Take a stroll through just about any urban environment and you are sure to run into at least a few tattoo parlors. The mainstream popularity of tattooing has exploded over the last decade or two, and tattoo shops are popping up all over the country. As a result the demand for high quality tattoo supplies, including tattoo guns and ink, has skyrocketed in recent years. Unfortunately, with all of today's available options, it can be a challenge to sift through the good and the bad. If you are considering opening your own tattoo shop but are not sure where to start, then Manga-Tattoo.com is the website for you. We are an online leader in providing the latest information available regarding the world of tattoos and tattoo equipment. Our goal is to help burgeoning artists discover what equipment is necessary in order to open a properly outfitted tattoo parlor, and to inform the public as to the ins and outs of getting their own skin art. We do our best to provide only honest, reliable, and unbiased information and to organize into an easy to understand format. And lastly, we do not formally endorse any one product, manufacturer, or vendor; and all content is strictly for informational purposes only.
Tattoos have a very long history within human civilization. Evidence of tattooed skin can be traced to well over 5000 years ago, the most commonly cited being the "Ice Man" that was discovered on the Italian-Austrian border in the early 1990's. Over the millennia, the practice of permanently decorating the skin has been found within cultures spread all over the world. However, it wouldn't be until James Cook's expedition to Tahiti in the second half of the 18th century that the process would become well known to the Western world.
Tattoo supplies have changed considerably since Captain Cook's time. The Polynesian style of skin art of the 18th century was primarily done with a sharp stick or bone that was dipped in ink and then tapped repeatedly into the skin with another stick. This process, while effective, did take a considerable amount of time and could be a fairly painful experience. By comparison, the electrically powered tattoo guns and other equipment has made the process of getting a tattoo a much easier process, although it is still not entirely without discomfort.
Inks are another aspect of skin art that has changed considerably over the years. The most obvious difference is wide variety of different colors that are available to today's tattoo artists. Nearly any color imaginable can be included in a tattoo design, including inks that only show up under a black light. Needles have also changed, and today can be found in a variety of designs, each with its own specific purpose. This variety of needle design has allowed for a new generation of tattoos, many of which are true works of art. And of course, like any good art form, the boundaries are constantly being expanded.
