From ancient rituals to modern tattoos and piercings, body art has always been a way for people to tell their story.
Body art has existed for thousands of years, with different cultures creating their own unique styles and traditions. Early humans used natural pigments, such as red and yellow clay or charcoal, to decorate themselves for hunting, religious ceremonies, and tribal rituals. Some Indigenous African and Native American communities practised scarification — creating raised scars to represent identity, culture, or belonging.
Today, tattoos and piercings are often used as a way to express personality, identity, and individuality.
Henna was first discovered over 5,000 years ago across the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa. In ancient Egypt, henna was used to dye the hair and nails of pharaohs, as well as being used in mummification rituals. In many cultures, the night before a wedding, henna is applied to the bride and bridesmaids. The bride often has the groom’s name or initials hidden in her henna, and on the day of the wedding, the groom has to try to find his name.
…henna was used to dye the hair and mails of pharohs, as well as being used in mumification rituals.
Jagua originated with Indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest. It comes from the Genipa americana fruit and leaves a blue-black stain on the skin, making it popular for temporary tattoos because the stain naturally fades over 1–2 weeks.
Pharaohs and Egyptian royalty used nose and ear piercings to show status and wealth, and Romans had piercings to show bravery and loyalty to their empire. Today, piercings help people express themselves and can be done in safe environments, meaning more complex piercings are possible.
In the UK, you must be 18 to get a tattoo, even with parental permission. Piercings, on the other hand, can be done at any age depending on the studio, but more complex piercings are usually restricted to those aged 16 or 18+.
Tattoos are not always about fashion or self-expression. Some medical tattoos are used after surgery to recreate features such as eyebrows, or to help camouflage scars. Others can show important medical information, such as allergies or health conditions, although medical ID jewellery is more commonly used in emergencies.
