Tattoo Artists Share 8 Mistakes People Make When Getting Wrist Tattoos

  • Tattoo artists shared some common mistakes people make when tattooing their wrists.

  • Some say that location and direction are important factors to consider for that part of the body.

  • Selecting designs with too many details can affect the appearance of the finished work, says another.

Insider spoke with tattoo artists to learn more about common mistakes they’ve seen people make when getting wrist tattoos.

Avoid Getting Inward-Facing Word Tattoos

Jonny Lohman, a tattoo artist who owns a tattoo studio called Boogie Boys, says he is conscious of the direction you choose when tattooing a word or phrase on your wrist.

“If you get a tattoo on your wrist facing you, no one else will be able to read it,” he said. “It will also be upside down when you have your hands at your sides.”

Ultimately, it depends on the client and their preferences, but Lohman suggested giving it some thought before heading to the studio.

Also consider the script you choose for the words.

Person with compassion and courage tattooed on their wrists.Person with compassion and courage tattooed on their wrists.

The direction and font of tattooed letters can affect legibility.Jupiter Images/Getty Images

Lohman told Insider that selecting the right script for a word tattoo on your wrist could make or break its legibility.

“If the print is too small, the tattoo could smudge and be difficult to read over time,” he said. “Depending on the word, I would suggest considering a larger area of ​​the body with more space so the writing can be larger and more legible.”

Just like words, you should also consider the direction of an image on your wrist.

Jesse Smith, tattoo artist and owner of Loose Screw Tattoo, told Insider that designs should be oriented in a particular direction on the body for best results.

“The design should always face forward while the collector is standing comfortably with their hands at their sides if it is an image facing one direction or another, for example a bird, a butterfly,” he said.

Smith said if an image was facing the back of the body, he would consider it to be placed incorrectly.

Placing tattoos too close to the palm can be problematic

Anastasiia Gatsko, owner of G Tattoo & Piercing, warned against getting wrist tattoos too close to the palm of the hand.

“When the tattoo is done too close to the palm, specifically on the wrinkled part, the fine lines may not remain and the overall healing may not be good,” he told Insider. “In addition, a design that does not align with the natural wrinkles of the hand can result in a strange, unnatural appearance.”

Gatsko recommended inking wrist tattoos at least 1 inch away from the palm for best results.

Think twice about the design and the limited space available on your wrist.

Small rainbow heart tattooed on the inside of someone's wrist.Small rainbow heart tattooed on the inside of someone's wrist.

Color-block designs may last better on the wrist.yanishevska/Shutterstock

Gatsko said not all of the designs were made for the doll. It’s important to think carefully about your design options and work with your artist to find what works best.

“Selecting a design that doesn’t fit the size and shape of your wrist can also be a mistake,” she told Insider. “Some designs may not fit well into the limited space available, resulting in a messy or distorted tattoo.”

Avoid worrying too much about the veins in the area.

Tattoo artist Cassie May said that when determining the placement of your word, avoid thinking about it too much, especially if you’re a fan of wrist tattoos.

“Some clients who are new to tattoos have shared concerns about the pain or ‘dangers’ of a wrist tattoo because veins can be seen in this area,” he told Insider. “But in general, tattoos over veins are no more painful than other locations and pose no greater risk than tattoos on other parts of the body.”

But not properly preparing the skin on your wrist can affect healing.

The skin on the wrist is relatively thin compared to other parts of the body, as noted by Pierre Bustos, a tattoo artist who is coordinator of Hustle Butter Tattoo Gallery, and requires additional preparation and care before and after getting a tattoo.

“Due to the nature of the skin and the constant movement of the wrist, healing a tattoo can be a challenge. To help mitigate this problem, it is vital to properly prepare for the session,” she told Insider.

He specifically said to be careful with dry skin, as that can affect the tattoo process and final results.

When it comes to details, less is more on wrists.

Small infinity symbol tattoo on the inside of someone's wrist.Small infinity sign tattoo on the inside of someone's wrist.

Some artists recommend choosing a simple design for the doll.Ankomun711/Shutterstock

Bustos cautioned against choosing a detailed design for your doll.

“When choosing a wrist tattoo design, less detail is more,” he says. “Fine lines will spread over time, especially as the tattoo settles into the skin, so small details may be lost or blur the wrist area.”

The tattoo artist recommended opting for color block or simple designs to avoid blurring them.

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