Where should you not get a tattoo?

Author: Enola Green  |  Last update: Sunday, December 14, 2025

So what are the worst places to get a tattoo on the body? Areas like the feet, hands, stomach, chest, elbow, lips, and inner ear are not good tattoo locations. It's essential to consider a few things when choosing a proper placement, such as pain intensity, practicality, and visibility.

Where shouldn't you tattoo?

Tattoos should not be placed on the feet, hands, stomach, chest, elbow, lips, or inner ear. When picking an appropriate placement, it's important to think about aspects like pain severity, practicality, and visibility. With the earliest specimens reaching back to 6000 BC, tattoos are the oldest type of body art.

Where can you not get tattooed?

  • Hands and Fingers : Tattoos in these areas can fade quickly due to frequent washing and exposure. They are also more prone to blurring over time.
  • Feet and Ankles : These areas have less flesh and more bone, making them painful to tattoo.
  • Neck and Face : Tattoos here are highly visible and can affect personal and pr

Where not to get your first tattoo?

There are however bad spots for your 1st tattoo. You will want to avoid the tender spots: they vary a little from person to person, but the ribs, the tops of feet and hands, shins, inside bicep, underarms, the boney part of the chest, and the scalp are the spots most often complained about as painful.

What part of the body can you not tattoo?

You should avoid: stomach, lower back, and may want to avoid thighs, and chest if you are a woman. Lower legs, arms, hands, feet , neck and shoulders can all be decent places to get tattoos that won't be too affected by weight gain unless you put on a lot of weight or it fluctuates like mad.

Tattoo Dos and Don'ts with Jon Mesa | INKED

What are basic tattoos to avoid?

If you don't want to regret your body art, read this list of tattoos that you should never get.
  • White Ink Tattoos. White ink tattoos are the latest trend. ...
  • Face Tattoos. ...
  • Partner's Name. ...
  • A Cheap Tattoo. ...
  • Any Tattoo While Intoxicated. ...
  • An Offensive Tattoo. ...
  • What to Do If You Don't Like Your Tattoo.

When shouldn't you get a tattoo?

If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, a weak immune system, or a bleeding problem, talk to your doctor before getting a tattoo. Also, if you get keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue) you probably should not get a tattoo.

Where should a woman get her first tattoo?

What part of your body are you getting the tattoo on? If it's your first time, you should take it easy and choose a less painful tattoo placement—anywhere that isn't too boney or sensitive. Thighs and outer biceps are generally less painful. Choose a less painful placement.

Where do tattoos age the least?

Tattoo Placements That Age Well

If you're scouting for tattoos for older people, consider a tattoo placement that ages like fine wine. The upper arm, back, and chest are prime real estate. These areas usually face less environmental wear and tear.

What state has no tattoo laws?

Almost every state have laws addressing some aspect of body art. (Nevada has no laws addressing body art; Maryland has very limited laws). At least 45 states have laws prohibiting minors from getting tattoos.

What tattoos are frowned upon?

Face tattoos are among the most frowned upon in professional settings, but for Native cultures like the Tongva here in California, face tattoos are a great honor, earned through achievement or a rise in status.

What is tattoo pain comparable to?

How bad do tattoos hurt? There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how much pain you'll feel when getting tattooed. But if you're wondering what type of pain to expect, Caranfa says the experience is comparable to the feeling of a cat scratch or a sunburn.

Where are tattoos most attractive?

5 Most attractive tattoo placements for men and women :
  • Collarbone tattoo.
  • Triceps tattoo.
  • Ribs tattoo.
  • Back neck tattoo.
  • Side wrist tattoo.

What not to say when getting a tattoo?

Here's some of the things you may want to avoid saying or asking:
  1. “Can you go any faster?” – If you want a crappy tattoo, maybe.
  2. “If I don't like it, can I get a refund?” – No, sorry. ...
  3. “I've only had a few drinks before I came in.” – Well, I guess you're not getting your tattoo then.

Where can you not get a tattoo?

Head, face, and neck tattoos are illegal.

What is the most feminine spot for a tattoo?

Some placements, like along the thigh as seen here, seem to be more popular with women getting tattooed, which gives them a “feminine” reputation. “I suppose the most common areas I get requested by women are on the wrist, ribcage, sternum, spine, tricep, hip, and top of the forearm,” says Ruiz.

How much to tip a tattoo artist?

As with tipping waitstaff, 20-25% percent is a good standard. An easy way to include tipping in your budget is to add it in when getting the estimated costs for having your work done. So, if your tattoo is expected to cost $200, with a 20-percent tip, that's $240.

Where is the least painful place to get a tattoo on a woman?

The least painful places for a woman to get a tattoo are areas with less nerve endings and thicker skin like the outside of your shoulders or the outside of your upper thighs.

Is getting a tattoo a sin?

So is Getting a Tattoo a Sin? It depends. Revisiting 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is a great reminder when considering a tattoo: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

How bad are stomach tattoos?

Also, stomach tattoos can be quite painful. The skin in this area is very sensitive, and getting a tattoo here can be quite uncomfortable. Finally, you should be prepared for the possibility that your stomach tattoo may not look quite as perfect as you'd like it to.

At what age is it too late to get a tattoo?

As tattoos continue to transcend generational boundaries, they serve as powerful symbols of resilience, individuality, and the beauty of life's journey. Whether you're 25 or 85, tattoos are a canvas to celebrate who you are and what you've experienced—a permanent reminder that every mark tells a story worth sharing.

What should you avoid getting a tattoo?

Keep the tattooed area out of the sun until it heals. Don't go swimming. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while the tattoo is healing. Choose clothing carefully.

Is black tattoo ink toxic?

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of chemicals which are known carcinogens, was found in a fifth of the samples tested and in 83% of the black inks tested by NICNAS. Other hazardous components included barium, copper, mercury, amines and various colourants.

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