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How Many Tattoo Sessions Will You Need?
Tattoo sessions are where a tattoo artist does the work on a tattoo. The tattoo artist will clean, disinfect, and prep the area so you can tattoo it.
Artists do this to ensure that there are no infections in the person’s skin getting their first (“first-timer”) or any other tattoos they may get during this session.
The Number of tattoo sessions will depend on the age, body placement,the design, the tattooing method, size and pain tolerance.For example, dark skin tones need 4-6 sessions to reach their full potential, while light skin tones only need 2-3 sessions.
How many sessions you will need, will depend on the following factors:
Factors | Description |
Skin Type | Skin type is a major determinant of a tattoo session. For example, dark skin tones need 4-6 sessions to reach their full potential, while light skin tones only need 2-3 sessions. |
The Tattoo’s Size and Detail | Certain areas on the body take less time for tattoos to heal. For example, a small tattoo on your foot will need five sessions to heal, while a large tattoo on the same foot will need only three sessions. |
The Amount of Pigment in The Skin | Tattoos look cooler when they already have some pigment, so you will need more sessions to complete your that if you want it all-black or half-black. |
The Skill and Experience of The Tattoo Artist | If you know an artist with a portfolio showing incredible detail, you may only require 2-3 sessions for one tattoo. However, if you’re getting a cat from a beginner or relatively inexperienced artist, you may need 4-6 sessions to reach your goal. |
The Style of The Tattoo | If the artist is a master, you may need more sessions than most people to get a tattoo that matches your expectations. For example, some artists can draw a better depiction of a tiger than you would expect from simple line drawings, so you may need 4-6 sessions. |
Is It Better to Do Long Tattoos Sessions or Short Ones?
Factors | Description |
Intensity | Long tattoo sessions can be intense and may not be suitable for people with less tolerance for pain. Shorter sessions would allow the tattoo artist to work more quickly. |
Investment | Longer sessions could allow a person to get a better deal on the price of their tattoo because they are paying more over time instead of all at once. Longer sessions will also require more touch-ups, which can make it more expensive in the long run. |
Time | You could get much more done in a long session than in a short one. If a person decides to have a tattoo done in the long sessions, there will be time for their friends and family to visit the artist and have their tattoos done. Short tattoo sessions do not allow the artist to accommodate more people and, in turn, increases costs. |
Pain | You could finish a longer session with no pain, whereas shorter sessions may cause pain depending on the person’s tolerance for pain. If one decides to have a tattoo done in the short sessions, there could be other activities during this time that would cause pain. |
Itching/Burning | You could itch and burn after finishing a short session because of how fast it was and the oils used. A long session would allow the person to recover, get more tattoos, and be more comfortable with the artist and their work. |
Cleaning | A short session would require cleaning all at once in one session, whereas a longer session could get spread out over time. Long sessions can allow for proper cleaning to take place after each tattoo. |
What Tattoo Colors Are the Hardest to Come Off?
Tattoo colors | Description |
Green | – Green ink is one of the darkest colors, making it harder to remove than other colors. |
Black | – Black inks form when an oxidizing agent like nitric acid or a reducing agent like sodium bisulfate combines with pigments like carbon or iron oxide. |
Orange/Yellow | – Orange/yellow inks form when a yellow dye gets added to another pigment, usually black or red. |
Blue | – Blue ink forms by mixing a pigment with a non-permanent dye and adding a reducing agent. |
White | – White ink is difficult to remove because it contains no pigment or dye but, titanium dioxide, one of the whitest substances on earth. |
Light blue | – Light blue is an ink made with a dye called phthalocyanine blue. This causes the ink to be tough to remove due to the chemical bonds the ink has formed with the skin. |
Light green | – Light green ink forms when a pigment and a non-permanent dye mix and are then subjected to heat and not really any other chemicals or anything else to ‘bake’ a dye into the skin. |
Black and white ink | – A mixture of black and white ink will be the hardest tattoo to remove because it is difficult to distinguish the color that makes up the tattoo. Removing a tattoo with black and gray ink can be extremely painful, although there are no long-term effects. |
Yellow | – Yellow inks form when a yellow dye gets added to another pigment, usually black or red. Many yellow inks also contain a silver metal, most commonly titanium dioxide. |
Does Tattoo Removal Leave Scars?
