Everything You Should Know About Leg Tattoos For Women Before Getting One

If you get carried away by leg tattoos for women, we feel you. No matter whether these are tiny flower leg tattoos or extensive leg sleeves, they look captivating and unbelievably alluring. But does it have a sacred meaning? Is there any difference between right and left leg tattoos? How to take care of it and what complications to expect? Too many questions you have no answers to yet? No worries. Our guide will help you to sort out everything you may need to know regarding women leg tattoos and even more. As a bonus, you will get the dreamiest tattoo ideas that will make you want to instantly book an appointment with your tattoo artist.

Leg Tattoo: Pros and Cons

But before browsing for ideas, it makes sense to weigh the pros and cons of leg tattoos. Below, we have put together the main of them so that you could make an informed decision.

Pros:

1. Legs work perfectly as a canvas because they can accommodate plenty of different tattoo styles. They can be as elaborate and detailed as you want since your tattoo artist will not be limited in space.
2. The healing time of women leg tattoos is much shorter compared to other types of tattoos, as an inner elbow tat. One of the reasons for this is minimal, or even zero, rubbing.
3. It is relatively easy to get colorful women leg tattoos because the color does not fade away quickly. So, in case you have some ideas for bright and pretty leg tattoos, you can go for them without hesitation.
4. Leg tattoos for females are a failsafe option in case you have a strict dress code at work that does not allow wearing tattoos. You can simply hide the image under your clothes.

Cons:

1. Leg tattoos for women with dry skin are not always a good idea. They can make your skin extremely dry in the tattoo area and you will not be able to do anything about it.
2. When your tattoo is healing, the skin may be unbearably itching. If you know that you will not be able to handle it, maybe you should find another place for a tattoo.

Watercolor Bracelet for Thigh

Watercolor bracelet tattoos are the epitome of elegance and unique style. They look exceptionally delicate and unique. The masterpieces by Koray Karagözler are filled with a sense of fluid artistry. The artist shows that it is effortless to use your thighs as the perfect canvas for something ethereal and individual.

Ask an Expert: What are the best aftercare tips that would make my leg tattoo heal properly and maintain its vibrant colors?

Yeliz Özcan

Expertise: Tattoo Artist

The aftercare procedure I recommend can be applied to all areas; not only for the legs, I do not recommend separate care procedures for different areas. After getting a tattoo, the applied area should be sterilized by washing it with antibacterial soap at least 3 times a day for 3 days. The area should be rinsed with water, soaped, and then dried with a disposable towel. Then, the tattooed area should be moisturized by massaging with coconut oil. I prefer coconut oil, which is one of the most natural ways to moisturize. You should take care of your tattoo for at least a month. During the remaining time, the amount of oil applied should be reduced and the tattooed area should be moistened. In addition, I request that photographs be sent to me week by week during the maintenance period, so that we can follow a healthier path regarding maintenance. If you want your tattoo to look as fresh as the first day, you should apply sunscreen with at least SPF 50 half an hour before going out on sunny days. Otherwise, when your skin is damaged by the sun, your tattoo will lose its freshness and begin to look aged.

Watercolor Night Forest

Combine the captivating beauty of nature together with fluid watercolors to reflect your creativity and dreamy nature. You can enhance the scene with additional elements that call out to your personality.

Watercolor cats

Express your love for feline companions through a mesmerizing cat tattoo. A unique mixture of vivid watercolors and black outlines creates a gentle masterpiece worthy of admiration.

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Floral Flamingo

Floral flamingos are the epitome of tropical vibes. Combine them with gentle flowers and muted colors for a whimsical and feminine effect.

Water Ankle Bracelet

If you want to spice things up and enhance your ink with a unique meaning, a wave bracelet can help you succeed with the goal.

Moon Cat

Celebrate your love for a little fellow or use the art as a powerful inspiration – the choice is yours.

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Colorful Hearts

A heart tattoo can carry a wide variety of meanings. This colorful array of hearts may stand for a different emotion or memory. If you are looking for a simple, appealing, and highly symbolic art – this may be your perfect choice.

Musical Theme Tattoo

Express your devotion to beauty and music through a breathtaking symbiosis of a musical key and gentle lavender flowers. The inspiring aesthetics and minimalism spiced with love for music make a great tattoo template.

Minimalist Lettering

Inspiring and meaningful quotes can lead you through life. Minimalistic lettering is your individual and stylish way to send an important message.

