Hand tattoo

The skin on the hand is thinner than on most of the body and renews faster, and hands are always busy: they are washed often, hold things and catch more sun. That is why hand tattoos rely on clean lines, contrast and a clear shape — such pieces stay expressive longer.

The finest lines and small details on the sides of the fingers and on the knuckles lose sharpness sooner, and the artist takes this into account at the design stage.

• Symbols and lettering on the fingers — short words, dates, small signs.
• Compositions on the back of the hand — flowers, animals, mythological creatures and ornaments.
• Continuing a sleeve — a piece that runs from the wrist or forearm onto the hand.
• Matching pieces — one composition split across both hands.
• Realism — large and high-contrast, so the details still read years later.

A hand tattoo is a way to make a statement: it becomes part of your look. The hand finishes a sleeve beautifully, and a small piece on the fingers can be deeply personal.

Before you decide, think about how the tattoo will fit with your work and everyday life — at the consultation the artist will help you choose the size and placement that suit you.

1. 1Consultation — we discuss the idea, the size and how the piece will look in everyday life.
2. 2A design shaped to the hand — the artist considers the joints, the knuckles and how the hand bends.
3. 3Transfer to the skin — the stencil is placed on the skin and moved until it sits straight, and only then does the work begin.

After the session the artist will explain aftercare in detail: hands meet water and sun more often than other places.

Most hand tattoos are small and done in one short session. A composition across the whole back of the hand or a sleeve continuation usually takes one session, and pieces with dense detail take several.