Mastering Tattoo Artistry
Tattoo HQ is a go-to resource for tattoo inspiration, meanings, and advice. We cover popular tattoos like minimalist, Samurai, and Viking designs. We also provide guidance on tattoo placement, sizing, costs, aftercare, and cover-ups.
Design Matters
Find Your Next Great Tattoo
Meet your instructor
Tattoo HQ was founded in 2018 by Bella Jiang.
After graduating in 2010 from Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, one of the top art colleges in China, Bella worked as a designer at a game company until 2014. She started her tattooing career in 2015 and opened her private studio in Hangzhou 3 years later.
The journey has been challenging. In this country, tattoo artists are often seen as a marginalized group and their work is misunderstood. Most of Bella’s college classmates settled into .com jobs or civil service roles. Bella instead opted to take the more difficult path of tattooing, not for money or fame, but to deliver on a promise she made to herself as a little girl.
Common Questions
Our Most Popular Tattoo Inspiration
Explore the top-read galleries and trending designs from our community. See what tattoos our fans can’t get enough of and let the stunning artistry spark your next great tattoo idea. Whether it’s realistic portraits, sacred geometry, floral motifs, or classic styles reimagined, dive into the dynamic showcases that have our readers obsessed. With thousands of designs to marvel at, find a popular style that speaks to your creative spirit and pursuits. What will capture your imagination today?
30+ Best Compass Tattoo Design Ideas (2023 Updated!)
Compass tattoos are so unique and playful while being different than anything else. This is because they can symbolize loads of different paths and periods during your life. They can also help you and guide you the right way if you’re feeling stuck or lost in the moment. If you’re interested in exploring and looking…
13 Leading Tattoo Shops In Charlotte, NC: Choose The Top Artists In Town
Famous as “The Crown Town,” “Buzz City,” “Home,” or “The QC,” Charlotte is a major urban center and the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The city is located in the Piedmont region, and it is a vital commercial hub in the area. The city center, or the Uptown, is a…
Are Tattoos Illegal in Japan? (A Guide to Visiting Japan With Tattoos)
Because in the USA (and other countries in the West) tattoos are completely legal and normalized, it can be easy to forget that other countries and cultures of the world may have a different stance on body art. Generally speaking, in almost every part of the world tattoos were considered forbidden, illegal, associated with crime,…
When Can I Use Lotion On My New Tattoo? – Everything You Need To Know About Fresh Ink
If you’re reading this, chances are you just got a new tattoo recently, and that is a truly awesome thing. Getting tattooed, especially for the first time, is super exciting and worthy of a celebration. After all, you just received something that is supposed to last forever on your skin, and that is a pretty…
Maori Tattoos: A Detailed Insight Into Cultural Background and Meaning of Maori Tattoos
Getting to know the history of specific tattoos is essential in one’s research for the perfect tattoo design. The origin of a tattoo, its cultural and historic background, as well as meaning can truly affect one’s decision, especially when it comes to cultural appropriation and similar issues regarding cultural tattoos. Maori tattoos are some of…
16 Best Infinity Heart Tattoo Design Ideas (2023 Updated)
Thinking of getting a beautiful and unique tattoo that can show your love and appreciation for the other person? Are you in love? Either way it may be, you will appreciate this article. Here, we will talk about different infinity heart tattoos that you can browse through and explore. They will suit men and women…
Top 30 Calf Tattoo Design Ideas (And The Meanings Behind Them)
Calf tattoos can be anything and everything that you imagine! How creative are you and what is your imagination like? If you’re someone who appreciates subtle art and you don’t want overpowering tattoos you will appreciate calf designs. Here, we will list 30 different tattoos and we will talk about each meaning and different options…
30+ Kids Names Tattoo Ideas: Cute and Sweet
Kids’ name tattoos are some of the most popular choices when it comes to deciding a design. A kid’s name can evoke childhood memories, it can help remember your kids at all times, and ultimately pay respect to them as well as showing love. For those who have a creative mind, a kid’s name tattoo…
Can You Use Baby Lotion On a New Tattoo?
