How to Place a Tattoo

When deciding where to place a new tattoo, you may think the only decision to make is how visible you want it. There are, however, several other factors you should consider before permanently putting ink in a spot that may not be attractive in the long run. The design you choose for your tattoo is your first priority, but the placement of the tattoo is just as important.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Decide how visible you want the tattoo to be. Depending on what kind of industry you're currently in or plan to pursue in the future, it may alter where you place a tattoo. Some businesses frown on permanent body art and it could hamper whether you get a job or a promotion. Luckily, you still have a lot of options where your ink can remain hidden.
2. Determine the size required for the particular design you have in mind. A very detailed design such as a realistic looking animal will need to be much larger than something simple like a tribal butterfly. If the piece needs to be large to work in this detail, then you wouldn't want to place it, for instance, on your foot.
3. Look at the shape of the design. The natural contours of your body can work well with many designs, but may work against others. Rounded designs like hearts look better on rounder parts of the body. Using this example, a heart at the proper size may stand out more on the rounded contours of your shoulder instead of the flat surface of your forearm. Plus, certain shapes obviously go in specific spots, such as a design meant to wrap around an arm or leg, which generally won't look right placed anywhere else.
4. Consider the changes your body will grow through as you age. Although nobody wants to think about gaining weight or sagging body parts, this is an inevitable fact of life. For ladies, tattoos placed on breasts will distort. Changes in the female body from having children can also affect the area around the abdomen. For men, tattoos on and around the belly can distort.
5. Think about the time, cost and pain involved. Certain places on the body take longer to tattoo than others simply because the contours the artist has to tattoo around and the consistency of the skin will determine how quickly the skin will take ink. For example, a straight spot on a firm leg will take less time than a design placed across your stomach and ribcage. If you are limited on funds or have a low pain tolerance, these factors are is also something to keep in mind.
6. Consult with the tattoo artist. An experienced artist should be able to tell you where a specific design will look best. Heed their advice. Many tattooists not only apply new tattoos, but also fix and cover up old tattoos that are no longer appealing, so they have seen the affects of time on body art.

Tips & Warnings

• Gradual changes in the body such as slowly putting on muscle through a normal exercise regime may not adversely affect a tattoo. But, the larger the muscle gets, the more difference you may notice.
• Dramatic changes in weight can affect a tattoo.