How Long Does A Half-Sleeve Tattoo Take?
Half-sleeve tattoos are among the most popular tattoo trends at present. If you want to jump on that bandwagon, planning to wear your heart on your sleeve with a gorgeous tattoo design, you should check out some aspects beforehand. An important one is the time a half-sleeve tattoo takes.
Most half-sleeve tattoos take 10 to 15 hours to ink, subject to the tattoo design. The total time gets split into 2 to 3 tattoo sessions.
The time requirement of a tattoo is involved in selecting that tattoo. If you have decided to get a half-sleeve, this article is for you.
What Is A Half-Sleeve Tattoo?
The tattoo that covers the areas from your shoulder to your elbow is a half-sleeve tattoo. Sometimes it goes from your elbow down to your wrist. People mostly have it on their arm’s front side. But you can also get it on both sides.
There are some reasons people are becoming increasingly interested in a half-sleeve tattoo.
- They have a tattoo design ready but would prefer to keep some space to make future additions.
- It does not look formal to show your tattoo at the workplace. A half-sleeve tattoo allows people to get comfortable at work by folding their sleeves while keeping the tattoo concealed.
- A half-sleeve tattoo suits their personality and lifestyle. Besides, it is less time-consuming, less expensive, and more affordable than full-sleeve tattoos.
What Is The Process Of Getting A Half-Sleeve Tattoo?
Getting a half-sleeve tattoo is pretty much similar to getting any large-sized tattoo. When you select your tattoo design, your tattoo artist will take the measurements of your arm and see if the design fits proportionately.
Afterward, the first tattoo session will be about the sleeve outlines, followed by the second one with making the details and shades. The final ones will involve coloring and touchups. You will not see the progress in the beginning sessions. Do not let that disappoint you. The journey of getting a design to a complete, colorful, and lively part of you is pretty amazing in itself.
How Long Does A Half-Sleeve Tattoo Take?
It takes a total of 2 to 3 tattoo sessions, each taking 5 to 7 hours. So, in the end, a half-sleeve will require 10 to 15 hours to ink. But it is conditional on the tattoo design and its details. The complex ones need as many as 20 to 30 hours, in which case you cannot have it complete before 4 to 5 appointments or sessions.
Read More: How long to wait between tattoo sessions?
Frequently Asked Question
How big is a quarter-sleeve tattoo?
A quarter-sleeve tattoo involves the areas from your shoulder to half of your elbow. It ends a little before the ending position of your T-shirt sleeve.
How long does a quarter-sleeve tattoo take?
It takes at least 5 to 8 hours. But it might take more than one session, depending on its design.
Can I get a half-sleeve tattoo session in one session?
Technically, you could. It is not impossible but impractical as it can seriously harm your skin. At one point of tattooing, your skin will start resisting and become less workable. If you continue anyway, it may spoil your tattoo design and give you scars.
Do not try to be a spendthrift in this case. Be ready to invest your money in as many sessions as required to get a well-made tattoo.
How much is the duration between the tattoo sessions?
The duration between the tattoo sessions is usually 2 weeks. The purpose of maintaining this space is to allow the arm to recover fully and get ready for the next phase.
Sometimes the interval may stretch to 3 weeks for the slow healers. It may make some impatient and eager to get the final output. But it is safer to give the tattoo enough time for complete healing. Besides, not waiting for that could cause unwanted consequences.
What types of half-sleeve designs are on trend right now?
Traditional designs like Japanese, tribal Maori, and skull designs are generally the top trends for men. On the contrary, women prefer minimalistic flower designs, realistic angels, and watercolor artwork. However, it is not gender-based. You can choose any design that suits your personality the best.
Final Words
Previously, only men used to get a half-sleeve tattoo to show off their biceps and triceps that they developed in their gym practice. But nowadays, general people, including women, are getting half-sleeves because of various artistic designs. However, a half-sleeve tattoo is a huge commitment with extensive, intricate, and detailed ink strokes containing scores of lines, shades, and colors. And time is a factor, too, as a half-sleeve requires multiple sessions.
If you find yourself ticking off those criteria, you are almost there. Get yourself a half-sleeve as soon as you can. All the best!
