what is tattoo

A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on the skin by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, and/or pigments into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. The process is done by puncturing the skin with needles and injecting the ink into the deep layer of the skin. Tattoos can be decorative, symbolic, or pictorial, and they can serve as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, marks of fertility, pledges of love, amulets and talismans, protection, and as punishment. Tattoos can also be used for functional purposes, such as identification, permanent makeup, and medical purposes. The word "tattoo" comes from the Samoan word "tatau," meaning "to strike". Tattooing has been practiced in most parts of the world, and tattooed designs are thought by various peoples to provide magical protection against sickness or misfortune, or they serve to identify the wearers rank, status, or membership in a group. Before getting a tattoo, it is important to understand that tattoos are permanent, and tattoo removal is difficult, expensive, and may not completely remove the tattoo.