Best Advice for Tattoo Placement

Whether you’re thinking of getting a tattoo for the first time or adding to your current collection, it’s important to consider placement. The design and size of a tattoo are vital for how it looks, but each of these is affected by the placement of the tattoo, so you need to consider placement to ensure your new tattoo looks perfect.

Choose the wrong placement for a tattoo and it could lose some of its meaning, or even look completely different from what you intended. So, to avoid any unpleasant surprises, be sure to check out the advice below for choosing the best tattoo placement:

Detailed Tattoos Work Best with Large Areas

Tattoo placement is essential when it comes to detailed pieces. The more detailed the piece, the bigger the area of the body should be, with arms, back, chest, and legs working well for those more extensive, more elaborate designs.

Trying to fit a large piece into a smaller area is never a good idea. A lack of space reduces the amount of detail possible, often detracting from the final design. So, if you want a big piece done, make sure to choose a suitably sized part of the body.

Small Tattoos are Often Lost on Large Areas

Small tattoos offer a great look but only with the correct placement. For instance, a small but intricate design will lose a lot of impact if placed on a large body area, making it difficult to stand out.

Fingers, most of the arm, and behind the ears are great locations for smaller tattoos. The wrist is especially good for minimalist designs. Behind the ears and around the ankle are also fine choices, the latter being a popular placement for feminine tattoos.

How Visible Do You Want it?

Tattoo placement significantly impacts its visibility. So, if you want to proudly display your ink and draw all eyes to it, a prominent placement is recommended. Wrists, arms, and portions of the upper body, such as the neck, collarbone, or sternum, make tattoos highly visible with most outfits.

Those seeking a subtler look with their tattoo have lots of options too. The hips and much of the back are ideal for less visible tattoos, as is much of the upper thigh, although that depends on what you wear. The back of the neck is also less visible, providing you have longer hair.

Body Contours Affect the Design

Depending on the body’s curves, the tattoo’s placement can also impact the final design. For example, if you get a portrait tattoo but it’s on the upper arm, your natural contours could affect how the final design looks.

Similarly, wrist tattoos often become unsightly over time due to the natural contours of the skin on the wrist. Because of this, it’s always recommended that wrist tattoos be placed away from these creases to avoid the design losing some of its aesthetics.

Some Placements are More Painful Than Others

People getting ink for the first time are often nervous about the pain. This makes sense, as it can be a rather painful process, with certain parts of the body hurting more than others.

For example, tattoo placement around bones is often very discomforting, with the spine, collarbone, elbow, knees, and ribs being regarded as some of the most painful spots. The throat and face are understandably painful too, as is much of the leg.

Additionally, the size and detail will influence how much these areas hurt. For instance, a large detailed piece on the upper thigh will hurt much more than a smaller piece at the upper shoulder.

References

https://www.liveabout.com/how-to-decide-tattoo-placement-3189496

https://www.tattoo.com/blog/beauty-pain-how-choose-your-tattoo-placement/

https://inkbox.com/blog/post/best-tattoo-placement