Wedding Ring Tattoo: The Handy Guide Before You Get Inked

Tattoo Wedding Ring: It's All About the Design

What are the best designs for finger tattoos?

  • Right now, Celtic design ring tattoos are very popular. The problem is that these intricate designs look best when they are made in bold, large, sizes; smaller intricate designs will look blurry and fuzzy, especially if the artist is not used to applying these designs in smaller formats.
  • When you are choosing a design for your tattoo wedding ring, use a design that has simple shapes and lines, and if you want to use a multi-line pattern two lines work best, and definitely do not use any more than three or the lines will blur.
  • Look at pictures of tattoo wedding rings to try and decide what color of ink you like; blues and blacks are the most popular because other types of colors have a tendency to blur and fade over time.
  • To get a better idea of how a design and color will look, check out pictures of tattoos that are on someone's finger (a Google image search will provide some quick results for real life examples).
  • Keep in mind that tattoos on the inside of the finger or up the side of the finger will not hold. Tattoos in in these areas will not last and they will quickly blur before they eventually wash out.

The Tattoo Artist

  • Tattoo artists that are experienced in ring tattoos have the ability to ink small patterns onto fingers and knuckles, and they are experienced working with small designs.
  • Just because a tattoo wedding ring artist has done a few ring tattoos does not mean that they are competent. Always ask the artist for pictures of their customers' rings, how many they have done, and if you can talk to any of the customers to see how they liked the results.
  • It can be difficult to walk into a tattoo parlor, ask to see pictures and samples of the artist's work and then leave if you don't like the work, but it is important not to feel pressured into getting a tattoo done. Just tell the artist you want to think about it instead, and always wait at least a few days before you make your final decision.
  • Professional tattoo artists are always willing to answer your questions about sterility. The artist should wear a new pair of surgical gloves for each person, use sterilized or disposable needles, use a new color tray for each client, and dispose of needles and used color trays in a medical waste box. (If you see an artist dipping into the same color tray to use on another client, or pouring ink into a small container to reuse, go somewhere else for your own safety).

For a One-of-a-Kind Wedding Ring Tattoo

  • If you want to make sure that your tattoo wedding rings are unique, you'll need to find artists that can draw and design their own tattoos.
  • Always settle on a price for how much it will cost to have a few designs drawn up. This way you can pay the artist for the time it takes to create the tattoo without feeling pressured to pay even if you aren't thrilled with the design.
  • Make sure that the artist understands that you do not want the wedding ring tattoo design you choose to be used again on anyone else. You should be able to keep the only copy of the tattoo drawing.
  • You can have someone draw up a design and take it to a tattoo artist, but many artists prefer using designs they have either created themselves or that they have experience with, so always ask first.

Taking Care of Your Wedding Ring Tattoo

  • Even the best tattoos can look bad if they are not taken care of properly. Tattoo parlors often carry a lubricant cream that will keep the healing layer of skin over the tattoo moisturized. Many tattoo artists also recommend unscented Curel lotion or plain vegetable glycerin.
  • It is important to follow your aftercare instructions to the letter! Do not let the tattoo dry out the first few days, and keep your hands away from harsh chemicals including chlorine and household cleaners.
  • Your new tattoo may form scabs after a few days; do not rub these scabs off! Let your skin heal naturally without any interference.
  • Leave your healing tattoos exposed to the air as much as possible, and only apply a very light layer of moisturizer when needed.
  • The main cause of tattoo fade is the sun. To keep your tattoo wedding rings looking great, put a little sunblock over the tattoo when you are planning on spending a day in the sun.

The Best Time To Get Inked

  • Tattoos are painful, especially on sensitive areas like the finger. Expect your finger to feel sore for about a week (the pain often feels like a bad sunburn or rug-burn).
  • New tattoos need to be taken care of, and if you are planning on going on a honeymoon a new tattoo can get ruined in chlorine pool water or if it is repeatedly exposed to water and sun.
  • Because a new wedding ring tattoo is painful, can bleed, and will need to be taken care of, it is best not to get wedding ring tattoos on the actual wedding day. Instead, think about getting the tattoos one to two weeks before or after the wedding. If you get the tattoos before the wedding, you can keep the tattoos covered on the wedding day, and then 'unveil' them during the ceremony.

Tattoo Removal

If you think that your wedding ring tattoo can easily be removed, think again.

  • Tattoo removal is expensive, time consuming, painful, and it usually leaves a scar.
  • Tattoo laser removal can take weeks to months even on a small tattoo; removing a finger tattoo can cost upwards of $1,000 or more dollars.
  • Tattoo removal through surgical excision and dermabrasion is extremely painful, leaves large thick scars, and it can cost just as much as laser removal.

The Best Advice for Wedding Ring Tattoo

  • Find a competent artist, choose a design that will look good on a finger, make sure the artist uses sterile procedures, take good care of the tattoo, and always be sure you really want the tattoo. If you have any doubts at all don't go through with it.
  • If you are not sure about a specific type of design, henna it on your finger first. Henna is a safe plant dye which will last two to four weeks on your skin - or in a pinch try a black marker!
  • You can also stencil the wedding tattoo design on carbon paper to copy it onto your finger, or (just for a quick try-out on a design) use a pen! The idea though is to at least try out a design first to see what it will look like on your finger.

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