Types of Tattoos

The tattoo types include Professional tattoos, Amateur tattoos, Traumatic tattoos, Identification tattoos, Cosmetic tattoos, Medical tattoos, and Genital tattoos.

Tattoo types are defined as technique by which tattoos are applied to the skin, each using unique tools, techniques, and purposes. 

The 3 main tattoo types include, professional tattoos, Amateur tattoos, and Traumatic tattoos. Professional tattoo are done in studios with machines and sterile tools, that gives sharp tattoo designs and long-lasting results. Amateur tattoos are like stick-and-poke or prison tattoos, that are done by untrained people and appear faded or uneven. Traumatic tattoos are not intentional at all, as they happen when debris like pencil lead or asphalt gets embedded in the skin from an accident. 

Each tattoo type has its own look, process, and meaning, that shows how tattoos are used for art, identity, healing, or even by accident.

1. Professional tattoos

Professional tattoos are a type of tattoo done by trained and licensed tattoo artists in a tattoo studio. These tattoos are made using proper tattoo machines, sterile needles, and high-quality inks like organic pigments and iron oxide-based inks.

Professional tattoo examples include realistic portraits, sleeve tattoos, and detailed artistic designs. Professional tattoo artists use advanced tattoo techniques such as shading, color blending, and realism to create tattoos based on the client’s ideas.

Professional tattoos appear clear, and well-defined with sharp lines and long-lasting tattoo colors. They are done under strict hygiene standards, the risk of infection, scarring, or fading is very low compared to amateur tattoos.

Professional tattoos cost more in the US, from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the size, complexity, and artist reputation.

2. Amateur tattoos

Amateur tattoos are a type of tattoo done by untrained individuals from basic tools like needles, pins, razor blades, or homemade tattoo machines. These tattoos are commonly seen in people who used DIY craft, who are in prison, or tattoo enthusiasts that make tattoos impulsively without professional training  or tools.

Amateur tattoo examples include stick-and-poke tattoos, prison tattoos, and homemade designs. Stick-and-poke tattoos are created by poking the skin with ink and a needle. Prison tattoos are done using improvised tools to show their criminal status or gang. Homemade tattoos lack clean tools and result in uneven lines and unclear tattoos.

Amateur tattoos appears on skin like faded, and uneven tattoos because they are done by unprofessional ink placement and without proper tattoo technique. These tattoos cause infections, and scarring.

For the removal of amateur tattoos, professional treatments such as laser removal or surgical methods may be needed.

2. Traumatic tattoos

Traumatic tattoos are a type of tattoo which are different from regular tattoos. They happen due to trauma or accidents in which foreign particles like dirt, asphalt, coal dust, or pencil lead get forcefully stuck in a wound.

Traumatic tattoo examples include carbon stains, collier’s stripes, and amalgam tattoos. A carbon stain tattoo is caused when carbon particles embed in a wound during an explosion. Collier’s stripes are caused when coal dust gets stuck in skin scrapes, mostly seen in coal miners. Amalgam tattoos occur when tiny pieces of dental filling trapped in the soft parts of the mouth during dental work.

Traumatic tattoos, also known as accidental tattoos, appear on the skin as blotchy gray, black, or blue spots that do not go away. These tattoos lead to infections and other skin problems such as lichen planus or morphea.

For the removal of traumatic tattoos, you need medical treatment like laser removal or even surgery.

4. Identification tattoos

Identification tattoos are types of tattoos used to mark or track individuals or animals. These tattoos are applied by force or for official reasons such as identifying people in jail, identifying military personnel, or to track livestock.

Identification tattoos have been used during times of war, in legal punishment systems, and for criminal records. The main types of identification tattoos include forcible tattooing, criminal tattooing, postmortem tattooing, and animal tattooing for identification.

Below are the 4 examples of identification tattoos.

Forcible tattooing for identification

Forcible tattooing is used for identification, and was practiced in ancient and historical societies to control or punish individuals. 

