Foot Tattoo Advice

^{courtesy of Matt Garrett}

Have you ever wondered why there are people who have every inch of their arms and legs tattooed in the most breathtaking designs and colors, and that their tattoos stop short of their hands and feet with a suddenness that is equally breathtaking?

The simple truth is that both hand and foot tattoos are rarely requested and even more rarely done. Part of the reason for their rarity is that new tattoos need to be kept clean, dry, and free of irritation while they heal completely, which can take from two to three weeks.

That lets hands out; but foot tattoos are still in the running. That is, if you can figure out a way to avoid irritating them with shoes and socks while they are healing, and simultaneously keep them clean.

Okay, you might have a hard time getting and caring for a foot tattoo. But why do so many tattoo artists have such a hard time agreeing to do them?

First, foot tattoos don’t like to stay where they are put, and their inks tend to “migrate”, meaning that your sharply defined new tattoo may eventually become blurred and faded. Tattoo artists are almost always willing to do free touchups for tattoos on any other part of the body, but the likelihood of foot tattoos needing touchups is so high that the artists will either not do the foot tattoos, will not offer to do touchups at all, or will charge for the touchups.

Tattoo artists, at least the good ones, are true artists, and they don’t like to take on work which won’t let them do their best. One of the things you may not know about your feet is that they have reflex points, just like the one in your knee which the doctor hits with the little hammer to see if your nerves are still talking to your brain.

In spite of your best efforts to keep still while getting a foot tattoo, your foot may engage in some twitching and jerking, and the tattoo artist may have difficulty controlling the needle when it does. If the tattoo artist is good enough, he or she may be able to cover up any resulting squiggles, but that’s a chance you’ll have to take.

Another thing: You have a lot of nerve endings and capillaries in you feet, and not much cushioning between the skin and bones. Most people who have had both foot and body tattoos done report that the foot tattoos are far and away the more painful; and those nerve endings can also make some people very ticklish. If your feet are ticklish, pass on trying to have a foot tattoo done; and all those capillaries are so close to the skin’s surface that foot tattoos tend to bleed more profusely than body tattoos.

But if you can find a willing artist, and after assessing all the potential negatives decide go ahead and get a foot tattoo, using a pre-inking anesthetic ointment to numb your foot is a good idea. You can still expect to have swelling and soreness for a few days afterwards. If your work requires you to be on your feet for any length of time, consider holding off on the tattoo until your vacation.

The Beautiful: Because there just aren’t a lot of souls brave enough to face having their feet tattooed, your tattoo is sure to get extra attention. And you’ll have some stunningly beautiful foot tattoo designs, both simple and highly stylized, to choose from. The foot provides a small but nearly flat canvas on which the artist can work and the results, like garlands of flowers or stars, or tarantulas or frogs poised to leap, can be amazingly three dimensional.

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Foot Tattoo Tips

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 there’s the little issue of healing. In general, 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 designs, this may mean that you can’t wear shoes or socks for the whole time your tattoo is healing!

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 tattoo out of the sun.
• Keep your feet clean, take a regular foot bath 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.
• Don't 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.

Going around barefoot can lead to one more problem related to foot tattoos – infection. Feet, as we all know, are harder to keep clean than other parts of the body. Though it’s 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.

So, the cons:

• Foot tattoos are more painful.
• They blur more easily than tattoos on other places, especially large areas with a solid color.
• The healing process goes slower.
• There's more 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.