Couple Tattoo Ideas
Did you know that about 45 million Americans have tattoos? We don’t blame them! Tattoos are a wonderful way to express yourself and hold a special meaning near to your heart.
Speaking of special meaning, one meaningful type of tattoo is to get a tattoo with your significant other. Couple tattoos say “I love you” like nothing else, and they look great, too!
1. Always and Forever
One cute couple tattoo that you can try is a scripted tattoo reading always and forever. In this tattoo idea, one partner will write always on their wrist while the other partner’s wrist reads forever.
These can be great tattoos for married couples. They’re a lovely way for you to remember why you got married in the first place and what commitment you made to your spouse!
2. Mismatched Tattoos
One of the coolest tattoo ideas for couples we’ve seen is to try mismatched tattoos. With mismatched tattoos, you’ll keep the tattoo along the same theme, but they don’t have to exactly match.
What’s fun here is that there are tons of ways that you can make the tattoos mismatched. For example, you could have the same tattoo in two different tattoo styles.
Or, you could have one tattoo in black ink while the other is in color. No matter what it is you choose, this is a great way to get creative with your couple’s tattoo.
3. Minimalist Tattoos
Another fun couple tattoo idea to try is to get minimalist tattoos. Minimalist tattoos are great because they’re simple but still pop against your skin.
Minimalist tattoos also look great no matter where you put your tattoo. That makes them great for couples who need to cover their tattoos for a job.
4. L-O-V-E
L.O.V.E. is a popular Frank Sinatra song, but those same four letters can look great in a tattoo! This idea is a simple yet sweet couple’s tattoo idea for anyone wanting to share a special piece of ink with their partner.
In this tattoo idea, one person gets a tattoo of the letters ‘L’ and ‘O’ while the other completes the set with ‘V’ and ‘E’. It’s a sweet and slightly subtle way to show your love for someone.
5. Get a Cultural Tattoo
Now, this tattoo only works if you’re in a relationship where you and your partner come from different cultures. However, if that’s the case, it can be a sweet nod to your partner’s culture.
For this tattoo, select an element from your partner’s culture. Then, get that tattoo design as a nod to where your partner is from.
The significance of the cultural tattoo is enhanced by the fact that for you, this reminds you of your partner. You can get creative here and make the cultural element you choose significant to your relationship or to love as well!
6. Gamer Tattoos
If you love video games, sports, or board games, you can get some cute gamer tattoos! For these tattoos, pick some elements in your favorite game and get them as tattoos!
You could, for example, get soccer ball tattoos if that’s what brought you together. Or, if you’re more into the digital world, consider getting tattoos of your favorite video game couple (Sora and Kairi, anyone?).
7. Lock and Key
When you love someone, they hold the key to your heart. Why not give them a literal key to hang onto as well?
This darling tattoo idea is for one partner to get a lock and the other to get a key image. The images fit together perfectly without being exactly the same.
You can get really creative here and make your lock and key stylized, too. That can be a fun way to add some extra personality to your tattoos.
8. Written in the Stars
Another cute couple’s tattoo idea that you can try is to put the other person’s star sign on your body. This is a lovely yet subtle way to show someone that you love them.
You can get even more creative with this tattoo by incorporating your partner’s name or birthday into the star sign. That can make it even more special!
Plus, there are so many options when it comes to star signs.
You can choose your partner’s sun, moon, or rising sign, or you can use their Chinese zodiac symbol. Write out the constellation itself or use the associated image instead of the symbol.
No matter how you choose to get creative here, we’re confident you’ll come up with a unique and beautiful design.
9. Pick a Fandom
Whether you’re a die-hard Harry Potter fan or you can’t get enough of the Lord of the Rings, there’s a couple’s tattoo for you.
A great idea for a couples tattoo is to pick a fandom that you love and to get a tattoo that speaks to that fandom.
For instance, if you’re both Slytherins, you could get two intertwining snakes on your arm. Or, if the two of you love Naruto, you could get hidden leaf symbols on your body.
