Tribal Tattoo Then and Now

Tribal tattoos have been used by different cultures for hundreds of years as marks that show the affiliation of people within a particular culture or society. Some people who belonged to a tribe received a mark implanted in their skin that showed they belonged to that particular clan. Some of these marks were very small while other marks were large and clearly visible. The people in a particular area, usually geographical, would immediately identify others by the different types of tribal tattoos. There are still some tribal tattoos that are used for these reasons, but in most cases these days, people with tribal tattoos choose them for the beauty and variety of the designs.
Tattoos have become very popular in recent years, and tribal tattoos are some of the most popular available. Some of the tattoos used for cosmetic purposes could be authentic marks of identification that the tattoo artist borrowed from another culture. Other tattoos are identified with this group because they resemble the traditional tattoos that have been actually used by tribes around the world. Some tattoos, for example, are similar in look to those from tribes in places like Samoa.
These specific tribal tattoos are very distinctive images compared with other tattoos that are currently available. Tribal tattoos are the "in" thing Tribal tattoos are possibly one of the most sought after tattoo designs and the most popular are based on the Maori, Haida, Polynesian and Native American designs. Of course the term tribal has so many different meanings and an almost limitless amount of variations and combinations. The true meaning of today's tribal tattoo lies in the unique allure it has to the individual. People choose these different tribal tattoos currently because the designs are merely pleasing to the eye. In most parts of the world tribal tattoos have no relationship to the identity of the person wearing the tattoo. Some very famous people have contributed to the popularity of tribal tattoos. These tattoos have appeared on backs and arms of some very famous celebrities that have shown them off when appearing in public, creating a demand for tribal-like tattoos from regular folk. The popularity of tribal tattoos has also led to global competition amongst tattoo artists.
Many come up with unique designs by making use of images based on the tribal tattoos that have appeared in pictures or drawings from the tribal people who originally wore these marks on their bodies. There are some skilful tattoo artists who have even become known for the beauty of their tribal designs and most own copyright to these so others cannot use the tattoos without permission. Many of the tattoos are isolated images on the chest or shoulder, but others can cover an entire arm or back. There are tribal tattoos that are in simple black, but others incorporate some color into the design. And what with so many variations to choose from, having a tribal tattoo etched into your skin can be one of the most unique choices you can make.