Chances are if you’re reading this, you just got a new tattoo, which is awesome. However, now comes the part when you actually have to truly take care of your fresh ink so that it can heal properly. And, things can get tricky without proper guidance. For example, your tattoo artist probably talked about tattoo…
Top 10 Tattoo Magazines and Websites You Will Never Read
Did you know that 30 percent of Americans have at least one tattoo? According to the data supplier, Ipsos, the proportion of Americans who have at least one tattoo grew 9 percent between 2012 and 2019. We often hear that every tattoo tells a story. If this is indeed the case, we could say that…
Are Tattoos Illegal in Korea, The Answer May Surprise You
As a tattoo lover who’s planning a trip to Korea or is already living there, you’re probably wondering what’s up with the legal status of this type of body art. Some people say tattoos are illegal, others say they’re not, and you take a stroll through busy streets and see tattoo studios. So, is it…
50+ Best Elephant Tattoo Design Ideas (and What They Mean)
These gentle giants of the animal kingdom are a popular tattoo choice because of the powerful symbolism behind it. Not only are they one of the most recognizable tattoos on Earth, but these animals can also be adapted to lots of different art styles. Elephants symbolize many things, like fertility, family, attitude, prosperity, and strength….
10 Best Places For A Tattoo On A Woman
Getting your first tattoo or tattoo, in particular, is a huge experience and you want to pick a part of the body that will either make your tattoo look, even more, highlighted or a subtle area that won’t make it stand out. Choosing the right area can get quite challenging, especially when you can’t decide…
Monarch Butterfly Tattoo: Meanings, Design Ideas, and Our Recommendations
Let’s be honest; choosing the perfect tattoo design can be pretty difficult. And, considering that a tattoo is going to last you a lifetime (unless you decide to remove it), the pressure to choose the best design idea increases as the appointment day nears. That is why we always recommend people go for tattoo design…
Can You Take Painkillers Before A Tattoo?
Let’s be honest here; one of the main reasons people avoid getting tattoos is the fact that tattoos hurt. Now, the general assumption that tattoos hurt is true, of course, but because different people have different pain tolerance levels, it can sometimes be hard to truly describe the tattoo experience to someone who has never…
50 Best Girl Tattoo Design Ideas (On Different Part Of Your Body)
Tattoos have been around for thousands of years, with the first tattoo being discovered to be over 4,000 years old. However, there’s still a lot of stigma about tattoos, especially on women who are told that it’s not ladylike. Gladly, today, tattoos are widely accepted and encouraged, even at the workspace, which is why there’s…
60+ Beautiful Female Feather Tattoo Design Ideas (2023 Updated)
Feather tattoos are often a desirable choice of tattoo for women. Despite their popularity, they are nonetheless meaningful and often unique in design. Frequently associated with flight and birds, plumage principally represents freedom, courage, fortitude and wisdom. There are a multitude of different feather designs and depictions to choose from, and if you’re considering a…
Tattoo Scarring: Is It Normal and How to Fix (Everything You Need to Know)
Tattoo and scars – it’s an interesting topic. When you first get your tattoo, the area may be a little red, swollen, and even raised where strong black lines cut across your skin. But will the raised texture last? And what should you do if scars emerge after the tattoo has healed? This article covers…
14 Best Cover-Up Tattoo Artists: Find The US Top Tattooers
Do you have an old tattoo that you are not proud of anymore? Did the colors change, or does the contour of what used to be your favorite body art is all gone? If so, you don’t have to wear that inked design anymore, as you have a pretty excellent option to remake it. No,…
35+ Blackwork Tattoo Designs And Meanings
Ever had a blackwork tattoo done before? Have you considered getting one, or is this your first time hearing about it? Well, either way it may be, we will inform you as well as overwhelm you with our tattoo options! Keep on reading and enjoy different ideas as well as tattoo placements down below. What…
White Ink Tattoos: 6 Pros And 4 Cons
White ink tattoos are less popular than black ones, but they are unique and they certainly have an elegant touch to them. However, they also have their fair share of inconveniences. For this reason, we’ll guide you through the most significant pros and cons of white ink tattoos. If you love white tattoos and are…
Mountain Tattoos: Symbolism And 40+ Best Design Ideas For 2023
Nature, especially mountains, has been a source of inspiration for numerous artists for hundreds of years. The symbol of a mountain, as this constant, immovable, yet everchanging and almost spiritual place, has remained even nowadays. People will be forever inspired by the massive peaks and heights, nature, and the habitat of wildlife. That is why…
Can You Sue a Tattoo Artist For Bad Work? – Everything You Need To Know Before You File a Lawsuit
Regardless of whether you’re the tattoo artist or the client, we can all agree that both parties want the tattoo to turn out great. But, when it doesn’t, determining the responsible party is essential in finding the solution; or so we think. There are cases or instances where it is simply inevitable to get legally…
Over Moisturizing Tattoo: Everything You Need To Know
Tattoo aftercare is probably the most important step towards a healed, healthy tattoo. However, because aftercare, or rather lack of it, can easily make things go wrong with the tattoo, some people go overboard with some aftercare steps, like tattoo moisturizing for example. Keeping the tattoo hydrated and moisturized is pretty important, but overdoing it…
What Happens To Tattoos When You Gain Muscle?
