Straight answers to the things that stop people booking a tattoo — from the first idea to a healed tattoo. Each guide points you at real, credited work in the catalogue, and health guides quote dermatologists who specialise in tattoos.
Japanese tattooing — traditionally called Irezumi — is built around large, flowing compositions rather than a single isolated image: dragons, koi, tigers, and folklore figures set against backgrounds…
Inner forearm, upper arm, shoulder, back and ribs hold fine work well.
Start with visibility, not the design
Usually covered Sometimes visible Almost always visible Upper arm, shoulder, back, chest, stomach, ribs, thigh Forearm, calf, ankle, collarbone, behind the ear Hands, fingers, neck, face See every…
Sessions are scheduled back to back.
Sleeve and back pieces Planned as one composition over many sessions.
It works best at medium to large sizes — the upper arm, calf, thigh and back give the characters room — and less well tiny, where the detail…
Moderate: forearm, shoulder, upper back, stomach — some nerve or movement involved, but generally well tolerated.
Read the full Realism guide, browse real Fine Line work in the catalog, or go back to How to Choose a Tattoo Style.
If you want the durability of a bold outline with a more classic, stripped-back look, that's the one to compare against.
Nine stages from a vague idea to a healed tattoo. Every guide ends with a link to the next step, so you can read them in order — or jump straight to where you are.
The worries people mention most — and where the honest answer is.
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Health guides quote dermatologists who specialise in tattoos word for word. New to the words? See the tattoo glossary. How guides are written and corrected: editorial policy.