We’ve all seen it, the tattoos we can’t believe people got. This isn’t meant to be an exploration of bad tattoos in general. It’s more of an overview of why these popular tattoos are not a good idea and why. They are popular with first time tattoo clients and tattooed veterans alike.
- Small Lettering
The problem with anything small, is that tattoos age over time. Small letters, or letters that are close together will eventually spread over time. The small nooks and crannies like in “e”s, “b”s, and “a”s will become unreadable. If you don’t want to explain your tattoo constantly in the future, steer clear of small lettering.
- Watercolor Tattoos –
They may look pretty at first, but after a few years the color will start to spread and fade out. This happens no matter how the tattoo is done. If you do get a watercolor tattoo, make sure that the blackwork part of the design is solid and can stand alone without any color. This will ensure an easier rework when you are ready for it a few years down the line. You could end up paying exactly what you paid originally for the rework.
- Name Tattoos –
A little bit of superstition here, but it’s bad luck to get your significant other’s name on you. I’ve heard so many horror stories around name tattoos and people needing them covered up soon after. Expensive to cover up, it’s better to get something related to a subject that brings the two of you together, like a symbol. Siblings, kids and parents are one thing… just steer clear of getting your boyfriends, girlfriends, husband’s or wife’s name on you.
- Roman Numerals Tattoos –
This is extremely popular right now, especially with younger clients. Don’t do it. Most people want a delicate type writer look when they get numerals. It will not stay that way for very long, and trust me, it’s not as easy to cover as it looks.
- Font Tattoos –
It’s extremely popular to get font tattoos these days. Most people get them too small, and they can be expensive coverups later. There are things you can do to make font designs better for tattoos… like spread out the lettering, do it a bit bigger. Unfortunately, this can change the aesthetic, and instead of a cute little word you have a big word that really, is just computer font. Whenever possible, go to an artist that specializes in lettering so they can make something artistic for you.
- Red Tattoos –
This goes for any tattoo done in color with no black – it’s a bad idea. It’s not going to hold the test of time. It will age a lot quicker than a black tattoo. If you get a color tattoo with no lines, just know, you will need to have it redone in a few years, or live with the blurred version it grows into.
- Finger Tattoos –
They don’t heal well – ever – They age about 5 times quicker than other places on your body, and they don’t look professional. Even in this day and age, they will affect your job opportunities. I can’t tell you how many times people have come to me trying to cover finger tattoos that just can’t be fixed. Lasering off a finger tattoo is upwards of $1000, be cautious.
- Hand Tattoos-
These age quickly, but not as quickly as finger tattoos. I have only seen a few good hand tattoos – none of them were black and grey roses, and all of them were in the traditional tattoo style.
- Lineless Tattoos –
Without a very strong black and grey foundation, the tattoo will not last very long. Tattoos with no lines, or little black will not last very long, and they are expensive and time consuming to do. When getting a lineless tattoo, do so knowing you will want it reworked in a few years. The five year mark is where things start to go sour. At 10 years, it gets really uncomfortable.
- Micro Tattoos-
These will look cute for a couple years. Inevitably, they will become an unreadable blemish. They’ve become popular because people assume that it’s skillful to do small highly detailed tattoos and so they must be good. It’s a fad. The delicacy that is usually the goal will be lost within 5 years, and those expensive details will become harder and harder to see. I assure you, anyone with a micro tattoo will not like it ten years down the line and will need it covered or lasered off. Reputable tattoo artists think that micro tattoo artists are jerks for charging insane prices for detailed work that will not last.
- Ink Splatter Pawprint Tattoos –
Like Watercolor tattoos, these do not hold up very well. Every time someone asks for them all I can think is how much it will look like a blemish in a few years. If you want to get a tribute to your pet, do solid pawprints, a portrait style photo realistic piece of their paw, or an illustrative traditional or neo-traditional style pet portrait. Dog tags can be cute, but they are subject to the aging that all tattoos go through.
The moral of the story is, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Look up photos of aged tattoos. What does that type of tattoo look like healed? What about in 5 years? What about 10 years down the line?
If your tattoo artist tries to counsel you, please listen, there is a reason why they are saying something about the design.
Many tattoo artists will not counsel you, they will do any tattoo that you are asking for without warning. The reason is because when you want a tattoo, you want the thing that you want, and hearing anything otherwise from anyone just makes you want to go somewhere else, to someone who will do the tattoo without thinking twice. You may think in retrospect that you would have listened to caution, but in 10 years of tattooing, 95% of people who are counseled, get the bad tattoo anyway and regret it down the line. Only a few will take the time to rethink what they want, most people just go down the street and get the tattoo from someone who only wants their money.
I’m not saying I won’t take your money. That’s my job, and it’s your tattoo. It’s ultimately your choice as to what you get. If I think it’s a terrible idea, I will tell you so or try to offer an alternate solution. If I think it can be covered easily down the line, or the aging won’t bother you too much in the long run I will probably not caution you, I will just hope, you did your research.
