Expect about half an hour to an hour for a simple, small tattoo. Keep in mind, however, a small tattoo with lots of color, line work, details, or a tricky placement could take several hours. Small tattoos are great for people who don't want to go through a lengthy tattoo process, but still want some cool ink.
Palm-sized tattoo would take from one to three hours to make. Hand sized tattoo can take up to 5 hours to make. Full sleeve tattoo can take 6-10 hours to make. Very large tattoos, such as a back piece, can take up to 30 hours to make.
Things that affect the duration of the tattoo session
The bigger the tattoo, the more time it needs to be done. But on average tattoos need around 5 hours to be completely done. Of course, this time may vary but there are some things that affect it most of all. Here they are.
Bigger tattoos can take more than one session to complete.
A bigger design with a lot of detail or color might take two sessions, while an entire sleeve could take months (and hundreds to thousands of dollars) to finish. On the other hand, a simple tattoo, like a small black star, should only take about 5 minutes.
Drink a lot of water during the week; avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before getting tattooed. Please do not shave the area; we will do it for you at your appointment. Avoid aspirin or blood thinning medication at least 24 hours before your tattoo; ibuprofen, acetaminophen, & other NSAID pain relievers are OK.
Aside from the celebrity trend, part of the appeal of small, fine line tattoos is that they are quick to do and easy to hide. Melbourne-based artist Zoe Clues says a small simple design can take 15 to 30 minutes to complete, as opposed to a larger full colour piece, for example, which can take hours.
Getting a tattoo is often compared to a cat repeatedly scratching you. Though it's not the most intense pain ever, it might make you wanna hiss – especially if your artist uses multiple needles, like when shading. This also tends to happen away from bony or ultra-sensitive areas.
The size of your tattoo and where on your body it is will impact how painful the tattoo process is, says Roman. In general, tiny tattoos or fine line tattoos on fleshier parts of your body will hurt the least.
Ink naturally spreads in the body over time, so a tattoo that's too small will likely blur together as the skin ages. Your artist should suggest the best size for the integrity of the tattoo. In general, you should take into account your artist's suggestions, but always speak up if you have any questions or concerns.
A new tattoo depending on size, can take anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours. Make sure you are able to remain calm & still as much as possible during the process.
Hourly. On average, tattoo artists charge $100 to $250 an hour, although in certain cases, high-profile tattoo artists charge more.
Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don't put on another bandage. Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean it to keep it moist.
As appealing as they may seem on social media, many high class tattoo artists share the opinion that micro tattoos are not built to last. These delicate designs are highly susceptible to fading or patchiness, running the risk of completely fading under certain conditions.
"ALL tattoos bleed out over time," writes @fleshtattoos905.
Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while your tattoo is healing. Choose clothing carefully. Don't wear anything that might stick to the tattoo. Allow up to 2 weeks for healing.
Eat right before your appointment — your pain tolerance is highest, and you're calmer and less twitchy. After more than a couple of hours since eating, it hurts more, and you can get dizzy and sick during the tattoo.
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
Avoid sleeping directly on your new tattoo, at least the first 4 days. The goal is to try your best not to put any pressure on your tattoo and to keep it from touching anything, at least as much as possible. A healing tattoo needs lots of fresh air and oxygen, so try not to smother it while sleeping.
After usually no less than 5 hours, it is safe to remove the bandage and wash the tattoo. After thorough hand-washing, a person can gently wash the tattoo with hypoallergenic soap and warm water using their fingers.