Small Tattoo Cost

Now that you've decided to get a small tattoo you're probably wondering what the cost will be. Tattoo cost depends on many factors, and the cost will vary depending on the complexity of the small tattoo.

The cost will depend on the style of the small tattoo, the area the tattoo is to be done and the size of the tattoo. It could range anywhere from $30 up to $100, based on these factors. Your tattoo artist would need to see these things before you could get a total price.


Most importantly, don't forget to tip your tattoo artist! Count on giving a minimum of $20 to your tattoo artist for a tip - more if you've asked for something out of the ordinary. You want to show your appreciation for you new small tattoo - you'll probably be back for another tattoo very soon!

Small Tattoo Application

Small tattos adhere to basically the same application process as any other tattoo.

After the stencil is applied to your skin, the tattooist will use a machine to create your tattoo. The tattoo machine uses fine groups of needles to deposit small amounts of ink into the upper layers of the skin. The needle groups are driven up and down very rapidly by small magnets on the tattoo machine.

Using the machine, the tattooist will carefully render your stencil with black ink, until it has been permanently transferred to your skin. This is how your stencil provides the foundation of your tattoo, giving it much of it's detail and clarity.

Next, the tattooist will usually use a different grouping of needles and a different machine to apply the shading and color. Your tattooist should keep the color version of your design close at hand in order to accurately match the colors and shading.

Once your tattoo is finished, your tattooist will clean the area making sure to remove any excess ink. After you have looked at your new tattoo in the mirror, especially if it's on a part of your body not easiy viewed by you, the tattooist will bandage it up to make sure it stays clean.

Choosing a Small Tattoo

Small tattoos are very popular for many reasons. They are perfect for first-timers to get a taste of what tattooing is all about; they can usually be completed in under an hour; and, because they are easily hidden, they are perfect for those work for anti-tattoo employers. Even employers who are loosening their standards on tattoos prefer them small and discreet.

Small tattoos are ideal for those women who like to feel like they could walk on the wild side just a little bit - every woman seems to want a bad boy, so why not be a bad girl? Men can also choose small tattoos which let them be weekend warriors, while during their 9 to 5 lives they are confined to suits and ties.

When you are considering a small tattoo, you will need to put as much thought into its design as you would that of a large one. The first thing you should do is get a ruler and really look at the difference between a one inch, two inch, and three inch tattoo. While it might not seem very large, if you draw circles with those diameters, you’ll easily see how much larger a three inch tattoo is than a one inch tattoo.

Choosing your tattoo design can be one of the most important decisions you can make. It’s important to remember that whatever tattoo design you do choose---you will have it for the rest of your life. So think about what your tattoo design will look like 30 years from now.

You also need to have a clear idea of the size you want for you small tattoo before you can decide where to place it. Small tattoos will appear larger or smaller depending on their location; the same two inch tattoo which is unobtrusive on a shoulder blade can be very noticeable on an ankle.

Remember than when you choose a small tattoo design you will probably have to sacrifice details for space. Small tattoos simply cannot incorporate all the intricacies of larger ones, and the simpler a small tattoo design, the better.

If you see a large tattoo design which you think you can’t live without, ask your tattoo artist if it is scalable. There are some designs which can be successfully downsized, but again you should stay with simple ones, so that their details don’t get squashed together when the design is scaled down.

It seems like everyone I meet these days has a tattoo. There are tattoos of every conceivable design; there are large tattoos that can cover virtually a person's entire body. There are small tattoos that can easily be hidden. There's no reason not to enjoy at least a small tattoo.