I like to see a tattoo belong, looking as though it was always part of that person and the tattooer just needed to remove enough skin for the rest of the world to see. In order for this to happen great care must be taken when conceptualising then executing a design ensuring proper placement on the clients anatomy. I often get asked to do coverups because people are not happy with a tattoo received where the person doing the work was happy to slap a stencil on the flattest surface and cram as much detail in as possible. This looks great as a picture for that tattooer but what does it do for the clients body? Has it enhanced the way they look and feel? If the answer is yes then great but for a lot of people this just isn’t the case.

When I’m talking to prospective clients at the consultation stage I often compare what I do to that of a tailor. I want to create a smart, stylish design that will fit their body in just the right way. In order to obtain these results I have rules that I follow based on not only the tattoos I have done previously but also the ones I have received personally, each one helping to shape me and my beliefs of what a tattoo is.

However when I get asked by a woman

1) Do I tattoo women      (sometimes)

2) Can I tattoo them       (maybe)

It poses me with a completely different challenge. A lot of the rules I apply for a mans tattoo become redundant and I feel pressure to not destroy the feminine beauty only present in a woman. I have spoke previously over the years to my partner Jo (yes I have tattooed her) about whether I should tattoo women or not, whether what I do can become feminin. The answer came when I was asked to do a back piece which I made flow down the leg, once it was lined and I stepped back and felt comfortable that the desired result was achieved, unfortunately I never got to finish the tattoo but I guess that’s just how it goes.

It also made me realise that as important as the design and placement is it must also be on the right person. There are plenty of women out there that are beautiful and confident enough to wear and pull off a suit so long as they’re not fitted with a mans measurements. We live in a time where we try and make one size fit all, try and hide the distinction between men and women. Instead I say embrace our differences, rejoice in the sexes and understand that one is not better than the other, but rather we balance each other out like Ying and Yang, the Sun and the Moon.

I know I wouldn’t feel happy if I went to get tattooed and the person doing it came up with a feminine design as it wouldn’t reflect and enhance who I am, so I always try and extend the same courtesy to my clients. All it requires is a little tweak of the rules 😉