Tribal tattoos have their roots in ancient traditions and cultures. However they have become increasingly popular among men today because of their stylish look and designs which have come to be associated with strength and raw power. With their bold interlocking patterns, tribal tattoos are certainly attention-grabbing. Much of the resurgence in the interest in tribal tattoos can be traced to young people of the so-called Generation-X in the 80’s and 90’s who were drawn to various indigenous cultures of the world. As a result they incorporated some elements of these cultures such as body modification (including wearing earrings and getting tattoos) into their modem lives.

Tribal tattoo ideas

Origins and Meaning of Tribal Tattoos

The traditions of tribal tattoos for men go back to thousands of years. Even other styles of tattoos that are popular today are founded on some aspects of tribal tattoos. The tattoos were used to differentiate between tribes or cultural groups in a particular area.However, of all the indigenous cultures, the Polynesian, Samoan and Maoris are the people who have come to be most associated with tribal tattoos today. Even the word tattoo’ is derived from ‘tatau’, a Polynesian term which means to ‘mark something’.

Other ancient cultures which have some influence in modern-day tattoo art include the Mayan, Aztec, Egyptian, Aboriginal, Chinese and Japanese. These ancient cultures crated tattoos using black ink and hollow needles made of natural materials like bone, bamboo and porcupine quills. However some cultures also used yellow or red pigments in their tribal tattoos.

In most of these ancient cultures, the tattoos identified members of a particular tribe and their social status. The tattoos were also used in religious and medicinal rituals. The shapes and figures that were depicted in the tribal tattoos represented animals, nature and aspects of tribal life. The tattoos were also used to tell a story using various design elements. Warriors used animals or other natural elements in their tattoo designs to represent their strength and fighting abilities.

Designs and placement

Modem tribal tattoos try to mesh these traditional designs with modern images. Rather than being symbols of achievement and status, today’s tribal tattoos symbolize the wearer’s artistic expression. The tattoos are usually placed on the arms, legs and stomach areas of men who are strongly built.

Tribal tattoos are often characterized by thick black lines. You can make a simple or complex design, depending on your personal preference. You can even use multiple colors to depict various images such as stars, Chinese characters, fairies, angels or butterflies. When it comes to tribal tattoos, your imagination is the only limit. Another great thing about tribal tattoos is that they use a lot of ink, therefore they rarely fade. In addition, they look stunning when inked on many parts of the body, especially the legs and sleeves. This is due to the bold lines that are used in most of the designs. These tattoos look great even on darker skin tones.

If you wish to have a tribal tattoo, it does not have to run from your shoulder to your wrist or from your thigh to your ankle. The tattoo artist can cut it off at the wrist or even midway between your elbow and your wrist. Alternatively you can have it placed on your shoulder running to your chest.

Before having a tribal tattoo inked on your body it is important to think about it carefully before committing yourself. This is because the dark, bold lines are more difficult to remove compared to other styles. As much as possible learn about the various designs and what they mean. This will enable you to select the one which works best for you.

Check Out The Best Tribal Tattoo Ideas For Men Here

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This guy has a classy tribal tattoo that looks perfect on his hand. The tattoo covers the upper section of the arm, and it spreads around the right shoulder and the chest area. It also features a nice 3D effect.

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It isn’t as easy as such to recognize the tattoo on the arm of this guy. At first, you might think that it is a piece of cloth that covers the arm. The pattern of the tattoo makes it extra attractive. Even though it isn’t as exotic as such, it still looks nice.

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You might think this tattoo is a part of the guy’s T-Shirt, and most likely, the guy applied it for that purpose. Regardless of the motive of the wearer, this is one of the most attractive tribal tattoos for men.

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The classiness of this one is in the 3D and the glossy effect. It might be difficult to understand the pattern of the tattoo, but it is super attractive. The muscular arm of the guy makes the tattoo extra stylish.

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Even though this guy has big biceps, the point of focus is in the tattoo. The tribal pattern runs around the upper arm, stretching towards the shoulder, and partially towards the elbow. It could have a hidden meaning, or the guy appreciates the art.

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This one features the tribal design, which covers the left chest of the guy, and stretches over the shoulder. It also covers the biceps, making it quite stylish. The ink used is bold and has a glossy effect to compliment the look.

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This is also among the tribal tattoos that have a basic design, but with a hidden meaning. It has a stylish pattern that is not easy to comprehend, but quite easy on the eye. With such an ambiguous pattern, the tattoo could have a specific symbolism.

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As muscular as this guy might seem, he is a great lover of stylish and symbolic tattoos. The chest area and the right arm are covered with the tribal design tattoos. The pattern applied is also unique and quite appealing.

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Here, the guy has a nice tribal tattoo design, which starts all the way from the shoulder muscle, and stretches down to the elbow. The elegance of the tattoo is one of a kind, and it could be carrying a special meaning.

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It is uncertain if the credit goes to the tattooist or the wearer of this elegant tattoo. All in all, the guy looks amazing with it. The pattern is perfectly applied, and it elegantly covers the top arm and a section of the bottom arm.

More tribal tattoos for men on the next page…