The tattoo design has certainly come a long way since the first human marked his or her body for a ritual. Many of the early markings were to distinguish between clans or tribes but have since evolved into a pop cultural phenomenon. Soccer mom’s sporting tattoos on their ankles and teenagers eagerly marking their body to show their transcendence from childhood into adulthood.

Japan’s history of tattooing goes back to 10000 B.C.E. to 300 B.C.E. It was often used for healing, and even identifying a soldier should he perish on the battlefield and be stripped of his armor also to identify rites of passage for certain tribes. Perhaps the most familiar of Japanese body art is associated with the organized crime group the Yakuza. Much like the Italian Mafia, the Yakuza have long been affiliated with less than desirable elements of society. Anything from illegal gambling to racketeering is within its grasp.

The body would be decorated with a series of lines and symbols telling a story. Anyone not aware of the subtle meaning would simple find the designs beautiful. The significance of tattooing the bride is such that as long as she is still wearing the dye, she is still honeymooning and is not expected to perform chores.

Whereas in many cultures tattooing was solely reserved for warriors, the Egyptians practiced the art tattoo for women in service to the Gods and Goddesses. This spirituality is one of the more common reasons for tattooing. They believed that by paying homage with the body, it assured the wearer a more devoted retribution from their chosen deity and a greater chance for a rewarding afterlife.

The language of the tattoo used to be a secret code known only to those in the ” know” but with research the meanings have come to light. The social hierarchy of the criminal world is understood. If a criminal tattoo’s an untruth or exaggeration the punishment inflicted by others is harsh. The tattoo is either cut off or sandpapered off.

A note of caution concerning henna is the use of a product labeled as “black henna” or an indigo. Natural henna does not come in dark shades. The dark colors are actually made by combining henna with a chemical. There can be very harsh side effects such as skin blistering. As with any product, even a natural one such as henna, there can be allergic reactions.

A great suggestion when looking for a good place to get your tattoos and piercing’s is to do a online search to check if there have been any lawsuits filed against the artist. When shop owners start getting careless customers are at risk and lawsuits begin. There was a lawsuit brought against a shop owner recently where the customer was infected with a flesh eating bacterium by the use of unsanitary equipment.

A respectable tattoo shop is a business and the owner would like to keep it going. The best way to do that is by providing a safe healthy environment for their customers and providing excellent service to gain new customers. Word of mouth after all is the best advertising a business can get, but bad word of mouth can seriously hurt any tattoo design shops.