How to choose a tattoo

Tattoos are forever and choosing a design can get stressful and overwhelming. There are many factors to consider when choosing a design for your tattoos. These include style, size, placement, colour, meaning and the artist.

Start with an idea

Brainstorm things that are important to you. These can range from your personality, interests, values, beliefs, experiences, loved ones and more. At the same time, not every idea has to be deep! Let your imagination run wild and get things you love.

Explore

There are tons of ideas on the internet. Maybe you will find that you are attracted to a certain kind of style. Some great styles include Traditional, Realism, Watercolour, Japanese, Blackwork and more. Instagram and Pinterest are a great place to start! But, don't limit yourself to looking up tattoo designs only. Inspiration can come from anywhere.

Research

There are strong culture and history behind tattooing that you want to take into consideration. There is a lot of symbolism in this art form. For example, did you know, a snake can symbolize transformation, knowledge and wisdom, fertility and more?

Be it for aesthetic reasons or a memorial tribute, tattoos mean different things to everybody. Find your connection to them and you will find it easier to choose your next tattoo!

Size

Over time tattoos fade and blur. If you get too small of a tattoo there are risks of it bleeding out and turning into a blob. You also want to size them proportional to your body. Ask your artist for their input!

Placement

One of the most important factors. You want the tattoo to sit well on your skin and body part. The design can be great but a poorly placed tattoo will absolutely ruin the look.

There are people who want/need their tattoos placed in easy to hide areas while others want to show them off.

If you’re like me, you have a hundred tattoo ideas and the crave is real. Plan for the future as you keep adding art to your body. Especially if you want big pieces like sleeves, you want everything to flow and look coherent.

If you are worried about the pain, consider getting in an area where the pain sensitivity is less. For example, a thigh placement is way less painful than a rib tattoo. However, everyone's pain tolerance is different and it depends on the types of tattoo such as size and detail.

Colour

Black ink is classic and holds up to the test of time. Colour tattoos are beautiful but do generally require touch-ups over time.

Artist

Look for artists and shops that you want to support. Take your ideas and photos to them and try your best to communicate your vision.

Hopefully, you learned something new to help you choose your next tattoo!