Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Using aesthetics as a guideline
• Method 2 of 3: Choosing a practical placement
• Method 3 of 3: Work within your pain threshold
• Tips
• Warnings

Getting a tattoo is a big decision. Thinking long and hard about what you want on your skin permanently is just the beginning. When you have found the perfect piece of art you have to decide where it will be placed on your body! Placement is important, especially on something that lives and grows like skin. When choosing a spot, think about things like aesthetics, how much you want the tattoo to show, and how much pain you can handle.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Using aesthetics as a guideline

1. Divide your body into a series of canvases to visualize your tattoo. Each canvas can be seen as a piece of art. These "canvases," or parts, are divided by the joints of your body. For example, the top of your thigh to your knee is one "canvas". Think about each of these canvases piece by piece as placement for your tattoo.
   • For example, your upper arm up to your elbow is called a "half sleeve", while your entire arm from your upper arm to your wrist would be called a "full sleeve". If you would be interested in a smaller arm piece that would be covered by a short sleeve T-shirt, you can ask for a "quartz sleeve" that ends at the center of your upper arm.
   • As another example, a traditional back piece goes from the bottom of your neck to your buttocks. Understanding where these pieces are traditionally placed can help your artist understand exactly what you want.
   • By visually dividing your body into sections, you can find out which designs work best for certain parts of your body. You are looking for the best small and large areas on your body where tattoos can be placed.
2. Place large, detailed pieces on large areas of the body. A very detailed design is almost impossible to put in a small space. If you want a detailed design, you will have to choose a larger area of ​​your body for the design to work.
   • For a large design such as a portrait or character, opt for an area of ​​your skin that your artist will be able to easily reach without having to bend your body in an odd way, such as your back, thigh, or upper arm.
3. Place smaller designs on smaller body parts. For smaller designs such as symbols you can choose much smaller body areas. For example, you can have one put on the inside of your wrist, or on your hand. You may even prefer a more playful area. For example, try a design behind your ear, around your finger, or even behind your ankle joint.
   • For a little extra playfulness, think about the helix (on your ear) or the inside of your lip!
4. Choose a placement according to the shape of your tattoo. Look at the design of your tattoo. Is it long and thin? Is it round? Is it rectangular or oval-shaped? Its shape is important because different shapes will look better on different parts of your body.
   • For example, a long, thin tattoo might look good along your spine, forearm, or down your leg. Long, thin tattoos may also look very nice along the sides of your back or stomach, but keep in mind that their shape can change when you gain weight or have a baby.
   • You can wrap some designs around a limb, such as a tribal band or a rosary. Choose an area where the artist can finish the design evenly, such as the top of your forearm, upper arm, or just above your ankle.
5. Avoid taking up a lot of area for a small tattoo. Many people regret taking up a large part of their body area that can be tattooed with a very small tattoo in the middle. You may want to get more tattoos in that area later, or a large tattoo that takes up the entire area.
   • For example, if you take a small symbol in the middle of your shoulder blade, you cannot get a larger tattoo there later, unless you incorporate the symbol in the middle of the design, or cover the symbol with an entirely new design.
6. Choose an area that you will still like when you get older. When choosing a placement for your tattoo, think about what can happen to your body as it ages. Will you always like the tattoo in that specific area? You may be fine with it in your 20s, but think about how you'll feel when you're in your 40s, 50s, or 60s. You may want to place your tattoo so that it is not as prone to change as your body ages.
   • For example, you are less likely to gain weight at the back of your shoulders than you are at your stomach. Stretch marks after having children can even make your tattoo disappear completely. This may make your shoulder blade a better option.
   • You don't run a very high chance of gaining weight at your wrists or feet, so those can also be good options. Even though your feet may swell or enlarge from time to time, tattoos will usually keep their shape.

Method 2 of 3: Choosing a practical placement

1. Have your tattoo placed on the front of your body if you want to see it easily. Some people like to always be able to see their tattoos, and others don't. If you like, have your tattoo placed somewhere where you can see it without a mirror, such as your stomach, chest, arms, or legs. If you don't like that, then place your tattoo somewhere you can only see it with the help of a mirror.
   • For an option in between, you can choose a place that you can see without a mirror, but can be covered with clothing.
2. Try a place that you can easily hide or show depending on your outfit. You may want to show your tattoo and put it in a place where people can always see it. On the other hand, you may want to have the choice to sometimes hide it by wearing a different item of clothing. If you want to be able to hide your tattoo, choose a place where you have that option.
   • For example, if you have a tattoo on your aconite muscle, between your neck and shoulders, you can cover it with a collared shirt, or wear a low neckline shirt to show it off.
   • You may also be able to do this with tattoos on your thighs, upper arms, back, neck, and feet.
3. Try a "peek-a-boo" tattoo for a playful placement. These tattoos are placed in areas that are usually not very visible to everyday observers, but can reveal themselves when you move, such as behind your ear, inside your lip, on the skin between your fingers, or on the inside of your upper arm.
   • You can also try the top of your chest, your lower back, your collarbone, or behind your ankle joint.
4. Hide delicate, colorful tattoos from the sun. Tattoos will fade with time, and the sun speeds up this process. If you want a tattoo with a lot of color it is best to place it somewhere where it can be easily covered by clothing. This way, the sun cannot reach it very well, which will help it to fade less quickly.
   • The sun also makes your skin age faster, which can diminish the beauty of your tattoo.
   • Protect both your skin and your tattoo from the sun with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
5. Place your tattoo in a discreet place if you need to hide it from your job. If you are concerned about concealing your tattoo at work or from specific people, have it placed where it can be easily hidden. The torso area is a great option for a hidden tattoo as you can cover it easily when needed.
   • You can also try the top of your thigh, your shoulder blade, your back, or your side for this as these areas are usually covered by work clothes.

Method 3 of 3: Work within your pain threshold

1. Go for "meatier" areas, such as the thighs or biceps, for as little pain as possible. If this is your first tattoo, these two places can be a good choice. They are generally less painful than other areas due to the muscles inside them.
   • The forearms or backs of your shoulders are also a good choice. However, you may want to avoid the inside of your upper arms if you have a low pain threshold, as these areas have too many nerve endings to be very comfortable.
2. Think about the calves or shoulders for pain that's in the low to mid range. These areas still have quite a lot of muscles that the needles can hit. They have slightly more bone than the thighs or biceps, but have more buffer than other areas.
   • The wrists are also covered, although they are slightly more painful.
3. Avoid bony areas to reduce pain. Bony areas, such as feet, hands, ribs, knees, and elbows will all be more painful. Unfortunately, getting a tattoo will hurt anyway, but getting a tattoo on one of these areas will probably make it even more painful.
   • These areas hurt because you have less meat between the needle and the bone. However, you may want to start with these areas to get your pain threshold to a high level right away.
4. Talk to your tattoo artist about your pain threshold. The artist will know which areas hurt the most. If you are very sensitive to pain, ask your artist about good places to get tattooed.

Tips

• Be open to listening to your tattoo artist. Of course you will need to have some idea of ​​where you want your tattoo, but your tattoo artist will be able to help you with minor adjustments that will make its placement much better.
• Tattoos draw attention to the part of the body they are on, so choose a place that you don't mind people looking at.

Warnings

• Listen to your artist if he or she objects to the placement of your tattoo! While you may very much want a certain design and placement, your tattoo artist may have sensible and good reasons for a change that you should consider before having your body permanently adjusted.