If You Want A Tattoo Auckland Is The City To Visit.

If you are considering getting a tattoo Auckland is the city for you as it is a vibrant Polynesian city where the art and tradition of tattooing is still very alive. You will not have to search far to find a studio with a style and design to suit your taste as there are dozens in and around the city to choose from.

It was sailors who revivied the idea of tattooing in Europe and who introduced the word tattoo in English having borrowed it from the Tahitian "tatu." Tattooing had been widely practiced in Europe in pre-Christian times by the Picts, Celts and various European tribes. The blue tattoos, or scarification, extensively applied by the Picts and possibly created using copper, was remarked on by Julius Caesar in 54 BC.

The greatest influence on tattooing today comes from Polynesia. Traditional facial tattoos, moko, are still worn by many New Zealand Maori. It is very common to see people in New Zealand who tattooed in traditional Maori styles as well as a wide range of decorative designs. There is not the same level of stigma attached to tattoos in New Zealand as in other Western Countries.
Tattooing, often with spiritual connotations, has been a wide spread custom world wide for many hundreds of years. Today tattoos are often chosen for cosmetic reasons, as a permanent reminder of a deceased relative or to indicate membership of a group, tribe or gang.

Tattoos have grown in popularity and in societal acceptance in recent years which may be directly related to the number of celebrities who sport tattoos. Tattoo artists are now generally highly skilled and adhere to strict hygiene standards which are probably also factors in the increase in the popularity of tattoos. Many more women are being tattooed today and this adds to the general acceptance of tattoos as we move away from the stereotype of a tattooed person being a tough male criminal.

To create a tattoo a permanent dye is injected into the dermis which is lower layer of skin. The Japanese use the word, Irezumi, for tattoo, which means"insertion of ink." This is essentially a trauma to the area which provokes an immune response. As the area heals the ink becomes trapped in fibroblasts which collect just below the outer layer of skin known as the epidermis, The tattoo design retains its colour and integrity and doesn't flake off even though it seems to be on the epidermis.

Just about any colour or shade can be created by tattoo artists by mixing the huge variety of inks that are commercially available. Inks should be tested as safe for use as a permanent cosmetic. Beware of amateurs who use inks which are manufactured for drawing and can contain toxins which could be harmful when applied as a tattoo.

Choosing your artist and studio should be undertaken carefully. Ask about their hygiene standards as all should provide containers for disposal of biohazards, an autoclave for equipment sterilisation and facilities to wash hands with hot and cold running water. Disposable gloves should be used by the artist and these should be replace at every stage of the process. Each new client will be shown that the needle kits and ink are new as they are removed from their wrappings in his presence. Disinfectant will be used on work areas and furniture.

In New Zealand tattoo artists are gaining a reputation for their artistic skill and are well respected world wide. They are often very experienced in traditional Maori tattoos and observe the appropriate customs. Many tourists will leave New Zealand with a lasting souvenir in the form of a tattoo.