The art of adding permanent decorative skin markings to enhance and beautify the face and body truly is as old as mankind - the body of a frozen Ice Age man discovered in 1991 on a mountain between Austria and Italy had tattoos! Interestingly, all the tattooed mummies found in Egypt have been women, including Amunet, a priestess in Thebes who had tattoos on her arms, thighs and below her navel. And yes, there is evidence that Cleopatra had permanent makeup! Tattooing has been popular through the ages in South America, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Polynesian Islands, New Zealand, Asia and among Native Americans. Our word "tattoo" is derived from a Polynesian word for striking or knocking. The Polynesian artist struck a bone or shell with multiple points into the skin to deposit pigment. Today's techniques are considerably more comfortable! Samuel O'Reilly invented the first electric tattoo machine in 1880 by modifying Thomas Alva Edison's engraving machine. The first cosmetic/medical use of such machines began in 1885 when they were used to blend the color of transplanted tissue with that of the surrounding skin. Shortly afterwards, India ink was tattooed into the corneas of those with glaucoma to correct the loss of color in the iris and pupil of the eye, and reddish pigment was tattooed into scarred lips to normalize their outline. By 1908 Charles Wagner had made many improvements to the electric tattooing machine and was the first American to offer tattooing for purely cosmetic reasons. Wagner offered permanent cosmetics for women's lips, cheeks and eyebrows. At the time, many cosmetics contained mercury, lead and other toxic substances, and permanent cosmetics may have even saved lives! By the 1930s, many movie stars utilized permanent makeup, although they kept the procedure secret because it was frowned on in polite society. In the early 1980's permanent makeup came out of the closet in Europe and the Americas , after it was popularized in Japan and the near East. Celebrities such as Madonna, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Taylor, Dolly Parton, and Raquel Welch have had permanent cosmetic procedures. The field has continued to grow in popularity, and many advances have been made in tools, techniques and safety. Organizations such as the Society of Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) and the American Academy of Micropigmentation were formed to assure high standards in the industry. Permanent cosmetics has benefited many people through the ages. Join Cleopatra and become a Living Masterpiece!
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