There are so many different fandoms out there, and this is a great way for you to come up with something that’s unique to you and your partner while still keeping it as a couple’s design.
10. The Sun and Moon
If you feel like your partner is your sunshine, you can get a tattoo that plays with the concept of the sun.
What’s cute about this idea is that one person can have the tattoo filled in while the other has just the outline. Or, you can have the sun and moon rather than both getting the sun.
Another idea is to place the tattoos in different spots. Or you might want to stylize the designs slightly differently.
11. Two Halves of a Whole
You and your partner are like two halves of one whole. So, why not make your tattoo speak to that as well?
You could get two halves of a heart that fit together when you line the tattoos up together. Or, another option would be to get two puzzle pieces.
We also love the idea of two halves of an avocado or another piece of fruit. It’s a cute way to show you fit together without being too mainstream.
12. King and Queen Tattoos
Many of us feel like our partner is our king or queen. You can play that up by getting cute king and queen-inspired tattoos!
One option is to write the words “king” and “queen” on your bodies. Or, you could simply get a king’s crown and a queen’s crown.
If you choose to get crowns, this can be a fun way to personalize your tattoos. You can pick unique styles or can even let your partner draw the tattoo themselves.
13. Animal Tattoos
Animals also work well as couple tattoos. You can get the male and female animal (think lion and lioness) or can simply get the same animal!
Pick an animal that’s symbolic in your relationship. Or, find an animal that’s associated with love and companionship.
No matter what animal you choose, this can be a special way to tell your partner you love them.
14. Classic Hearts
There’s nothing like a heart to show that you love someone. This timeless symbol has been around for centuries, and is a great option for couples wanting a matching tattoo.
You can keep your hearts as simple and minimalist as you like. Or, if you’re feeling brave, you can embellish the hearts and make them big, personalized, and funky.
No matter how you choose to design your hearts, we’re confident that this will make a great couples tattoo.
You can also get creative with the placement of these tattoos. Get the hearts on your fingers so that they show off when you hold hands or come up with another special placement.
15. Disney Inspired Couple Tattoos
If your partner is your Prince Charming, Knight in Shining Armor, or your princess, then why not get a Disney-inspired tattoo?
There are tons of sweet Disney relationships that can inspire your couple’s tattoos. Perhaps you love the idea of Ana and Sven, or perhaps Flint Ryder and Rapunzel are more your style.
Regardless of what Disney couple you’re obsessed with, this is a great way to show off your fandom and your love at the same time.
16. Important Dates
Every couple has an important date. Perhaps it’s the day you got married, or maybe it’s the day you met your partner.
No matter what your special day is, getting a tattoo of it can be a special way to show off your love.
You can even get multiple date tattoos if you like. That way, you can commemorate more than one special occasion.
17. Forever Mine
This one’s best for married couples or partners who plan to be together forever.
With this tattoo, you and your partner can get the words “forever mine” tattooed. It’s a sweet reminder of the long-term commitment you’ve made to your partner.
Alternatively, one partner can get the word “mine” while the other partner gets the word “forever”. These simple and sweet words hold a whole lot of significance when they’re shared with your partner!
18. Skulls
Now, while some people might think skulls are macabre, that could be right up someone else’s alley. Skulls can have tons of different meanings depending on how you look at them!
You can customize your skulls with roses and other romantic elements to make them especially sweet. Or, you can make them more cultural and use a Day of the Dead type theme.
Skulls are a wonderful way to symbolize “til death do us part”. Plus, they can also just be simple ways to show off your relationship’s personality.
19. Anchor Couple Tattoos
For most of us, our partners anchor us down and ground us. One way you can show that is to get an anchor tattoo!
You and your partner can get the same anchor tattoo or can mix it up a bit and have one partner get the ship that drops the anchor.
These are also great tattoos for individuals who have a special connection with the sea. Whether you live by the ocean or your partner works at sea, these are wonderfully symbolic tattoos.
20. LGBTQ+ Couple Tattoos
If you’re in an LGBTQ+ relationship, then you might want to get a tattoo that speaks especially to that. It’s a great way to express your love for your partner and show off your pride.
