What you need to know before committing to finger/hand tattoos

So you’ve found some cool finger tattoos on Pinterest, eh? Kidding. Or half kidding. Regardless of what inspired you, it’s important that you know all the nitty-gritty of finger/hand tattoos before committing, that way you can make an informed decision.

Finger and hand tattoos do not heal like normal tattoos elsewhere on the body. The hands experience a lot of friction in day-to-day life, and therefore the skin behaves differently. As a result, finger and hand tattoos will very likely need to be touched up at least once, possibly multiple times.

I tell all my clients to expect an initial touch-up shortly after healing their first round of ink (4-6 weeks after). For most people, the first touch-up should solidify the linework, and you shouldn’t need another for a while. Everyone’s lives are different, and how you care for your hands will greatly determine whether or not you’ll need further touch-ups. Some could last a year, some 2 years, some multiple. It varies greatly person-to-person.

The most important factor in deciding if finger/hand tattoos are for you is your job. If your job involves a lot of handwashing, a lot of water, a lot of labour with your hands, a lot of being out in the sun, then I highly recommend against getting them done. All of these are factors that will result in your tattoos fading very quickly.

I also do not recommend finger/hand tattoos if you are a perfectionist-type person. Your finger tattoos will never look perfect. If this will bother you, these are not the tattoos for you.

As for cost: for me as your artist your first touch-up is $40 plus tax within the first 6 months. All touch-ups after that are my full hourly charge.

Examples of before & after healed work with touch-ups