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.
Blackwork — solid, graphic, maximalist
Clean, confident points and curves matter as much as in blackwork: there's no shading to soften a hesitant line.
Tattoo cover-ups and reworks explained: what works, size and darkness, when to lighten with laser first, reworking a bad tattoo, and how to find a cover-up specialist.
That is why artists push back on tiny, detailed designs: Bold outlines and solid black (Traditional, Blackwork, Tribal, Japanese) age most predictably — the design stays readable even…
How to choose the right tattoo size: detail versus size, how small tattoos age, how size affects price and time, and examples from small to sleeve.
Dotwork is a technique that many ornamental pieces use; Blackwork shares the black palette but favours large solid areas; geometric work swaps decorative motifs for pure shapes.
New School tattoos explained: exaggerated cartoon shapes, saturated colour and bold outlines - who they suit, how they age and what to look for.
What fine line tattoos are, what they suit, how they age over 5-10 years and how to pick an artist who does them well - with real examples.
Realism or fine line? What the two styles share, where they split, how they age and which one fits your idea - with real examples of both.
Old School vs. Neo-Traditional: the shared roots, the real differences in line, colour and detail, and real examples of each style.
Placement and style work together — some styles (like Old School or Blackwork) hold up well even in smaller or higher-friction spots, while detailed styles like Realism need…
Neo-Traditional tattoos: Old School structure with richer colour, depth and illustrative detail - fit, aging, cost and quality signs.
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.