Tattoo History
The Only Tattoo Artist in Scotland (in 1925)
Imagine what it would be like to be the one and only tattoo artist in your entire country. Pretty cool, right? Well, in 1925 Scottish tattoo artist Prince Vallar could lay claim to that title. ScotlandsPeople, a genealogy website run by Scotland's government, has named Vallar the ...read more
8 Tattoo Hacks for Faster Healing!
8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-Healed! Get tattooed at 10 different shops and you are bound to get at least five different sets of instructions on how to care for your new ink. And out of those five, we’re pretty sure all of them each have some merit. So that being said we took the advice of ...read more
Visit 11 of the Oldest Tattoo Shops in the World
While the practice of tattooing may date back centuries, most shops have only been open for the last several decades. This is largely due to the laws and regulations that have affected tattooing throughout the years—causing most of the earliest shops to shut their doors. However, ...read more
3,000 Year Old Tattooed Priestess Discovered in Egyptian Tomb
Approximately four years ago, a mummified torso with a substantial amount of tattoos was discovered at the Luxor tomb. Today, Egyptian officials believe that the body belonged to a female religious figure who lived between the years 1300 and 1070 BCE—dying around the ages of 25 ...read more
Russian Prisoners' Tattoos and their Gambling “Gangs”
Soviet-Russia era criminal gambling inside prison were high stakes. While "tea or cigarettes might be wagered,” fingers, ears, eyes, and even the “lives of other inmates” were also played for. The tattoo culture inside of the gambling ring is fascinatingly knit. Damon Murray, ...read more
75 Rad Chest Tattoos by Some of the World’s Best Artists
Whether you love them or hate them, chest tattoos are a huge part of the industry and collector world. If you're looking to go big or go home, a chest piece is your best bet for covering major tattoo territory. However, let it be known that getting your torso blasted is no easy ...read more
Artists Reveal Their Most Uncomfortable Tattoo Situations!
These are cringe worthy! We would like to think that tattoo artists adore their profession and relish each tattoo they do as meaningful and piece of art. Unfortunately, the general public can be very taxing, and that is a kind way of saying that, “the general public can be very ...read more
“This Is What Pregnancy Does to Your Stomach Tattoos”
Before, during and after the birth! We would like you to me a beautiful model we only know as @lady_tattoo_cat. She is a self-proclaimed ink model, stripper, mistress and mother of three beautiful kidz. Her face has adorned everything from ad campaigns to the paint jobs on race ...read more
Red Ink & Itchy Tattoos! How to Treat Without Damaging Your Ink.
Help is on the way! The second most common “complaint” after “It hurts!”, is “Damn. This is itchy!” Well, there are countless theories on why your tattoo itches, however there are some concrete reasons and we will discuss them here. Before we even get started, although a tattoo ...read more
VIDEO! 7-11 — Slurpee’s and Tattoos! First Guy To Get Inked in Convenience Store!
A Slurpee and a “MOM” tattoo please! These days convenience stores have become a throw-back to the pioneer days of the general store and the mining depot. You can get everything from medicine to soothe your aching stomach to condoms to baby food and everything in between. Thanks ...read more
20 Sobriety Tattoos! Inked Badges of Honor!
One Day at a Time. Beating an addiction is something to be proud of. Very proud of! A person fighting their way out of an addiction deserves the utmost respect and support. So, it only seems fitting that many people get "sobriety" tattoos as a badge of honor, a war medal, a ...read more
Inked Presents Badass TV - Freddy Negrete
Inked is lucky to present the latest project from the modern day Renaissance man Evan Seinfeld, Badass TV. Whether he is rocking faces off in one of the many bands he has been in, like Attika 7, or playing a imprisoned biker on OZ you know that Seinfeld is going to bring it. And ...read more
FORTNITE TATTOOS! INK THAT FIGHTS TO THE DEATH!
40 Million Players Around the World! Look anybody that has banged on this story probably knows all there is to know about FORTNITE! But just in case you don’t, in a nut shell it’s a game that was launched in July of 2017 to moderate success. The designers realized that it had the ...read more
A Peek into Kat Von D’s Life!
You Can’t Hide on Social Media! It’s hard enough trying to have a personal life when you’re a celebrity. It’s even harder when you’re a “beautiful person” and social media is an important part of your private and professional life. We have to admit that Inked is as guilty as the ...read more
Kat Von D Dressed in “Maternity Black” Hits Hollywood!
Dressed to impress! In February Kat Von D married Prayers vocalist Leafar Seyer therefore breaking a lot of guy’s hearts. In May, Kat Von D announced that she was pregnant and the tattoo world went a-buzz! Then in June, Kat tied the knot again (with Leafer) with a gothic wedding ...read more
Tattoo Pain. Why Do Tattoos Hurt So Much? Science has the answer.
How much did that hurt? Did that hurt? Anyone who has tattoos has been posed this question countless times. And ninety-nine times out of a hundred if the person is honest will answer something like, “Hell yeah!” And even though it is pretty much unanimous that every tattoo ...read more
Vintage Wagner Tattoo Flash Discovered in Trunk! Paid $10 for Treasure!
