Getting a tattoo leaves an indelible mark of who you are at a specific moment of your life. Either you expect to treasure a memory, honor a loved one, showcase your tastes and preferences, let your wild side come out ... in tattoos, everything’s allowed! However, there are those who choose to follow trends that more than reinforcing their individuality, shout that they flow along the current and opt for mainstream tattoo designs that many times lack meaning and soul.
Can you really avoid following trends? I'd say no. Even getting a tattoo is a trend among people that need the validation of its own independence, and that's completely normal. Is a highly popular rite of passage. Choosing a famous tattoo artist in Chicago, for example, starts with a wish of achieving results previously approved by a large number of satisfied clients, surprising uh? We are humans, and we like to know that we are in good hands. At the end of the day, get a custom tattoo that only you have.
The problem comes when the "tendency" lacks sense. Tattoos with white ink are a great example of this. If a tattoo's first premise is that’s made to last, why would you want to get a tattoo only with the easier to fade ink? There are temporary tattoos that: won’t hurt, won’t bring any associated health-risk and maybe will last as much as the white tattoos trend, a couple of weeks?
Everyone who works in the tattoo industry knows that fashions come and go, but some should be gone for good. That tattoo design that seems a good idea at the moment can become a big disappointment faster than you think and can end up costing you a big monetary investment in the future, only to try to leave it where it belongs, in the past. Here is a list of 10 tattoo trends to avoid:
1. Flag Tattoos
If your idea is to look for originality, stand out and prove you are one of a kind, well this is the exact opposite way to go. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being attracted to the classic, traditional Americana style tattoos.
They exude nostalgia for a time of great historical, artistic and cultural value. The thing is that when we bet on one of those generic portfolio tattoos made a thousand times before that abound as tattoo parlor decoration. Do you know why they are hanged there? Because they have been requested millions of times before and it is easier for the tattooist to display them, in an attempt to make it easier for the hesitating ordinary customer to pick one and move on.
Go for an original design instead! It can cost a little extra, but it will be a lot more fascinating and intriguing. Also, old school tattoos come with outstanding solid outlined making them way too complicated to cover up or remove. If you are not 100% sure that you want that piece for life, it’s better for you to consult it with the pillow (aka sleep on it!)
2. Your Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Name
Don’t ever go for a piece that you'll end up covering up. For real, even if you are marrying that person, Boyfriend / Girlfriend Names are almost never a good idea. Get a tattoo with your mom’s name, or your daughter's but divorces exist for a reason, breakups are far easier.
3. Tribal
Although for the Maori people they are loaded with meaning, tribal Polynesian armbands became so popular in the 90's that all the western civilization had had enough of poorly executed, rough, meaningless huge black outlines defining men's arms for at least a century ... You know why? Because covering a black arm bracelet it's practically impossible, it usually requires some previous removing sessions only to be able to fade the black ink enough to put something else on top. If you opt for a tribal design, trust me, it will stay there forever.
4. Trash Polka
Don’t get me wrong, they are incredible. This style is inspired by graphic tendencies of Eastern Europe and Russia in the rise of 1900's century prior the fall of Tsarism and communism installation. Its high graphic content and urban rudeness make these designs impossible to stop looking at. But they're challenging to cover because their boldness comes from an intense use of black and read in extended areas.
5. Geometrical Work
Mandalas and other types of geometrical artworks are fascinating and highly demanded these days, and that might be their only problem. Executed by an experienced professional the result of a mandala tattoo can be a work of incredible detail and perfect symmetry, no doubt. The downside is, if you are not committed to its symbolism or value, you will have acquired the same problem as our friends of the 90's with their tribal bracelets but in a circular shape.
6. Watercolor
If you want a piece that lasts forever, well ... A watercolor will last forever if you retouch it every 2 to 3 years depending on the level of sun exposure and SPF that you place religiously to protect it from the UV rays. They are fashionable, they are colorful and trendy, but how do you avoid becoming one of the bunch if you choose what everyone is wanting at the moment? Also, they are easier to tattoo because they don’t require high execution skills handling the machine to achieve steady outlines or any form as a matter of fact, which made them easy to fade, but also easy to cover in the future if it's needed.
7. Extensive Lettering
Please Reaching a reasonable level in lettering is one of the tests that define a good tattoo artist. Not only letter uniformity from start to finish it’s a most, but also depth and definition so that each letter stands out obtaining piece readability at a distance. Go for it, but be cautious about spelling mistakes, placement and meaning ... ! Pun intended.
8. Palm & Finger Tattoos
The skin of our hands sheds much faster than the rest of the body. We regularly wash our hands, and on very few occasions we protect them with sunscreen. What's the result? You will have endured pain, and waste your money on a tattoo that fades almost as fast as those made only with white ink.
9. Stick n' Poke Tattoos
Usually done without professional’s participation, in a domestic way for a youthful attempt to prove who knows what, Stick 'n' poke tattoos are a prison yard / Hipster favorite to produce body art at an extremely low cost. Associated risks? Infections, allergies, poorly executed results for life that’ll prove you once where bored, young and dumb.
And finally... 10. Chinese Lettering
Calligraphy is an art dominated by few who study for years to achieve the grace and delicacy required to accomplish a phrase with a single brush movement. Asian Tattoos are incredibly colorful, intricate and meaningful, but Chinese characters (and also barcodes if you ask me) became an extremely popular trend to the point of becoming ordinary and tacky. Covering them is equally tricky than other designs made with black ink and, in many cases, they hold meanings unknown even to the person wearing them (a Chicken Kung Pao/Strength kind of situation).
