You may consider getting a barbed wire tattoo if you want to fill some empty space on your arm or leg. Barbed wire tattoos look pretty sweet, but what do they mean?
Barbed wire tattoos symbolize lines or boundaries people no longer want to cross. Clients will get these tattoos to show time spent in prisons or confinement. It’s a symbol of struggle, rebellion, and tough skin.
I guess you’d have to have tough skin to have barbed wire on you! For the rest of this article, we’ll explore the history, symbolism, styles, and locations of barbed wire tattoos.
What is the History of Barbed Wire Tattoos?
Barbed wire was first patented in 1865 and quickly became essential in the Western New World. Farmers purchased the material by the acreage and could protect crops from new, strange animals that the New World had to offer.
Some of the earliest recorded barbed wire tattoos belonged to Russian prisoners in labor camps during the Stalin era. The prisoners would tattoo different parts of their bodies to signify their prison terms. If they were in for life, they would tattoo their foreheads. Arms or legs meant shorter sentences.
Each prisoner would “earn” an extra barb for a deed done in the camp (stealing, murder, assault, etc.). Prisoners would add barbs for every year they served.
For a while, the tattoo stuck with prisoners. Then, in 1995, Pamela Anderson revealed new ink while working on the movie Barb Wire. Great timing, right? With her popularity and the movie’s success, barbed wire tattoos exploded in the late nineties.
After that, they faded from style until very recently. Tattoo artists believe it’s because Millenials and Gen Z know more of the history behind the tattoo, making it attractive again.
What Do Barbed Wire Tattoos Symbolize?
In the pioneering days, barbed wire symbolized a stubborn chance at success in the strange New World. It allowed farmers to become successful and protect themselves and their crops from wild animals. In this sense, the tattoos easily symbolize overcoming adversity and thinking outside the box.
In Russian concentration camps, the tattoos symbolized death, anger, and confinement. Even when prisoners had the tattoo around their arms or legs, the mortality rate was extremely high due to terrible conditions. The tattoo, and barbed wire, began shifting from freedom to pain and repression.
People also highlight the similarities of a barbed wire crown to the crown of thorns the biblical Jesus wore during his crucifixion. In this case, the symbolism would be pain, suffering, and sacrifice for those you love. I suppose the interpretation is really up to you!
What Do Barbed Wire Tattoos Mean?
Barbed wire tattoos can mean anything from setting boundaries to overcoming them.
Tattoos of barbed wire around a heart probably mean their heart has been broken or needs protection.
Meanwhile, ripped or broken barbed wire implies the owner is breaking free of that confinement.
Because the history is so rich behind these tattoos, it’s possible that the meaning commemorates those who suffered under Stalin’s regime. Modern prisoners still choose the same tattoo when serving time with the same “one barb” for every year.
The tattoo can also mean a lot to military personnel. Depending on where soldiers are deployed, they can serve their entire tours behind barbed wire fences in a hostile environment. They may choose to recognize that struggle through a tattoo.
Characteristics and Styles of Barbed Wire Tattoos
Artists design barbed wire tattoos in greys and blacks with fine lines and bold accents. Over time they’re known to bleed more than other tattoos because of how much black ink the artists use.
Some tattoos have white shading to indicate a reflection due to the thickness of the barbed wire. Occasionally, artists will add color to the tattoo in the form of blood. I’ve also seen golden barbed wire (he said to symbolize the gate to heaven) and brown barbed wire (a design to mimic thorns).
The styles of barbed wire tattoos are black and grey and sometimes tribal, depending on how much wire the client wants. There isn’t one style for this type of tattoo because the base is line work. There’s minimal shading required if you stick to the traditional design.
Where Do Barbed Wire Tattoos Usually Go?
The location can depend on what you want the tattoo to mean. If you’ve served time in prison or camps, then, by all means, get one anywhere you’d like. The tattoo was originally designed for you. However, barbed wire tattoos can be seen as offensive or dismissive if you’re a law-abiding citizen like me.
If you’re dead set on getting one because of it’s important to you, then I recommend placing the tattoo somewhere easily covered. I know we get most tattoos to show them off, but this tattoo doesn’t have a great history.
Thighs, upper arms, and the lower back are popular choices and easily covered during day-to-day activities. If you don’t want to cover them, I’ve seen the tattoo around foreheads, necks, wrists, ankles, and even across hands and fingers. This tattoo can go just about anywhere.
How To Choose an Artist for a Barbed Wire Tattoo
Because the style is mostly line work and black and grey, you’ll want an artist with good portfolio examples of precisely that. You want someone with a steady hand. If you find an artist you like but notice their work is in color, ask them about their black and grey projects.
Some artists have healed photos of previous client tattoos on their websites or Instagram. If you see that their black work begins to blend over time, they may not be the artist you’re looking for.
Disclaimer: Tattoo ink bleeding can also result from poor care by the client and has no reflection on the artist.
Conclusion
A barbed wire tattoo could be perfect if you have some blank space and some extra cash for a tattoo. Keep in mind the negative historical connotations when choosing the location and style. When searching for an artist, be upfront about why you want the tattoo and how you want it to look.