They belonged to an Old Sailor! The six sheets were found in the bottom of a trunk in an attic owned by an 84-year old career Marine Corps man. The trunk had been in storage for over forty years and held other collections including a 1584 hand-colored map engraving of Tuscany, ...read more
Should You Get a Tattoo While Pregnant? Here’s the Facts!
Yes or No? When a woman is pregnant people automatically feel obliged to give advice. It’s just a natural inclination, especially from women who have already gone through the beauty and pain of giving birth. Everyone wants the mother and child to be healthy and everyone has their ...read more
VIDEO! 25 Shell Inspired Tattoos for the Summer!
The cutest of crustaceans! Ahhhh, summer is here, and the smell of the sea and sun block fill the air. Sights of waves crashing on the beach and girls in bikini’s and tatted up dudes braving the surf are just two types of nature’s beauty that tantalize your sense of sight. What ...read more
75 High-Testosterone Tattoos for Guys! For Those Manly Men!
Quienes es Mas macho…tattoo? Okay, let’s get something straight from the get-go. We’re not saying chicks can’t get these tattoos! We’re not even suggesting that these next 75 pieces would look awesome of a girl’s body. However, what we are insinuating here is that these badass ...read more
Why Religion Hates Tattoos! Carl Lentz, “…that stuff died on the cross."
Does Religion Hate Tattoos? Although there are many Eastern and Subtropical religions that embrace and include tattooing as an integral and highly spiritual aspect of their worship, most Western religions and tattoos have been at odds for centuries. The Jewish religion ...read more
Kat Von D - A Dirty Dozen Facts on The Queen of Ink!
She is Tattoo Royalty! Whether you're covered from head to toe in ink or just know someone who has a tattoo, odds are you have heard of the undeniable Queen of Ink, Kat Von D. Although a great deal of Kat's life has been documented via her wildly successful reality show LA Ink, ...read more
The most AGONIZING tattoo experience! The Brutal Black Project
“The only breaks are for puking and crying.” It’s a given that pain is part of the tattoo experience. In fact, most of us embrace some of that discomfort. It is an essential element that one must endure to be granted access into the world of a tattoo collector. In addition, we ...read more
50 Amazing 3-D Tattoos! You Won’t Believe Your Eyes!
Mind Blown! One of the most popular tattoo styles is realism and hyper-realism. When that style is combined with the eye bending effects of 3-D the results are amazing. Granted, you just can’t stroll into any old tattoo shop and expect an artist to bang one of these out for you. ...read more
ER Doctors Argued Whether to Honor Man's "DNR" Tattoo.
The Power of a Tattoo! Medically themed tattoos have been around for years and while most have been to make a statement about a certain disease they have battled (cancer) or a condition they deal with on a day-to-day basis (type 1 Diabetes) recently an uptick of “DNR’ (Do Not ...read more
The Big Man of Micro Tattoos! Gael Ricci
God is in the Details! The dot work of French tattoo artist Gael Ricci is known internationally. Ricci is based in Sainte-Maxime and for years has been the go-to artist for Europeans looking for poetic designs and delicate creations utilizing dot work, fine lines and gradients. ...read more
Shop Removes Racist Ink For Free!
Life Changing Tattoos! Most people who don ink will admit to having a tat or two that they may regret to some level. It may be the name of an ex-girlfriend, an ex-wife or a badly executed tattoo received from a less then reputable shop they stumbled into drunk one night. However, ...read more
Noel’le Longhaul – a non-binary trans person – talented tattoo artist…and practicing witch!
The True Spiritual Side of Tattooing. The tattoo world — like any other sub-culture — is full of unique people. A wonderful collective of colorful personalities, drenched with talent and passion. Peppered with people draped beneath intriguing idiosyncrasies and a philosophy of ...read more
Portuguese Museum Displays Strips of Tattooed Human Skin
It Actually Isn’t as Creepy as It Sounds Although views on tattoos were at their most putrid levels in the early 1990s, plenty of people were still basking in ink. With the popular misconception that the art of tattoo was reserved for the lowest of lowest in society – like ...read more
Awesome Photos of Tattoo History in the United States
Your grandpa probably had some secret ink It's incredibly commonplace to cover almost your entire body in tattoos these days, though you may get a few weird stares if you dare to get them on your face. Tattoos aren't the extreme body modification that they used to be in America, ...read more
Military Ink: U.S. Air Force Relaxes Their Tattoo Policy
The U.S. Military is opening its mind to your ink! Finally, some good news! For all you ink lovers who've thought about joining the Air Force but were deterred by their strict policies about body art, it seems that the times are finally changing. The U.S. Air Force just announced ...read more
Find Out the Meanings Behind These Tattoos!
Maybe something on the list will inspire your next piece! Although tattoo art can be very personal, there are traditions when it comes to what we put on our bodies. You can never be sure what someone's ink means to them unless you ask, but it is helpful to know that there are ...read more
13 Tips to Make Tattoos Hurt Less
Getting A Tattoo Doesn't Need to Suck It's very important to do your research before going under the needle, especially if it's your first time. We here at Inked believe that the more you know about the process, the more enjoyable your experience will be and the happier you will ...read more
EXCLUSIVE: Christy Mack in "MAD MACK"!
