Tribal Tattoos

Tribal tattoos go back to ancient times when almost every culture used tattooing - the oldest being that of a Bronze Age warrior who lived more than five thousand years ago. People like the Celts, the Aztecs, the ancient Egyptians and others all used tattoos for different reasons. Sometimes tattoos were purely for personal adornment, to denote rank, or as a way of proclaiming oneself as a member of a certain tribe - sometimes tattoos had religious significance and often temporary tattooing was used during times of war. Many African tribes would use this type of tattooing to make themselves appear more frightening to their enemies.

Tribal art tattooing is becoming something of a modern phenomenon as they are among the most requested designs around. Almost everyone seems to have heard of tribal tattoos and they want the bold, often black outlined designs tattooed on their bodies. Tribal designs often depict animals or birds, whatever seemed important to the ancient mind. Even now, tribal tattoos are not just a matter of adornment; they are most often a personal statement about who a person is and what they are like. African and Pacific Island tribes created the most distinctive tattoo designs - many of them reflecting the world that these people inhabited. Much tribal tattooing was facial and in some parts of the world these facial tattoos are most often used as a reminder of a person's tribal or family history. New Zealand Maoris in particular use this type of facial tattooing and their tattoos are usually quite distinctive.

Native Americans also used tribal tattooing and very often this was a way of distinguishing one tribe from another tribe. The Native Americans used tattoos when they were going to war - not so much to frighten their enemies but to provide them with protection. In the tribal world, things are not always as they seem and tattooing and tattoo designs were not just mere ornaments, they meant something. They were also a way of defining who was a member of the tribe and who was outside of it. Tribal tattooing was brought to the West by sailors in the nineteenth century who also brought with them the expertise and the special inks and needles of the tribal tattooist.

The tribal art tattoos that we have now are often not the same as the tribal tattoos of the ancient world. Rather they are a mixture of ancient tribal tradition and modern tattoo design. This is largely due to a movement in the nineteen nineties that saw direct representation of ancient tribal tattoos as disrespectful to what the tattoos originally symbolized - so the tribal tattoos that are popular today are a hybrid of ancient tradition and modern day overtones. Now the Celtic knot is popular and so are stylized versions of the heads of animals. You may also see sunburst tattoos and these also are reminiscent of the tribal traditions.

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Tribal Tattoos

Looking for a unique tattoo design? If yes, then how about tribal bear tattoos. They make a fabulous body art and are increasingly becoming popular among the tattoo lovers. Tribal bear tattoo gives a different look and is therefore preferred by people. It is especially well liked by youngsters who believe in maintaining a different identity. There are different tribal tattoo designs but Scorpio, phoenix and dragon are common designs, so why not try out something new this time. Tribal bear tattoos look cool and funky. Now even females are interested in such tattoos. Gone are the days when they restricted themselves to the floral patterns. Bear tattoo designs in tribal form have become their first choice. So, get your body tattooed with tribal bear design and flaunt your cool image.



Black color has its own relevance in the tribal chest tattoo designs. It's the black ink that doesn't let the tribal chest tattoo die (fade) easily. It's due to its inimitable designs that these tattoos are still in demand. The most common found tribal chest tattoos exhibit Maori designs, Eskimo totems and Aztec sun clocks and the range is unending. Besides these, tribal chest tattoo designs are created with heavy lines and different hues. Tribal chest tattoos, which are well liked for their designs, are originated from Maori, Haida, Polynesian and Native American designs. What differentiates Tribal chest tattoos from other ones is its history of body decoration. Tribal Chest tattoos symbolize relationship shared between people in a group, family, social, etc. One can go for attractive, dazzling yet exceptional tribal chest tattoos in any season on any part of the body. He or she would bring himself on the brink of risk if by chance a tattoo is wrongly done or placed on his or her body.



The unique combination of traditional tattoos with tribal tattoos has made it more popular among tattoo lovers. There are different well-accepted ways available in which a traditional tattoo can be combined with a tribal tattoo to lure a tattoo lover. It's really amazing to see that how a tribal tattoo develops over a period of time once it is carried on the body. Some of the most common ways of combining traditional tattoo with Tribal tattoos are: traditional tattoo may float above a line on the tribal tattoo or it may be located in the middle of the line. Tribal tattoo is easily synonymous with sharp points and angles. Another way which is quiet famous among people is surrounding the traditional tattoo with tribal tattoo. While looking deeply at the design you would come to know that it is actually the tribal design that tends to form an image. Undoubtedly, it is the creativity and the uniqueness in the tribal tattoo designs that have brought it in vogue. Sometimes, tattoo artists make an abstract tribal design combined with Celtic Tattoos. So, what are you waiting for, get ready for a colorful tribal designs incorporated with traditional tattoos to get a funny yet cool image.

