Dziara is a casual Polish word for a tattoo. It comes from prison slang and for years was associated with tattoos done in prisons. Today it is used as a relaxed synonym for tattoo, and among artists and clients it carries no negative meaning.
Where did the bad associations come from?
Prison tattoos were made with improvised tools, such as the kolka, without sterile supplies. They had simple designs and often carried hidden meanings. Some artists draw on this look today as the jailhouse style, but in a professional studio it is made in completely different conditions.
A dziara at a tattoo studio
At Dirty Lust, every tattoo, whatever you call it, is done with sterile tools and single-use supplies. We talk about your idea first, then the artist prepares the design. The steps are described on our process page.
If this is your first tattoo, start with What should you know before getting your first tattoo?