Armband Tattoos

Armband Tattoos

Armband tattoos are some of the most popular type of tattoo designs to this day. If you think about it the reasons are pretty clear. The armband tattoo can make a very sharp statement and it’s also one that can be proudly shown when the person wants to, but it can also be hidden the sleeves of your shirt if you need to. Armband tattoo designs can be as complicated as the person wants them to be. Finally, armband tattoos can look good on members of either sex, men or women. Another great thing about an armband tattoo is that armband tattoo designs run the gambit among many different styles. A whole lot of different and varied designs can be used with as much or as little detail as the bearer wants. That’s why Celtic armband tattoos have become the rage, because of the complexity of the design. I particularly like the chain link effect of Celtic tattoo designs. The armband tattoo in the picture is a perfect example. It combines the tradition Celtic knot work into a design that is both striking and very original. And I like the way the ends curl up to make "devils horns". I think it’s a classic example of what can be done with an armband tattoo.

Armband Tattoos

There are many different types of traditional armband tattoos. There are tribal and Celtic armband tattoos and of course popular Polynesian designs, which is where the armband tattoo originated from. Armband tattoos have been used for centuries in the Polynesian islands, and because of the exploration that went on in the seventeenth century, the idea was brought to Europe around that time. Today’s Hawaiian band tattoos are a remnant of that ancient tradition. Of course, the Polynesian islanders used a different tattooing technique, a very painful one in fact, where a shark’s tooth was sometimes used to pierce the skin. Their tribal armband tattoos would still be much admired however. In fact, modern armband tattoo designs incorporate many elements of these traditional Polynesian designs. Among the Hawaiians and the other Polynesian islanders, an armband tattoo showed rank or status. Interestingly, they had much the same function as armbands sewn onto military uniforms. So, that’s a possible symbolism you can include into your armband tattoo design. But, regardless of what meaning you attribute to them, armband tattoos will probably remain one of the most popular types of tattoo, because of their high visual impact and the great range of images that can be adapted to this type of tattoo.