Find your look
Styles
Every tattoo style has its own rules, its own feel and its own way of ageing. This is the plain-language guide to what each one is, what it suits, and what symbols and subjects actually mean before you commit them to skin.
Styles
- TraditionalBold lines, limited colour and a look that ages better than almost anything else. The classic.Coming soon
- Fine lineDelicate single-needle work, popular for minimal and script pieces. What it suits and how it ages.Coming soon
- BlackworkBold black shapes, patterns and solid fills, from ornamental to heavy graphic pieces.Coming soon
- RealismPhotographic detail in black and grey or colour. What makes it work and what to look for in an artist.Coming soon
- Neo-traditionalTraditional roots with richer colour, more detail and a broader range of subjects.Coming soon
- JapaneseIrezumi and its motifs, koi, dragons, waves and more, plus the rules that hold the style together.Coming soon
- Dotwork & geometricStippled shading and precise geometry, from mandalas to sacred-geometry sleeves.Coming soon
- Lettering & scriptFonts, flow and placement for words and quotes, and how to keep script readable as it ages.Coming soon
Not sure yet?
Not sure what suits you?
If you know you want a tattoo but not what kind, start here. A quick walk through the main styles and who each one tends to suit.
Common questions
Common questions about choosing and sizing a design. For everything else, browse the full FAQ index.
Where should I put my first tattoo?
Think about pain, visibility, how it fits your body, and whether you'll want it seen at work. Fleshier areas like the outer upper arm and thigh are more comfortable and heal easily, which makes them popular for a first tattoo. Your artist can suggest placement that flows with your anatomy.
Does weight gain or loss affect tattoos?
Significant changes in body weight can affect how a tattoo looks, particularly for large pieces on areas with more fat tissue, stomach, thighs, upper arms. The ink itself doesn't move, but the skin stretching or contracting around it can distort the design. Minor fluctuations of a few kilograms either way typically don't cause noticeable changes. More significant changes over time may cause some distortion, particularly in heavily detailed or fine-line work.
Can I make a design smaller?
Sometimes, but shrinking a design can crowd the detail and ruin the balance of the artwork. Fine lines placed too close together can also blur as the tattoo ages. Your artist will advise on the smallest size a given design can be done at while still holding up over time.
Can I re-tattoo over a scar?
Yes, in many cases, but it requires an experienced artist who understands how scar tissue behaves. Scar tissue holds ink differently to normal skin, heals less predictably, and often requires more passes to achieve even coverage. The results depend heavily on the age and type of scar, the placement, and the artist's experience with scarred skin. Scars generally need to be fully healed, commonly at least a year old, before being tattooed.
Should I get colour or black and grey?
It comes down to the style and look you want, and what suits your skin. Black and grey tends to be versatile and ages predictably; colour can be striking but some pigments fade differently over time and may need more sun protection. A good artist will advise what will work best for your design and skin tone.