ( Credo Reference. Web. ed. ). Helicon. 2010. Jump up ^ OED Jump up ^ Roth, H. Ling ( 11 September 1900 ). On Permanent Artificial Skin Marks : a definition of terms. Bradford : Anthropological Section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Jump up ^ `` Tattoos, Body Piercings, and Other Skin Adornments ''. Aad.org. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Jump up ^ George Orwell ( 1940 ). `` Down the Mine ''. Inside the Whale. Jump up ^ Johnson, Frankie J ( 2007 ). `` Tattooing : Mind, Body And Spirit. The Inner Essence Of The Art ''. Sociological Viewpoints. 23 : 45 -- 61. Jump up ^ `` 25 Nobel Bible Verses Tattoos ''. Jump up ^ `` Tattoos and Numbers : The System of Identifying Prisoners at Auschwitz ''. www.ushmm.org. Jump up ^ https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007056 Jump up ^ Piper, Franciszek ; Świebocka, Teresa, eds. ( 1996 ). Auschwitz : Nazi Death Camp. Translated by Douglas Selvage. Oświęcim : The Auschwitz - Birkenau State Museum. pp. 60 -- 61. ISBN 9788385047568. OCLC 36524125. Jump up ^ `` The Evolution of Tattooing in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Complex ''. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Jump up ^ `` Marking Slaves ''. www.archaeology.org. Retrieved 15 June 2015. Jump up ^ Leviticus 19 : 28 Jump up ^ Adrienne Mayor ( March -- April 1999 ). `` People Illustrated ''. Archaeological Institute of America. 52 ( 2 ). Jump up ^ `` A Strange Trade -- Deals in Maori Heads -- Pioneer Artists ''. victoria.ac.nz. ^ Jump up to : Michael Atkinson. Tattooed : the sociogenesis of a body art. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Jump up ^ Khunger, Niti ; Molpariya, Anupama ; Khunger, Arjun ( 2015 ). `` Complications of Tattoos and Tattoo Removal : Stop and Think Before you ink ''. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 8 ( 1 ) : 30 -- 36. doi : 10.4103 / 0974 - 2077.155072. ISSN 0974 - 2077. PMC 4411590. PMID 25949020. Jump up ^ Small, Richard. `` REVIEW OF LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION AND TRACEABILITY IN THE UK ''. GOV.UK. DEFRA, Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` Compulsory dog microchipping comes into effect ''. Government Digital Service. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Jump up ^ Gimlin 2002 ; Sullivan 2001 Jump up ^ Locke, Katherine. 2013. `` Women choose body art over reconstruction after cancer battle : Undergoing a mastectomy is a harrowing experience, but tattoos can celebrate the victory over cancer. '' The Guardian. 7 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Nipple tattoos and their Michelangelo ''. BBC News. 21 December 2013. Jump up ^ Hürriyet Daily News : Tattooist offers to tattoo names of Alzheimer patients in İzmir Jump up ^ Arndt, Kenneth A. ; Hsu, Jeffrey T.S. ( 2007 ). Manual of Dermatologic Therapeutics ( illustrated ed. ). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 116. ISBN 978 - 0781760584. Retrieved 6 September 2013. Jump up ^ Tattooing in Ancient Egypt Part 2 : The Mummy of Amunet by Gemma Angel, on 10 December 2012. ^ Jump up to : Deter - Wolf, Aaron ; Robitaille, Benoît ; Krutak, Lars ; Galliot, Sébastien ( February 2016 ). `` The World 's Oldest Tattoos ''. Journal of Archaeological Science : Reports. 5 : 19 -- 24. doi : 10.1016 / j. jasrep. 2015.11. 007. Jump up ^ `` Maori Tattoo ''. Maori.com. Maori Tourism Limited. Retrieved 17 July 2015. Jump up ^ Scallan, Marilyn ( 9 December 2015 ). `` Ancient Ink : Iceman Otzi Has World 's Oldest Tattoos ''. Smithsonian Science News. Retrieved 19 December 2015. Jump up ^ Ghosh, Pallab ( 1 March 2018 ). `` ' Oldest tattoo ' found on 5,000 - year - old Egyptian mummies ''. BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Cook Myth : Common Tattoo History Debunked ''. tattoohistorian.com. Jump up ^ Some days after a shipwreck divers recovered the bodies. Most were unrecognisable, but that of a crew member was readily identified by his tattoos : `` The reason why sailors tattoo themselves has often been asked. '' The Times ( London ), 30 January 1873, p. 10 Jump up ^ The Times ( London ), 3 April 1879, p. 9 : `` Crime has a ragged regiment in its pay so far as the outward... qualities are concerned... they tattoo themselves indelibly... asserting the man 's identity with the aid of needles and gunpowder. This may be the explanation of the Mermaids, the Cupid 's arrows, the name of MARY, the tragic inscription to the memory of parents, the unintended pathos of the appeal to liberty. '' Jump up ^ Broadwell, Albert H. ( 27 January 1900 ). `` Sporting pictures on the human skin ''. Country Life. Article describing work of society tattooist Sutherland Macdonald Archived 3 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine. refers to his clientele including `` members of our Royal Family, among them H.R.H. the Duke of York, H.I.M. the Czarevitch, and Imperial and Royal members of Russian, German and Spanish courts... '' Jump up ^ The Times ( London ), 18 April 1889, p. 12 : `` A Japanese Professional Tattooer ''. Article describes the activities of an unnamed Japanese tattooist based in Hong Kong. He charged £ 4 for a dragon, which would take 5 hours to do. The article ends `` The Hong - Kong operator tattooed the arm of an English Prince, and, in Kioto, was engaged for a whole month reproducing on the trunk and limbs of an English peer a series of scenes from Japanese history. For this he was paid about £ 100. He has also tattooed ladies... His income from tattooing in Hong Kong is about £ 1,200 per annum. '' Jump up ^ Broadwell, Albert H. ( 27 January 1900 ). `` Sporting pictures on the human skin ''. Country Life. `` In especially sensitive cases a mild solution of cocaine is injected under the skin,... and no sensation whatever is felt, while the soothing solution is so mild that it has no effect... except locally. '' Jump up ^ In 1969 the House of Lords debated a bill to ban the tattooing of minors, on grounds it had become `` trendy '' with the young in recent years but was associated with crime, 40 per cent of young criminals having tattoos. Lord Teynham and the Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair however rose to object that they had been tattooed as youngsters, with no ill effects. The Times ( London ), 29 April 1969, p. 4 : `` Saving young from embarrassing tattoos ''. Jump up ^ Genis, Daniel. `` DIY Tattoos Make Irony Permanent ''. www.newsweek.com. Retrieved 3 May 2015. Jump up ^ Kirby, David ( 2012 ). Inked Well. Patterns for College Writing : A Rhetorical Reader and Guide : Bedford / St. Martins. pp. 685 -- 689. ISBN 9780312676841. Jump up ^ `` A Portrait of `` Generation Next '' ``. The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Jump up ^ Harris, Al ( 19 August 2010 ). `` Richmond, third most tattooed in U.S. '' RichmondBizSense. Retrieved 24 March 2015. Jump up ^ Roberts, D.J. ( 2012 ). `` Secret Ink : Tattoo 's Place in Contemporary American Culture ''. Journal of American Culture. 35 ( 2 ) : 153 -- 65. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1542 - 734x. 2012.00804. x. Jump up ^ `` Genealogical Fallout from the War of 1812. '' By Ruth Priest Dixon. Prologue Magazine. Spring 1992. Volume 24 ( 1 ). Jump up ^ Smith, Gene Allan. 2013. The Slave 's Gamble. MacMillan. Page 55. Jump up ^ McNeur, Catherine ( 1 October 2011 ). `` Review of The Ink of History ''. Common - Place. 12 ( 01 ) -- via Common - Place. Jump up ^ Law in American History : Volume 1 : From the Colonial Years Through the Civil War. Page 305. ^ Jump up to : `` Tattoo Lasers : Overview, Histology, Tattoo Removal Techniques ''. 13 September 2017 -- via eMedicine. Jump up ^ `` Tattooing and body piercing guidance : Toolkit ''. Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Jump up ^ Ito, Masami, `` Whether covered or brazen, tattoos make a statement '', Japan Times, 8 June 2010, p. 3 ^ Jump up to : DeMello, Margo ( 2007 ). Encyclopedia of body adornment. Westport : Greenwood Press. p. 61. ISBN 978 - 0 - 313 - 33695 - 9. Jump up ^ Dutton, Michael ( 1998 ). Streetlife China. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. pp. 163 & 180. ISBN 0 - 521 - 63141 - 6. Jump up ^ Dutton, Michael ( 1998 ). Streetlife China. