With an huge increase in popularity in the last few decades, tattoo art is fast becoming a mainstream choice of self-expression. What used to be the domain of tribal art and a rite of passage for sailors and pirates alike, tattoos have lost much of their stigma. Between the advent of popular television shows such as Miami Ink and the prevalence of tattoos with many of our major sports stars like David Beckham, tattoos have now become the norm rather than the exception.

A tattoo is a mark made on the skin by inserting indelible ink in between layers of skin to change the pigmentation for several reasons. On humans, tattoos are used primarily for decorative body modification while on animals they are generally used for branding or identification. Tattooing is a worldwide practice that has been around for thousands of years. One of the first known examples of tattooing was found when Otzi the Iceman was discovered in the Alps with around 57 carbon tattoos on his body, dating back to 5000-4000 BC. The origins of tattooing in the Western World are found in Polynesia when the ancient practice of tatau was discovered by explorers in the 18th century and popularized by European sailors.

Tattoos can be used for a multitude of decorative reasons. They can be a mark of status, rank or fertility, pledges of love, symbols of spiritual devotion, punishment, sexual lures and the marks of criminals and outcasts. In the modern world many people choose to be tattooed for religious, memorial or cosmetic reasons. Tattoos can also be forced on someone for the purpose of identification. During the Holocaust, the Nazis famously used tattoos as an identification system for inmates in concentration camps. For many years, seafarers tattooed themselves of their own volition to help identify themselves in case of drowning. This tradition of tattooing oneself continues in the British Royal Navy. On animals, tattoos are used to connect the owner to the animal, most often found in livestock, pets, thoroughbred horses and show animals. Increasingly popular is the use of tattoos for cosmetic purposes, including lip stick and liner, eyeliner and to enhance eyebrows.

The quality of tattoos has increased dramatically over the past decades due to advancements in pigments and equipment as well as the onslaught of new artists in the industry that have art design or technical training. As the quality increased, so did formal interest in them as an art form. From the 1990's and into the 21st Century, tattoos have been featured in contemporary and visual art exhibitions. The new role of tattoos in pop culture has become evident with the introduction of such reality shows as Miami Ink and LA Ink on TLC and A&E's Inked.

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in June 2006 found that 36% of 18-29 year olds, 24% of 30-40 year olds and 15% of 41-51 year olds have a tattoo. Despite the newfound popularity of tattoos, they still have negative associations for some people. Many gangs and organized crime syndicates use tattoos as a way to indicate their affiliation and criminal behaviour. Tattoos are forbidden in the religions of Islam and Judaism, while there are no consistent Christian views on the practice.

The procedure of tattooing is when pigment is placed into the skin's dermis. After the injection, the pigment in dispersed through the upper dermis and epidermis. The body's immune system creates phagocytes that engulf the particles of the pigment, which enables the pigment to remain even after the damaged skin has flaked away. As the tattoo ages the details of the tattoo can fade as the pigment migrates deeper into the skin.

Traditionally, some tribal cultures cut designs in the skin and then rubbed the wound with ink or other agents, while others hand tapped the ink into the skin with sharpened sticks or bones. In modern times, the most popular method of tattooing is the electric tattoo machine. The needle on the machine penetrates the skin between 80-150 times a second, driving ink in between the layers of the skin. This method is sanitary if all procedures and precautions are followed correctly. Needles are single-use only and both the tattoos artists hands and the area about to be tattooed must be washed properly. While performing the tattoo, the artist must be wearing gloves. Choosing a reputable and hygienic tattoo artist is very important, as herpes, hepatitis, tetanus and AIDS can be transmitted by the use of contaminated and unsterilized equipment.

Tattoo pricing varies widely depending on the skill of the artist, the tattoo itself and the location where the tattoo is given. Modern tattoos benefit from the huge number of shades and colours available to tattoo artists, while early inks were derived from nature and were very limited.

When choosing a tattoo, the choices are limitless. Most tattoo parlours have books available with ideas and pictures of tattoos that have been done by artists that work there. There are several things to factor in when making your decision, one of them is the pain factor. If you have a low pain threshold and want to get a whole sleeve done, you have to consider that nothing looks worse than an unfinished tattoo. On men the most painful areas are their abdomen, spine and chest while the least painful are their buttocks, back and arms. For women, the ankle, ribcage and spine are what hurts the most and the abdomen, thigh, shoulder and buttocks will give the least amount of pain. It is also important to consider style, size, placement, colour and meaning. Certain areas will affect your professionalism and it is very important to remember that your tattoo is a reflection of you. Some clients choose to bring in a picture or drawing of an idea and have the artist work from that. After approving a stencil, typically the tattooing will start after the client gives final approval on the placement of that stencil.
Aftercare for a tattoo varies but generally includes cleaning the area with a fragrance free soap and then conditioning the damaged skin with an ointment that will help protect against infection and heal the skin.

Tattoos are generally considered permanent, but sometimes can be removed with lasers. The pain and the expense of removal far outweigh getting a tattoo, which is why it is recommended to carefully consider any tattoos before getting them.

If you can't commit fully to a permanent tattoo, temporary tattoos are also available and can last anywhere from several days to a few weeks, although they are primarily popular with children. Henna tattoos are another temporary option, where a henna paste is applied to the skin which is then dyed and can last up to several weeks. Henna has been used on young women as a part of social and religious holidays in the Mediterranean since the Bronze Age and is also used to in weddings to decorate the brides hands and feet in Pakistan and India.