Tattoo Location Considerations

January 1, 2016 12 CommentsGeneral, Tattoo BasicsBy Dr Greg Hall

Where is the best place to put my tattoo?

Where should my tattoo go? Tattoo Location Ideas

Where shouldn’t I put my tattoo?

What location on my body is best for a tattoo?

Need a Tattoo Location Guide??

When choosing a location for your tattoo, if you choose to do so, there are a number of considerations that should be weighed. Is the tattoo for your benefit, or others? Which spots on the body are allowable for my career, for what I wear, for my body type? What are your good/attractive attributes and can you improve on them? Or will a tattoo mess up an already good feature?

Clearly, you need to walk a fine line. A tattoo will definitely draw attention to itself where ever it’s seen. If you have unattractive feet (bunions, corns, fungal thickened nails), putting a tattoo on them will draw attention to your feet, and may not be a good idea. If you have a nice firm stomach, you need to have the discipline to keep your stomach firm, or your tattoo will sag along with your stomach, and actually make it look worse!!

The pain associated with getting the tattoo also needs to be a consideration. Look at the Pain & Tattoos page for more information. The latest trends seem to be actually seeking a painful place to get a tattoo so as to show your machismo! People are now getting underarm and back of the knee tattoos to show how much pain they can endure.

The take home message is. . . if this is your first tattoo, please place it somewhere that is easily concealed. That way you can get a feel for having a tattoo, and if you develop any tattoo regret. If you already have three tattoos, and want more (and more than 5 years have gone by), go ahead and do what you want!

Your first Tattoo?

Go small and easily hidden!

Remember

Choose a location that you can conceal at will. It may not matter now, but there may be an opportunity for advancement that depends on your not showing your tattoo.

. . .just a consideration.

Try these locations

Small and easy to conceal

. . .avoid the lower legs in case you wear dresses to work.

Just ideas. . .

Thanks for submitting these!!

About the author

Dr Greg Hall

Gregory Hall, MD is a physician, author, speaker, inventor, professor, and public health professional. He strives to improve the quality of medical care through fair disclosure, quality care, and an honest approach to patients and their families.

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12 Comments

January 19, 2012 at 10:41 pm

Laf

Thanks for the tattoo location advice!! I narrowing it down. . .
- March 2, 2012 at 12:32 am
  
  Budi
  
  tattoo and laser hair rmoavel question, before and after?So Im planning to get my second tattoo done on my left arm, it will wrap down like sort of a ribbon, thus covering a lot of area, down to the wrist. i have another tattoo on the inside of the wrist and i have no hair there so when i got it there was no problem.but this time the guy will shave my whole arm in, and i was thinking about getting the hair removed by laser before i get the tattoo done. except it will take lots of time, about 4 sessions, and of course $$$$. so i wanted to ask, would it be okay to get the tattoo and THEN get the hair removed? will it mess up my tattoo or is it safe? because for now i can just keep shaving the arms but dealing with stubble sucks. i cant afford the hair rmoavel right now, its over $1500. my hair is blonde and hardly noticeable but it shines so bad in the sun and generally wont look good with tattoo underneath. any help please?!
March 2, 2012 at 4:04 pm

CHARMING

i’m not sure if the laser removal would btoehr the tattoo i would think that it might. if you are worried about the hair removal just wax the hair before you go in. that way you will have like 2 weeks until it grows back and your tattoo should be healed by then too. i have a large tattoo on my upper arm and had to shave it before i went in for my tattoo when it grew back it didn’t grow in any thicker and it doesn’t hide the tattoo at all or take away from it in any way. good luck sounds like your tattoo will be neat
March 5, 2012 at 5:14 pm

Hilton Chinnery

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March 18, 2012 at 9:45 am

tattoos for women

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April 9, 2012 at 8:06 pm

Meli

Hey! this is a great site with a lot of honest information. I like the kind yet forward manner that you communicate in. I am 23 and got my first tattoo on my side 2 months ago. It is the first of several I have planned for about 8 years. I had originally planned to get my first one on my wrist. Looking at this page and the pain chart you posted made me reconsider and choose the side first. I definitely feel that waiting as long as I have to start my collection, and taking the time to make informed decisions, finding a great artist, and mentally and physically preparing for this commitment made it a wonderful experience. I now have a lovely piece of art that I feel I will treasure forever. Proper planning definitely has made a huge difference in how I view this kind of art. It is a way for me, normally a quiet and introverted person, to be able to outwardly show a part of my soul in a manner I am comfortable with.
Thank you for letting me ramble!
~Meli
- April 9, 2012 at 8:21 pm
  
  admin
  
  Thanks Meli, its notes like yours that make all the hard work worth it.
  Enjoy your tattoo!!
  And you can ramble anytime.
May 26, 2012 at 6:52 pm

Ludie Ringquist

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May 27, 2012 at 10:40 am

Cleo Haseltine

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May 27, 2012 at 12:25 pm

computer

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May 27, 2012 at 1:32 pm

Felipe Igles

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December 30, 2012 at 5:17 pm

Morton

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Comments are closed.

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