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.
Inner forearm, upper arm, shoulder, back and ribs hold fine work well.
Thin, delicate skin
Blackwork, dotwork and tribal compared side by side with real examples: how each looks, ages and which one fits your idea.
Ribs, sternum and spine — among the most painful spots, with long sessions.
Placement Wear Forearm, hand, upper arm Short or loose sleeves, a tank top underneath Shoulder, upper back, chest A top you can take off or a button-up worn…
A sleeve naturally reads top to bottom or as one continuous wrap; a spine piece reads as a vertical column; a ribs piece follows the curve of the…
Watercolor tattoos: soft washes and painterly colour - the honest truth about aging, who they suit, cost and how to spot good work.
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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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.