Bzzt, Bzzt – speedy tattoos
Hello Everyone! Have you ever heard about a tattoo made within a few minutes? I’m sure you have! While it’s TECHNICALLY possible to do it fast, you need to know that it’s certainly not true for every style, every design, and not always is speed a sign of professionalism. Are you curious how we see it at Vadelma? Then this BLOG is definitely for you!
Quick & Easy
There is a specific field of tattoos that are meant to be done quickly — walk-ins in a busy TOURIST city centre, funny matching tattoos, or flash days, for example. And it is perfectly fine if the customer signs up for it with full awareness.
In my mind, it is simply a different kind of service, with different goals and a different approach. I understand that some people who want a souvenir from AMSTERDAM in the form of a tattoo, but don’t have much time or resources, might choose it. Some people genuinely like this style — which is also fine. Everyone makes their own decisions.
However, you cannot expect a fine or DETAILED project in this context. I know that nowadays everything is called “fineline”… but it isn’t. Speed is the biggest enemy of real fineline tattoos.
TikTok Videos
Social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels are designed to grab our attention. They have to be quick and right in your face, otherwise you’ll just scroll past. While there is beautiful and educational content out there, most of it simply steals our time. TV did that too in the past, but at least it wasn’t so dopamine-driven and addictive.
I read somewhere that our attention span in the so-called “developed” world has decreased by half over the last few years. For many people, everything is boring and everything feels too long. And this has consequences in the tattoo industry as well.
But ask yourself: would you like to go to a dentist who is addicted to TikTok and can’t focus for longer than one minute? I’m sure you wouldn’t! A well-made tattoo takes time, and even ten years ago everyone understood that. Nowadays, many people under the age of 25 expect a tattoo to take five minutes, because that’s what they saw online. I don’t want to be cruel and comment on what kind of tattoos those are… but anyway.
Hope for the Future
As always, I’m optimistic. Humanity somehow always finds its way back to better ways of living. I believe it will be the same with tattoos.
Tattooers who were focused on providing fast, low-quality service are slowly disappearing, and those who have been mastering the craft — instead of mastering the craft of being a social-media guru — are growing. If you think about the fact that grabbing a tattoo machine is the quickest way to be called an “artist,” maybe things make more sense?
What if many people started tattooing only for that feeling? And we lived in a time where everything was considered art and no one asked critical questions? Contemporary art has always been difficult for me, but tattoos are for a lifetime. Neither I nor Natalie will ever risk doing something “funky” just to find out that the style won’t be trendy in four years.
That’s why we base our approach on the ancient values of craftsmanship, precision, and widely understood concepts of beauty — like flowers for examples. I believe it’s a good way of making tattoos.
Thank you for today!
I’m glad you read this article. I’m curious — what are your thoughts about it? Maybe we will talk more during your long tattoo session at Vadelma Tattoo?
Much love,
Simon
Hello Everyone! Have you ever heard about a tattoo made within a few minutes? I’m sure you have! While it’s TECHNICALLY possible to do it fast, you need to know that it’s certainly not true for every style, every design, and not always is speed a sign of professionalism. Are you curious how we see it at Vadelma? Then this BLOG is definitely for you!
Quick & Easy
There is a specific field of tattoos that are meant to be done quickly — walk-ins in a busy TOURIST city centre, funny matching tattoos, or flash days, for example. And it is perfectly fine if the customer signs up for it with full awareness.
In my mind, it is simply a different kind of service, with different goals and a different approach. I understand that some people who want a souvenir from AMSTERDAM in the form of a tattoo, but don’t have much time or resources, might choose it. Some people genuinely like this style — which is also fine. Everyone makes their own decisions.
However, you cannot expect a fine or DETAILED project in this context. I know that nowadays everything is called “fineline”… but it isn’t. Speed is the biggest enemy of real fineline tattoos.
TikTok Videos
Social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels are designed to grab our attention. They have to be quick and right in your face, otherwise you’ll just scroll past. While there is beautiful and educational content out there, most of it simply steals our time. TV did that too in the past, but at least it wasn’t so dopamine-driven and addictive.
I read somewhere that our attention span in the so-called “developed” world has decreased by half over the last few years. For many people, everything is boring and everything feels too long. And this has consequences in the tattoo industry as well.
But ask yourself: would you like to go to a dentist who is addicted to TikTok and can’t focus for longer than one minute? I’m sure you wouldn’t! A well-made tattoo takes time, and even ten years ago everyone understood that. Nowadays, many people under the age of 25 expect a tattoo to take five minutes, because that’s what they saw online. I don’t want to be cruel and comment on what kind of tattoos those are… but anyway.
Hope for the Future
As always, I’m optimistic. Humanity somehow always finds its way back to better ways of living. I believe it will be the same with tattoos.
Tattooers who were focused on providing fast, low-quality service are slowly disappearing, and those who have been mastering the craft — instead of mastering the craft of being a social-media guru — are growing. If you think about the fact that grabbing a tattoo machine is the quickest way to be called an “artist,” maybe things make more sense?
What if many people started tattooing only for that feeling? And we lived in a time where everything was considered art and no one asked critical questions? Contemporary art has always been difficult for me, but tattoos are for a lifetime. Neither I nor Natalie will ever risk doing something “funky” just to find out that the style won’t be trendy in four years.
That’s why we base our approach on the ancient values of craftsmanship, precision, and widely understood concepts of beauty — like flowers for examples. I believe it’s a good way of making tattoos.
Thank you for today!
I’m glad you read this article. I’m curious — what are your thoughts about it? Maybe we will talk more during your long tattoo session at Vadelma Tattoo?
Much love,
Simon
