Tattooing Megan Rapinoe: Hand and Wrist Work by Brian Parrillo

Megan Rapinoe retired from professional soccer in 2023 as one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport — a two-time FIFA World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, Ballon d'Or Féminin winner, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. She was also on the cover of Time Magazine that summer, in a feature titled "Megan Rapinoe Won't Go Quietly." Her hand and wrist tattoos are visible on that cover, done by Durham’s own Brian Parrillo.

Time Magazine / July 24, 2023

Hand Tattoos: What Makes Them Different

Hand and wrist tattoos are among the most technically demanding placements in tattooing — and among the most unforgiving over time. The skin on the hands is thinner and more mobile than most other placements, which means ink behaves differently during application and heals differently afterward. Areas of constant movement and friction — knuckles, the backs of the fingers, the outer edge of the hand — are particularly challenging to keep crisp.

For fine line or detailed work on the hands, needle selection and ink depth are critical. Too shallow and the ink won't hold. Too deep and it bleeds. The window is narrow, and it requires a level of technical control that comes from experience with the placement specifically, not just realism tattooing in general.

Longevity on hand tattoos also depends heavily on the design. Work that's built with appropriate line weight and contrast for the placement holds up. Work that's too fine or too dense in a small area tends to blur or fade faster. Brian approaches hand work with these considerations in mind from the design phase — what it looks like the day it's done matters less than what it looks like healed and years later.

The Work

Brian tattooed Megan's hand and wrist pieces — work that has since appeared in major editorial coverage, on a Time Magazine cover, and in front of audiences around the world.

You can see examples of Brian's hand tattoo work and small-scale fine line pieces in his small tattoos portfolio, and his broader fine line and realism work throughout his custom tattoo portfolio.

Book a Hand or Wrist Tattoo in Durham, NC

Brian tattoos at Ethereal Tattoo Gallery, 730 Rigsbee Ave, Durham, NC. If you're considering hand or wrist work, submit a booking request here. Brian will advise on design, sizing, and placement during consultation to make sure the work holds up the way it should.