FINGER TATTOO FACTSHEET | setsailtattoostudio (2024)

FINGER TATTOO FACTSHEET | setsailtattoostudio (1)
FINGER TATTOO FACTSHEET | setsailtattoostudio (2)

From subtle love hearts to timeless wedding bands or hidden inside jokes, the decision to tattoo your finger involves careful consideration of various factors.

Small doesn't = painless.

What’s that? A tattoo hurts?I know what you’re thinking “they all do, I'm not put off”. Fingers are full of nerves and the skin lays right on the knuckle and the bone is so thin that it makes getting a tattoo on your finger extra nippy. Generally, there is not as much fat or muscle to cushion the sensation of the needle.

They fade & they fade fast.

The sides of your fingers and the soles of your feet regenerate ten times faster than anywhere else on your body. It’s just the body’s clever way of coping with constant usage. Every time you utilise your hands, whether it’s washing them, cleaning your hair or going into your pocket, these little acts you do every day affect the longevity of your new tattoo. When you’re up against such fast regeneration, the chances of the ink being able to remain wholly in your skin – if at all – are slim.

When freshly done the ink looks bright, legible and really good! What you'll struggle to find is the "after" photos.

Sooner or later though, because of the placement’s fast regeneration, your finger tattoo could end up looking faded or blown out.

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When considering a design, simplicity is key.

The design of your finger tattoo can directly impact the length of time it will remain in good condition. Firstly, the skin on hands and fingers is not as easy to work with as other parts of the body. This is because, thanks to our joints and knuckles, the skin here isn’t as smooth as other parts of our body.


With finger skin being so difficult to work on, artists may find it harder than usual to tattoo intricate and complex designs onto your fingers.

The nature of the skin around our fingers can cause the tattoo lines to be fuzzy, coloured ink to be less vivid, and darker ink to look more faded. With that in mind, you may want to consider a simple design for your finger tattoo.


Basic designs, like single letters, simple symbols or extremely basic outlines, tend to work much better on the skin around the fingers.

Anything with small and intricate details is more likely to bleed or blow-out and require more frequent touch-ups. Your tattoo artist will be able to give you some great advice about a design that will hold up well on your fingers.

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Even with a highly skilled artist and perfect aftercare, it's a lottery on how your finger tattoo may heal. For heavily tattooed people, it's generally not a problem as they're just happy to be tattooed in the remaining spaces they have but for most clients, with a desired, polished aesthetic in mind, there is an unpredictability on how it may heal and how it may affect your attitude towards the artist or studio who done it.

Of course, there are some people who manage to attain a lovely-looking finger tattoo with no drama. But unfortunately, even the lucky ones will at some point fall prey to fading like the rest of us. The skin will eventually age and regenerate, pushing out ink and begin to fade.

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Noticeable blow-out at the "e" an "n". Blueish hue from the ink bleeding out in the thin skin of a finger.


With all this in mind, we’re sure you understand why certain artists may refuse or advise against certain tattoo placements.

Each of the artists at Set Sail Tattoo Studio,
and the artists at your local studio want the best for your tattoo.

On the flip side, I suppose, we could slap any old stencil on and take your money without a second thought of how your tattoo is going to heal but we’re not like that. Not at all.

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One month of a difference. Source: Reddit

Thanks for reading.
If this helped, let us know!

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FINGER TATTOO FACTSHEET | setsailtattoostudio (2024)

FAQs

FINGER TATTOO FACTSHEET | setsailtattoostudio? ›

Basic designs, like single letters, simple symbols or extremely basic outlines, tend to work much better on the skin around the fingers. Anything with small and intricate details is more likely to bleed or blow-out and require more frequent touch-ups.

What to know about finger tattoos? ›

Finger tattoos are more prone to fading due to the constant use of hands and exposure to the elements. Touch-ups may be necessary every few years to maintain the tattoo's appearance. Discuss touch-up options and pricing with your tattoo artist, as some may offer discounted or complimentary touch-ups for their work.

