I thought it might be fun to rummage around the history books and take a look at some of the intrepid women who were instrumental in introducing and legitimizing the art of tattoos to the American and European public. Up until the 1960s, most of these women found circus sideshows, carnivals and dime museums as a way not only to display their body art but also earn a paycheck while doing so.

Although this list is not totally comprehensive…I have chosen to include those women I feel contributed the most and are the most famous.

Nora Hildebrandt

Nora Hildebrandt (often misspelled as “Hilderbrandt”) was the first tattooed lady to make the scene in the United States. She made her debut at Bunnell’s Museum in New York City in 1882.

Nora was tattooed by her father Martin Hildebrandt and told a tale onstage similar to those used by tattooed men like Constantine. Nora claimed that her father tattooed her while they were held captive by Sitting Bull, at the chief’s command. Within weeks of her debut, another tattooed lady by the name of Irene Woodward stole the limelight. Woodward quickly overshadowed Hildebrandt.

La Belle Irene

Irene Woodward used the stage name “La Belle Irene” and was often refereed to as “The Original Tattooed Lady”…though there is some doubt to her claim of being the actual first female tattoo attraction. But as early as 1882 the The New York Clipper, also known as The Clipper, a weekly entertainment newspaper published in New York City from 1853 to 1924 mentioned her working with G.B. Biennell. (a dime museum operator).

Some of the tattooed side show attractions of that era concocted elaborate tales as to why they got inked. In her onstage presentation she used a variation of Nora Hildebrandt’s story, claiming to have been tattooed as protection against the Indian “savages” in Texas.

It is rumored La Belle Irene’s tattoo work was done by Samuel O’Reilly and Charlie Wagner of New York City.

Emma de Burgh

Emma and Frank de Burgh were one of the most popular turn of the century husband and wife attractions. Tattooed by Samuel O’Reilly during the late 1800s in New York City, the de Burghs were among the many American attractions to work with much acclaim in Europe. First appearing in Berlin, Germany circa 1891, they took the side show world by storm. They were inked primarily with religious designs, the Last Supper and The Calvary were among fan favorites.

Lady Viola

Lady Viola was another circus sideshow attraction. The Bowery/Coney Island/Brooklyn tattoo artist Frank Graf inked her in the 1920s.

During an interview in 1989, Bob Shaw recalls the first time he saw Lady Viola in St. Louis, MO. (Bob Shaw tattooed for over 50 years before leaving for a better place. Bob helped pass & set the standards on Tattooing & the Technique on sterilization back in the 60’s. Bob was also the President of the Worlds Largest Tattoo Association - National Tattoo Association when he passed away on Mar. 17, 1993)

“The fellow who did Lady Viola’s work was way ahead of his time. If you ever can get one of those photos and blow it up, you’ll see all those little flower designs have heads in ‘em, that’s the popular people of the time, like Charlie Chaplin and Tom Mix. He was the first person I saw really do portraits; he did presidents Wilson, Washington and Lincoln across her chest. You looked at them and immediately knew who it was.”

Lady Viola did have a very special suit of tattoos, often being billed as “The Most Beautiful Tattooed Woman in the World.” Along with popular tattoo figures of the time, she had the United States Capitol on her back and the Statue of Liberty and Rock of Ages on her legs. During the outdoor season she worked with the likes of the Ringling Bros. Circus (1932) and the winter months found her in dime museums like Gorman’s in Philadelphia (1930s). Lady Viola spent decades in the show business world and was still working with the Thomas Joyland Show at the age of 73!

Although Lady Viola made her name as a tattoo attraction, she like many other female attractions (including Betty Broadbent) also did some tattooing.

Artoria Gibbons

Artoria was a tattoo attraction that worked for 35 years in circus and carnival sideshows, including the Ringling, Barnum & Bailey Brothers Circus (from 1921 to 1923), the Hagenbeck-Wallace in 1924 and others. Artoria was the stage name for Mrs. C. W. (Red) Gibbons.

Artoria was born on a farm in upper Wisconsin. Her parents were poor and by the age of 14 she decided to leave home. While hanging around a local carnival sideshow she met Red Gibbons. Red told her that he was a tattoo artist and if Artoria agreed to let him tattoo her, she could join the show and see the world. And that’s exactly what she did. She and Red married a short time later.

In the 1950s Artoria came out of retirement and worked with the Dell-Travers ten-in-one show:

Artoria’s tattoos were magnificent: reproductions of paintings by the masters like Raphael and Michelangelo plus a few patriotic designs, but main inspiration are Italian masterpieces. “My husband done everyone of them,” she said proudly. “They’re all masterpieces. He was crazy ’bout eye-talian painters.”

May Vandermark

May Vandermark was born in Pennsylvania and came to New York City in 1924 to work as a stenographer. Tattoo legend tells us that one day while swimming at Coney Island, she saw a butterfly tattoo on someone’s shoulder and just had to have one.

May found a boardwalk tattooist and got a butterfly tattooed on each shoulder. As fate would have it, May met Victoria James who was also known as Miss Pictoria. Miss Pictoria convinced May to become a professional tattooed lady and off they went to see Charlie Wagner. Wagner tattooed May and she started playing Coney Island shows. She took the stage name Miss Artorio and eventually graduated to working with the Ringling show in the late 1920s.

