'Au (Tattoo Comb)'Au

The 'Au, or tattoo comb, is a symbol included in the Samoan pe'a. The 'Au represents the sacred and painful process of receiving a pe'a — a transformative period in a young man's life where he officially begins manhood.

Within the broader system of Polynesian tattoo meaning, the 'Au (Tattoo Comb) motif sits inside the Samoan tradition — one of several distinct cultural lineages that share visual language but carry their own grammar. Understanding the 'Au (Tattoo Comb) requires understanding where it comes from, how it has been used historically, and what it signals when placed alongside other motifs in a composition.

Meanings are not universal — they shift with culture, composition, placement and family story. For how this motif sits inside its own tradition, read the Samoan tatau tradition.

For a deeper look at how individual motifs combine into a cohesive narrative, see our guide on understanding Polynesian motifs and how Polynesian tattoos tell a story.

IslandTAT includes the 'au where a client's tattoo is itself the marking of a threshold in their life.

Every tattoo at IslandTAT is drawn freehand directly on the body. That means the 'Au (Tattoo Comb) is never copied from a stencil — it is composed live, scaled and shaped to the individual client. This is the core of the IslandTAT Method: meaning, structure, and flow built into a single composition that could not exist on any other body.

Read more about custom Polynesian tattooing, or see how projects run at our San Diego studio.

If you are considering a 'Au (Tattoo Comb) as part of a larger Polynesian tattoo, the conversation begins with consultation. We learn your story, your heritage, and your intent — then determine whether and how the 'Au (Tattoo Comb) belongs in your design.