An estimated 32 percent of Americans have at least one tattoo. Quite a few have more than one. Millions more are considering inking up. It’s a big decision, though. Perhaps the most difficult question here isn’t whether to get a tattoo but which one to get.
American traditional tattoo shops in Dallas offer countless designs to choose from. You’ll definitely want to spend some time shopping around to find one that truly meshes with your style, personality, and the message you want to convey. Before diving headlong into your journey to find the right design, though, take a few moments to learn more about our nation’s conventional body art.
Gazing Back in Time
To fully understand American classic tattoos, we need to determine just what could be considered classic or traditional. That’s a complicated concept with a long-running history. In fact, body art was a part of the country’s heritage long before explorers found the land that would eventually become the United States.
It actually began with Native American tribes, and they’re believed to have arrived here at least 20,000 years ago. Different tribes had different tattoo styles, and each one gave specific meanings to their unique designs. For the most part, their body art had spiritual and ceremonial significance, and some designs marked rites of passage.
Obviously, in the early days, Native Americans couldn’t simply look up American traditional tattoo shops near me. They created and applied designs on their own. Instead of needles, they used thorns, cactus spikes, and sharpened bones or stones to puncture the skin and put pigments into place.
They didn’t have the same types of ink we have today, either. They used natural resources they had on hand to create different pigments. Black and gray were generally made of soot while other colors could be made of minerals and plants. They mixed powdered minerals and plant extracts with carriers like animal fat, plant sap, or water to transform them into pastes.
Moving Forward
Over time, explorers and settlers from elsewhere came to North America. Many of them came from lands that had tattooing traditions of their own. They may very well have exchanged ideas and techniques with Native Americans. When Columbus and his crew landed in 1492, some of them likely had body art as well. They could have easily picked up their conventions from other regions and further blurred the lines when they arrived in what is now America.
In the 1600s, when the original British settlers first made their way to America, they probably didn’t have tattoos. After all, they were Puritans. When they saw those of the Native Americans, and as the country became more densely populated, the idea began to spread and become even more diverse.
Captain James Cook originally arrived in America in the late 1700s. He and his crew were said to have been highly impressed by the tattoos of the Polynesians they’d recently encountered. Their traditional body art technique, known as tatau, involved using combs made of bone, tortoise shell, or shark’s teeth.
They dipped the combs into ink made of soot and oil or water. From there, they placed the combs on the skin and tapped them with a mallet to create designs. Their tattoos were largely made up of unique tribal designs, symbols of social status, tributes to their ancestors, and other images with spiritual and personal significance. Some of Cook’s sailors acquired those native tattoos and brought their ideas to American soil. In fact, the term “tattoo” comes from the Polynesian word “tatau”.
Forging Ahead
That brings us closer to modern-day body art. In the 1800s and early 1900s, millions of immigrants came to America from Germany, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Poland. Each of those cultures had its own traditional tattoos though they certainly weren’t as widespread as they are today. Many of them displayed family crests, animals, and elements of nature though those are only a few of the types of tattoos they may have had.
Around the mid-1800s, immigrants from China and Japan started coming to America. Each of those nations had extensive tattooing traditions of their own. Japan’s bold and intricate Irezumi designs gained a great deal of attention.
China’s ci shen technique was conventionally used to depict dragons, snakes, and other deeply meaningful images. Its tattoos were believed to ward off evil and bring good fortune. Like those of other countries, they had cultural significance as well. Those designs likewise piqued people’s interest and began to spread throughout the nation.
Into the Modern Era
Now, you may be wondering what any of that has to do with American traditional tattoos in Dallas. Honestly, it has everything to do with modern ink. From the body art of the Native American tribes to that of other cultures that have come to the country, they’ve all influenced the designs we see today. Though they may have evolved and branched out over time, they all stem from concepts that were developed hundreds and even thousands of years ago.
Today’s Classic Tattoo Designs
Today, any number of designs could be considered an American classic style tattoo in Dallas. If you’re of Native American descent, and you have strong ties to your roots, you may want to pay homage to them. If your ancestors come from Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, China, or Japan, you might want to get a tattoo that honors those traditional designs and cultural meanings.
