Original tattoos in the form of a dot or combination of dots are very popular with both men and women. But few people know that the history of these tattoos originates behind the prison fence. Inmates marked their fellow inmates with these simple markings to indicate their rank, the niche they occupied in the prison hierarchy and to inform other inmates of key information about the sitter.
Within the prison walls, a large sign system was developed to easily and quickly convey the most important information. The semantic meaning of the dots varies depending on their number, geometric combination and location. Of course, modern tattoos cannot be fully compared to the prison tattoos of the beginning of the century. But before choosing a sketch it is better to get acquainted with the basic meanings of this symbol.
Tattoo point
A single dot pocked on the hand (most often the hand or wrist) has a rather large size. In some cases it is a round spot up to 2 mm in diameter. Sometimes the dot may be replaced by a cross with bent, almost rounded edges.
Such a symbol indicates the tendency of the prisoner to escape. And the number of dots in this format is proportional to the number of attempts made. This symbol is of more interest to the convoy than to the prisoners themselves. The tattoo suggests that a reinforced convoy is required when transferring such a prisoner from one place of confinement to another.
But a single large dot located above the upper lip, in the corner of the eye, or the corner of the mouth indicates that the prisoner belongs to a sexual minority.
That's a good question "It's not a get together: People with facial tattoos about life and the reactions of others
Even as a teenager I was madly attracted to tattoos, piercings and people with them. My mother noticed this interest and on my sixteenth birthday I got my first tattoo. In Lithuania, where I lived at the time, you can get a tattoo from the age of sixteen with parental permission. Tightly I began to get tattooed after I got a job in a tattoo parlor. Now my body is 80% to 85% covered in tattoos. I stopped counting them a long time ago. I never put any deep meaning into tattoos - for me it's aesthetics and self-expression.
I decided to get my first facial tattoo spontaneously. It's on my temple, and if you want I can always hide it. The second, above the eyebrow, I "nurtured" a long time and was very nervous before the session: it was very exciting to get a tattoo in such a prominent place. I flew to England to see the famous master, who I trusted a hundred percent.
When I started getting visible tattoos, like my neck and arms, my parents weren't too happy about it, but they were generally cool about it. The only thing my mom asked me to do was not to get more tattoos on my face than I already had. My partner has always been supportive - he's also tightly wound, just like me. We had a funny situation in Bali: when we were having dinner at a restaurant, a waitress came up to us and asked if we could have our picture taken. We agreed and then the whole place stopped working, even the chefs and the owner came. We ended up with a group photo, which the owner promised to hang in the restaurant. We think they thought we were some rock stars from Europe.
Tattoos have never bothered me, rather the opposite: the increased attention makes people listen to you more and easier to remember. Those who get to know me better say that after ten or fifteen minutes they don't even notice my tattoos. In general, the reaction depends on the country: in Scandinavia, passersby react to me completely calmly, but in the Baltics, people publicly express surprise. Sometimes I hear behind my back, "Ew, gross, look how disfigured you are. I always get a laugh out of such comments. Sometimes the opposite happens - people admire, asking questions. The most popular is, "Did it hurt?" To which I answer: tattoos are always painful.
I am the tattoo master, and for people of my profession drawings are not a minus, but huge plus. Here if I have decided to work on a specialty (on education I am the interior designer), I think, I would face difficulties. I want to believe that the world is changing. I always get excited when I see a battered person working in a drugstore, store, or bar. I hope that soon the same person with a facial tattoo can even be seen among bank or law firm employees.
The Three Dots Tattoo
In the prison setting, the three dots are usually arranged in the shape of a triangle. This tattoo is tattooed on the wrist or hand and signifies the life cycle of a prisoner.
Most often this type of tattoo is given to the newcomers, who had not yet managed to become a full member of a criminal gang, but striving to be "their own". In relation to Russian zones this tattoo should be deciphered as: "zone-lazaret-tombstone".
In Mexico, members of the underworld also use this image. The local meaning of the image literally translates to "crazy life. The phrase becomes a credo, a kind of motto for anyone who joins a mafia group and plans to be a permanent member. Sometimes the three dots are replaced by the inscription itself: "mi vida loca".
The main feature of this tattoo is that it belongs to the criminal world as a whole and is not tied to specific gangs. This tattoo can be worn by any Spanish-speaking member of a gang. Wherever the tattoo is applied it always carries the same meaning. The most common place for the three dots among Hispanics is the arm or the area around the eyes.
