Do Sleeve Tattoos Have To Match?

Social media is bringing more attention to tattoos and their aesthetics. Thanks to platforms such as Instagram, people are thinking about artists and design more than ever before. While some of us still fall prey to impulsive (drunken?) body art choices, it is less common. Nonetheless, our tastes can evolve as we age, and we want to embrace new things. But will mismatched tattoo sleeves work?

Tattoos sleeves do not have to match, but it is often a good idea to use complementary styles. If you already have some smaller tattoos on one arm, a quality artist will be able to advise on how to incorporate them into a sleeve that suits your overall tastes.

Generally, there are very few hard and fast rules regarding tattoos. What rules there are typically center around the health of the client and the artist. For example, an artist isn’t going to try to do a full sleeve in a single day. Never mind the client’s pain threshold; artists need breaks, as the work is hard on their bodies. But if you want to make unique aesthetic choices, you can.

Getting A Sleeve Tattoo: Mismatched Or Matched?

There are no design rules for getting tattoo sleeves. Plenty of people have the random patchwork of their life’s journey on their arms. They acquired tattoos here and there. Eventually, being a bit older and having a healthier bank account, they hired somebody to fill in the open areas and pull it all together. In short: an accidental patchwork sleeve.

These types of mismatched sleeves are utterly fascinating because they tell a genuine story. Some of the tales might be hilarious, while others are poignant. Sometimes it was, “I met this artist, they did amazing work, and I just wanted some of their art on my body.” If so, good on ’em.

However, it is true that these “journey through life” types of mismatched sleeves are not as prevalent on Instagram. They often don’t have a singular aesthetic, style, or theme. Although, these sleeves do often show growth in the person’s taste. Yet oddly enough, many of these folks still have a soft spot for that first, wonky bit of flash they acquired at 17, thanks to their fake ID.

Are Matching Sleeves Exactly The Same?

Matching sleeves can be precisely the same, but not usually. Typically, having “matching sleeves” means they share commonalities. For example, they might be black and grey with ferns and various insects and birds running through them. Sometimes, people select a style, such as new school for both arms, but the designs are different.

Do Sleeve Tattoos Need A Theme?

Sleeve tattoos don’t need a theme or even a similar color pallet. However, aesthetically, clients are leaning towards having their sleeves at least complement each other. For example, having a mandala sleeve and the other is illustrative floral.

Can You Have Only One Tattoo Sleeve?

You can have only one tattoo sleeve. The asymmetrical sleeve vs. no sleeve can create a gorgeous and striking contrast. It all depends on what you desire for your body.

Types Of Tattoo Sleeves

Tattoo sleeves cover different amounts of skin. Some people just do a forearm; others have it go up and across the chest. Others start at the shoulder and have it tumbling down. So it depends on the design you desire and what options you want for covering it up with clothing.

Hikae Sleeve

A hikae sleeve covers part of the chest before running up, over the shoulder, and down the arm. These sleeves usually run down until at least the elbow but can go three-quarters to full. It comes from a Japanese tattoo tradition. Although there is no rule saying you must use that style if you want a sleeve running from chest to arm.

A Full Sleeve

A full sleeve tattoo typically covers the arm entirely from shoulder to wrist. They don’t typically extend to the hand, but that is an option.

A Three-Quarter Sleeve

A three-quarter sleeve typically runs down the shoulder down to the part of the forearm. There is no rule prohibiting a three-quarter sleeve running from the wrist up part of the upper arm. But generally, people who want these love full sleeves but work in jobs where they need to cover up. Thus, the three-quarter length makes it easier if you push up your sleeves a bit while at the office.

A Half Sleeve

Half sleeves cover half of an arm. Some people choose the upper; others select the lower. Like the full sleeve, these do not generally run past the wrist, but it is gaining in popularity.

A Quarter Sleeve

A quarter sleeve is precisely what the name suggests, choosing a quarter of the arm. With the rise of the mandala and “jewelry and lace” tattoos, some run into the hand. It does add a lengthening effect. However, the drawback is they are difficult to cover up if you work in a conservative environment.

What Should I Consider When Planning A Tattoo Sleeve?

Patchwork sleeves that tell a story over a person’s life are not for everyone. Some people want a piece that was designed all at once. However, some of us only realize our desire for a sleeve after we have had work done. Don’t panic. A quality artist will discuss ways to incorporate it into a sleeve or even cover up ideas.

The crucial element when planning a sleeve is finding an artist whose work you admire. Thus, even if you do not have a concept in mind, your planning sessions will be with someone who creates work you know you enjoy. This will make you more comfortable during brainstorming sessions.

If you do have ideas, bring them to the planning sessions. These can be detailed or sparse. For example, maybe you only know you enjoy black and grey but wouldn’t mind some touches of color. On the other hand, perhaps you are wavering between two styles, let the artist know, and you can discuss the pros and cons.

Also, it is essential to tell the artist what you don’t like or do not want on your body. For example, you might admire realism tattoos but not want to wear one. If you don’t want roses on your skin but are open to various flowers, say so. The more information you give the artist, the more they get to know you and can design a piece that will provide you with joy.

Lastly, do not be in a rush. Better to spend a year mulling over ideas than to jump right in. In addition, excellent artists are generally booked well in advance, so there is a waiting period. But better to take your time than to wear a design for life that you regret.

Conclusion

Tattoo sleeves are not required to match or share a theme. But putting some thought into them before going under the needle can be worth it. There are advantages to taking your time before committing to an idea. However, don’t panic if you already have some work done. After all, it’s part of your story, and a good artist will find a way to work with it.

Some of my favorite designs, tattoo books, and aftercare products, selected for you

working on tattoo at my studio — **Working at the studio on one of my projects**

Thank you for reading my article, I hope that you have found it helpful. If you would have trouble finding ideas for your tattoo, wonder what is meaning of design that you have found or what to buy for aftercare, to make sure that your tattoo will be healing quickly and easily, here are some of my favorite products in one place, hope that this will also help.

Design and tattoo ideas

For some ideas you can have a look at those 3 books with hundreds of designs that I use with my clients, they are available on Amazon for Kindle or in classic, paper version (links below):

Tattoo meaning

If you would like to read more about the meaning of different tattoo styles and designs before you will decide what you would like to have, I can recommend a book that was really useful for me when I was starting my tattoo adventure – it’s “Conscious Ink: The Hidden Meaning of Tattoos” by Lisa Barretta (through the link you can find it on Amazon for around $10).

Tattoo aftercare

The skin at the tattoo site often dries out. To prevent it and speed up healing for my clients, I usually recommend one of those tattoo aftercare balms (you can find them on Amazon):

Do Sleeve Tattoos Have To Match?