How to pick your tattoo ideas for 2024
How to pick your tattoo ideas for 2024
If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo, but you're not sure how to pick the right design—don’t worry, you're not alone. Choosing a tattoo design can be a difficult and overwhelming process, especially with all the options out there. But with a little bit of thought and research, you can find a tattoo design that you'll love. Here are a few tips to help you pick the perfect tattoo design.
First, think about the meaning behind the tattoo. Ask yourself:
- What do you want it to represent?
- Do you want it to symbolise something important in your life, like a loved one or a special moment?
- Or do you simply want a tattoo that looks cool and unique? Because that’s okay too.
Either way, it's important to have a clear idea of what you want your tattoo to represent before you start looking for designs.
Next, consider the placement of the tattoo.
- Where do you want it to be on your body?
- Different parts of the body have different characteristics, so the design you choose should complement the area where it will be placed.
- For example, a small and delicate design might look out of place on a large and muscular arm, but it could work well on the wrist or ankle.
- Think about size. Ask yourself, do you want this tattoo to be big and bold? Or is something smaller and more discreet preferable? Do you want to see the tattoo every day on your skin? Or would you rather it be a bit more out of sight, like on your back?All these factors will help you decide the location too.
Once you have an idea of the meaning and placement of your tattoo, it's time to start looking at designs.
- You can find inspiration from a variety of sources, such as tattoo galleries and artist portfolios.
- You can also use online tools like Pinterest and Instagram to search for tattoo designs and see what other people have done. Just remember to be open-minded and keep an eye out for designs that catch your eye.
- You can also leave it up to your tattoo artist to help finesse an idea, or come up with one entirely based on their style, expertise and design ideas. Oftentimes many artists have books they keep with hundreds of designs ready to go.
Lastly, think about colour.
- Decide if you want to go with black ink or colour. Picking the one will help influence the design, cost and length of time you’ll spend in the chair.
-Coloured tattoostend to take longer because the artist spends time mixing up shades and adjusting the pigments to suit your design. The results are often worth the wait.
When you find a design you like, it's important to do your research and make sure you're choosing a reputable tattoo artist to do the work. You can do this by checking out the artist's portfolio and reading reviews from other clients. A good tattoo artist will be able to help you refine the design and make sure it looks just the way you want it to.Inspiration for your 2023 tattoo:
Be bold, be very bold
Blackout tattoos are an ever-popular and striking way to stand out from the crowd.
When tattoo artist Kat Von D took to Instagram to share her latest work with Philadelphia-based blackout artist Hoode Philly, she did so prepared for an online backlash.
She asked her audience to, “read my caption before commenting please.”But as more and more people opt for blackout coverage to conceal old tattoos that they feel they have outgrown, why does this form of tattoo art provoke such a strong reaction?
A blackout tattoo is a way of shrouding an old tattoo with large sections of darker ink. Kat Von D chose this method to cover up tattoos from a period of her life she no longer wants to be reminded of.
“Feels so good to finally cover up so many of the tattoos I got back when I used to drink,” she wrote on Instagram. “Those tattoos meant nothing to me but landmarks in dark times.”
Context aside, perhaps it is the bold look of blackout coverage that causes all the fuss. For striking cover-up inspiration consult our guide here.
No regrets: tattoos in the workplace
If you need a little solid evidence as to why you should feel confident getting a new tattoo, look no further.
In the study,“’No ragrets’: Public perceptions of tattooed mental health professionals,” psychologists looked at how tattoos influence the relationship between professionals and clients. Would people perceive a professional with tattoos as less competent, or even less likeable?
What they found was positive and advances the argument for tattoos in the workplace. “Tattoos do not seem to impact perceptions of clinician competence among the general public and may even aid the formation of professional bonds with clientele.”
As we’ve discovered at NAAMA Studios, a shared love of tattoos will often spark a conversation between our consultants and clients. People feel more comfortable when they are reassured that they are in the hands of tattoo lovers.
But the debate over tattoos in the workplace is far from straightforward. Read our interview with Professor Viren Swami, an expert on body image and tattoos, to find out how attitudes are changing, especially after the pandemic.