Get to Know The Living Legend Christy Mack is one of the most empowering (and gorgeous) models we've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Behind her badass look, she exudes the most genuine kindness and compassion I've ever seen. The adult star-turned-entrepreneur has had her fair ...read more
Inked Breaks the Guinness World Record for Most Tattoos Done in 12 Hours
We went. We inked. We conquered. If you haven't heard by now, Inked is breaking world records these days. With the assistance of tattoo artists, Erick Alayon and Matt Deleo, this past Saturday (Feb. 11), Inked set out on a mission to top the previous record of 884 tattoos done ...read more
Is the Tattoo Industry Broken?
Lee Roller—the Founder and CEO of Custom Tattoo Design, an online retailer dedicated to providing premium, custom tattoo designs worldwide—has graciously penned this post exclusively for Inked. Let me open this topic by saying this; the tattoo industry is broken and frankly is ...read more
VIDEO: Industrial Robot Moonlights As Tattoo Artist
If you are the type of person that is constantly looking at technology and fearing that it will become self aware (like Skynet!) and lead to the eventual destruction of the human race we suggest that you stop reading right now. But if the idea of a tattooing robot seems pretty ...read more
Quiz: What Tattoo Style Best Suits You?
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New Study Shows Earliest Tattoos Were Created With Volcanic Glass Tools
Every time a tattoo artist fires up their machine and goes to work they are continuing a tradition of body modification that started thousands of years ago. And while it is easy to imagine people being tattooed thousands of years ago it is much more difficult to picture how ...read more
The Top Tattooed Cities in America
Who doesn't love a good regional rivalry? Part of the reason that sports are so popular is that it gives us definitive evidence to fuel our fights over how City A is far superior to City B. As tattoo aficionados we were trying to find a way to do this that pertained to our ...read more
Is This Woman The Last Traditional Tattoo Artist in the Philippines?
At 97-years-old, Apo Whang-Od (pronounced Fang-Od) is the oldest Kalinga mambabatok (traditional tattoo artist) in the Philippines—but is she the last? The tradition honored by Butbut Kalinga people states mambabatok's can only pass their tattooing trade down to a family heir, ...read more
Body of Work: Dermographic Art Collector
Jeremy James is a buttoned-up, hard working restaurant owner and entrepreneur. When dressed in his regular business clothes, he appears to be just like every other normal, white-collar worker. Little do most of his colleagues and fellow PTA parents know, he’s almost completely ...read more
Yallzee's Shark Tattoos
Don't miss 10 of the most terrifying shark tattoos on the internet! The jaws in photo #7 will keep you out of the ocean for weeks. Yallzee rounded up some killer shark tattoos and paired them with fun facts about the ancient creature. So now, while this list will give you great ...read more
Amazing 3,000-Year-Old Tattooed Mummy Discovered in Egypt
A startling discovery has been made by an archaeologist working in Egypt's famed Valley of the Kings—a mummy with elaborate illustrative tattoos. This is not the first time that a mummy with tattoos has been discovered in Egypt—there are many examples of mummies with lines or ...read more
VIDEO: This Soapy Tattoo Reveal Video Will Blow Your Mind
People on the internet are unhappy with the latest tattoo reveal trend: The soapy tattoo reveal. Surely by now you've seen a video or two? See? There's an example of a fantastic soap reveal. It just gets you sort of pumped up when you see that tattoo appearing out of nowhere, ...read more
Yallzee's Amazing Collaboration Tattoos
Yallzee rounded up 11 mind blowing collaboration tattoos done by some of the best artists in the biz—the trio of full back tattoos in photo #6 are completely mesmerizing. Collaboration tattoos are some of our favorite pieces to look at because it took two (or more) artists to ...read more
Yallzee's Amazing Koi Fish Tattoos
These 18 stellar koi fish tattoos were carefully selected by Yallzee, and they're like nothing you've ever seen before—his pick for #7 is insane. Yallzee never fails to select tattoos with high detail. His koi fish selections are packed with elements guaranteed to drop your jaw. ...read more
Krishna Tattoos
Check out 10 beautiful Krishna tattoos that will light up your life, see #7 for an incredible black-and-grey sleeve! In Hinduism and other religions the Krishna is respected as the supreme God or the divine hero. Krishna can also be worshiped as the model lover, God child, or ...read more
Hamsa Tattoos
Gallery Follows the Text To an onlooker, hamsa tattoos just look like cool designs filled with great detail and often lots of color. But there is so much more than meets the eye. Hamsa, in Muslim communities, is referred to as the Hand of Fatima. In Jewish communities, it is ...read more
Christ Tattoos
Gallery Follows the Text Many have invested their faith in a religion of sort. Then again, many have not. No matter which category you fall into or the beliefs you value, we can all respect a good tattoo when we see one. This is a list featuring Jesus Christ only, with a peek of ...read more