Getting a full sleeve tattoo and have a few questions?

maverick83: Getting a full sleeve tattoo and have a few questions?
I am planning to get a full sleeve tattoo on my right arm soon. It will be a mix of tribal design with some text down my lower arm. As this will be my first tattoo, and will be a substantial size I really want to get it right. What should I do next? How much should I expect to pay? How many sittings will it take? My mates reckon I stick with black coloring however I really want to get full colors, will the color fade?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Chance C
Congrats on your first tat, and I garuntee it wont be your last!

I would make sure that you think about your design for at least a year. I hope that you have already done this so your proccess will run faster. I took a span of a year drawing up my back piece, and it looks completly different than it did a year ago. So, after you have your idea or design pretty much decided, research a shop. (Cheap tattoos = cheap tattoos. its well worth paying more) The price really depends on where you live, and if you are going to get coloring or not. I would think that if you are getting jet black, a full sleave, probably estimated around $ 400 in the US, but major cities are deffinately way pricier. (I was quoted $ 120 on a stick man on my foot in orange county)

Finding a shop and an artist can be really easy. Find a shop with a good reputation that isnt too new. Almost all shops have different style artists there, so I would look in their portfolios and choose the artists that has the best tribal work and words. Then just ask to speak with them, (Their name is on their portfolio)

As far as time goes, for the tattoo i just previously talked about, you can plan on spending 2 6 hour sessions. (sessions are usually a month apart, unless you are a harcore masicist and like the feeling of beeing tattooed on a new tattoo.) And most artists offer at least one free touch up, after the tattoo is healed.

Black and white tattoos can be considered very traditional, and are equally as popular as color. Color tattoos do fade, but I personally believe thats the life of the tattoo and it gives it more meaning. Your artist should be able to tell you wich colors fade faster than others.

I hope you make a good choice and good luck!

Answer by tatt_bratt
First off, don’t even think you will ever be anywhere near $ 400 for a sleeve if you go to a reputable shop. Chance was talking about 2 six hour sessions too..that comes to $ 33/hr. Not bloody likely. Depending on your artist, expect $ 100-150/hr. on average.

Also, most will do a three hour session, not six so it will take more. There is no way to anticipate cost and time for what you have described – this could be very simple or very complex. Tribal and lettering would be best in black or black and gray, not color. All color fades, even black, when you expose your arm to the sun and there is no way to avoid that.

Answer by mark s
Personally i have a lot of tattoos,do not get text unless it is celtic or latin etc,because text ages with your interests, also,try to get a tattooist who uses the brand new american colours,mine are 15yrs old and have not faded to the usual green blobs.Lastly expect a large bill for the better quality tattoo,try to negotiate with the tattooist for his hourly rate,most have one, sittings vary with how detailed the design is and what pain you can take,weather affects pain threshold,cold is better,lastly get a one off design which the tattooist can tear up afterwards,otherwise you may end up with the 21st century version of a bulldog,tasmanian devil or grim reaper.good luck.mark

Answer by Oldgrump
These are questions that you should ask your tattooist, not random strangers on the internet.

We don’t know exactly what work is required, so we don’t know how long it will take and, therefore, how many sittings you’ll need. We don’t know how much your tattooist charges or his payment policy, so we don’t know how you will have to pay or how much. as for the colour – well, all colours fade over time, but modern inks are more stable than they used to be so fading takes longer (depending how you look after your tat that is.)

Go speak to your tattooist and they will give you a proper answer to your questions.

Answer by White lighting
It can run pretty high, depends on the artist, and his reputation. Also depends on how much detail is going into it, color blending, and the size of your arm. All sleeves are not alike! He’s going to have to draw up a variety of stencils, plus do some drawing on you. The price could vary a great deal… from eight hundred up. If you already have work on your arm, and he just needs to do the fill, it won’t be as pricey to tie it together. And the color will be lighter when the scab comes off, always is. Take care.

Answer by ponysix8
Gotta ask…Why tribal?

Answer by Ken K
first of all….don’t get tribal….tribal is the single most popular tattoo going…..the reason for that is that it takes 0 thought.

First find out what constitutes a good tattoo….second, find an artist capable of that, third listen to thier recomendations.

sleeves cost anywhere from $ 3k on up for a decent artist,

# of sittings depends on how tough you are. the longer you can sit the less sitting it will take. Color will fade, but so does black, get what you like, your mates won’t be the ones wear the tattoo….you will!

Answer by Jim S
You might want to check out a review site that will give you some great ideas on a full sleeve tattoo at