How to choose a tattoo

How to Choose the Perfect Tattoo for You

In This Article

Ink-loving celebrities like Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus add to their tattoo collections on a whim without giving it a second thought. But if you’re a first-timer who’s never set foot in a tattoo shop before, it can feel like a daunting task to decide on a design you’ll love for the rest of your life (or you know, until you laser it off).

The goal is to have your tattoo for the long haul, though, so choosing one that feels true to you is the single most important factor to consider when making your decision. No clue where to start or feeling indecisive? We’ve got you covered. We rounded up a few failsafe tips to consider before committing to an ink option, below.

Meet the Expert

Keep scrolling for some tips on choosing a tattoo you’ll always love.

Ask Yourself Why You Want Body Art

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Peathegee Inc / Getty Images

Do you want to commemorate a special moment or memory? Or are you more interested in a really unique design? Let the reason guide your design decision. «As a tattooer, I find that when people get tattoos for themselves or for their loved ones (family, sometimes friends) they cherish them forever,» says tattoo artist Jaz Paulino. «A tattoo can be a tribute to a transitioned loved one, a present mother/family member, a long term best friend, or a lifelong partner. When you get something for someone with good intentions it’s almost always a good move.»

Maybe you’re seeking a detailed design of your grandmother’s face, or perhaps you just got engaged, married, or gave birth to your first child, dates also make for amazing tattoos because they serve as a singular reminder of a significant moment in your life. It doesn’t have to be anything traditionally grand, either. It could be the birthday of your favorite folk artist or the first time you traveled somewhere totally solo.

Consult a Tattoo Artist

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If you just can’t seem to decide on the perfect design, no worries. Take the time to find an artist on Instagram who will work with you to create a tattoo that suits you. Once you’ve revealed a few personal details, most tattoo artists can help you brainstorm a few designs based on what you tell them and can suggest some options that fit your desired placement and size. No matter how good the artist’s suggestion is, make sure it really fits you before committing.

Determine Where You Want Your Ink

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Where you’re interested in getting your art could make all the difference, as some designs will look better in certain places. This decision might often hinge on your day-to-day life (i.e. is visible ink something you’re comfortable with, or do you want your body art in a hard-to-see area?)

Ensure It Makes You Happy

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«When selecting a tattoo design the first thing to consider is who you are getting it for?» Paulino says, adding that ‘s getting a tattoo to pay tribute to a romantic relationship can have its downsides: «Unfortunately some relationships don’t last as long as tattoos, that’s just a matter of fact.»

That’s why getting a tattoo that you love is the most important thing to consider. «One thing is for certain, and that’s the relationship you have with yourself, because that is a forever type of love,» she adds.

Make a List of Your Favorite Things

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Everyone and their mother has a favorite quote, phrase, or lyric, which is probably why so many people choose to get them tatted. Words also give you the freedom to choose from a variety of different font styles and sizes, so the options are truly endless. You could even ask a loved one—a child, a parent, a friend—for a signature that the tattooist can copy and use. If you’re feeling stumped, listen to an old song you love, read cards you’ve saved, or try thinking about specific sayings or mottos your friends and fam may have shared with you for inspiration.

Gather Inspiration

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Tattoo magazines are also a great source of visual inspiration. Additionally, keeping a notebook filled with all of the design ideas that have caught your eye is a great idea as then, when the time comes, you’ll have plenty of ideas and musings ready to work with.

Look For Ideas in Unusual Places

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From Pokémon to the Spice Girls to superheroes, the tattoo industry has broadened enough in both style and talent to render whatever you can come up with in this realm. Go ahead: Watch your top 10 favorite movies for inspo. We would, too. Even if you do go down the non-traditional road, it’s always a good idea to provide your artist with a clear, high-quality photo to help them in the designing process.

Keep an Open Mind

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Once you have a somewhat defined idea, take it to your artist or do your own research. Even looking at images of artwork can be inspirational. Just envision how a design might look on your skin, rather than on paper or canvas.

«If you see or think of something you love & that makes you happy (as long as it doesn’t offend/is associated with any negative connotation), and you feel so inclined to get it permanently marked on your bod-go on with yo bad self,» Paulino says. «My mother always says, ‘As long as you are happy and aren’t doing damage to yourself or anyone else, do it,’ and I think that applies to just about everything.»

Think Ahead

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Of course, you can’t see into the future, so it’s impossible to know how your life might chaneg in a few years, but try and ensure you’re selecting a choice that will stand the test of time. Ask yourself if this is something you’ll be comfortable with years down the road, or if it’s a little too trendy or of-the-moment. «People should love their tattoos for years or decades since it’s permanent as opposed to days, weeks or months,» says celebrity tattoo artist Dillon Forte. «I believe if you love the tattoo you took the time to pick out, it won’t matter if the style is trendy or not.»

Be Patient

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Ultimately, gradually and thoughtfully are the best ways to proceed with your body art. Once you have a plan for your tattoo in a style you like, you can then scope out inspiration for design ideas that will have more significance and meaning later. «You should also take the time to read up on different styles of tattoo designs,» Forte says. «During the process you’ll find some you like and come up with a solid game plan on what design(s) would be perfect for you.»

Don’t be in a hurry to commit to a design, especially if you want a tattoo with meaning. Remember, this is permanent (unless you undergo painful tattoo removal).

How To Choose A Tattoo

Choosing a tattoo is a big decision. With so many cool tattoos to get, it can be a challenge picking just one design or idea to ink. Then after you choose a tattoo, you’ll have to decide where to get tattooed. Given the permanence of your artwork, it’s important that everything come together perfectly.

Whether you want something small and simple, meaningful and creative, or just plain cool and badass, our guide will help you decide on what the right tattoo is for you.

How To Pick The Right Tattoo

After deciding to get a tattoo, the next step is deciding exactly what kind you want. There are many factors to consider that can help lead you to the perfect new ink. What you get also depends on whether you’re a guy or girl.

