Popular prison tattoos and their meaning

According to archaeological discoveries and ancient artifacts, the history of tattooing dates back to 6000 BC, over 8000 years ago. Tattoos were - in some cultures still today - a sign of maturity or a sign of someone's rank, position in a tribe or community, and even a symbol that marks the boy's path on his journey to adulthood. They were also used to represent tribal affiliation, with each tattoo representing heritage and family history.

For most of modern history, tattoos have been closely associated with pride, identity, and the psychological need to stand out and be different from others. However, in ancient China, tattoos were also used to denote and identify convicted criminals. While it seems unlikely that prison tattoos were the result of this brutal and archaic practice, they share the same notoriety.

Over the years, prison tattoos have acquired such a terrible reputation that they have become their own culture. It was natural for people to be afraid of the person who wore prison tattoos because she was in prison for the crimes they committed and the stigma persists to this day.

With the rise in popularity of tattoos, many decided that getting prison tattoos was a good idea, even if they had never spent a day in prison. They only want it because the design looks great. If you are thinking of a prison themed tattoo, it is worth knowing what some of the more popular designs mean so that you don't have problems with people who might think you are part of a rival gang.

Blob tattoo

Rapper Lil Wayne's tear tattoo depicts two murdered family members.

If you want a teardrop tattoo, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. A teardrop tattoo placed just below your eye can have several meanings. They can represent the number of years a person spent in prison, the loss of a loved one or a gang member. In some cases, this is also seen as a sign that the person has committed or is about to commit murder. In Mexico, tear tattoos can also represent the number of prison rapes.

Due to their simple design and ease of execution, teardrop tattoos have become a popular choice despite their dark symbolism. Celebrities like rapper Lil Wayne and basketball player Amare Staudemire wear teardrop tattoos for a variety of personal reasons. This design has become popular, and just because you see someone wearing it doesn't mean that person has spent time in jail. This is especially true of colored teardrop tattoos. Prisoners rarely have access to colored ink in prison.

The process of creating a tattoo is identical to that of a regular tattoo, but since the second tattoo is a cover, the new ink and its colors will be inserted into the dermis by about 1mm. This way the old and new pigments will blend together, but the darker, bolder ink colors will predominate.

Hence, black is the easiest color to choose if you want to completely hide the tattoo you regret. Just be careful when choosing a design, as not all clean dark tattoos will look good. A very talented artist will apply a darker old tattoo with precision.

Similar to the game of hide and seek, the artist will need to formulate an effective strategy to hide the original tattoo without creating a new, overly complex design. Factors such as size, style, coverage and pigments are considered before the pattern is applied.

1488

A 1488 tattoo is visible on the prisoner's forehead.

If your birthday is January 4th, 1988, it’s a good idea to think twice before getting your “1488” tattoo. This number, along with 14 and 88, was used by white supremacists and Nazi prisoners.

The number 14 is a quote from Nazi leader David Lane that reads: "We must ensure the existence of our people and a future for white children." The number 88 is the abbreviation for the 8th letter of the alphabet, written twice HH. or "Heil Hitler". The number 14 could also mean another 14-word white racist slogan, also from Lane, which reads: "For the beauty of a white Aryan woman cannot disappear from the earth."

The 1488 tattoo can be done anywhere on the body, although staunch supporters of National Socialism proudly wear it on the forehead. If you really want your birthday, January 4th, 1988, tattooed on your body, consider the above. Or look for a completely different pattern.

Points

A tattoo in the form of three dots is placed near the right eye.

Dots are probably the simplest and most inconspicuous prison tattoo design to date. Dots that are easy to make and require very little ink can have very different meanings depending on their number and location. For example, the three-dot tattoo is a popular prison tattoo that says “mi vida loca” or “my crazy life”. Although this design is not associated with any gang, it is a symbol of gang life. It is often seen on the hands and around the eyes. In some countries, the three-dot tattoo also has religious significance, often representing the Holy Trinity.

A variant of the three-dot tattoo is the five-dot or quinconx tattoo. This construction symbolizes the time spent in prison, with four dots representing four walls surrounding the fifth point, which indicates slavery. Five-dot tattoos can be seen in prisons around the world, especially in Europe and the United States. This prison tattoo is usually used on the arm between the thumb and forefinger. A five-dot tattoo applied to other parts of the body can have a completely different meaning. Members of the People Nation gang often wear a five-pointed star or five-pointed crown tattoo.

So plan your next tattoo carefully if you don't want to be mistaken for someone who has gone through a difficult period. Seemingly innocent things like tears, random numbers, or even a group of dots can have a much darker meaning, and you need to know the meaning of the symbols you constantly place on your body. There are many popular prison tattoos. It is important to know their meaning and avoid the stigma that each tattoo carries. Unless, of course, you want to be that bad boy or girl with a bad eye. However, knowing the symbolism of the chosen tattoo design avoids ridicule and, even worse, unwanted trouble.