Have you been saying to yourself for a long time, "I want to get a tattoo!", however you have no idea where to start? Tattoo preference is often limited by your imagination: monochrome and multicolored, schematic or realistic. You want a tattoo on your arm or a tattoo on your back, forearm, chest, leg or any other part of your body. Nevertheless, there are a number of rules and essential principles that should determine this choice. There are no strict guidelines that determine how to choose a tattoo. At the same time, there is an order of guidelines that can make the process of getting a new tattoo easier.
Decide on your tattoo choice
First of all, before going to the tattoo salon, you must at least approximately decide what kind of tattoo you wish to make. If you have not decided what you would like to see on your body, even the most experienced specialist is unlikely to guess your desire. Take with you an image that roughly reflects what you were going to peck. In this case the specialist can help you to bring it "to your mind". The more different examples you bring, the better.
For aesthetics
The first, of course, does not cancel the third. But some people don't have to put meaning into the tattoo - they just like how a particular figure looks on their body. See a creative doodle and want to get it on your shoulder? Consult with the artist about the details and go for it!
Choosing a tattoo master
The choice of a specialist is of great importance. The best option would be a proven person who has already worked with your friends, showing positive results in the work. If your mates can't recommend a proven person, take a look at the best tattoo parlors. There is a lot of information about tattoos on the Internet. Just don't rush to put yourself in the hands of a master after reading a few positive reviews. First, evaluate the work of a specialist by photo, and even better "in person".
Think about your future. Ink
Scribble tattoos take up a lot of space. Or they should, if you make them big enough to age well. Word-based tattoos rely heavily on negative space and require a huge amount of skin surface area for very little actual ink.
If you have several tattoos planned for the future, think hard before taking up tons of valuable space with one or two lines of quote.
Regret about tattoos is a real and terrible thing. That's why tattoo removal companies stay in business. This is why artists who specialize in tattoo cover-ups are constantly in high demand. Fear of regretting your tattoo should not stop you from getting the ink you want. Nevertheless, it should motivate you to make sure you understand the permanence and risks associated with your tattoo, especially one as complicated as a scripted tattoo, and about how to plan your ink properly now to avoid regrets in the future.
[article updated March 14, 2021]
Making a custom sketch according to the client's wishes
Do you want to create a unique look? Most craftsmen are happy to work on individual designs. Keep in mind that creating a personal concept is a painstaking process that takes time and effort. As a rule, when developing your individual tattoo sketch the master will revise initially presented options. The final result will be obtained after several revisions of the original tattoo image.
Styles and color solutions
Modern tattoos for girls perform in different styles. The art of body painting in 2021 is particularly developed. Japanese, Maori and Polynesian tattoo techniques are available to people.
Watercolor
A style of watercolor tattoo spread among girls. In this technique is accepted to depict plant motifs, which most realistically convey the beauty of flowers. Neat lines, soft palette, airy shadows - all this makes watercolor a unique technique.
In this style create images of wildflowers, animals.
The advantage of such tattoos is their elegant and feminine appearance. They look attractive due to the light colors. Thanks to them, there is no vulgarity in the drawings. In the style of watercolor all tattoos are made in color.
Miniature
Small tattoos are suitable for those people who do not dare to draw a large size. Miniature is a complex technique that requires painstaking work. Despite the small scale of the image, it has a lot of details. Thanks to them, the drawings turn out three-dimensional. In a small area, the master can place a real composition.
Such tattoos are made in color or black. In the latter variant, thanks to the numerous shades, it turns out to make a beautiful, shimmering image. As sketches use landscapes (mainly night), nature, portraits of people.
Minimalism
Drawings in the laconic style captivate by their restraint and lack of outrage. Elegant compositions can decorate the human body without harming the image. The images are based on animals, symbols, illustrations.
For example, it could be two palm trees on the seashore. Complement the entourage of dashes, seagulls and a semicircle of the receding sun. Characteristic features of the style are a minimal set of shades, small size, geometric shapes.
Linework
The tattoo contains a large number of straight lines, dashes. They are folded into a single composition. Girls such drawings are suitable because the sketches look elegant, not vulgar.
In this style, patterns similar to Indian mehendi painting are created. Flowers, ornaments, animals - it all depends on the imagination and skill of the master to work in this style. This direction suits people who like minimalism.