Betty Broadbent

Betty Broadbent was famous for her long career with Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus. Born in 1909, she began her tattoo career around 1927. Betty’s tattooed body suit was done by New York tattooist Charlie Wagner, one of the few tattooers at the time working with one of the “newfangled” electric tattoo machines. Her body was covered almost to entire solidity with approximately 350 tattoos. She was exhibited for many months as part of an attraction at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, appearing as part of the “John Hix Strange As It Seems” sideshow. Along with her circus career, Broadbent also became a tattoo artist herself and supplemented studio work with performing. Betty retired to Florida in 1967, and passed away in 1983.

Elizabeth Weinzirl

Elizabeth was known in the tattoo world as “The Tattooed Grandma” or “The World’s Number One Tattoo Fan”. Elizabeth was first tattooed in the 1940s by the world famous Bert Grimm. Through the years Elizabeth had corresponded with tattoo artists and fans around the world.

Cindy Ray

Cindy Ray was a famous tattooed girl in the 1960s. Born Bev Robinson, the Cindy Ray persona was her image attached to a marketing campaign by a photographer named Harry Bartram. He offered to get Ray tattooed and market a whole line of books, tattoo products and more. She was a young single mother, working in a factory in 1959 Sydney, Australia, and was looking for some way of earning extra money. She did become a tattoo celebrity and traveled the world, but the bulk of the benefit and profit from her images and products went to Bartram and not her. She eventually became a tattoo artist herself and settled down to run a shop in her native Australia.

Krystyne Kolorful

Canadian exotic dancer Krystyne Kolorful made a name for herself in both the exotic dance world and the tattoo world with her full body suit tattoos. She spent ten years and an estimated $15,000 getting her entire body covered in an elaborate pattern of floral based designs. Currently she is tied with American Julia Gnuse for the Guinness title of Most Tattooed Woman. Both women are calculated to have 95% of their body surfaces covered in tattooing.

Julia Gnuse

Commonly known by the nickname The Illustrated Lady, Julia holds the Guinness Record for being the most tattooed woman in the world, having coverage of 95% of her body (including her face). Gnuse was born with porphyria, a condition in which sunlight results in blistering of the skin. As the blisters often result in scarring, she began getting tattoos as a way to cover up the scars…however, the tattoos do not prevent the skin from blistering as they are purely aesthetic.

She currently resides in Foothill Ranch, California.

Steve

In 1936 Life magazine estimated that 10 million Americans, or around 6% of the population had at least one tattoo. A Harris Poll, taken in 2003, shows close to three times those numbers and estimates that 16% of Americans now have one or more tattoos. Here’s a closer look at the Harris Poll numbers:

36% of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo, according to a fall 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center.

The National Geographic News stated in April 2000 that 15% of Americans were tattooed (or approximately 40 million people)

Esquire Magazine estimated in March 2002 that 1 in 8 Americans was tattooed.

According to the American Society of Dermatological Surgery in 2005, only 6% of patients treated with laser and light therapy were getting a tattoo removed .

Harris Poll, 2003, estimates that fully 36% of those aged 25-29 have one or more tattoos.

A 2006 a study done by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed; that’s almost one in four. And the survey showed that about 36% of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo.

There are an estimated 20,000+ parlors operating in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report, which said on the average, a new parlor is being added in the country every day. The article ranked tattooing as the sixth fastest growing retail venture of the 1990s, right behind Internet, paging services, bagels , computer and cellular phone service

Search Engine Lycos, ranks the Top 50 search terms every week. “Tattoos” was the third most popular search term in 2002, the fourth most popular search term in 2001, seventh most popular search term for the year 2000, and the eleventh most popular search term in 1999. “Tattoo and tattoos” is one of only seven search terms to never fall out of the Top 50 Search terms in the 199 weeks since Lycos has been keeping records.

In July of 2002 “tattoos” reached its highest ranking ever, coming in as the number two most requested search term on the internet. “Tattoos” was requested more often than Britney Spears, marijuana or Kazaa.

Lycos dropped the term “tattoos” from it’s Poll because of its popularity. According to Lycos, tattoos rarely drops out of the top ten search terms requested on the Internet and Lycos dropped the term because they wanted to make room for other searches.

Search Engine Ask.com reveals that tattoos have been stealing the scene as the #1 searched beauty term since 2003.

Virtually every language is searched for in tattoo designs: from Aztec
sayings to Russian phrases, but Japanese and Chinese characters/symbols
are among the most frequently searched.

Backs rank the highest in searches (lower, upper and all over). But, not far behind: necks, arms, wrists
and ankles. “More sensitive areas” also rank high.

Among Americans with tattoos, 34% said having a tattoo has made them feel sexier. Interestingly, more tattooed females (42%) feel this way than males (25%).

The highest incidence of tattoos are found among the gay , lesbian and bisexual population (31%) and among Americans ages 25 to 29 years (36%) and 30 to 39 years (28%). Regionally, people living in the West (20%) are more likely to have tattoos.

Democrats are more likely to have tattoos (18%) than Republicans (14%) and Independents (12%) while nearly equal percentages of males (16%) and females (15%) have tattoos.

Additionally, those with tattoos said that having a tattoo has made them feel more rebellious (29%) while others said a tattoo makes them feel more attractive (26%). But tattoos apparently won’t do much for your intelligence or your physique, as few Americans reported that tattoos make them feel more intelligent (5%), more healthy (4%), or more athletic (3%).

