There is much debate about the pros and cons of finger tattoos, to the extent that some tattooists will not even undertake them however there are certain factors that can make a difference between a job and a bad one. We will take a look at these in more detail but let us first consider why this is such a controversial subject within the tattooing industry.
One of the biggest problems of finger tattoos is that they do not have the longevity that tattoo placement on other body parts have which is one of the reasons that the hands in general are one of the rarer requested locations for body art. The main reason for this is that the hands and fingers tend to be exposed to the sun on a regular basis and most of us rarely think to slap on the sun cream for protection here like we would elsewhere on the body. The skin on the fingers is also much thinner and is therefore prone to sweating plus the hands are used, washed and scrubbed so often that fading is inevitable even when using the darkest inks to produce thicker lines in the design. The area of the fingers is also very small, so there is little room for more than a tiny design of a very basic nature and given the small canvas of skin, the healing will also be effected. During this process, there is the possibility of what is known in the industry as a “blow out,” which means the design could simply scab up and fall off leaving little or no trace of the design at all.
One of the most popular designs for finger tattoos are those requested, predominantly by couples, for their ring fingers. If married, this could be their wedding date and if not, perhaps the date they met or even when they got engaged but initials or even names are popular too. However, it is important to get the right size of text here and to choose the correct style of font so it remains clear and readable and the thicker the font lines, the longer the tattoo will last. If using thicker lines for the writing, you should keep the text to a minimal to prevent smudging, especially if the tattoo is going right around the circumference of your finger. It is also worth making sure, that your relationship has longevity as you could be left with a permanent reminder long after it ends in the event of a split, although this size of tattoo in that location could be covered up with a ring if necessary. Other options for tattoos on the fingers include small symbols like those sported by singer/actress Miley Cyrus. She has 5 tiny tattoos on the fingers of her right hand: an equal sign, a peace symbol, a cross, a heart, and the word “karma.” If this idea appeals to you, then it is worth noting that any symbols used should be kept as simplistic as possible but these will still require touching up every year or so to sustain the designs.
