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.
Start with visibility, not the design
Japanese (Irezumi) tattoos: large-scale compositions of dragons, koi, tigers and waves - fit, sessions, cost and how to spot good work.
A forearm piece can be covered with long sleeves; a hand tattoo cannot.
Easy, flat areas like the outer forearm or upper arm are faster.
Body flow: designs are drawn to wrap a forearm, run down a spine or frame a sternum, not placed like a sticker.
Inner forearm, upper arm, shoulder, back and ribs hold fine work well.
Moderate: forearm, shoulder, upper back, stomach — some nerve or movement involved, but generally well tolerated.
What common tattoo symbols mean - animals, flowers, objects, mythical imagery - why context changes the reading, and real examples.
Realism tattoos: portraits and scenes that look like photographs - fit, sessions, aging, cost and how to spot a skilled realism artist.
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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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.