Finger Tattoos: Why We Don’t Do Them at Vadelma Tattoo
Hello Everyone!
In today’s blog, I’ll explain the reasoning behind our FAQ number 7: “No, we do not make tattoos on fingers, feet, palms, ears, neck, etc.” Have you ever wondered why we made this decision? If so, this blog is for you! Please keep in mind that this is our opinion, valid to the art that we aim to provide for our customers.
A Tattoo Should Last a Lifetime
As part of our work ethnic at Vadelma Tattoo, our understanding of biology of skin, experience, and the lessons we’ve learned from fellow tattoo artists over the years, we took a specific aproach for finger tattoos, but not only for them. While finger and hand tattoos may seem trendy on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, have you considered how these tattoos will look after a few years? Most images showcase freshly made tattoos, but how often have you seen what they look like two or five years later? Professional tattoo artists know the limitations of certain placements, which is why we’ve created a list of areas where we don’t tattoo. Although many studios offer finger tattoos, let me share a few things to consider before getting one.
Below, I’ll focus on finger tattoos, but the same principles apply to tattoos on hands, feet, ears, and similar areas.
Design Limitations
The small, narrow surface area of fingers restricts the complexity and size of tattoo designs. Fine details often don’t hold up over time, and designs need to be simplified, potentially changing the original concept You saw online.
Fading
Finger tattoos fade quickly due to constant exposure to sunlight, water, and friction from daily activities like hand washing or wearing rings. These factors cause the ink to wear away faster than tattoos in other locations.
Smudging
The thin skin on fingers moves frequently, making the tattoo more fragile to smudging during the healing process. This can blur the lines or shading, leaving the design looking less defined, even after it has healed.
Pain
Getting a finger tattoo can be particularly painful. Fingers have very little fat and muscle, meaning the needle is closer to the bones and nerve endings. Although pain is subjective, many find finger tattoos more intense compared to other areas.
Healing Challenges
It’s difficult to avoid using your hands during the healing process, which can slow down recovery. Constant movement, exposure to water, and friction from daily tasks can lead to irritation or even infection. Proper bandaging is also tricky due to the shape and location.
Touch-ups
Finger tattoos often need more frequent touch-ups due to their exposure to daily wear and tear. Each time you add new ink, the lines become bolder, and the original fine details may be lost.
Blurring
Over time, finger tattoos can blur or spread out, losing sharpness. The delicate nature of the skin contributes to this, particularly with fine line work or in detailed designs.
Difficult Removal
Removing tattoos from fingers is more challenging than from areas with thicker skin. Laser removal may be less effective on thin skin and could require multiple sessions, which can be costly and painful.
Feet, Hands, Palms, and Ears – face similar challenges
Just like finger tattoos, tattoos on feet, hands, palms, and ears share common issues: fading, smudging, pain, healing difficulties, and the need for frequent touch-ups. Each of these areas has its own unique challenges due to varying skin thickness, movement, and sensitivity.
What About Neck Tattoos?
While neck tattoos are slightly more resilient, they still experience fading, blurring, and healing challenges due to constant movement and exposure to sunlight. They are also typically very painful, which is another reason we don’t do them at Vadelma Tattoo—we prefer not to add unnecessary suffering to the world!
I hope this blog helps you better understand our approach and why we choose not to tattoo in certain areas. When you’re considering a new tattoo idea, remember that reality can be very different from what you see online. It’s important to understand how your tattoo will age and behave over time.
Thank you for reading, and see you in the next blog!
Simon
“Tattoos that matter – for people who care”
Hello Everyone!
In today’s blog, I’ll explain the reasoning behind our FAQ number 7: “No, we do not make tattoos on fingers, feet, palms, ears, neck, etc.” Have you ever wondered why we made this decision? If so, this blog is for you! Please keep in mind that this is our opinion, valid to the art that we aim to provide for our customers.
A Tattoo Should Last a Lifetime
As part of our work ethnic at Vadelma Tattoo, our understanding of biology of skin, experience, and the lessons we’ve learned from fellow tattoo artists over the years, we took a specific aproach for finger tattoos, but not only for them. While finger and hand tattoos may seem trendy on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, have you considered how these tattoos will look after a few years? Most images showcase freshly made tattoos, but how often have you seen what they look like two or five years later? Professional tattoo artists know the limitations of certain placements, which is why we’ve created a list of areas where we don’t tattoo. Although many studios offer finger tattoos, let me share a few things to consider before getting one.
Below, I’ll focus on finger tattoos, but the same principles apply to tattoos on hands, feet, ears, and similar areas.
Design Limitations
The small, narrow surface area of fingers restricts the complexity and size of tattoo designs. Fine details often don’t hold up over time, and designs need to be simplified, potentially changing the original concept You saw online.
Fading
Finger tattoos fade quickly due to constant exposure to sunlight, water, and friction from daily activities like hand washing or wearing rings. These factors cause the ink to wear away faster than tattoos in other locations.
Smudging
The thin skin on fingers moves frequently, making the tattoo more fragile to smudging during the healing process. This can blur the lines or shading, leaving the design looking less defined, even after it has healed.
Pain
Getting a finger tattoo can be particularly painful. Fingers have very little fat and muscle, meaning the needle is closer to the bones and nerve endings. Although pain is subjective, many find finger tattoos more intense compared to other areas.
Healing Challenges
It’s difficult to avoid using your hands during the healing process, which can slow down recovery. Constant movement, exposure to water, and friction from daily tasks can lead to irritation or even infection. Proper bandaging is also tricky due to the shape and location.
Touch-ups
Finger tattoos often need more frequent touch-ups due to their exposure to daily wear and tear. Each time you add new ink, the lines become bolder, and the original fine details may be lost.
Blurring
Over time, finger tattoos can blur or spread out, losing sharpness. The delicate nature of the skin contributes to this, particularly with fine line work or in detailed designs.
Difficult Removal
Removing tattoos from fingers is more challenging than from areas with thicker skin. Laser removal may be less effective on thin skin and could require multiple sessions, which can be costly and painful.
Feet, Hands, Palms, and Ears – face similar challenges
Just like finger tattoos, tattoos on feet, hands, palms, and ears share common issues: fading, smudging, pain, healing difficulties, and the need for frequent touch-ups. Each of these areas has its own unique challenges due to varying skin thickness, movement, and sensitivity.
What About Neck Tattoos?
While neck tattoos are slightly more resilient, they still experience fading, blurring, and healing challenges due to constant movement and exposure to sunlight. They are also typically very painful, which is another reason we don’t do them at Vadelma Tattoo—we prefer not to add unnecessary suffering to the world!
I hope this blog helps you better understand our approach and why we choose not to tattoo in certain areas. When you’re considering a new tattoo idea, remember that reality can be very different from what you see online. It’s important to understand how your tattoo will age and behave over time.
Thank you for reading, and see you in the next blog!
Simon
“Tattoos that matter – for people who care”
