What makes a good tattoo?
This question can have many different answers. Here’s my take on it, based on insights from some of the most experienced tattoo artists in the industry.
Here are a few criteria I believe every good tattoo should include:
The tattoo should respect the body’s flow
The human body has natural lines and contours that can’t be ignored. While these vary from person to person, placing a tattoo in a way that doesn’t align with the body’s natural flow can ruin even the most beautiful design.
For example, placing a tattoo of a circle on a part of the body that isn’t flat will distort the shape, turning it into an awkward oval. This is a simple illustration, but it highlights how important placement is.
A more complex example is portrait tattoos. Portraits rely on oval shapes and specific proportions, so placing them on an uneven part of the body can warp the features and make the tattoo look strange. For instance, placing a portrait on the elbow—a joint with uneven skin that folds—would distort the design entirely.
These are just a few examples, but they show that there are unwritten rules about where certain tattoos and designs make the most sense. Unfortunately, I often see otherwise amazing designs that lose their appeal due to poor placement.
The tattoo should have balanced flow and harmonious composition
This point ties closely to the first but focuses more on the design’s internal composition and the relationship between its elements.
A tattoo design should be balanced and harmonious. For example, if a client wants a rose and a lion tattooed together, you can’t simply place them side by side without thought. Adding a transitional element, like a smoke effect (a very popular choice) or shading, can separate the two subjects and make the design feel more organic and readable.
Alternatively, overlapping elements—like having the rose partially overlay the lion—can add depth and dynamic movement to the tattoo, making it feel less flat and dull.
Of course, how this works in practice depends on the tattoo style. Whether it’s realism, traditional, or fine line, the same principles of balance and flow apply.
The tattoo should be easy to read
This point might spark debate among tattoo artists, but I believe readability is one of the most important aspects of a good tattoo.
This is especially relevant for larger tattoos, as they’re often meant to be seen. For instance, with a full-back tattoo, you should be able to distinguish the various elements from a distance. If you have to get up close to figure out what the tattoo depicts, some of its impact is lost. After all, why cover a whole back if someone standing two meters away can’t make sense of it?
Poor readability can result from several factors:
Lack of Proper Shading or Contrast: Without enough contrast, the elements in a tattoo can blend together, making it hard to distinguish the design.
Overcrowding: Trying to fit too many elements into a small space is another common issue. For instance, when designing a full sleeve, a good rule of thumb is to have one major element on the forearm and another on the upper arm. This keeps the design clean and easy to read.
Maintaining readability also ensures the tattoo ages better, which leads to the next point.
The tattoo should be durable
Tattoos are permanent, so they should stay looking great for as long as possible. Size plays a significant role in this—small tattoos rarely age well over a lifetime. If you want something that remains beautiful for decades, larger tattoos like full sleeves or back pieces are often the better choice.
Skin ages—that’s an unavoidable fact. Tattoos “live” with your skin, changing over time. As tattoo artists, we have a responsibility to ensure the tattoos we create maintain their quality for as long as possible.
The best durability is achieved through designs that are airy and not overly detailed in small spaces. As a customer, this can be hard to predict, so it’s crucial to listen to your tattoo artist. If your artist says a design may not age well, they’re usually right.
Some clients still choose to proceed with designs that the tattoo artist may not consider particularly durable, and that’s completely fine—as long as they understand the potential consequences. Personally, I always aim to inform my clients as thoroughly as possible so they can make the best decision, especially now that I primarily create small tattoos, which simply don’t have the same longevity as larger pieces.
The client should be happy with the tattoo
There are many tattoo artists with oversized egos who sometimes prioritize their artistic ambitions over their clients’ wishes—or who simply don’t care about customer service. But what good is a tattoo if the person wearing it isn’t happy with it?
I believe there’s always a way to strike a balance, where the client gets what they want, and the tattoo artist is satisfied with the artistic outcome. This should always be done while respecting the points I’ve outlined in this article.
Some might think this last point is unnecessary, but it’s important to remember that tattooing is a service profession. We are craftspeople whose goal is to fulfill our clients’ wishes. If customer satisfaction isn’t achieved, then the tattoo hasn’t reached its full potential.
Conclusion – A good tattoo is more than just a great design and technique
In my opinion, a good tattoo is one that fulfills all the points I’ve mentioned here and makes the client happy.
This is something my first tattoo mentor taught me after his 25+ years in the industry, and it’s a principle I always keep in mind when designing tattoos for my clients.
The most important aspect of a good tattoo is that the client walks out the door satisfied—and continues to feel that way for years to come.
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