Shoulders and Arms An ideal location for a first-time tattoo, work on arms is usually the easiest because of accessibility, according to Tufariello. While the pain level is on the lower end, areas of the arms tend to fade more due to creasing and the density of the skin.

That being said, a general guideline could be that a small, simple, 'straightforward' tattoo about the size of half a thumb could take about an hour. Working our way up to a large back piece, it would probably not be done in a day and would require several sittings. The same is true for a full arm or leg sleeve.