Small tattoos can have wide appeal for a variety of reasons. They are a great way for beginners to find out what tattooing is all about; They are ideal for masking an unsightly blemish or scar; they can usually be completed in less than an hour; and, because they are easily concealed, they are perfect for those jobs for anti-tattoo employers.
Small tattoos can give people with a rebellious streak a chance to express their individuality. Many professional women have their lower back decorated with small tattoos that are only visible when they are enjoying the night life. Others have small tattoos on their wrists, where they may be hidden by a watch or bracelet during the day.
Small tattoos are ideal for those women who like to feel a bit like they can walk on the wild side and not lose their way; Men can also opt for small tattoos that allow them to be weekend warriors while confined to wearing a suit and tie for hours at their offices.
But if you’re considering a small tattoo, you’ll need to think as much about its design as you would a large one. The first thing to do is get a ruler and see the difference between a one inch, two inch, and three inch tattoo. While none of them sound very big, if you draw circles with those diameters, you’ll get a good idea of how much bigger a three-inch tattoo is than a one-inch one.
You should have a clear idea of the size you want for your small tattoo before you decide where to place it. Small tattoos will appear larger or smaller depending on their placement; the same two-inch tattoo that is inconspicuous on a shoulder blade can be very noticeable on an ankle.
If you choose a small tattoo design, you will probably have to sacrifice detail for space. Small tattoos simply cannot incorporate all the intricacies of larger ones, and they will quickly become so cluttered that none of their detail can be appreciated. The simpler a small tattoo design, the better.
Another reason why you should keep a small tattoo simple is that a tattoo will be a permanent addition to your skin. Because tattoo inks tend to “migrate” over the years, having a very elaborate small tattoo can cause your inks to blend and lose all definition.
If you see a large tattoo design that you think you can’t live without, ask your tattoo artist if it’s scalable. There are some designs that can be successfully scaled down, but again, you should stick with the simple ones, so your details don’t get squashed when the design is scaled down.
Fortunately, there are many large tattoo designs that lend themselves to being reduced; Sunbursts, crosses, roses, butterflies, dolphins, stars, skulls, and tribal or geometric tattoos work just as well as large or small tattoos!