Tribal armband tattoos have become very popular with people today. In fact many of the tribal designs are some of the most requested types of tattoos currently.

Are there actually tribal associations with any of the artwork, or is this just another fad?

Also why are these types of tattoos so popular with today's generation, most of which have never experienced any life outside of largely populated urban areas with virtually no tribal influence on daily life?

Is this a fashion statement or something more?

Let's explore the possible explanations as well as have some examples of tribal armband tattoos for your visual pleasure.

One thing that people like about armband tattoo designs is that there are so many different types, the form lends itself well to different styles, so it becomes another self expression beyond the tattoo itself. There are many different images that can be expressed, without becoming overwhelming, and they can also be quite masculine and bold or subtle and feminine. This makes the tribal armband tattoo a little more universal, and tattooing in general seems to have become much more popular with and accepted by women in more recent years.

Tribal Armband Tattoo History

The existence of armband tattoos has been around for centuries on the Polynesian Islands. Thanks to exploration by Europeans of these islands around the time of the 17th century, these styles of tattooing were brought to Europe around the same time. The Hawaiian armband tattoos are a remnant of that ancient Polynesian tradition, and many modern tribal armband tattoo designs have incorporated many of the elements of these traditional Polynesian designs.

An armband tattoo signified a tribe member's rank or status among Hawaiians and most of the other Polynesian island cultures. It is interesting to note that they had a similar function then as insignia and emblems sewn or attached to military uniforms do today.

The tribal armband tattoo so popular today really came into vogue in the 1990's as it had been seen featured prominently on many of the musical artists of that time. The typical bold, black design of these tattoos is not significant of any one tribe or culture, but incorporates elements from many into an artistic interpretation of the ancient designs. Another bonus of this style is it's easier for new artists to learn and looks good on many different physiques.

Celtic Tribal Armband Tattoos

Another type of tribal armband tattoo that is also fairly popular, but much more complex is based from Celtic designs. These patterns are typically interwoven and often feature something known as “knotwork”. There is a larger focus on symmetry and line in these tattoos, so anyone considering a Celtic tattoo needs to make sure that their artist is familiar with this style. It takes years of practice, and, done right looks very nice. If it's done wrong, it's usually very easy to tell and difficult to cover up the mistake.

The tribal armband tattoo or any band style on the arm is popular partially for one reason being they can easily be hidden with a shirt sleeve if need be. This is desirable for both men and women in the workforce, although many employers' policies on tattoos have become more lax in recent years. Tattoos overall have gained a wider acceptance and aren't considered “fringe” any longer.

The only question yet unanswered is why these tattoos are so popular with today's generation. I'm not sure if there is a definitive answer, but I have an opinion. I believe it is simple economics. Most of the popular tribal designs are big, bold and all black ink. While the amount of ink used is more, the ink is not the expensive part of a tattoo. The cost is to compensate the artist for their time, and since most tribal tattoos lack fine detail they do not take as long to complete as another tattoo style with similar size. Also, they are easier to learn to apply and don't look as bad when done poorly since the designs are fairly random. This means there are more artists doing them, and as everyone knows, supply and demand usually drives the price of most things. If you are young and just want to get a tattoo, you probably have thought about the tribal armband tattoo for these and other reasons.

If you do decide to get one, take a little extra time and look for an artist who has some experience even if it costs a little more. Tattoos don't wash off, and removal is expensive, time consuming, and rarely perfect. You don't want to pay for someone's screw-up and display it on your body for the rest of your life when it's rather easy to avoid up front.