How Many Tattoos Can You Get At Once? Things To Know
Learn what you need to consider before going for multiple designs in a single session.
Rodrigo Casco is an Argentine tattoo artist. He has 21 years of experience designing tattoos. He has done tattooing by hand as well as created his own tattoo machines. He has won multiple awards and stood first in national and international tattoo conventions, is a judge at events, and also gives many seminars.
Read full bio of Rodrigo Casco
Experience: 2 yearsGazala Ansari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. She writes on relationships, makeup, and lifestyle and has bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature from the Central University of Jharkhand.
Read full bio of Gazala Firdos Ansari
Experience: 3 yearsEshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.
Read full bio of Eshna Das
Shreya is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. After graduating from Christ University, Bengaluru, she started as a writer for a non-profit organization, Bhumi, as an intern. She then wrote for a progressive content website.
Read full bio of Shreya Mukherjee
StyleCraze believes in credibility and giving our readers access to authentic and evidence-based content. Our stringent editorial guidelines allow us to only cite from reputed research institutions, academic journals, and medically established studies. If you discover any discrepancy in our content, you may contact us.
Image: Shutterstock
Falling in love with various designs and struggling to choose just one is more common than you might think. Faced with this dilemma, many individuals find themselves pondering questions like, “Can you get multiple tattoos in one session?” And, if so, “How many tattoos can you get at once?” Fret not! Whether you are torn between two designs, pressed for time, or eager to make the most of your tattoo artist’s availability, this article will address all your concerns about getting multiple tattoos. Indeed, getting more than one tattoo in a single session is entirely possible, but there are several factors to consider. Scroll down to know more!
In This Article
How Many Tattoos Can You Get At Once?
The answer to the question, “How many tattoos can you get at once?” is “As many as you want.” Although there are no hard and fast rules for the number of tattoos you can get at once, there are several factors that influence the possibility of getting body art in just one session.
So, can you get two tattoos in one day? Yes, but one important thing that you need to know before getting multiple tattoos in one session is this; a tattoo is essentially a fresh wound. Just like any other wound, a tattoo needs proper care to prevent the chances for infection or allergic reaction and ample time to heal inside out. Therefore, you must consider the following factors before booking your tattoo appointment for multiple tattoos:
1. Your Pain Threshold
If you have been inked before, you know it is not a bed of roses. As the session continues, the adrenaline goes down and the pain intensifies. So if you are already dealing with a lot of pain from the first tattoo, it can be very difficult for your artist to jump into another one.
2. Healing Time
When you get multiple tattoos, you sustain multiple wounds that can exhaust your body’s immune system. It may take extra time for all the tattoos to heal at once or you may experience discomfort during the healing period due to multiple compromised sites on your body.
3. Expertise Of The Artist
The client and the tattoo artist are equal partners in the tattooing process. It is as necessary for your artist to be comfortable with the idea of multiple tattoos in a single session as it is for you to be ready for it. Hence, talk to your artist well in advance to make sure they are fine with it.
4. Tattoo Placement
The tattoo’s placement significantly affects the tattooing as well as the healing process. It becomes even more important in the case of multiple tattoos. You must make sure the placements are compatible. Explore different tattoo placement ideas to plan how to place each design properly so you give them enough recovery time. For instance, avoid getting stomach and back tattoos in a single session.
Quick Tip5. Complexity Of The Design
Whether you are getting a pair tattoo or different tattoos on different body parts, choose simple designs that are the tattoo artist’s forte rather than larger tattoos with complex designs that require a large part of the artist’s time and concentration.
6. Time And Cost
Getting multiple tattoos in a single tattooing session saves you from paying multiple visits to the tattoo studio. However, it takes longer to complete a multiple-tattoo session and the artist has to block their slot. Also, the longer hours and the artist’s tip may end up costing you a fortune.
These are the primary concerns you should consider for a multiple-tattoo session. But if you want to get another tattoo, how long should you wait before the next session? Find out in the next section.
How Long Must One Wait Between Tattoo Sessions?
It is recommended to wait till the tattoos have completed the external healing before going for the next one. Generally, the gap between two tattoo sessions is 3-5 weeks. If you want to wait till your tattoo is completely healed, you may have to wait for 3-4 months.
This is why many people opt for lots of tattoos in a single session when they are planning to attend a future event or aiming at transforming their appearance as soon as possible.
TriviaWhile there are obvious benefits of getting multiple tattoos at once, there are certain disadvantages of it. Learn about them in the next section.