Chicano
A modern style of tattoos, created in the XX century in the United States. Initially spread in the criminal society, and later found fans all over the world. In 2021, this trend was slightly transformed: the drawings began to do in color. Initially, the palette consisted only of black pigments.
By adding bright colors, tattoos have acquired the most original appearance. The aesthetic attracts people's attention, and that's why chikano remains in trend since 2021.
Girls in this style most often choose sketches depicting female faces. At the same time, they are painted with inscriptions, decorated with patterns. Often faces imitate the features of a painted skull.
Ornamental .
This style includes images related to ancient patterns. This group combines the ornaments of the ancient Vikings, Slavs, Indians. They all have one thing in common: each symbol hides a coded message.
However, in the XXI century, the meaning of the tattoo has lost its original meaning. In modern times, such images are applied to the body as a beautiful element. Various entanglements, bells and whorls, dots are combined into bizarre compositions. Such unusual sketches stand out against modern styles in tattooing.
Choosing a tattoo style
When you decide what to choose as a tattoo design, study all the details carefully. Pay special attention to the small elements of the tattoo. You must carefully work through all of the stylistic and design options for your future tattoo. Decide for yourself which version of style best suits your spirit: do you want to get a tattoo in the Oriental technique or for you the most tempting typical ethnics?
Features and Benefits
Modern tattoos for girls include inscriptions, patterns, drawings, portraits. Each sketch has a certain meaning. Sometimes images are applied for the sake of an aesthetic appearance. Choosing a tattoo, guided by their own preferences.
If you see a picture somewhere like the appearance, it is worth finding out what it means. Often even the simplest patterns have a semantic background. When an image refers to a particular culture (e.g., Indian), it is worth learning more about it. After all, there are drawings with tricks that can cause trouble. For example, in Japan, a white rabbit means depravity of the female nature.
Modern tattoos for girls
Plants and flowers in any country denote prosperity, love of nature, hope for the best. The specific definition depends on the way of presentation. For example, a rose in blood denotes pain caused by a loved one.
A tattoo with animals signifies a person's inner qualities. A lion is royalty, majesty. Tigers are strength, resilience. Wolves represent loyalty. Fox is a symbol of intelligence. The idea to cover the body with animal tattoos came from the native Indians. They believed that by putting the image of an animal on their skin, they adopted its qualities.
Pagan symbols act as amulets and talismans. Ethnic tattoos are primarily done for the purpose of attracting something. There are symbols of health, good luck, protection. Such variants of tattoos were practiced since ancient times by tribes inhabiting the territory of modern Scandinavia and Europe.
The inscriptions allow to reflect more specifically the inner state of the person. The words express the most important criteria, to which a girl pays great attention in life. For example, it can be her loved ones, creativity.
On which design tattoo it is necessary to stop?
Tattoo design depends on your imagination and the master's ability to handle the tattoo to realize the client's dream. You can order the creation of realistic drawings in the form of portraits and landscapes or choose spiral patterns in the Polynesian style. Art connoisseurs can choose biomechanics. Celtic patterns are preferred by men, while girls choose a tattoo depicting flowers and butterflies. One of the most famous options is the tattoo inscriptions, which are preferred by many people, regardless of gender.
Types of unusual tattoos
In addition to standard techniques, modern masters offer customers unique options that can impress those around them.
Neon
Ultraviolet drawings are popular with the younger generation. In the dark, the UV tattoo glows bright purple. The subject matter of the images is unlimited, with sizes ranging from miniature to large-scale.
Some tattoos are not visible during the day, appearing only in the neon of the club lamps. A variant is possible when in the daytime only a part of the drawing is visible and the rest of the details are manifested in the club.
Neon tattoos for teenagers.
Volumetric
Three-dimensional pictures attract attention with incredible realism. The image is worked out to the smallest detail and can mislead those around them.
The skillfully conveyed dynamics and the skillful possession of the technique of light and shade allow masters to create fantastic images on the human body. For example, imitation of lacing on the leg, bared entrails, etc.
Realistic tattoos.
White
Such tattoos are suitable for those who have dark and swarthy skin. Otherwise, the pattern will just get lost on the body. The white pattern is not so much conspicuous as a dark or colored one. But over time, the pigment loses its original hue, becoming yellow or beige. Beautifully look white inscriptions with a clearly outlined outline, but only if the font is chosen correctly.
