Tattoo guides

Minimalist tattoos

A minimalist tattoo says one thing with as few lines as possible. Think a single outline, a small symbol, a word or a shape with lots of bare skin around it. There is usually no shading and little or no color.

American Traditional tattoos

American traditional, also called old school or just traditional, is the bold, flat, outlined style of sailors' tattoos. It uses heavy black outlines, a small palette of solid colors and simple shapes that read from across a room. It is one of the best-aging styles there is.

Watercolor tattoos

A watercolor tattoo looks like it was painted with a brush. Color bleeds past the edges, fades into the skin and sometimes splashes. Many pieces have no black outline at all, and that choice affects how the tattoo looks in ten years.

Geometric tattoos

Geometric tattoos are built from shapes, lines and patterns. Triangles, circles, hexagons, mandalas and sacred geometry are the usual material. The style depends on precision, so artist choice and placement matter more than in most styles.

Japanese tattoos

Japanese tattooing, called irezumi or horimono, is a style of large, flowing pieces built around one main subject and a background of water, wind or clouds. It is designed for the whole arm, back or body, not as small separate images.

Blackwork tattoos

Blackwork is tattooing with black ink only, used in bold, solid areas and strong patterns. It covers a wide range, from ornamental bands to woodcut-style illustrations to full blackout sleeves. The common thread is heavy contrast between black and bare skin.

Neo Traditional tattoos

Neo traditional takes the bold outlines of American traditional and adds more color, more depth and more decoration. Subjects look illustrated rather than flat, with varied line weight, rich palettes and often ornamental frames.

Tribal tattoos

Tribal tattoos are bold black patterns rooted in the tattoo traditions of Polynesia, New Zealand, Borneo, the Philippines and other cultures. Today the word covers both those living traditions and the modern black curves made popular in the 1990s.

Realism tattoos

Realism tattoos aim to look like a photograph or a detailed drawing on skin. They rely on smooth shading and contrast rather than outlines. Most are done in black and grey, and color realism is a separate specialty.

Fine Line tattoos

Fine line tattoos use very thin needles to make delicate lines and fine detail. They look light and precise, almost like a pen drawing. They can be minimal or quite detailed, but they need more care with size and placement than bold styles.

Dotwork tattoos

Dotwork tattoos are shaded with dots instead of smooth gradients. The density of the dots creates light and dark. It is often used for mandalas, sacred geometry and illustrative pieces that look like engravings.

Forearm tattoos

The forearm is the most requested spot in most shops, and for good reason. It is easy to tattoo, you can see it yourself, and it gives a long, flat-ish canvas that suits almost any style. The trade-off is that it is hard to hide in summer and gets more sun than most of the body.

Upper Arm tattoos

The upper arm is one of the friendliest spots for a first tattoo. The outer arm is padded, low on pain and easy to cover with a T-shirt. It also gives a rounded canvas that suits bold, compact designs and can grow into a half sleeve later.

Shoulder tattoos

The shoulder covers three different spots: the round cap, the front near the collarbone and the shoulder blade at the back. Each one takes a different kind of design. The cap is easy to sit for and easy to cover, which is why so many first tattoos end up here.

Chest tattoos

The chest gives a wide, symmetrical canvas that is easy to cover. It is also one of the more painful spots once you move onto bone. A chest piece can be anything from a small design under the collarbone to a full panel across both sides.

Back tattoos

The back is the largest flat area on the body. It can take anything from a small design between the shoulder blades to a full back piece built over many sessions. You will not see it day to day, which is a plus for some people and a drawback for others.

Thigh & Leg tattoos

The thigh is one of the biggest canvases on the body after the back, and the outer thigh is one of the easier places to sit. It is also easy to cover, which makes it a common choice for a large first piece. You can see it yourself, unlike the back.

Calf tattoos

The calf is a good mid-size canvas with a lot of muscle, which makes it one of the easier spots to sit for. It is easy to show in shorts and easy to hide in trousers. The shin bone on the front is a different matter.

Neck tattoos

A neck tattoo is a big step because it is one of the hardest places to hide. The back of the neck can be covered by hair or a collar. The side and throat are visible almost all the time. Think about where you will be in five or ten years before you book.

Wrist tattoos

The wrist is a classic spot for small, meaningful tattoos. It is easy to see yourself and easy to show someone. It is also a small area with thin skin that moves all day, which affects pain, healing and how well fine detail holds up.

Ankle tattoos

Ankle tattoos are small, easy to hide and easy to show off in sandals. The area is bony with thin skin, so it is one of the more painful spots, but most ankle pieces are small and quick. Shoes and socks are the biggest challenge for healing and long-term wear.