Despite what most folks ponder on about religion, the damned fact is that for thousands of years people have been marking their bodies with symbols of faith, protection, and rebellion. Crosses adorned pilgrim's wrists, Buddhist mantras etched by monks, Norse runes scrawled by raiders—you name it, someone believed it was holy enough to bleed for. The act of blood-letting through tattoo can be sacred and cleansing, even today–if you'd just shut the zuckerjob's box off and Be Here Now.

So you’re finally ready to get your first tattoo—hell yeah! Whether you’ve been dreaming about it since you were 15 or you woke up this morning and said, “Screw it, it’s time,” that first appointment can feel like a trip to the principal’s office.

A (brief) history of rebellious pin-up tattoos, from burlesque to WWII bombers to modern ink. Learn why pin-ups are timeless, bold, and sexy