From size to location, there's a lot that goes into picking where you get your next ink.
So you're all ready to get your next (or first) tattoo. You picked out the design. You think you know where you want it. You saved up some money and put down a deposit with an artist you really like. By all accounts, you're ready.
But when you walk into the shop on the day of your appointment, the artist suggests moving the tattoo a bit. Maybe the artist says it won't fit in that area or flow with the body. Maybe the artist thinks the subject matter is better suited for a different area or that you should start your collection elsewhere on your body. Regardless of reasoning, the two of you just aren't on the same page as to where this work of art is going.
It happens all the time, and it can be a very flustering and disappointing experience, so here's a little primer just in case it happens to you.
Know the Style
When it comes to placement, not all tattoos are created equal. Traditional Japanese tattoos tend to visually line up to tell a story, and even more traditional forms of tattooing (like the Polynesian tatau) can change in meaning depending on where you get it. You wouldn't want to move either of those out of place, just like you wouldn't move a more modern biomechanical piece for fear that the gears and wiring wouldn't line up with spots on your body that make sense. Realistic tattoos can be thrown off in curved parts of the body simply due to how the skin wraps, but American traditional and neotraditional tattoos will probably look fine almost regardless of where they're slapped on. Just because one style looks good somewhere doesn't mean they all will.
Think About Visibility
It might seem cool to get a hand tattoo when you're 18, but there's a reason they're called "job-killers" in the industry. Before you get a tattoo you can't easily cover, consider the fact that everyone is going to be able to see it. From your grandma to your church pastor (or whoever you're trying to be good for), getting a highly visible tattoo is a commitment to being tattooed for the rest of your life (or paying for painful and expensive laser surgery). On the flip side, that ink on your butt cheek is going to be rather hard to show off in public when you're proud of it, and the little banger you got on the inside of your bottom lip will be gone in a very short amount of time (your feet can fade fast too, but not nearly as fast as those dumb lip tattoos). If your tattooer suggests moving it to a less visible location, take the advice of someone who (hopefully) has been heavily tattooed for a long time.
Bigger is (Usually) Better
When an artist wants to make your design a little bigger than you thought you wanted it, it's not just to make more money off of their hourly rate. Tattoo ink spreads over time, so that ornate dime-sized tattoo you have is going to be a blur of a nickel in less time than you'd expect. Making a tattoo bigger means the tattooer can add more detail and make it clearer, which are both good ways to get a much better tattoo. Unless you're getting a really simple design or truly set on getting something minuscule, it's almost always better to err on the (larger) side of caution.
Consider the Context
If you want to get a bloody skull in the middle of your cute back piece dedicated to your mom, that's your prerogative. But it'll look like it flows a lot better if it's all (roughly) the same style. It's also important to keep in mind how a piece will look with certain clothes on. If you don't want tattoos visible when you're wearing a backless wedding dress or ballgown, save yourself the back makeup and just get pieces on your sides, limbs and the front of your torso. In the same vein, a super awesome thigh piece can look ridiculous and/or obscene depending on where shorts cut it off, so if you're not a fan of wearing jeans all the time, it's something to consider.
Trust Your Artist
When your artist says something will look better in another way or at a different size/location, it's probably best you take their word for it. Consider it this way: Even if you're covered from head to toe, they've (hopefully) done more tattoos than you've received. Odds are they do more tattoos in a week or two than you've ever gotten. You may feel like an expert from your time watching Ink Master, but they're probably way more informed than you'll ever be. Remember, it's actually their job.
