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Are you dreaming of getting a tattoo, but not sure which area to choose for your design? How about the forearm? It’s an easily accessible surface where your tattoo will be noticed immediately, whatever the design. It’s also a less painful area. So there you have it! Here’s how.
Why tattoo forearms?
Still very much in vogue, tattooing appeals to over 20% of the French population. Cuff tattoos are one of the most popular tattoos for men.
A tattoo on the forearm also has meaning. Perhaps you didn’t know it, but each area of the body that is tattooed has a particular meaning. In the case of the forearm, we’ve long seen vindictive messages take this place. These tattoos are strong, energetic. Indeed, they are on an area that needs to be powerful in order to move the hands and do all the daily tasks. It’s also an area that can be muscled to show its strength to best advantage. It’s also an ideal area for revealing a personal message (words, phrases) that will highlight your personality.
What are the benefits of forearm tattoos?
A tattoo on the forearm has a number of advantages. In particular, it’s less painful. The forearm is less sensitive and, what’s more, very easy to access. You won’t need to take any special precautions to heal properly or to perform the tattoo.
Another advantage of this area is that it’s large enough for you to choose the design that suits you best. What’s more, if you don’t want to cover your entire forearm, you can simply opt for a design on part of it (towards the elbow, in the middle, towards the wrist…).
Once you’ve been tattooed, you may wonder how to sleep with it when it’s new. There are several things you can do to protect your new tattoo. It’s best to sleep alone to avoid painful contact. Use sheets that don’t stick, and change them every day. This way, you’ll avoid the risk of catching bacteria. Don’t crush your tattoo in your sleep.
Don’t neglect care!
It’s also important to take care of your new tattoo when you’re not sleeping. As you’re no doubt aware, the forearm is an area of almost constant movement. It can also rub against the torso. So you’ll need to be careful when you’re on the move. It’s important to keep the area spotless at all times, to avoid any risk of infection.
When washing the newly tattooed area, I advise you to gently apply soapy water. Don’t rub or scrub. Don’t forget to apply a gentle moisturizer several times a day. Keep your tattoo out of the sun for the first few weeks. After that, you can use a high-protection sun cream. During the first few weeks, it’s also essential not to swim. This will keep the design intact and prevent any loss of pigment, which would damage your tattoo.
It’s also best not to wear tight-fitting clothes for the first few months.
As a general rule, it takes two weeks for a tattoo in this area to heal. However, don’t hesitate to contact your tattooist to have the tattoo monitored in case of doubt.
Forearm tattoos can be done in any style. It’s an area that’s easy to dress up, and every tattoo will find its optimum place here.
Some ideas for forearm tattoos
Because the area is so important, you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of designs to adorn your forearm. And the choice is vast! Long popular, Maori designs are losing ground. Today, men prefer more abstract designs. Geometric patterns are very popular. Floral designs are also popular. Another type of tattoo that’s very much in vogue is the large black tattoo. This “blackout tattoo” is a minimalist tattoo that plays on the solid black. It’s also an excellent solution for covering up an old tattoo you no longer like.
Tattoos are made to last. So it’s essential to think carefully before getting down to business.
Here are a few ideas for tattoo designs to dress up your forearm.
The tree
The tree is a popular motif for men’s forearms. A variety of tree designs, from verdant to dead, are possible. This type of motif occupies the area well and will be perfect for adorning the forearm in the best possible way. A dead tree can be chosen to decorate the forearm with elegance.
Graphic tattoos in black and white
Combining geometry and flat black, these designs are very much in vogue. The choice of motifs is yours, and you can give free rein to your desires. Graphic tattoos have the advantage of remaining contemporary over time.
Graphic flowers
Very popular today, floral motifs are not just for women. You can choose an old-school rose design or a more contemporary, graphic one.
Tribal tattoos
Although Maori tattoos have lost ground in recent years, tribal motifs are still at the forefront of tattoo choices. For example, you can opt for a classic tribal motif that will always be a big hit, and that skilfully dresses up a forearm.
An animal
This subject is ideal for showing off your personality in the best possible way. Wolf, eagle, lion, anything is possible. You can dress up your entire forearm with your favorite animal.
Bodybuilding and forearm tattoos: risk of deformation?
Tattoos are meant to adorn and beautify the body. But this can also be true of muscles. Tattoos can visually emphasize certain proportions, making them an important ally in enhancing your body.
If you’ve decided to get a forearm tattoo and you’re into bodybuilding, it can be very useful to know that the two may not get along perfectly. To continue your workout routine without damaging your tattoo, several precautions may be in order.
There are a number of risks involved in working out on your recent tattoo. Excessive perspiration can discolor your tattoo. It will then be much less clear. Strength training can also lead to increased blood circulation. This can lead to swelling and bleeding around the tattoo. The healing process will then take longer. You’ll need to take steps to protect your tattoo.
Working out can also have certain benefits after a tattoo. Exercise promotes blood circulation, which in turn helps healing.
As for the risk of tattoo deformation during training, there have been recent reports of athletes complaining about the appearance of streaks on their tattoos. But does muscle gain really have an impact on tattoo deformation? When you put on muscle, the skin is going to be altered (which is the case on a daily basis, even if you don’t work out). So it’s quite possible that stretch marks will appear on your design.
What to do ?
To avoid these inconveniences, you can opt for exercises that allow you to build muscle slowly but steadily. Combine a healthy diet with oil and you’ll avoid the appearance of these unsightly marks.
Transforming the shape of your muscle can also have an effect on your tattoo. As the muscle expands, it changes the tattoo pattern. The risk of deformation is therefore very real if you work out a lot. As your body changes, so does your tattoo. However, you can try to slow down the process. I’d advise you to choose a tattoo design that tolerates visual irregularities. A graphic design will have more difficulty with this. Flowers, on the other hand, are more likely to withstand muscle gain.
Frequent problems
Have stretch marks appeared on your tattoo? It will be impossible to remove them, even if you opt for a new tattoo over them. Stretch marks are a break in the skin’s layers, and pigments will have great difficulty adhering to them.
