nkle tattoos are popular with women. Along with the shoulder, wrist and hip, the ankle is one of the more popular body parts for women to tattoo. One reason for their popularity is that they are easy to cover up.

The term "ankle tattoo" refers to any tattoo that is placed on the extreme lower calf, down to the ankle bone. Tattoos higher up tend to be less painful the ones lower down, as the skin towards the bony part of the ankle has less fatty tissue and is closer to the bone, which makes the process more painful. The lower part of the leg is fleshier than the foot, and can take larger tattoos.

Because of its position, getting an ankle tattoo can sometimes be awkward. You'll need to lie back on a bench or chair so that the tattoo artist can reach the ankle. Also, tattoos towards the end of the extreme ties are known to bleed more than tattoos closer to the center of your body, so you should be prepared to elevate your leg as it is healing to combat the pain, swelling and bleeding that can occur.

Also, the higher up your calf the tattoo is placed, the better it will age (as the skin in this area wrinkles less).

It's important that you give your ankle tattoo the appropriate after care. It will need to be protected from the elements - a salve will help with this. Two salves that have been recommended are Bag Balm and Tattoo Goo. You should wear loose fitting clothing over the tattoo to prevent irritation and rubbing while it is healing, for at least the first week. Allowing rubbing to occur can lead to a loss of color and brightness, and to extra skin peeling. Also, it's important to protect your skin from the sun while it is healing, and afterwards you should make sure you protect it with strong sun cream.

With an ankle tattoo, you can show or hide the tattoo easily. It's a great way to accentuate and draw attention to your leg shape, so you should plan to wear shoes and clothing to make the most of it.

Most often, women choose to get more "girly" images for their ankle tattoos - images like flowers, butterflies and fairies are all popular. Hearts and stars also look good on the ankle.

You should not feel restricted by this list of popular designs, however. Any small and simple design that you like would suit the area, so spend some time looking at the designs which are available before you decide what you want.

Before you go to get your tattoo, click on the following link to see the best designs on the net. There are thousands of different designs, so you can get the one that suits you most of all!