Getting a tattoo isn’t just a fun way to change your appearance and do something exciting. A tattoo becomes a part of your body and it is a piece of art that will last you a lifetime. Sure, unless you opt for laser removal, the tattoo will be there, permanently. During the time of your…
50+ Dragon Ball Tattoo Designs And Meanings
Dragon Ball is one of the oldest animated series, that took many children and adults alike to the world of anime, martial arts, fight, friendship, and even space invasion. Given that many children grew up watching these series that only seemed to grow with them, it doesn’t surprise us that this anime exactly served as…
30+ Sexiest Thigh Tattoo Designs For Girls
The beginning of a year is the perfect time for making new, life-changing decisions. One of those decisions could be a new thigh tattoo. Thigh tattoos look extremely attractive on women, and that’s only one of the huge reasons why getting one or two is worth it. Different positions make a thigh tattoo look good….
30+ Tattoos That Symbolize Peace (2023 Updated)
Are you someone who loves to show off your peaceful side? Do you feel like you’ve been struggling lately to come at peace with yourself? A lot of people love to show their sentimental side through different & unique tattoo ideas. If you stand for peace & uniqueness, as well as deep bliss and pure…
Top 30 Best Seahorse Tattoo Design Ideas (2023 Updated)
Thinking about placing a seahorse tattoo design somewhere on top of your body? This tattoo inspiration is perfect for men and women, as well as anyone who loves SeaWorld, and wants to stand out when it comes to their design. In this article, we will talk about 30 different options that will look stunning, no…
What Does a Tattoo of Lips on Someone’s Neck Mean?
A tattoo is never the same to an observer and to the owner of the tattoo. What may be a silly or weird tattoo design to someone, to another person has a special, specific, and probably unique meaning. What contributes to different tattoo interpretations is also the placement of the ink. When you combine the…
33 Best Airplane Tattoos Design Ideas (Forearm, Collarbone and Finger )
Airplane tattoos are pretty common and popular among travelers, bloggers, as well as men and women as equally. Are you someone who wants to get a chic & trendy airplane tattoo? Thinking about making it a statement on your body? Explore your options and enjoy different colorful & monochrome plane tattoo ideas down below! 4…
Tattoo Blowout or Still Healing: How to Fix?
You just got a new tattoo, and it looks amazing. But, after a few days, you’re noticing that the tattoo is looking more and more smudged and it’s even starting to spread. The first thing everyone would do in such a situation is panic (understandably). But, there’s no need for that. First, you have to…
Tattoo Colors: Everything You Need to Know
Tattoos have gone from being something associated with soldier and sailors to becoming modern pieces of art. Tattoos now come in countless different styles, with limitless designs and a wide variety of colors. The type of color, shading and tones will vary depending on the tattoo design, tattoo artist and tattoo style. Whether you want…
9 Best Fake Tattoo Sleeves: Ultimate Buying Guide (2023 Updated)
Tattoo sleeves exploded in popularity 10 years ago. They became even more popular in recent years. Starting from celebrities, to ordinary people, everyone wants to flaunt their tattoo sleeve. Even employers and different companies became comfortable with their employees wearing them. Still, what to do if you’re in love with the tattoo sleeves, but don’t…
Heart Tattoos: What They Mean And 24 Design Ideas
Heart tattoos are quite popular worldwide, and they are some of the prettiest designs that can fully show your passionate, emotional, as well as soft side! Also, you will enjoy getting a matching heart tattoo with your partner. Both men and women will find some unique options down below. If you want to browse through…
How Much Do Tattoo Artists Make?
Starting a career as a professional and licensed tattoo artist can be pretty difficult. A lot is required in terms of education and practice, and the road to getting a license might not only be difficult, but it is also pretty expensive. However, building a client base and providing exceptional service can put any tattoo…