Many Americans who do not have tattoos said they think that people with tattoos are less attractive (42%), less sexy (36%) and less intelligent (31%). They also think that those with tattoos are more rebellious (57%). In contrast, only 29% of those with tattoos think they are more rebellious.

The majority of Americans with tattoos (83%) do not regret getting them, while 17% do feel regret. The survey found that regret for getting a tattoo was highest among tattooed Republicans (24%) and among those living in the South (21%). And, the reason cited most often for feeling regret about getting tattoos was “because of the person’s name in the tattoo” (16%).

This survey was conducted online between July 14 and 20, 2003 by Harris Interactive(R) among a nationwide sample of 2,215 adults.

#1.  Is your design compatible with your values and faith?
#2.  Do you have an image or sketch of your idea to bring to the your artist?
#3.  Will your design fit in the space on your body where you want it? Will detail be lost making it fit?
#4.  Are you sure you want this design inked on your body forever? Will you still think it’s cool when
you’re growing older? And…how will your aging affect its appearance?
#5.  Should placement be a concern? Are you prepared for potential future job/career consequences should your tattoo be uncoverable?

Next you’ll want to concentrate on the tattoo artist. You should try to focus on the following points:

#1.  Have you had a recommendation from a satisfied client and seen their ink?
#2.  Have you checked out at your artists portfolio for the quality of their work?
#3.  Have you consulted your artist about your ideas? Are they open to suggestions?
#4   Do you feel comfortable with your artist? Does he/she seem trustworthy?
#5   Ask the artist how long they have been with the studio, how long they have been tattooing and who they trained with. Always remember…anyone can open up a tattoo studio regardless of talent with some ink, a tattoo machine and a little money.

I’d like to state at this point that none of these topics we’re covering here is more important than the other… each is equally essential for your safety and ultimate satisfaction in getting inked. So there is no importance placed on the order in which the topics appear.

Health and safety is an area where there are many questions you’ll want answered. Don’t be afraid to be direct with your artist or studio owner when it comes to health and safety. Here are some suggestions:

Safety

#1.  Ask to see the studios autoclave and sterilization certification.
#2.  It is imperative the artist use new needles. Did you actually see the needles removed from a sterile bag? If the equipment is already opened and laid out, new equipment should be requested.
#3.  Is your artist wearing gloves? And additionally, are the gloves being changed regularly?

Health

#1.  Are you diabetic? If yes, you MUST consult your physician before proceeding. If you’ve gotten the green light from your doctor be absolutely SURE you inform your artist about your diabetes.
#2.  Do you have eczema? If you do, avoid getting tattooed in the affected area.
#3.  Do you have psoriasis? People with psoriasis should think long and hard before getting tattooed. Any injury to the skin may (and I stress “may”) result in something called the Koebner effect. The Koebner effect basically means that an injury to a previously healthy patch of skin (say from a cat scratch or a shaving cut or a tattoo) can result in a new patch of psoriasis.
#4.  Is there acne in the area you want to be tattooed? Wait for the area to heal before proceeding
#5.  Is there a mole in the area where you want the tattoo? Don’t do it. Find another spot. It will bleed. Profusely!
#6.  Are you HIV positive? If you are, it’s a must you consult your physician before you get tattooed.
#7.  Do you have Hepatitis C? If yes, ask your doctor if it’s okay before getting inked.
#8.  Be sure to be totally up front with your artist about any of the conditions mentioned above. Although tattoo regulation varies by state, most states require licensing and facility inspection from a Department of Health Services as well as a blood borne pathogen training program requirement for tattoo artists.

Surveying the studio itself can give you a pretty good idea of whether to have your work done there or to bolt as quickly as possible to scout out another shop.  Here’s what you should look for:

#1.  Check the tattoo shop for general cleanliness as well as easily cleanable surfaces inside.
#2.  There should be no animals in the establishment.
#3.  Food or drink of any kind should not be evident.
#4.  The artists station should be a sterile environment and should present itself as professional and as clean as a medical facility.

If you use these suggestions to form your own checklist, the chances are very good that you will be the proud, healthy owner of a beautiful new tattoo. Before you walk out the studio door, be sure to thank your artist, and please don’t forget to tip them. Show how much you appreciate their work and dedication. Refer your friends to them. When you go back for your next tattoo, you will have established a good relationship with your artist, and you can be assured they will be there to help you if you ever have any problems or questions in the future.

Oh yeah…by the way…one last thing…have you got the cash? Keep in mind…most good artists will charge around $100 to $150 per hour. Depending on the amount of detail in your design, even a medium sized tattoo may take several hours to complete. So be sure you can afford it…you certainly don’t want to end up with a half  finished tattoo you’re gonna want to hide!

The reason for mentioning Volta is that all early tattoo machines were battery operated. The basic principle of electromagnetism wasn’t discovered until 1819 by the Danish inventor Hans Christian Ørsted. This electromagnetic system has been used in all tattoo machine patents and in most practical applications of tattoo machines ever since.

In 1876 Thomas Alva Edison received a patent on a device designed for making painting and embroidery patterns. This patent was for a rotary type electromagnetic machine that was battery powered. The machine was designed so that the stencil pen would punch holes in paper which had been placed on the surface to be painted. Colored powder would then be dusted over the pattern, and a simple outline would be transferred to the surface. Edison was obviously not satisfied with his early stencil pen design, because in 1877 he developed a new idea and received a new patent on this device. This machine was quite different from the original rotary machine. The 1877 patent was for a two electromagnetic coil device with the coils set transversely to the tube assembly. A flexible reed vibrated over these coils and created the reciprocating motion needed to make the stencil. This method of transfer is still in use today within the sign-painting industry. Fifteen years later, with only slight modifications of Edison’s design, the modern tattoo machine began to evolve.

