The Powerful Meaning of Barbed Wire Tattoos
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Created as a fencing material in the American West during the late 1800s, barbed wire was eventually used in war camp settings and prisons. The image of barbed wire is associated with war, refugees, entrapment, yet it also signifies resilience, courage, strength and the indomitability of the human spirit. Let’s take a look at why barbed wire makes for a powerful tattoo design.
What Do Barbed Wire Tattoos Mean?
Strength and Courage
Reminding us of a fence that’s painful to cross, a barbed wire tattoo represents the strength of people who have overcome traumatic experiences in life. It’s a perfect representation of courage, as barbed wire is dangerous—it can break your skin, cause bleeding and even death. Many soldiers choose to wear the tattoo to symbolize their bravery and strength.
Faith and Spirituality
Many associate barbed wire with the crown of thorns Jesus was forced to wear before his death, making it a representation of Christian faith. People may have different reasons on what a barbed wire tattoo represents in their lives, but their faith is one of them. They may have had many painful experiences and hardships in life, but they believe that their god will help them.
A Symbol of Protection
Modern interpretations of a barbed wire tattoo can include protection, which stems from the practical use of barbed wire and razor ribbon fences as a security against intruders. A barbed wire tattoo can also signify that the wearer is trying to protect himself from emotional pain and disappointments that come in an unhealthy relationship.
Imprisonment, Suffering and Captivity
Barbed wire tattoo also has a darker connotation, as some use it to represent their time in prison. In some cultures, it’s used by convicts who have been sentenced for life, where they associate the number of spikes with the number of years they’ll spend in prison. It’s even said to be the symbol of the World War II and its prisoners.
In some contexts, barbed wire can symbolize the pain and suffering in love, especially if one has been a captive in an abusive relationship. For some, it represents the pain of unrequited love. Historically, barbed wire has controlled some regions and lands, and remained widely used in prisons and mental asylums to prevent inmates from escaping. It’s similar to how an abusive relationship can control someone’s life.
Loss and Death
For some, barbed wire symbolizes the pain people experience due to the loss of someone they love. Sometimes, barbed wire tattoos can be personalized with the person’s name or birthday included on the design. It can also be a commemorative tattoo for someone, showing that you’ll never forget the person regardless of the pain of remembering him or her.
Types of Barbed Wire Tattoos
There are several variations of barbed wire tattoos, and some designs incorporate other symbols like a cross, heart, or anything that can be personal to the wearer. Here are some of them:
Barbed Wire Armband Tattoo
Most tattoos depict the barbed wire found in jails, banks, on top of walls, or anywhere that needs protection from outsiders. These tattoos are often kept simple, typically designed using black and gray ink and featuring the wire wrapped around the entire arm. For a more graphic design and a stronger message a barbed wire design with blood splatter effect can make a great option, as if the barbed wire is digging into the skin.
Barbed Wire and Heart Tattoo
There are many interpretations for a barbed wire in the shape of a heart, or barbed wire wrapping a heart. For some, it shows the feeling of being trapped in a relationship or marriage. On a more positive note, this can also show that the person will remain in love regardless of the challenges he or she faces in a relationship.
Barbed Wire with Rose Tattoo
There are many ways to incorporate a rose with a barbed wire tattoo. Some depict the wires as the stem of the rose, while others highlight the beauty of the flower surrounded by barbed wire. These two emblems go well together since every rose has its thorns. This design can be placed at the back of the neck, on the shoulders, or even on collarbones.
Barbed Wire with a Cross
Some of the designs depict barbed wire in the shape of a cross, as well as barbed wire around a cross. For some, it shows their unshakable faith and trust in their god, as well as how they have overcome a challenging experience as a Christian.
A Brief History of Barbed Wire
At the start, hedges made of planted bushes were used as fences to protect crops and contain livestock, along earthen ridges, wood and stones—but they were all insufficient. By 1865, barbed wire was invented by Louis François Janin as an effective fencing solution. It featured two wires twisted with a diamond-shaped spike and was intended to keep livestock away from the backyard gardens and fields.
Eventually, barbed wire became widely used during wartime to prevent enemy intrusion into territories, as well as to contain prisoners in concentration camps. For example, during the Spanish colonial regime in Cuba, the military governor divided the island into strategic zones and held Cuban civilians in prison surrounded by barbed wires. In Nazi concentration and death camps, barbed wires were electrified.
Due to its association with violence in the past, some countries like Sweden avoided using barbed wire in refugee processing facilities. Nowadays, it’s seen as a common security measure on private properties to keep intruders away.
Celebrities with Barbed Wire Tattoos
If you’re still on the fence (no pun intended) about getting a barbed wire tattoo, let these celebrities inspire you:
- In 1996, the American movie Barb Wire star Pamela Anderson decided to have a barbed wire tattoo for the film—instead of having the makeup people paint the design on her arm every day. Eventually, it became an iconic piece for the actress and seen as fashionable by many. She later decided to have it removed, but this fact shouldn’t hinder you from getting one.
- American country music singer Blake Shelton sports a barbed wire tattoo with animal footprints. He explained the design stating that it’s meant to be deer tracks surrounded by barbed wires.
- If you want something subtler, be inspired by Justine Skye’s minimalist barbed wire tattoo. The American singer sports the design around her right ring finger just like a ring, perhaps signifying the commitment (and pain?) of a relationship.
- English singer Cheryl Cole also boasts a barbed wire tattoo, decorating it with treble clef and rose motifs. The musical symbol represents her music career, while the rose design shows her love for the flowers.
- Seeing a barbed wire tattoo feels intimidating especially when it’s a face tattoo. American rapper Post Malone opted for a barbed wire design on his forehead, along with the phrase “stay away” tattooed above his eyebrow.
In Brief
As we have seen, a barbed wire tattoo isn’t just a random design, as it’s deeply associated with strength, courage and faith of a person who has overcome painful experiences in life. There are many ways to personalize the tattoo with other symbolism to make it truly unique and your own.
