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.
How fine line ages — the part to understand before booking
Which one fits what you're picturing?
Fine line, micro-realism and small script soften first.
Upper arm and shoulder
How well an area holds a tattoo over time
What drives the price
New School tattoos explained: exaggerated cartoon shapes, saturated colour and bold outlines - who they suit, how they age and what to look for.
How to spot good Japanese work
Will my tattoo stretch if I gain weight, lose weight, build muscle or get pregnant? What actually happens, why stretch marks matter, and the most stable placements.
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.
Texture: often built with dotwork shading and fine linework, usually in black and grey.
Why some tattoo placements hurt more than others - bone, nerves, thin skin, movement - ranked from least to most painful, with a pain map.
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.