For thousands of years, tattoo traditions have existed in some early civilizations of the world. Different tribes employ intricate tattoo patterns to have a distinction to each other. In the Western word, the tattoo tradition can be traced back from the first explorations in the Pacific. The basis of this body art is the Polynesian tattoo designs characterized by bold black designs. Within Polynesian tattoo, further styles are present such as Samoan, Tahitian, Hawaiian, and Maori.

The Polynesian “Tatau”, as it was originally known, was first adopted by European sailors who brought it to Europe. Since then, the practice of tattooing has spread in many parts of the continent. The early practitioners of body art are some of the sailors themselves who had artistic inclinations. As more artists learned the art, a number of variations have also been introduced depending on the suggestion of the individuals who want to have the tattoo.