Represent Traditional Asian Art

Learn About Our Traditional Asian Tattoos in New Orleans

You don't just walk in and walk out with a dragon. Traditional Asian tattoos, especially Irezumi and Hori-style work, require the patience of a monk and the pain tolerance of someone who's made peace with long sessions. Salon De Tatouage brings this disciplined art form to New Orleans, where artists trained in Japanese techniques map out designs that flow across your body like water. The studio feels focused, almost meditative, and the rhythmic tap of the machine becomes background noise as the piece takes shape over hours.

This style isn't about isolated images. It's about composition, movement, and how dragons, koi fish, and waves wrap around muscle and bone. Artists in New Orleans work with your anatomy to create designs that shift as you move, making the tattoo feel alive. Sessions are long, sometimes stretching six to eight hours, and large-scale pieces can take months or even years to complete. You'll need stamina, trust, and a willingness to commit to the process. Traditional Asian tattoos demand respect for both the art and the time it takes to do it right.

Schedule your consultation for Japanese tattoos in New Orleans and start a piece that's worth the hours.

Why Choose Professional Irezumi Tattooing in New Orleans?

The process begins with understanding the flow of the design—how it will move with your body, wrap around muscles, and transition seamlessly from one area to another. Traditional Asian tattoos are not piecemeal; they're planned as cohesive compositions that honor centuries of artistic tradition. The artist will sketch and refine the design to ensure every dragon scale, wave crest, and cloud formation fits perfectly within the body's natural contours.


You'll need to commit to multiple sessions, each lasting several hours, as the artist builds layer upon layer of linework, shading, and color. The team uses traditional motifs—dragons, waves, koi fish, tigers, and peonies—rendered in bold, saturated colors or dramatic black and grey. This is not a lunchtime tattoo; it's a dedicated work of art that requires the artistic commitment of a master and the endurance of someone who truly wants it.


Each session brings the design closer to completion, revealing a piece that flows, breathes, and commands attention.


Book now to begin your Irezumi journey in New Orleans.

What to Expect When You Book

Traditional Asian tattoos come with questions about symbolism, session length, and whether your body can handle the commitment. These answers are based on years of experience working with clients who've completed full back pieces and sleeves.

How long does a full back piece take?
Expect forty to sixty hours spread across a year or more. Artists work in sections, allowing time for healing between sessions and ensuring the design flows correctly.
What's the difference between Irezumi and other Japanese styles?
Irezumi refers to traditional hand-poked or machine techniques rooted in Japanese culture. It emphasizes large-scale compositions with symbolic imagery like dragons, koi, and cherry blossoms.
Do I need to choose specific symbols or can I mix imagery?
You can mix, but traditional compositions follow certain rules about balance and flow. Artists guide you toward combinations that make visual and cultural sense.
How painful are these sessions compared to other styles?
They're long, which makes endurance the bigger challenge. Large areas like the back and ribs involve hours of continuous work, and breaks are built in to keep you functional.
Can this style work on smaller areas like arms or legs?
Yes, but the style shines at scale. Half sleeves and thigh pieces work well, but smaller designs lose the flow and impact that define traditional Asian tattoos.

You're not getting a tattoo. You're starting a project that will define how you look and how you move through the world. Artists at Salon De Tatouage respect the tradition and the commitment it takes to see a piece through. The work is demanding, but the results speak louder than anything you could wear. Contact us to begin your traditional Asian style tattoo in New Orleans.