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Tribal Tattoos Part 01

While tribal tattooing has a history as far back as tattooing itself, these types of images have gained a huge increase in general popularity, beginning in the early 1990s. Traditional tribal tattooing was (and is) done for many reasons. Some of the most common reasons for tribal tattoos include rites of passage, social status, or even simple family identification. Some tribes also believe tattoos hold magical or spiritual significance. Of course, there are also instances where tribe members get tattooed simply for aesthetic reasons. Some of the most well-known variations of tribal tattoos come from tribes from Borneo, the Polynesian Islands, the Maori, Native Americans, and Celtic tribes. Tattoos of Chinese and Japanese characters have also become very commonplace among Westerners.


One common thread throughout both traditional and modern tribal tattoos is the use of black ink and bold designs. While modern tattooing equipment and inks have made possible the finest and most detailed of body art, traditional tribal tattoo artists certainly had no such equipment available. Therefore, every tribe had its own method of administering their tattoos, some being more painstaking and/or painful than others. In many tribes, the process of tattooing was in itself considered a ritual, and the inherent pain involved considered an integral part of that ritual. These days, tattoos are almost always done using modern equipment, which is much faster and less painful than the old ways. However, many current tribe members, and even outsiders, choose to have their artwork administered by the traditional methods.


Tribal tattoos have their roots in ritual, symbolism and spirituality, but most modern types of this artwork are done more for aesthetic reasons. The images have a common appeal, and because the freedom of design is so open, it's not necessary to get actual traditional tribal imagery tattooed to have the impact of a tribal design. Though the artwork may have a personal significance to the person receiving it, it's more likely due to personal experience rather than any actual symbolism or tribal affiliation.


There are a number of reasons to explain the modern popularity of tribal artwork in tattoos. One appealing aspect is the bold nature of the images. Tribal tattoos are almost always done in black, often with thick, interweaving lines that show up very strongly against the skin. Also, because of the bold, solid black nature of the images, tribal tattoos are less likely to fade or blur, giving them greater longevity. Both the tattoo artist and the receiver of the artwork have a lot of artistic freedom with tribal-type tattoos, as much or most of the modern types of this artwork has little to do with any specific actual tribe. Almost any kind of image can be turned into a tribal design, so you see many varieties of this kind of artwork. If you don't want to create your design or do not have one in mind already, professional tattoo artists will nearly always have books of flash designs for you to pick from. Another appealing aspect of tribal tattoos is that the designs tend to work very well in popular body areas for tattooing, such as the upper arms and the back. Arm and leg bands are some of the most common styles of tribal tattoos.


Although tribal tattoos are primarily done with black ink, it has also become very popular to incorporate color into the designs. While the solid black can be very visually appealing, many people want a little color to their artwork. This can be done in a variety of ways, including using background colors, fill-in colors for negative space, or even using a color other than black for the design itself, though this is done less often. When non-black ink is used for a tribal design, the receiver or artist may often choose to still outline the design in black to retain the bold effect. Also, a darker color is usually used for the same purpose, such as a darker red, blue, green, or purple.

Another popular trend in modern tribal tattooing is mixing tribal artwork with more traditional images. This is very common amongst those with very large and ambitious designs, such as full back pieces. However, this kind of artwork can just as easily be accomplished with smaller tattoos. For those who want the art to be fully integrated, one common type of imagery is flower and vine designs, as the flow goes well easily with the interlocking lines often found in tribal artwork. Of course, flowers and vines aren't for everyone, and many other types of images can be easily made to flow with tribal ones. Another good option for integrating traditional tattoos with tribal is to use the latter as a framing device. Taking a traditional design and surrounding it with tribal artwork can enhance the overall look and draw more attention. Framing an existing tattoo with a tribal one will certainly make it more eye-catching, and make something old seem new again.

More about → Tribal Tattoos Part 01

Tribal Tattoos Part 02

Tribal tattoos are generally influenced by tribal art from native and indigenous tribes. This tattoo art comes from the older tribes such as the Celtics (Ireland, Scotland, & Wales), the Maori Tribe (indigenous people of New Zealand), the North American Tribal, the African Tribal, the Marquesan (Polynesian inhabitants of the Marquises Islands) and the tribes of Borneo.