It is not uncommon to find another meaning of the tattoo, which has a more sacred meaning. Thus, a number of arresters depict the Holy Trinity.
Origin of the tattoo point
This miniature mark is hardly applied by people for the sake of beauty. The dot serves as a certain tool to indicate a person's position in certain communities. Its origin is criminal, from the prison environment, which is always worth remembering when choosing an image for the body.
The symbolism of the tattoo point largely depends on many things - the number and size of dots, the figure that they constitute, the place of the tattoo. It can be a horizontal line of dots, circles and squares, triangles. The combination of signs can be used as a starting point for interpreting the drawing as a whole. The fact is that such dots were not always applied voluntarily, but forcibly in relation to the prisoners.
The meaning of the tattoo point
If we consider the system of prison designations, most tattoos using a dot have a well-defined meaning:
- The dot on the hand is a statement of the fact of detention. Accordingly, the number of dots on the hand of the prisoner, means the number of "walks";
- If instead of a dot, a cross with rounded edges is made, such an image is characteristic of those prisoners who try to escape by any means. The number of crosses represents the number of escapes attempted;
- A dot above the lip resembling a fly or a dot at the outer corner of the eye, as well as a dot in the corner of the mouth - belonging to a non-traditional orientation, readiness for sexual intercourse;
- A dot on the nose is a sure sign of a "snitch;
- A dot on the chin indicates that the prisoner is capable of stealing personal belongings of fellow inmates;
- A dot on the earlobe indicates that the detainee does not keep his word;
- A dot between the eyebrows, similar to Indian tattoos, indicates that the prisoner has become collaborative with the prison authorities and has broken the laws of thievery;
- The dot around the circle and the three dots inscribed in the spheres indicate that the prisoner belongs to the untouchable caste. Such distinguishing marks are applied forcibly. They are placed in the most prominent place on the forehead or between the eyebrows;
- Three dots on a diagonal inscribed in a black square are the hallmark of an inmate who has been violated by fellow inmates. Such a tattoo warns that any contact with the prisoner in question could have serious consequences;
- In prison slang, a dot in the middle of four others means the loneliness of the convict. Literally, the meaning of the tattoo can be translated as "one in the four walls. This tattoo looks like five dots between the fingers or on the knuckles and staggered in a checkerboard pattern. Is another common prison tattoo sketch, common all over the world. The history of this tattoo goes back to Vietnamese prisons, where the central dot also denotes a prisoner, and the side dots symbolize cell mates;
- A crown topped with five dots. This symbol is very popular not only among Russian prisoners, but also among prisoners all over the world. In Russian criminal circles it is the distinctive mark of a respected person or a thief in law. Latin Americans often add such an abbreviation ALKN. Such an image indicates the gangster's affiliation with the largest gangster clan in Latin America. The number of dots symbolizes the involvement of South American gangsters with the popular People's Nation gang;
- The dots tattooed precisely above the veins are a symbol of drug-abusing prisoners.
The main difference between the prison tattoo and the dots is that it is always in plain sight. These are the exposed parts of the hands: the hands, the wrists. And also the face and neck. Prison tattoos do not carry an aesthetic load. They are marks designed to inform others about the character of the sitter, and the side in which he proved himself while in prison. At the same time, the distinctive marks have the same meaning on the areas of both sexes.
Tattoo on the forehead. The meaning of the tattoo on the forehead. Sketches and photos of tattoos on the forehead.
"A man has no right to give God his soul in bed. Either in battle, or a bullet to the forehead." So said Ernest Hemingway, whose works have become classics of literature.
Fortunately, the American's attitude did not become a classic. Most men either did not listen to Hemingway or interpreted his words in their own way.
There were, for example, tattoos on the forehead in the shape of a bullet going in. Who said that the shell must be real, and the soul must be given in the literal sense?
Ernest did not elaborate. The vagueness of his words became the "ground" for only one category of subjects in the body art.
There are others, and not just for men. Let's explore all the options tattoos on the forehead, the meaning characters.
The meaning of the tattoo on the forehead.
Psychologists say that the meaning tattoo on the forehead for girls and guys depends on the location of the tattoo.
The area of the eyebrows and the area attached to them on the subconscious is associated with the own self.
Accordingly, the drawings on the lower part of the forehead convey an attitude toward yourself, the attitude of life, how you feel and, in general, the focus on your own feelings and thoughts.
The area closer to the hair represents society. The tattoo in the upper part of the forehead indicates a close relationship with society, the orientation more to him than inside himself.