In ancient China during the Zhou dynasty, criminals and slaves were marked with facial tattoos. In the Roman Empire, slaves and gladiators were tattooed, with words like “tax paid” or the letters “FUG” for “fugitive” on runaway slaves. 

These forceful tattoos were used to show ownership or to shame individuals. 

Religious leaders opposed tattooing. For example, Emperor Constantine I banned face tattooing around AD 330, and the Second Council of Nicaea banned all body markings in AD 787, as they believed it as a pagan practice.

Criminal tattooing for identification

Criminal tattooing is used for criminal identification. These tattoos helps in investigation and provide important clues about a person’s identity, background, or affiliations. 

In criminal cases, police and investigators look at tattoos during visual examinations to gather criminal records. Today, advanced digital tools like high-resolution imaging systems and pattern recognition algorithms and recognition technology used to match tattoos with criminal records or databases.

These markings identify gang membership, criminal history, or personal details that helps solving cases or identifying unknown individuals.

Postmortem tattooing for identification

Postmortem tattoos are tattoos found on people after they have died and that help identify who they are. These tattoos are not removed or preserved they stay on the skin and are checked by forensic pathologist during autopsies or in cases like accidents or disasters. 

Postmortem Tattoo’s ink sits deep in the skin, and remains after decay, fire, or injury. This makes tattoos useful when other ways to identify someone, like fingerprints or DNA, are not possible.

Postmortem Tattoo case include those found during big disasters, like the Brumadinho dam collapse in Brazil. In that case, tattoos on the bodies helped experts figure out who the victims were. In onecase, a man’s samurai tattoo on his shoulder was matched with an old photo, and 18 little features helped confirm who he was.

Today, postmortem tattoos are still an important and affordable way to help with identification.

Animal tattooing for identification

Animal tattooing is a common way to identify both pets and farm animals. Farmers and breeders use tattoos to mark animals like pigs, cows, horses, dogs, and cats. This helps them keep records and easily identify one animal from another.

Animal tattooing examples include tattoos on pigs, cattle, dogs, and cats. Pigs are tattooed on the shoulder or ear so they can be tracked. Cattle have tattoos in their ears to help identify them. Dogs and cats have tattoo serial numbers in their ear or thigh that connect them to their owner’s details.

In Australia, pets have a small tattoo in the ear to show they have been desexed.

Tattooing is still used, microchips are now more common for identifying pets. Microchips are tiny devices placed under the skin that store the pet’s ID number. Since 2016, its been a legal rule in the UK that all pet dogs must have a microchip. This helps quickly find and return lost pets to their owners.

5. Cosmetic tattoos

Cosmetic tattoos, also called as permanent makeup or micro-pigmentation, used for beauty or medical purposes. They are helpful for people who want long-lasting makeup or need help after a medical condition.

Cosmetic tattoo examples include eyebrow microblading, lip blush, eyeliner tattoos, and medical tattooing. Eyebrow microblading is used to create natural-looking brows, for people who lost hair from aging, alopecia, or chemotherapy. Lip blush adds soft color to the lips. Eyeliner tattoos help define the eyes. In medical use, these tattoos cover scars, help with skin conditions like vitiligo.

Cosmetic tattoos are done with precise tools and techniques, like manual microblading for fine strokes or machines for soft shading. The results last from 1 to 5 years, depending on your skin type. These tattoos are safe, but using unclean tools lead to infection, fading, or allergic reactions.

Cosmetic tattoos have become more popular as they save time, help people feel more confident after medical treatments.

6. Medical tattoos

Medical tattoos are a type of tattoo used for important health-related, therapeutic, and restorative purposes. They have been around since ancient times. In history these blood type required for Nazi soldiers during World War II.

Medical tattoo examples include radiotherapy markers, surgical tattoos, medical alert tattoos, and restorative tattoos. Radiotherapy tattoos are small permanent dots that help doctors aim radiation treatments correctly for cancer patients. Surgical tattoos are used to mark tumor locations before surgery. 

Medical tattooing continues to grow with new technology, like UV tattoos for radiation treatment and experimental inks that track things like blood sugar levels. 