Celtic Tattoo Art

Celtic tattoo art come from Ireland. Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. There are also Celtic cross and animal tattoo designs as well

Mori Tribal tattoo Art

The Maori, the aborigines of New Zealand, call their tattoo "Moko" and Mori art is incredible to behold. To the Maori, a person's Moko designs enhanced their prestige and show transition from one social status to another. At its highest level, Moko designs proclaimed the sacredness of chieftainship.

North American Tribal Art

There are many Indian tribes in North America and many different traditions for tattooing. It was very common for tattoos to denote rank within the tribe. Take the Illinois Indians for example. It was quite common for weapons of war to be tattooed upon the men and it is suggested by some that the women received tattoos of tools used for labor. The tools of war outranked the tools of labor. This was, to the best of my knowledge, their tradition. They seemingly kept their practices to a minimum.

Samoa Tribal tattoo art

The Samoan tattoo was done with a carved boar tusk, sharpened with a piece of coral, attached to a turtle shell, and then affixed to a stick. This tool is used to carve the designs into the flesh by tapping it against the skin and then a mixture of candle nut soot and sugar water is rubbed into the resulting wound.

Marquesan Tribal tattoo art

Sea-faring Polynesians from Samoa colonized the Marquises Islands as early as 300 A.D. They were warring tribes who sometimes cannibalized their enemies. Marquesan art is very uncommon. Most tribal tattoos are done with one specific object and the size variation is minimal. This is not so with the Pacific.

African Tribal tattoo art

Tribes in Africa do not use pigment for tattooing, they cut the skin and either the wound is packed with a substance so that it becomes raised or it is rubbed with ash or sand until the wound rises up, then the scar is the tattoo.

Borneo Tribal tattoo Art

Borneo is the third largest island in the world. The Dayak people reside here for centuries, they believe that spirits are in everything around them. For this reason they believe that by tattooing an object or creature on them they can draw energy from these spirits.

While the tribal tattoo was originally used to identify members of specific tribes, represent battles fought, and to serve as the symbolization of social status, today tribal tattoo art is a popular fashion. a lot of people today choose various designs simply for aesthetic reasons. Some of the most popular designs include dragon, butterfly and suntribal tattoos. This tattoo can be put virtually anywhere on the body, The back and arms are usually the most common areas where people have them applied, but the ankle, calf, and chest are also used.

The Tribal tattoo art expresses personal freedom and uniqueness of the wearer. Tribal art has a simple appeal that reinforces a positive feeling about ourselves and connects us to ancient mystery of the tribal rituals, which faded away with history.

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Tribal Tattoos Part 03

Back in the early '90s, tribal tattoos became huge when metal bands donned their arms with tribal wrap-around designs. Today, it's not just tribal armbands- it's back tattoos, stomach and chest tattoos and even tribal ankle tattoos that are big news in the tattoo world. Each carries it own significance that can be very personal to the tattoo wearer.

What do you think of when you hear "tribal" tattoo? Most people think of the classic jagged wavy tribal design that heralded the 1990s tattoo craze. Contrary to popular belief, there are many different tribal designs available. Many ill-informed tattoo "beginners" simply aren't aware of the various designs. As a result, many settle with the tribal armband. With a little exploration, you can find a diverse collection of tribal tattoos that use the curves of the human body as its canvas.

Tribal tattoos all have the several things in common: predominance of dark ink throughout entire design, gratuitous use of wavy lines and circles, and the use of non-solid design for pictures. All of these elements give tribal tattoos a very unique identity. Where traditional tattoos are prided on strong detail and color, tribal tattoos seek the ultimate simplicity and ambiguity.

Tribal tattoos can be further split into two categories: pictorial and abstract tribal art. Pictorial tribal tattoos use the wavy and circular lines to show a picture. Pictorial tribal tattoos usually depict an animal or fish, the most common being birds, snakes, cats and dolphins. Pictorial tribal tattoos are great because it can take a while to truly see the animal under the tribal design. Abstract tribal tattoos are completely ambiguous- they do not form a specific animal or picture. Abstract tribal tattoos have the advantage of mystery and can be easily changed if you want something different later on.

Tribal Tattoo Animals: Which one's for you?

If you want a pictorial tribal tattoo, you're next challenge is to decide what animal or creature you want to depict. Maybe you already have an idea of what you want. Or, maybe you're completely lost. Don't worry- we'll set you straight about the most common tribal animals and their common meanings.

