Book Tattoo
Traditional black ink lady head wearing a draped headscarf on the back of the hand

Traditional Lady Head Hand Tattoo

A traditional lady head on the back of the hand, hair tucked under a draped headscarf, hooded eyes and dark lips. Black ink only, built on bold outline with just enough shading to give the face form at this small scale. Hands are tight real estate, so I kept the design simple and let the silhouette carry it.

High-mobility placements like the hand break up fine detail fast. The skin moves constantly and the ink takes differently than it does on flatter spots, so I drew this around a strong outline rather than delicate rendering. A bold traditional portrait is one of the few things that holds up long-term in a spot like this.

For hand and knuckle work in Wellington, message me at @pokestaytattoo or pokestaytattoo@gmail.com.

Book Similar PieceSee All Traditional

By Rhys Thomas at Whitetail Tattoo, Level 3, 41–47 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand

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Common Questions About Traditional in Wellington

What's the difference between traditional and neo-traditional?
Traditional keeps to a small, classical colour palette (reds, yellows, greens, blues) with chunky outlines and limited shading. Neo-traditional opens that up with more colours, finer detail, and more painterly shading. Same bones, more flexibility.
Do traditional tattoos cost less because they look simpler?
No. Traditional tattoos look deceptively simple. Clean bold lines and solid colour packs are hard to execute well, and they're priced on time and skill required, not visual complexity.
Can a traditional design be personal rather than generic?
Yes. Most of my traditional pieces are custom subjects rendered in the traditional language. Bring your own meaning and I'll handle the visual grammar.