Personal preferences on tattooing necks and hands

[Iwar]

I know that certain artists refuse customers hands and/or neck tattoos unless they're heavily tattooed or are tattooers themselves.

If you're a tattoo artist, what's your personal preferences to tattooing these placements?

And to the collectors; are you planning on getting these spots tattooed before "filling up"?

Those of you who already have had your hands and necks tattooed before running out of space; what was your motivation? I know several artists say they do it to show their dedication to the craft, and as Mario mentioned in another thread that he wanted to look like a tattooer, so I guess this question is directed at the enthusiasts.

I'm personally planning to save those spots untill I've got no other space left (if I get them done at all).

[gougetheeyes]

I would love to get my hands and neck tattooed. Here's why I'm waiting/saving them for last:

1.) I've got an entire back, stomach and right leg that are bare.

2.) I'm not in an industry where I can get away with it. (Maybe in ten years if I'm some kind of superstar..)

3.) I truly feel that those spots should be earned, especially if you're not a tattooer.

3a.) Nothing lamer than some dude who only has hand and neck tattoos.. especially when they're tiny.

4.) I have two little tattoos on the inside of my fingers -- they were excruciating. I plan on being extra choosy about who tattoos my hands. And neck.

5.) I live in NY. Tattoos very accepted here but it also means I have to see everyone's half-assed hipster hand tattoos.. which really forces you think about em.

6.) How do you have the balls to walk into a shop with only a few tattoos and ask to get your hands tattooed? I'd be bashful even to ask my tattooer friends right now..

[CaptCanada]

I would like to get my hands done at some point, if my life style permits it. My neck I'm not looking do much into it, it's just to much in your face for me. But having my hands done would only come after the rest, hell I don't even wanna touch my arms until I have my legs/chest/back finished. Just something that I want to go though, only get tattoos that show after I get my body done. Not In any real rush for everyday people to know I have tattoos. If you know me then I don't care, cause I know you, but some stranger, mind your own buisness.

What's funny is living in japan and seeing the majority of normal folks that have tatooes on their hands or neck have maybe at the most 2 other tattoos on there body.

[s33ktruth]

I wish more shops would consider about tattooing hands and necks, than just giving it out, but it's personal preference on the shop owner's and artist. I am tired of seeing people who don't even have sleeves get the side of the neck or hands done before even getting their legs done. I saw this kid at the mall who had a small tattoo on the side of his face of a cross, and he didn't have any other tattoos. Another example, I saw a kid who had all of his hands and neck done, but no sleeves, it just looked stupid.

On personal taste, I think having the side of you're neck looks good if it isn't too huge, and the top of you're hands if you already have sleeves/legs and you're torso/chest/stomach already done. I am still debating if I would get my hands done, the side of the neck unless I was really sure on what I'm doing in the future.

[Jake]

Slightly off topic but the people with neck/hands done and no other visible tattoos never tip good (I work food service-not tattooing.) They're dumb asses in more ways than one it turns out.

[CaptCanada]

Slightly off topic but the people with neck/hands done and no other visible tattoos never tip good (I work food service-not tattooing.) They're dumb asses in more ways than one it turns out.

Yeah, we have one guy that sometimes comes here from Hawaii, he has front/back of his neck, both hands and knuckles done and from what I know only has 3 smallish tattoos on his arms.... he is one of the biggest assholes that I've met.

[Lochlan]

Almost my whole life I have always ran with people years older than me so I think I forgot and often times still forget they are older than me, set in their professions, and lots of other variables that I forgot/forget when starting to get visible tattoos. Not gonna psychoanalyze it and I don't regret it one bit, however, do know even living in SF/Bay Area it has limited me in certain cases here and working elsewhere. I do know I've had to and continue to have to prove myself to many people in my profession not familiar with my work due to being "heavily" tattooed. I wear suits to my contracts to compensate for the tattoos though I do have an obsession with suits and think i partially developed it due to the visible tattoos and my work. Bottomline, I totally get the argument and support the argument to get a fair amount of other spots done first.

I had to goto other tattooers early on as Scott and some others would not tattoo my hands, fingers, and/or neck until more recently like the last two years or something.

My first finger/thumb tattoo was done by I can't remember who around nine years ago.

My first hand tattoo which is a small one in between my thumb and pointer finger was done by Tim Lehi around nine years ago at Tattoo City and had a mutual friend of ours take me in-between some of Tim's other appointments. Tim didn't seem too phased by the fact I didn't have my arms fully covered.

For my other hand tattoo I went to Zach Johnson when he was at Picture Machine in SF which was a spur of the moment thing. I swung by the shop to hangout with some of the guys there before dinner and one thing led to another and blammo, hand tattoo covering the whole top and missed my dinner reservations.

My fingers were also done at Picture Machine except I believe by Iggy and I was pretty well covered on my arms and about half my front done by this time.

I went to Nick Rodin when he first moved up here to do my neck tattoos as Scott Sylvia refused to do my hands and neck for many many years though I had almost both arms sleeved and my front pretty well covered in tattoos. I totally respect Scott for his reasons and acted like a kid hiding something from their parents, haha. I remember my heart beating pretty damn fast hoping he didn't ask what I was in getting tattooed that day. For those who don't know they both work at Blackheart so I just acted like I was there getting a regular old tattoo from Nick. I remember when Scott walked over mid tattoo, looked at what was going down, shook his head and gave one of those chuckles/laughs he does. I am very satisfied with the tattoos Nick did and Scott even came over and gave Nick some visual help on the front of the neck tattoo as Nick asked for his advice.

Scott has since given in and tattooed my upper knuckles and sides of my fingers.

As mentioned above, I don't regret them though know it has limited me and will continue to limit me and/or put obstacles in my way. Yes, Scott and some of the other older friends were right and can say, "I/we told you so".