Samuel O’Reilly, an Irish immigrant, was already a well established tattooist in New York City, having arrived there sometime around 1875. In 1891 he filed for a tattoo machine patent. His was the first fully dedicated tattoo machine. The O’Reilly modifications included a redesigned tube assembly and an ink reservoir.

In 1904, Charlie Wagner of New York City, received a patent for his tattoo machine. Some believe that Samuel O’Reilly was a major influence on the development of this machine. However, by examining the original patent drawing, it can be seen that both Wagner and O’Reilly relied heavily on the Edison design. Wagner did a good job of altering the 1877 Edison patent for tattooing applications. Some of the alterations included a much improved tube assembly with ink chamber, an on and off switch, stroke adjustment, and a pin vice type needle bar.

In 1929 Percy Waters of Detroit received a patent on the design that most people envision of when they think of a tattooing machine. Waters’ machine was the standard two coil electromagnetic style, but the major difference was that the coils were set in line with the frame. Other modifications included a fingertip on/off switch, spark shield, and a needle set up for cutting plastic stencils. During the many years in his tattoo supply business, Waters manufactured and sold many different machine types and styles.

It would be fifty years until the next tattoo machine patent was applied for. In 1979, Carol (Smokey) Nightingale of Washington D.C.. Known as "The Man with the Golden Needle," Nightingale was a chain pipe smoker, hence the nickname Smokey. Nightingale built quite an elaborate machine. A few of his alterations included fully adjustable coils, back spring mount and contact screw. He designed leaf springs of different lengths for different types of work, and an angled armature bar that did away with the bend in the front spring.

The tattoo machine has gone through many changes in the century since Edison started tinkering with the stencil pen. No matter what modifications have been made, the ideal machine for every artist will probably never be built. Tattoo artists will alter the standard machines to fit their individual needs and applications. Tattoo machines are a very personalized tool and no two are exactly alike.

Across the U.S. and Europe many inventors still try and tweak tattoo machine design. Each time an improvement is made to the design, the tattoo machine evolves into a superior tool. Often the design changes are not an improvement, and the applications of these modifications are short lived. As with any new development, there is a process of trial and error.

I thought it might be fun to take a look at the origins of the tattoo. The art of tattooing has quite a storied history loaded with both fact and myth. Let’s examine a few of the facts.

Egyptian

Surviving written records, mummies, and works of art relevant to Egyptian tattoos have more or less been ignored by earlier Egyptologists influenced by prevailing social attitudes toward the medium. Today however, we know that there have been bodies discovered dating to as early as the XI Dynasty exhibiting tattoos. One of the more famous mummies is that of Amunet, a priestess of the goddess Hathor, at Thebes. This female mummy displayed several lines and dots tattooed on her body

Another mummy from approximately the same era was found showing this same type of line pattern. This mummy (a dancer) also had a cicatrix pattern over her lower pelvic region. The various design patterns also appeared on several figurines that date to the  Middle Kingdom, these figurines have been  labeled the "Brides of Death." These figurines are also associated with the goddess Hathor.

Another mummy found dating back to about 2000 B.C. also had tattoos on her body closely resembling the markings of Amunet and the dancer. Such tattoos created by grouping dots and/or dashes into abstract geometric patterns  demonstrate the long duration of tattoo in ancient Nubia, as recent excavations at the Nubian site of Aksha demonstrate. Archeologists at Aksha uncovered several mummies of both young and mature women with black-blue tattoos in exactly the same patterns as those found on the three Egyptian mummies from the Middle Kingdom.

These dot-and-dash patterns have been seen for many years throughout all of Egypt. It is believed that this pattern of tattoo was borrowed from the Nubians and the art of tattooing developed during the Middle Kingdom and flourished well beyond.  The evidence suggests that body art was restricted to females, and generally these women were associated with ritualistic conduct. These mummies give us insight into how long this art form has been practiced and how the art was displayed.

Central Asian

Caucasian mummies in the deserts of western China were first discovered by western archaeologists in the early 20th century. They were considered exceptions…perhaps just ancient travelers or immigrants. Over the past three decades, Chinese archeologists have unearthed several hundred more of these mummies as well as the skeletal remains of thousands of individuals in and around the Tarim basin of Central Asia. The Tarim is in the enormous Taklamakan desert in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang, formerly known as Eastern Turkestan.

Today, the ancient Chinese texts which mention mythical statuesque people with hair of red and eyes of green are being re-examined. Until recently, it had been assumed they are just imaginary tales, but in fact, they tell of the very real Tocharian-branch Indo-European people, relatives of the Celts and Scythians, who possibly controlled the Silk Road during Middle and Egyptian New Kingdom times right through to the classical Greek era. They certainly would have been involved in the passing of technology and culture between East and West in very early times.

The time span of the Central Asian Caucasoids is from 2500 BC to 400 B.C. There is a connection between the Taklamakan people and the Crimean Scyths, the Celts and the Picts. They likely influenced the "indigenous" tattooing of the tribal peoples of India, and possibly are predecessor to the Jomon culture of Japan (ancestors of the tattooed Ainu). There is evidence that some of the tattooing tribes of northern Asia migrated eastward to become tribes in the Americas as well.