Get Creative

When considering a design, keep in mind that it’s completely up to you! Let your imagination get to work, and let your creativity guide you. The most important aspect of any tattoo is that you like it.

The fact is your tattoo doesn’t have to have a deep and storied meaning or an intricate backstory. All that really matters is that you’re okay with it being on your body forever, meaningful or not.

Do Your Research

However, it is smart to think about your tattoo idea with a critical point of view. After choosing a design, be aware of any cultural implications it might have; if it’s a symbol, is it related to any groups?

If it’s in a different language, could it be offensive to someone to someone within that culture? Do you know what it really says? Due diligence can save some headache in the long run.

Work With The Artist

Also, you don’t have to go to that parlor with an exact design in mind; your tattoo artist will work with you to form an idea and bring your vision to life and can even draw from scratch if you’d like.

A good idea would be to bring a picture for inspiration, an idea for placement, and collaborate with your artist from there to make adjustments until you reach a final drawing.

Artists are experts and as such will likely have unique ideas, so try to keep an open mind to their creative input and expertise, while also staying true to your vision.

During these meet-ups with your artist, you can start to discuss pricing. Average tattoo prices range significantly depending on several factors, so do your research to keep your costs within your budget.

Pick A Timeless Ideas

One last thing to consider is the timeliness of your tattoo – make sure the idea will last with the test of time.

For example, it might be wise to ask yourself if your design idea will look good in a few decades or if that girl or guy’s name is as permanent a fixture in your life as the ink on your body.

It’s wise to know beforehand that certain spots, like feet or elbows or hands, get more wear and tear and require more touch-ups and upkeep.

What Tattoo Should I Get?

It’s been decided: you want to get a tattoo. Now comes the hard part – figuring out exactly what you want and where to put it. There’s quite a lot of thinking that goes into the decision, though it’s worth it in the end.

Why Do You Want a Tattoo?

Before you commit to a tattoo, consider all of the possible reasons why you want to get one, and decide if they are good ones.

For instance, think about who the tattoo is for, if you’ll it in 10 years, if you truly love the design you’re choosing. Just be sure that any choices you make are for you, and you’re happy about them.

If you’re ever unsure, start small and simple on the wrist or shoulder and build from there.

Consider Where To Get A Tattoo

Location, location, location. Your body is prime real estate, and where you fill it with art matters. First, think about visibility. Do you want to show off your beautiful new ink at all times, or would you rather have the option to keep it covered?

If you have a job or think you will have a job where you have to cover up your tattoos during the day, keep in mind that there are some areas of the body that are easier to hide – your arm might be easier than your neck, for example.

The location of your tattoo can also help to make some stylistic choices. If you choose your back, you have a lot of space to work with, and the design has room to be on the larger side. Likewise, a spot like the shoulder lends itself to some creative designs to emphasize the curve of your bones.

Consider other factors, like pain (feet are notorious for being more painful than other spots), trendiness, wear-and-tear, and the healing process.

When you go to the tattoo parlor, your artist will draw the design and place the print on your body. Don’t be afraid to move it around until the location is just right. If you have a lot of different ideas, a temporary tattoo could be an easy way to test out if those spots are the best fit.

How To Choose The Best Tattoo Designs

There are so many different directions in which tattoos to go, and so many options to consider design-wise. When you’re trying to choose the best idea for you, first look inward. Is there anything that really speaks to you as a person, and who you are? Take a peek into your interests to see if anything jumps out.

If you don’t want to go that deep with your tattoo design, try instead to simply find something that you like. Surf tattoo-specific hashtags on Instagram and surf Pinterest’s endless boards.

Follow famous tattoo artists, or just do an internet search on classic tattoo designs. If you have a favorite quote, consider that as an option.

You have the ability to choose a tattoo design that’s been created already or you can make one up from scratch. Bring a semblance of an idea to your tattoo artist and work together until you find the best fit.

Feel free to reinvent the wheel or to get a design you’ve seen and know works – either way, it’s entirely up to you.

Pick A Good Artist

This person is ultimately responsible for putting a permanent work of art on your body, so choose wisely. Before heading into a parlor, do some research. Find a nearby artist and look into their work; read reviews, check out their Instagram page, and learn more about their style.

Look into their prices as well, and understand that a high-quality tattoo is worth the investment – this is not something that you necessarily want to get for cheap.

A Comprehensive Tattoo Guide For Beginners (Pain, Placement, Sizing, Price, Aftercare, Removal)

A tattoo can mean a lot – or it can mean nothing at all. Besides being deeply personal, tattoos are extraordinary works of art and have some interesting history behind them. In this ultimate tattoo guide, we’re introducing you to the entire concept. From the basics of tattooing, to tattoo designs, to tattoo removal.

Whether you’re thinking about getting a tattoo, are worried about the pain, or are just curious about body art, you’ll find the answers you seek here. Don’t forget to check out temporary tattoos near the end of our guide too!

Tattoo: Quick Basics

There are no stupid questions. Just to make sure we are all on the same page, here are the basics of tattoos.

What is a Tattoo?

A tattoo is permanent body art. Ink in a variety of colors is injected into your skin to create artwork. There are endless tattoo designs to get, with numerous styles. A person who designs and “inks” tattoos is known as a tattoo artist.

A good tattoo won’t always be cheap. You should be prepared to spend some significant time perfecting your tattoo design and finding a compatible tattoo artist for your tatt. This is especially important for large and complex designs.

Credit: @redletterstattoo

Above all, you need to remember that tattoos are permanent (more on the expensive and painful process of tattoo removal below) so it had better be a design that you’ll love forever!

Tattoos can also be extremely meaningful. Symbols and designs can hold significant meanings for an individual. A tattoo can simply be for decoration, or it can be to honor, commemorate or signify something else.

How Tattoos Are Made

Put simply, tattoos are made by injecting ink into your skin using a needle.

We won’t lie to you – it can hurt like a b**ch.

