Today let’s take tattoos to a whole nutha level!!! FACE TATTOOS. It’s nothing new. In fact, it’s been here since the ancient times. Our ancestral tribal warriors long ago get face tattoos to mark Ultimate Power, of conquering Matter by Mind and to represent an enemy killed in battle. In other tribes, such as the Maori in New Zealand, it is sacred and is meant to intimidate the enemy. Up til now, it never ceases. It still lives through bold men & women who really don’t give a fuck about what society thinks. So let’s make this short and take a look at these top 20 totally hardcore face tattoos from past to present like you’ve never seen before! They’re shocking, fascinating, and utterly mind-boggling. For whatever reason these people chose to get it, let’s pay our respects. Not all people can rock this. So yallz shall just stop hatin’ and just go appreciatin’! These are people who have dedicated their lives and totally changed it for the love of TATTOOS. Be amused. Enjoy!!!!

Maori Moko or Ta Moko is the traditional facial tattooing of the Maori people in New Zealand. Their practice is considered sacred and regarded as a Taonga (treasure) to the Maori people. It is created by carving the face using an Uhi (chisel made of albatross bone) and applying the ink by striking it with a mallet using burnt embers of a tree as ink in the grooves of torn flesh. Pretty hardcore. That’s why it’s not for everyone.

Each & every Moko contains messages that tell a story of its wearer’s strong link to his ancestral roots, rankings in the social class, and achievements. Moko is considered as markings of aristocracy & adulthood. (photograph by Jimmy Nelson)

Men & Women receive Moko on their faces, buttocks and hips. Women usually wear it on their chins, lips & forehead. (Photograph by Jimmy Nelson)

Another tradition of the Maori is the collection of MokoMokai (preserved heads with Moko). Heads were preserved by removing the brain & eyes and sealing the orifices with gum and fiber flax. The head was then boiled in an oven… smoked & dried for several days… and later on kept in an ornate wooden box to be used in sacred ceremonies. (image source: REUTERS)

Modern day tattooers take this symbolic art form just as seriously as their predecessors. They alter the techniques with electric machines because some designs are exclusive to the Maori people only. (Photograph by Jimmy Nelson)

Now let’s jump to the present & see how Face tattoos evolved!

Rick Genest aka “Skullboy” worked in various sideshows and freak shows across Canada as the “Illustrated man”. He’s featured in one of Lady Gaga’s music video “Born this way”, released in 2011.

This is my friend Sammy from Epidemic Tattoo, Philippines. 🙂 His toilet bowl tattoo on the face is crazy, one of a kind and finely executed! Tattooed on him by Joel Rocafort.

Even celebrity musicians wear it! Perhaps Lil Wayne’s most prominent face tattoos are the words “Fear God” on his eyelids, and the double Cs on his forehead, in the middle of his eyes. It represent his mom’s name, Cita. and their last name: Carter.

Face tattoos look best when the rest of the body is heavily tattooed. That guy in the photo is Horimouja (Jack Mosher). He’s well-known for his wicked & famous oriental tattoo designs released in flash books segregated into conceptual volumes which influenced many tattoo artists all over the world.

“It’s my Vampire dream to be Immortal” says Maria Jose Cristerna, well-known as “Vampire Woman”. She is famous for her titanium horns (which was implanted to her skull without anesthetic!!!) to signify strength, dental implants for fangs, and a whole body 90% full of tattoos!

Myke Chambers, who is well-known for his awesome traditional tattoos—–also sports a face tattoo! The triangles are just so random, so Myke!

This is JB, my friend from the Philippines and his face tattoo is just WHOA! We have no idea why he did it, so let’s just let him be! Tattoo artist: Joel Rocafort.

Dennis Avner aka “Stalking Cat” (his Indian name) descended from American Indians and decided to transform himself after a discussion with a Native chief who inspired him to follow the ways the Tiger. His body mods include bifurcation (splitting of his upper lip), surgically pointing the ears, sillicone cheek & forehead implants, tooth filing, tattoos, and facial piercings to which whiskers can be attached! He eats fresh meat every day, as a tiger would.

Kimberley Vlaminck, after a drunken decision to get three stars near her eye, claims that she fell asleep and awoke to a constellation! Her artist, however, denies this and states that Vlaminck clearly requested all of those stars on her face. Well, what do you think?

Erik Sprague, also known as “Lizard man” doing one of his nasty tricks. Definitely not for the faint-hearted!

“I love the mathematical pattern of the checker board. Its symmetry makes up for my asymmetry.” says Matt Gone, better known as the “Checkered man”.

A Chin woman from Burma (Myanmar). Women bearing these traditional marks are the last of their kind.

Spot the face tattoo within 2 seconds!!!!! Comment to us your answer. 😉

For heavily tattooed people, it’s always tough luck. People always tend to misjudge. But we shall Keep Calm & Be Tough as Rock. Nobody can shatter who we truly are. 😉