Why don t tattoo artists do finger tattoos? ›

Most of the time with a finger tattoo you'll loose at least half, if not all, of the ink in the tattoo making it look unfinished, poorly done, or like you never had a tattoo there(see picture above for example).

How hard is it to tattoo fingers? ›

Rosa Bluestone Perr, the founder and artist behind Bluestone Babe hand-poke tattoos, explains, “Finger tattoos are challenging because the skin on our hands is constantly in motion. We use our hands so much, wash our hands so much (now more than ever), that the ink fades fast.

How big is a $500 tattoo? ›

BASIC TATTOO COSTS
TYPESIZECOST
Small Tattoos2-4 inches$50 - $250
Medium Sized Tattoos4-6 inches$150 - $450
Large Single-Piece Tattoos4-6 inches$500 - $5,000
Large Sleeves (arms, back, legs)N/A$650 - $8,000
1 more row
Jan 29, 2022

How to avoid finger tattoo blowout? ›

Make sure you're cleaning your tattoo twice a day and keeping it moist until it's fully healed, at least two weeks. It's also important to avoid scratching the area, according to Nesheva. “Avoid stretching and pulling the tattooed skin,” says Nesheva.

How badly do finger tattoos hurt? ›

While trendy, know that hand and finger tattoos can be quite painful with the thin skin texture and bony nature of these areas. The outer finger or back of your hands will be the most painful regions to get tattooed. Across genders, hand and finger tattoos typically rate at an 8/10 on the pain scale.

Why don't finger tattoos last? ›

They're constantly in motion, and they're always exposed to the elements. If you don't do anything to protect your hands, your finger tattoo will fade much faster. If you take really good care of your finger tattoo, it will look a lot nicer for a lot longer.

How much do finger tattoos cost? ›

Finger or hand tattoos can start as low as $50 for basic designs and go up to $300 for more intricate ones. Most people don't spend a lot on finger tattoos since they tend to fade quickly.

How deep should you go when tattooing fingers? ›

About 1/16th of an inch into the skin. Not so scary, right? The tattoo machine's needle aims to deposit the ink in a region of 1.5 millimeters to 2 millimeters below the surface of the skin.

Is $250 an hour a lot for a tattoo? ›

HOURLY RATE vs.

Artists charge anywhere between $50-$400 per hour, with most somewhere between $100-250 per hour. Some charge a flat rate per piece. In this case, your artist will usually provide a cost estimate based on the size and details of your custom design.

How big is a 5 hour tattoo? ›

Tattoo Size Chart
SizeHoursBest Placement
2-3 inches2-5Ankle, calf, wrist, upper arm
3-4 inches4-5Lower arm, neck, chest
4-5 inches5-8Thigh, lower back, shoulders
5-7 inches8-11Upper back, half-sleeves
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May 12, 2022

How big is a $1,500 tattoo? ›

A standard-size hip or thigh tattoo (about 12 inches in length) will run you about $500 for outline only, or anywhere from $1500 to $2000 for full color.

How long do finger tattoos last? ›

If you thought that a finger tattoo will last you a lifetime, you couldn't be more wrong. Finger tattoos last, on average, between six and eight months. In some cases, they can last a month or two longer, if you're really careful about what you're doing with your hands.

How to stop finger tattoos from fading? ›

Stay out of the sun. You might think your fingers are safe from the sun, but unfortunately they're not. Even a few minutes of UV exposure can fade, crack, and/or blister your tattoo, so be sure to cover your tattoo with plenty of sunscreen.

Do finger tattoos crack? ›

After receiving a new tattoo, your epidermis will undergo the regular steps of oozing, itching and peeling/scabbing. Typically, tattoo cracking isn't a major cause for concern, it's an entirely normal part of the scabbing process, new skin is forming above the ink, turning into a scab and peeling away.

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