Why some projects needs more than one session?
Hello Everyone! In today’s blog, I’ll be writing about a very important topic that covers some of the nuances of our profession. As a customer, you will benefit from understanding why certain processes work the way they do. Every craft has its own rules, and tattooing is no different. To achieve a well-done, beautiful tattoo, it’s crucial to follow these rules. Simply finishing a tattoo is not a virtue if the artistic and health aspects are ignored.
Are you curious why some projects might need more than one session? What impacts the tattooing process, and how can you make wise decisions when getting a tattoo? Let’s dive in!
First (the most obvious one): Complex designs require more work.
Here, I’d like to emphasize that “complex” doesn’t always mean “bigger”—in fact, sometimes the opposite is true. Let’s think about handmade Swiss watches. They are small! The mechanism inside is even smaller, but does that make them easy to assemble? Most famous companies like Patek Philippe (fun fact: the co-founder of this company was a Polish man named Antoni Patek) spend several months crafting a single watch.
That’s why it’s important to first notice the level of detail, craftsmanship, and design before judging a tattoo. There are many tattoo styles, and one cannot simply be compared to another. Nor is one necessarily superior to the other, as long as they’re done professionally.
In one of my previous blogs, I discussed whether simplistic, child-like tattoos or abstract designs are truly representative of the artist’s call or simply a sign of lacking skills. I highly recommend checking it out:
https://vadelma.eu/blog/changing-standards-of-quality/
At Vadelma Tattoo, we specialize in detailed floral tattoos and lettering. However, even within the genre of “fine line” tattoos, there are many ways to approach the craft. For example, Natalie is very accurate in her work, taking care of every detail. As you can see in her portfolio, even the smallest leaves are created with a great deal of thoughtfulness. We love this approach, and so do our clients. It’s for people who want a piece of art, not just a tattoo for the sake of having one.
But to achieve that level, it’s not always possible to finish an entire arm in one sitting. Since when did speed become the mark of a great artist? All the best tattooers I’ve had the privilege of meeting have always prioritized quality over speed. That doesn’t mean being slow, but rather being precise. Working with skin requires understanding how it reacts—and this brings us to the second point.
Skin Limitations
On average, people can tolerate up to 6 hours of tattooing in one sitting. That gives us around 7 hours total, including breaks and preparation. And even that’s a lot—for both the client and the tattooer! From our experience, longer sessions are usually counterproductive. When you push past 6 hours, people start getting fatigued, and the quality of the tattoo could suffer. Would you really want the last 20% of your tattoo—the part that will stay with you for the rest of your life—to be done poorly?
If you’re planning to get a large piece, please don’t try to save a few euros by forcing the tattoo artist to finish it in one sitting. That’s one of the worst things you can do. In the long run, no one will remember a few extra coins here or there, but everyone will remember if the tattoo wasn’t done well.
That’s why more complex, larger tattoos often require multiple sessions. When the skin gets tired, there’s a risk of overworking it. This can cause more pain, extend the healing process, and increase the risk of complications. It’s simply not worth it. An experienced tattoo artist can tell when the skin has had enough for the day, and at that point, it’s best to stop and schedule a follow-up session.
The Third Point: Every Client is Different.
Each person is unique. While I mentioned that 6 hours of tattooing is the average, sometimes 4 hours is the maximum for certain individuals—and that’s perfectly fine! There’s no shame in knowing your limits. Some areas of the body are more painful than others, and some people are so excited about getting tattooed that they tire out faster.
No worries—just communicate with your tattoo artist if you feel like you’ve had enough for one sitting. It’s always possible to stop and continue at a later date. Of course, if your artist says that only 10 minutes are left, it’s probably worth sticking it out. But otherwise, it’s okay to take a break and return for a second session. Remember, this tattoo will be with you for life, so let’s make sure it’s done right!
And don’t worry—we’re here to guide you through the entire process!
Thank You for Your Time!
