A tattoo is a mark made by inserting pigment into the skin; in technical terms, tattooing is dermal pigmentation.
The word tattoo comes from the Tanitian "tatu" which means "to mark something".
It's arguably claimed that tattooing has existed since 12,000 BC. The purpose of tattooing varies from culture to culture and its place on the timeline. But there are commonalities that prevail from the earliest known tattoos to those being done on students.
In recorded history, the earliest tattoo's can be found in Egypt during the time of the construction of the pyramids (It undoubtedly started much earlier). When the Egyptians expanded their empire, the art of tattooing spread aswell.
In 1961 there was an outbreak of hepatitis and tattooing was sent reeling on its heels. Though most tattoos had sterilization machines, few used them. Newspapers reported stories of blood poisoning, hepatitis and other diseases. The general population held tattoo parlours in disrepute. In the late 60's, the attitude towards tattooing changed.
Today, tattooing is making a strong come-back. It's more popular and accepted than it ever has been. All classes of people seek the best tattoo artists. This rise in popularity has placed tattooists in the category of "fine artist". The tattooist has gained a respect not seen for 100 years. Current artists combine the tradition of tattooing with their personal style creating unique and phenomenal body art. With the addition of new inks, tattooing has certainly reached a plateau.
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