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.
Japanese (Irezumi) tattoos: large-scale compositions of dragons, koi, tigers and waves - fit, sessions, cost and how to spot good work.
Like the idea of black ink but want something more textured and pattern-based, especially geometric or symmetrical — Dotwork.
Start with visibility, not the design
Visible tattoos and work: which placements are easy to cover, research on tattoos and employment, industries with stricter rules, and how to plan placement around your career.
How tattoo deposits work: how much they cost, whether they come off the price, when they are refunded or kept, rescheduling, artist cancellations and arriving late.
Close relatives: geometric work and mandalas share the same logic of precise, repeating shapes.
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.
Why some tattoo placements hurt more than others - bone, nerves, thin skin, movement - ranked from least to most painful, with a pain map.
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.
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.