There are tons of different designs out there, such as the double feminine or double masculine symbol. Or, you could opt for simple pride flags.
We also love the idea of double triangles. You can keep it in simple black ink, or you can get colorful to show off your personal orientation.
No matter what LGBTQ symbol or style you choose, these are wonderful ways to express yourself while celebrating your love for your partner.
Get Inspired by These Couple Tattoo Ideas
With this huge list of couple tattoo ideas, you’ll have no problem coming up with an idea for your and your partner’s next set of ink. There are tons of amazing ideas and you can work with your artist to tweak them to be uniquely yours!
So, what do you say? Are you ready to get started with gorgeous couple tattoos? Get in touch to book an appointment with our studio.
To learn more, contact us here.
Henderson Tattoo Shop
Maui Tattoo Shop
Hawaii Tattoo Shop
A Complete History of Tattoos
Tattoos have become a massive part of our culture both in the United States and around the world. You might think that the artform or craze only started a century or two ago. However, that’s not the case.
Tattoos have been around in some way for over 5,000 years. If you want to learn a complete history of tattoos, read on.
Otzi – The Iceman
Archaeologists discovered the first tattoo or oldest dating tattoo in September of 1991. Otzi, a mummified human, gets his name from the place two German hikers found him. The Oztzal Alps of Europe near the Italian and Austrian border.
Researchers discovered a total of 61 tattoos on Otzi. The tattoos are from soot or ash from a fireplace. They’re divided into 19 groups in different areas of the body.
Otzi was about five-foot-three inches tall and somewhere between 30 and 45 years old.
Otzi’s tattoos are on his ankle points, knee, and spine. How he died is a mystery, but they think his death was a violent one.
There’s one extremely interesting thing. The markings on Otzi align with traditional Chinese acupuncture points. That can’t be a coincidence, can it?
But, Otzi was alive 2,000 years before the earliest evidence of acupuncture, and he was very far from China for the time period.
After Otzi – Egyptian Mummies
Until Otzi was found, evidence showed that the earliest tattoos came from about 4,000 years ago. There was a group of Egyptian mummies that are from the time the great pyramids were being made.
There’s some indirect evidence that may or may not conclude that tattoos or tattooing may even be older and more widespread than the Egyptian mummies.
The indirect or inconclusive evidence is that of engraved statuettes that can sometimes be put in the same context as needles and clay discs with ochre.
What Historical Cultures Practiced Tattooing?
Historical and Ethnographic texts have shown that tattoos have been done by almost every known human culture, including Ancient Greeks who used tattoos in the fifth century to communicate with their spies.
After that, the Romans used to mark their slaves and criminals with tattoos.
Your first criminal offense in Japan way back when meant you got a line tattooed across your forehead. A second offense meant you got an arch tattooed above the line.
If you were guilty of a third offense, you got another line, and it completed the symbol for “dog.”
Of course, we can’t talk about ancient tattoos without discussing the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. They would have big tattooing rituals.
Then there’s the Norse, Danes, and Saxons who would tattoo their family’s crest across their chest. And the Britons also had tattoo ceremonies.
Tahitians also like their tattoos, and the word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word “tatau,” which means strike or mark. And tattoo means tapped as most tattoos back then were tapped into the skin by bone or wood.
In the Arctics, they pulled carbon thread under the skin with a needle. They could make designs with this method, almost like needlepoint.
Tattoos in Europe
Of course, the history of tattoos in Europe starts with Otzi but, there was evidence found showing that people may have been experimenting with tattoos before the last ice age nearly 12,000 years ago.
In 1867, at Grotte di Fées in Châtelperron, France, researchers found flintstone tools and bowls with red and black pigments.
But, this doesn’t mean the tools and paints were used to tattoo humans. They could have been used to draw on the walls in the caves. So, Otzi is the first or earliest proof of tattoos on humans.
In the early 300s, A.D., Constantine, the roman Emporer at the time, banned facial tattoos.
He did so because criminals wore them; while so did his own soldiers and gladiators. Constantine would have none of that and put the ban in place.
