Islander Tattoos

Islander tattoos refer to a tattoo style originated in the Polynesian Islands close to 2500 years ago. Modern designs combine these ancient tribal styles with modern techniques to create a popular and visually powerful tattoo style.

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian ‘tatu,’ and it is in this part of the world that islander tattoos reached their zenith. In Polynesian culture, tattoos weren’t simply decorative but contained manna (spiritual power,) which can be seen in the tribal islander style with its aggressive black lines and emotive design style. The intent of tattoos was not to represent a specific object, but to connote a feeling or sense of strength through the intricate body art that many of the islander people wore.

And for years these tats with their symbolically-rich meanings and extremely painful application procedures—(try bone needles and a brick for your next tat)—were kept at a regional level. But then as American sailors began to bring these islander tattoos stateside their popularity soared. And when in the early 90’s LA tattoo artist Leo Zuleta began to tattoo bands like Blink 182 and Limp Bizkit, the neo-tribal movement took off and island tattoos became trendier than ever.

If you’re interested in islander tattoos, whether they are Hawaiian flower tattoos or any of the neo-tribal stuff, make sure to take some time before the needle hits your skin. There are a lot of different options, and by looking at all the possibilities you’ll see which design is right for you. Most tattoo artists know how to do tribal/islander tattoos, but it’s still a good idea to take a look at their portfolio to make sure they can pull off the islander tattoo design that you’ve chosen. Getting an islander tattoo design may be a lot easier than it was 2500 years ago, but you should still take care in your decisions to make sure everything goes right for your own design.

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