Tattoo Basics
2) The Future
The next aspect of tattoo placement to consider is the future. Over time, people change, both mentally and physically.
That tattoo on your forearm that you thought was cool when you were in your twenties, may be more of an embarrassment by the time you're in your forties. So if there's the slightest doubt that you may feel like that in the future, don't choose a highly visible place to site your tattoo.
If you do that you'll have to look at it every day for the rest of your life, like a constant reminder of your stupidity. At least if your tattoo occupies a more discreet area you can cover it up most of the time.
And then there's the physical affects of aging to consider. As most people get older the gain a little extra weight and the quality of their skin deteriorates.
That's bad news for most tattoos. Twenty years later they can end up looking stretched, distorted and washed out. This is particularly true of tattoos place on your stomach. And for young women, they also have to consider what pregnancy may do to tattoos located on their stomach.
One of the best places to avoid the problems of weight gain is the lower back. The skin on this part of the body tends to experience less strain in the event of weight gain.
3) The Meaning
Tattoos are as much about symbolic meaning as they are about art, and the placement on your body plays a large part in helping to express your personality. So it's important to consider what the placement says about you and your design.
For example, if your tattoo represents your love for someone important in your life, many people choose to place the design near to their heart. In order to represent love, some people place a tattoo near their middle finger which in ancient times was believed to contain a blood vessel that ran all the way back to the heart.
If someone wants a more sensual tattoo that makes them feel special, they may choose a location that only they and their partner get to see.
Alternatively, they may choose a location that only allows people a brief glimpse of their design. For example, the soaring popularity of lower back and stomach tattoos shows a widespread desire among women for sensual tattoo placement that can provide others with alluring 'flashes' of their design.
4) The Pain
And finally, it's important to bear in mind that certain parts of your body will cause more pain when they're tattooed.
In general, tattoos cause the most discomfort when they're placed on a bony part of the body where the skin is thinner. This includes areas such as elbows, knees, spine and parts of the head. So if your pain threshold is not very well developed it's best to place your tattoo on a fleshier part of your body.
Wherever you decide to place your tattoo, make sure that you discuss your choice with your tattoo artist. If you've chosen the right person, they should be able to draw on their experence and advise you of the tattoo design/placement combinations that work best together.
Click here to read the first part of this article
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Tattoo Placement - Where To Locate Your New Design - Part 2
The next aspect of tattoo placement to consider is the future. Over time, people change, both mentally and physically.
That tattoo on your forearm that you thought was cool when you were in your twenties, may be more of an embarrassment by the time you're in your forties. So if there's the slightest doubt that you may feel like that in the future, don't choose a highly visible place to site your tattoo.
If you do that you'll have to look at it every day for the rest of your life, like a constant reminder of your stupidity. At least if your tattoo occupies a more discreet area you can cover it up most of the time.
And then there's the physical affects of aging to consider. As most people get older the gain a little extra weight and the quality of their skin deteriorates.
That's bad news for most tattoos. Twenty years later they can end up looking stretched, distorted and washed out. This is particularly true of tattoos place on your stomach. And for young women, they also have to consider what pregnancy may do to tattoos located on their stomach.
One of the best places to avoid the problems of weight gain is the lower back. The skin on this part of the body tends to experience less strain in the event of weight gain.
3) The Meaning
Tattoos are as much about symbolic meaning as they are about art, and the placement on your body plays a large part in helping to express your personality. So it's important to consider what the placement says about you and your design.
For example, if your tattoo represents your love for someone important in your life, many people choose to place the design near to their heart. In order to represent love, some people place a tattoo near their middle finger which in ancient times was believed to contain a blood vessel that ran all the way back to the heart.
If someone wants a more sensual tattoo that makes them feel special, they may choose a location that only they and their partner get to see.
Alternatively, they may choose a location that only allows people a brief glimpse of their design. For example, the soaring popularity of lower back and stomach tattoos shows a widespread desire among women for sensual tattoo placement that can provide others with alluring 'flashes' of their design.
4) The Pain
And finally, it's important to bear in mind that certain parts of your body will cause more pain when they're tattooed.
In general, tattoos cause the most discomfort when they're placed on a bony part of the body where the skin is thinner. This includes areas such as elbows, knees, spine and parts of the head. So if your pain threshold is not very well developed it's best to place your tattoo on a fleshier part of your body.
Wherever you decide to place your tattoo, make sure that you discuss your choice with your tattoo artist. If you've chosen the right person, they should be able to draw on their experence and advise you of the tattoo design/placement combinations that work best together.
Click here to read the first part of this article
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