Tattoo artists share the 3 biggest mistakes people make when getting arm and sleeve tattoos

• Insider spoke to four tattoo artists who shared the errors people make with arm tattoos.
• They said that a lack of preparation and planning can lead to a cluttered design.

Whether you choose a small design or a larger sleeve, arm tattoos allow for a lot of fun and creativity.

However, while the arm is a popular spot for new ink, tattooing larger parts of the body such as this can lead to mistakes.

Insider spoke to four US-based tattoo artists who shared the three most common errors people should avoid when getting a sleeve, half-sleeve, or a smaller arm tattoo.

Lack of planning can lead to a cluttered and random design

Vanessa and Tiffany are tattoo artists at High Hopes Tattoo, a queer female-owned studio in Brooklyn, New York. They have been tattooing for 11 years and three years respectively.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when getting multiple arm tattoos is failing to plan the design ahead of time, according to Vanessa and Tiffany.

"They think because the canvas is larger, more details and a lot of subject matter can be added," Tiffany said, adding that a sleeve can "start to look really cluttered and confusing" if there are no primary focal points.

Meanwhile, Vanessa said some people can end up choosing "something totally random" to fill awkward, empty spots on the arm if the sleeve hasn't been planned out enough.

To avoid this, Tiffany suggests planning out a general theme with "a few key elements that takes the arm's curved surface into consideration."

Some people aren't willing to pay more for good-quality sleeves

Madeleine is a traveling tattoo artist based in the US, specializing in micro-realism with soft shading and concept tattoos.

Madeleine, who has been in the industry for more than four years, says realistic full-color, black-and-gray tattoos, and fine-line floral sleeves are all popular choices when it comes to arm tattoos.

Clients should expect to pay at least $1,000 for a sleeve tattoo or even for a half-sleeve, Madeleine said, noting that the price will vary depending on the size, intricacy of the piece, and the artist's rates.

But despite this, Madeleine said it's common for some people to try and get these types of tattoos for "as cheap as possible."

"It's ironic how much money we constantly invest in our phones or other material objects. However, when it comes to something that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives, it can seem that many people do not give it the importance it deserves," Madeleine said.

"A few $100 more can save you from nightmares or having to adapt to something you're not entirely happy with," they added.

Choose the right artist

Pobi is a fine-line tattoo artist based in Soho, New York. They have been tattooing for three years and regularly share sketched designs and finished tattoos on Instagram.

Pobi said some people will commit to getting an arm or sleeve tattoo without thoroughly researching the artist or style that they want.

Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest can help with researching particular styles and finding artists with experience in that style. While some artists, such as Pobi, specialize in smaller, fine-line designs, other artists may be better suited to neo-classical or traditional ink.

"A sleeve is a commitment and can take many hours to complete, so you want to make sure you choose the right artist for you," Pobi said.