Find the look you love. We’ll help you make it yours.
Explore tattoo styles through work by our artists at Flesh Chambers in Manchester. From delicate florals to bold blackwork, use this guide as a starting point for your next tattoo.
You don’t need to know the name of your style. Save what catches your eye and send us your ideas.
Fine line
Light lines. Thoughtful detail.
Fine-line tattoos use delicate outlines and considered shading for a lighter look. They can be minimal or full of detail, from a small symbol to a larger floral piece. Fine line describes the look of the lines, so it does not have to mean tiny.
Bring the size and placement you have in mind. Your artist can help balance fine detail with enough space for the design.
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Realism
Lifelike detail, depth and texture.
Realism uses light, shadow and texture to give portraits, animals and other subjects a lifelike finish. It can be black and grey or full colour. Dan’s peacock shows how rich colour, detailed feathers and careful shading can bring a larger piece to life.
Send a clear reference and your preferred placement. Your artist will help choose a size that gives the detail room to work.
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Micro realism
Very small tattoos with lifelike detail.
Micro realism brings realistic shading, texture and depth into a very small tattoo. Miniature animals, flowers and meaningful objects can work beautifully in this style, in black and grey or colour. The small scale is what sets it apart from larger realism pieces.
Send your idea, placement and an approximate size in centimetres. Your artist can advise which details will work at that scale and where the design needs breathing room.
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Script & lettering
Words with a style of their own.
From neat lettering to flowing calligraphy, the font is part of the design. Send the exact wording, an approximate size and examples of the lettering you like. That helps us understand the feel you want and the space it needs.
Include the font style in your enquiry, whether you want bold lettering, delicate script or something handwritten.
Florals & botanicals
One subject, so many ways to wear it.
Florals are a subject rather than one fixed style. The same flower could become a delicate fine-line design, a realistic colour piece, a bold traditional tattoo or something more illustrative. Start with the flowers you love, then choose the finish that feels like you.
Send the flower or plant, your preferred style, approximate size and placement. If colour matters, include a reference for that too.
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Ornamental & decorative
Pattern and detail that follow the body.
Ornamental tattoos use flourishes, patterns and decorative shapes to create a design that works with your placement. They can feel like jewellery on the skin, with fine chains, ornate centrepieces and flowing details. Tash’s shoulder piece shows how the shape of the body can become part of the design.
Include a photo of the area and examples of the details you like. Placement, flow and the space around the tattoo all help shape an ornamental piece.
Blackwork
Bold contrast, in black ink.
Blackwork makes black ink central to the design, often using strong outlines, solid areas and the untouched skin between them. It can be graphic, illustrative or decorative. This mandala combines solid black shapes, fine outlines and open space; blackwork does not have to cover a large area.
Save examples of the balance you like between solid black, linework and open space.
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Traditional & neo-traditional
Strong outlines. Plenty of character.
Traditional tattoos are known for bold outlines, clear shapes and a focused colour palette. Neo-traditional work builds on that foundation with more detail, depth and a wider range of colours. Both can give flowers, animals and characterful designs a striking, graphic look.
Let us know whether you prefer a simpler, bolder finish or a more detailed, decorative piece.
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Japanese
Bold imagery. Designs that flow with the body.
Japanese-style tattoos bring together bold outlines, flowing backgrounds and subjects such as dragons, koi, masks and flowers. Waves, clouds and wind bars can connect the elements into one design, in rich colour or black and grey. From a standalone piece to a sleeve or back piece, the composition works with the shape of your body.
Send us the subjects you love, your preferred colours, approximate size and placement, plus a few reference pictures. If you would like to build a larger piece over time, let us know from the start.
Illustrative & anime
Your favourite worlds, made personal.
Illustrative tattoos take their cues from drawing, comics, animation and the artist’s own imagination. They can be playful, dark, delicate or detailed. Anime, gaming and horror subjects can all work here, with a finish shaped by the artist you choose.
Tell us the character or idea, plus what you like about the references: the mood, linework, colours or composition.
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Watercolour & abstract
Colour with room to play.
Watercolour tattoos use soft washes, splashes and colour transitions for a painterly effect. Abstract work can play with shape, movement and unexpected combinations. These approaches can stand alone or sit around a recognisable subject, like the butterfly and skull shown here.
Show us the colours and overall feeling you love. You do not need to arrive with a finished design.
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Tattoo style FAQs
A few useful answers before you send us your ideas.
How do I choose a tattoo style?
Start by saving a few tattoos you like and noticing what they share: delicate lines, bold shapes, realistic shading, colour or a particular mood. You can like more than one style. Send us your favourites and we’ll help you describe the look and choose an artist.
How do I choose a tattoo artist in Manchester?
Look through portfolios for work similar to the finish you want, rather than choosing by the subject alone. A flower can be tattooed in lots of styles. Browse the artist links above, or send your idea to our team at Flesh Chambers on Bridge Street and we’ll help match it to an artist.
What is the difference between fine line and realism?
Fine line describes a delicate use of lines. Realism describes a lifelike image built with shading, texture and depth. They can overlap, but they are not interchangeable. A simple outlined flower and a shaded miniature flower can have very different finishes.
What is micro realism?
Micro realism means very small tattoos with lifelike shading, texture and detail. It differs from fine line, which describes the delicate use of lines rather than the size of the tattoo. Bring a reference and an approximate measurement so your artist can advise what will work.
Can a detailed tattoo be small?
Some designs work beautifully at a small size, but not every detail can simply be shrunk. Your artist will consider the subject, placement and space between details, then suggest a size or a simpler version. Send an approximate measurement in centimetres so we have a useful starting point.
Should I choose colour or black and grey?
Both can work across several styles. Colour can make particular features stand out; black and grey uses contrast and shading to build the image. Compare examples you love and tell your artist which finish appeals to you. They can advise on a palette and design for your skin and placement.
Can I mix tattoo styles in one design or sleeve?
Yes, styles can be combined, but the overall composition needs thought. Tell us about existing tattoos and any future plans, and include clear photos of the area. Your artist can help connect the pieces through placement, spacing, contrast or colour.
What should I send with my tattoo enquiry?
Send your idea, approximate size in centimetres, placement, reference images and whether you want colour or black and grey. Add an artist preference if you have one. For script, include the exact wording and examples of the font style. For a cover-up, include a clear photo of the existing tattoo.
Can I bring a reference photo without copying the tattoo?
Absolutely. References help show the style, subject and details you like. Tell us which parts appeal to you so your artist can use them as a starting point for a design of your own.
Does the tattoo style affect the price?
The style can affect how much detail and time a design needs. Size, placement and the artist’s approach matter too, so a reference image on its own is not enough for an accurate quote. Send us your idea, size and placement and we’ll help you take the next step.
What if I don’t know the name of the style I want?
That’s completely fine. Send a few reference images and tell us what you like about them. We’ll help you work out the style and find a suitable artist.
For studio and appointment questions, visit our tattoo and piercing FAQs.
Found your style?
Send us your idea, approximate size, placement and a few reference photos. We’ll help you choose a suitable artist and get a quote.