A world divided, thousands of controversies, and hundreds of stigmas - tattoos. According to historians in the 1890's, tattooing goes back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt. In the early 1900's, tattooed women were commonly found in Freak Shows as some bizarre sight. Roughly around the 1960's, tattoos became associated with bikers and other delinquents.
Thanks to our marvelous ancestors who paved the way for the tattoo industry, most traditional parents and grandparents are saddened by their children dabbling in ink. Many also feared the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis and HIV through reused needles and other unsanitary environments.
Due to many laws put in place over the years, tattoo parlors (or shops, whatever your lingo) were given strict rules to ensure a sterile and safe experience for all parties involved. If these laws are not followed, tattoo artists face serious fines and losing their license.
And the artists are just that - artists. These people come in all shapes and sizes, with all different backgrounds. This has caused the available styles you can get etched into your body to increase exponentially.
Many still hear the word "tattoo" and automatically think of the stereotypical, traditional tattoo. Go ahead, close your eyes and picture it right now. Does it look like any of these?
If the answer is yes, you have proven the fact that tattoos still come with a lot of stigma. However, though this classic style is still a hit and people still get them - including me - there is an endless variety of styles possible to choose from.
I decided to go through a blog where artists and patrons of parlors can proudly post their ink. To show all the skeptics that tattoos really are a work of art, I collected 25 of the many beautiful pieces I saw.
1. Maybe you want something to show off a culture you fell in love with
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3. Maybe you want a realistic portrait
4. Or maybe you wanted to put art in your art
5. Maybe you want to relive your childhood
6. Or show off your appreciation for Marvel comics
7. Hey, maybe you are a Harley Quinn type of person
8. Let's not forget about the Joker
9. Want something that stands out?
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11. Maybe you like animals
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14. Maybe you want a landscape
15. Maybe you wanted to combine the two
16. Don't forget about flowers
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19. Even if it has a galactic flare
20. Did someone say space?
21. Get something simple
22. Or something intricate
23. Give abstract a shot
24. Get whatever your preferred style is
25.
So if this article convinced you to get some ink, just remember:
It's your body.
