Getting a sleeve tattoo

What is a sleeve tattoo?

With the increasing popularity of tattoos, so-called tattoo sleeves are also increasingly popular. A tattoo sleeve is a tattoo or combination of tattoos covering a large part of the arm. Not surprisingly, the name tattoo sleeve comes directly from the English word sleeve, which means as much as sleeve. Just like a sleeve, tattoo sleeves can be of different sizes, covering different parts of your arm. For example, partial sleeves can cover only the upper arm (quarter sleeve) or only the lower arm (lower arm sleeve). Since whole tattoo sleeves are often the result of combinations of several larger and smaller tattoos, a tattoo sleeve generally takes a lot longer than a single tattoo.

How long does a sleeve last?

Of course, this depends on the size of the tattoo sleeve you have in mind, but bear in mind that getting a sleeve done will generally take several visits to the tattoo studio. In addition, you’ll need to allow plenty of time in between sessions for the skin to heal. So you can’t just get your sleeve done in a couple of days. As well as patience, good planning is therefore essential when getting a tattoo sleeve. Together with your tattoo artist you can plan well which parts of your sleeve you want to have done earlier and later, so that between tattoo sessions you can already wear your partial sleeve with pride.

Getting a sleeve tattoo

Because of the considerable investment in time and money you will need to make for a complete tattoo sleeve, it is especially important for tattoo sleeves that you think about how you want to design your sleeve well in advance. Take your time to collect examples and other forms of inspiration and discuss these ideas with your tattoo artist. Your tattoo artist will be able to tell you which combinations of elements work well together and which elements do not stand out well as part of a sleeve, for example. Since getting a sleeve will take you a lot more time than getting a single tattoo anyway, it can't hurt to take some extra time to get a good idea of what you want your tattoo sleeve to look like.

An entire tattoo sleeve can also be created by tattooing a new section each time. Perhaps you start with a partial sleeve on just the upper arm, for example. You can then start more easily and always consider later whether and how to extend your sleeve to the lower parts of your arm. In this way, you can let your tattoo sleeve become a true life story tattooed on your arm at different stages of your life.

Tattoo sleeve designs

If you want to get a tattoo sleeve, but are not quite sure how you want your tattoo sleeve to look, it is a good idea, especially for a tattoo sleeve, to make a so-called mind map. This way, you can write down certain topics and themes you would like to incorporate in your tattoo sleeve, and attach any other words, images, thoughts and ideas that come to mind. In effect, you are making a conceptual sketch of your future sleeve. This way, you can also think about and research the different styles in which you could have your sleeve made beforehand. Would you like to know more about tattoo sleeves or discuss your ideas with a tattoo artist? Then get in touch with us!

A sleeve needs an artist who suits your style. Take a look at the work of our tattoo artists and find out how much a sleeve costs on the page tattoo prices.

Frequently asked questions about sleeve tattoos