Photo tattoo on the foreheadThe photo tattoo on the forehead, located exactly in the center, indicates a harmonious personality.
In such a person, there is no tilt neither in the direction of his "I", nor in the direction of society. Not in vain, it is in the center of the forehead is the so-called third eye.
Physiologists understand it as the epiphysis - the organ of internal secretion. Esotericists and religious scholars recognize this, but use more poetic names: - the third eye and the Ajna chakra.
They are responsible for the ability to see the past, to know the future, to overcome distances by the power of thought in the present.
The qualities alluring to many can be revealed and strengthened by drawing the third eye on the skin.
If you do not dare to make a standard tattoo, try flash tattoo on the forehead.- advise esotericists.
"Flash" translates as glitter. That is, it refers to paintings created with the help of glitter. They are attached to a glue base.
The general perception of the human forehead is related to spirituality, intelligence, and childhood memories.
Do you remember when your mother used to kiss above your eyebrows? This is why men tend not to like forehead kisses from life partners.
It begins to feel patronizing on the part of the woman. Not everyone wants to try on the role of a little, patronized boy.
But girls to kisses on the forehead favorably. So ladies feel the concern of their loved ones, their willingness to patronize and protect, the desire for sincere, not just carnal intimacy.
It becomes clear why tattoos in the form of lip prints on the forehead are mostly ordered by women.
However, to divide the tattoo by sex we will do later. For now, let's divide them into artistic categories.
Types of tattoos on the forehead.
From the artistic point of view, tattoos on the forehead are divided into written and subject. The former range from humorous to philosophical.
Some write: - "The place is surrendered. Others allow, "Knock on wood. The language of the inscription can be anything.
Those who choose philosophical inscriptions tend to place a line on their foreheads through thorns to the stars.
If the inscription consists of two words, or one duplicate, you can fake eyebrows.
This changes the perception of the tattoo, shifting the emphasis from capturing its meaning to admiring the non-standard composition.
Plot forehead tattoos are divided into iconic and artistic. The first ones use the common symbols and geometric shapes.
Take, for example, cross tattoo on the forehead. The crucifix is not only a religious symbol, but also a universal designation of the center of the world, located at the intersection of its four sides.
Tattoo cross on the forehead meaning.Also, is associated with the feminine and masculine.
Maiden energy represents the horizontal rung of the symbol. The vertical line of the cross is associated with masculinity.
Artistic subjects are more difficult to interpret. For the forehead area, mainly choose ornaments. They are significant every curl, stroke.
And the meaning depends on the location of the elements of the ornament, their proximity or remoteness from each other.
In order to decipher pictures, one has to surf through dozens of websites, books, watch cognitive projects on TV.
Not many people need this. Therefore, ornaments are often requested by girls. They need tattoos that emphasize beauty, individuality, and not a reason for philosophical reflections.
Tattoos on the forehead for women
Tattoos on the forehead for womenAs a rule, are subjective. From the category of symbols girls often choose Bindi.
This is a point on the forehead, which is traditionally applied by Hindus. Many Russians were led to this religion by a passion for yoga.
As people became more familiar with its philosophy, they began to learn more about its religious background and became interested in the customs of India.
Red dots on the forehead are worn by married women there. The scarlet color symbolizes the wisdom acquired by the lady in marriage.
However, modernity has given Indian women a reprieve. The bindi began to be matched with the color of clothing and makeup.
The symbol's move into the category of jewelry made it more accessible to foreign women.
Many got so used to the Bindi that they decided to tattoo the symbol so that they wouldn't have to glue and paint it every day.
Among the artistic sketches, ladies choose not only ornaments, but also skeletonized fish, floral arrangements, and graceful animals.
Moreover, they are usually placed to the side of the forehead, pursuing aesthetic goals. Drawings shade the periphery of the head, making it more narrow and feminine.
Tattoos on the forehead for men
Men more often than women request a written tattoo. Of the iconic ones, as a rule, they prefer provocative ones, such as swastika symbols.
Guys also have their favorite artistic subjects, for example, tattoo joker on his forehead.. Such a tattoo symbolizes a joke, which is hidden deep meaning.
The interpretation is associated with the intelligence and ingenuity of real jokers of the past. In order not to anger the kings, but also not to become subservient, the jokers covered the satire, the cloak of lies and simple mockery with humor.
It is worth noting that there are tattoos at the intersection of categories. One of such subjects, demanded by men, is Tattoo a wolf with a cross on his forehead..
