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 to spot good Old School work
Old School (American Traditional) is the direct ancestor — simpler shapes, a narrower and more iconic subject palette, flatter color.
Compared with Old School, it is the opposite philosophy: thin and subtle instead of bold and built to be read from a distance.
Styles built around fast, efficient technique — bold outline, flat fill — tend to be quicker and more affordable for their size: Old School is the clearest example.
Placement and style work together — some styles (like Old School or Blackwork) hold up well even in smaller or higher-friction spots, while detailed styles like Realism need…
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.