Floral Leg Tattoos

If you like floral patterns, you must know that dainty blooms and elaborate bouquets look magnificent when inked on feminine thighs. Such a tattoo can be your individual tribute to femininity and style. Besides, you can spice each piece with personal meaning that can symbolize your growth, beauty, patience, or anything else.

Skull Tattoo

Skull tattoos aren’t for everyone, making them twice as exceptional. While the ever-present vibe of something dark coats every skull piece, there are ways to enhance the design and make it the emblem of beauty. Such a tat is a bold statement to consider, and Veronica Krasovska from Ukraine proves that beauty comes from different sources.

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Portrait Tattoos

Andrey Lukovnikov, a Ukrainian tattoo artist who currently lives in Poland, specializes in breathtaking portraits, and these pieces reflect the creativity and skill of the author perfectly. A leg portrait can become your personal story that you can share with those you trust. Each masterpiece reflects emotions linked to the symbolism encoded in the design.

Landscape Tattoos on Leg

Expressing your worldview through your ink is excellent. If you enjoy landscapes, why not etch your favorite scenes into your skin? Whether these are seascapes you like or fictional cosmos scenery – the sky is the limit. The beauty of nature is powerful and unique.

Watercolor Planets

Cosmic artistry is as magnetic and magical as the watercolors are, so why not combine the two? A popular tattoo artist – Sigak – blends astronomy with artistic expression and designs one-of-a-kind masterpieces that leave an impact on everyone who comes across his works.

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Crystal Moons Dream Catchers

Dreamcatchers are mysterious and highly spiritual totems, whether real or etched in your skin. An exceptional tattooist, Banul, from Seoul, Korea, uses crystal moon dream catcher tattoos as the main source of inspiration in art. The intricate designs from under his needle are spiced with lunar allure and mysticism.

Butterflies

Firstjing, currently based in Los Angeles, specializes in real-life butterfly tattoos, which capture attention at first glance and take the breath away with their delicacy and beauty. Butterflies usually stand for grace and transformation, not to mention constant motion.

Outlined Flowers

Being utterly minimalistic, these designs display the whole essence of floral magnificence. The intricacy of leaves and petals can signify the fragility of life and serve as a constant reminder of some deeper meanings you choose to encode your art with.

Simple Patchwork Tattoos

Our expert, Chloe Jane from Denver, has made patchwork tattoos her prominent style. The simplicity of visual reflection of the art may seem shallow, but there’s always a deeper meaning to the design. Sometimes, the symbolism is so sleek and personal that you won’t be entitled to decipher the ink code.

A Musical Key Tattoo

A popular tattooist, Amanda Remmington is known for her love of expressing melodic symbolism through watercolor. A colorful bass clef is visually appealing and harmonious. Moreover, it depicts one’s passion for music without altering the meaning in any way.

The Appearance Of Death

Death is the inevitable outcome of our life’s journey. A reaper tattoo can serve as a perfect reflection of your mortality and remind you to live your life so that there are no regrets at the end.

Watercolor Flowers

Flowers are always an excellent choice for a feminine tattoo. They come in countless varieties, and you can think of unique species that the world does not know about yet. The watercolor ink technique would help you enhance the ethereal nature of your design.

Dream Сatcher with Moon

A dream catcher tattoo is the ultimate symbol of protection. You can take things a little further and enhance the design with delicate flowers and a crescent moon. These spiritually-rich elements will intensify the deep symbolism of your tattoo.

Gold Fishes

If you are interested in an ancient symbol of grace and prosperity, goldfish should be your ultimate choice. This masterpiece from Eunyu, a Korean watercolor tattoo artist, adds balance and a gorgeous color vibe to the mix.

Morning Glory

Morning Glory is a flower that symbolizes the beauty of fleeting moments. If you want to stress the fact that every moment is worth admiration and joy – Mini Lau, a popular watercolor tattooer from Hong Kong, has a great design to inspire from.

Mythical Mermaid

Mermaids are stunningly beautiful, and that makes them a popular choice for tattoos. However, this work of art from María Fernández, a famous tattoo artist from Hamburg, reflects uniqueness and room for experimentation no matter how requested the theme is.

Minimalist Ornaments

Simple lines can carry the deepest meaning. Lara Jurkoweit, a minimalist hand poke artist from Germany, proves the point perfectly. A few lines create a masterpiece you could stare at forever.

Koi Fish Turns into a Dragon

Chinese culture is rich in vibrant images and deep connotations. Our expert, Deborah Genchi, has depicted an intricate story of going from ambition to greatness through a skilled transformation of koi fish into a majestic dragon.

