Whether on the hands of an Indian bride or on the chest of an African – body paintings belong to many cultures for different reasons. And this has been the case for a very long time: the ancient Egyptians already adorned themselves with meaningful paintings 8000 years ago. Mostly body paintings have symbolic character and clarify fertility, luck and much more. Furthermore, they reveal something about their bearers: for example, about rank or tribal affiliation. The painted skin signs have also always been assigned magical powers. The “war paint” has the purpose to give the fighter courage and strength and to deter the opponent.
Tattoos as a targeted change
Today, tattoo and also piercing express the attitude towards life of young people. The trigger to get tattooed or pierced is often emotional in nature and usually results from certain upheaval phases in life. “My decision to tattoo did not come from now on, I took my time with it until I was really sure. Ultimately, I have tattooed because I wanted to change my outfit optically targeted. This just hit at the time when my long term relationship was on the rocks. I needed a change, even if it was primarily on the outside. I have a Celtic motif and I think it suits me very well,” says medical student Olaf Bayer*. The desire for individuality and self-realization is often present among tattoo and piercing customers – the question is, as with all trends, to what extent this can be implemented or whether one is subjecting oneself to a different norm. In any case, this new outfit can no longer really be changed. The piercing can be easily removed, but what remains is a small, non-irritating scar. With the tattoo it looks different: Only with high-precision laser applications of the dermatologist, the marks can be lasered away – which, however, usually leaves a blown-off tattoo as a result.
Tattoo techniques
“Real tattoos”
In real tattooing, color is introduced into the skin with a pointed object. In doing so, the tattoo artist makes sure to place the ink in the middle layer of the skin – the dermis. Once placed so far into the skin, the ink cannot be broken down by the body and remains there for life. Therefore, the quality of the colors used is an important criterion. Reputable tattoo studios use only colors that are regularly subjected to quality control and are safe from the dermatologists in terms of allergenic substances and pollutants. Henna tattoos
Henna paste gbt it ready in the tube to buy. But you can also make it yourself from henna powder. The paste is then applied with a brush or stick on previously thoroughly cleaned skin. It is important that the paste remains on the skin long enough. It should dry for at least 3-8 hours. During this time, the area should be moved as little as possible. Henna tattoos can also be easily made with henna pens. Henna tattoos are known from Asia. The best known are hand and foot paintings of Indian brides, which are also becoming increasingly popular in this country – although from a less traditional background. In contrast to the “real” tattoos, henna colors only the uppermost layer of the skin – the so-called epidermis. Therefore, the color is always degraded. However, in extreme cases, this can take up to 6 weeks. Normally, henna tattoos fade after only a few washes and disappear – depending on the extent of body care – within a few days. “Fake tattoos”
Even more short-lived are the adhesive tattoos. Equipped with mica items, they glitter as a disco gag or simply as summer fun usually only for one day or evening. Whether in a romantic look, as an animal symbol, filigree ribbons or as a highlight in the form of glitter stones under the eye – at the moment they are very big in trend with young and old.
Tattoo styles
Comic, New School, Old Style or old tribal characters of the Indians -so called Tribal- a skilled tattoo artist can realize different styles. But you can also hand over to the tattoo artist your own templates, which he reworks according to his own wishes. Celtic symbols are also increasingly used as tattoo templates. Although the Celtic tribes have left no written records, but many works of art. They have decorated not only their utensils and weapons with expressive patterns, but also the body.The Celts had an eye for symmetry – that’s why the Celtic signs are all mirror images. Abstract animal signs were also popular with the Celts. The most important Celtic symbol was the spiral, which stands for infinity. It was also inserted into ornamental patterns. Likewise, the braided patterns of the Celts are popular – they fit ideally on arms or ankles.
What are organic tattoos?
“Simply put, a scam on the customer! You will not find a reputable tattoo artist who will do such a job for you.” says Frank Cullmann, who has been working in the Nuremberg tattoo and piercing scene for years and recently started his own business. The theory of bio-tattoo assumes that only a very thin or a single needle is used. The color is to be introduced only into the uppermost skin layer, the so-called epidermis. Since this layer of skin is subject to constant renewal, the tattoo would break down in 2-3 years. “Practically speaking, the theory put forward about biotattooing is simply wrong. In addition, these statements are proof enough that these providers have not informed about their material, the skin,” says Frank Cullmann and can justify this medically: “The epidermis is completely renewed by the body on average every 28 days. This means that such a “tattoo” should also have disappeared after 28 days. Since this is never the case, the color pigments were deposited in the dermis. This layer of skin is not subject to renewal, so the color pigments remain – for life.” In bio-tattooing, the tattoo artist’s effort to hit only the top layer of skin eventually causes the color pigments to reach sometimes -when he hits- the top layer and other times the middle layer, the dermis. Because nobody can estimate the thickness of the skin with the naked eye. These irregular deposits of color create blotchy and fuzzy contours of the tattoo.
Allergy to tattoos
Allergic reactions to “fake” tattoos can occur if you can not tolerate the adhesive. This is noticeable by burning, itching and redness of the skin. In this case, the adhesive motif should be removed immediately and the area washed with soap and water until even the smallest adhesive residue has disappeared. Only very few people develop an allergy to pure henna. These allergies are extremely rare. Nevertheless, you can do an allergy test yourself before applying the henna tattoo: You apply a small amount of the paste to the skin on the inside of the forearm. Of course, one proceeds in the same way with henna pens. Providers of allergy tests before the real tattooing should be extremely critical. Dermatologists mean that straight by such Ausestungen allergies can be provoked only and bring thus no advantage. *Name changed by the editors.