Simon
Hello Everyone! In today’s blog, I’ll be writing about a very important topic that covers some of the nuances of our profession. As a customer, you will benefit from understanding why certain processes work the way they do. Every craft has its own rules, and tattooing is no different. To achieve a well-done, beautiful tattoo, it’s crucial to follow these rules. Simply finishing a tattoo is not a virtue if the artistic and health aspects are ignored.
Are you curious why some projects might need more than one session? What impacts the tattooing process, and how can you make wise decisions when getting a tattoo? Let’s dive in!
First (the most obvious one): Complex designs require more work.
Here, I’d like to emphasize that “complex” doesn’t always mean “bigger”—in fact, sometimes the opposite is true. Let’s think about handmade Swiss watches. They are small! The mechanism inside is even smaller, but does that make them easy to assemble? Most famous companies like Patek Philippe (fun fact: the co-founder of this company was a Polish man named Antoni Patek) spend several months crafting a single watch.
That’s why it’s important to first notice the level of detail, craftsmanship, and design before judging a tattoo. There are many tattoo styles, and one cannot simply be compared to another. Nor is one necessarily superior to the other, as long as they’re done professionally.
In one of my previous blogs, I discussed whether simplistic, child-like tattoos or abstract designs are truly representative of the artist’s call or simply a sign of lacking skills. I highly recommend checking it out:
https://vadelma.eu/blog/changing-standards-of-quality/
At Vadelma Tattoo, we specialize in detailed floral tattoos and lettering. However, even within the genre of “fine line” tattoos, there are many ways to approach the craft. For example, Natalie is very accurate in her work, taking care of every detail. As you can see in her portfolio, even the smallest leaves are created with a great deal of thoughtfulness. We love this approach, and so do our clients. It’s for people who want a piece of art, not just a tattoo for the sake of having one.
But to achieve that level, it’s not always possible to finish an entire arm in one sitting. Since when did speed become the mark of a great artist? All the best tattooers I’ve had the privilege of meeting have always prioritized quality over speed. That doesn’t mean being slow, but rather being precise. Working with skin requires understanding how it reacts—and this brings us to the second point.
Skin Limitations
On average, people can tolerate up to 6 hours of tattooing in one sitting. That gives us around 7 hours total, including breaks and preparation. And even that’s a lot—for both the client and the tattooer! From our experience, longer sessions are usually counterproductive. When you push past 6 hours, people start getting fatigued, and the quality of the tattoo could suffer. Would you really want the last 20% of your tattoo—the part that will stay with you for the rest of your life—to be done poorly?
If you’re planning to get a large piece, please don’t try to save a few euros by forcing the tattoo artist to finish it in one sitting. That’s one of the worst things you can do. In the long run, no one will remember a few extra coins here or there, but everyone will remember if the tattoo wasn’t done well.
That’s why more complex, larger tattoos often require multiple sessions. When the skin gets tired, there’s a risk of overworking it. This can cause more pain, extend the healing process, and increase the risk of complications. It’s simply not worth it. An experienced tattoo artist can tell when the skin has had enough for the day, and at that point, it’s best to stop and schedule a follow-up session.
The Third Point: Every Client is Different.
Each person is unique. While I mentioned that 6 hours of tattooing is the average, sometimes 4 hours is the maximum for certain individuals—and that’s perfectly fine! There’s no shame in knowing your limits. Some areas of the body are more painful than others, and some people are so excited about getting tattooed that they tire out faster.
No worries—just communicate with your tattoo artist if you feel like you’ve had enough for one sitting. It’s always possible to stop and continue at a later date. Of course, if your artist says that only 10 minutes are left, it’s probably worth sticking it out. But otherwise, it’s okay to take a break and return for a second session. Remember, this tattoo will be with you for life, so let’s make sure it’s done right!
And don’t worry—we’re here to guide you through the entire process!
Thank You for Your Time!
Simon