Here’s a video showing you how it works:

For a full explanation of the healing process (plus a list of all the signs of a tattoo infection) check out How Long Does It Take for A Tattoo To Heal: Step by Step Guide.

How to Decide on a Tattoo

First things first, it has to be your decision. Your friends might have some strong ideas and your tattoo artist will have some advice as well. While it’s a good idea to listen to them, ultimately it has to be your choice. If you don’t like the tattoo ideas of your artist, you should say something.

It’s you that has to live with it!

Other things to consider when you’re deciding on a tattoo:

Tattoo History: For the Nerds

Not only is tattoo history very interesting, but it can also be a great source of inspiration. If you are looking for a classic tattoo design idea, this is the place to find it.

Where Tattoos Began

The answer is everywhere! There’s no single origin of the tattoo. Historians have shown that native tribes around the world have been permanently decorating their skin for centuries. The earliest records of tattoos date back to 5000 BCE, according to some sources.

Saved Tattoo

Originally, tattoos were made by scarring the skin and then discoloring the scar. This could be through dyes like earth and herbs, or other means.

The meaning and purpose of tattoos is harder to decipher. It could be part of a ritual or sacrifice. One thing is clear: a tattoo is a way of expressing an individual identity. That concept of expressing yourself through body art is still going strong today!

Evolution of Tattoo Style

Tattoo styles grow and change, but there are some that have transpired decades. Tribal tattoos, for example, still hold significant meanings and the style of tribal tattoos is still popular today. Check out a list of the most popular tattoo design ideas this year below.

Nowadays, regardless of the style of tatt, you always start with an outline. A template is made that’s then applied to your skin, kind of like guidelines.

Here you can see the work in progress. Half of this watercolor tattoo has been completed, while the other half remains an empty outline. This is where the template was applied, then lining was tattooed over it, and finally the tattoo artist is in the process of coloring it.

The more complex and larger the design, the longer the style will take to tattoo. Usually, a large tattoo will be split over multiple session.

Current Tattoo Practices

Typically, a tattoo is comprised of three different techniques.

Lining – this is the outlines of the tattoo. Bold, solid lines that create the image. Some tattoos are just lines, like words or quote tattoos. Most image tattoos are a combination of lines with added shading and color.

Shading – this technique, along with coloring, is used to fill the tattoo. In this sense, we mean shading as in adding darkness and lightness. Good shading can be the difference between a tattoo appearing three dimensional and very flat. Of course, sometimes a very flat and cartoon-like tattoo is desirable.

Coloring – add color to your tattoo. This is done after the initial outline and people tend to find that it hurts a lot more than the lining. Typically, the tattoo artist will work from dark to light shades. It’s important that they don’t over-work the tattoo. You can always add more color, but once it’s inked in, you can’t take it away.

Tattoo Design Idea Catalogue

Sometimes you have a fantastic idea for a tattoo, but you aren’t entirely sure how to execute it. Other times, you have no clue where to start. Whichever you are, start by browsing these tattoo design styles.

Some styles are best for certain placements, tattoo sizes, and design ideas. Remember, you’ll need to check your desired tattoo artist can ink you in your chosen style too.

Traditional American Tattoo

Traditional American tattoos emerged last century, but they’ve certainly made their mark and are still incredibly popular today. Also known as Sailor Jerry tattoos, many tattoos in this style have a nautical theme.

Bold lines, a distinctive cartoon style, and a restricted color palette are all the hallmarks of a traditional American tattoo. These are particularly popular on the forearm, upper arm, and thigh – all good vertical canvases for long tattoo shapes.

Sharks, pin-up girls, ships, snakes, and icons with scrolls showing words in front of them are all popular. Don’t let the cartoon style fool you either – American traditional tattoos have many hidden meanings.

Japanese Traditional Tattoo

Traditional style Japanese tattoos, although modern, are still drowning in historical meaning and significance. Also known as irezumi, these traditional Japanese tattoos typically show beautiful scenes – a fight scene, samurais, mythic dragons, or just a shallow pond filled with koi.

Japanese traditional tattoos typically wrap around your body completely. There aren’t gaps in a sleeve of Japanese traditional tattoos, in comparison to American traditional tattoos that are full of gaps.

Be brave when you opt for a Japanese traditional tattoo. The level of detail and pure size of the tattoo usually equates to long and painful sessions under the needle.

Neo-Traditional

If you love the themes and designs of traditional tattoos but want to take them to the next level, the neo-traditional tattoo style will appeal to you. Portraits, floral designs, and cartoon styles are enhanced with lush colors, shading, and a level of depth that traditional tattoos can’t usually reach.

Another thing that we love about neo-traditional tattoos is the color palate available. You aren’t limited to the colors that sailor Jerry used when he invented the American traditional style, for example.

Add pops of fuchsia pink or neon yellow while retaining that classic and classy original tattoo design. Just like traditional tattoos, this style looks great as a sleeve.

Body Frame Patterns

This style includes all decorative patterns and designs that flow with your body. Particularly popular with women, this style compliments your natural body frame.

Almost like a piece of jewelry, these tattoos are often more decorative than meaningful. There’s still a lot of scope, however. These body frame tattoos can be delicate and intricate like a mandala, or bold with sweeping strokes. They can be colorful and bright with clean lines, or dark and mysterious with plenty of shading.

Under breasts, along shoulders and curving around hips – these are all great placements for pattern tattoos.

Blackwork

If you’re looking for a really cool badass tattoo, then blackwork style might be for you. The clue to this tattoo style is in the name. These tattoos only use black ink, and they typically feature dark themes (but not always).

If you’re looking for intricate detail, shading, and 3D effects, see ‘Black and Grey’ tattoo style below. Blackwork is typically chunkier and solid. There’s minimal shading or blurring of the lines.

Solid black tribal styles, mandalas, sweeping black lines, and dark scenes are all common. Wolves, skulls, and symbols of alchemy are all very popular in this style.