Of course, those are only a few of the possibilities. At this point, you have countless designs to choose from, and you can even work with a tattoo artist to develop a completely unique image or scene. That being said, take a look at some of the most popular options for modern tattoos.
- Religious Symbols –Religious symbols are definitely common with crosses and praying hands being some of the most popular. Still, Americans practice a variety of religions, each with its own iconic symbols. Judaism’s Star of David, Buddhism’s Wheel of Dharma, and Islam’s crescent moon and star are a few examples.
- Flowers –Flowers have long been an element of body art in numerous cultures, and they remain common today. Roses are certainly popular with those of different colors having various meanings. Red roses often represent love while black ones can signify death or the end of a period in a person’s life.
- Animals –Natural elements have always been a part of the world of tattoos. That’s the case across virtually all cultures. Like flowers, animals fall into this category. Different animals can have different meanings, too. Bison represent strength and bravery while bears can symbolize healing and spiritual journeys. Per Indian and Chinese culture, elephants can represent good fortune. Wolves signify loyalty whereas turtles are associated with wisdom.
- Snakes and Dragons –Snakes are common in body art. They can represent anything from evil and temptation to healing and immortality. Almost every culture has some form of dragon in its ancient lore. These beautiful, fearsome creatures can symbolize danger, chaos, power, and strength.
- Mythical Creatures –Mythical creatures are also popular tattoo themes. Those can include dragons as well as fairies, unicorns, phoenixes, and mermaids. Gargoyles, which were once believed to come to life at night, can also make for beautiful tattoos. They symbolically keep evil at bay. Those are only a few of the possibilities.
- Skulls and Daggers –You probably don’t have to look far to find someone with a tattoo that includes skulls and/or daggers. Those are often considered to be purely American, but they likely stem from the ancient practices of commemorating battles and conquests via body art.
- Motorcycles –Motorcycle are among the few subjects of tattoos that are distinctly American. Biker culture dates back to the 1950s in the United States. Though many people associated it with rebellion at first, it’s now more a matter of freedom, brotherhood, and living life on your own terms. Along those same lines, many bikers include the names of their clubs in their tattoos.
- Symbols of the Armed Forces –For centuries, soldiers and warriors in different cultures have been paying tribute to the armed forces they were affiliated with. That practice carries over to members of the American armed forces as well. The Marines’ eagle, globe, and anchor; the Army’s eagle; the Navy’s eagle and anchor; and the Air Force’s winged star are prime examples.
- First Responders –First responders also honor their branches with tattoos. Firefighters have the Maltese cross while paramedics and EMTs have the Star of Life with the caduceus. Law enforcement officials are represented by numerous badges depending on their departments. There are also flags with the thin blue line for law enforcement, the thin red line for firefighters, and the thin white line for EMS.
- American Flag –Another popular request at American traditional tattoo shops near me is the nation’s flag. Flag tattoos come in an endless variety of styles, all of which bear America’s signature stars and stripes.
- Anchors and Compasses – Anchors and compasses can have very deep meanings. Compasses symbolize direction, always being able to find your way home, and a desire to find your purpose. Though anchors are often associated with sailors, they can also indicate strength, stability, and perseverance. When used together, they can stand for balance and staying true to yourself.
Those are a few of the traditional American tattoos you have to choose from. Some are uniquely American whereas others have roots in other cultures and have been modified over time. No matter which one you choose, be sure you understand its both its underlying meaning and its significance to you.
Finding Your Perfect Traditional American Tattoo
America has long been considered a melting pot. Customs from numerous cultures have influenced the life we’ve come to know today. They affect virtually every aspect of our lives from our food and entertainment to our beliefs and values. They’ve also contributed to our body art, and they’ve given rise to an endless array of tattoo designs.
Tattoos have a long, diverse history in America. They date back thousands of years and have grown and evolved over time. With that being the case, finding the perfect American traditional tattoo is a more complex journey than most people realize. Whether you choose a purely patriotic design or draw from your ancestral roots, find one that not only looks amazing but holds special meaning to you.