7. Genital tattoos

Genital tattoos are a type of tattoo placed on the sensitive skin of the genital area, such as the penis, scrotum, pubic region, vulva, or outer labia. This form of tattooing has ancient origins, like Samoan scrotum tattooing. In modern times, genital tattoos are done for personal reasons such as erotic expression, symbolic meanings, or to complete full-body tattoo designs.

Genital tattoo examples include decorative animal shapes on the penis, BDSM ownership marks, gender-affirming tattoos, and medical designs like areola tattoos after surgery. 

Genital tattoos are very difficult to perform due to the area’s thin, delicate, and highly sensitive skin. The procedure is extremely painful, on areas like the glans of the penis, so artists use numbing creams. Risks include ink spreading under the skin and possible issues with metal-based inks during MRI scans.

Genital tattoos are still considered taboo in many parts of the world, but they have gained popularity in specific groups and communities. Some artists refuse to do them because of ethical concerns or the technical difficulty.

What is the difference between tattoo types and tattoo styles?

Tattoos can be grouped by their types and styles, which show how they’re done and how they look.

The table below shows the difference between tattoo types and tattoo styles.

The table above helps you choose the right tattoo based on technique and design.

What is the difference between amateur and professional tattoos?

The difference between amateur and professional tattoos lies in execution. Amateur tattoos like prison or stick-and-poke have uneven lines, patchy ink, and unsanitary conditions, while professional tattoos use sterile equipment, precise machines, and experienced artists for clean, consistent results.

Why do some tattoos fade faster?

Some tattoos fade faster due to factors like sun exposure, poor aftercare, placement on high-friction areas like hands and feet, low-quality ink, or shallow needle penetration. Lighter colors such as yellow and white also fade quicker than darker pigments like black and blue.

Why did Nazis tattoo concentration camp prisoners?

Nazis tattooed concentration camp prisoners with identification numbers to dehumanize them and streamline record-keeping. The tattoos replaced metal tags and ensured tracking even if uniforms were removed.

What are medical tattoos used for?

Medical tattoos are used for reconstructive purposes such as areola restoration after mastectomy, marking radiation therapy sites, or camouflaging scars/vitiligo. They also include subtle symbols like “DNR” for medical alerts.

What do prison tattoos mean?

Prison tattoos often carry coded meanings: teardrops may signify murders committed, spiderwebs indicate long sentences, and clock faces without hands symbolize “doing time.” Designs vary by region and gang affiliation.

Why do some corpses get identification tattoos?

Corpses may receive identification tattoos (postmortem) in forensics to preserve distinguishing marks when traditional methods (fingerprints) fail. Historical examples include Holocaust victims or unidentified bodies in morgues.

Is microblading the same as regular tattooing?

Microblading is not the same as regular tattooing; it uses a manual blade to deposit semi-permanent pigment superficially in hair-like strokes (lasting 1 to 3 years), while traditional tattoos penetrate deeper with machines for permanent results.

Do vets still tattoo animals for identification?

Vets still tattoo animals for identification, especially spayed/neutered pets (symbols near the ear) or livestock. However, microchipping is now more common due to its reliability and non-invasive nature.

Are cosmetic tattoos permanent like regular ones?

Cosmetic tattoos auch as eyebrow microblading, and lip blush are semi-permanent, lasting from 1 to 5 years due to lighter pigment and shallow placement. Regular tattoos are permanent with deeper ink deposition.

Are genital tattoos more painful than normal ones?

Genital tattoos are more painful than normal ones due to the high concentration of nerve endings and thin skin. Pain levels are high compare to tattoos on other sensitive areas like ribs and eyelids.

Can injuries like road rash cause traumatic tattoos?

Injuries like road rash can cause traumatic tattoos when debris like asphalt, or gravel embeds into the skin, creating permanent pigmentation. These require surgical removal or laser treatment.

Is tribal a tattoo type or style?

Tribal is a tattoo style, not a tattoo type. It refers to bold black geometric designs rooted in Indigenous traditions such as Polynesian and Maori.