Which plant-based dye is used for temporary skin designs in South Asia and North Africa?
AnswerHenna
Henna leaves give a reddish-brown stain used for temporary body art called mehndi.
Arts · Facts & stats
Tattoo facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about tattoos, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
Ötzi the Iceman, a mummy over 5,000 years old, was found with what on his body?
AnswerDozens of tattoos
Ötzi has 61 tattoos, among the oldest known on a human body.
Going deeper
What are traditional Māori tattoos called?
AnswerTā moko
Tā moko is the Māori art of tattooing, especially facial designs.
Which of these makes tattoos fade faster over time?
AnswerSun exposure (UV light)
Ultraviolet light breaks down tattoo pigments, so sun-exposed tattoos fade sooner.
In tattoo art, what does 'linework' refer to?
AnswerThe outlines of a design
Linework is the outline of a design, usually done before shading and color.
Expert level
The first US patent for an electric tattoo machine (1891) adapted whose electric pen?
AnswerThomas Edison
Samuel O'Reilly based his 1891 tattoo machine on Edison's electric pen for making stencils.
Which cells in the dermis engulf tattoo ink particles and help hold the pigment in place?
AnswerMacrophages
Immune cells called macrophages swallow ink particles in the dermis, which helps keep a tattoo visible for years.
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