Tribal Designs

Common Aspects

Tribal designs in tattoos are typically characterized by stark, black, arcing lines and mirror-image patternization. These lines and curves may run parallel or intersect and often start thick on one end and come to a point. While the tribal peoples who created these designs as a part of their respective cultures hail from all over the world, the tribal designs available in most tattoo shops are either a conglomeration of various tribes' designs or are Celtic in origin or inspiration.

Tribal tattoos in America are usually applied with dark black ink, but can be done in a variety of colors. Some people wishing to obtain a more traditional tribal look will opt for henna tattoos, a temporary ink that was and is used by actual tribal people in different parts of the world.

Native American Tribal Designs

Descendants of Native American tribes in the US often choose to get a Native American tribal design in an effort to remember and honor their family heritage. The problem with this is that there are many people who have a small amount of Native American ancestry in their family lines, but it is so far back that they may or may not really know what tribe that ancestry hails from. As Laura Redish of Native Languages of the Americas writes, “People who have Indian heritage but no actual connection with their ancestors' tribe are often wrong about their ancestors' tribal affiliation." Essentially, Redish is saying that if your reason for seeking a tribal design in a tattoo is to honor your own tribal heritage, you best be sure you know what that heritage is. A tattoo is a big decision and a permanent mark on your skin (in most cases). It would be bad to get an Apache or Sioux tribal tattoo only to find that the Native American ancestry you share is actually Hopi or some other tribe.

Just For The Fun Of It

Of course, most tribal tattoos today are obtained because the wearer wants to achieve a certain look, not because of any actual ancestral tribal heritage. Some tats incorporate tribal designs into recognizable shapes such as butterflies, scorpions, fish, and skulls while others are simply applied in interesting patterns. The arcing curves of most tribal designs make them excellent choices for curving around arms or legs, but tribal tattoos are just as often applied as a backpiece or on the chest, shoulder or anywhere else the wearer wants a tattoo.

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