How to Figure Out Where to Place Your Tattoo
It is a pretty common problem that many people come to me with. “I have the perfect tattoo; I just don’t know where to place it!”
This can be a pretty frustrating and conflicting place to be in! You know what you want and want to schedule an appointment, but you want to get the tattoo everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. Sound familiar? In this post, I will try to give you some hints, tips, and insights into what I have learned about tattoo placement as an artist.
Different Places for Different Sizes
The first thing you should know about tattoo placement is that different areas of your body are different sizes and better suited for different-sized tattoos. Check out my guides below for some examples.
Now, these guides are not perfect. Tattoos are meant to express your own creativity and individuality. I have one client that I am working with to create a patchwork leg sleeve. This will be a leg sleeve tattoo that is totally made up of smaller designs. Use these guides for reference, not as law.
Questions to ask yourself:
1. Do you want your tattoo to be public or private?
While tattoos have gained popularity over the last 20 years and have lost much of the social stigma they used to hold, I still believe it is important to ask yourself whether you want this tattoo to be public or private. Some tattoos are so personal and meaningful that you may not want people asking about them. If this is true for you, possibly consider getting your tattoo in a more inconspicuous area. Depending on your career, you also might want to consider the placement of your tattoos; again, this is a different conversation now than we were having 20 years ago, but this still will be something to consider.
2. How does your new design fit into your current tattoos?
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3. Is this a stand-alone tattoo, or will it be a part of a sleeve (now or in the future)?
If there is one thing that I could go back and change now about my tattoos, it would be to think futuristically. When I first started getting tattoos, I got them without much thought about where future tattoos would be or how they would flow together. Some of my tattoos don’t necessarily work that well together. I LOVE my tattoos; they are part of my story, but I wish I had planned better with the future in mind. If you aren’t sure what the future holds for you and your tattoos, I would encourage you to discuss this with your artist, as they tend to think futuristically and can dream up some pretty cool designs!
4. Where on your body would this tattoo look and fit best?
I will go into more detail with this below, but figuring out where on your body your tattoo of choice will work best is probably where your tattoo artist will be your greatest asset! Tattoo artists are trained in tattoo placement, body contours, and muscle movement. A professional tattoo artist should be able to help you pick the perfect placement for your tattoo!
Consult with Your Tattoo Artist
I know I preach consulting with your tattoo artist a lot, but it is because I believe it is one of the best ways to get insight and help regarding your tattoos. When you need help with your car, you take it to a mechanic to get diagnosed and fixed; it is the same with plumbers, electricians, and HVAC companies. Why should it be any different with your tattoos? Chances are you have a tattoo artist that you have a relationship with. Call in an expert and get help from the start!
I recommend this because Tattoo Artists think about things that most people do not. Here are some examples.
1. Your body’s natural contours and muscle flow
Tattoo artists are just that, artists. Most of them know the human body more than any other thing. They use it as their canvas every single day. When they think about the best place to put a tattoo, they think specifically about your body’s natural curves and contours. They are thinking about how your muscles flow and even how they flex and move. They have unique insight into how to place tattoos on your body to compliment the artwork best.
2. Does this tattoo fit a specific body part best?
Many styles, shapes, and sizes of tattoos specifically lend themselves to different parts of the body. When you consult with your tattoo artist and dream up your unique body art, they can help you pick the best location on your body where a tattoo would look best.
3. Client’s Pain Tolerance
There are more and less sensitive places to tattoo on your body. Additionally, each person has their own unique tolerance to pain. If you have never gotten a tattoo before, starting off in a less sensitive area can help you learn your pain tolerance and help you have the best experience possible.
4. “Rules” of Tattooing
Did you know that there are “officially unofficial” rules when it comes to tattooing? Not every artist follows them, but most generally respect these rules. Sometimes, a client’s wishes can directly conflict with these rules. I plan on writing about these rules in the future, but for now, I will give you one tip that almost every artist agrees with.
Tattoos should be placed for the best view of others, not the client's. This might seem counterintuitive, but hang with me here. While placing tattoos, I try to keep in mind others who will be looking at your tattoo. You might not realize this, but most of your own personal tattoos will look upside down as you look down at them. However, from everyone else’s perspective, it will be right side up. This is important as we want everyone to appreciate and enjoy your tattoos if you choose to show them!
5. Symmetry with Other Designs
Another thing that most tattoo artists are particularly good at is taking a new design and placing it so that it works with your current tattoos symmetrically. You want your tattoo to look like it belongs on your body with your other tattoos, not like it is the black sheep of your tattoo family.
6. Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Significance
One last thing that a tattoo artist can offer you and is probably thinking about are the social, cultural, and spiritual significance of your tattoos. They might be able to offer you insight, recommendations, or alterations to your tattoo that you may not be thinking about.
Remember that tattoo artists will not always quickly give their opinion based on their personality, so it would serve you well to ask for their feedback before starting your tattoo.
Obviously, every person has their preferences, thoughts, likes and dislikes, and design biases, but they might be thinking about things that you are not.
