The Rise of Fine Line Tattoos
- Brad Anderson
- Aug 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 2
Fine line tattoos. You’ve seen them, you’ve heard about them, and maybe you’ve even got a few. Emphasizing detail, subtlety, and intentionality, this style is less about flair and more about feeling. As more people look for tattoos that speak softly but hit deep, fine line work is stepping into the spotlight—or has it actually been there the whole time?
HISTORY of Fine Line
To truly understand the rise of modern-day fine line tattooing, we must understand the style’s cultured past and how the iteration we know and love today came to be.
Let’s take a trip to Southern California in the mid-70’s and find a man named Charlie Cartwright; more aptly known as Good Time Charlie.
Good Time Charlie is considered to be a pioneer of tattooing in the East LA scene, and alongside his friend Jack Rudy popularized what was then known as “penitentiary-style.”
This style was a refined version of the tattooing seen in the Los Angeles prison system.
Rather than using large needle groupings to create bold lines and densely-packed shading, Charlie and Jack completed all of their work with a single needle. This allowed for more intricate linework and finer shading—typically done with a single shade of black ink.
The imagery was a reflection of East LA’s rich Chicano culture. At the time, Mexican Americans were in the midst of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement (El Movimiento) and tattoos were seen as an outlet of self expression, paying homage to Hispanic heritage and cultural empowerment.
This now-highly popularized style of tattooing made it’s way out of East LA and into Hollywood, where Mark Mahoney—originally tattooing in the NYC punk and outlaw biker scene before moving to the west coast—opened The Shamrock Social Club and became notorious for his own single-needle black and grey realism.
The East LA style expanded further and went on to create several new waves of tattooers such as Freddy Negrete, Tim Hendricks, and Mister Cartoon to name a few.
What began in the streets and prisons of Los Angeles continued to spread and evolve into the delicate, illustrative style that we see today.
(Author’s note: my first exposure to modern fine line tattooing was when I worked in Laguna Beach around 2016-2017. Coming from Colorado, fine line had not been universally popularized and the style still felt unique to Southern California. It was a few years after that when I noticed the style becoming more wide-spread on social media and in tattoo shops nationwide.)*
WHAT MAKES FINE LINE TATTOOS DIFFERENT?
When compared to other styles, modern fine line tattoos offer a more simplistic and delicate approach to tattooing. Not everyone wants the typical BIG, BOLD, BITCHIN TRADITIONAL tattoo that commands attention from across the room, and that’s okay.
Fine line allows those who want a gentler aesthetic to still permanently express themselves.
As Mark Mahoney has famously said: tattooing is “art for the people.”
WHY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT FINE LINE TATTOOS
If fine line tattooing has been around for so long, why is everyone talking about it now?
Tattooing has always followed cultural shifts and trends. As we learned about the early days, fine line originally followed the trends seen in the prison systems and neighborhoods of East LA.
As tattooing has become more widely accepted, several sub-cultures have developed within it. Each of those sub-cultures follow their own unique trends based on the people who enjoy that style of artwork.
Today, the quaint simplicity, accessibility, and—let's be honest—the aesthetic of fine line tattooing has caused a massive uprising in popularity—especially on social media.
Simply put: More people are now seeing art that is reflective of themselves in tattooing. Because of that, more people are opening up to the idea of getting their first tattoos.
THE CRAFT BEHIND THE LINE
Don’t get it mistaken… while aesthetically simple, a good fine line tattoo follows the same fundamentals of any good tattoo, and requires a high level of craftsmanship to do well.
We’ve all seen the pictures of a poorly done fine line tattoo. Whether they fade out dramatically after healing, or end up being blown out and no longer “fine”—the horror stories are plentiful.
This is why it is always recommended to do your research when seeking an artist. Just because a design is simple in nature doesn’t mean any artist at any shop can do it well.
Fine line requires an incredibly steady hand, the right equipment, and the expertise to know how to correctly apply the tattoo in a way that will last for years to come while still maintaining its original integrity.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GET A FINE LINE TATTOO
FINE LINE TATTOO PLACEMENT
Often consisting of smaller designs, fine line tattoos offer more flexibility with placement and positioning. The three most important questions to ask yourself when deciding on a placement are:
Does this flow and work well with my anatomy?
Each body is unique and will require your own unique placement. Keep in mind that no body is perfectly symmetrical and what works for one person may not work for another!
Do I plan on getting other tattoos around this?
Placement regret is real, y’all. Even if you don’t think you will be fully sleeved out in ten years—consider your tattoo’s placement and how it might affect future tattoos around it.
Do I like it there?
Do NOT be pressured by an impatient artist when placing your stencil. This is your body and you have to live with it forever. As professionals, artists should lend their opinions and guidance in your tattoo placement (which should absolutely be considered—we are experts for a reason) but the final placement is ultimately up to you.
A good artist will help guide you every step of the way, making sure that there is a mutual understanding and agreement before ever starting your tattoo.
DURABILITY AND AFTERCARE
Fine line tattoo aftercare is really no different than standard tattoo aftercare.
Keep it clean, keep it moisturized, keep it simple.
Where fine line tattoos may differ is in longevity. As stated above, a good artist will apply your tattoo in a way that lasts for years to come. However; it is important to remember that tattoos of any style will always spread or fade over time.
In the fine line application, this may mean that certain intricate designs that look good today may not look good in ten years (or even one year!).
Lines that are close together will spread. Lines that are light (too “fine” if you will) will fade considerably. Yes, your artist diluting black ink can allow for a thinner line—but there is still a limit to that technique.
Choosing an appropriate artist and listening to their expertise is critical to ensure that your tattoo stands the test of time.
Which brings us to:
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A FINE LINE ARTIST
As with any search for a tattoo artist, the first step should be finding a strong portfolio full of artwork that you like. Look for someone who does work that matches what you are wanting to get done.
Look for original work and available designs that aren’t direct copies of the popular tattoos you see online. After all, you DO want your own original tattoo, right?
It is also important to seek out someone who is able to show healed pictures of their work—proof that the tattoos they are putting on people hold up well after they leave the shop.
Lastly—and very importantly—do you vibe with them?
Your tattoo will forever be attached to the experience you have with the person who did it for you. Even the best tattoo can be soiled by a bad experience.
Finding an artist that meshes well with your own personality and needs truly can make all the difference.
FINE LINE TATTOOS AT LOW SIDE
Now that you’ve had your own crash-course on the history of fine line tattooing, why should you choose Low Side Tattoo Company?
Low Side has multiple artist who specialize in varying styles of fine line tattooing. Caitlin and Ben both offer unique approaches to this delicate-yet-bold style and have years of experience that guarantee the proper application and longevity of your tattoo.
LSTC also fosters an environment that allows you to feel comfortable and at home, regardless of which artist you are seeing. Each artist makes sure to care for and listen to their clients, while respectfully offering suggestions that will allow for the best possible outcome.
Tattooing is art for the people, and we love tattooing people.
Whether you are new to tattoos or just exploring new options, we’re here for it. No appointment needed. Come say hey and see what we have to offer.
Contact us if you have any questions!
*this blog was written by a real person with real tattooing experience, and not generated by AI or outsourced to a media company. Brad has been tattooing for over half of his life, loves tattoo history, and uses em-dashes (—) because he is literate and knows how to use them. C/S
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