Palm tattoos - they're here to stay! | Wholesale Tattoo Machines UK

In the past few years, I’ve noticed a huge rise in the number of people getting their palms tattooed.  Palm tattoos are by no means new, however it seems as though now more than ever they’re becoming the latest craze to sweep Instagram, with some really unique and eye-catching designs out there!  As a Wholesale Tattoo Machines Supplier in the UK, we’re keen to keep up with the newest tattoo trends so I wanted to share some really cool designs I’ve spotted, and talk a little more about palm tattoos!

Beautiful symmetrical mandala tattoos

One of the main things worth noting is that the palm of the hand, although tough and durable, is one of the most sensitive places on the body. This sensitivity is partly because of the number of nerves and receptors in the palm, and the lack of fat on the skin. Due to the rate the skin on your palms regenerates, palm tattoos are susceptible to fading quickly. Tattoo artists often use a larger liner as their tattoo machine, packing the ink slightly deeper into the skin than they would anywhere else on the body. This technique should help keep the ink in position without the risk of dropping out.

Palm tattoos are likely to need a retouch, whether this is every few months or years in order to keep them looking bold and fresh. The fact that we unavoidably use our hands every single day means that a palm tattoo won’t stand the test of time as well as a tattoo on somewhere like your ankle would. Fading is inevitable due to the constant friction endured from being in contact with objects, water, and literally everything else in your everyday life! This factor can be especially problematic for tattoo artists who have palm tattoos themselves. They’re constantly using their palms to stretch their client’s skin, wearing gloves that rub against their palms, and holding a tattoo machine all day. Despite this, palm tattoos are still really popular, and if you’re lucky enough to find yourself an artist who knows what they’re doing when it comes to packing the ink in well, then it’s smooth sailing!

Spider, web, and rose: I love these ones!

It’s worth noting that a lot of tattoo artists aren’t always happy and willing to tattoo people’s palms, especially if that person has little or no tattoos to begin with.  Even in this day and age, there’s still some negative ramifications to having visible tattoos, especially when it comes to employment. The fact that palm tattoos literally cannot be covered (unless you’re wearing gloves from nine ‘til five) means that your tattoos are very much visible and on show 24/7. This is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly when considering a palm tattoo and any good tattoo artist will make you aware of this.

Another thing to consider when it comes to palm tattoos is the subject matter.  All the palm tattoos I’ve ever seen have consisted of really bold, black lines and are pretty one-dimensional in terms of the design – such as snowflakes, skulls, mandalas, and flowers; so simplistic old-school designs are generally perfect for palm tattoos! I’ve never seen any palm tattoos that have any colours in them. I think this is due to the fact that using a shader to colour the design would cause pretty intense pain, and the skin on the palm must be difficult to stretch too. As a result, it would probably take a tattoo artist a lot of time and effort to colour an entire palm. Although bold black lines may hold when packed in correctly, I doubt any colours would stay in the skin. Consequently, the tattoo would probably also require constant retouching (which can’t be fun for the client!).

I absolutely love the way these are made in two halves to create a whole butterfly.

Love them or hate them, palm tattoos are here to stay (literally!) and we love some of the unique and creative designs people are coming up with. What do you think of palm tattoos? If you have one (or two) then let us know in the comments!

Love Toni...



Image and blog credits:

https://rattatattoo.com/hand-tattoos-are-art-in-the-palm-of-your-hand/

https://www.tattoodo.com/a/2015/06/palm-tattoos-yes-no-maybe/

http://www.tattoo.com/blog/12-perfect-palm-tattoos?nopaging=1

http://nextluxury.com/mens-style-and-fashion/palm-tattoo-designs-for-men/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/elsarottjers/tattoos/?lp=true