Thinking about possible getting a full sleeve tattoo or just wondering what the heck they are? Well, full, half and quarter tattoo sleeves are very hot items right now and many people are getting them. This doesn't mean you should just run out and get one because other people are but if you want to know more about full sleeve tattoos then this can help give you some of the basic information. Women don't hold back on this one either as there are more and more women today then ever before sporting full and half sleeve tattoos.

Well, you are probably wondering by now what is a sleeve tattoo anyway? It is basically any tattoo design that is done on a persons arm and it typically covers up completely the area. There are different types of sleeve tattoos for example a full sleeve tattoo, half sleeve tattoo and even a quarter sleeve tattoo. The difference between them is the overall length. Typically a full sleeve will cover the entire arm from the should down to the wrist. From there a half sleeve is from the elbow or upper lower arm and goes up to the shoulder. Then there is a quarter sleeve tattoo which primarily is done around the shoulder.

While there are many ways to go about getting a sleeve tattoo most people typically fall into one of two categories. First they might have started by getting individual tattoos on their arms and then later connect all of these together with some larger tattoo design. The second way is to get one large tattoo that covers the whole area. The style or type you chose will depend on the existing tattoos you already have in the area and what your goals are.

Individual Tattoos: One way to get a full sleeve or any size sleeve tattoo is to simple connect up a series of tattoos that one already has done. For example the person might have a beautiful lotus flower tattoo design on their should and some waves down on their forearm. These two separate tattoos can then be connected together with a unifying design.

Complete Project: Another method that is pretty easy to understand and exactly as the title states is done by getting one complete tattoo design for the entire sleeve. Instead of connecting individual random tattoos the person starts with a blank slate and designs the entire sleeve at one time. This can make for a beautiful and unified looking tattoo and is often a nice way to go.

Designs, Inspiration and Custom Work Once you have made the decision to get a full sleeve tattoo there is a good deal of work ahead of you before you start getting the ink done. You want to really take your time with this process and don't get frustrated. You see finding the perfect design can be difficult and most often you will not find any pre-made flash that will fit exactly what you want. It is therefore advisable to instead take your time and really contemplate the tattoo design that you want to get. Think about things you like and what you want the tattoo to represent. Then look at pictures and ideas from other people's tattoos. Find things you like and things you dislike about other people sleeve tattoos. Keep a journal or jot your ideas down some where. If you spend some time looking online you can easily find a ton of tattoo designs and pictures of other people's tattoo to get an ideas of what you want.

What Is Popular? Of course your tattoo design will be something that you live with for the rest of your life and you do not want to decide or choose a design just because it is popular. However below there are some ideas of common full sleeve tattoos. Look through and see if any spark an interest for you.

Sleeve Tattoo Designs: Flames - Flames are a very popular item or design idea for people getting full sleeve tattoos. These designs work great and look awesome if they start down at the wrist and the flames go up towards the shoulder. One can then add in other tattoos as the flames spread upwards.

Sleeve Tattoo Designs: Tribal - Tribal sleeve designs are another great tattoo design that can commonly be done as a sleeve. Tribal tattoos are typically made up of large bold lines done in black and they look great from a distances and really stand out. Therefore they make great sleeve tattoos designs. Don't feel you have to go with the standard tribal designs either as there are many different native cultures that used tattooing. You can go with something really unique like a Maori tribal design.

Tattoo Sleeve Designs: Celtic - Celtic tattoo designs offer a lot of wonderful designs and ideas that can easily be incorporated into a full sleeve tattoo also. There are the animal and human knot work designs as well as step patterns, spirals and the classic Celtic cross designs. These can all be worked into a wonderful sleeve tattoo design.

Sleeve Tattoo Designs: Florals - Another option to go for is a floral pattern. This can work for men as well as women but more typically women choose to get floral designs. The combination of flowers and vines can often be interwoven into an almost tribal or even Celtic look for a really amazing sleeve tattoo. These look great when they start down at the wrist and then grow up towards the shoulder.

Time, Cost and Commitment If you are thinking about getting a full sleeve tattoo then you should be prepared ahead of time. This is typically a big project that will cost a good deal of money and time. Prices and times will vary greatly depending on the design chosen for the tattoo and the shop. However a good guide is they take around 20 hours of work to get done and can cost between 1,000 to 2,000 dollars. The popularity of the shop and artist will change the price a good deal as will the amount of business they currently have. So shop around and don't be afraid to ask questions. Find a tattoo artist you are comfortable with.

Once you know the amount of time, cost and commitment it will take on your part and you still really want to get a full sleeve tattoo then go for it. Spend some time planning the design carefully before getting started and make sure you choose a tattoo artist that you can communicate with and someone you feel listens to you.