Abstract Tattoos in Las Vegas Done Right

What's Covered on This Page

• What Abstract Tattoos Actually Are
• How to Choose the Right Abstract Design for Your Skin
• Abstract Tattoos: Steps to Keep it Looking Great
• Why Abstracts Will Fade Faster & How to Avoid It
• What makes abstract tattoos different from watercolor or illustrative styles?
• Do I need to bring a reference image to my abstract tattoo consultation in Las Vegas?
• How long does an abstract tattoo session usually take?
• Does skin tone or body placement affect how an abstract tattoo turns out?
• Is abstract tattooing harder to do well than other styles?
• What should I expect when I walk into Love Bite Tattoo for an abstract piece?

Need abstract tattoos?

(702) 817-6217

Call now to reserve a chair. Call Love Bite Tattoo now.

What Abstract Tattoos Actually Are

An abstract tattoo doesn't attempt to replicate a photograph, nor is it a portrait or a rose with water droplets. Abstracts exist on their own. Imagine bold lines and shapes, contrasting colors, brushstroke textures, and designs that are more akin to fine art. Some of these pieces feature a dripping, splashing effect. Others have geometric shapes that are fragmented and reconstructed. We've been doing abstract tattoos in Las Vegas for more than 10 years, and we've never seen two pieces that looked the same. That's exactly how it's supposed to be.

Often, people near the Fremont East district ask for "abstract tattoos" only to show us a picture of a realistic wolf surrounded by watercolor. That's not quite it. Here's what makes a tattoo an abstract:

• The design doesn't depict a real-life object or distorts one so much that it no longer looks real
• The piece relies on movement, color, texture, and contrast instead of outlines
• Color and shape express emotion, while details are secondary
• Negative space is used as part of the design, abstract tattoos lean more toward artwork rather than illustration.

This is one of the reasons why people choose them. Every week, we see someone come in with a traditional tattoo they'd like to add to, yet they want something more personal and artistic. They're often unable to clearly explain it. They just know they want to make a mark that speaks to them. This type of tattoo affords that kind of freedom, since the guidelines aren't as strict as other traditional or illustrative styles. A tattoo like this doesn't necessarily need to be a specific object, it can be an emotion, a season in life, a feeling.

However, loose parameters don't make the tattooing process more straightforward. In fact, the opposite is true. The Alliance of Professional Tattooists says that freehand tattooing and non-representational work requires a good understanding of form, shape, and color. You can't bluff through abstract designs. Each line has to find its way onto skin. When poorly done, these pieces can appear as if they are errors. The correct execution makes you stop. The difference in those two examples is huge and is up to the artist.

How to Choose the Right Abstract Design for Your Skin

Some people find that difficult. And, the best way to get there is with an abstract tattoo. You shouldn't choose an abstract tattoo like you pick a rose or an anchor from a flash sheet. This piece shouldn't resemble any other abstract out there. However, that liberty can appear to be a drawback when you're sitting across the table from an artist, particularly when it's your first session. At the Las Vegas shop, we help clients choose their design daily. So, this.

Begin by focusing on the mood of the tattoo instead of a specific representation. Sounds weird right? Abstract stuff lives right there. Think movement, vibe, energy. Do you want something messy and stacked? Quiet and rolling? Crisp and geometric? Knowing that feeling tells your artist much more than a Pinterest pin full of random pics.

What Matters for Your Body

We're tattooing your body, not the wall of a house. Curves, muscles, bones, skin color are all of these impact how the tattoo looks. Some things that we think about beforehand:

• Where it will go and how your body will bend
• Your skin tone and which colors age well on you
• Size is a design can be great at 4″ and bad at 10″
• If there are existing tattoos and what direction the design will take

A client from the Summerlin area came in last month wanting a lot of colorful paint strokes on their arm. After talking, we decided to move it to their shoulder. The larger area really allowed the piece to breathe. Same piece, completely different.

Most of the time, the best abstract ideas come from a conversation, not from an exact picture. Bring mood boards and color swatches, even music, if you have it. I can't tell you how many tattoos we made inspired by desert sunsets or panic attacks or a breakup or a record album. All abstract and all different. But most importantly, don't worry about the "do's and do not's". That's what I do. You do the feeling part. I'll do all the years of work. When we do that together, the really good stuff happens.

What You Should Expect at Love Bite Tattoo

There's music in the shop. We even have some cats. You shouldn't feel sterile. We want you as relaxed as possible before we even pick up a machine. When you're nervous, it's hard to relax and when you're tense, skin is hard to tattoo. You'll sit down with your artist, go over the custom design with them and discuss any final changes to your comfort. Maybe that line needs to be thicker or that stroke of color be shifted up. It's your tattoo. We don't mind changes. You're satisfied and the design is placed. The session is a few simple steps:

• The artist preps your skin and stencils the design (or does it free hand depending on the tattoo)
• Check it out on the mirror together, make any changes as needed until you're satisfied
• Start the linework or any of the bold elements that make up the structure of your tattoo
• Work through any of the shading, texture, and color to build the image
• Finish up and clean off

Abstract tattoos need a different pace than some other work. You can't just trace the lines and go. Your artist might move between different sections, working to create contrast and flow throughout the overall design. From the outside, it might seem random, but rest assured, there's always an intention behind it.

