In days gone by, tattoo placement was not as big a deal as it is now but with the rise in demand for tattoos on the whole this is now almost as important as the design itself. The image and the symbolism behind is of great significance to most tattoo enthusiasts, but now the placement is of equal importance as this can affect the overall look considerably. There are several factors that have to be taken into consideration, especially if you are considering body art such as leg tattoos, which are now closely catching up on arm tattoos as one of the most requested body art placements. The reason for this may simply be because it is easier for most of us, especially the guys, to cover up the legs with clothing. However one of the leading factors is actually due to the size of skin in this area as there is a lot more of it available on the leg. Remember, if you want a medium to large tattoo, then you need to select a body part with ample space to do it justice but this also works in reverse so do not choose a small design as it will look lost on a larger area.
In addition to choosing a design to suit the size of the area you wish to display your tattoo, it is also important to think about the pain tolerance involved as leg tattoos in specific areas can be especially painful. For example, the back of the calf is deemed to be one of the most sensitive areas to get a tattoo as are any areas that are close to the bone, with little tissue or muscle to cushion the blows of the tattooists’ needle. If you are in the slightest bit squeamish, you may wish to stick with a smaller design on a more tolerable location such as the thigh as this will take less time and hurt a lot less too. Smaller tattoo images that are popular for this area include the dolphin, zodiac signs and tribal symbols however if you can tolerate the pain and want a larger piece of body art there are some great options available to you. One of the biggest trends would be to have a half sleeve design that covers most of the skin either on the top or bottom half of the leg or even a full sleeve version. These were originally designed for the arms but have recently become a big trend for the legs too especially among male tattoo enthusiasts.
Women on the other hand, tend to go for much more feminine versions of leg tattoos whether this covers just a small part, often at the very top or down the bottom of the leg around the ankle or foot or running the entire length of the leg. Floral and vine designs are particularly popular with girls for the latter, however thanks to Justin Bieber’s latest body art more guys may opt for this placement and follow his example. The young pop star, who has always been vocal about his Christian beliefs, was recently spotted on a beach in L.A with Jesus tattooed on his left calf.