It depends on the tattoo and its location. If your tattoo is on the face, neck, or thigh, you can eliminate it with no negative effects.
Tattoos on other areas like arms and back will most likely leave a scar but won’t be noticeable unless you wear clothes that show off the area of your body.
Intricate tattoos sometimes leave scars, depending on how they did the tattoo. Hard-edged ink can hurt a little more than soft-edged ink, which makes you feel more pain.
This is because the topographical boundaries of your skin form a protective barrier that allows the skin to heal more naturally than if using a hard edge.
Certain factors can cause more damage to your skin than others. Suppose you are getting tattooed on sensitive areas like the forehead or cheeks.
You can experience more scarring from hypoallergenic ink than getting a large bold statement piece.
Whether it’s soft-edged or hard-edged, whether it’s small and intricate or big and bold, the idea of scarring does not have to discourage us from getting tattoos;
You can always go to a tattoo artist and ask them whether they use the best instruments and materials for doing your tattoo so that you don’t remain with any permanent marks.
Which Tattoos Can You Not Remove?
Tattoos you cannot remove | Description |
You Can’t Remove Some Colors | You cannot remove some colors, such as yellow, light blue, orange, and purple. Such colors confuse the laser, making it unable to distinguish between the ink and the skin. |
Metallic Ink | The metallic ink is also difficult to remove. It results from the metals in the ink. The removal process can be very damaging to your skin. |
Intricacy Of the Design | The intricacy of the design will make it hard to remove with laser treatment. The design will use up the laser’s treatment time. |
Permanent Makeup | Some tattoos may be permanent. Some tattoo removal methods don’t cover the tattoo edges when applying permanent makeup. You cannot remove the tattoo, either. |
Scars From Previous Laser Treatment | Scars from previous laser treatments may make it difficult to remove the tattoo using lasers. |
Do All Tattoos Go Green?
No! Usually, only black ink is prone to turning green with age, as your body absorbs the pigments and interacts with the environment. The color may change because of external elements, such as UV light, air pollution, and water.
However, sometimes tattoos do go green from exposure to chemicals. This can happen when a tattoo pigment mixes with a solvent.
The solvent evaporates over time, and the pigment particles remain, which can turn your tattoo green.
Look at the ingredients to ensure your tattoo does not go green. In particular, look for titanium dioxide and ferric ferrocyanide, often used to make white pigment (called opacifiers).
If present in a product, it may leave behind a blue-green residue that will react with your body.
Another common cause of green tattoos is iron and copper in unsterilized needles.
Once tattooed, body contact and other environmental elements can cause the iron to react with the copper sulfate in your body and turn your tattoo green.
It’s also possible for healthy chemical reactions to result in green tattoos. This happens when different pigments come into contact with one another.
A chemical reaction occurs, which causes a change in color or opacity.
Of course, the best way to prevent this problem is to follow your tattoo artist’s advice and use a non-squalene-based cleanse.
What Hurts More, Color or A Black Tattoo?
A black tattoo is traditionally more painful than a traditional color because pigment tends to have a higher concentration of pain-triggering chemicals.
If the tattoo is black ink in color, such as green or red, the concentration of chemicals is still high enough to cause pain.

However, if you have a tattoo made from black ink with no color other than the outline of the design, then it doesn’t hurt as much.
Note that color hurts less but doesn’t have as many chemical compounds. Even if the concentration of chemicals is lower, it will still produce pain if you get tattooed for the first time.
Thus, getting a black tattoo is possibly more painful than getting a colored one.
However, if you get a black tattoo with a color (such as a red rose), the colors will distract you from the pain.
