They are what you see on your friends, family and people walking down the street. This growing tattoo debate brings me to the point of the evolution of tattoos. Tattoos were once thought to be a risky trend, but now they are increasingly becoming the norm. As we know, tattoos aren't as uncommon as they once were. Tattooing is a widely practiced method of body decoration in which signs, symbols and letters are applied to the body by piercing the outer layer of the skin and inserting color into it. Whether ancient or modern techniques are used, the skin is pierced with a sharp instrument. Now, we usually use an electrically moved needle. In the past and in other cultures, tattooing required one or more needles attached to a stick and inserted into the skin with a gentle tap. Among the Sioux, for example, women would draw a circle or line on a person's skin with clay, pierce the design with an awl, and then rub the blue clay over it. When the clay dried, it had seeped under the awl holes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Tattooing is something that is becoming more and more common throughout society. It started more than a thousand years ago in native tribes. Depending on the design and elements used, these tattoos told stories. Tribal tattoos were also used to differentiate other tribes and show their social status. The figures and shapes used in these tribal tattoo styles were often representative of animals or other elements of nature and tribal life. Tattoos from indigenous cultures were typically created using only black ink and were made using a hollow needle made from local objects including bamboo, bone, porcupine quill, and other natural materials. Some tattoos are self-motivated expressions of personal freedom and uniqueness. Most, however, have to do with certain traditions that mark a person as a member or non-member of the local group, such as expressing religious, magical, or spiritual beliefs and personal convictions. The oldest tattooed body known so far is that of a Bronze Age man who died over 5,000 years ago. It was found frozen and somehow still intact in an Italian glassmaker. Researchers were surprised when they carried out a thorough examination of his body and discovered that he had both arms, legs and torso covered in elaborate tattoos depicting mythical creatures. In the 60s, 70s and even 80s, tattooing wasn't exactly as fashionable as it is now. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Traditionally, it was preferred by specific people in society such as members of the military, sailors, or counterculture groups such as bikers or prisoners. Working-class youth of the punk movement in the late 1970s and 1980s used tattoos and piercings as symbols of rebellion. In the 1980s and early 1990s, getting a tattoo in North America cost $100 an hour. It then rose to $120 in the 1990s and then to $150 in the 2000s. Americans made the tattoo very popular as television shows such as Miami Ink, Ink Master, and Best Ink became hits across the country. One artist in particular who has thrived by being featured on television for her work is Kat Von D. She has become one of the most popular artists in the country. His client list is extensive, ranging from Miley Cyrus to Dave Navarro, and his rate for a tattoo starts at $500 an hour? Bottom line, many people might.