Tattoos have been around for as long as man has. In 1991, a 5000-year old man’s body was discovered preserved in ice between Austria and Italy. He was covered in approximately 57-tattoos, including a cross on the inside of his knee, 6-straight lines above his kidneys, and numerous parallel lines on his ankles. It’s possible they might have been put there for helping in the treatment of arthritis as many of them are near joints and bones. Tattooing appears to have played a part in other ancient cultures too: Egyptian Mummies show evidence of tattoos, as do African, Japanese and Polynesian remains. The word tattoo actually comes from the Tahitian word “tatau” – to mark something and tattooing the skin was often done for medical or religious purposes when it began.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, tattoos had negative associations. Sailors came back home having been tattooed in some far away land; criminals got their gang’s symbol tattooed on various parts of their bodies and added to their collection when in prison. Circus folk were often heavily or completely tattooed, and were exhibited as freak shows.
Rock musicians got inked as a symbol of rebellion from the 1960s onwards. They covered their arms and torsos in crosses, snakes and other anti-authority images. Punk rock in the late 70s saw some of its stars with tattooed faces and heads. The 80s and 90s saw heavy rockers continue to use the tattoo as a rebellious act. Nowadays, tattoos are no longer seen as being rebellious. Nearly everyone has one. Mainstream music acts like Robbie Williams and Sheryl Cole sport tattoos. International sports megastars like David Williams, Wayne Rooney, Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, Kevin Pieterson, Rebecca Adlington and many others have some form of ink artwork on their skin. Hollywood A-listers like Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson have all got in on the act too.
And while these rich superstars can afford to get the best tattoos, others aren’t so lucky. Trawl the Internet and there are countless sites with hilarious images of tattoos gone wrong. One bulging-bicep carries the message “Never don’t give up”,
whilst another has this romantic message to their loved one “Your the pettle petal to my rose”. And my personal favourite, a picture of a man with the word “STUPID” tattooed on his forehead like a stamp. And that’s not to mention the objects or people actually depicted in the tattoo – in most cases it’s impossible to decipher who or what it’s meant to be.
So, as you can see; it can be difficult to find a truly great tattooist. And we need your help to find us one in Wrexham. Please ask your customers, friends and family to recommend us someone . What we mean by a truly great tattoo artist is one that gives a brilliant service. Someone that draws tattoos that look like they’re meant to. And spells words correctly. All in a clean, safe and comfortable environment. We want you to share your experiences of getting inked in Wrexham. Let us know who you think the best tattooist is in the town, and who to avoid. It’s easy to pass on your feedback – simply click here and follow the instructions. You might even get a discount on your next tattoo – and it won’t appear on the Internet gallery of shame.
