Tattoo designs are something almost all of consider getting at one point or another. A common tattoo that many of us think about is the foot tattoo. Before you decide on getting a foot tattoo design, there are several important things you must take into consideration and that may sway your opinion on whether it is right for you. Here we will cover some foot tattoo design ideas, places to put your designs on your foot, how much tattoos in these areas hurt and some important foot-specific aftercare and healing information that you need to be aware of. All of these topics will help you determine whether getting a foot tattoo design is the best decision for you.
Design Ideas for Foot Tattoos
While the foot provides a smaller area compared to other parts of your body, there are still many options for great designs. A common foot tattoo design is one that includes an ankle tattoo of an anklet that flows around the ankle and includes a large pendant that covers the foot. Common pendant symbols include the cross or even feathers. Others opt to get flowers, such as the cherry blossom foot tattoo design, that run diagonally across the foot. Still, others choose to get creative tattoo lettering designs along with other smaller symbols that they find meaningful. For those interested in getting a tattoo on their feet but who want a larger design, a design that starts at the foot and runs up the leg is often selected. There are many designs of various sizes that look great on the feet, and there are also many places to put your foot tattoo designs.
Places to Put Tattoo Designs on Your Feet
There are many more places on the foot where a foot tattoo design can call home than most people originally realize. When people think about putting a tattoo on their foot, they think about ankle tattoos or placing a tattoo on the top area of the foot. These are both great locations. However, they can also be placed on both the inner and outer sides of the foot. They can be placed around the toes like toe rings. And, probably one of the least considered locations, foot tattoo designs can be placed on the sole of the foot. There are many more places to put your design and even more ways to make your foot tattoo design unique.
Are Foot Tattoos Painful?
No matter what tattoo you choose to get and where you choose to place it on your body, you will experience some level of pain. However, some parts of the body are more painful for tattoos than others. The foot tattoo design is one that is not suited for those with lower pain tolerance levels. Because the foot is all skin and bone with almost no muscle, like the ankle and wrist tattoo designs, getting a tattoo on this area can be very painful. This includes even the sole of the foot which can also be very painful. Some people find this area extremely painful, while others do not notice any difference as compared to getting other areas of the body tattooed. Before getting your design, it is important to take into account your own personal pain tolerance.
Aftercare and Healing for Best Foot Tattoo Designs
To ensure that your foot tattoo design looks its best and does not cause any issues, it is important to understand the aftercare efforts required for this tattoo. If you are interested in getting a tattoo, consider whether you have any specific shoe requirements for school or work. If you get a tattoo on your foot, you must leave it uncovered (that means no socks and no shoes) until it has fully healed, which takes about 3 weeks. If you must wear socks or close-toed shoes, this may not be the right option for you as wearing socks and shoes will make you much more prone to getting an infected tattoo.
The foot on its own accord is hard to keep clean since it is exposed to so much dirt on a daily basis. Add in the socks and shoes, however, and it will be extremely difficult to prevent tattoo infection. Furthermore, wearing footwear will make it very easy to smudge your foot tattoo design and increase the chances you will need to get touch-ups done.
If you are dead set on getting a tattoo in this area, there are likely some workarounds that you can use. Some people tape plastic wrapping over their design and then put on socks or shoes. However, it is suggested that you talk to your tattoo artist about your aftercare options before getting your tattoo to prevent any chance of tattoo infection and ensure safety.
The foot tattoo design is one that needs to be thought through completely before moving forward. There are many things to consider when deciding on getting a tattoo in this location including the variety of designs available, where on your foot you would like to place your tattoo, the level of pain tolerance needed for these tattoos and tattoo aftercare, healing and infection prevention requirements. After considering each of these points, you will be well on your way of deciding whether getting a tattoo on your foot is right for you at this point and time.