Other Europeans, such as the Vikings, didn’t seem to care. You could find them in the 1100s A.D. covered with tattoos.
In the 1700s, a British naval Captain by the name of Cook brought back native Polynesians with tattoos. The soldiers liked the idea and proceeded to get tatted up.
Alfred Charles South, from London, created the first twin coil tattoo machine in 1899. It was so heavy it had to be suspended from the ceiling to work correctly.
Tattoos in America
The history of tattoos in America can be a bit complicated. The origins of the English word tattoo are from the 16th century.
But the earliest proof of tattoos in America comes from a picture or pictograph of a Seneca trader. The Seneca traders’ tattoos were a bird and snake, which represent freedom.
There is also the picture of The Four Indian Kings from that same era. The King of the Maquas, a Mohawk tribe, is in that picture after returning from a European voyage.
His chest and lower part of his face were covered in black lines that were tattooed.
The origins of the first tattoo machine in America started with Thomas Edison. He created an electric stencil maker.
In 1891, a man named Samuel F. O’Reilly used Edison’s design to create the first electric tattoo machine. O’Reilly patented the machine on December 8th of that year.
Both the design O’Reilly used, which is like a rotary machine, and the coil machine from Europe are still used today to some effect. Nowadays they’re cooler looking, lighter, and much easier to handle with a lot of accessories.
The History of Tattoos and Today’s World
Tattoos and tattoo machines have come a long way since Otzi. We still use the rotary and coil methods, but they’re a lot smaller, lighter, and easier to maneuver.
Modern-day tattoo artists have several different tools/accessories they can use for different tattoos, but they all stem from past centuries of the art of the tattoo.
If learning about the history of tattoos has given you the itch for one, contact us now for an appointment.
To learn more, contact us here.
Henderson Tattoo Shop
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15 Simple Sun and Moon Tattoo Ideas That Are Out of This World
Are you looking for some great tattoo ideas?
Tattoos are beautiful, and many people around the world dream of someday getting one. When some become inspired to get a tattoo, though, they sometimes don’t know exactly what they want. And it’s a good idea to think about the design thoroughly. After all, this art will be on your body for a long time.
Do you want some tattoo suggestions? Whether you’re a seasoned tattooee or someone who’s never received any ink, we think a simple sun and moon tattoo always looks great.
Want some design suggestions? Keep reading for more!
1. Sun on One Ankle, Moon on the Other
When it comes to a simple sun and moon tattoo idea, this is one of our favorites. If you love the sun and the moon, but you’re unsure how to combine them in one beautiful design, consider splitting them into two different tattoos and putting one on each ankle!
This also allows you to go as large or small as you wish. If you’re new and worried about the pain, get a cute, miniature little half moon and full sun on both ankles. If you want a fancier design, add additional details or ask your artist to get creative.
2. Moon Encasing the Sun
If you’ve researched sun and moon tattoos before, you’ve probably come across this design. In it, a crescent moon is placed next to a sun, with the sun’s round edge nestled in the hollow of the moon.
You can go as elaborate or simple with this design as you wish. Some people elect to add details, such as faces, to these celestial bodies, or they incorporate shading. Consult with your tattoo artist to find the best design for you!
3. Sun Encasing the Moon
This design has similarities to the moon encasing the sun one.
The main difference lies in the sun’s rays. The moon is visible as a crescent in the side of the sun, but the sun’s rays go around the full design.
4. Yin and Yang Sun and Moon Tattoos
Do you love the Yin-Yang symbol?
If you do, consider getting it tattooed, with the light side serving as the body of the side and the black side serving as the body of the moon. On the sun’s side, include rays, and on the moon’s, add stars in the background.
5. Sun and Moon Tarot Tattoos
The sun and moon cards are some of the most beloved in the entirety of tarot. Representing, respectively, uncurbed joy and trusting your intuition, together they speak of being true to yourself and finding happiness in who were meant to be.
If you want a reminder of this message, consider getting the sun and moon cards tattooed.
