Polynesian Tattoo Designs

Every tattoo design can be seen as an expression of oneself, and Polynesian tattoo designs are no different. These designs generally belong to the tribal style of tattooing, with characteristics that include bold black abstracts and figurative designs. When people talk of Polynesian designs, they can actually mean any of several different styles, including Hawaiian, Samoan, Maori, and Tahitian. The number of styles can be as large as the number of Polynesian islands and tattooists in the world. That is because each island has a unique style and each tattooist has a unique style as well.

Polynesian tattoo designs have a multitude of meanings

Just as there is a wide variety of styles of Polynesian tattoos, there are also a variety of meanings associated with them. Until recently, there was just one book that served as the primary source of information regarding Polynesian tattoo designs. However, that book did not clearly mention the meanings behind these Polynesian motifs. By using the book as guide, you had to try deciphering the ethnologic account of each design so you can figure out its meaning. Fortunately, there is now a dictionary of these tattoo designs that no longer requires you to decipher anything. If you want to know the meaning of a particular Polynesian tattoo, then you simply have to look it up in the dictionary.

Are Polynesian tattoo designs popular these days?

Perhaps due to the lack of understanding about it, many people also ask about the existence of a Polynesian alphabet. Strictly speaking, there is no specific alphabet that can be called truly and exclusively Polynesian, since the only Polynesian script ever to have been found has not yet been completely deciphered. What tattoo artists do is create letters and designs in Polynesian style, such as Hawaiian, Marquesan, maori, and Samoan. Before you get yourself inked in any of these styles, make sure you know exactly what your chosen design means. In case you are not a hundred percent sure of which among the various Polynesian tattoo designs you are going to decorate your body with, then it is best to wait until you are truly ready.