If you've seen the delicate script on Selena Gomez's side or Miley Cyrus's collection of tiny symbols and thought "I'd love me some micro tattoos", this is the article for you.
Fine line tattoos are a growing trend. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are overflowing with photos of small, simple designs and breathtakingly elegant art on skin.
I spoke with four tattoo artists who specialise in fine line tattoos and a dermatologist to get the dos and don'ts of this style of body art.
Loading Instagram content
What are fine line and micro tattoos?
If you click on the hashtag #finelinetattoo on Insta, you'll see a lot of variety in look and style.
Adelaide-based artist Eloise Entraigues says fine line branched out from single needle tattoos.
"They are mainly black and grey … with very fine lines and lighter, softer shading if shaded at all," she says.
"Fine line tattoos can be of any size, but a popular trend at the moment is micro tattoos, the smaller lines allowing more detail in smaller areas."
I like the idea of tattoos, but I'm scared
Aside from the celebrity trend, part of the appeal of small, fine line tattoos is that they are quick to do and easy to hide.
Melbourne-based artist Zoe Clues says a small simple design can take 15 to 30 minutes to complete, as opposed to a larger full colour piece, for example, which can take hours.
"If it is painful, at least it won't be painful for long," she says.
Sydney-based tattoo artist, lobster god, says starting with a micro fine line design also gives you a chance to see if being tattooed is something you like.
"If [you're] a bit unsure about it, getting something small and fine is a good way to start."
I've heard fine line tattoos don't last. Is that true?
All tattoos fade and blur a bit over time, say the artists.
The body's immune system very slowly removes parts of the ink that's been placed into the skin, and things like exposure to UV rays, or laser for professional tattoo removal, break down the ink into smaller pieces which allows the white blood cells to remove them.
"Any design having only soft and dark grey … will fade over time more than solid black," says Sydney-based artist Maxime Etienne.
"When an entire design is only grey, it could have the look of a real old tattoo after just a few years."
Tattoos on certain parts of the body can fade faster. Fingers, feet, knees and elbows can be difficult to heal and the skin regenerates faster on those spots, meaning that tattoo won't last as long.
What are the risks of a fine line tattoo?
Sydney-based dermatologist Adrian Lim says because tattoos are breaking the skin, there will always be some risk of infection.
Tattoos in unprofessional settings can carry a risk of bloodborne infections, such as hepatis B or C, which is why modern tattoo shops follow strict hygiene routines.
If the tattoo needles go too deep into the skin, Dr Lim says there is a risk of scarring and some people can be prone to keloids.
It is also possible to be allergic to certain tattoo ink pigments, says Dr Lim.
"Red and yellow are the most problematic colours in terms of tattoo reactions," he says.
"Black tattoo (carbon) is least likely to cause allergic reactions."
Dr Lim says if you think you're having a reaction to a tattoo, see a dermatologist.
"Blow out" is something that can happen with all tattoos — it looks like a bruise near the tattoo.
Dr Lim says this happens when the ink leaks into the subcutaneous tissue, or fat.
This can happen when the tattooist goes too deep with a needle or lets too much ink into the skin, either by going too slow or going over the same area too many times, says Clues.
Dr Lim says it can also happen in areas where the skin is very thin, or places like elbows or knees where there's lots of movement.
OK, I want a fine line tattoo. How do I go about it?
Search online and social media to find an artist who specialises in the style you want and whose work you love. Many artists have Insta highlights showing their healed work, which is a good way to tell if they're good at what they do.
"This style of tattooing is technically very difficult," lobster god says.
"It looks really simple, but there's nowhere to hide. If a circle isn't perfect or a straight line has a little wobble in it, it's so obvious."
You can choose to get a piece of "flash" — designs the artist has pre-drawn. Some artists will only use their flash once when someone buys it, while others will tattoo the same designs over and over again.
Or you can work with an artist for your own custom design.
"It can help to collect a lot of reference images and examples of how you want your own tattoo to look," Clues says.
If you're going for a tiny tattoo, you may have to compromise on how much detail you can have, so listen to what the artist says will and won't work, explains lobster god.
What's the cost?
Artists will either charge by the piece if it's a small design, or by the hour if it's a larger piece.
Tattoo shops tend to have a minimum set price to cover the costs of business, which does mean you could be looking at $150 or more for a tiny triangle on your ankle.
Lobster god says if the cost puts you off, you might not want to get tattooed.
"A tattoo is permanent; it doesn't have to get done every six weeks or whatever [like a haircut].
"It's a luxury and there's a luxury price attached to that."
ABC Lifestyle in your inbox
Get our newsletter for the best of ABC Lifestyle each week
Your information is being handled in accordance with the
ABC Privacy Collection Statement.