6. Simple Sun and Moon Tattoo
If you want to go as simple as you can with a simple sun and moon tattoo, just get the outlines of each celestial body.
Many people choose to leave the centers of such tattoos blank. Whether or not you want to fill them in is up to you.
7. Get Couple Tattoos
Do you have a special someone whom you consider your other half?
If so, get your relationship inked on your skin! Have one person get a sun, and the other get a moon.
8. Kissing Sun and Moon
If you like the idea of having your sun and moon nestled right up next to each other and having faces, have you thought of having them kiss?
This adds another layer of depth to your tattoo. It also pays homage to the old saying “opposites attract.”
9. Galaxy
Do you love the idea of working with an artist on a tattoo design?
If so, consider asking them to place your sun and moon in the middle of a galaxy. Add stars, shading, colors–whatever you wish–or keep it as simple as you’d like!
10. Realistic Sun and Moon
Do you love realistic work?
Look at some realistic sun and moon tattoo designs. A talented tattoo artist can recreate likenesses of the sun and moon on your skin!
11. Think of the Meaning
Many people get tattoos because they mean something special to them.
A tattoo doesn’t have to have a deeper meaning. Sometimes, it’s just a lovely piece of art. Still, if the sun and moon mean something to you or correlate to a special saying, consider adding words or anything else that reminds you of the meaning.
12. Little Sun and Moon Tattoos on Your Fingers
We love miniature tattoos. They’re cute, easy to display when you want to, and easy to hide if you need to.
And there’s no better place for little tattoos than your fingers! Since the sun and moon are recognizable signs, consider getting them in miniature on your fingers.
13. Full Moon with Trees
Full moons contain much beauty. They light up the night sky, provide light to the earth, and even serve as sacred bodies in some religions.
If you want to pay homage to the full moon, get a realistic one and add some trees near the bottom. This gives your tattoo extra detail and makes it even more unique!
14. Behind Your Ears
The placement possibilities for moon and sun tattoo combinations are endless.
If you want a cute location, try getting the sun behind one of your ears and the moon behind the other. That way, as long as your hair is up, everyone will be able to see these cute little designs!
15. Add Other Planets
Do you love the solar system?
We don’t blame you. Show your love for this vast galaxy by adding some other planetary bodies. Many have readily recognizable outlines, such as Saturn, which can be represented by a circle with a ring around it.
Ready to Get Your Tattoos?
If you love the idea of getting a simple sun and moon tattoo, we hope we’ve provided you with some inspiration!
No matter which designs you choose, we’re sure you’ll love your new body art for decades to come. Fortunately, the sun and moon are also timeless, so you don’t have to worry about them ever going out of style!
Ready to get inked? Contact us today!
To learn more, contact us here.
Henderson Tattoo Shop
Maui Tattoo Shop
Hawaii Tattoo Shop
The Secret Art of Designing a Private Tattoo
The number of Americans with tattoos has increased by 21% since 2012. The taboo surrounding tattoos has decreased throughout the years, allowing people to get creative with a variety of ink options. You may have heard of tribal or minimalist tattoos, but what about a private tattoo?
This is a tattoo that has a significant meaning that only you know. Others can interpret it but it is deeply personal. If you’re interested in designing your own but don’t know how to start, you’ve come to the right place.
Keep reading to learn the art of designing a private tattoo.
Think of the Placement
One of the first things that you’ll want to think about before you design a private tattoo is the placement. Where your tattoo is going to be will decide other factors like visibility and size. Not only do certain areas work better for the idea you have, but there’s also the pain factor.
Just because a private meaning tattoo has its own meaning doesn’t mean you need to keep it hidden. If you’re looking for a popular place to put your new tattoo, the bicep or forearm are two great options. There’s also plenty of canvas space if you want a particularly big tattoo.
Hidden tattoos are an option as well; think of a location that can conceal the tattoo with clothes. Some good options include the chest area, behind the neck, and the thigh.
Don’t think that small tattoos can’t be meaningful! Many symbols are perfect for small tattoos and carry big meaning behind them. It’s all about finding the right one.
