Polynesian Tattoos

Have you been looking for a cool tribal tattoo design and been attracted to the various types of Polynesian tattoos and designs? The rich history of tattooing in Tahiti and other near by islands has made for a long and deep tradition filled with a rich visual symbolism that todays brings us many options for a modern tribal design. If you are thinking about getting a Polynesian tattoo then you will want to read this article first so you can make your choice based on fact and knowledge instead of randomness.

Tahitian Tattoo History

Polynesian sounds like a big word but essentially it refers to the islands and people that live in or around Tahiti. The Tahitians have a long history of tattooing. They are an ancient culture that at the time had not developed a written language. Therefore many things like social status, family and positions were communicated through tattoos.

They had very crude materials to make these tattoos with. Typically they made needles from bone and attached the needle to a handle. The ink was made from water oil and a special kind of soot. The tattoos were then made by poking the needle into the skin one hole at a time.

Polynesian Tattoo Styles

Since Polynesian refers to a group of islands there are different groups and styles of tattoos that all fall into the category of Polynesian tattoos. If you are thinking about getting a design then you will want to carefully study the different types and styles of tattoos. For example there are Marquesan, Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan and Maori styles of tattooing.

Flash Designs Versus Custom Designs

One of the things you will have to decide when choosing your tattoo design if you want to go with some stock flash or a custom design. Typically flash are the designs that are on hand already created at the tattoo shop you visit. This might be limited but it is also less expensive and a quick way to get a tattoo. The problem is you are limited to the design they have available and they might not fit what you are looking for. If that is the case, and you have a specific idea for your tattoo then you will want to work with a tattoo artist to come up with a custom design. Custom designs take time to develop and perfect and therefore they are more expensive. In fact the quality of the artwork is often directly proportional to the expense of the design. Meaning the better artwork costs more but afterall you will be wearing the tattoo for the rest of your life so it is often advisable to spend the extra money and get a good quality design.

Finding A Tattoo Artist

If you are looking for the best quality custom Polynesian tattoo design then you will want to carefully select the tattoo artist that you will pay to create the design for you. All tattoo artists have their own styles and the look and feel of the final tattoo will be largely dependent on the artists skills and style. If you want a really authentic and traditional Polynesian tattoo design then you will want to find an artist that specializes in this art form.

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