Places to get Tattoos

The biggest question one reaches after deciding to get a tattoo is, "where should the tattoo be located?" That's a tough question that deserves careful consideration. Let's highlight some of the more popular areas on the body for tattoos as well as some of their pros and cons:

Back

The back is a very popular region for tattoos, and for good reason. One of the biggest benefits of a back tattoo is its relative lack of exposure. In the professional world, no one will ever know you have a back tattoo unless you want them to know. Inversely, the casual world will generally have good familiarity that you have a tattoo. Guys take their shirts off at the beach, girls wear skimpy blouses that allow for parts of a lower back tattoo to be exposed, you get the picture. For most people, the back serves at the perfect destination for a tattoo due to it's flexibility in exposure.

Lower Arm

The arm below the elbow, or forearm, is a very popular place to get a tattoo, especially amongst men. Usually tattoos in this region will either resemble a bracelet of sorts, or sprawl past the elbow into the upper arm and sometimes even the back and shoulders. Generally those receiving a tattoo on their lower arm already have a few tattoos in less exposed areas. If you are getting your first tattoo, it may be advisable to avoid the lower arm until you have more familiarity with some of the social consequences that are carried with the art of ink.

Upper Arm/Shoulder

This region is a hot spot for tattoos regardless of your sex. For men, a tattoo the wraps around muscular areas such as the bicep or shoulder can give off an image of toughness or power. Women enjoy the sex appeal that comes from exposing an inked shoulder. Try on some of your favorite t-shirts before getting a tattoo in this region so that you might take note of where most of your shirts begin covering skin. One of the problems with tattoos on the upper arm is that they are often half-exposed and half-covered, which some people do not like.

Calf/Ankle

Tattoos on the lower part of the leg share some advantages of a back tattoo in that they are often covered in professional settings. The problem is that they are often covered in social settings as well. It's not something we often think about, but the lower leg is rarely exposed, especially those of people who live in colder climates. Some men also feel that tattoos in this region are too feminine. This fear isn't without some justification. Ankle tattoos became very popular among women in the past couple of decades.

Intimate Regions

For most people, a tattoo would ideally be seen by many. Tattoos in intimate regions, such as the buttocks or genitalia area, are often only seen by, well, those we are intimate with. The difference between a tattoo in this area and most other tattoos is that these are emotional, the latter tend to be more social. If you're weighing whether or not to ink your private parts, just bear in mind that not many people will know it's there. If that's what you want, by all means, go for it.