In addition, people who get the most painful tattoos tend to be risk-takers who like to push themselves beyond their limits.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a black tattoo because they get excited and need something painful to do it. Therefore, getting a black tattoo isn’t necessarily more painful than getting one in another color.
What Hurts More, Shading or Line Work?
If you’re still wondering what hurts more, shading or line work, it’s a pretty close call. But some differences certainly make it worth taking a closer look.
Shading takes advantage of the convexity of the paper to create shadows where we often see these on objects in real life–but this is only one way in which shading can give your pictures realistic quality.
While shading can be amazingly realistic, it’s not always the right tool for the job. There are some uses where line work might be the better choice.
Shading is usually possible with cross-hatching, where the texture created by multiple lines creates shadows and depth to an image.
You can do it with a single line lightened or darkened in places, but it’s more common to use multiple lines in different directions to create the illusion of 3-dimensional objects.
The line work is just that: one continuous or broken line. Except for fine details, the line work is almost always possible in a single stroke.
Shading can make things look realistic, but it takes a few more lines than line work. On the left, you have a picture with no line work whatsoever; on the right, you have a more lifelike picture, thanks to shading.
While there are many uses for shading and line work, it’s important to know which you should use for each piece.
Where Do Tattoos Hurt the Most?
Body Part | Description |
Thigh Tattoos | Thigh tattoos are often very painful because you need to do them over thicker layers of fat that cause the needle to pierce much deeper because of their resistance. |
Ankle Tattoos | Ankle tattoos are also quite painful because they’re often done on the thin, sensitive skin below the ankle joint, which has no fat to pierce through. |
Stomach Tattoos | Stomach tattoos are very painful because fat can be quite thick in this area, and the needle needs to pierce through several fairly thick layers of fat, increasing the pain felt during the procedure. |
Rib Cage Tattoos | Rib cage tattoos are quite bad because of the density of the underlying bones that need piercing during the procedure. |
Thigh And Groin Tattoos | Tattoos on the thigh, groin and thigh area cause a lot of pain because of their large leg muscles, which make it difficult to pierce through. |
Nape Tattoos | Nape tattoos are painful because there is much more resistance when the needle enters through this thick skin layer around your neck. |
Large Shoulder Tattoos | Tattoos in this area cause a lot of pain because of the large muscles that need piercing and the thin layer of skin only covering the underlying bone. |
Back Tattoos | Back tattoos are very painful because the muscles in this area are thick and resistant to piercing, increasing the pain experienced during tattooing. |
Situational Factors That Affect Tattoo Sessions
Factors | Description |
Stress Levels | High-stress levels can lead to a general feeling of anxiety and tension, resulting in increased heart rate, breathing rate, and difficulty sleeping. These feelings and symptoms may also increase your risk of infection. In addition, a stressed-out person may be more susceptible to changes in mood or behavior, which could also result in an increased risk for infection. |
Tattooing Conditions | Lack of proper sanitation procedures could cause poor hygienic conditions and the spread of disease. Infection control practices are necessary to protect public health, including the tattoo artist, client, studio, and surrounding environment. |
Tattooing Tools | Unsanitary conditions, poor equipment maintenance, and a lack of good cleaning methods can all contribute to unnecessary risks. Not all tattoo artists have training in basic hygienic practices, and clean rooms may not be a guarantee. |
Tattooing Procedures | Tattooing procedures can involve many issues affecting the client’s health or safety. Such as exposure to contaminated equipment or materials, immunocompromised clients, and heavy equipment or machines that may cause noise exposure or vibrations. |
Skin Conditions | Skin conditions, such as psoriasis, diabetes, or a weakened immune system, could affect the outcome of a tattoo session. Skin conditions that might affect your tattoo include: |
A) Diabetes Mellitus | Diabetes is a chronic health condition characterized by high blood glucose levels and inadequate insulin production. These issues may cause skin irritation and breakdown. |
b) Psoriasis | Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition with red, patchy, itchy, or painful eruptions. |
c) Immunosuppressed clients (HIV, Cancer, etc.) | Physical or mental stress from illnesses such as cancer or HIV can increase the risk of infection. You should minimize health conditions before the tattoo session and perform blood work on the client before the procedure. |
The Do’s and Don’ts During a Tattoo Session
Do’s
1. Do Your Research
First, research the tattoo artist and the shop you plan to visit. Inspect the tattoo artist’s portfolio and shop work for quality, and ask your tattoo artist about their experiences.
