Palm Tattoos: Why Your Hands Are Built Different
And Why That's Dope
By Gentle Jaz, Co-Owner & Artist at Orchard Street Tattoos
Hey loves! It's your girl Jaz from Orchard Street Tattoos right here in the Lower East Side. Let me tell you something, palm tattoos are not your average ink. They're bold, they're statement-making, and honestly? They're one of my absolute favorite placements to work on. But before you slide into my DMs asking to get your whole palm covered, we need to have a real conversation about what makes palm skin completely different from the rest of your body.
Your Palms Are Literally Built Different
Y'all, when I say palm skin is different, I mean DIFFERENT different. Let's get into the science for a sec because this is where it gets wild.
The Anatomy Tea
Most of your body has what we call "thin skin"—it's got four layers in the epidermis (that's your outer skin layer). But your palms? Baby, they're playing a whole different game. Your palms have what scientists call "thick skin," and they come with an extra fifth layer called the stratum lucidum that sits right between the stratum granulosum and stratum corneum.
The epidermis on your palms can be as thick as 1.5 millimeters—about as thick as two credit cards stacked together. Compare that to your eyelids at 0.05 millimeters? Your palms are literally built like armor.
But here's where it gets really interesting: Your palms are absolutely PACKED with Merkel cells—these are mechanoreceptors that help you feel touch, and they're concentrated in higher numbers on the palms, soles, and fingertips than anywhere else on your body. We're talking about 17,000 touch receptors and free nerve endings in each palm. That's why palm tattoos hurt more than your average arm piece, babe.
No Hair Follicles, No Oil Glands
Another fun fact? Your palms don't have hair follicles. None. Zero. And they also lack sebaceous glands (oil glands), which means your palm skin behaves totally different from, say, your forearm or back. This affects everything from how the tattoo needle penetrates to how your skin heals afterward.
Why Palm Tattoos Are a Whole Different Beast
Listen, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it—palm tattoos are HARD. Not just for you sitting in my chair (though yeah, it's gonna hurt), but for me as the artist too. Here's why:
The Texture Situation
The skin on palms regenerates faster and is highly textured with deep creases and lines, making it difficult to achieve smooth, consistent lines and shading. When I'm working on your palm, I'm navigating valleys and ridges that just don't exist on other parts of your body. And those calluses? Callused skin is really hard to saturate properly with ink.
The Ink Depth Challenge
Here's the science part that blows my mind every time: For tattoos to be permanent, the needle needs to penetrate beyond the epidermis into the dermis layer, typically about 1.5 to 2 millimeters deep. But with palm skin being so thick AND having that extra stratum lucidum layer, hitting the sweet spot where ink actually stays is like threading a needle while riding a rollercoaster.
The excess ink sits in that thick epidermis and can remain visible for one to three months before the skin regenerates. That's why your palm might look super saturated right after we finish, but then appear lighter once it heals. That's normal! What you see after about six weeks is what's actually going to stay with you.
The Friction Factor
Your hands are in constant use—exposure to friction, frequent washing, and sunlight can all contribute to ink fading or ejection during the healing process. The skin on palms regrows faster than other areas, making tattoos more susceptible to quick fading. This is just the reality of tattooing an area that literally touches EVERYTHING.
The Healing Journey (And Why Touch-Ups Are Your Friend)
Real talk? The healing process for palm tattoos takes about six weeks, and what you're left with after that time is what will stay with you permanently. The first four days are crucial, and you need to be diligent about keeping that tattoo clean and moisturized.
Almost all palm tattoos will need a touch-up, and that's completely normal and expected. At Orchard Street Tattoos, I offer complimentary touch-ups within six months because I know palm skin is tricky. Some ink might fade or drop out during healing because it hasn't broken through the layer it needs to settle into, and that varies from person to person depending on your individual palm structure.
Design Considerations That Actually Work
Not every design is gonna work on your palm, and I'm gonna be real with you about that from jump. Simple designs with bold, solid black lines work best, intricate details and heavy shading don't hold up well. Think symbols, letters, bold geometric shapes. Save your photo-realistic portrait for your back or thigh.
Black ink holds up better than color on palms, so while I love playing with color in other placements, I'm usually recommending black for palm work. It's just gonna last longer and look cleaner over time.
Why I Love Palm Tattoos (And Want to Do More!)
Look, I know I just gave you a whole dissertation on why palm tattoos are complicated. But here's the thing—I LOVE this challenge. There's something incredibly satisfying about successfully executing a palm tattoo that heals beautifully. It requires precision, understanding of anatomy, and honestly, a lot of patience from both of us.
Palm tattoos are bold. They're visible. They're a statement that you're not here to play it safe. And as a Black woman artist in this industry, I'm all about celebrating people who choose to be unapologetically themselves.
Ready to Get Your Palms Tatted?
If you're in NYC and thinking about a palm tattoo, come see me at Orchard Street Tattoos at 148 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side. We're a boutique shop specializing in custom work and flash designs, and palm tattoos are honestly one of my favorite specialties.
Here's what you need to know before booking:
Expect pain: Those 17,000 nerve endings aren't playing
Plan for healing time: You'll need at least a week where you can baby that hand
Don't book both palms at once: Trust me, you need one functional hand
Touch-ups are normal: Free within six months at our shop!
Keep it simple: Bold designs last longer
DM me on Instagram or hit up our website to schedule a consultation. Let's talk about what design will work best for your unique palm structure, your lifestyle, and your pain tolerance. I'm here to make sure you get a palm tattoo that not only looks fire right after we finish, but stays looking good for years to come.
Find Us in the Lower East Side
Orchard Street Tattoos
148 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
Lower East Side, Manhattan
📞 (212) 597-2675
🌐 orchardstreettattoos.com
We welcome walk-ins and appointments! Whether you're looking for flash tattoos from our in-house designs or want to work with us on a custom piece, we've got you covered.
Gentle Jaz is a co-owner and resident artist at Orchard Street Tattoos, specializing in palm tattoos, fine line work, and custom designs. With a deep understanding of skin anatomy and a passion for challenging placements, she's committed to creating body art that lasts.
