Traditional Tattoos in Maple Ridge
Traditional tattoos in Maple Ridge. Heavy black outlines, solid colour and classic imagery, in the style that has been proving itself on skin for over a century.
Traditional
What Is a Traditional Tattoo?
American traditional is the style most people picture when they think of a classic tattoo. It grew up in port towns and on sailors in the early twentieth century, and its rules come from what actually lasted on skin: bold black outlines, a small palette of solid colour, and shapes simple enough to read from across a room.
The imagery is just as recognisable. Swallows, roses, eagles, daggers, panthers, ships, skulls and banners. These motifs keep coming back because they work, and a good traditional piece takes something familiar and makes it look clean, confident and deliberate.
What It Suits
Designs That Suit Traditional
The style is at its best with strong, simple subjects. These are the ones we are asked for most.
The Difference
Traditional vs Neotraditional
The two share a backbone, which is why people mix them up. Both start with bold black outlines and clear shapes. Traditional keeps everything else restrained: a limited palette of solid red, green, yellow and black, minimal shading, and a set of classic motifs.
Neotraditional keeps the outline and loosens the rest. The colour range widens, the shading becomes dimensional and the subjects get more detailed. If you love the look of an old-school tattoo, you want traditional. If you want that strength with more depth and decoration, neotraditional is the closer fit. We can show you both at your consultation.
Longevity
How Traditional Tattoos Age
This is the style’s biggest practical strength, and the reason it has outlasted almost every trend. Ink spreads slightly under the skin over the years. Fine detail and tight spacing are the first things to soften. Traditional sidesteps most of that: thick outlines, open space and solid colour hold their shape for decades, and an old traditional tattoo still reads clearly from a distance.
There is a saying among tattooers that bold will hold, and it is mostly true. If you are torn between styles, compare it with our fine line work, which trades some longevity for delicacy, or our Japanese work, which shares the same bold approach at a larger scale.
Colour
Colour or Black and Grey?
Most traditional tattoos are done in colour, and the palette is part of the look: solid red, green, yellow and black, packed in flat so it stays bright. Traditional also works well in pure black, using solid fill and a little shading in place of colour.
If you want soft gradients and photographic shading, that is a different style. Have a look at our black and grey, realism and portrait work instead.
Your Visit
Planning Your Piece
Traditional is one of the more efficient styles to tattoo. Solid outlines and flat colour go in quickly, and smaller pieces are often finished in a single session. Size still matters: the style needs enough room for the outline to stay bold, so we will steer you away from shrinking a design until the detail closes up.
You can bring a piece of classic flash, a reference, or just an idea. Leon Santos, one of our artists who tattoos traditional, will draw it up so it sits properly on the body. At the free consultation we settle size, placement and colour before anything is booked.
Your artist: Alex and Leon Santos. The pieces on this page are by Alex; Leon (15+ years) lists traditional among his core styles.
Questions
Traditional Tattoo Questions
How much does a traditional tattoo cost?
Our rate is $180 an hour plus GST. The total depends on size, placement and detail, so book the free 30-minute consultation and we will give you a time estimate before you commit.
Who does traditional tattoos at Uppercuts?
Leon Santos and Alex. The pieces on this page are by Alex (17 years of experience); Leon (15+ years) lists traditional among his core styles, and his portfolio is on the Artists page.
Where can I get a traditional tattoo near me?
At our Maple Ridge studio, #5 – 22935 Lougheed Highway, open 7 days from 10 AM to 9 PM, walk-ins welcome. Our Walnut Grove studio in Langley is opening soon.
How do I book?
Book online, call 604 802 5913, or message us on WhatsApp at the same number. Every project starts with a free 30-minute consultation.
Pricing
Traditional Tattoo Prices in Maple Ridge
A one hour tattoo session is $180 and a two hour session is $360, plus GST. The work is priced by time, so your cost follows how long the piece takes. Traditional tends to be good value for that reason: bold lines and flat colour are quicker to lay in than heavy blending. Larger pieces and sleeves are planned out at your free consultation. You can also see our pricing.
Bold Designs Cover Old Ink Well
Heavy outlines and solid fill make traditional one of the strongest styles for covering an old tattoo. What is possible still depends on how dark and how large the existing work is, so we assess every cover-up in person before we plan the design.
FAQ
Traditional Tattoo Questions
The questions people ask us most about traditional tattoos.
Come and Book Now
Book a Traditional Tattoo in Maple Ridge
You will find us at #5 – 22935 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge, on the upper level. We are open seven days a week from 10am to 9pm, walk-ins welcome. Bring your references and an idea of scale.
Read our Google reviews, browse our work or see all our services.
Tattooed at our Maple Ridge studio. For directions, hours and contact details, see Locations and Contact.
