Tattoos have been used in Borneo since time immemorial. It was usually used to signify certain milestone of the wearer's life. It could be the mark of his Coming of Age, Transiting from Childhood into Manhood after a successful first hunt, Fathering of children, and Protection against evil spirits.

The colours of Borneo tattoos are blue-black, made from charcoal and soot. It is thought to have the ability to ward off unfriendly spirits. Ground up bones are sometimes added in the belief that it is a more potent charm.

Artists attach bamboo splinters to a mark the outline. Nowadays stainless steel needles are also used. The artist taps the pigments-soaked needles/splinters into the skin with a wooden hammer. For solid areas, more needles are used in a circular pattern.

The spirits embody everything in Borneo and artists will consult spirits for designs to be tattooed onto the person receiving it and their tattoos are usually images of fauna and flora. Traditionally, some tribal tattoo artist began with a sacrifice to spirits by killing a chicken and spilling its blood. Then the artist will start the tattooing process that often lasted six or eight hours and it is extremely painful.

There is no fixed gender as to who is the artist. Women are the artists among Borneo's Kayan people. For the Iban, the largest and most feared indigenous group in Borneo, the artists are men.

The most chilling tattoo mark is that done on his hand called the Entegulun. You can only have this tattoo if you have taken heads! Yes literally having chopped off another person's head and taking it as souvenir to be hung in your home, the long houses of Borneo. Such is the notoriety of the Borneo Headhunters, thankfully this practice has long been stopped when it became illegal more than a century ago. However, rumours still persist that a head or two are being taken occasionally.

The Headhunting Tribes believe that head is the soul of a person. Taking the head of an enemy gives the victor everything that the victim has in his life. This ensures the victor success in hunting, farming and future reproduction for his tribe.

For some tribes, only warriors are allowed to be tattoo:

Dusun (near Mt. Kinabalu) Tambunan Valley - bordering chiefs (Muslim chiefs) used to reconcile the Dusun by giving the aggrieved community some slave to dispose of; this is done by tying the slave up and spearing him through the thorax, then the men of the village each take a cut at the quivering body (slowly bleeding them to death). Whomever does this has the right to tattoo himself. (Alman 1963)

In times past, depending on the tribe, women were tattooed for their ability to sing, dance and to weave. Girls were also tattooed at puberty to protect against evil spirits and to attract men.

As in all over the world, most tribal art-form is fading away. This is no different in Borneo. However, this past decade has seen a renewed interest in tribal tattoo designs. Many young people are rediscovering this dying art form and hopefully it will not bring back with it the cruel practise of headhunting!

 Beautifully Designed Tattoos

7,500 Unique Designs

Tattoos Removal Methods

Here is the official site for those who wish to find out more about recent activities. Inside thesite are some photos of participants and their tattoos.