Foot tattoos can look very striking: the foot provides a nice flat place for the tattoo to lie. They have seen a serious rise in popularity the last couple of years, especially among woman. It's easy to see why, a foot tattoo peaking out of a shoe can be very attractive.
The most popular foot tattoo designs are usually small in nature, such as flowers (especially cherry blossom and lotus flowers), words (and quotes), stars and butterflies.
There are some good reasons not to get a tattoo on your foot though, in fact, there are some tattoo artists who wont even undertake them.
Here's why:
- For a start, tattoos on feet and hands tend to be more painful than tattoos on other spots.
The general rule is this: if a tattoo is done on a place where the skin is close to the bone, it will hurt more. If its on a fleshy part of your body, itll hurt a lot less. Thats why a shoulder or upper arm might be a better place for a first tattoo if youre a little worried about the pain and not sure what to expect.
- There is also a greater incidence of ink migration with foot tattoos. This means that the ink is likely to spread over time, blurring your tattoo design. This is possible with any tattoo, on any part of the body, but its more common with foot tattoos.
If you get a foot tattoo, be prepared to go back and have it re-inked if need be. The top of your foot is the best place with the least blurring, avoid other places like the sides or the toes.
- Then theres the issue of healing. A new tattoo should not be allowed to rub against clothing while it heals, which usually takes two to three weeks. For most tattoos, this is a pretty simple matter, but not for foot tattoos! Basically, depending on the placement of your tattoo, this may mean that you cant wear shoes or socks for the time your tattoo is healing!
- Going around barefoot can lead to one more problem infection. Feet, as we all know, are harder to keep clean than other parts of the body. Though its fairly rare to get an infection from a professional-quality tattoo, it is possible, and having a tattoo on your foot makes it slightly more likely.
Here are some foot care tips for a shorter healing period:
- Wear flip flops or other open shoes during the healing process so the shoe doesn't rub against the tattoo. If the flip flop touches the tattoo, then it's advisable that you get a pair of Down Unders, a kind of topless flip flop. If you really have to wear shoes, then wear 2 pair of light socks.
- The best time for getting a tattoo on your foot is in the summer, it might be a bit cold without shoes in the winter.
- Roll up your trousers if they touch the tattoo.
- Keep your new ink out of the sun.
- Keep your feet clean. This means you have to take regular foot baths with warm water and a mild soap. Dry them by dabbing with a towel, don't rub.
- Keep the tattoo moist by applying a good ointment (Lubriderm). Don't make it too moist or the colors will bleed.
- Never rub the tattoo.
- Don't swim until the healing process is over.
- Keep in mind that walking could be difficult the first few days because of foot pain. If possible take a few days off from work.
- Find a tattoo artist who has experience doing foot tattoos. Ask him for advice.
So, the cons:
- Foot tattoos are painful.
- They blur more easily than tattoos on other places, especially large areas with a solid color.
- The healing process goes slower.
- There's chance of infection.
- It's not advisable for diabetes patients to get a tattoo below the waist, it can affect blood circulation.
And the pros:
- Foot tattoos are easy to hide, in case you work in a place where ink is not accepted for example.
- A tattoo on the foot looks very striking.
With all of these cons, you might wonder why anyone bothers to get a foot tattoo. Well, they are cute and easy to hide. For some of us, thats reason enough.
Here are some ideas and designs:
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