Tattoos for Two

It’s Valentine’s Day! For many of you, that means dinner, chocolates, and flowers. For us, it means a sudden influx of clients wanting their spouse’s name, or a wedding band, tattooed on them. We understand the desire to express your love and partnership through a tattoo – afterall, a tattoo is a beautiful piece of art, meant to last forever, and most of you probably view your relationship in much the same way. Rings and names, however, come with some serious issues, and rather than give you a tattoo you may regret in a few years, we’d prefer to use our skills and creativity to come up with a piece of art you can appreciate more and more as time passes.

Let’s just get this out of the way right off the bat: names are a bad idea, and most artists won’t do them. While we of course all want our marriages to last forever, some don’t, and the last thing anyone wants is their ex’s name tattooed across their chest. For many tattooists, there is a superstition, as silly as it may sound, that tattooing your spouse’s name is bad luck. I know, I know – but superstition is hard to overcome; few of us truly believe 13 to be unlucky, but that floor is still conspicuously missing in many buildings. Once a superstitious belief has settled in as part of the culture, it is almost impossible to remove.

Tattooed wedding bands aren’t frowned upon in the same way names are, but they are a technical nightmare. As we’ve mentioned before, finger tattoos in general are not recommended, and to see something as meaningful and lovely as a wedding ring slowly turn into a black, blotchy mess would be heartbreaking.

There’s good news in all of this, though. Inks, methods, and attitudes have evolved immensely over the years, allowing for the possibility of truly creative expressions of your love and commitment. Rather than a simple ring or a handwritten name, couples can now tailor their tattoos to them, personally. A shared, inside joke can become the foundation for a bright, fun piece you can both wear. A mutual passion for music or sailboats or cycling or books can be turned into a piece that really means something to you as a couple. Designs that symbolize your connection (keys and locks, half-hearts that become whole when you touch, anchors, etc) are another popular and creative option. The possibilities are endless, really, and that’s precisely why we suggest doing something a bit different. No two couples are the same, so their tattoos shouldn’t be either. Let your tattoo tell your story.

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

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