Tattoo Info
Picking a Design
Ultimately, the design of your tattoo is up to you. You should feel free to express yourself authentically in whatever way feels right!
Picking a Design
Maybe you want a delicate butterfly with tasteful floral, or maybe you want something from one of your favourite fandoms? Or you saw an awesome cybersigilism design on TikTok, and want your artist to make their own spin on it? No matter what you’re looking for, it should be a reflection of your unique style.
If you haven’t got a full vision of your tattoo yet, your artist should be happy to work with you. However, it’s important to have a good foundation when going into your appointment. So what are some strategies for embarking on your tattoo journey? Read on to find out!
Looking for Inspiration
Social media can be a treasure trove of tattoo inspiration! Hit Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, or whatever your favourite platform is and search up different styles, subject matters, and even body placements for tattoos, there is a wealth of options out there! When you find some favourites, make sure to follow your favourite artists from around the world, and get to know the different art styles they specialize in.
You also always have the option to give the artist creative control over the design, and let them do whatever they like. Just keep in mind that your artist's style may not always align with your vision. For example, maybe your artist comes back to you with a modern, linework Pikachu when you were looking for a line hatched, classic chubby version of your favourite Pokémon! Make sure to share what’s most important to you in advance!
Finding Reference Pictures
Knowing the style you’re looking for, such as fine line, black work, traditional, cybersigilism, and so on is helpful for communicating what you want in your tattoo design. But you don’t need to be an expert in tattoo lingo to communicate what you want! (Although we are happy to help you there, check out our Tattoo Dictionary!)
Bringing along reference images and being specific about what you love in them is a great way to help your artist understand your vision! Maybe you like the delicate tattoo style in one image, and the flow of a floral thigh tattoo in another image. It is also good to point out things you don’t like in references. A good artist won’t just copy and paste from the internet, but having at least two or three clear references can help them create a unique piece of art for you to love for the rest of your life.
Make sure to collect at least one of each of these types of references:
Style
Choosing references to show what style(s) you want for your tattoo will help the artist with the overall appearance of the design. Are you a fan of dainty, bold, cute, or realistic tattoos?
Subject Matter
When it comes to subject matter, it’s fine to find references that aren’t in the style you’re looking for so long as you have at least one reference for style. For example, if you’re looking for a specific pose or angle for your bee, it’s totally fine to use a photograph or drawing with a different aesthetic than you want.
Placement
Some people are comfortable placing their tattoos anywhere on their body, and with small and medium tattoos there is usually a lot of flexibility. With some tattoos, especially larger ones, placement plays a big role in how the design looks. It can be valuable for you to collect references for placement, and in some cases photos of your own body where you’d like the tattoo, so your artist can tailor the design to your shape.
Other tattoos
Are you covering a tattoo, or adding to your in progress patch work sleeve? Pictures of your preexisting tattoo(s) can prove very useful!
Size and Longevity
All tattoos will expand and fade over time. The lines get thicker, and the ink will lighten. The design should be clear and readable, so that if the image is blurred you can still tell what it is. If you can squint, and the content of the design is still clear, that’s a good sign the design is well done!
The quality of the tattooing process itself is also a major indicator of how the tattoo will heal and age. If the artist presses too hard, the tattoo can expand faster, or even lose pigment due to scarring during the healing process. If the needle goes too deep, into the fatty tissue, it will result in a blowout. Blowouts can appear in many different ways, such as a soft halo around the tattoo, or a migrating pigment that can appear like a permanent bruise near or around the tattoo. It’s worth noting that it is not possible for the client to cause a blowout due to aftercare - this is only ever caused by the needle going in too deep.
You may have heard popular phrases like “bold will hold” or people saying fine line tattoos age poorly. The truth is a bit more nuanced.
Fine lines often heal lighter for a few different reasons. First, it’s very easy to accidentally go too deep with fine line needles, so artists tend to err on the side of caution and go lighter on the skin. This can also prevent premature expanding. For some very small liners, there’s simply less ink going into your skin.
Whether a tattoo has thick or thin lines, a poorly executed tattoo can become a blurry, unreadable mess. A tattoo's longevity depends on its design, the execution, and how well you care for it afterwards.
Along the aging process, regular maintenance may require you to need a touch up to refresh your tattoo.
Conclusion
We hope the information we’ve provided helps you out deciding on a tattoo. Let us know if you have any more questions, and we can’t wait to see your tattoo ideas!