Tattoos have always been personal.
The permanent body art can symbolize love, religious devotion, punishment and even serve as just simple decoration. They're a way to decorate a body, show off passions to others and offer colorful reminders for yourself.
According to a 2017 survey from Statista, four out of every 10 adults age 18-69 in the U.S. have at least one tattoo. They aren't a trend of a fad. The practice has been around for thousands of years.
Here are some fast facts about tattoo history from the Smithsonian.
-- The Smithsonian dates the earliest examples of tattoos were found on female Egyptian mummies dated to 2000 B.C. After the discovery of the Iceman in 1991, the date was pushed packed another thousand years.
-- Early tattoos like those found on the mummies were mostly dotted lines and patterns made with a dark or black pigment like soot injected into the skin.
-- Tattoos now are made with a cluster of small needles that inject ink into the skin. Early tattoo instruments included sharpened wood and bronze instruments tied together in a bunch.
-- Other ancient cultures used colors in their tattoos. Researchers say the Inuit are believed to have used a yellow color along with darker pigments.
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