Meaning Behind a Tattoo
You can indeed design a tattoo that focuses more on the art, without any meaning. However, there are plenty of meaningful tattoo ideas if you’re looking to design a private tattoo. It can be anything from an homage to a loved one or a philosophical viewpoint.
If you’re looking for ideas, consider looking into ancient ruins and symbols of meaning. The first systems of writing developed and used by the Norse were runic alphabets. Each rune acted as letters, but it is more meaningful than that.
Each rune had an ideographic symbol that stood for something godly and magnificent. To write a rune was to summon and direct the energy it held. That is why looking into the rune alphabet is a great idea to find the meaning behind a tattoo.
There’s ‘Uruz’ which means strength of will or ‘Jera’ which is harvest or reward. There are multiple of these, each attached to different symbols. Someone could see it and assume the meaning but they’d only know the meaning if they understood the rune alphabet.
Look for Inspiration
Tattoo meanings don’t have to be particularly cryptic or obscure. This is something that will permanently be on your body, so don’t let anyone’s opinion sway your interests. As you’re designing your private tattoo, search for different sources of inspiration.
This isn’t limited to only other tattoos; it can be anything. If you have song lyrics that mean a lot to you, consider having them tattooed.
Prefer something more hidden? Use the lyrics as inspiration for a design or symbol that only you know is inspired by music.
For example, if the song is about nature and love, then consider getting two trees holding hands. While that might not be exactly what you’re envisioning, that’s the type of creative mindset you want to be in.
Entertainment and media is one way to go. There is also literature, including poetry, as well as other forms of visual art. Maybe take a trip to your local museum; you might find something that inspires you.
There might be a moment when you feel like there are no ideas coming to mind, and that’s okay! Sometimes, the best ideas are those that come to you naturally. You could be speaking to a loved one and they say something that is clearly it.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to find the right meaning behind a tattoo. Look for inspiration but also allow yourself to be inspired. Before you know it, you’ll be making an appointment with your local tattoo shop.
Find a Tattoo Artist
With anything that involves your well-being, you want to be in the hands of a professional. This is no different for a tattoo. Now that you’ve designed your private tattoo, you’ll need to get inked.
As eager as you might be to just find the most immediately free tattoo artist, be sure to do as much research as possible. This means looking through reviews and galleries of the tattoo artists that catch your eye. Going with any option, especially if the price looks good, can lead to a less than ideal tattoo experience.
Since you are putting so much effort into ensuring that you are creating a meaningful tattoo, don’t throw that all away by choosing an unprofessional tattoo artist. Look for a shop that has plenty of experience and clearly has its customers’ best interests in mind.
Get the Right Private Tattoo
Tattoos are more than just ink on your body. They’re a way to express yourself, modify your appearance, and put something meaningful on your body. Whether it’s your first tattoo or one of many, you might be considering designing a private tattoo.
This is a great option if you want a private meaning tattoo that others can interpret. There are many factors to consider as you begin the design. If you find yourself looking for inspiration, look at ancient ruins for symbols with great meanings.
Ready for a new tattoo? If you’re located in Maui, HI, or Las Vegas, NV, be sure to contact us!
To learn more, contact us here.
Henderson Tattoo Shop
Maui Tattoo Shop
Hawaii Tattoo Shop
The Strategy of How to Time and Plan a Tattoo Sleeve
From the design, budget, and number of sessions it will take, you need to first strategize how to plan a tattoo sleeve before embarking on this design journey.
Are you planning your next big tattoo project? Getting a sleeve is no joke and it’s a big commitment. It requires a lot of planning, money, and time. Do you know how to plan a tattoo sleeve?
Planning a big tattoo takes some forethought. It’s not like grabbing a quick flash piece on Friday the 13th or adding a new piece to your thigh. It’s an entire project and you need to decide how you want it to look. You only have so much space.
Does this sound overwhelming to you? We get it. We’re here to offer some advice so you can get your new sleeve started. Keep reading to learn all about strategizing and planning a tattoo sleeve that you’re going to be proud to show off.
Decide: Full Sleeve or Half Sleeve?
