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.
Why placement matters more than most people think
Is New School a good fit for you?
What does an Old School (American Traditional) tattoo actually look like?
Compared with Old School, it is the opposite philosophy: thin and subtle instead of bold and built to be read from a distance.
Notice what you're actually drawn to in other people's tattoos
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.
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 do tattoos age? Why lines soften and colours fade over years, the role of sun and skin ageing, which styles and placements age best, and what you can do about it.
What to write when you message a tattoo artist: references, placement, size, colour, budget and dates — a template, the questions to ask about deposit and design, and what to do if they don’t reply.
How to prepare for a tattoo: sleep, food, alcohol, skin, clothing and what to bring on the day, so the session is easier and heals better.
Someone who produces beautiful realism may not be the right person for bold Old School , and the reverse.
Style and detail Styles that need long shading or colour packing — realism , New School , full colour work — take more hours than linework at the…
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.