Tattoo of white color is suitable for delicate skin.
Celebrity examples
Celebrities often decorate the body with unusual tattoos, which later can be seen by fans of their talent. Actress Jessica Alba chose the word "lotus" written in Sanskrit for the tattoo. This is an unusual tradition in the celebrity's family, passed down from generation to generation. In addition to the word, the artist has a flirty bow in the waist area.
Jessica Alba and her tattoos.
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie is a big fan of tattoos, in total she has 13 drawings on her body. One of them is a Japanese character symbolizing death. Also a large number of body art in the eccentric singer Lady Gaga.
Famous for his love of tattoos and former footballer David Beckham. On the body of the athlete about 20 different images and inscriptions.
David Beckham and Angelina Jolie also painted their bodies.
The size of the tattoo makes a difference.
Do you want a small tattoo? The smaller the tattoo, the simpler the look. A pencil and ink will help reproduce finer lines than a tattoo machine. What looks good on paper may not be suitable for a tattoo. If you really like a particular image, you can either make a slightly larger tattoo size or make your own adjustments to the sketch itself by reducing the number of details. Enlarge the image to add more detail and make the tattoo more vivid. Above all, this applies to tattoos with faces, animal muzzles, and other details that require a photographically plausible rendering.
Neck and Chest
Chest and neck tattoos are more relevant to men. The skin on the neck and chest is very sensitive and delicate. Much depends on the individual pain threshold, but these places are in any case not the most painless for padding the figure.
Before you do a tattoo on the neck, consider the following:
- If you gain weight you may have a "second chin", which will lead to a distortion of the figure.
- As you age, the skin on your neck loses elasticity and wrinkles appear, which can also cause the image to lose its appearance.
- As you turn and tilt your head, the image will distort.
- The neck is an open space, it is almost always in the sun, as a result of which the tattoo will fade faster and require correction.
- Hiding a tattoo on the neck is quite difficult, especially in the summertime. Make sure that this is not a problem for you.
- During the healing process, it will be quite difficult not to twist your head to avoid damaging the fresh work.
If your choice fell on the chest, it is worth understanding that for men and for women the recommendations will be different. The stronger half of mankind is easier in this case: the pectoral muscles are easier to carry a machine to impose a tattoo, there is little pain, and the choice of pattern is very large. Men can score a tattoo on the chest throughout the chest, make a medium or small pattern. Styles are also suitable for any.
When it comes to beautiful ladies, things are a bit more complicated. Women's breasts change with the arrival of the baby, as well as with age. Change of size, "sagging" of breasts will lead to distortion of the image. Women's breasts are much more sensitive, so drawing here will be painful.
The finished work will have to be carefully cared for: refuse to wear a bra for a while, do not sleep on the chest, postpone sports. If you are still not afraid of this, experts recommend to consult a doctor beforehand.
Location of the tattoo on the body
According to the theory, a tattoo can be done on absolutely any part of the body, but in some places it is easier and less painful to apply a tattoo. It is fairly easy to tattoo on the buttocks, back, shoulders, calves, chest, and lower abdomen. In these places the bone structure and density of the skin is best suited for images. It is difficult to tattoo phalanges of fingers and toes, wrists, feet, ribs, face, ears. The uneven surface or skin features of these body parts may cause difficulties when applying a tattoo. Quality of a tattoo in these areas depends on personal physiology.
How to choose the right place for a tattoo?
It is necessary to choose a place for a body drawing responsibly and it is better to have a master help in this. An experienced artist will prompt, how the chosen sketch will look advantageous on that or that place. It is necessary to decide whether you want to demonstrate the drawing to others or prefer to hide it from prying eyes under the clothes.
How to choose a place for a tattoo for men and girls - basic recommendations:
- Shoulder and biceps. This is a very popular area, on which you can nab both small drawings and large compositions, moving to the chest, back, arm.
- Forearm. A popular place for male and female tattoos, due to the low painfulness of the procedure and the ability to hide the design under long-sleeved clothing. Motivational or commemorative inscriptions can be applied to this place. A popular option is the padding of the tattoo sleeve from the wrist to the shoulder. This area can be chosen for the first tattoo.
- Wrist and ankle. These areas love to decorate the fair sex with birds, insects, bracelets and chains with pendants.
- Hands and fingers. Only people with creative careers, who do not need to observe the dress code, can afford to put images on these places.
