Hand & Finger Tattoos: All About The “Job Stoppers” - Iron & Ink Tattoo (2024)

As tattoos have become increasingly mainstream, fingers and hands have become a popular placement for people to express themselves and their tattoo artist’s work. However, hand and finger tattoos have also developed a reputation of being known as “job stoppers”.

But with tattoos becoming increasingly commonplace, are hand and finger tattoos still known as “job stoppers” today?

When it comes to finding a job, hand and finger tattoos used to be a sure-fire way for an employer to reject a potential employee a few years ago.

However, in recent years, with creative jobs on the rise and a more relaxed outlook being encouraged by modernizing companies, hand and finger tattoos have grown to become more acceptable in the professional world.

Depending on the company you are seeking to have a career at and how conservative their policies are, hand and finger tattoos are not immediately written off as a reason for someone not to hire you.

Hand and finger tattoos have become more popular in general, with many celebrities sporting them, which has led to their greater acceptance in society overall.

However, that is not to say that they are accepted everywhere.

In many professional settings, visible tattoos still carry the stereotype of being unprofessional and will even go against workwear guidelines.

Traditionally, hand and finger tattoos have been labeled as“job stoppers” because they have rendered plenty of qualified people unhirable, simply because of a visible tattoo.

As mentioned before,hand tattoos have grown to become more acceptable and a more common sight in the professional sphere in recent times.

Fortunately, workplace stigma surrounding tattoos has decreased over time, but certain conservative professional sectors like the financial sector still maintain strict standards about tattoos.

While hand and finger tattoos are not illegal in the US, some artists do have policies in their shops against doing tattoos in certain areas that are immediately visible. Some tattoo artists feel strongly about face and hand tattoos because they can seriously impede an individual in the professional world.

For this reason, tattoo artists will refuse to tattoo a client.

For other artists, it might be a matter of quality.

Because the longevity and appearance of a tattoo are seriously compromised when it is placed on a person’s hand or finger/s, a tattoo artist might refuse to ink someone here.

Hand and finger tattoos are notoriously finicky. Even the most expert tattoo artists are susceptible to a blurry, splotchy mess that fades poorly. Many tattoo artists would rather avoid that for the customers’ sake and their own reputation.

* Thanks to our teams’ talent and experience, we offer hand and finger tattoos in our shop.

Read also: How old do you have to be to get a tattoo?

In a practical sense, finger and hand tattoos are not always the best idea if you are aiming for the longevity of your tattoos. Tattoos on your hand and fingers generally do not age as well because these tattoos are constantly being exposed to water and the sun.

The skin on a person’s hands regenerates quickly, meaning that tattoos are susceptible to fading exceptionally fast.

Additionally, finger and hand tattoos are often at the risk of blow-outs and blurred ink, which immediately ruins the aesthetic of the tattoo. Because a person’s hands are constantly being used in everyday life, this too ultimately affects the tattoo.

* Don’t get us wrong here. We love all types of tattoos, and some of us have their hands and/or their fingers tattooed. However, we think it’s important to bring both pros and cons, so you can make a responsible decision.

1- Proper aftercare is paramount

There are no guarantees for how evenly a finger tattoo will heal, so take care of your tattoo to the best of your ability.

2- Extra protection during the healing process

To have the best chance at healing your finger tattoo, avoid using your hands as much as possible. Be prepared to baby your tattoo if you want it to last. The hands are subject to a lot of wear and tear regularly, which affects the tattoo.

3- Use sunscreen (or avoid the sun)

Hand and finger tattoos are subject to the sun more than other tattoo placements, so be sure to use SPF. During the healing process avoid the sun altogether if possible.

4- Keep your hands/fingers moisturized.

Your skin is constantly being washed, so using a gentle and unscented moisturizer will help keep the dryness at bay. Moisturizing also prevents the skin from over-exfoliation, which keeps your tattoo looking vibrant longer.

5- Palm tattoos

Think twice before tattooing the palm side of your hands. This area generally heals inconsistently, does not saturate pigment well, and does not last very long.

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Finger tattoos are notoriously painful for a couple of reasons.

Read also:Most and least places to get a tattoo

Fingers and hands tend to have less fat and muscle density. The needle of the tattoo machine is in close contact with the knuckles and bones that make up your fingers, with practically zero cushion that fat and muscle provide.

Hands and fingers have more nerve endings, which is why the pain increases tenfold and is generally more painful than getting any other body part tattooed.

In recent times, hand and finger tattoos have grown in popularity fueled by celebrities and an increased acceptance towards tattoo culture in general.

When it comes to getting a hand tattoo, be sure to factor in some all the pros and cons before getting inked. While these tattoos look cool, aesthetics can be seriously affected by their placement and can lead to some disappointing results.

Going to an experienced tattoo artist with a portfolio of healed hand and finger tattoos is probably the best way to go about ensuring your hand and finger tattoos have the best chance at looking fresh for a long time.

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