How to Craft a Tattoo Sleeve

Tattoo sleeves cover the arm.

A tattoo sleeve is a tattoo or group of continuous tattoos that extends down the arm, either from the shoulder to the elbow, the elbow to the wrist or all the way from the shoulder to the wrist. A sleeve can start with one tattoo and be added to over time or it can be designed in entirety at once. Crafting your own tattoo sleeve can be a deeply personal and creative endeavor. Tattoo sleeves are expensive, time-consuming and eye-catching, so spending time planning your tattoo design is smart.

Instructions

1. Decide whether you want one large tattoo design or a series of smaller combined tattoos. If you already have a single shoulder or arm tattoo that you want to extend into a sleeve, you will need to decide what you want to add to it.

2. Pick a style or theme for the sleeve. Tattoos that have a common theme or style go well together on a sleeve, but a skilled tattoo artist can also combine a bunch of completely different images together, if necessary. The background will often be similar throughout the sleeve. Common backgrounds are tribal designs, water, swirls and flames.

3. Compile images that you want on your sleeve to bring to your tattoo artist. Draw your own tattoo design or print out images you like from the internet. You can also browse the flash art wall at your local tattoo studio for ideas.

4. Meet with your tattoo artist and give them your design and your ideas. If you have not completely sketched your own design and you need a tattoo artist that can do this, make sure you go to a tattoo artist with a reputation for quality custom work. Even if you have sketched your own design, your artist may make recommendations to improve it or make it fit better on your arm.

5. Schedule your tattoo session. If you are having the entire sleeve done in one design, you will most likely need to schedule multiple sessions because tattoo sleeves are so large and time-consuming.

6. Follow the aftercare instructions provided by your tattoo artist to ensure proper healing of your tattoo. If you are completing the tattoo in multiple sittings, ensure you have scheduled enough time for your tattoo to heal in between sessions.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure your tattoo artist practices safe and sterile procedures throughout the tattooing process.

• Tattoo sleeves are highly visible tattoos unless you wear long sleeves all year long. Be sure you are comfortable having your tattoo show at work and family functions.

References

• SloDive: 25 Full Sleeve Tattoo Designs
• The Tattoo Collection: Styles of Tattoos
• TattooArtists.org: Full Sleeve Tattoos

Resources

• Create My Tattoo: Custom Tattoo Designs