Lettering

Lettering is incredibly popular on its own or with tattoo symbols and designs. You might think that compared to symbols and artwork, words must have a very obvious meaning. But that’s not strictly true. A significant quote that means a lot to you, or a single word that instantly brings up a cherished memory. Lettering tattoo styles are a great way to ink those onto your skin forever.

The most important choice here is font. Do you want bold and impossible to miss, or delicate calligraphy that’s as pretty as any floral tattoo?

One of the great things about lettering is that it looks great wherever, as the font size can be increased and decreased for any placement.

Color Realism

Imagine if you could tattoo a photograph on your body. Now imagine that it’s in so much detail that it actually looks like a photograph. In a nutshell, that’s what color realism is.

With a limitless palate, the only real rule with color realism is that the final tattoo looks as close to real life as possible. The end result is a tattoo with vibrant colors that will really stand out in a crowd.

Bear in mind, you’ll need to find a very skilled tattoo artist to pull off color realism perfectly. The level of artistry involved is high. Get ready for long and intense tattoo sessions too!

Black and Grey

Black and grey – pretty self-explanatory! This style of tattoo relies simply on black ink, diluted to various degrees with white ink, to create endless shades of grey.

There is no color in these tattoos.

Unlike blackwork tatts, there’s an incredible amount of shading and detail incorporated. Like color realism and photorealism artwork, black and grey tattoos can recreate an image with impeccable accuracy.

Religious tattoos, portraits of loved ones who’ve passed on, and other solemn designs tend to work well with the black and grey style.

Watercolor

Watercolor tattoos are incredibly popular. Usually, they are either just watercolor paints or watercolor paints beneath a simple black line tattoo. Both styles are beautiful! The trick with watercolor tattoos is to make the colors look like they’ve just been splashed on your skin. It takes a skilled artist to get a watercolor tattoo right.

Popular watercolor tattoo designs include a line portrait, cartoon character or scripted word atop a mix of watercolor paints. Another popular watercolor tattoo design is delicate flowers with watercolor petals. This is a beautiful effect. As you can imagine, it’s popular with women.

Minimalism

More is less when it comes to minimalist tattoos. Often combined with lettering (choose a simple font) and geometric tattoo styles, the minimalist tattoo keeps things simple. There won’t be a mess of colors or bucket-loads of shading. Instead, simple lines and a clean design are essential.

When it comes to tattoo minimalism, placement is important. Minimalist tattoos are quite small, so they look best in confined areas. Your wrist, ankle, finger, etc. These are great places to display a minimalist tattoo. Floating somewhere on your back or side, however, may look a little odd.

Check out our tattoo design archives for more.

Tattoo Placement

Tattoo placement is equally as important as the tattoo design. A brilliant tattoo will look strange in the wrong placement!

By placement, we mean the location of the tattoo on your body, as well as the size and orientation of the design.

For example, some people like to have the tattoo facing them. Hold out your wrist – if you got a word tattooed here, would you want it facing you, or facing someone standing in front of you?

Credit: Instagram

The size is important as well. Sometimes, a very small tattoo placed on a large area of your body (e.g. your chest) can look out of place, or like it’s floating in mid-air. That doesn’t necessarily mean that small tattoos can only go on small areas. A single quote underneath one breast, along a collarbone, or vertically down your spine is a good example of a small tattoo placed well on a large body area.

A good way to work out what placement is right for you, is to buy henna or use eyeliner to draw the tattoo on your body. If you don’t like the placement, just wash it off and choose another spot. Repeat until you find a placement you like.

For more ideas and a more comprehensive list of placements, check out our guide to Tattoo Placement Ideas.

Small Tattoo Placements

Small tattoos might not be able to show a lot of detail, but they can be extremely meaningful. There’s a lot of power in a tattooed symbol, even if it’s only 1cm across!

Credit: Instagram

Good places for tiny tattoos:

If you want a tattoo that’s bigger than a dime but still not huge, you have some more options. Wrists, neck and ankle areas are all good for small tattoos. Of course, if you already have a sleeve or large tattoo artwork, then you could incorporate your new small tattoo in it.

Credit: Instagram

Good places for small tattoos:

Medium Tattoo Placements

Medium tattoos are sizeable and noticeable. They’ll be too large to fit on one side of your wrist, but still a lot smaller than a whole back tattoo or sleeve!

With medium sized tattoos, you might need more than one session. It depends on the tattoo artist and the level of detail, lining and shading required.

Medium tattoo placements should offer enough space to add more detail but just like small tattoo placements, you need to make sure they aren’t ‘floating’ in space.

Medium-sized tattoo placement ideas:

Large Tattoo Placements

By large tattoo placements, we mean the kind that cover more than just one area of your body. Large tattoos don’t need to be extravagant (although we can’t deny loving those bold and bright artworks) to look good.

For example, you could have a sentence tattooed from the base of your spine to the top of your neck. It would be simple and elegant, yet still classified as a large tattoo.

With large tattoos especially, you may want to spend time thinking about how public the tattoo will be. A full sleeve will be hard to hide. A full back tattoo may be easier, however. It depends on your usual attire and the climate you live in.

Cool large tattoo placement ideas:

Low-Pain Tattoo Placements

If pain is a major concern for you, checking out which placements are most likely to hurt is important. Generally, low-pain tattoo placements are on fleshy areas of your body. Anywhere there’s a lot of flesh between your skin and bones is good. Areas with few nerve endings are good too.

High-Pain Tattoo Placements

If you want to be a total badass (or just create a list of placements to avoid at all costs), here are some high-pain placements:

For a helpful chart that shows you where tattoos hurt the most, check out our Tattoo Pain Chart.

Before You Get a Tattoo…

By now, your head is probably buzzing with ideas. But before you jump to the first tattoo parlor you find, there are a few things to think about.

Choosing a Tattoo Artist

Here’s what to look for:

To start, make a list of artists who can tattoo the style you want. Then work out your budget and work through your list until you find the artist that meets all your requirements for the right price.