In 1986 it was reported in news sources that some of these mummies bore tattoos forming geometric patterns. To date, images of these tattoos have not been published in any accessible form. The present Chinese government does not allow publication or dissemination of information about the Caucasian attributes of these people. In addition, tattooing has been illegal in China since the time of Emperor Qin ['Chin'], about 200 BC.

Polynesian

Polynesian tattooing, was the most intricate and skillful tattooing in the ancient world. It had evolved over thousands of years throughout the islands of the Pacific and, in its most highly developed forms, was characterized by elaborate geometrical designs which were often added to, reworked and added to throughout the life of the individual until they covered the entire body.

It wasn’t until the late 19th century that western anthropologists made an effort to inquire into the significance of tattooing within the context of traditional Polynesian life. A few papers on Polynesian tattooing appeared in anthropologic journals around the turn of the 20th century, and around the same time several anthropologists wrote books that included descriptions of Polynesian tattooing. The vast majority of the designs, however, together with the wealth of associated traditions, myths, and religious observances have been lost forever…mostly due to the lack of written language by the ancient Polynesians.

Figurines decorated with designs have been found together with tattooing instruments at many South Pacific archaeological sites. The instruments, some of which are over 3,000 years old, consist of flat, chisel-shaped pieces of bone, about two to four centimeters long and filed sharp at one end to form a comb-like series of pointed teeth. This was then attached to the end of a long wooden handle. The artist dipped the "needles" in a black pigment made of carbon black (soot) and water. He would then applied the tattoo by striking the instrument with a small wooden mallet. This technique, which is not found in any other part of the world, was common throughout the Pacific and is still used today by traditional tattoo artists in parts of Polynesia

Bronze Age

In 1991, a five thousand year old tattooed man ‘ötzi the ice man’, made the headlines of newspapers all over the globe when his frozen body was discovered on a mountain between Austria and Italy. He is the best preserved body of that period ever found. He has a total of 57 tattoos: a cross on the inside of the left knee, six 15 centimeters long straight lines above the kidneys and several parallel lines on the ankles. The position of the tattoos suggests that they were probably applied for therapeutic reasons, most likely for the treatment of arthritis.

Pazyryk Culture

In 1948, 120 miles north of the border between Russia and China, Russian archeologist Sergei Rudenko began excavating a group of tombs, or Kurgans, in the Altai Mountains of western and southern Siberia. He discovered mummies were found that date from approximately 2400 years ago. The tattoos on their bodies depicted a variety of animals. The griffins and monsters are thought to have a mystical significance but some of the designs are believed to be purely ornamental. It is also thought the tattoos reflect the status of the individual.

In ancient times, people got tattoos either for identification, therapeutic reasons and/or beautification. As the years past, tattoos were considered taboo within most western cultures. Most believed that tattoos were signs of criminality or low class. Once the arena of sailors, bikers and convicts, tattooing is now heading full speed into the mainstream of modern society, bringing new profits to tattoo studios and artists in addition to attracting the attention of some prominent art museums.

In ancient times, people got tattoos either for identification or beautification. For instance, certain Native American tribes got tattoos to depict their status, tribe, and sometimes their mate. As the years went by tattoos were still considered taboo within many western cultures. Most believed that tattoos were signs of criminality or low class. Once the arena of sailors, bikers and convicts, tattooing is now heading full speed into the mainstream of modern society, bringing new profits to tattoo studios and even attracting the attention of some prominent art museums.

In 2009 things are improving for the tattoo artist. They have access to much better equipment, improved inks, and lots more clients. Before getting a tattoo you should have a checklist made up. Studio cleanliness should be tops on this list. In fact, the shop should be as clean as a medical facility. Some doctors voice concerns how some tattoo artists do not sterilize their equipment properly…which could lead to viral or bacterial infections, including hepatitis. Also, make sure you check out the artists portfolio for the quality of work on past tattoos. Many customers are unaware of just how expensive, difficult and painful it is to have a tattoo removed.

In the past five years there has been a compelling rise in tattooing. And now it’s for just about anybody. Doctors, lawyers and professional people as well as blue-collar workers get tattooed. The “art” world is also starting to pay attention to what was once a back-alley art form. The Drawing Center of SoHo, in Manhattan, held a comprehensive exhibition devoted to tattooing 18 months ago and a tattoo museum recently opened in Amsterdam. We are seeing more and more of the tattoo art form touted in the mainstream. Most of the people I know have at least one tattoo and every tattoo has a special meaning to its owner.

I truly believe that the most important thing you can do before you get a tattoo is to have your checklist ready and scope out all the tattoo studios in your area. If you find something you don’t like about a shop…approach the artist with your concerns or just leave and find another shop. Remember…your choice of tattoo design will more or less be with you a lifetime. Be sure you’ve chosen the right one. Arming yourself with knowledge is the first step in having a tattoo you’ll be proud of for the rest of your life.

Body piercing has held a revered place in many different cultures for many thousands of years. As part of religious ritual, body piercing has been around almost as long as mankind. Piercing has historically been a symbol of social/political power and physical prowess in several societies. For example…septum and nipple piercings symbolized strength among Roman gladiators and tribal societies at war, to the exclusive use of navel rings on the holy statues of the Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. These are only a few of many examples of the long-standing nature of body piercing and it’s permanent place in human civilization.

