So you are thinking about getting a tattoo, but not just any kind, a hand tattoo! You may have noticed that in recent times, hand tattoos are extremely popular. Celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande are proud wearers of those that leave rather unique statements.
This may or may not be news to you, tattoos have been part of various different cultures for centuries! Hand tattoos can be seen from native people of New Zealand all the way to Scotland.
Even in Arabic culture, henna tattoos, beautiful flowers decorating the hands of women making them gorgeous to look at. But Heena is not permanent neither it results in any pain.
Tattoos on hands are more common than face tattoos. You can also check out Angel wings tattoo designs for an Idea.
But you may wonder why would people choose to tattoo their hands?
The reasons are different of course it depends on person to person. The most common reasons are either simply for aesthetic, personal beliefs or religion, or simply show endurance to the pain. Often times it can be quite intimate reasons as well, for example, to remember your loved one.
Still, keep in mind as much as hand tattoos are accepted today, there are some who have a negative image. It is not strange that sometimes, hand tattoos are seen in gangs, make sure to do research beforehand.
Designs like human imagination, vary and there can be millions of unique ideas out there! You have to think, what the tattoo means to you? What sort of drawing could present who you are?
Both men and women love to show off their inked hands, and you want to stand out too. Having a tattoo on the exposed part of your skin isn’t to be taken lightly. Don’t rush anything, do proper research on the design you want and the tattoo studio.
The last thing you want is to give your money to the unprofessional artist. Check reviews around the local studios, ask around anyone you know and then decide.
There are more things we would like to mention! Take your time and consider some of the tips and notes piled up for you. Hopefully, these will help you make a wise choice.
Do you really want a tattoo on your hand?
Yes or maybe yes? Before doing anything, ask yourself this question. If you really feel like you have to get it, just go for it.
But wait, before you rush into a first tattoo parlor you really need to consider few details carefully. Like any other type of tattoo, hand tattoos carry some positives and negatives with them.
Several tattoo artists will confirm this, the skin on your hand is delicate and thin so it might be painful. Your skin is often exposed, in time the tattoo might start to fade and lose its previous color.
Type of tattoo that suits your ideas
The ideas for a hand tattoo are without limits, mostly since each of us has unique ideas and suggestions. Some folks would often choose something traditional, like small birds, flowers or symbols that hold special meaning.
If you want to be a little different then others, maybe something like waves or dots that create a fun effect upon movement. Another popular choice is finger tattoos!
Couples will choose a ring band tattoo for their wedding, simple words and phrases are also charming decors.
The sides of fingers and the palms can be difficult to tattoo on, instead consider other areas if you want. For example, the top of hand and knuckles are way better if you are set on finger tattoos.
Miley Cyrus herself has one on top of hand which is the year ‘1961’ to honor her father. Getting a tattoo on your knuckle isn’t as painful as it might seem, so go for it!
Permanent tattoos on hands and their effect
Face, neck, hands are one of the most visible places on your body to have a tattoo. You really have to consider if a beautiful piece of art on your hands will give you issues at work.
In certain areas of work, it might not be best to have this sort of art on your hands. So it might be best to keep it concealed.
But if there is no issue at your work, then you have to consider the right artist! The artist has to be experienced and someone who is skilled and confident in how to tattoo hands. Do your homework before jumping into the water, and take your time.
Finally, your hands are there to greet people, a good design will leave a lasting impression on anyone you meet. Look for inspiration, either online, from books, or even create something unique to yourself!
Tattoo maintenance
Getting a tattoo is really exciting. But it can end up with regrets if it is not maintained properly. It will always be a great idea to ask your tattoo artist about aftercare.
You need to clean the area regularly. Apply ointment or moisturizer to keep it moist. Take extra care while choosing and wearing clothes. Follow all the instructions given by your artist strictly. You have to take care of it even after it gets healed.
Once your skin is healed you might have to retouch it again. This process might need to be done several times. Though some artists won’t do retouching for free so stay informed.
You might have to retouch it several times, in order to remain visible and beautiful. Keep your budget in check.
Related questions.
How quickly does the ink fade and how to prevent it?
The answer to this question relates to one of the previous mentions. You want to know how to properly maintain your tattoo right? Here we will expand more on how to do just that in a pretty effortless way.
It’s a normal thing that any kind of tattoo goes through a process of healing. On average that lasts for about 6 weeks. Take care of your skin properly and follow the advice of a tattoo artist.
The most important thing to do while taking care of your skin is to keep it clean and moist. Gently scrub it with a scentless soap, after that apply tattoo wax or lotion. During the early stage make sure your tattoo is covered in order to protect it from dust, sweat, grime, etc.
Since your hands is one of the most exposed areas to have a tattoo, they do fade. Every small activity you might do can contribute to fading, like washing your hands and similar activities.
There are ways to avoid fading of course, and once again cleaning your hands will help a lot. Don’t use any kind of soaps, mild, any unscented moisturizers are great for your skin!
As we told you before often times you might need to retouch when it really needed.By doing that the work of art on your hands will remain as good as new!
Why do some tattoo artists refuse to do hand tattoos?
Being a tattoo artist is a profession like any other, oftentimes it does come with many challenges. One of those challenges includes tattooing someone on a delicate and tricky surface like a hand, foot or face.
Often times they deal with naive and impulsive customers, in that situation they must asset if you are ready. Do you really want to have a tattoo on such an exposed part of your body? Its something that will stay on your skin for a long time, and need to emphasize that.
The skin on your hand is quite thin compared to the rest of the body. Its one of the most delicate areas for an artist to work on, even tiniest mistake can turn into a disaster. Not even expert artists are eager to do this sort of work.
Much like many professionals, artists have a reputation to keep. With that in mind, you might need some time to find a skilled artist.
If by you are set on one specific artist but they have rules against hand tattoos, reassure them. It might be a hassle in the start, but it means a lot if the customer is aware of the risk. If possible you can suggest signing an agreement of some sort!
However, if the artist keeps refusing, the next best thing is to continue looking for another one!
What color of tattoos does last the longest?
This is something you have to think about before getting the design on paper, color is the most important part! Many will tell you that black and gray ink lasts long and they don’t fade easily.
While on the other hand, hot colors like, red, orange, pink, yellow often fade faster. Darker colors thankfully aren’t prone to that as their lighter counterpart.
Recently watercolor tattoos are extremely popular, the downside is they fade fast. They do leave a lasting impression because of beautiful and vibrant strikes.
On the other hand, if the longevity of the tattoo is important to you, then watercolors don’t match. Especially on your hands, the tattoos will often be prone to fade due to exposure.
Still, don’t be discouraged! There is plenty of designs that you can wear with pride and joy! Sure, you can use lighter colors but it will just require a bit more work than darker ink.
White ink is also a popular choice and can look rather amazing if you have a darker skin tone. Especially considering how if done right can almost look like you are wearing lace.
So go ahead, combine your ideal design with a color you desire and see what happens. When done right it can look as if you are wearing a masterpiece on your hands!
In the end, hand tattoos are a great and wonderful work of art. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to keep up, but totally worth it.
Be creative, add something new and fresh to your own style, make a statement! It is something you will wear for many years and you should be proud of your choice.
Go for it, take a step forward and keep all the tips in mind we mentioned!