3 Things to Do the Night Before

Once you’re all set up, you’ve paid for the tattoo, and your session is booked, there are only a few things left to do.

Your tattoo artist should give you clear instructions on what to do on the days leading up to your first session. When it’s time to head to the parlor, wear loose clothes that will cover the fresh tatt from sunlight but won’t cause friction.

For more tips and tricks to prep well and avoid excess pain, read our guide to Tattoo Pain Management.

Tattoo Etiquette

There are some things you should be aware of when you work with a tattoo artist:

After You Get a Tattoo…

Once you’ve got a tattoo, you need to look after it. It’s a work of art, after all! That means following the advice that the tattoo artist gives you.

The Days After Your Tattoo Session

This usually involves gently cleaning the tattoo, protecting it from sunlight, and going through the scabbing phase.

Don’t be alarmed when your tattoo weeps! What you need to do is be very gentle, and always keep your hands clean when you’re about to touch the tatt. You’ll be directed to use a light anti-bacterial soap and warm water to clean the area, then pat or air dry the ink.

You’ll also need a tattoo ointment to apply, like tattoo goo. Often your tattoo artist will sell you this or provide it alongside the tattoo when you finish up the last session.

Long-Term Tattoo Care

Once you’ve passed first 48 hours, you then enter a scabbing and itching phase. Keep strong and don’t pick at the scabs!

This itching can a month a longer, as the tattoo heals. Even though the surface of the tatt might look healed, underneath it’s still healing (which is why it itches). Instead of scratching, you can pat the area lightly, add more moisturizer, or cover it with a cool damp cloth to smother the itches.

The key with tattoos is to moisturize them regularly.

Do Tattoos Fade?

Over time, tattoos can fade and blur. Black ink turns to blue and you lose definition. If your tattoo is regularly exposed to the sun, it will fade even faster. That’s why we recommend applying sun lotion whenever your tatt is exposed to daylight. Oh, and keep moisturizing!

Don’t forget, you can always book “touch-up” sessions with your tattoo artist. They’ll be able to fix any mistakes, sharpen the design again, or cover it up completely if you change your mind about the tatt.

If you are worrying about what the tattoo will look like when you’re old and wrinkly, perhaps tattoos aren’t right for you. Even in old age, many people with tattoos remain proud and happy with their designs. Sure, the tattoos might not look as great as when they were first inked, but they will be an incredible reminder of happy memories and the life you have lived!

Tattoo Removal

Tattoo removal is possible, but just like the original tattoo process, it hurts and it leaves a mark.

How Can You Remove a Tattoo?

To remove a tattoo, you need to get rid of the ink in the dermis layer of your skin. This is usually done with a laser.

The laser applies very intense heat to your skin. It zaps your skin quickly and intensely to reach the dermis layer. As a result, the ink particles start to break up into smaller pieces. This allows the lymphatic system (vessels that work as part of your immune system to move fluids and particles, like ink, from your tissues to your blood stream) to remove the ink deposits. Once the ink reaches your blood, it is filtered out of your body naturally.

Does Tattoo Removal Hurt?

Oh yes. It really does hurt, especially if you have a very colorful tattoo that needs long sessions. Some colors, like yellow, blue and green, are particularly hard to remove. This is because these colors don’t absorb as much light from the laser as other colors, like red and black.

It feels like a brief flash of hot energy, almost like snapping a band against your skin. As you can image, it starts to feel quite sore after a while. Thankfully, the discomfort doesn’t last too long and once the process is over it doesn’t hurt at all.

Tattoo Removal Cost

It’s not cheap! You’ll need multiple sessions to remove all the ink and sessions could cost thousands of dollars. Just like the cost of getting a tattoo, the more session and larger the tattoo is, the more it will cost.

DIY Tattoo Removal

One way to circumnavigate the costs is to buy your own laser tattoo removal machine. It’s not without risks, but it is possible to remove a tattoo this way.

Did you know that we have a guide to the Best Laser Tattoo Removal Machines?

Bear in mind that laser tattoo removal is generally considered the most efficient way to remove a tattoo. Tattoo removal creams and lotions are not recommended by professionals. In fact, the FDA has not approved any creams, ointments or lotions for tattoo removal. Their report warns that these products could cause unexpected allergic reactions and damage your natural skin pigmentation.

Temporary Tattoos: Another Option

Temporary tattoos might seem like those silly stick-on tattoos made for kids, but they’re actually designed for adults to use only. Once applied, they’ll last up to a few weeks so you can really get an idea of what your tattoo will look like.

A temporary tattoo is a great idea if you want to trial what having a tattoo looks like… or you just want to appear badass for a special event or vacation.

The design is drawn onto a water-permeable paper sheet, then pressed onto your skin to transfer it. Unfortunately, this often means that paper temporary tattoos have very restricted designs and sizes.

If you want to draw your own temporary tattoo instead of buying a pre-made one, think about using henna paste. There are some drawbacks to henna and some important warnings about the ingredients, however. Read our article about the Best Temporary Tattoo to learn more.

First of all, get your social media up to date. There is a huge audience for tattoo artists who show-off their skills on social media!

Build up a following and people will naturally come to you when they need a tattoo. Whether you are just starting to draw and become an artist, or you already have an established tattoo shop but business is slow, social media is the place to start.

You might also want to consider getting a website for your portfolio!

The Best Tattoo Artists for Inspiration

If you’re looking for an example of a tattoo artist on the rise in 2022, it has to be Pony Wave. She started her tattoo career in Russia before moving to LA. She now has almost 250k followers on Instagram!

Her feed is a great example to follow. It mixes some stunning examples of her hyper-realistic tattoo style, with personal photos of her day-to-day life. Her followers can get a sense of her skill and who she is as a person. It’s a winning combination.

For a comprehensive list of the artists to follow on Instagram, check out our guide to the Best Tattoo Artists.

How to Choose the Best Tattoo Pen Machine

Anyone can put pen to paper. Some people can draw well. Few people can draw amazingly. And only some people will turn them designs into tattoos.

