You might think that getting a calf tattoo is a weird idea but it’s actually a pretty popular tattoo location. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder in order to embrace getting a tattoo on your calf. Lots of people of varying shapes and body types decide to get the calf tattoo. One reason for that may be because the calf is one of the least painful places to get a tattoo.
A lot of bodybuilders do enjoy getting a tattoo on their calves because it allows them to show off their muscles but it’s a great place to get a tattoo regardless. A fun fact about the calf is that it’s actually constructed of two separate muscles.
There are a ton of different styles that you can choose from that will quite simply put a smile on your face. Check out these bold and badass calf tattoos you are sure to love.
Incredible Detail
If you’re going to get a calf tattoo why not make it the entire calf. This style is dark and dangerous but most of all, it’s really cool.
Aztec Tattoos
These tattoos are always popular because they promote strength and power.
Cartoon Styles
There are many different tattoo styles and the cartoon ones are particularly popular.
Your Wild Side
These tattoo designs are always popular because we love to embrace our animalistic and wild side.
Add Some Color
The color on this sword tattoo really adds some punch.
Lotus Flower
If flowers are what you are interested in, then you can’t go wrong with the lotus flower.
Cool Designs
The sky is the limit for the designs that you can have in your life. Try these out for size and see how much you love it.
Religious Designs
Religious tattoos are always popular choices because people want to represent the love in their lives.
Praying Hands
This is a traditional tattoo that has been around for a very long time.
Add Some Humor
If you’re someone with a great attitude and like to joke around, then this is the tattoo for you.
There are many reasons to love a calf tattoo. When it comes to leg tattoos there’s lots of people that like to collect tattoos all over their legs. They fall in love with the artwork and they just can’t seem to get enough of them. Some people will get an entire sleeve type design on their calf while others will use a mish-mash of cute smaller tattoos to create something that represents their personality. Some people choose to get like tattoos, because they want to cover up things that they don’t like about their legs. There could be scars, or just sometimes your legs tend to look weird , whatever the reason a lot of people like to use tattoos to cover up flaws on their legs. Some women especially like to get tattoos on their legs because they like to wear short skirts to show them off. It’s a great way for you to have a design that you truly love and be able to show it off to the world. Tattoos can be empowering and that’s a lot of the reason why people get them especially women. Others will use them as memorials on their legs and we really can’t blame them. Some people will use them as a way of commemorating a time in their life, while other people get them because they just like tattoos in the same way that people like art.
Why Do People Like To Get Leg Tattoos?
The reason why some people like to get calf tattoos is that there is a significant amount of fat as well as muscle on the calf which means that it’s going to be less painful. There are fewer nerve endings in the calf which is a good thing when it comes to whether or not a tattoo is going to be painful. This is a great place to get a tattoo if you don’t like pain.
Do Calf Tattoos Hurt?
To tell you that tattoo is not going to hurt would be a falsehood. Tattoos aren’t exactly known as a painless procedure. Now there certainly are areas on the body that are less painful than others. But for the most part, you’re going to feel the tattoo because getting a tattoo hurts. Think about it there is a needle puncture in your skin and if you think that’s going to be painless, you’re kidding yourself. The needle in a tattoo gun can puncture your skin 50 to 3000 times a minute while you are getting your tattoo done. And that depends on how big of the tattoo you want. If you’re getting that calf tattoo and it’s large, chances are, it’s probably going to be closer to 3000 than the 50. So, when you put it in that perspective you know that getting a tattoo probably won’t feel great regardless of where it is on your body and that includes your calves. If you’re afraid of pain, then maybe a tattoo isn’t the best idea for you. But most people who get tattoos, understand that pain is involved, and choose to deal with it in order to get the tattoo that they want.
If you are committed to getting that tattoo regardless then there are a few things that you can know in order to be fully prepared to get your tattoo. When it comes to pain, every tattoo artist will tell you that everyone’s pain tolerance will be different. One person thinks a tattoo is painful that doesn’t mean that another person will. We have to remember that people’s threshold for pain is different from one to another. The good news about calf tattoos is that well known their calves are one of the last painful tattoo areas to get.
The Difference Between Getting A Tattoo on The Bone or Muscle
So why are calf tattoos less painful? It all depends on what is underneath the skin. Whether a tattoo is going to be really painful or not as painful depends on whether or not you are tattooing against the bone. Any area on the body that has more muscle will hurt last when it comes to getting a tattoo. If there is a lot of muscle there, it will be less painful because the muscle acts as a bit of a shock absorber which is great news for people who have a lot of muscle. If you’re someone who never skips leg day, then a calf tattoo might be exactly the thing that you want.
There are a few other reasons why the calf may hurt less and that’s because your tattoo artist will have an easier time tattooing in that area. Tattoo in the calves seems to go by much faster than any other spot on your body especially if it’s not the rib cage over the shoulder. The tattoos session for the calves will likely be shorter which means that you don’t have to sit there and pain for as long. Getting a tattoo on the calf also means that you’ll probably likely be sitting in a more comfortable position. When an artist is tattooing the calf, they want the client to lay back so essentially, you’ll get the lounge during the entire process. That makes the idea of getting a tattoo less stressful and you know that you’re going to be comfortable during the whole process.
