Insider spoke with tattoo artists to learn more about common mistakes they had seen people make when getting wrist tattoos.
Avoid getting inward-facing word tattoos
Jonny Lohman, a tattoo artist who owns a tattoo studio named Boogie Boys, said to be aware of the direction you choose when getting a word or phrase tattooed on your wrist.
"If you get a tattoo on your wrist facing toward you, no one else will be able to read it," he said. "It will also be upside down whenever your hands are at your side."
It's ultimately up to the client and their preferences, but Lohman suggested giving it some thought before heading to the studio.
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Be mindful of the script you choose for words, too
Lohman told Insider that selecting the proper script for a word tattoo on your wrist could make or break its readability.
"If the script is too small, your tattoo could smear and be hard to read over time," he said. "Depending on the word, I would suggest considering a larger area on the body with more space so the script can be larger and readable."
Like words, you should also consider the direction of an image on the wrist
Jesse Smith, tattoo artist and owner of Loose Screw Tattoo, told Insider that designs should face a particular direction on the body for the best results.
"The design should always face forward while the collector is standing comfortably with their hands by their side if it is an image facing in one direction or another — e.g., a bird, a butterfly," he said.
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Smith said if an image was facing the back of the body, he'd consider that to be placed incorrectly.
Placing tattoos too close to the palm can be problematic
Anastasiia Gatsko, the owner of G Tattoo & Piercing, warned against placing wrist tattoos too close to the palm of the hand.
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"When the tattoo is done too close to the palm, specifically in the wrinkly part, fine lines may not stay, and the overall healing may not be good," she told Insider. "Additionally, a design that does not align with the natural wrinkles of the hand can result in an awkward and unnatural appearance."
Gatsko recommended inking wrist tattoos at least 1 inch away from the palm for the best results.
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Think twice about the design and the limited space available on the wrist
Gatsko said not all designs were made for the wrist. It's important to carefully think through your design choices and work with your artist to find what works best.
"Selecting a design that doesn't suit the size and shape of the wrist can also be a mistake," she told Insider. "Some designs may not translate well to the limited space available, resulting in a cluttered or distorted tattoo."
Avoid worrying too much about veins in the area
The tattoo artist Cassie May said that when determining the placement of your word, avoid overthinking it too much, especially if you're fond of wrist tattoos
"I've had some clients who are new to tattoos share concerns about the pain or 'dangers' of a wrist tattoo because you can see veins in this area," she told Insider. "But generally, tattoos over veins don't happen to be more painful than other places and pose no greater risk than tattooing elsewhere on the body."
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But not properly preparing the skin on the wrist can impact healing
The skin on the wrist is relatively thin compared to other parts of the body, as noted by Pierre Bustos, a tattoo artist who's the coordinator for Hustle Butter Tattoo Gallery, and requires additional preparation and care before and after getting a tattoo.
"Due to the skin's nature and the wrist's constant movement, healing a tattoo can be challenging. To help mitigate this issue, it is vital to prepare for the session properly," he told Insider.
He specifically said to look out for dry skinsince that can impact the tattooing process and the final results.
When it comes to detail, less is more on the wrists
Bustos cautioned against choosing a detailed design for your wrist.
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"When choosing a design for wrist tattoos, less detail is more," he said. "The fine lines will spread over time, especially as the tattoo settles into the skin, so small details can get lost or blur the wrist area."
The tattoo artist recommended opting for color-block or simple designs to avoid any blurring.