To take that step, you’ll need a tattoo pen machine (also known as a tattoo gun). Thankfully, we’ve created a guide to tattoo pens so you can find the right model for you. Whether you’re looking for a beginner tattoo gun or a pro tattoo pen mode, check out our guide to the Best Tattoo Pen Machine.

Conclusion – Love Your Tattoo

Above all, to be happy with your tattoo you need to be happy with your body and the design you pick. A tattoo is decorative, but it often has a deeper meaning. For a tattoo that you’ll love and stick with for life, think carefully before you get inked!

For more resources to help you find your dream tattoo and get inked safely, check out all our helpful guides and tips here at Saved Tattoo.

How To Choose a Right Tattoo Design

How To Choose a Right Tattoo Design

Posted on July 5, 2021 July 9, 2021 by Tattoo Expert

Tattoos are visually appealing, and many people want to get them. However, there are some legitimate concerns that should be addressed prior to getting inked. “Will I repent my tattoo design when I’m older?” What if it fades away? What if it doesn’t come out exactly how I want it? What if my tastes change after a while? Etc. are some of those concerns.

Nobody wants to have regrets in life, be it your tattoo design. It is critical to choose a tattoo design you won’t regret later in life. If you’re having trouble deciding on a tattoo design, you can chat with your tattoo artist. Professional tattoo artists can more often assist people in selecting a design that they won’t regret ever. A great tattoo artist can take your vision and make it even better than you imagined. Furthermore, they will provide you with a tattoo that will last for years and that you will be pleased with.

If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo and want to pick a design that you won’t regret later in life, then this post is for you.

Not everyone considers how their tattoo will look in the future, but there are solutions if this is a concern for you. Here are a few important design tips from tattoo professionals to take into account to ensure you end up with ink you adore.

1. Research, Research, Research

People frequently get tattoos on the spur of the moment while out with friends. While this can be a fun way to get your first, second, or maybe third tattoo; however, if you want a design that will look great for the rest of your life, you should do your research first.

You must actually pay close attention to what you want. You can scour the internet for different tattoo styles. There you may find both good tattoo designs and ones that you will be unhappy with in the long run. Remember that your preferences will change, and certain trends will recede, so it’s important to do enough research. So, conduct a thorough search to ensure you find the right tattoo design.

2. Choose the Right Tattoo Artist

One of the most important factors in getting a tattoo design you won’t regret later in life is selecting the right tattoo artist. People usually get tattoos on a whim and walk into any random tattoo studio without much thought, which usually leads to extreme disappointment and discouragement later in life.

Good tattoos are expensive, and they should be! That is why it is critical not to cut corners on your tattoo project in order to save money. Keep in mind that the quality of your tattoo has an immediate and long-term impact on your overall self-esteem. In addition, tattoo cover-ups and removal can be significantly more expensive than the initial tattoo cost, and they are not always completely effective in concealing your original tattoo. So, find a tattoo artist with whom you can connect and whose work you love.

3. Scrutinize Their Portfolios

To land on the perfect design for you — and ensure that you’re choosing the best artist you can afford — look at their portfolios. The majority of tattoo artists post their work on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Some have their own website where they display their work. Check out their work on their social media handles and web pages to assess their tattooing style.

Better yet, visit tattoo parlors and speak with the artists in person. This will help in the creation of your final design and enhance your overall experience. You want to get tattooed not only by someone whose work you admire but also by someone with whom you connect. Besides, it will help to choose a tattoo design you won’t regret later in life.

4. Give Yourself Some Time – Have Patience

You’ve come up with an idea. Congratulations! It could be one-of-a-kind, a modern spin on something else, or something that has been thoroughly debunked. Everyone thinks it’s fantastic and completely unique to you.

But, for God’s sake, give your design a nice thought. Think about it hard and long. Imagine your future self and what might look good five, ten, or twenty years from now. Allow time to pass, and if you still have your heart set on it after a few weeks or, even better, a few months, then schedule an appointment with the artist. Remember, Patience is the key when it comes to choosing a tattoo design you won’t regret later in life.

5. Choose What Goes Well With Your Personality

You’ve probably heard that your tattoo should be a reflection of your personality. It is true to every extent and critical to ensuring that you end up with ink that you adore. The best way to select the right tattoo design is to think about your personality. Remember that each tattoo tells a tale – the wearer’s tale.

Allow yourself some time to consider what story you want to tell the world. Your tattoo should be well thought of. Think of your body like the canvas in the context of an art gallery. If you like intricate colored tattoo designs, stick to that. And if you prefer black and white, go with them.

6. Provide References

This is another critical step to help your tattoo artist get a good idea of the design you’re looking for. Bring in some examples if you really want to choose a tattoo design you won’t regret later in life. Pictures of what you’re trying to visualize will help a tattoo artist give you the tattoo you desire.

Allow the tattoo artist to run with your idea and make a few changes if you click with them and like their work. Allowing your tattoo artist to express their creativity will result in a better tattoo. All you have to do is make sure that your artist creates the tattoo in line with your vision. Remember that you are under no obligation to wear anything you do not want on your body.

7. Choose Your Tattoo Location Wisely

It is apparently up to you to decide which design you want and where you want it to be placed on your body. But, better yet, to listen to your artist’s advice.

In order to avoid future regrets, it is wise to get a tattoo that will flow with and complement your body for the rest of your life. For example, if you want to avoid tattoos in areas that cannot be covered, they must be covered for any reason. Then, your fingers, hands, arms, etc., are not ideal for a tattoo to be placed. Similarly, if you want a tattoo that you do not want to see every day, in such a case, your back, nape, and ankle chest are ideal locations for your tattoo.

Moreover, some tattoo designs, especially the larger ones, don’t look good on arms or areas with less space. For larger tattoos, the best location is your back. And a tiny tattoo looks perfect on areas, such as the nape, near the ear, fingers, etc.

The key is to choose the right location for your tattoo besides choosing a visually appealing design.

