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.
Upper arm and shoulder
Inner forearm, upper arm, shoulder, back and ribs hold fine work well.
It works best at medium to large sizes — the upper arm, calf, thigh and back give the characters room — and less well tiny, where the detail…
Areas with more muscle and fat between skin and bone — upper arm, calf, outer thigh — are generally the most forgiving for a first tattoo.
See 1 real engraving / etching cat tattoos on the upper arm →
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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1 guide
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.