I thought it might be interesting to have a look at several of the more common piercings and delve into their history a bit. So…here we go.  The logical place to start is with the most common type of piercing…the ears.

The most visible body piercing throughout history is the pierced ear lobe. This piercing is found in almost every culture on earth. The oldest mummy ever found, dating back five thousand years, had its ear pierced and there is evidence that over two thousand years ago the people on the Island of Cyprus had ear piercings. The Bible also talks about it in Genesis, 22:42, where Abraham gives the gift of an earring to Rebecca as part of a wedding dowry for her marriage to his son Issac. This ritual is still followed today among some African and Middle Eastern cultures where an earring is given to the bride as a symbol of marriage and to ensure her financial security in the event of divorce. The earrings size can also indicate the affluence of the wearer and is an important symbol of social status. Tribes in South America and parts of Africa pierce their ears and stretch the holes; the larger the hole, the greater the person’s importance in the tribe. This practice has gone on for countless generations.

Earrings were also popular with pirates and most other seafarers in the past. The single ring hoop type earring was believed to aid the sailor with his vision at sea and had a secondary use of paying for a decent burial should the body of a sailor wash up on shore after an accident or storm. The unfortunate person who found the body was expected to take the earring, sell it, and pay for the burial with the proceeds.

Nipples:

Roman centurions wore nipple rings as a sign of virility and courage and as a dress accessory for holding their short capes.
In the mid 14th century, Queen Isabella of Bavaria introduced a revolutionary new style of dress that had an open neckline clear down to the navel. This fashion naturally led to the application of rouge to openly displayed nipples… then to positioning diamond studded rings with caps on them, then to piercing them and passing gold chains through them adorned with diamonds.

Navel:

The earliest records of navel piercing date to the ancient civilisations of Egypt. It was only the Pharohs and their royal relatives who were permitted to have their navels pierced. Any unfortunate soul who broke this law was promptly executed. Although, if a peasant girl was born with the high priests considered "The Perfect Belly Button" she was on occasion permitted to have it pierced, instantly elevating her social standing.

Nose/Nostril:

Nostril piercing first originated in the Middle-East some 4000 years ago. A passage from Genesis in the Bible’s Old Testament says, "…The man took out a gold nose ring….".  From there it migrated to India around the 16th century, where it was quickly embraced by the noble castes. The kind of jewellery worn could distinguish the wearer by caste and social standing. Nose piercing was made popular in the west by the Hippy movement that travelled to India in the ’60’s and ’70’s. It was then adopted by the Punk and other youth cultures of the ’80’s and ’90’s.

Tongue:

Tongue piercing was practiced by Aztec and Mayan priests and shamans, in the belief that it would help them better communicate with their gods. It has always been practiced by the Haida, Kwakiutul, and Tlinglit tribes of the American Northwest. The tongue is pierced to let blood, appeasing the gods and creating an altered state of consciousness in which the priest or shaman can communicate with the gods. In addition, it was and is common among Australian Aborigines.

Lip piercing:

Ancient Aztec and Mayan adult males underwent labret piercing and wore elaborate gold labrets to differentiate themselves as members of high social standing. Among certain African tribes, lip piercing had religious significance, while others saw labrets as simply body adornment.  Some African tribes used labret piercing as part of the rite of betrothal. Today, lower labret piercing is still found among tribes in Amazon, West Africa, India and North American Indian. Upper labret piercings are unique to tribes in the African nation of Chad.

Foreskin:

Foreskin piercing evolved from a practice originated in ancient Greece during the Olympic Games of 776 B.C.. Atheletes competed naked, so to prevent their genitals from flopping around and lower the risk of chafing and tearing they fastened a ribbon around the foreskin and tied the ends securely at the base of the penis. They called this device a Kynodesme Fastening Band. The practice evolved into a more permanent form in Rome between 200 and 400 A.D.. The Romans pierced the foreskin of atheletes and slaves with a metal rings that were welded shut. The Romans called this apparatus a Fibula. Its primary function was to prevent erections…not so much for protection but to ensure the athelete didn’t break the training regimen and so the slaves could not breed.

Prince Albert:

Prior to being associated with royalty, Victorian haberdashers refered to the Prince Albert as a Dressing Ring. The practice supposedly originated with Beau Brummel, "a gay effete bachelor" who used the device to secure his over-sized member against his thigh to reduce the appearance of his "manly endowments". In 1842, at the age of twenty-five, Prince Albert had a Dressing Ring placed on his penis. Gossip magazines of the time gave a new moniker to the dressing ring…the Prince Albert.

The Prince Albert has quite a storied history.  In addition to being used as a fashion accessory, it was and is still used for hightened sexual pleasure. Interestingly enough, Benito Mussolini had a Prince Albert for the purpose of fondling his penis through a hole in his pants pocket. IL Duce is thought to have fondled his P.A. to boost his confidence, especially when making important decisions. And…Saddhu fakirs of Southern India hung weights off their P.A.s and stretched their penises to lengths between two and three feet! Of course, the penis is no longer functional after this. The fakirs would then wrap their penis around their waists and displayed themselves for money.

I hope you have found this brief history of piercing informative and entertaining. Having your body pierced is a serious decision. There are different pain levels and healing difficulties associated with each area of the body that can be pierced. Knowing the facts can help you to make the right decision when thinking of getting a body piercing. If you should realize that the person who is about to poke a needle in your skin is not practicing safe and sterile methods, GET OUT! You have the right to stand up out of the chair and tell them no thank you!

