It should come as no surprise that the answer is – it depends. On a number of factors, such as size, placement, colour, technique, pain tolerance of the person getting a tattoo, and skill of the artist. Of course, how long a tattoo will take also influences how much it will cost, as most studios and artists charge by the hour, after a minimum fee. Scheduling a tattoo is actually a complex procedure, which is why it is almost always better to book a full-day session if you are getting a bigger piece, leaving you and your artist ample room to accommodate things such as design changes and placement tweaks.
Size does matter
That being said, a general guideline could be that a small, simple, ‘straightforward’ tattoo about the size of half a thumb could take about an hour. Working our way up to a large back piece, it would probably not be done in a day and would require several sittings.
The same is true for a full arm or leg sleeve. You may need as many as five or more full-day sessions (of course taking into account that your artist – and you – will need to take breaks throughout). But remember, it is the quality of the work you are paying for, not the speed of the needle, and artists work at different output capacities.
The same goes for the person getting a tattoo. We all have different pain thresholds, and some areas will be trickier than others. Some may need to take more frequent pauses than others, whereas some may prefer to bite down and get it over and done with. Patience and dedication go a long way when considering larger pieces.
Some people may also decide that they actually prefer to get it done in smaller time increments, coming back to the studio more frequently for half days rather than getting under the needle for a full day.
Investing time in the details
As you will be spending a lot of time in each other’s company for such a project, it is important to go with an artist with whom you feel comfortable. Likewise, you want to take a little care to make their work environment and creative experience as enjoyable as possible.
Adding colour will mean that the piece will take longer than if it is done in black and grey. Portrait tattoos that naturally have a lot of minute details and shading will take much longer than an Old School piece with bold lines and primary colours.
Overall, when planning for a tattoo, even though you may want to get one now now now and preferably yesterday (we totally get it) it is always better to save up for a little longer to have a little more leeway when it comes to both motive and scheduling. You never want a tattoo to feel like it has been rushed, and if you count the money as in time you will actually spend having the tattoo on your skin, it’s not exactly an expensive hourly rate…
A small, simple quarter-sized tattoo could take an hour, whereas a large backpiece could take seven or 10. Size matters in this equation, and it's important to remember that time is also money. The longer it takes to finish, the more your piece will cost.
Getting a new tattoo can take anywhere from a few hours to a few months. In some cases they can take over a year. Each session is typically 4-6 hours. How long your tattoo takes depends on size, complexity, care, and artist skill.
That being said, a general guideline could be that a small, simple, 'straightforward' tattoo about the size of half a thumb could take about an hour. Working our way up to a large back piece, it would probably not be done in a day and would require several sittings. The same is true for a full arm or leg sleeve.
How long does it take to become a tattoo artist, you might ask? Usually, it takes around three years, if not longer. This time period is necessary for you to build the skill you need to become a professional tattoo artist. That way, you can be confident in your skills, and you won't make any mistakes.
Your skin is a living organ, so when you're getting a tattoo, it's like you're letting your body soak up the ink. For this reason, tattoos may fade dramatically in the first few days.
It also means a different recovery than with other designs. “Depending on the client, their pain threshold, and the piece, the tattoo could take anywhere from 1 session to 3 back-to-back sessions,” Roxx says.
Back - since the skin there is thicker and there's a lot of surface area to work with, too. Forearms - this is a good spot thanks to a nice amount of muscle and thicker skin. Calves - ditto, just like forearms, so also, a good choice. Outer bicep - less nerve endings, more muscle, less pain.
The most common way to tip a tattoo artist is to tip a percentage of the total cost of the tattoo. Many people tip about 20% of the overall price to show some extra love to their tattoo artist, especially if they invested a considerable amount of time and effort into your tattoo work.
Those who identify as Three Percenters sometimes hold up three fingers (the “o*k” sign) to signal their affiliation with and allegiance to this antigovernment extremist belief. They also show their affiliation with the movement by displaying tattoos, clothing and stickers with Three Percent symbols on them.
Most folks agree getting tattooed hurts, but factors like pain tolerance and the body part being tattooed can affect your experience. Getting a tattoo involves piercing your skin repeatedly with a super sharp needle – so it makes sense that it tends to hurt.
A tattoo is VERY bright when it is first completed but during the healing process, it starts to look discolored and dull. Don't worry, when the tattoo is finished healing, the color will come back.
After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin (the part you can see) will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks. While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal.
Although the experience is different for everyone—depending on factors like pain tolerance (which may be lower around your period1), the tattooist's skill, the needles used, and the tattoo's placement, some level of pain is to be expected.
Most artists recommend waiting at least 24 hours after your tattoo to change the sheet, but you might need to change it sooner if it starts leaking or the ink sack gets unmanageably big. Give your artist a call if you aren't sure what to do. Don't pop the ink sack.
"Overdoing the amount of tattoos may be putting the body through too much to get a nice, simple heal," adds Lauren. "I won't do more than three tattoos in a day as I think it can make the healing harder and therefore more likely to run into issues.
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