Sugar skull tattoo

 The sugar skull tattoo represents anyone that has passed away. Traditionally, sugar skulls were created to honor our lost loved ones that have died. Their name was written on the forehead of the sugar skull. They were then placed inside the home or at the grave too honor their return.


Sugar Skulls are often used to decorate the ofrendas on Dia de los Muertos which is November 1st and 2nd. Smaller skulls are placed on the ofrenda on November 1st, All Saints Day, to represent the children who have deceased. On November 2nd, All Souls Day, they are replaced by larger, more ornate skulls which represent the adults. These decorative skulls have the name of the deceased on the forehead and are decorated with stripes, dots and swirls of icing to enhance the features of the skulls. These designs are usually whimsical and brightly colored, not morbid or scary. Feathers, beads or colored foils are "glued" on with the icing to create highly ornate skulls.


Sugar Skull hasn’t done any sort of marketing since its beginning in 2008 but nonetheless word has spread. Bastarche takes pride in the fact that many of his customers are return patrons and can feel relaxed when they come to his shop. According to Bastarche, a lot of tattoo parlors give off the feeling of an assembly line where they want their customers to come in, get tattooed and get out. Bastarche wants Sugar Skull to be the opposite.