According to a 2007 poll of 1,500 people conducted by the Pew Research Center, 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds and 40 percent of 26- to 40-year-olds have at least one tattoo. Still, even Larry David was so haunted by the cemetery rule that he wrote an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in which he bribes a gravedigger to have his mother reburied in a Jewish cemetery despite a small tattoo on her butt.

But the edict isn’t true. Eight rabbinical scholars from highly respected institutions like the Jewish Theological Seminary and Yeshiva University, say it’s an urban legend, most likely started because a specific Jewish cemetery had a policy against tattoos. Jewish parents and grandparents picked up on it and over time, their revulsion for tattoos was presented as scriptural doctrine.

Unfortunately, rabbis still disagree about just how bad it is to get inked and old myths die hard. Many tattooed Jews in their 20’s and 30’s say they often are criticized by fellow Jews, both relatives and strangers. Andy Abrams, a filmmaker, has spent five years making a documentary called “Tattoo Jew.” In his interviews with dozens of Jews with body art, he noted the prevalence of Jewish themed tattoos…from Stars of David to elaborate Holocaust memorials, surprising since one reason Jewish culture opposes tattoos is that Jews were involuntarily inked in concentration camps.

Jewish law on tattooing is vague. Leviticus 19:28 states, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead nor incise any marks on yourself: I am the Lord.”  It’s unclear whether the passage strictly outlaws tattoos that refer to a god, or whether it generally condemns any personal adornment. Ear piercing is not controversial. Historical context is paramount. When Leviticus was written, tattooing was largely a pagan practice, done to mark slaves or to show devotion to a pharaoh. Since tattooing has evolved the rule may be outdated.

It’s difficult to know exactly how many young Jews are being tattooed, because no organization tracks these numbers. But a pro-tattoo community is emerging online. Christopher Stedman, a 23-year-old student in Rohnert Park, Calif., started a MySpace group called “Jews with Tattoos” in 2004, after noticing more Jewish friends being tattooed. The group now has hundreds of members.

The truth is…you can’t be 100% sure! Producers of pigments and inks are not obligated to divulge the ingredients of their products. Pigments and tattoo inks are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. An artist who mixes their own inks from dry pigments would be most likely to know the exact formulation of the inks. Keep in mind the information is usually proprietary (a trade secret), so you may or may not get answers to your questions.

Most tattoo inks technically are not inks at all. They are a composition of pigments that are suspended in a carrier solution. Contrary to popular belief, pigments are generally not vegetable dyes. Modern pigments primarily consist of metal salts. In addition, some pigments contain plastics and there are some vegetable dyes as well. The pigment provides the color and the carrier disinfects the pigment suspension, keeps it evenly mixed, and accommodates ease of application.

The Chemistry of Pigments

The ancients made pigments from grinding up minerals and carbon black. Today’s pigments include the original mineral pigments, modern industrial organic pigments, a few vegetable-based pigments, in addition to some plastic-based pigments. Allergic reactions, scarring, phototoxic reactions (reaction from exposure to light, especially sunlight), and other negative reactions are a possibility with various pigments. The plastic-based pigments are intensely colored, but many people have reported allergic reactions following its use. There are also pigments that luminesce (glow in the dark) when exposed to black (ultraviolet) light. These pigments are risky… some may be safe, but others can actually be radioactive or toxic in other dreadful ways.

Here’s a listing of common pigments used in tattoo inks. It’s not very extensive…remember…pretty much anything that can be used as a pigment has been at one time or another. And, many inks may mix one or more pigments.

Tattoo ink is made up of pigment and a carrier. The carrier may be a single material or a mixture. The function of the carrier is to keep the pigment evenly distributed in a fluid matrix, to inhibit the introduction of pathogens, to prevent the clumping of pigment, as well as aiding in application to the skin itself. Some common components used to make the carrier are:

* ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
* purified water
* witch hazel
* Listerine
* propylene glycol
* glycerine (glycerol)

However, a laundry list of other stuff has been and may be used, including:

* denatured alcohols (toxic and can burn the skin)
* other alcohols (methyl alcohol or methanol and isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol are sometimes used, even though they are toxic)
* ethylene glycol  (antifreeze, very toxic)
* aldehydes, for example, formaldehyde and gluteraldehyde (highly toxic)
* various surfactants or detergents

There are several other substances that may be found in an ink. An artist has the option of mixing their own ink (dry dispersed pigment and a carrier solution) or purchasing predispersed pigments. Many predispersed pigments are as safe or safer than inks mixed by the individual tattooist. However, the exact ingredients need not be disclosed, so any chemical could be present in the ink. The prudent thing to do would be to ask your artist if the ink supplier and the particular ink has a history of safety. Remember, although the term toxic has been associated with some substances mentioned in the pigments and carriers, it is a gross understatement. Some of these compounds are mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens, toxins, or can cause other adverse symptoms, some of which may not manifest themselves for years.

Arm yourself with knowledge and ask the right questions of a tattoo professional. This will ensure you a safe and rewarding  tattooing experience in addition to developing a rapport with your artist, an important factor for future advise or tattoos.

What better place to start than with a list of common tattoo terms.  I have purposely omitted from the list most tattoo styles…mainly because of the sheer number of them.  I will cover popular tattoo styles and designs in a future post.

So…here we go!