8. Avoid Colors That Tend To Fade Faster

Color tattoos, without a doubt, look fantastic. However, some colors, such as red and yellow, tend to fade faster. Choosing the best tattoo ink color can be difficult. But nothing beats getting the tattoo in the right ink color to show off your personal style and taste.

Most of the time, people make the mistake of choosing the wrong color ink for their tattoo, which they later regret—Black and grey last the longest. Because dark shades are dense and bold, they are less prone to fading. In contrast, vibrant colors and pastels, such as pink, yellow, light blue, and green, tend to fade faster. So, choose your tattoo color wisely!

9. Avoid Locations That Tend To Blur & Fade Over Time

When deciding what color ink is best for tattoos, the placement of the tattoo is also important. Choose a location while keeping design and other considerations in mind. Tattoos on the thumbs and fingers tend to blur and fade the most quickly, so you might want to reconsider getting your favorite tattoo design down your index finger.

Furthermore, it is a good idea to avoid areas where your skin stretches, such as the crease lines on the wrist, elbows, or near the knees. Because of the constant pulling of the skin in these areas, a freshly etched tattoo takes longer to heal. Also, the final outcome will not be as anticipated.

The best places to get a tattoo are the upper arms, calves, shoulder, back, nape, neck, and chest. All of these are considered good tattoo locations due to the skin in these areas.

Another place to avoid is your hands and feet. These areas are more prone to sun damage and are frequently exposed to soap and water, making the tattoo fade. In addition, a freshly etched tattoo in these areas heals more slowly.

10. Pay Heed To What Your Tattoo Artist Says

If you really want to choose a tattoo design you won’t regret later in life, then listen to your tattoo artist. They are professionals who understand what is best for you and your tattoo. People who ignore their tattoo artist’s advice frequently come to regret it.

Listening to your tattoo artist will help you get a great tattoo that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life.

11. Avoid Having Alcohol Before & After Getting Inked

One should do many things before getting a tattoo and many things one should avoid doing, but one thing that one should STRICTLY avoid doing before and after getting a tattoo is drinking alcohol. Yes, it should be at the top of your list of no-nos.

Yes, drinking alcohol may appear to be an appealing way to deal with the pain associated with tattoos or to celebrate the occasion, but believe me, it is a terrible idea.

Alcohol causes blood to thin. When alcohol is consumed prior to a tattoo procedure, it simply causes excessive bleeding, making it extremely difficult to achieve a solid saturation of ink in your skin. If you drink alcohol after getting the tattoo, the thin blood will lengthen the bleeding and plasma stage of the newly etched tattoo, potentially causing heavy scabbing or infection.

Scarring is exacerbated when there is severe scabbing or infection. Scabbing, infections, and scarring are the furthest things from anyone’s mind. So, avoid drinking on the day you intend to get tattooed and wait for at least two-three days afterward.

Furthermore, alcohol can impede the tattooing process as well as the healing process. That is why it is critical to abstain from alcohol.

12. Follow After Care Instructions

Finally, it is critical to follow aftercare instructions if you want to have a tattoo that you will love for the rest of your life. After the treatment, professional tattooists will usually give you detailed and specific instructions on proper post-tattoo care, which you must strictly adhere to.

Some tattoo artists will even provide you with a special ointment to apply to your tattoo. If you do not take care of your tattoo after you get it, you may develop numerous skin problems, including rashes, tattoo infections, and skin keloids. Following a tattoo aftercare regimen will ensure that you have a great-looking tattoo for the rest of your life.

Furthermore, it is critical to use quality tattoo aftercare products on your freshly etched tattoo. Keep your tattoo moist to avoid infection and to ensure that it heals up faster.

Don’t underestimate the power of tattoo aftercare. It plays a crucial role when it comes to having a tattoo that you would love all your life.

Bringing it all together…

These are the 12 tips to follow if you really want a tattoo design you won’t regret later in life. All of these tips are simple, easy-to-follow. I hope these steps help you in getting a great tattoo. Remember, avoiding certain locations and designs, as well as choosing a great artist, will increase your chances of getting a tattoo you’ll love for years to come.

choosing the right tattoo for you

philosophy on tattoo selection

Most tattoo collectors, especially the ones new to tattoo collecting, often struggle with making a decision on what image or images to choose. A very common statement I hear from non-tattooed people is “I would like to get tattooed, but I can’t think of anything that I would want on my body forever”. Another common statement is “I change my mind so often I’m afraid I would get tired of my tattoo or regret the design I chose”. These concerns are understandable, however from a more experienced perspective, they are largely unfounded.

Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, everyone needs to understand that you don’t HAVE to get a tattoo, and secondly that you do not NEED a tattoo. Tattoos are more popular than ever before in history, but you need to discern between wanting a tattoo because everyone else is doing it and feeling you have to get one to fit in, and wanting a tattoo because you actually have your OWN internal drive to get one.

Chances are that if you have been craving a tattoo, you could enjoy having one. Now all you have to do is “pick it and stick it”, right? Most newbie tattoo collectors make several mistakes which are EASILY avoided, if one simply takes a little friendly advice based on years of experience. You must understand that although you may feel as though you are a unique individual, all of us are more similar than dissimilar and years of observation and tattoo collection will offer your tattoo artist a legitimate perspective on what you are likely to experience from getting a tattoo.

10 common mistakes first time tattoo collectors make:

* getting a very small tattoo just to “see if you like it”

*convincing themselves they will only get one tattoo

*placing the tattoo inappropriately, just so that it can be hidden

*placing a small tattoo on a large body area (small shoulder-, bikini-line tattoos, etc)

*choosing your tattoo design from images you’ve seen on Google or Pintrest

*choosing a tattoo design you saw on someone else

*designing (or having a friend design) your own tattoo

*selecting a tattoo shop because your friends go there, without doing your own research

*going to a “walk-in” shop so you don’t have to make an appointment

*refusing to consider the advice and suggestions of a competent tattooer

FIRST, SOME CAUTIONS

Understandably, there is a certain amount of trepidation and anxiety when choosing tattoos, especially if it is your first tattoo. Don’t let this negatively affect your willingness to consider good advice from an experienced industry professional. A good tattooer will offer you advice based on many years of experience, and testimonials from thousands of clients which can offer insight into what outcomes your tattoo choices may lead to.

