If you’ve been searching for tattoo inspiration lately, you may have noticed that hand and finger tattoos are hotter than ever. But look even closer, and you just might spot some high-level nail art: nail tattoos. We’ve been seeing tattoo artists embellishing their own and their clients’ tips with ink all over TikTok lately using an actual tattoo gun to add star signs, lettering, and abstract art designs to their nails, and we have to admit that we’re tempted.
Tattoos are usually for forever but as it turns out, nail tats aren’t a permanent choice. That means you can experiment as you please without the commitment — but more on that later, because there’s still plenty to consider before you hit the tattoo shop. We asked a tattoo artist and a dermatologist for their takes on everything you need to know when it comes to your inky new manicure.
What are nail tattoos?
Nail tattoos are exactly what they sound like: tattoos applied to your fingernails rather than your skin. While they are applied with a tattoo gun and ink the same way typical tattoos are, they do require an extra-steady hand from your artist. 
“They aren’t hard [to apply] per se, but they are more like a scratching motion on a hard surface, so it’s a little harder to make a clean line,” Pignanelli explains. So while you nail tats aren’t necessarily suitable for intricate works of art, they can be a perfect showcase for fun fonts or tiny, meaningful symbols.
“Style-wise, the more simple the design is, the easier it’ll be to tattoo in such a small space,” explains Pignanelli.
Are nail tattoos permanent?
Surprisingly, nope. Rather than tattooing your skin, your artist is embedding the ink in your nail, which means that nail tats are temporary.
“The tattoo is essentially just scratched into the surface of the nail, so it just grows out with the nail. It doesn’t go deep enough into the nail to hit the nail bed,” explains Gabby Pignanelli, a tattoo artist at Inked NY in New York City. Pignanelli tattoos her clients’ nails as well as her own with everything from nails to spiderwebs.
“Nail tattoos should grow out with the nail, which fully takes 6 months, and should not spread down to the nail bed,” confirms Ellen Marmur M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. So instead of driving yourself crazy trying to pick a design you’ll love twenty years from now, it’s an opportunity to experiment with design and color.
“Personally, I prefer black, but any color will work,” says Burak Noire, owner and tattoo artist at Fleur Noire based in New York City and Los Angeles, when it comes to executing nail tats. “I would recommend keeping the design as minimal as possible. You can get creative with the use of fine lines or dots,” he adds. You can also add a gel top coat over the top to make the design pop, or if you need to cover them up for some reason, a couple coats of pigmented polish erase the evidence of your new ink.
“Just have fun with it,” adds Pignanelli, “It’s temporary!”
Are nail tattoos safe?
Both Dr. Marmur and Pignanelli confirm that nail tattoos are generally very safe. That said, it’s advisable to get from a tattoo artist you trust and, as is the case with most body modification, they’re not totally risk-free.
“It is safe when done at the correct depth,” specifies Dr. Marmur. “Nail tattoos are like scratches in the nail plate which is, like hair, densely-packed keratin. Unlike hair, beneath the nail is soft tissue which, can be injured by the tattoo artist if done too aggressively,” she explains. And if you’ve ever injured a fingernail, you know that it’s a sensitive — and vulnerable — area. “The risk would be bleeding and infection, which can become dangerous quickly in the finger. The worst case is compartment syndrome, which is an emergency,” she explains. In general, though, it’s as safe as a typical tattoo.
All that said, nail tattoos are certainly not DIY-safe. “No tattoos should ever be done at home — including nail tattoos,” warns Noire. “Always go to a professional; it really isn’t worth the risk. I especially wouldn’t recommend stick and poke for your nails. Do some research and find an artist you trust.”
Do nail tattoos hurt?
Both Noire and Pignanelli reassure Allure that the process should be painless, save for some mild pressure. “It doesn’t hurt. It feels more like pressure on your nail, or if you’ve gone to the nail salon, it feels like when they use the [electric file] to sand your nails down,” explains Pignanelli. She does note that those with weaker nails may feel a stronger sensation. “I’ve heard that if you have thinner nails, it can be a little pinch-y,” she says.