The first step for planning your tattoo sleeve is figuring out whether you want a full sleeve (one that runs all the way from your wrist to your shoulder) or a half sleeve (which runs from either your wrist to your elbow or your elbow to your shoulder.
Planning a half sleeve tattoo is often more complicated than the full sleeve because you only have so much room and it tends to be more important that everything looks cohesive. We’ll talk about cohesion later on.
Half sleeves will be more affordable and they’ll take less time than full sleeves. Full sleeves have a more jarring visual effect (which some people want). Artists will be happy to work with you when you’re trying to decide and they can make suggestions based on your preexisting tattoos and on what will work best with your body.
Eclectic, Cohesive, or a Mix? You Choose
Sleeves come in two primary varieties: eclectic and cohesive.
Eclectic sleeves tend to have a basic idea in mind and they’re patchworked together over time. These sleeves require less planning but just as much attention to detail as their cohesive counterparts.
Eclective sleeves can still have cohesion. You might work with one artist throughout the process, or choose one color, style, or theme as a throughline. For example, many people have sleeves full of American traditional tattoos that don’t “go together” per se, but they still look like they were done with intention because they match.
Other people choose blackwork for their sleeves, or an arm full of florals. While these things aren’t all part of one piece in a traditional way, they still make up a whole.
Cohesive sleeves are based on one project. You come in with something in mind and the tattoo artist will come up with a single piece that covers your entire (or half) arm. While this takes more planning in the design stages, you don’t have the task of filling in all kinds of small leftover spaces from an eclectic sleeve.
Blackout sleeves are trendy right now, which is a full sleeve of black ink or black ink with white or skin-colored designs, like a reversal of the traditional tattoo sleeve.
Pick a Style and Artist
There are all kinds of tattoo styles to choose from. Because a tattoo sleeve is such a huge commitment, it’s important that you pick a style that you love. You’ll be seeing a lot of it.
American traditional and Japanese traditional are two popular styles for tattoo sleeves because they include bold lines and shading so you know that the sleeve will have longevity. Some people like sleeves full of tribal-style tattoos, or sacred geometry designs.
If you’re doing a completely cohesive piece, you’ll have one style for the entirety of the arm. You want to choose an artist that’s adept with that style, not just your favorite local artist who’s done other styles of work that you like.
Visit local shops for portfolio books and check out the Instagram accounts and galleries of local artists to see portfolios. These portfolios will help you decide who the right person for the job is.
Talk With Your Artist
Once you’ve chosen your artist, it’s time to have a consultation. Tattoo consultations are often free (though you will make a deposit that goes into the final cost of your tattoo. That deposit covers the time and effort your artist will put into the art in case you choose to not get the tattoo).
While you may come in with ideas, don’t come in with a sleeve that you want an exact copy of. Instead, come in with concepts and other drawings that have a similar feeling to what you have in mind.
An artist’s job is to make art, not copy. Your tattoo artist will make a design that suits your needs and works best with your form. Many will make small alterations on the day of. They know that a sleeve is a commitment.
Schedule Carefully
Some artists will give you the option of scheduling a sleeve for one day. If this happens to be your first tattoo, don’t choose this option. Even if you’re a tattoo veteran it might be too much for you.
It’s wise to schedule blocks in several-hour increments depending on your pain tolerance.
Talk to your artist about how they prefer to schedule large projects like this and make sure to discuss the cost. Because most artists charge by the hour, they may want you to pay as you go or they may want a larger upfront sum.
If you aren’t doing it all in one go, it’s best to give yourself time to heal between sessions (especially if you’re doing lines and color or shading on separate days).
Now That You Know How to Plan a Tattoo Sleeve, Get Started!
Knowing how to plan a tattoo sleeve is the first part of the battle. The actual planning? Much more difficult.
Find a great artist who can help you bring your tattoo sleeve ideas to life. We know planning a big tattoo is hard and we want to make sure that you get something that you love.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started.
To learn more, contact us here.
Henderson Tattoo Shop
Maui Tattoo Shop
Hawaii Tattoo Shop