Arrow Tattoo with Planets

If you know your path through life, nothing can compare to it. Make sure that you stick to the right course with a symbolic ink like this cosmos navigation arrow.

Phoenix

Just like a phoenix, you can rise about any circumstances. This masterful piece from Irene Bogachuk, a Ukrainian tattoo artist who lives in Canada, proves that a creative approach can breathe new life into classy images.

Lion with Roses

Mariana Silva is the expert who stands behind this impressive design. You can intertwine beauty and strength and achieve such a stunning outcome as a result.

Lioness

If a lion is the king, the lioness is surely a queen. Emphasize your royal nature with a magnificent lioness leg piece. Keep in mind that lionesses are as strong and courageous, but there’s fierce maternal instinct to add to the mix.

Poppy Flower

Poppy flowers are as beautiful as roses. All it takes is a skilled master to recreate its delicate vibrancy and gentleness. Besides, poppies symbolize remembrance and peace, which can be implemented into anyone’s life story with ease.

Sketch Style Deer

Every image and design can acquire a new taste if there’s a creative tattooist behind it. This sketch-stylized deer from Moona Autumn, a dark-style German tattoo artist, proves the statement perfectly.

Peacock Feather

Peacocks are majestic and proud birds. They represent elegance, grace, and renewal. Even a single peacock feather is enough to project the desired vibe. Placing it on your ankle is a strategic and wise decision.

Ankle Chain

While an ankle chain can play a decorative and aesthetic role, it holds a powerful protective meaning, especially when adorned with charms.

Watercolor Tiger

Yeliz Ozcan from Istanbul is a devout watercolor artist. His works stick to all the principles of watercolor style but remain amazingly realistic.

Galaxy Whale On Ankle

Would you like to combine two of your greatest passions in one? If you are an equal fan of the cosmos and the depths of the ocean, a cosmic whale is a great design to reflect them ideally. It seems like you can stare at this masterpiece forever!

“Road To Myself”

The road to self-discovery and acceptance can be paved with many things. However, you are the one to choose what to walk on. This simple tattoo will always remind you about the path you’ve picked!

Galaxy Colored Star

A simple star tattoo can acquire a new meaning in the hands of a skillful artist. Open a window into the magnetic universe of space and mysteries!

Tips On Deciding Which Leg Is Better For A Tattoo

When it comes to female leg tattoos, placement is as important as the imagery itself. But this applies not only to the area on your leg, meaning whether it is going to be ankle, foot or thigh tattoos, but the leg itself. So right or left, which one to choose? This also depends on several factors, such as:

1. Your personal preference. Sometimes it is all about your own taste. Think which leg you would prefer to get tattooed, depending on how you perceive it or what you associate it with. The left part of the body is often associated with femininity and emotions, while the right part is connected to masculinity and logic.

2. Whether you want to cover something up on your leg. Women's leg tattoos are a surefire way to conceal or alter some peculiarities on your skin, such as scars, stretches or birthmarks. You may also want to work your old tattoo into a new one or even cover it up completely if you have changed your mind about it.

3. If it looks coordinated with other tattoos on your body. If you already have body tattoos and want to get your leg inked, then you should think about the balance between your tattoos. For instance, if you have a left hand sleeve tattoo, then you should get a right leg sleeve tattoo so they look in harmony.

4. How aware you are of your body. In case you do not feel very confident about some of your body parts, particularly legs, tattooing may help you to embrace them. Also, take into account your habits when choosing the leg for a tattoo, like the way you sit or stand and whether it allows for the tattoo to be on display. Other points to consider are whether you have cramps or varicose and which leg is more prone to them.

5. What does medicine and energy balance theory say. There is a belief that to achieve balance in life you should allow the energy to distribute evenly across your body. If some of your body parts have blockages, then getting them tattooed may help to eliminate them. It is also beneficial to place tattoos where the 12 main meridians of energy run to enhance your body’s energy field and aura.

From the neurological point of view, your right body part is controlled by your brain’s left side, which is also responsible for your logic, verbal and analytical skills. In its turn, the right brain's side affects your emotions, and feelings, as well as abstract thinking and musical skills.

Symbology Of Left And Right Side Of The Body

In the Western culture, the right body part is linked to why a person is strong, masculine, active, courageous, and logical. It also represents the energies of the sun. The left body part is associated with emotions, dreaming, and femininity, as well as mental and lunar energies.

Eastern traditions put emphasis on the connection between male and female, dark and light, yin and yang. So, the right side has the female and lunar energy, while the left side is masculine, noble, and wise.

