Half sleeve or full sleeve
| Half sleeve | Full sleeve | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Upper or lower arm | Shoulder to wrist |
| Sessions | Several | Many |
| Planning | One composition | One composition, often built over time |
Designed as one piece
A good sleeve isn't a collection of separate tattoos — it is a composition that flows around the arm, with a background that ties the elements together. Styles such as Japanese, black and grey realism and ornamental are often chosen for sleeves.
Sessions and healing
Each session covers part of the design; the skin needs to heal before the next area is worked on. How many sessions depends on the design, detail and your skin — the studio estimates it once it has seen your idea.
On a holiday
A sleeve rarely fits in a single week. Many visitors plan the design, complete a first session and continue on a later visit. Tell the studio your dates and whether you return to Side regularly.
General information, not medical advice. Your artist's instructions come first; for anything worrying, see a doctor.