Finger tattoos range from subtle and delicate to bold, in-your-face designs. From a superficial standpoint, these little tattoos are pretty versatile—they can be inked on the finger for all the world to see, or hidden between the fingers to hint at a sneaky style. They do look cool when they're first inked, but they can present some challenges. If you look into this trend, you'll find that finger tattoos are somewhat controversial in the opinion of some tattoo artists because they fade quickly. So while celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Ariana Grande, Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus have popularized this tattoo, there are a few things to consider before getting a finger tattoo. thing.
Maybe you're considering getting some cute finger tattoos to show off your personal style. Maybe you want a best friend tattoo that matches your lifelong friend. Maybe this is your first tattoo and you want to start small. Maybe you're getting married soon and choose to permanently imprint your commitment on your skin with a wedding band tattoo. Whatever the reason, here’s what you need to know about finger tattoos before jumping on this popular trend.
Does finger tattoo hurt?
As with every tattoo, there is some pain, and pain varies from person to person. That being said, finger tattoos are considered the most painful for purely physiological reasons. As tattoo artist and owner of Black Amethyst Tattoo Co. Erica Rose tells Bustle, "Finger tattoos tend to hurt more than other tattoos because there is less muscle and fat tissue on the fingers."
So, yes, your finger tattoos will sting. Your fingers are full of nerves and the skin sits right over the knuckles and bones. Generally speaking, there isn't as much fat or muscle to cushion the sensation of the needle compared to other parts of the body. If you get a spur-of-the-moment tattoo and pain isn't an issue for you, maybe consider getting it elsewhere.
However, people often get finger tattoos as symbols of love, commitment, or an important message to the world, so embracing the discomfort can sometimes be "a symbolic moment," San Francisco-based tattoo artist and owner of Cyclops Tattoo Jason Stein tells We are busy. “Pain is part of the experience.”
It's an incredibly zen approach because the finger tattoo is fairly small and the process is over quickly. As Ross says, "I feel like my clients usually respond really well to finger tattoos, but I make sure to prepare them for the pain they're going to endure. It hurts, but it's quick. It's usually like, ' Ouch, ouch, ouch', and then we use that finger."
Also, where the surgery is done can affect the level of pain. "The top of the finger is definitely less painful than the inside of the finger," tattoo artist Sydney Smith explains to Bustle. "Most clients handle the pain just fine. My style is definitely lighter and thinner than most, so I don't cause as much damage to the skin. Some clients even say they don't feel it at all!"
How long do finger tattoos last?
The skin on your fingers absorbs tattoo ink differently than most other parts of your body. Stein believes this is due to the active nature of our hands, how often we wash them, and the nature of our skin, which is thick but not supported by much fat and has a lot of movement on the bones.
As for how long they actually last, it depends on the individual and the style of tattoo. "Finger tattoos tend to fade a little faster because we use our hands so much, causing the skin to slough off and regenerate more frequently," Ross says. "It's really hard to say how long it will last. Everyone's experience will be different. Mine is 10 years old and needs a touch-up, but overall it's good!"
Rose knows that finger tattoo locations tend to fade faster than other locations, so she usually asks her clients to come back for a touch-up after the initial treatment. "Just to be on the safe side, I usually schedule a touch-up four weeks after the initial appointment to make sure everything is really solid and even inside," she says. “Especially clients who have their hands in the water, like bartenders, hairdressers, waitresses, mechanics, those are the people who have very active hands and I always want to make sure I see them a month out just to be safe. "
The same goes for Smith, who finds that even just one touch-up can have a huge impact on the longevity of a finger tattoo. "In my experience, finger tattoos usually require at least one touch-up," she says. “My clients usually don’t see that much fading after that!”
What do finger tattoo designs look like?
Your fingers may not be the best place to place that intricate tattoo design you've always dreamed of. Due to the complexity of the skin in this area, the colors may not be as bright and the tattoo lines tend to be a little blurry. "Placing too many details in a smaller space can cause them to blend together over time," explains Smith.
Instead, you may want to keep your finger tattoo simple. "There's definitely a limit to what you can put on your finger," Ross said. "You have limited space to work with based on the size of people's hands, so the less detail the better." For example, delicate line art and typefaces tend to work well. You may want to avoid complex, detailed images and designs that are so small that the ink will crack or bleed.
Then there's the location to consider. "Certain parts of the fingers, like the insides of the fingers, the sides, and where the skin on the knuckles wrinkles and curves, I won't tattoo because in my experience it never holds in place well." , Ross explained. “I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t get a tattoo, but I would really, really stress that it might not end up healing well, staying well, or looking good. Ultimately, it's up to my client if they want to have it done. "
In general, Ross recommends reaching out to the tattoo artist you plan to work with, whether by asking directly or simply browsing their social media portfolio to make sure they're a good fit for the design you want. "The only thing I would add is that if you want a tattoo on your finger, ask to see the artist's healed finger tattoo and make sure the tattoo you want on your finger is something the artist is actually willing to do," she said.
A popular design for finger tattoos is the ring finger tattoo, which many people use as a permanent alternative to (or in addition to) a traditional wedding ring. When asked about the most common wedding ring tattoos or commitment inks he sees in stores, Stein said the most successful ones are simple styles that stay on the top or side of the finger. Diamond shapes, runes, initials, and dates are all examples of ring tattoo styles that work well.
One thing to note about the ink band around the finger, though, is that the ink will often "fall out" of the fleshy lower part of the finger, Stein said. This basically means that the color doesn't stick around and you end up with a patchy mark of your tattoo where your wedding ring used to be. But if this is the case, you can always touch it up.
How to care for finger tattoos?
The first rule of finger tattoos: keep your hands clean! Especially if you recently got your ink. "Aftercare for a finger tattoo can be tricky," says Smith. "You have to be gentle when washing your hands, and avoid wearing rings [or] anything that will rub your hands." So don't go boxing or building a sandcastle right after the tattoo parlor. Since a finger tattoo is located on a particularly active area of the body, you need to take extra care of it.
"As for post-operative care, as annoying as it is to have things on your hands and fingers, I recommend that my clients use dermal bandages to heal," says Ross. "It keeps the tattoo sealed and protected from bacteria and the outside world. Finger tattoos require them to be changed more often, but I think it's worth it in the end to go through the process and heal well. With a dermal [bandage], the surface will usually be Heals in five to seven days." Stein also recommends using a fragrance-free moisturizer to keep skin soft and protected.
Additionally, if you want your finger tattoo to look good in the long run, you'll probably need to touch it up regularly—that is, if you want your tattoo to look fresh (and if you don't, too It doesn't matter! ). If you notice blurry lines or color that doesn't disappear immediately after your first visit, Smith recommends waiting for complete healing before cleaning. "Finger tattoos usually take about two weeks to fully heal," she says. “I would not recommend having a touch-up until at least a month after your initial appointment.”
All in all, finger tattoos are a cool and trendy place to get ink tattoos these days, but before you get started, it's important to know what pain, aftercare, and logistics you can expect. Now that you know the facts when it comes to getting a tattoo on your finger, care tips, and the best strategies for a successful trip to the tattoo parlor, you'll be able to go through the inking process smoothly. Happy tattooing!
expert:
Erica Rose , tattoo artist, owner of Black Amethyst Tattoo Co.
Jason Stein, San Francisco tattoo artist, owner of Cyclops Tattoo
Sydney Smith , Blxck Rose Ink tattoo artist