According to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, the animal represents ambition and justice.
However, with the advent of Christianity, wolves began to be held for the spirits of evil. Here and then went into action and crosses.
They began to scare away animals. It turns out, a tattoo "wolf with a crucifix" - a kind of amulet from evil thoughts and unclean force.
Tattoo point for girls
For example, girls quite often put small dots on the middle phalanx of their fingers. Such dots mean the goals that the owner of the drawing wishes to achieve. The number of dots, as a rule, determines the number of goals.
The dots on the hands may also indicate the number of children born. The image of the pattern on her shoulders indicates that the woman is indifferent to material possessions. Also, some sources say that to put a dot on the fingers was customary in the Caucasus, where thus marked the brides of wealthy families. This was said to attract the attention of the Caucasian women who were wealthy enough to find a good match for the bride.
Features and benefits
The tattoo "Heart" on the wrist has a number of features and advantages among other permanent images. The first bearers of the symbol of love and faith, which has always been the heart, were sailors and soldiers. In both cases, people put the names of their loved ones, relatives, or pets, for whom they went to war or on a voyage, on their skin along with it.
The "symbol of love and life", as the heart is also called, suits people of different professions and hobbies in the modern world. For example, it is stamped on different parts of the body cardiologists, bikers, musicians and romantic students. In this case, men prefer to wear on their skin an anatomical image of the heart, with veins and arteries, and girls - a romantic, consisting of flowing lines.
Despite the fact that in the XXI century tattoos have become especially popular and are considered in some circles as a "masthead" decoration, many religious denominations have spoken out against such a persistent decoration. The application of permanent markings to the skin is seen as the creation of an idol, which the Bible forbids.
If now monotonous or colored pictures on the human body are considered a fashionable addition, then several centuries ago it was so marked slaves, criminals and women of easy virtue. In addition, tattoos have always been the hallmark of pirates and robbers.
Researchers of this art form believe that the word "tattoo" came to European and other cultures from the islands of Polynesia, where there is a similar "tatau", which literally means "picture on the body. The first tattooists were shamans, and permanent pictures were chosen individually for a person and applied after magic rituals.
In most cases, ancient people drew permanent signs on the skin to protect and enhance necessary qualities. Besides, tattoos were symbols of distinction and social status of its owner.
In the modern world, in most cases, a permanent mark is just an original decoration and a way of self-expression.
The advantages of this image on the skin include:
- the possibility of choosing the size;
- application for 1 session;
- the price of the picture;
- the ability to complement the picture with other details;
- ease of expression of feelings.
A heart on the skin can have various sizes and forms and occupy from a small, up to 5 cm, area of the body up to half of the arm or back. In case the picture is small, the master can do the job in 1 session.
The smaller the area of the tattoo, the cheaper it is. Such a budget option is suitable for students.
The bearer of the symbol of life can easily convey the desired message to others. In this case, the heart can be supplemented with other "speaking" details of the composition or inscriptions.
In addition to the positive qualities, the permanent image of the heart has disadvantages.
They include:
- Possible painfulness of the procedure;
- Difficulty in hiding the image under clothing;
- The need for frequent updating of the picture.
Doing tattoos on different parts of the body is not always pleasant. There are areas where the drawing process is painful, and the skin recovers for a long time after the session. This fact should be taken into account when choosing where to apply the tattoo.
The permanent image is not always possible to hide under clothing if necessary. So, for example, on the neck or wrist tattoo will be visible almost always.
Bright tattoos need to be renewed from time to time, so they do not lose their visual appeal. Also the durability of the coloring pigment depends on the place of the drawing, which should also be taken into account before the session.
Tattoo point in men
Unlike women, men apply dots in the form of a tattoo only after the case has been completed. The number of dots on the hands indicates the successful accomplishment of some landmark project or the completion of an important milestone in the life of the owner. One large dot on the chest indicates that the man has found "his one and only" and is ready to be faithful to her until the end of days.
Another popular trend is to create three-dimensional images from individual dots. This can be fractals, constellations or simply abstraction. The dots can be connected by thin lines or offer space to the imagination. Very effective looks tattoo in the form of a game "Connect the dots with numbers". Such a tattoo excites the imagination, stimulates brain activity and brings people closer together.
Styles and colors
Tattoo "Heart" on the wrist do in the style of "Minimalism" or "Geometry". In most cases it is black and white. The image features a minimum of details, a small area and restraint of colors.