The Calves Heal Quicker
One thing to keep in mind, is that the calves tend to heal quicker when it comes to getting a tattoo. When you think about getting a calf tattoo done, you can breathe a sigh of relief because for the most part calves are generally covered. The calfskin doesn’t really fold or Ben not much so the idea of there being pain while you’re healing is less. You can also breathe a sigh of relief because if you’re getting a tattoo during the colder months, your tattoo is likely going to be covered. The only thing to keep in mind if you’re getting a summer tattoo is that you need to be mindful of swimming in the sun so that you don’t get your tattoo ruined.
The bottom line is, that your tattoo is going to hurt but at least you can breathe a sigh of relief that it’s not going to hurt as much as if you’ve got it on the shoulder or on the ribcage on your hand. But you shouldn’t choose a calf tattoo just based off of the lack of pain. Tattoo artists always tell their clients to get a tattoo where they want the tattoo to be regardless of the pain involved. The last thing you want to do is get a tattoo that you regret later on. One thing to remember is that a tattoo is going to hurt no matter what so you might as well get what you want.
What to Keep In Mind When Getting A Tattoo
When you’re getting a tattoo, it might think it’s just some fun experience that you can have period everyone does it right? It’s no big deal. But tattoos are actually a very big deal. And they need to be treated with respect. You should look at a tattoo in the same way as you look at a marriage. It’s supposed to be forever right? And less you want to go through the pain an expense of getting a tattoo removed, it’s likely going to be there forever. It’s not something that should be taken lightly. You should consider your tattoo something that you’re going to keep forever and therefore you need to put a lot of thought into it. It should not be a spur of the moment choice, and when you’re choosing a tattoo you should find one that you’ll be happy with forever. You don’t want to have to get it removed later or have to have it covered up so be careful when you consider your choice for a design.
How much does a tattoo cost?
Tattoos aren’t cheap, that is if you want an experienced and professional artist. If you get a cheap tattoo it likely won’t look very good. The price of the tattoo depends on the size and the area of the body want covered. The cost of a tattoo can be quite easily one month’s rent. Good artists usually start at 100 to $150 an hour and any large tattoo can take between 3 hours and 8 hours. Your tattoo artist will be able to give you a better idea of the cost of the tattoo depending on the size but if you’re going to get a whole calf design you can probably pay up to $1000. Tattoo artists usually expect to be tipped 20% as well so keep that in mind.
What does a tattoo feel like after it’s completed?
It’s likely that you’re going to feel some pain after the tattoo is done but it’s more like a soreness rather than actual pain. It’s completely normal if your skin is red or tender or even a bit swollen afterwards but the best thing you can do is to not rub it or put any type of pressure on it afterwards. One thing to keep in mind in regards to pain is if the pain increases day by day that could be an indication of infection so you should definitely visit your doctor if that’s the case.
When it comes to getting a tattoo, especially a calf design, you want to take into consideration how much the healing process can affect your day-to-day life. For a calf tattoo, it likely won’t affect your life that much. But for someone for example who got a tattoo on the back of their thighs and sitting down all day long might pose a problem.
Is there anything I should be avoiding before I get a tattoo?
A lot of people think it’s a good idea to get drunk or at least buzzed when they go get a tattoo. People think that will help with the pain. But alcohol is actually the one thing that you should probably avoid before getting a tattoo. Alcohol thins your blood which means that you can actually bleed more during your tattoo which can not only cause a mess for the artist but could make the final result of your tattoo not look as good.
Another thing to avoid beforehand is the possibility of getting a sunburn. The last thing you want is to try to tattoo skin that’s already damaged. Trying to tattoo dry or peeling skin is not a good idea for anybody. If you have to shave an area in which you’re getting tattooed and you’ve never done that before it might be best to wait for the tattoo artist to do it because if you end up with razor burn it’s going to be bad for your tattoo.
Choosing Your Artist
Most people think that choosing a tattoo design is the most important thing. And although it is important, choosing your tattoo artist is just as important. You want to make sure you have somebody that’s not only experienced, professional but also talented as well. Not all tattoo artists are created equal. It’s always best to check out the tattoo studio before you get the tattoo. Check to make sure that the place looks clean and tidy, that there is proof of prior experience and a business license sure doesn’t hurt. It’s also a good idea to schedule a consultation with the artist before you get the tattoo done so that you can ask all the questions that you want and as well get the pricing that you want as well. Most states require a tattoo artist to have a tattoo license, so you want to make sure that they have those requirements as well. Tattoo artist should be using gloves and single use needles all the time, if they are not you need to leave immediately.
Getting a tattoo is an exciting time for anyone, so you want to make sure that you are getting exactly what you want. Don’t settle for less than the best tattoo out there. Tattoos are expensive and permanent so make sure that you love the tattoo that you’re getting.
We have shown you many amazing designs to chose from and now all you need to do is choose the one that fits your personality the best. Whether you choose to get one large tattoo or a bunch of little ones in the calf, you are sure to find something that really suits your look.
Follow the aftercare instructions that your tattoo artist gives you and don’t slack on them. The last thing that you want is to end up with an infection. It’s important to keep your tattoo clean and dry after so that it heals properly. If you experience an increase in pain, make sure you contact your doctor. We hope that you enjoyed the article.