Can you really avoid following trends? I'd say no. Even getting a tattoo is a trend among people that need the validation of its own independence, and that's completely normal. Is a highly popular rite of passage. Choosing a famous tattoo artist in Chicago, for example, starts with a wish of achieving results previously approved by a large number of satisfied clients, surprising uh? We are humans, and we like to know that we are in good hands. At the end of the day, get a custom tattoo that only you have.
The problem comes when the "tendency" lacks sense. Tattoos with white ink are a great example of this. If a tattoo's first premise is that’s made to last, why would you want to get a tattoo only with the easier to fade ink? There are temporary tattoos that: won’t hurt, won’t bring any associated health-risk and maybe will last as much as the white tattoos trend, a couple of weeks?
Everyone who works in the tattoo industry knows that fashions come and go, but some should be gone for good. That tattoo design that seems a good idea at the moment can become a big disappointment faster than you think and can end up costing you a big monetary investment in the future, only to try to leave it where it belongs, in the past. Here is a list of 10 tattoo trends to avoid:
1. Flag Tattoos
If your idea is to look for originality, stand out and prove you are one of a kind, well this is the exact opposite way to go. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being attracted to the classic, traditional Americana style tattoos.
They exude nostalgia for a time of great historical, artistic and cultural value. The thing is that when we bet on one of those generic portfolio tattoos made a thousand times before that abound as tattoo parlor decoration. Do you know why they are hanged there? Because they have been requested millions of times before and it is easier for the tattooist to display them, in an attempt to make it easier for the hesitating ordinary customer to pick one and move on.
Go for an original design instead! It can cost a little extra, but it will be a lot more fascinating and intriguing. Also, old school tattoos come with outstanding solid outlined making them way too complicated to cover up or remove. If you are not 100% sure that you want that piece for life, it’s better for you to consult it with the pillow (aka sleep on it!)
2. Your Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Name
Don’t ever go for a piece that you'll end up covering up. For real, even if you are marrying that person, Boyfriend / Girlfriend Names are almost never a good idea. Get a tattoo with your mom’s name, or your daughter's but divorces exist for a reason, breakups are far easier.
3. Tribal
Although for the Maori people they are loaded with meaning, tribal Polynesian armbands became so popular in the 90's that all the western civilization had had enough of poorly executed, rough, meaningless huge black outlines defining men's arms for at least a century ... You know why? Because covering a black arm bracelet it's practically impossible, it usually requires some previous removing sessions only to be able to fade the black ink enough to put something else on top. If you opt for a tribal design, trust me, it will stay there forever.
4. Trash Polka
Don’t get me wrong, they are incredible. This style is inspired by graphic tendencies of Eastern Europe and Russia in the rise of 1900's century prior the fall of Tsarism and communism installation. Its high graphic content and urban rudeness make these designs impossible to stop looking at. But they're challenging to cover because their boldness comes from an intense use of black and read in extended areas.
5. Geometrical Work
Mandalas and other types of geometrical artworks are fascinating and highly demanded these days, and that might be their only problem. Executed by an experienced professional the result of a mandala tattoo can be a work of incredible detail and perfect symmetry, no doubt. The downside is, if you are not committed to its symbolism or value, you will have acquired the same problem as our friends of the 90's with their tribal bracelets but in a circular shape.
6. Watercolor
If you want a piece that lasts forever, well ... A watercolor will last forever if you retouch it every 2 to 3 years depending on the level of sun exposure and SPF that you place religiously to protect it from the UV rays. They are fashionable, they are colorful and trendy, but how do you avoid becoming one of the bunch if you choose what everyone is wanting at the moment? Also, they are easier to tattoo because they don’t require high execution skills handling the machine to achieve steady outlines or any form as a matter of fact, which made them easy to fade, but also easy to cover in the future if it's needed.
7. Extensive Lettering
Please Reaching a reasonable level in lettering is one of the tests that define a good tattoo artist. Not only letter uniformity from start to finish it’s a most, but also depth and definition so that each letter stands out obtaining piece readability at a distance. Go for it, but be cautious about spelling mistakes, placement and meaning ... ! Pun intended.
8. Palm & Finger Tattoos
The skin of our hands sheds much faster than the rest of the body. We regularly wash our hands, and on very few occasions we protect them with sunscreen. What's the result? You will have endured pain, and waste your money on a tattoo that fades almost as fast as those made only with white ink.
9. Stick n' Poke Tattoos
Usually done without professional’s participation, in a domestic way for a youthful attempt to prove who knows what, Stick 'n' poke tattoos are a prison yard / Hipster favorite to produce body art at an extremely low cost. Associated risks? Infections, allergies, poorly executed results for life that’ll prove you once where bored, young and dumb.
And finally... 10. Chinese Lettering
Calligraphy is an art dominated by few who study for years to achieve the grace and delicacy required to accomplish a phrase with a single brush movement. Asian Tattoos are incredibly colorful, intricate and meaningful, but Chinese characters (and also barcodes if you ask me) became an extremely popular trend to the point of becoming ordinary and tacky. Covering them is equally tricky than other designs made with black ink and, in many cases, they hold meanings unknown even to the person wearing them (a Chicken Kung Pao/Strength kind of situation).