After Care: How you take care of your tattoo once you get home. People don’t realize that they play a huge part in the quality of the tattoo by how well they take care of it.

Atypical Tattoos: Tattoos outside of the mainstream; for example, in the tongue, palms of the hands, genitals and inner lips.

Blacklight: Tattoos that show up only under UV light. Many tattoo artists refuse to work with UV ink, because of the potential medical complications and the difficulty involved in the application process.

Blackwork: A tattoo done only in shades of black and grey.

Blow-out: If a tattoo artist goes too deep when tattooing, the ink can spread by capillary action, causing a blurry halo around the main lines. Some body parts; such as the shaft of the penis; are especially vulnerable to tattoo blow-out.

Bodysuit: Complete coverage of the body with tattoos, usually a bodysuit is work that covers everything but the neck up, the wrists to the hands, and the feet, although this definition can vary.

Cover Up: A tattoo that is covering a pre-existing tattoo. A complicated process. Better to be sure of your tattoos before you get them!

Epidermis: Top layer of the skin. A tattoo needs to go a few layers into the epidermis, but not all the way through.

Fine Line: Smaller needle configurations allow for thinner outlines, more precise shading and extremely detailed designs. Fine line tattoos are complex, with delicate coloring, intricate patterns and subtle highlights and undertones.

Geishin: The term used for penal tattoos in Japan from the 17th century until the abolishment of geishin in 1870.

Horimono: Horimono is the traditional Japanese term for Japanese style full-body tattoos. It is not as widely used nowadays as the word Irezumi, even though it is in fact older, and a lot more respectful.

Ink: Pigments deposited into the epidermis by the tattoo needle.

Ipa Olim: A traditional Borneo tattoo design.

Irezumi: Irezumi means traditional, hand-tattooed full-body tattoos in the Japanese style. Even though irezumi is now most widely known and used in Japan when talking about tattoos, it is originally a rather disrespectful, negative term for tattoo.

Jailhouse: Style of tattoo inspired by tattoos inmates would be able to get in jail. Were very crude due to materials (urine and soot for ink). Now refers to both style (Black and Gray only) and subject matter.

Jomon: The earliest period known of traditional Japanese tattooing.(10,000 B. C. ~ 300 B. C.). The people on the Japanese islands during the Jomon ear may be the distant ancestors of the Ainu.

Lettering: A style of tattooing in which words are used instead of graphic images.

Kirituhi: The Maori name given to Maori-inspired tattoos that feature Maori motifs but lack any real cultural meaning.

Moku: A moko is the facial tattoo of the Maori people of New Zealand.

New School: Bright, colorful, vivid style of modern tattooing, often cartoonish.

Occlusive Method: The occlusive method of healing tattoos involves using an occlusive bandage during the initial healing stage. The bandage acts as a scab, meaning that your body doesn’t have to create one, which leads to less scarring.

Old School Tattoo: Old School tattooing is characterized by bold outlines, heavy black shading, limited primary colours and "standard" designs like black panthers, hearts, daggers, pin-up girls and roses.

Permanent Cosmetics: Tattoos that enhance lips (liner or lipstick), eyebrows, eyes (mascara or shadow), and even moles.

Realism: A style of tattooing in which realistic images, often portraits, are tattooed on the skin.

Sailor (also known as Traditional, Americana, or Sailor Jerry): Style of tattoos gotten by sailors from the turn of the century to the 1950s. Gotten in ports like Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Coney Island. Refers to both the style of drawing and subject matter (pinups, anchors, bluebirds, pirate ships)

Scratcher: Also known as a Butcher or Hacker. A low quality tattoo artist that has usually taught themselves, and as a result, creates extremely poor, jailhouse-quality tattoos. Working out of their homes, they are unlikely to sterilise their equipment properly and have little to no knowledge of cross-contamination prevention.

Shader: Also known as Magnum. A group of needles used for shading and filling in a tattoo. They generally consist of two rows of needle sharps spaced intermittently in a flat shape, although can contain up to 9 needles. They are used for filling in colour, blending and shading a tattoo after the outline has been completed.

Single-needle: Single needle describes a practice in tattooing of using one needle. Single needle tattoo is a Jailhouse tattoo trademark. This is mainly due to the inablity of prisioners to obtain needles.

Sleeve: This means that the entire arm, or leg, is tattooed, generally with a coherent single piece (rather than just a bunch of patches).

Stencil: The outline of the tattoo design, treated and transferred to skin with alcohol, that acts as a guide for the tattoo artist while working.

Tattoo: An indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin. The name originates from the sound the sticks and needle would make during tattooing with traditional materials, "ta-tu ta-tu ta-tu"

Tebori is the Japanese word for traditional hand tattooing Japanese style. (This excludes other hand-tool tattooing methods, like in Borneo or Samoa, e.g.) Tebori is a unique technique, which the tattoo master can execute without assistance. He stretches the skin with one hand, with the other he puts in the ink.

Traditional: This style came to the western world in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Distinguished by clean and simple designs, thick, black outlines are filled with solid blocks of color, and they offer little detail. This style is the most visually striking, and, according to experts, the one that ages the best.

Tramp Stamp: A derogatory term for lower back tattoos on women. The term originally applied to lower quality, often flash based designs…but can also be used to refer to all lower back tattoos that ride on the pant-line.

Tribal: Heavy black graphic designs inspired by the traditional Polynesian tattooing of Tahiti, Hawaii, and New Zealand.