Most sessions for our mid-size abstract pieces in Las Vegas typically last between two and four hours. If we're working on a large scale piece spanning a few ribs or a full sleeve panel, we might recommend scheduling a follow-up session. I will always let you know if that's going to be the case ahead of time. We will also definitely stop if you're taking a break, so get your water, stand up and stretch, or check your phone. No one is here to be a martyr for sitting completely still until you fall asleep.

Many of our visitors from the Strip or guests from downtown (like those staying in the Arts District area) will ask if we should consider the timing based on their flight times or dinner reservations. Just let us know how your schedule works, and we'll plan accordingly to accommodate your life on your terms. When you leave here, you should walk away with proper aftercare directions, a bandage that will stick to the tattoo, and a new piece of art that looks unlike anything else on anyone else's skin. That's the goal.

Abstract Tattoos: Steps to Keep it Looking Great

Here's a fact: the abstract ink looks incredible right away, especially that first week! But just because the bold colors, fine lines and clean edges make it look great when they put the final bandage on doesn't mean the process stops. I provide everyone with aftercare directions that I've customized, but let's walk through the steps here, as I get asked this every day:

1. Keep whatever bandage I've put on for the amount of time that I've specified. It will vary based on how I've applied the design, so I don't like it if you decide to keep it on a little bit longer or remove it earlier than instructed.
2. When it comes time to remove the bandage, clean the area with just water and unscented soap. After I recommend, use a clean paper towel or cloth to pat it dry. It should never touch a bath towel (which has a lot of germs) or a towel that's already been used.
3. Use only a thin layer of unscented lotion, two to three times a day. Thin is thin. The skin is supposed to breathe and feel some air on it.
4. Avoid peeling the healing tattoo, regardless of how much it itches. Picking at an abstract tattoo is especially bad, because the piece is supposed to rely on gradients and color contrast, and picking might remove the ink.
5. Try to keep the tattoo out of the pool, hot tub, and the sun for at least two weeks. The Las Vegas sun is no joke, especially if you walk downtown near the Arts District or along the Strip in Summerlin.

In my experience, 90 percent of tattoos that don't heal correctly are healed improperly either by applying too much lotion or not following the aftercare due to too much exposure to UV rays. It's happened more than a few hundred times. The flaws with abstract tattoos are far more obvious. A tattooed rose that doesn't heal correctly in the traditional sense might be able to be covered up, but if you have a piece of abstract tattoo art built upon negative space and color contrast, every minor imperfection can be seen.

Not to scare you out of tattooing, but rather, to stress the importance of aftercare for your new tattoo. For a thorough breakdown of what to expect during recovery, these proper tattoo aftercare tips from Healthline are a solid reference. The aftercare tips here apply for your skin, but don't forget to also hydrate yourself with water. Your skin, when healthy and hydrated on the inside, heals much faster (since this desert air is super drying). As far as aftercare tips go, per the American Academy of Dermatology, "keeping a new tattoo clean and moisturized will increase the longevity and vibrancy of your design." Yes, that's what we think, too!

If healing seems like it's not going as it should, give us a call and we'll take a look for free. It's always better for your tattoo than taking a chance and fretting over it at home for a week.

Need help with abstract tattoos?

(702) 817-6217

Call now to reserve a chair. Love Bite Tattoo is ready to help.

Why Abstracts Will Fade Faster & How to Avoid It

There is one thing a tattoo enthusiast doesn't learn until they have the tattoo healed. That is that Abstracts tend to lose their original strength quicker compared to, say, bold Traditional tattoos. This is not a fault in the art style but rather physics. Abstract tattoos depend on soft gradients, thin line work, and light color transitions. These details lay under the skin differently than a thick black outline does. And Las Vegas isn't making matters any easier. UV radiation here is brutal, especially if you're in or near the Strip or Summerlin. UV radiation is the worst for your tattoo. We tell every client this. No one is exempt.

What Causes Tattoo Fading?

There are a couple of specific problems with Abstract tattoos:

• Fine lines and light shading hold less ink per area, so they are more prone to fading due to the skin naturally shedding dead skin cells on its own, shedding the ink
• Watercolor pieces that lack a black outline will lose contrast as the colors blur in the skin over time
• Placement is a factor. Hands, feet, ribs, and fingers fade more quickly due to friction and constant motion of the skin.
• Desert conditions: The dry air strips the skin of moisture, which could negatively impact how the ink settles in your body. We see this every week. Clients who get tattoos by other shops. They look amazing at 2 weeks and are looking like soup by 3 years. 9/10 times its either bad placement or it's a failure to protect the tattoo.

How We Design Abstract Tattoos to Longevity

We keep the aging factors in mind before even starting the needle. So we make the composition such that it looks good regardless of fading. This includes strategically placing black to anchor the tattoo, using a bit bolder line work where the skin moves more, and being clear about whether or not the placement of the design will make it fade too fast.

On the aftercare side, we provide you with instructions specifically relevant to tattoo healing in Las Vegas conditions. Not some generic sheet. We tell you specifically about how to protect your skin in our dry desert climate, which lotions to avoid until it is healed (pool chemicals), and how you should be wearing a physical sunscreen everyday once the tattoo is healed up. We've got seventeen years in the business, we've seen it all happen. So, do you want your abstract tattoo to look amazing 10 years from now? Well then, make good choices right off the bat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about abstract tattoos services in NV

Ready to Get Started?