Cons Of Getting Multiple Tattoos At Once
While getting multiple tattoos in a single session sounds fun and exciting, it is generally not recommended, especially if you have low pain tolerance or weak healing capabilities. Here are some of the cons of getting multiple tattoos at once:
1. May Cause Intense Pain
Multiple tattoos in a single session means more hours of tattoo needles poking your skin to deposit the tattoo ink in your dermis. The longer it takes, the more pain you will have to endure.
Jude, a vlogger, shared her personal experience of getting multiple hand tattoos in her video. She mentioned that this is something she wanted for years but she said, “That was painful like so painful, probably one of the worst pains I’ve ever felt in my whole entire life. Especially the cuticles, the dots you know hurt really bad (i).”
2. May Prolong Healing Time
The multiple tattoo wounds may put your immune system under stress and lead to an extended period of healing. This results in more days of unhealed paining tattoos in different parts of the body.
3. May Lead To Tattoo Regrets
Getting multiple tattoos can add a lot of edge to your personality. However, if you did not give much thought to your designs and they turned out to be incompatible, you may regret it later even if skilled tattoo artists do their best.
4. May Lead To Design Mismatch
In case you have selected different kinds of tattoo designs and the tattoo artist does not have expertise in one or some of them, your tattoos may not turn out as perfect as you would like them to be.
5. May Require Intense Aftercare
A tattoo is a wound that requires following aftercare instructions for it to heal fully and fast. Multiple tattoos mean you have multiple wounds that require intensive care, which may get overwhelming after a point.
Taking care of multiple tattoos is more difficult and requires extra care and attention. Move on to the next section to learn more.
Aftercare Tips For Multiple Tattoos
While it is tempting to get inked and come out a new person from the tattoo parlor, healing those wounds can be difficult. Following these aftercare tips may make the process simpler for you.
- Ask your tattoo artist for specific aftercare instructions considering the size, location, and the detailing of the tattoos.
- Clean and sanitize your hands before touching any of your tattoos.
- Use a gentle, antibacterial soap to clean your tattoos.
- Apply a thin layer of aftercare products, such as a gentle, hypoallergenic tattoo balm or moisturizer on your fresh tattoos a few times a day.
- Wear loose and comfortable clothing to avoid friction or irritation.
- Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher 15 minutes before stepping outside.
- Itching during healing time is common but resist the urge to pick or scratch your tattoos.
- Avoid soaking your tattoos in hot tubs or swimming pools until they are fully healed.
- Adjust your aftercare routine according to the healing stage of your respective tattoos as some may require more cleaning or hydration than the others.
- Avoid any vacations or sporting events during the healing process.
- Eat healthy and drink plenty of water for healthy tattoos.
Getting multiple tattoos in one session is possible but it depends on various factors that may or may not be under your control. Both the client and the professional tattoo artist need to be comfortable and dedicated to the process for it to work. Factors such as a high pain tolerance, the suitability of the artist, placement, and design should be kept in mind. Remember, multiple tattoos in a single session may lead to delayed healing and complex aftercare. Therefore, ensure you clean your tattoos with antibacterial soap and apply a tattoo balm or moisturizer a few times for a smooth healing process. But if your tattoo is oozing pus a few days after the tattoo session, consult a healthcare professional immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tattoos does the average person have?
A study found that 38.2% of the participants had 1 tattoo, 29.9% had 2-3 tattoos, and 23.6% had 4- 9 tattoos (1).
Are 5 tattoos a lot?
The number of tattoos that are considered “a lot” depends on your personal preferences, cultural practices, individual pain tolerance, and how they reflect your personality.
Can you do a tattoo sleeve in one sitting?
Yes it is possible to do a tattoo sleeve in one sitting. However, it is not recommended considering the length of the tattoo session, healing time, artist fatigue, cost, etc.
Key Takeaways
- You can get multiple tattoos at once but you should consider factors like your individual pain threshold, placement, design, and your budget.
- Ideally, one should wait at least 3-4 months before going for another tattoo session.
- Intensified pain, complex healing processes, and artist incompatibility are some of the cons of getting multiple tattoos at once.
Illustration: How Many Tattoos Can You Get At Once? Things To Know
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
If you are contemplating getting multiple tattoos, you have come to the right place. Check out the video below to understand if it’s a smart move and how to go about it.
Personal Experience: Source
StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.
(i). Spontaneously getting multiple tattoos bc i’m sad lolhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgZMdnweZE4
References
Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.
- Tattoos: Why Do We Get? What Is Our Attitude?
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339612965_Tattoos_Why_Do_We_Get_What_Is_Our_Attitude
Read full bio of Rodrigo Casco
Read full bio of Gazala Firdos Ansari
Read full bio of Eshna Das
Read full bio of Shreya Mukherjee
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with other beauty, lifestyle, and health enthusiasts.