One of the most popular tribal animals is a hawk or bird. In almost all cultures, a hawk is recognized for wisdom, knowledge, prophecy and rightful war. Another very popular animal is the cat. A jaguar is seen as the harbinger of power and messages from the gods. The lion is associated with the sun, majesty, power and courage against adversity. Yet another popular animal is the snake, partly due to its spiraling design. The snake symbolizes reincarnation, fertility and good luck. Finally, dolphins are also very popular. Dolphins represent kindness, purity, redemption and intelligence.

Of course, any animal you can imagine has some sort of tattoo design available. Even imaginary creatures are popular in tribal design. Designs that include unicorns and dragons are very popular. Unicorns represent healing, integrity, purity and chastity. Dragons, especially Eastern dragons, represent good luck, fortune, supernatural power and knowledge. Many cultures see dragons as the marriage of matter and spirit (in the form of a bird combined with a serpent).

Here are some more animal meanings that you may be interested in for your tribal tattoo:

* Bears: primal strength and power, intuition, instinctive, motherly
* Boars/Pigs: good fortune, warrior ethos, protective, guardian, directive leadership
* Bees: Rebirth, immortality, messenger between the spirit world and physical world, order and community involvement
* Dragonfly: Shamanism, carefree living, optimism, happiness
* Hummingbird: Swift and decisiveness, optimism, good fortune
* Ram: Power, strong leadership, virility, fertility, accomplishment
* Wolf: Loyalty, guardian, perseverance, intuition

With so many animal choices, you're almost certain to find one that matches your spirit. All of these animals can be found in many designs that can be accessed online in our membership galleries. These galleries give you the best variety and most unique designs available! After all, you're one of a kind. Why settle for a tattoo design that's free and a million other people already have?

More about → Tribal Tattoos Part 03

Tribal Tattoos Part 04

Tribal tattoos have been the choice of more and more people these days. This form of body art has been there since the ancient times and it carries different meanings and symbolisms. Nearly 50% of the people who get a tattoo prefer tribal designs. So how did it come to be and where did it originate? For people back then, tribal tattoos were a form of marking to signify different things. Archaeologists have found tribal tattoos on various ancient countries like Egypt, Greece, Rome, and in Asia. During those days, tribal tattoos meant more than art.


Ancient people have used these tribal tattoos to depict symbol of rights, rank and devotion. They also use it as a form of symbols for award or security. People also used these tribal tattoos those days as an amulet, a talisman or a mark of seniority. However, for some it may be regarded as a medal but for those slaves who have been marked with a tattoo, life is not that easy. Until now, there are still some religions or societies which require their followers to have a certain tribal tattoo as a symbol of loyalty and brotherhood.


But nowadays, tribal tattoos act as body art and a way to express oneself. Some people really find it cool and hip. It is even considered as a fashion symbol and not just a marking. Trying to find a tribal tattoo that suits you best? Well, there are many tattoo shops out there and they have a wide variety of gallery that you can choose from. Remember, the design of your tattoo may show something about your personality and could make a lasting impression. So better think it through first before getting one.


But in some areas, tattoo shops are not that frequent so the choices are limited. Luckily, the age of computer technology has enabled us to surf the internet and have a look at a hundred options. All you have to do is to type in the work "tribal tattoos" in the search engine site and voila! You will be displayed with dozens of image results and even websites that you can contact when you want to get a tribal tattoo in no time. However, think a dozen times before deciding on what design to put on. Some people regret a lot once they have already gotten a tribal tattoo because they realized that they want a different tribal tattoo design.

Always keep in mind, removing a permanent tattoo is not that easy. Moreover, quality artwork takes time and it is in the hands of a powerful tattoo artist. No matter how fabulous the design is, the artist will still be the one to draw it into your skin so getting a highly refutable tattoo artist can definitely do the trick. But the intricacy of the design and the colors will definitely affect the rate or the price of the tribal tattoo. Furthermore, the cost also depends on the tattoo artist or the shop you decide to get your tribal tattoo done.

Aside from image results, you can also try joining forums on the internet, which have discussions on tribal tattoos and more. In this way, you would know other people's opinion on which tribal tattoo is the best one. The larger the forum, the wider number of people and tattoo enthusiasts you can interact with. Plus, you can ask them of the best link in the most popular tribal tattoo galleries on the internet. Truly, surfing the online community has never been this exciting and enjoyable. So for the perfect tribal tattoos, go ahead and search the net for the latest trends and designs in the realm of body inking and tattooing.

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