If you’re planning on getting a tattoo above the pubic area, also known as a vagina tattoo, there are some things that you should know before booking an appointment. I’ll walk through the process of planning your design from start to finish, so that you have all of the information you need to plan your exact placement.
Planning Your Exact Placement
First, when planning your tattoo, it’s important to be very specific about where you want it placed. If you just search for “vagina tattoos,” then you’ll get many results, but none will be exactly what you want. So during your consultation, you’ll want to provide your artist with a clear idea of exactly where you’d like it placed.
You can use words such as “above the pubic area,” or “external pubic-area skin.” You might even sketch out a rough drawing of where you want it placed. It’s also helpful if you tell your artist how big you’d like it, and whether you want it centered, or paired with other flowers, or if you want a standalone motif. Ask your artist how content, color, size, and complexity would compare for a centered ornament, paired flowers, or a standalone motif.
In addition, you’ll probably want to talk about coordination with any nearby pieces. For instance, if you already have hip or thigh tattoos, you’ll want to make sure that the overall composition works together. If you’re planning on adding another piece to continue an existing tattoo’s flow, like this lower-arm floral addition from Valeria Tattooing, then the placement of your new tattoo is going to affect how the rest of your tattoo flows. In that arm example, the artist shifted the focal point upward for balance. Ask about visual weight and space you’d like to preserve.
Clean designKeep in mind that the final outcome is dependent on the artist’s assessment of the placement. That means that while you may envision your tattoo in one way, your artist may suggest a different placement based on their experience. And since the final decision rests with you, you have the right to decline any design that you don’t feel comfortable with.
Privacy Arrangements
Next, you’ll want to talk about privacy arrangements. Most studios are completely fine with placing tattoos on the body parts that they consider private, but they might not be willing to accommodate exposure of those areas during the session. You should be allowed to cover parts of yourself not being tattooed, while leaving the area being tattooed accessible to your artist. Others may be okay with leaving the area exposed, but won’t allow photographs to be taken of it during the session.
Some studios might even be more private than others. In other words, if you’re looking for a more private studio location, you’ll want to ask about that during your initial consultation. Or you might even want to request privacy screens to ensure that no one sees you during the session. You’ll also want to confirm consent separately for any consultation photograph.
Clean designStencil Approval and Consent
Another thing to keep in mind is that you’ll want to be very explicit about your approval of the stencil and placement. Just because you told your artist that you wanted the tattoo above the pubic area doesn’t mean that he or she will automatically assume that you’re okay with it being placed lower down, closer to the actual genital area. This is why it’s always best to have a visual representation of your desired placement.
It’s also a good idea to express your approval of the stencil/drawing before having it inked onto your skin. That way, you can be certain that you’re okay with the placement and the details.
And finally, if at any point during the session, you feel uncomfortable with the behavior of the person working on you, you can withdraw your consent. Your artist can also withdraw consent to the session if they feel uncomfortable with a client’s behavior. If the person working on you is an artist, then you can withdraw your consent to have that person work on you.
Hair Removal and Aftercare
You’ll also want to confirm who handles hair removal, since cleaning and shaving may be part of your artist’s preparation. Ask your artist for aftercare instructions covering underwear contact, grooming, and sexual contact for that placement.
So if you’ve ever been interested in getting a tattoo above the pubic area, now you have all of the information you need to plan your exact placement.