Tattoo is a word derived from Polynesian “tatau” which means “correct, workmanlike”. In total there are 5 types of tattoos. They are natural, that is formed due to injuries, amateur, professional, cosmetic and medical tattoos.
5 types of Permanent Tattoos
#1 Natural: Traumatic or natural tattoos are the type generally found with coal miners and people who work with gunpowder. Coal or gun powder gets inside the wound and cause permanent discoloration of the skin. It could also be caused by serious accident where the asphalt from the road or lead are rubbed with the skin thus penetrating it by several layers. These discolorations are sometimes very deep and are difficult to remove. Difficulty to remove these marks also depends on the areas of the body affected.
#2, 3 Amateur and professional: This type of tattoo is engraved on a person body out of some reason or out of choice. The primary reasons for forced tattoo includes –
- Spiritual faith
- Sign of bravery
- Rank in organization
- Sexual allure
- Form of punishment
- Sign of Slavery
- Outcasts
In modern times tattoo has become more of a fashion statement. Primary reasons why people get it in the first place are –
- Out of appreciation of art
- Adventure
- To do whatever they want and don’t worry about what others will think of it
- Risk involved gives them thrill
- Going against the wind
- Commitment
- Wear their passion on their body
- Out of sentiment
- To look attractive
#4 Cosmetic: This type is also called as permanent makeup. It is done using both noninvasive and surgical methods. This type of method is used primarily to hide skin imperfections, discoloration and give permanent colors for eyebrows, lips, eyes, moles etc. In UK and US lot of women are getting this type of tattoo to hide the scars of mastectomy. It serves two purposes, hides the scars and in reconstruction of nipples.
#5 Medical: This type of tattoo is primarily used for the reconstruction of breasts. It is often used for vitiligo, a skin disorder due to which skin loses its pigment. Skin discoloration in this chronic skin condition is neutralized.
Temporary Tattoos
This is a type of body art or painting on the body which lasts for a day or few weeks. These are of primarily 3 types –
#1 Metallic jewelry This type of temporary tattoos are printed using foil stamping technique instead of usual inks. They give an impression of gold or silver jewelry and lasts for 3 to 6 days. Some of the popular types includes bracelets, necklace, armbands, ankle bracelets etc.
#2 Airbrush They are bit expensive and has very less resemblance with the original tattoos. The paint is sprayed on the body part with stencil with cosmetic inks that is alcohol based. This can be removed easily using baby oil or alcohol.
#3 Henna or Mehendi Heena the dye used for making this type of body art is derived from henna tree or mignonette tree leaves. No other additives are used in making the dye paste. It leaves behind reddish orange to brown color. It is a type of application which has to be left for minimum 2 to 3 hours to get the colors imprinted on the skin. This type of body art form is not recommended for children due to the time it takes to settle. There are virtually no side effects of this application in pure form however problems might arise when additives are used with it.
Top 5 Differences Between Temporary and Permanent Tattoos
Looking forward to getting a nice tattoo done on your body? Want to know what kind of tattoo is good enough for you? Taking time to decide on the design? Then there is something that you have got to know way before you select a design and think of getting it tattooed on your skin – the two main types of tattoos.
In case you don’t know this already, you can either have temporary tattoos or permanent ones on your skin. When I talk of temporary tattoos, I am not only talking about those sticker tattoos that you get in the market; those are meant for the kids! Temporary tattoos are also designed and painted on the skin; they, too, look as pretty as the permanent ones.
If you don’t know the major differences between both of these concepts, I am here to give you the five major differences between the two. Read below to know about them:
1) Meaning
Temporary – A temporary tattoo looks just like a permanent, but is made either with the help of a brush (and paints) or a sticker. If the tattoo artist has a good hand in this art, it is difficult to figure out whether it is a temporary or a permanent one.
Permanent – This tattoo is an image, which remains with you for the rest of your life. Unless you get it surgically removed, there is nothing you can do to erase it off. Thus, people think twice before getting a permanent tattoo on their skin.
2) Aftermath
Temporary – Unless you are allergic to paints, there is no harm in getting a temporary tattoo on your body. The tattoo remains on your skin for a temporary period and when the time of the ink or the sticker is over, it washes away.
Permanent – You have to wait for at least three weeks for your permanent tattoo to get healed completely. You can’t pour water on your skin, where the permanent tattoo is recently made. After the process, there are a lot of precautions that you need to take, along with applying a proper ointment on the skin for it to heal quickly.
3) Pain
Temporary – When you are in the process of getting a temporary tattoo done for yourself, the good news is that you don’t go through any pain. Such a tattoo is made with the help of a brush, paints, dye or a sticker. They can be removed easily or could fade out with time.
Permanent – I wouldn’t lie – this type does pain, but the intensity depends upon how much you can bear. If you are someone, who knows how to tolerate a little amount of pain, then you can easily get this done on your skin. To be honest – the pain is just like ten ants biting you at the same time! However, after a few minutes, you get used to it since the area gets numb.
4) Blood
Temporary – The good thing about the temporary tattoo is that you don’t have to see any blood oozing out from the area where it is made, since the process includes painting and no insertion of ink.
Permanent – You do see a little bit of blood oozing out of your skin in the process of the permanent tattoo. However, this should not stop you from getting it done in the first place. I myself have a tattoo and it was an amazing feeling to get it made. Once you have it on you, you feel amazing and all the pain you undergo is all worth it!
5) Cost
Temporary – Temporary tattoos are far cheaper and affordable in prices than the permanent ones. The good news is that you can also buy stickers from the market and place them on different parts of your skin, depending on your preferences. There are many companies that are into the designing and manufacturing of these stickers. The best part is that you could get it done for occasion like festivals, events and get it custom made according to the occasion.
Permanent – Such tattoos are generally very expensive, depending on the artist that you hire to get them made on your body. Also, the prices vary depending on the design, color and size of the tattoo that you choose for yourself.
No doubt temporary tattoo has its own benefits and there is no trouble of getting it removed in future, if you don’t want to keep it anymore, but I personally prefer permanent tattoos because they are wonderful and they are those tiny things that you carry to your grave. It is like doing something on the body that the Creator has created for you. I know that it does pain and it freaks you out to see the blood oozing out of your skin, but when it heals and you see it every time – you feel beautiful!
