Ta Moko was considered a sacred symbol of social status and rank. For men, it was generally a rite of passage to manhood. Women were not marked in the same places as men; they only had the mark on their upper lips, nostrils and chin. Ta Moko was not only used as a symbol of status but to make themselves attractive to the opposite sex. All high-ranking Maori males had Mokos.
Modern Maori tattoos designs are inspired by the traditional Ta Moko but not directly copied from them. Traditional designs had long, graceful and rounded spiral patterns while modern designs consist of geometric designs. Western tattooists merged tribal and Celtic patterns to produce new Maori tattoo designs. The results are mostly squared-off designs, forming an intricate puzzle-like pattern. Artists use heavy lines and shading to emphasize this tattoo design.
Deciding the location of the tattoo is a vital part of getting a tattoo. In the past, Maori men and women followed rules about where their tattoos would be located. However, these days, people can choose to have Maori tattoos placed anywhere they like. Some choose to have it on their forearms, legs or back. Others have tattoos consuming half of their trunk and arms. The area where many men and some women prefer to have a tattoo is the upper arm. They either have the entire, or partial upper arm covered.
Tattoo artists now spruce up the Maori tattoo by adding color into the designs. Consider choosing metallic colors, or red or dark shades of your favorite color. Have the tattoo artist apply ink on top of your skin to see what the color looks like on you, and don't hesitate to ask them for suggestions.