I got it on my 18 th birthday and although I don’t hate it now, I definitely would have filled that space with something cooler if I had waited a year or two.” Unsurprisingly, the forearm is a popular location for many first-timers who know they’ll end up with a larger collection of tattoos in the future. When asked why she chose the placement of her first tattoo, Woodman explains, “I went with the forearm because I wanted to show it off. Deeply personal or sentimental: thigh, ribs, chest, upper armĪ post shared by Mariah Woodman on at 1:23pm PDT Regardless, you’re into visual representations of the self and appreciate a good accessory when you see one. Alternatively, like me, maybe you’ve never been a big accessory wearer but like the thought of having something permanent adorning your extremities so you don’t need to think about what accessories you’ll put on in the morning. Perhaps you enjoy the added flair to your appearance that a good pair of shoes, a hat, a necklace, rings, or earrings can provide. If you’re considering getting a tattoo in one of these areas, you’re likely an accessorizer. PS there is a store opening on Queen St so you can see what other things they offer xoxo art school dropout OUT #tattoosfornowĪ post shared by MEI PANG on at 10:09am PDT Hehehe hello hi! I teamed up with to showcase their freehand ink! If you are a doodler like me you can create any design on your body and the For Now Ink technology makes it last for up to 2 weeks.

This isn’t a bad thing! Tattoos are for you, so do whatever leaves you feeling your best. “The torso is a notoriously painful area but I think a lot of people want their first tattoo to be somewhere a bit more private.” If you’re wearing ink on your ribs, feet, inner bicep or back, what your tattoo placement says about you is likely quite simple: you wanted a tattoo in a place that felt safe. “I still find this very surprising, but I get a lot of first tattoo rib requests,” says Portland-based artist Mariah Woodman. Speaking with tattooers, this is an approach that many people take when determining the location of their first design. Like many other people easing their way into lifelong body art, I chose placements that were easy to hide for my first few designs. My first tattoo was on my upper back, and my second and third were on my ribs. I was very cautious the first, second and third time I got tattooed. Bold tattoo aficionado: hand, front and side of neck, and faceĪ post shared by Mariah Woodman on at 12:18pm PDT With that in mind, we chatted with tattoo artists and clients to find out what you can learn about someone from the location of their ink. Ultimately all that matters when you’re getting a tattoo is that you’re happy with the design and where it’s going. If the descriptions below don’t reflect you though, don’t worry. Maybe you care deeply about family, for instance, so you got a tattoo dedicated to them and placed it right over your heart. Alternatively, your placement may reveal quite a lot about your values.

Perhaps your tattoo location says nothing about you and you chose it entirely based on your artist’s feedback. But there’s no science when it comes to what your tattoo placement says about you.

Typically we use tattoo designs to tell our stories, but what about design location? Does placement also factor into the stories our tattoos tell? The short answer is: yes, your tattoo location can certainly give onlookers some insight into who you are. In this sense, a tattoo is similar to a photo in a scrapbook it reflects only a fleeting moment in our lives. As a result, our tattoos may not always reflect who we are at present. The person you are now and your beliefs, style, and values are likely different from the person you were five years ago. And part of the beauty of tattoos is that they tell our ongoing stories. Whether your design is highly personal or something you decided to get just for fun, it’s a reflection of you.

My story isnt over tattoo