We are all aware that tattooing is an ancient method of body decoration which carries with it ties to a wealth of heritage and tradition.  However, these days’ tattoos are more about self expression and the quest for individuality.  When you think about how tattoos came to our shores from the South Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand it was the sailors on these exploratory vessels that brought the passion for tattooing back with them.  Sailors would often get a tattoo as a souvenir from the places they visited rather like a stamp on a passport.  They became symbols of experience and fortitude.  The tattoos that they would get would be rich in symbolism and meaning, generally relating to safe journeys and protection whilst they travelled the world’s oceans. Superstition Though not always obvious or visible, even today’s modern sailors will have tattoos that celebrate superstitions that have followed mariners down through the centuries.  For example one of the oldest sets of tattoos that offer sea farers protection is the pig and rooster.  The pig is tattooed on one foot and that rooster on the other.  Both of the animals depicted fear the water, therefore by having them on your feet; you should never be in the position of getting them wet and sinking, combined with the desire of the animals to be far from open water they would also influence the safe and swift return of a vessel to port. Polaris, the North Star is another traditional tattoo, generally representing the theory that a sailor will always find his way into port and never be lost at sea.  The traditional image of an anchor with its cable or chain entwined around it is known as a ‘fouled anchor’ and was traditionally used to illustrate that a sailor had successfully crossed the challenging Atlantic Ocean.  Other anchor tattoos are symbols of strength and power, which when considering how much weight an anchor holds in place is a very good illustration. A sailor with a set of blue stars on his hand has probably sailed around Cape Horn several times, adding a new star for each safe trip completed.  In recognition of long distance travels and the immensity of the oceans, sailors who have crossed the equator during their journeys will be tattooed with a sea turtle.  Images of swallows on the shoulder symbolise crossing the tropics of Capricorn and cancer.  There are probably others whose meaning has been lost over the centuries too. Tradition Non sailors may claim traditional sea faring tattoos for their own without realising the significance of them at all, adopting them because they look cool or want to present a certain image to their peers, which is a shame.  Like many ancient cultures the tattoos of centuries of sailors have marked milestones and events in their lives, signifying transitions and achievements, overcoming immense danger and peril.  Just like the ancient cultures of the South Pacific from where the original sailing expeditions took their initial inspiration.

No matter how much you really wanted your original tattoo, or how much you loved the design at the time, there may come a point when you no longer want to be reminded of your reasons for getting it, or the love of your life that it was designed to celebrate.  In times like these it’s time to look into either tattoo removal or a cover up to make that area of skin less frustrating to you and lose the stigma associated with the original tattoo. The Idea The basic premise of cover up tattooing is to hide the offensive original artwork with new ink.  Depending on the style and size of the original tattoo it may mean that the entire area can be covered with a completely new design, or that the original design can in some way be adapted to form the basis of a new one.  Most people will opt for a total covering of the original piece of work rather than still being able to identify the old design inside the new work. When considering having cover up work done, look for an artist that has experience in this kind of work, as it does require a good eye and a certain level of creative skill.  Make sure you look through their portfolio’s which should contain a series of before and after shots of any cover up work completed.  Speak to anyone who has had cover up work done and ask questions about their experience and if they can recommend a tattooist for you to speak to. Procedure You will of course still have a tattoo at the end of the process, but you should be a lot happier with the one you leave with than the one you started with.  Make sure that when you consult with your artist that you have a range of ideas for designs that you would like to use as a replacement, ask them for their opinions too.  It may be that your artist will come up with design ideas that you have never considered.  Remember, don’t try and push a design that your artist thinks is unviable, or else you will be left with another reason to be unhappy.  These guys know what they are doing and if they say something won’t work, or will look awkward, listen to them. Tattoos can generally only be covered up once, so whatever you leave the shop with is what you will have to live with for the rest of your life.  Bear in mind that the new tattoo will need to be larger than the original in order to cover it completely, you may also have to get used to the idea of having a darker design so that the darker pigmentation hides the original colouration.  Cover up tattoos can take a lot longer to complete than fresh artwork, and may involve multiple sittings before it is complete.  Make sure you discuss the time required and the cost of the work before you agree to anything.

Many tattoo artists have their own unique pigment blend that they use regularly, made to an exact recipe that they keep a closely guarded secret.  In reality the majority of dyes on the market today contain traditional vegetable dyes along with metal salts and plastics.  One of the newest dye adaptations is a UV reactive agent that makes the tattoo react to black light, plus inks that absorb light then release it for a glow in the dark effect for an added artistic dimension. Pigments and Carriers It would be very unwise to attempt a tattoo with pigment alone as a carrier assists in keeping the pigments balanced and fluid during application.  There are five main carriers that are used, either on their own or as a mixture; these are purified water, witch hazel, ethyl alcohol, glycerine and propylene glycol.  This is what each artist uses to develop a recipe blend that works the best for them and goes on to use throughout the majority of their career. Henna is possibly the most widely used pigment.  Derived from the Lawsonia Inermis plant it provides a natural and intense level of colour.  Henna is very safe to use as allergic reactions to it are very rare.  Used mainly for temporary tattoos and hair colouring henna is a very practical and harmless pigment. Some pigments can cause severe allergic reactions, especially across the yellow and red range of colours.  Red inks often contain mercury or other heavy metals such as iron oxide or cadmium; it is the addition of these metals to the inks that give them their permanence.  It is also the addition of these metals that is responsible for the majority of reactions.  Reactions can range from scarring and eczema to lifelong mercury sensitivity, including any existing tooth fillings.  Other colours also contain heavy metals like antimony, cobalt nickel, lead, arsenic and chromium, all of which can lead to reactions in the skin.  A huge variety of pigments are available readymade, called pre-dispersed inks, which remove the need to mix carriers and individually dry pigments to create inks. Safety With a vast colour palette available to artists there is literally nothing from nature than cannot be recreated on a living canvas.  There are over fifty different shades and pigments available with more being regularly added to the list.  However, though readily accessible there is very little available in the way of governance that regulates their supply and use.  In fact you would be hard pressed to find a product that has been licensed for injection into the skin as tattooing pigment is not regulated as closely as pigments used in the general cosmetics and beauty industry.  If you are considering having a tattoo, and have had any form of allergic reaction to any chemical based products in the past, you would be wise to check with your chosen tattoo artist to check just what ingredients are in the inks he or she will be using before you start.