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.
Is fine line a good fit for you?
Which one fits what you're picturing?
Section: Detail needs space →
Pain, healing, and how it ages
Colour and fine lines soften over the years, especially in the sun.
The four common sizes
Fine line and simple Old School flash are usually faster.
Texture: often built with dotwork shading and fine linework, usually in black and grey.
New School tattoos explained: exaggerated cartoon shapes, saturated colour and bold outlines - who they suit, how they age and what to look for.
Which one fits what you're picturing?
How well an area holds a tattoo over time
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.
11 guides
10 guides
4 guides
6 guides
4 guides
4 guides
5 guides
1 guide
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.