Samoa

In Samoa, apprentice tattooists tattooed sand before they were allowed near skin.

In the Samoan tatau tradition, apprentices could spend hours, sometimes days, tapping a Polynesian tattooing comb against sand to practise the rhythm and precision they would later need to tattoo on humans.

The same type of comb is placed against the skin and struck with a small mallet, blow after blow.

Sand gave the hand a place to train, before the tattooist moved on to decorating the skin of others.