On other parts of the body, the tattoo with the symbol of life master apply in popular techniques:
Style | Features |
"Traditionshinal". | Monotonous picture without unnecessary details |
"Old skool." | a bright tattoo with bold black outlines, dense paint application, and flowing lines |
"New Skool" | A colorful image with jerky, comical elements and thin contour lines |
"Thrash Polka" | a tattoo with a lot of black and red, combining elements that do not seem to be combined |
"Neo-Organic" | colored image with the effect of immersion under the skin |
"Watercolor" | Tattoo in bright colors with broken contours, where the ink often goes beyond the fine lines of the borders |
Most people associate the heart with the color red. In tattoos for the image of this symbol of life are used, in most cases, black and its shades. If they want to complement the tattoo with other elements, they are sometimes painted in green or yellow.
Specialists who study the influence of color on the human psyche note that each of them has its own characteristics. For example, red, in moderation, fills with energy and the desire to achieve, while in excess, it suppresses and causes aggression in others.
Black is considered the most neutral color of the whole palette. At the same time its excess leads to depression and self-absorption.
The green color is able to fill with joy and raise the spirits. In addition, it is associated with spring and youth.
Yellow brings warmth and harmony to life. For many people it is associated with summer, the sun and positivity.
In addition to the classic image, you can meet the heart with additional elements that fill the tattoo with the desired meaning.
In the top 5 popular sketches included the symbol of life with:
- Airplane.
- Wings.
- Knife.
- Flowers.
- Cardiogram.
This kind of durable jewelry is suitable for both genders.
With an airplane
Tender and original looks tattoo, where on the contour line of the heart flies an airplane. The liner can fly in and out of the symbol of life.
The image of the heart and the plane in most cases is made small, using dark ink. Sometimes girls prefer the outline of the symbol of life to be colored.
Some choose a sketch where the heart line is drawn as a dotted line. In addition, the classic airplane can be replaced by a paper one. The original looks tattoo, where the heart is drawn in the form of a planet, along the contour of which the airliner flies.
With wings
The sketch of the heart tattoo with wings has many variations. Often the picture occupies a large area of the body and has bright details. For example, the symbol of life in the form of a scarlet castle with black wings is applied on the chest or back.
In addition to one, there may be 2 hearts on the sketch, each with its own wing and together they form a pair. Some depict an engagement ring over the symbol of life and write their names, while others ask for a crown to be inscribed.
With a knife.
On men's bodies one often sees the "Heart with a Knife" tattoo. The picture can be either colored or done in a monochrome manner.
The knife can pierce the heart from the side or exactly in the middle. There are sketches where name ribbons run through the symbol of love or blood drips from the wound. Some ask for an arrow to be depicted along with the knife in the heart.
With flowers.
A female version is considered a heart tattoo with flowers. In this case, there can be a lot of buds, and they are painted in pleasant shades of pink, blue or orange. Also popular and sketch where a single rose is drawn next to the symbol of life.
Such pictures are complemented with ribbons with names or winged expressions. In addition, there are drawings where flowers grow out of the heart or the buds themselves form a symbol of love and romantic relationships.
With a cardiogram
There are also tattoos where a line of a cardiogram grows out of the heart or forms it. Such images, in most cases, are drawn by masters in black or dark red ink.
Most often they are made on the wrist, in the place where the pulse is palpable.
Popular sketches of the tattoo point
One of the most popular images for girls is a dot with a comma. Mostly it is placed on the wrist or on the neck. Also look interesting points on the ears. Perhaps the image of labyrinths or solar symbols. Exactly can perform the role of an independent tattoo or be part of a larger figure.
Men prefer a more meaningful large-scale tattoo. Dots are performed only as a symbolic mark. In this case, the dot on the male body will be much more massive than on the female body.
As for the color scheme, in general, this type of tattoo is performed with black paint or graphite-colored tint. However, not excluded and colored options, especially if we are talking about complex patterns.
Symbolism of tattoo dots for men and women
In a criminal environment, the meaning of tattoo dots for does not vary by gender. And in a civilized environment girls often put dots on their fingers to emphasize their elegance and just to attract attention. But much depends on the meaning that the person himself lays down. Perhaps it is the number of children - existing or desired. A drawing of dots on a woman's shoulder is a sign of alienation from material interests.
For men, the tattoo of dots is mostly a symbol of a completed "gestalt," of some important project, of achieving a goal. And the more dots, the more success was on the way. If quite large signs are in the heart area, then the man has met his half and is going to be faithful until the end of life.