Check out what other people are saying online. Ask questions you might have on the day of your appointment.
2. Ask Questions
Once you feel comfortable that you’ve done your research and are ready to go ahead with your tattoo session, taking control of the situation is important.
Don’t let your tattoo artist change the design you’ve already signed off on. Be prepared to speak up if you don’t like what you see during the process.
3. Do Book an Appointment
You should always make an appointment ahead of time, especially if you are thinking about getting a large tattoo or getting your tattoo on a busy holiday weekend (like Memorial Day or July 4th weekend).
4. Ensure You Get a Price Quote
Every tattoo artist has a unique style and work hours per week/month. Make sure that you ask for the tattoo artist’s hourly rate upfront. Don’t be afraid to ask for a price quote based on the design and size of your new tattoo.

5. Know What You Want
If you want more artistic freedom with your next tattoo, plan out the design before you visit an artist to get ideas. If you need to be more creative, include an example of the design or a picture of what you like.
Don’ts
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Talk
If you know what you want, understand what your tattoo artist is trying to accomplish, and are happy with the design, then there is no reason to be shy.
2. Don’t Pay in Full Upfront
You should never pay the full price for your tattoo up front. Most tattoo artists require at least 50% upfront, which will help them budget for future work and help you stick to your budget.
3. Don’t Make Any Last-Minute Changes
A tattoo artist will do their best to work with you and ensure they create your dream piece of art.
However, if you change your mind at the last minute, getting a replica of the original design you requested can take time and effort.
4. Don’t Bring an Entourage
It’s okay to check with your friends or family members about your tattoo artist’s work in progress. Remember, everyone’s opinion is different, so follow your judgment.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Show a Little Skin
With tattoos, there is no shame. You should feel comfortable showing off the area where you are getting tattooed. However, ask the tattoo artist if there are any guidelines for showing skin.
7 Other Factors that Influence the Number of Tattoo Sessions
1. Age
The age of the client will also influence the number of sessions. Age is also a good indicator of maturity and responsibility.
For example, a six-week-old will require only one session, whereas a 21-year-old would likely need over five sessions.
2. Body Placement
When placed on the body, the number of sessions needed depends on where it is.
For example, you would need a single session if a tattoo is on the leg but not on the arm, while a tattoo placed in this location would require over ten sessions.
3. Custom Design
The types of designs and images used will also affect the number of sessions needed to complete a tattoo.
A single tattoo that contains a complex design can take up to ten sessions, and an artist may only complete it once the client is older than 18.
4. Method
Tattooing methods, such as cutting and piercing, will also affect how many sessions you need to complete the design.
Cutting methods are less time-consuming and need fewer sessions, while methods such as piercing need several sessions.
5. Size
The size of the tattoo also affects the number of sessions needed to complete it. For instance, a large design like the word “LOVE” on the forearm would consume more time and sessions than a small design on the ankle.
6. Type of Removal
The type of removal method used to remove the tattoo will also affect the number of sessions needed. For example, if you use a laser to remove it, you would need only one or two sessions.
7. Pain Tolerance
The pain tolerance of the client also determines how many sessions are necessary. Some clients require more sessions to get used to the pain, while others can even endure ten sessions at a time.
Conclusion
Tattoo sessions are very personal procedures for several reasons. Before scheduling a session, it is important to consider the tattoo’s age, body location, and design.
Once you’ve decided on your design, take control of the situation and ensure that you are happy with all aspects before meeting up with your tattoo artist.