Explore Our Tattoo Styles
Lightwork Tattoo specializes in timeless custom designs in every major tattoo style, each crafted with precision, creativity, and care.
Understanding Tattoo Styles & Choosing the Right One
Tattoo styles are more than visual categories; they’re traditions, techniques, and design languages that have evolved over centuries.
Whether you’re drawn to bold japanese and traditional linework, ornamental flow, or looking to learn more about our cover-up process, knowing the strengths of each style helps you translate your ideas into a tattoo that lasts a lifetime.
Browse our most requested styles below, then dive deeper to learn what makes each one unique.
Japanese Style (Irezumi)
Graphic storytelling, rich in symbolism
Ornamental
Hand drawn with care
Traditional
Bold lines, solid color, and timeless motifs.
Tribal
Heritage, symmetry and flow
Cover-Ups
Old tattoos transformed into new art
Fine Line
Minimal and refined tattoos
Anime & Pop Culture
Classic tattoos meet modern pop art
Neo-Traditional
Traditional technique, modern design
Realism & Portraits
Detailed personal pieces and lifelike portraits
Illustrative
Fine art meets tattooing
Atlanta’s Trusted Studio for Custom Tattoo Styles
Located in Sandy Springs and serving the greater Metro Atlanta area, including Dunwoody, Buckhead, Brookhaven, Gwinnett, and Alpharetta, Lightwork Tattoo is known for its craftsmanship, professionalism, and expertise across every skin tone and tattoo style.
Our artists design with intention, ensuring every piece looks as good years from now as it does on day one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoo Styles
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If you’re new to tattoos, start with a style that matches both your idea and comfort level.
Traditional, Fine Line, or small Japanese tattoos are great options for first-time clients: bold enough to age well, yet simple enough to complete in one session.
During your consultation, our artists in Sandy Springs will help match your idea to the right style for your skin tone, placement, and detail preferences.
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Bring your concept and/or reference images, and we’ll guide you.
Each tattoo style has its strengths: Traditional for iconic imagery, Illustrative for storytelling, Ornamental for flow, and Japanese for symbolic depth.
Our artists will translate your idea into the style that captures your vision best.
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Yes, skilled artists can blend styles when it’s done intentionally.
For example, Japanese and Illustrative elements often mix beautifully, while Traditional aethetic can give modern themes a classic feel. The key is harmony in flow and contrast.
Our artists ensure any style fusion feels cohesive and timeless.
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Japanese tattoos (Irezumi) are narrative and symbolic, often spanning large areas like sleeves or backs.
Traditional tattoos (Afro-Americana & American Traditional) focus on bold outlines, strong black shading, limited color palettes, and iconic Imagery.
Both styles are bold and timeless, the difference lies in storytelling and composition.
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Yes, free consultations are available via phone call or in person.
They’re ideal for exploring tattoo styles, placement options, and layout recommendations before you commit.
You can book a free consultation directly after submitting your booking request.
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Lightwork Tattoo specializes in color and black & grey work on all skin tones.
Bold linework and strong contrast, found in styles like Traditional, Tribal, and Japanese, tend to show best on brown and dark skin. Wes and Kandace have extensive experience designing tattoos that remain vibrant and legible long-term on dark skin.
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Design time depends on size and complexity.
Small custom tattoos may take 1–2 days to finalize, while large pieces like sleeves or back tattoos may take a week or more.
Kandace freehands her tattoos directly on the skin on the day of the appointment.
Wes will reveal your custom design on the day of your appointment, and time will be allotted to make minor adjustments after you review the design.