How to Prepare For A Tattoo Session

When getting ready for leg tattoos for women small or large does not make a big difference. You still need to make some preparations to ensure the process runs without a hitch. So, take care to do the following:

1. Sleep well the night before the session. You need to let your body recover before getting it inked since this still puts it under stress. Besides, it is important to be wide awake during the procedure so that you could recognize in time if something goes wrong. Hence, make sure to sleep several extra hours to be fully recharged.

2. Maintain a sufficient level of hydration. To prepare your skin for the procedure, you need to hydrate it from the inside beforehand. This guarantees that everything goes as intended. To do this, you need to drink about two liters of water the day before the appointment. In case you did not manage to hydrate your body prior to the session, you can drink water during it.

3. Remove any hair on the area to be tattooed. It is difficult for a tattoo artist to ink the skin if there is hair. For this reason, before getting leg tattoos for women, it is vital to remove any hair growing there. If you opt for shaving, then you should shave your legs every other day a week before the session. But keep the skin free from cuts and razor burns. Other popular hair removal methods available to you are waxing and laser epilation. Also, it helps if you exfoliate your skin regularly.

4. Take a shower.

Although we are sure you take a shower daily without us reminding you, we still feel the need to stress how crucial it is to have your skin clean before getting inked.

5. Keep your skin moisturized from the outside.

Actually, you should moisturize your skin as a part of your skincare routine, not only before tattooing. Yet, it is paramount to keep the skin hydrated for the procedure. To do so, apply moisturizing lotion on regular basis at least several weeks prior to the session. However, on the tattoo day, you should skip the moisturizer to avoid ink, needle or machine issues.

6. Do not be hungry.

Some leg tattoos designs may require quite a lot of time to get and some of them may be quite painful. To help your body to overcome this challenge, you need to provide it with enough energy and one of the best sources of energy is food. Thus, you should not only have a healthy and filling meal before the session but also bring some snacks with you.

7. Think through what you are going to wear.

No, it does not mean that you need to wear your best outfit to impress your tattoo artist. It means you need to feel comfy, as you will have to spend quite a lot of time in a specific pose without moving, scratching, and wiggling. Also, your tattooist should be able to reach the tattoo area easily. So take that into consideration when choosing the outfit for the appointment.

Average Prices For Leg Tattoos

The price for leg tattoos may vary depending on many aspects, such as the location of the parlor, the tattoo artist's professionalism as well as the complexity and placement of the tattoo. As such, thigh small leg tattoos may cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 provided it takes around 5-6 hours. The price tag for a lower leg tat, which also requires from five to six hours to get, ranges between $500 and $1,200.

Fresh Tattoo Aftercare

How properly you are going to look after your tattoo once you get it done affects greatly how successfully and fast it is going to heal. That is why here is what you will need to do:

1. Do not remove the protective covering the tattoo artist placed on your fresh tattoo for 2-4 hours after the session.
2. Once you have taken the covering off, clean the tattoo with alcohol-free soap and cool water.
3. Pat, it dry using a paper towel.
4. Repeat cleaning the tattooed area up to five times daily for ten days.
5. When you notice that the inked area is dry, moisturize it with healing ointment.
6. Avoid sunbathing, working out, swimming in public places, being in hot water as well as scratching or rubbing your tattoo if it has not healed completely.
7. Do not pick at the tattoo if it has started to scab or pill off.
8. Expect your tattoo to heal not earlier than two weeks after the session.

Potential Side Effects And Complications

Unfortunately, all body modifications can have side effects and thigh leg tattoos are no exception. While we hope you are not going to have any complications with your tat, remember that forearmed is forewarned. So, here are some of the possible issues you can face when getting your legs tattooed:

• If you do not let your tattoo heal properly or fail to take care of it, this may introduce the infection to your wound. The tattoo then becomes hot, too painful, swollen, and oozes pus. You should immediately visit a doctor if you have noticed any of the aforementioned symptoms.
• Sometimes, you can be simply allergic to the chosen ink, especially if it is red. So, in case you have any allergies, it is better to inform your tattoo artist in advance about them.
• Because the procedure suggests puncturing your skin with a needle, it may leave scars. There is hardly anything you can change about it.

We hope we have managed to give you full insight into leg tattoos for women so you could have the best result when you leave the artist’s chair. Keep in mind that the right design and firm-handed tattooist are half the success. The other half is the right preparation and proper aftercare. So, it is all in your hands.