- Tattoo artists shared mistakes they’ve seen customers make when getting inked on their ankles.
- Opting for a design with too many details or words might result in a cluttered end product.
- It’s important to assess your pain threshold and do everything you can to prep the skin beforehand.
Business Insider spoke with tattoo artists to find out which common mistakes to avoid when getting a tattoo on your ankle.
Don’t underestimate your pain threshold
If you’re trying to hype yourself up into getting a tattoo, especially one on the ankle, you’ll want to be realistic about how much pain you can handle.
“I have had people tap out multiple times on the ankle, it’s very painful and it’s pretty much all bone,” said Vlad Nemirovsky, tattoo artist and owner of Crooked Heart Tattoo.
Aside from the ankle, other painful spots may include the shoulder blades, collarbones, and hips.
Bringing a very detailed reference image can be a problem
Tattoo artist and Mad Rabbit pro-team member Pony Lawson urged customers to stay away from highly detailed reference photos.
“Ankle tattoos tend to blow out, or heal thicker than other areas of the body, so getting something with too much detail in a small area can be counterproductive,” he told BI.
Disregarding the aftercare protocols is asking for trouble
Your artist should tell you what to do to help your tattoo heal correctly since it’s essentially an open wound.
For ankles, that usually includes avoiding doing or wearing anything that can irritate the area.
“During the healing process, try to refrain from wearing socks or shoes that may rub on the tattoo,” Brooklyn-based tattoo artist Carly Jordyn told BI.
Lawson added that doing so can result in ink loss or even infection.
The ankle isn’t the best spot for a super tiny tattoo
According to Nemirovsky, there’s been a big trend of getting tiny tattoos. But those small hearts or butterflies can become distorted on the ankle within a few years.
“If you want one of these, the best thing to do is go to a single-needle professional,” he told BI.
But even then, the artist said there’s a risk of the ink closing up or bleeding out over time, so you might want to pick a different design.
Don’t forget to consider the vantage point of the tattoo
When choosing an ankle or lower-leg design, consider the vantage point of the viewer. In most cases, people will be looking at it from a pretty drastic angle.
Mad Rabbit pro-team artist Jake Meeks told BI, “I would recommend making the design slightly larger than you might think and also simplifying the design as much as possible so that it reads clearly from a distance.”
According to Nemirovsky, You should also think before asking for a design to be tattooed upside down.
“Unfortunately, this permanently ensures that nobody but the client will be able to understand what the tattoo is,” he said.
Avoid picking a design with too many words
Due to the limited space available on the ankle, selecting meaningful words or phrases becomes crucial, according to Syd Smith, fine-line and micro tattoo artist and founder of SYZYGY Precision Tattooing.
“People sometimes opt for lengthy quotes, only to realize the font size compromises readability,” she said. “Choosing concise yet powerful words or an appropriate font can enhance the impact of the tattoo.”
You can ask your tattoo artist for advice or recommendations for phrases that might be better suited for smaller placements.
Don’t show up to your appointment with dry skin if you can avoid it
It’s important to keep the skin moisturized, especially before a tattoo appointment, according to Lauren Aigner-Westervelt, Brooklyn-based tattoo artist at Atelier Eva.
“The skin around the ankle can become particularly dry, especially during colder months,” she told BI. “Remember to moisturize regularly in the weeks prior to your session, as dry skin poses challenges during tattooing.”
The artist recommended using over-the-counter creams like Aquaphor, Cetaphil, or CeraVe on the ankles to create a better surface for the tattoo.
When it comes to choosing an artist, make sure they have the right experience
Instead of choosing any random tattoo artist you find on Instagram, Aigner-Westervelt recommended taking inventory of people’s specialties and experiences.
“Similar to the wrist, the skin on the ankle is thinner compared to other body parts so the artist needs to be cautious not to deposit ink too deeply,” she said.
Look through an artist’s portfolio before booking to make sure they have experience tattooing ankles and that you like their style.
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