From taboo to modern art

The wrists and ankles are small areas that offer many ways to signify feminine charm. Zhuo said that a tattoo on the wrist tends to be small and fairly simple, and can be covered with bracelets or a watch when at work. Ankle tattoos are relatively easy to conceal and they can be quite beautiful as they often look like anklets.

The shoulder is another extremely popular spot for women since tattoos on this part of the body can be easily covered up during office hours. Alternatively, it can be revealed by wearing a strapless or sleeveless top to show it off.

A woman's waist is a very appealing body part, as evinced by a past trend where women would draw attention to this area by wearing jewelry such as waist chains and belly-button rings. The small of the back, too, is a good option for tattoos, said Zhuo.

Other conventional areas where people can get tattoos include the neck, arm, chest, leg and ribcage. Zhuo said that the half-sleeve design, where the tattoos cover the top half of the arm, is one of the most popular designs among men all over the world as it is perceived to represent inner strength and toughness.

She also noted that more people in China are getting bolder with their tattoo motifs and are opting to ink them in more conspicuous places.

"This summer, you will probably see more girls with tattoos in places like their wrists, ankles, shoulder blades, upper chest, and on each flank of or around the waist. Those are all very popular places to bear permanent ink these days," said Zhuo.

It is hard to determine the popularity of tattoo designs because much of it depends on personal preferences. Zhuo said that more people are now opting to push the envelope on design, color and the choice of where to get that tattoo inked.

She added that pursuing a "fashionable" design is the wrong mindset because the perfect ink to get should be unique, something of beauty and an enhancement to confidence that helps one stand out in the crowd.