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.
What does a Japanese (Irezumi) tattoo actually look like?
The four common sizes
Style and detail Styles that need long shading or colour packing — realism , New School , full colour work — take more hours than linework at the…
Realism tries to rebuild the entire photograph — full tonal range, shading, highlight and shadow, texture.
Which one fits what you're picturing?
Placement and size go together
Neo-Traditional tattoos: Old School structure with richer colour, depth and illustrative detail - fit, aging, cost and quality signs.
Cost scales with how much of the body the design wraps around — a contained accent piece is a quick, affordable option, while a full sleeve or back…
Browse the full guides hub, or see How to Choose a Tattoo Style for a side-by-side comparison.
What does a realism tattoo actually look like?
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.