People generally only regret a few types of tattoos, some of these are:

*poor quality tattoos

*tattoos that are too small

*tattoos they got on a whim, on vacation, or while drunk

*tattoos on the face, abdomen, bikini-line, or on the wrist and ankle in the callous or compression wrinkle areas.

It is also worth mentioning tattoos that “wrap”. It is a common request to have images wrap around the body, such as a snake or dragon that wraps around the arm, leg, or torso. While this is, in theory a really interesting idea, the result is often a tattoo that from many angles can only be seen as a band of scales and is difficult to understand. Avoid wrapping tattoos around the body if it will be difficult or impossible to identify the subject matter from various points of view. Try to make every conceivable angle of viewing the tattoo equally interesting, easy to understand and identify, and flattering to the body. If you must wrap the subject matter around a body part, seek to transition the subject from foreground to mid/background as it wraps, and introduce a new main subject matter into the design so that every angle of view is equally compelling.

* The more tattoos you get, the more tattoos you will want

*The bigger your tattoos are, the bigger you will want them to be

*Collectors almost universally transition from smaller tattoos, to larger tattoos, eventually finding it difficult or impossible to unify their tattoos into sleeves and back-pieces in a way that looks as good as it COULD have looked if they had just gotten large, flowing tattoos in the first place.

*all tattoos BLUR and FADE over time, and need to be designed to last.

Many small and highly detailed tattoos that look great when they are new, do not age well. As time passes, your tattoos will BLUR, fine lines become thicker, crisp edges become softer, darker colors flow into and over-power lighter colors. Your tattoos will also FADE, meaning that black gets less dark, mid tone colors become less vibrant and more pale, and very light colors such as white, or any color mixed with a lot of white or yellow, may eventually fade away almost entirely. It is for this reason that small, highly detailed tattoos, as well as many photo-realistic tattoos are a poor choice. Imagine how you will feel when the beautiful, small script tattoo reading “patience” that you just had placed on your wrist begins to blur, and all of the tiny areas of skin in the letters “p”, “a”, and “e” disappear because the black ink has spread out and swallowed them up. Thinking of having your tattoo done in white ink instead? Imagine how you will feel when it disappears entirely, or worse yet, when it fades just enough to reveal a brownish colored scar in the shape of your tattoo. Imagine how you will feel when that artsy abstract water color and ink splatter tattoo you got that looked so vibrant and nice the day you got it, has faded so badly that all of your color looks dull, some of the lightest colors are gone completely, and now it just looks like a child’s crayon drawing. Imagine how you will feel after that amazingly realistic tattoo of a beautiful vampire girl with blood glistening on her lips and teeth has faded and blurred until all of those tiny white highlights that made it look so good have all been swallowed up by the dark red and black. If you don’t understand that last one, imagine a monarch butterfly with no white dots. Traditional american and traditional Japanese tattoos look the way they do for a REASON. As we say in the business, “If it’s bold, it’ll hold”. Tattoos need to be BOLD, high contrast images that will not be ruined by a little blurring and fading. Detail work is great, however it needs to be woven into the tattoo design in such a way so as to play a “supporting role” to the overall tattoo design, and not as the foundation of the design. Many tattooers either don’t know this, don’t care, or are in so desperate a need for income that they will not caution you against asking them to make this mistake on you. Many other tattooers are more concerned about the photo they will get of a raw, fresh tattoo, than they are about the long term satisfaction of each client and so they do not design with these facts in mind.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT DESIGN? PLAN AHEAD!

Firstly, heed the cautions and consider the advice above. Once you know what NOT to do, its easy. Wether your tattoo will be large or small, imagine a tattoo that you would get if it were going to be VERY LARGE. For example, if you want a small tattoo on your wrist, first pretend that you are going to get a full sleeve, what would it be? Once you have an idea how you’d want your full sleeve to look (if you ever go so far), take whichever small element of the full sleeve would go on the wrist, and you have your tattoo picked out. If the small tattoo you were originally planning, doesn’t fit neatly into your ideas about the sort of large tattoo you would get (IF you ever got one) don’t do it!

KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don’t add too many things to a tattoo. The smaller the tattoo, the simpler it needs to be. A good recipe for any tattoo, large or small is:

*One main subject

*One secondary subject

*One back-ground element

Examples of this could be a moon, with a couple of stars and a whisp of smoke. Or perhaps a skull with a couple of flowers and some flames. Possibly a Bird with a few dragonflies and some clouds, or a goldfish with a few maple leaves and some water. In other words avoid trying to cram every idea you’ve ever had into your tattoo, no matter how large it is, your tattoos will look better and age more gracefully if they are essentially SIMPLE in their design.

Choose designs that are images you like, colors you like, in a style you like. It can be anything. In fact for most tattoo collectors it doesn’t even matter WHAT they choose, if the tattoo is done well, they love it. The point is, don’t over-think it. Just have fun and select an image or a concept that you’re confident you won’t outgrow, such as political, or pop-culture references. You can never go wrong with archetype images such as Flowers, animals, religious, occult, or spiritual imagery, skulls, and elemental back-ground elements like water, clouds, and fire. Get your tattoo designed and placed (by a tattooer who knows how to do this) in such a way that it will compliment your body and look as though it belongs there. It’s a good idea to get your tattoo so that you feel as though you look better with it than without it, and design it with your NAKED body in mind, not how it will look in your favorite tank top. Work with a tattooer who is skilled in the style and subject matter that you choose, and who is excited to work with you on it. Give the artist you’ve chosen some artistic freedom to get the most out of your tattoo, and go for it. If you think of something else later on… you can always get another tattoo.