You’ve thought a lot about the type of tattoo you want to get, but have you thought enough about your tattoo placement choice? Where you get your tattoo can impact the amount of pain you feel during your session, the longevity of your tattoo, and what type of design will look good.
When it comes to ankle tattoos, there are a few things you should think about before you get inked.
Do Ankle Tattoos Hurt?
Questions about tattoo pain are complex. Getting tattooed involves getting pierced with a needle a number of times to deposit the ink into the deeper level of the skin, the dermis. Your body is getting wounded, which hurts.
Everyone experiences pain differently, however, some areas are on average more painful than others. This depends on the amount of fat and muscle between the skin and bone. In the case of the ankle as a tattoo placement, because it’s a boney area, this tends to be a painful choice.
Healthline explains,
“Your ankle bones and shin bones lie just beneath thin layers of skin, making it very painful to be tattooed in these areas. Ankle and shin tattoos usually cause severe pain. It’s about the same level of pain caused by tattooing over your rib cage.”
So, you can expect pain if you opt for an ankle tattoo. Luckily, there are steps you can take in order to make the experience a bit more comfortable.
How To Lessen The Pain Of An Ankle Tattoo
You may want to take painkillers for your appointment. This can be a bad idea, as some painkillers thin the blood which results in a bloodier tattoo experience. If you bleed too much, your artist’s view is impacted, which can lead to your appointment taking longer.
Swap the alcohol for water leading up to your appointment, as alcohol also thins the blood. Upping your water intake will keep you hydrated for your session – hydrated skin is a better tattoo canvas.
Also, it may be a good idea to cut out coffee before getting your tattoo. Saved Tattoo points out,
“Caffeine overconsumption can make you shaky and restless, and during a tattoo, you want to be calm and steady. This can make things harder for your tattoo artist since your restlessness will affect their accuracy and concentration during tattooing.”
Get a good night’s rest before your appointment – being overtired could make you feel the pain more severely – and eat a healthy, substantial meal to make sure your blood sugar levels are stable.
However, the pain doesn’t end when your tattoo is done. There’s still the healing process.
How Long Do Ankle Tattoos Take To Heal?
With proper aftercare, a tattoo can take two to four weeks to heal.
The ankle is a sensitive part of the body, so you’ll still experience some discomfort during the healing process.
To lessen the pain and help your tattoo heal, you can:
- Raise your leg and ankle to reduce the swelling.
- Avoid rubbing your tattoo – keep it open and aired.
- Keep your new tattoo clean. Authority Tattoo suggests,
“As the ankle is so close to the ground, take more care not to get it dirty. Even consider changing your bedsheets more regularly than usual to avoid infection.”
Do Ankle Tattoos Fade Easily?
A lot needs to be considered when it comes to how a tattoo will fade; placement is one of those things. This is because certain placements of the body come into close contact with clothes and are always exposed to the sun, which makes ink fade more quickly. The ankle is one of these placements.
“…they may eventually blur due to years of friction from socks and shoes,”
Bustle
Further to this, the ankle is a joint that moves all the time. This stretching and pulling can impact the healing process and result in broken lines.
The rays of the sun speed up the breakdown of tattoo ink, so it’s important to keep your healing tattoo out of the sun and lather on sunscreen when you do expose your tattoo in order to prolong the crispness of your design.
Tattoos with fine lines and tattoos with tiny negative spaces also tend to fade fast.
“Small intricate negative spaces also do not age well. As the color around these small details blur, they will eventually fill in these negative spaces with tattoo color from the surrounding area. Depending on how small the space is it can distort the detail or fill it up completely,”
Bustle
Ankle Tattoo Ideas
The ankle area is a small placement area for a tattoo, so mini tattoo designs work well here.
Anchor Ankle Tattoo
An anchor is a great minimalistic tattoo to get. Not only does it work well as a small design because it can be super simple, but it’s also a meaningful tattoo choice.
“Many opt for an anchor tattoo to remind them to stay firm, solid, and tranquil during times of trouble. It is what keeps them clear-minded during tough emotional times,”
Tattoo Filter
Wrap Around Ankle Tattoos
This is one of the most popular design choices for ankle tattoos. There are many options when it comes to anklet tattoos, including:
- Floral anklet tattoos
- Solid band ankle tattoos
- Jewelry ankle tattoos
- Rosary anklet tattoos
Heart Ankle Tattoo
A heart tattoo is a simplistic design that doesn’t lack meaning.
“The symbol could serve as a reminder of heartbreak and how far the individual has come, it could be used to commemorate a loved one after their untimely passing, or be a simple yet powerful expression of love and desire,”
Trend Spotter
If the simplicity of the heart symbol isn’t for you, you can opt for an anatomical heart tattoo. This realism can create a unique ankle tattoo that shows your love of detail.
Rose Ankle Tattoo
Flowers are one of the most popular choices for tattoos, and one of the most favored in the body art world is the rose. For years, a rose has symbolized passion and love.
However, the color of the rose can impact the symbolism. A black rose can act as a memorial for a lost loved one, white roses represent purity and loyalty, and yellow roses mean joy.
Wings Ankle Tattoo
Want a tiny wing tattoo? The ankle is a great placement choice. Hermes, the messenger god for the Ancient Greek gods of Mount Olympus, had winged sandals which made him the fastest of all the gods. A tattoo of wings on the ankle can represent freedom, divinity, and power.
It’s not only the type of tattoo you get that matters, but also where you place it. If you love mini tattoos, don’t mind the pain, and want a place that’s easy to cover up, an ankle tattoo may be your ideal choice.
