Bold describes tattoos built on thick, clear outlines and strong, saturated colour. It is most closely linked to traditional tattoos, where legibility matters more than fine detail.
Where does "bold will hold" come from?
Tattoo artists often repeat the rule "bold will hold". A thick line and a simple drawing can help a design remain readable over time. As the skin changes and the ink spreads very slightly over the years, readability also depends on scale, execution, skin and aftercare. Fine detail in the same situation loses its sharpness faster.
When should you choose a bold style?
A bold style works when you want a tattoo that reads from a distance and lasts. It looks good on hands, forearms and calves, the places that are often on show. It is also a good starting point when planning a tattoo intended to remain readable over the years.
We compare the classic style with its modern offshoot in Old-school vs neo-traditional tattoos. Traditional-style tattoos at our studio are done by Gozdi.
