According to artists, the Best and Worst Types of Tattoos To Get

• Tattoo artists shared which designs they enjoy tattooing and which ones they don’t.
• Artists love to have blackwork and Mandala tattoos.
• Smaller designs may become blurry and can cause a poor appearance over time.

Tattoo artists can ink thousands of designs during their career, so it’s not surprising that they have their own opinions and preferences about body art.

These are the top tattoo artists’ picks for ink, and some designs they wish clients would give up on.

It can be fun and exciting to get big statement tattoos

Stephan Hipwell is a tattoo artist and the owner of Goodbye HorsesInsider spoke to a Norwich studio about his passion for giving customers bold and striking tattoos.

“One of my favorite things to ink are big pieces that are really vibrant and have an impactful design,”Hipwell stated. “I find statement pieces that cover large areas of the body really pleasing.”

It is important to remember that larger statement tattoos can require more sessions than smaller ones and may result in a higher cost.

Traditional blackwork tattoos look great and are very eye-catching.

Josh Hall, tattooer, and owner of Lamar Street Tattoo ClubInsider, Dallas, Texas: He loves inking designs with black lines.

“I love doing tattoos with bold, strong, clean lines,”Hall stated. “Currently, I’m really enjoying doing traditional blackwork designs.”

Although blackwork body art lacks vivid color, it uses dark ink and neg space to create complex patterns and images.

A minimalist tattoo can look very pleasing.

Alicia Hough, a former tattoo artist who is now a wellness expert The Product AnalystInsider was told by, that she enjoys inking minimalist designs.

“Minimalist tattoos look clean and cool on the skin, and for me, they’re more satisfying than doing huge ones,”Hough stated.

Hough said that she loves inking paper planes and daisies as well as celestial bodies among other forms of art.

For flattering and beautiful pieces, Mandala and Geometric designs are great options.

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Ashkon, an artist Club TattooInsider spoke to at The Venetian Las Vegas, Nevada. He said that mandala-patterned ink designs are fun to give and look great.

“I really enjoy giving clients tattoos that incorporate mandalas or other geometric types of designs,”Ashkon stated.

Mandalas are geometric patterns that are tied to Hindu, Buddhist and Jainist traditions. They can be used for various spiritual purposes such as guiding meditation and representing deities.

One artist stated that she enjoys tattooing scalps

Hannah Maruyama is a medical-tattoo artist. Yama StudiosInsider heard from Hawaii that she loves giving scalp tattoos to people with thin hair.

“Creating a new hairline gives someone such a new lease on life,” Maruyama said. “It’s hours of work, but seeing them laugh in disbelief when they see their reflection is awesome.”

Medical tattooists specialize in designing designs that hide medical procedures. They also recreate or enhance features such as hair color, areolae fingernails and lip color.

Phoenix tattoos are bold and beautiful

A mythological bird, the phoenix (or phoenix) is one that is often referred to as a mythological animal. It is believed to periodically burst into flames and then reborn from its own ashes.

“Phoenix tattoos are a big hit with our clients because the design beautifully fits everyone,”Hough stated. “Tattoos with gradient hues … are eye-catching and feel alive.”

Clients who are drawn to the idea of a colorful tattoo made from birds such as peacocks or parrots may also choose these avian options.

Design with a small font can make things look blurry.

Although tattoos with thin, blurred text might look appealing at first glance, Hall explained to Insider that he discourages clients from getting body art with small words.

“Tiny fonts in small spaces often won’t look remotely the same after a few years,”Hall said. “The delicate text can end up as a blurry blob.”

You can incorporate words into your tattoo design by choosing larger letters. This will reduce blurring.

Consult with a professional to determine the best spot to ink. Some parts of the body might show tattoo aging more quickly than others.

Many artists do not want to tattoo trendy designs.

Although it’s not unusual for someone looking for a tattoo to search for images and options online, Hipwell said that it can make tattoo artists cringe when they are asked for trendy designs.

“I wish clients would stop asking for ‘in’ tattoos,”Hipwell stated. “It’s annoying when people just want fashionable designs rather than expressing themselves.”

It’s helpful to take pictures of your tattoos for reference. However, you should consider how the tattoo will be personalized to you.

Tattoos of the heart and skull can be interpreted in a variety of ways

Although skulls and hearts are very popular tattoo designs, Hough stated that she doesn’t think they’re appropriate for everyone.

“I really don’t like giving clients heart and skull tattoos,”Hough stated. “They tend to look very generic and mainstream.”

Hough advised that you select a design that fits the area of your body and is unique to you.

Often, tattooed winged liner doesn’t last the test of time.

People who want to save time or enhance certain features of their skin often request tattooed makeup.

Maruyama however stated that certain types of permanent makeup could be dangerous.

“I hate tattooing heavy winged eyeliner,” Maruyama said. “It doesn’t age very well, and I don’t like putting tattoos on people that won’t age well.”

It might be worthwhile to invest in cosmetic options such as eyebrow microblading and a lip blush. They are much less dramatic but still save time in the morning.

Some artists become bored with tattoos in tribal style.

The popularity of tribal-style tattoos grew in the late 1990s, early 2000s. However, Ashkon explained to Insider that tattoo artists don’t always have fun inking tribal-style designs.

“I don’t like giving tribal tattoos,”Ashkon stated. “They look dated and they’re actually boring to do.”

You should research this type of inking if you’re considering it. It can be a very ancient style that dates back thousands years.