Why Do People Get Tattoo?

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Tattooing is becoming a mainstream. Many celebrities, particularly in the music and film industry, wear tattoos and are very proud of it. It is getting to be more and more common to see a young woman with a flower tattoo design on her lower back or a teenager with a dragon tattoo design on his arm. Current estimates have one in seven or over 39 million people in North America who have at least one tattoo painted on their body.

Why do people get tattoo?

There are nearly as many reasons for getting a tattoo as there are people who have them. Each person has his or her own particular reason; it may be a common reason or it may be unique, but it is nonetheless individual.

One simple reason for a typical tattoo is just for looks. The tattoo design may be one that resembles one seen on a celebrity. It may also be a design that is simply pleasing to the eye. Perhaps the tattoo design has bright colors or neat shapes that attract the eye. Aesthetics are one common reason for many tattoos. Tattoos are also being a popular fashion accessory today.

For many, simply liking artwork on one’s skin is reason enough to visit a local tattoo studio, hand over a relatively-large sum of money, and have something etched into one’s skin that is intended to remain there for the rest of one’s life. The most intricate design or the most plain one can be a matter of speaking to the entire world, or something which one chooses to keep solely to oneself.

Another reason why one might get a tattoo is as a memorial. Friends and family who have passed away are often memorialized through tattoos. These memorials are also often created in the memory of a particular celebrity. These might be designed with flowers, crosses or other shapes and dates of birth and death. They might include special sayings that were important to the deceased. They may also involve complicated tattoos that are copied off an actual photograph.

When there is someone or something that you wish to hold close to your heart, a tattoo can be a beautiful way of doing it. Photographs and other souvenirs are not permanent– tattoos are. Children and relationships are a popular reason for getting a tattoo. Millions will have tattoos designed incorporating a child’s, spouse’s or partner’s name. Typically these will be accompanied by other designs such as flowers, butterflies, shapes and even likenesses. Hearts, stars and script letters are often found on spouse or partner name tattoos.

Many people will have tattoos designed to commemorate special events experienced during their lifetimes. Achievements, difficult times and other special events are often displayed as a lifetime reminder of an important time in one’s life.


Tattoos also represent spiritual status for many cultures. They can also be a symbol for social ranking. Some social groups are known for specific tattoos which would require a member to receive the same. Others are known for having tattoos in general, regardless of their designs.

Expressing individuality and personality are often the most common reasons for getting a tattoo. If a person likes butterflies, they might get a single tattoo or multiple tattoos flaunting butterflies. If another enjoys a particular field in which they are employed, they might have tattoos representing what they do for a living.

Others use this form of self-expression in a manner similar to what generations past used to do with t-shirts: to show the world what they wish to say. They choose wording, or designs which symbolize something that is meaningful to them. You can see everything from American flags and crosses to the names of who they love, and, occasionally, wording which pushes the limits of the First Amendment. In the past, people wore what they believed, stood for, and cared about on their shirts; these days tattoos often serve the same purpose.

There are other ways to look at expressing individuality through tattoos, however. Many tattoos are designed to reflect heritage. Ancient symbols that are associated with the history of many cultures are often displayed on those who are of a particular culture’s decent. For example, someone of Irish decent may choose a tattoo depicting the Claddaugh design while another of Egyptian decent might prefer one similar to ancient ancestors. On the other hand, many choose designs resembling certain cultures simply for aesthetics.

Regardless of where you want to have your tattoo applied on the body or where you have the procedure done, it’s important to comprehend why you really want the tattoo. Tattoos are permanent. Having a tattoo created for the right reasons, and reasons that are truly important to you will help increase the enjoyment of the tattoo design for years to come.

If you have decided to get a tattoo, and have positive reasons for wishing to do so, all you need to do is visit a nearby tattoo studio and allow your vision to be turned into a reality.

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