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. p. 180. ISBN 0 - 521 - 63141 - 6. Jump up ^ Truhelka, Ciro. Wissenschaftliche Mittheilungen Aus Bosnien und der Hercegovina : `` Die Tätowirung bei den Katholiken Bosniens und der Hercegovina. '' Sarajevo ; Bosnian National Museum, 1896. Jump up ^ Wesley G. Jennings ; Bryanna Hahn Fox ; David P. Farrington ( 14 January 2014 ), `` Inked into Crime ? An Examination of the Causal Relationship between Tattoos and Life - Course Offending among Males from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development '', Journal of Criminal Justice, 42 ( 1, January -- February 2014 ) : 77 -- 84, doi : 10.1016 / j. jcrimjus. 2013.12. 006 Jump up ^ Joshua Adams ( 2012 ), `` The Relationship between Tattooing and Deviance in Contemporary Society '', Deviance Today, pp. 137 -- 145 Jump up ^ Bodies of Inscription : A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community. Margo DeMello. Durham, NC : Duke University Press, 2000. vii + 222 pp., photographs, notes, bibliography, index. Jump up ^ Andrew Lichtenstein, Texas Prison Tattoos, retrieved 8 December 2007 Jump up ^ Hennessey, Rachel ( 8 March 2013 ). `` Tattoos No Longer A Kiss Of Death In The Workplace - Yahoo ! Small Business Advisor ''. Smallbusiness.yahoo.com. Retrieved 15 March 2013. Jump up ^ Mifflin, Margot ( 2013 ). Bodies of Subversion : A secret history of women and tattoo ( 3rd ed. ). Powerhouse Books. p. 192. ISBN 978 - 1576876138. Jump up ^ Carroll, L. ; Anderson, R. ( 2002 ), `` Body piercing, tattooing, self - esteem, and body investment in adolescent girls '', Adolescence, 37 ( 147 ) : 627 -- 37, PMID 12458698 Jump up ^ Binkley, Christina. 2016. `` Departments of Commerce. '' Wall Street Journal Magazine. September 2016. Page 168. Jump up ^ Allen, Kevin ( 25 June 2013 ). `` ' Your ad here ? ' Marketers turn to tattoos ''. PR Daily. Ragan Communications, Inc. Retrieved 18 April 2014. Jump up ^ Hines, Alice ( 30 May 2013 ). `` The Tattoo As Corporate Branding Tool ''. Details. Condé Nast. Retrieved 18 April 2014. Jump up ^ Boynton, Donna ( 19 February 2013 ). `` B.T. 's Smokehouse logo tattoo earns patrons free meals for life ''. Telegram.com. Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp. Retrieved 18 April 2014. Jump up ^ `` HIV and Its Transmission ''. CDC. July 1999. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Jump up ^ `` Tattoos : Risks and precautions to know first ''. MayoClinic.com. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Jump up ^ `` Gode råd om tatoveringer : De her farver skal du undgå ''. 26 March 2014. Jump up ^ Danish TV programme `` Min krop til andres forfærdelse '' or `` My body to the dismay of others '' aired on DR 3 1. July 9pm CEST. A man who at a younger age had competed with his older brother to obtain the largest tattoos, experienced an infection years later originating in the red portions of the tattoos, resulting in his left leg being amputated piece by piece. Also, a woman with incipient problems at her two formerly red roses was followed as her skin was removed. Jump up ^ `` Tattoo Ink Nanoparticles Persist in Lymph Nodes ''. The Scientist. Jump up ^ Images of Tattoo removal procedure, retrieved 12 January 2011 Jump up ^ `` Temporary Tattoos, Henna / Mehndi, and `` Black Henna '' ``. FDA. Retrieved 3 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` FDA warns consumers about dangers of temporary tattoos ''. Fox News. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2015. Jump up ^ Campo, Juan E. ; Iskander, John ( 26 October 2006 ). `` The Coptic Community ''. doi : 10.1093 / oxfordhb / 9780195137989.001. 0001 / oxfordhb - 9780195137989 - e-30. External links Library resources about Tattoo Resources in your library Resources in other libraries Wikiquote has quotations related to : Tattoo Wikisource has the text of The New Student 's Reference Work article Tattooing. 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Question: where does the word tattoo come from and what does it mean
Answer: a loanword from the Samoan word tatau, meaning "to strike"