Tips for your First Hockey Tattoo

September 15th, 2021

Everyone has a hockey memory, team or player that holds special meaning to them. When choosing your hockey Tattoo, always make a choice that you will not regret! For instance, say your favorite player was Wayne Gretzky because you were a die-hard Oilers fan. Would you be Ok with getting the Great One tattooed on your body, forever, say, if he got traded to the Kings..... Believe it or not, people get pissssssed when their favorite player gets traded, or worse, leaves in free agency. So, when making that tattoo choice, be sure it is something that you will love, no matter the circumstances. 

Obviously, body placement is a big deal when it comes to the visibility of your hockey piece. I love the Leafs Back Piece shown here. However, it's on a part of the body that most people will never see. Unless you're at the beach, or in the locker room. Which is cool, if that's what you want.

If you're really looking to show off that hockey tat, I'd say go somewhere on the arm, or in the case above, the hand. It's up to you, who and how much people see the piece, so go with what your gut tells you. My hockey related piece is on my ribs, not too many people see it. I got it there because hockey comes with a little bit of pain. So I chose to go with the ribs as a tribute to the bumps and bruises I got along the way.

Tattoos come in many forms, so style is completely up to you. Most hockey tats you will see are related to the individual's favorite team, or home country. My personal favorites are portraits, traditional and realism. One of my favorite tats of all-time is the piece below! It's a New York Rangers 3D/B&G/realism piece with the Statue of Liberty. I like it so much because of the detail, and the fact that it is very unique (not just the standard logo). However, the standard New York Rangers logo below is also really cool because the colors pop so well! So, as you can see, you can go in different directions and still have an awesome looking hockey tat! It just depends on the level of detail you are looking for, color or black/white, and your personal preference!

This is an option that is entirely based on your budget. You can find a good tattoo artist for $100-$150/hour. If you have a friend that does artwork, you're lucky. If we reference the tattoos above, the Statue of Liberty piece would take longer and would require more money than the standard logo piece. If you're looking for something simple, you won't have to break the bank on your first one. If you want something a little bigger and with more detail, you will be looking at a higher pricetag. Tattoos are like hockey equipment.... if you want the best, you gotta pay for it! 

Whatever hockey piece you have in mind, make sure you do your research! Pick an artist you trust. Check out their portfolio, pricing and believe it or not, personality. You have to mesh with your tattoo artist, just like your linemates, d-partner or goalie partner. Make sure you get a mockup of the design and be sure it is exactly what you want. I know artists can get frustrated with clients that are crazy picky, but at the end of the day, its your body, you gotta love it! 

If you have something in mind, bring a reference piece for the artist, trust me, it will help a ton. Especially, if it is your first tattoo. Hope this blog was helpful  when choosing that first hockey tattoo! When you get it, make sure to send us a pic so we can post your story to the Inked Hockey community!