- Neck. The back of the neck is a popular option among girls and women, who can hide the image under the hair at work and show it to the surrounding people, making a high hairstyle. Men more often choose the side and front areas of the neck.
- Back. This place is preferred by those wishing to apply large-scale compositions or paired subjects in the form of wings, animals and birds. It should be remembered that tattooing on the spine is a rather painful process. Women often choose the lumbar area for the drawing. The image, located on this place, adds charm and coquetry to a woman's image.
- The chest. It is often chosen by men for padding compositions, which can extend to the shoulder, arm, abdomen, sides. Women rarely padding the bust, as it can create certain problems during breast-feeding.
- Abdomen. This area for a tattoo is chosen only by people who pay constant attention to their physical shape and boast of abs of steel. Women can score a drawing to hide the scar from a cesarean section.
- Thighs. This is a place suitable for applying female tattoos. The right subject can reduce the volume of the thighs, make them visually slimmer.
- Shin. Tattoos are placed on the front, outer side and back of the shin. When choosing a sketch, care must be taken to ensure that the picture emphasizes the slimness of the legs.
- Head. This place is a very painful place for tattoos. Tattooing on the head can be trusted only to a very experienced master. It should be remembered that such an image requires frequent shaving.
The meaning of color in tattoos
Red helps to lift the mood and energize, also increases nervous tension. Blue calms, creates a sense of comfort and relaxation, symbolizes lasting, eternal values, and calms the appetite. Yellow stimulates thinking and creativity and helps relieve tension, but its excess can cause anxiety and aggression. Green shades in a tattoo create a business atmosphere and a sense of security, providing reliability and support. Purple relieves excitement, opens access to confidence, and even normalizes hormonal levels. In spite of the rich ink palette, the unwavering classic is black, which creates both very distinct contours and soft shadows. This color also works well for both the girl and the guy.
Immerse yourself in the sources.
Explore the internet, themed magazines, books, manuals - anything that presents tattoo designs in one way or another. Some picture can fall into your heart at once, and some can be finalized with the master to your ideal. Do not choose something in haste or by pointing your finger in the sky. Do not forget about the reason why you're going to get a tattoo. Look for something as close to you and your desires as possible.
About lines and frames in a tattoo
The nature of a tattoo is such that it tends to fade and blur a bit after a long time. How soon this happens depends on whether you take good care of the tattoo during the healing process, how often it is exposed to sunlight, and on the individual data of your body. But black and dark colors retain their pristine quality the best. And light and colored ones lose their brightness quickly. Therefore, if you want the image to be beautiful as long as possible, when choosing a tattoo, give preference to body art that is made of black paints.
In choosing a tattoo, it is recommended that you do not rush into it. It is not a short-term fad. It is worth considering everything carefully to choose the most successful version of the image with impeccable meaning, style and design that will become part of your essence expressed on your body.
How to choose a tattoo by zodiac sign?
Astrologers believe that members of each zodiac constellation have certain traits. Therefore, men and girls who want to choose a tattoo with meaning should consider their zodiac sign:
- Aries. Confident, bold and adventurous. Often choose tattoos applied to prominent places of the body. Plots are usually associated with movement, action, victories.
- Taurus. Sensual, sometimes artful. Tattoos are small and carry hidden meanings.
- Gemini. Fast, decisive, following the new trends. Beginning to do tattoo, rarely stopping at one figure. Often choose sketches in pairs, reflecting the duality of their nature.
- Cancerians. Focused on the home and the family. Therefore, they prefer subjects related to the family tree, coat of arms, anniversaries.
- Leo. Passionate natures. Often have an image of a lion's head or the animal in full.
- Virgo. Inner very deep people. All patterns they choose have a special meaning.
- Libras. Often choose subjects according to their external appeal. They like pictures of flowers, beautiful birds, ornate inscriptions.
- Scorpions. They're a maximalist type of person. So they either don't get tattoos at all, or they can put them all over their body.
- Sagittarians. Business-minded and enterprising people. Often in the natal drawings display a passion for travel, change.
- Capricorns. Prefer motivational images or inscriptions.
- Aquarians. This is the most nontraditional sign of the zodiac. Its representatives find it difficult to choose a ready-made sketch, so they draw it on their own or order it to a master.
- Pisces. Sensual natures. Often apply the names of partners or their images.
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