Hand Tattoo Symbols and Meanings: What the Common Ones Say

A small X. On the back of the hand, a black X is the sign of straight edge, the hardcore punk movement that rejects alcohol and drugs. It started with the X that venues marked on under-age concertgoers' hands. Outside that scene it is just as often a mark of a promise or a fresh start, but people who know the code will read it that way.

Three dots. Three dots in a triangle between the thumb and index finger are widely associated with "mi vida loca" (my crazy life) in Latino street culture and with prison. Some people wear them for the Holy Trinity. Know which reading people around you will assume. The site's guide to dot tattoos goes into the variations.

Swallows. A pair on the backs of the hands has a sailor's meaning and, in Britain, a prison one - the navy swallow guide explains both.

Hands are hard on tattoos. The skin is thin over the knuckles, thick on the palm, flexes constantly and gets washed many times a day, so ink spreads and fades faster than on the arm. Fine lines and tiny lettering suffer most; bold outlines and solid black hold best, and the sides of the fingers and the palm may need touch-ups within a year.

They are also the most visible place you can choose. Many tattoo artists will not tattoo hands for someone without other tattoos, and in some jobs visible hand tattoos still count against you. If you are unsure, start on the wrist or the forearm and move down later.