Despite often being relegated to far more ‘fringe’ categorization today as opposed to tattoo arts’ mainstream popularity, scarification has been practiced across the world for an equally long time. Although notably associated with tribes in Africa and say the Crocodile People of New Guinea, scars from dueling or battle were portrayed as essentially desirable marks of pride in recent Western history. Aside from the patterns’ significance or believed potential influence the sheer fact of voluntarily withstanding pain while undergoing its creation is a statement in and of itself
 
| ‘Scarification refers to the practice of slicing the Skin in order to create scars, which are typically joined together into decorative patterns. Also known as cicatrisation, scarification is an analogous practice to tattooing, in that both mark individuals with important social information such as rank, genealogy, marital status, social status, and tribal or clan membership, and both are often performed as a part of a rite of passage, generally enabling the wearer to move from youth into adulthood. Because both practices are painful, wearing a tattoo or scar is a sign of one’s strength and bravery, usually for a man, but sometimes also for women. Finally, both scarification and tattooing are often seen as a form of beautification, without which the individual would be less attractive. Tattooing, however, tends to be practiced by people with relatively light skin, through which the tattoos can show, while scarification, tends to be practiced by people with darker skin.
 
There are a number of different techniques used to create scars. Some techniques involve cutting the skin deeply, either in long lines or short ones, to create a scar. Indented scars are produced by slicing out a piece of skin, usually in a line. Others involve first pulling up a small amount of skin with a hook, and slicing off a piece of the elevated skin. This creates a raised welt, and, when multiple pieces of skin are raised and cut, it creates an overall design that can be quite stunning. Another method is to cut the skin, and afterward insert mud or ash in the cuts, which can leave the scars colored, or can leave raised bumps, known as keloids.
 
In many cultures, especially in Africa, women are more commonly scarred and wear more elaborate designs than men. Often, women’s scars are seen as an indication that she can withstand the pain of childbearing, making her well suited to be a wife. Girls are generally first scarred at puberty, and the face, the shoulders, the chest, and the abdomen are the most common locations… | full article

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