Sleeve tattoo A sleeve tattoo (or tattoo sleeve) is a large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos, that has a unified theme, that covers most or all of a person's arm. To clarify, there is a difference between an arm covered in tattoos and a sleeve tattoo. A sleeve tattoo has a unified theme, whereas an arm covered in tattoos may have many tattoos of different styles that does not have an overall unity. Tattoo sleeves will also often have overlapping or interlinking pieces. So, although there may not be a clear theme, it can be seen that the tattoo sleeve is one single piece. The term "sleeve" is a reference to the tattoo's size similarity in coverage to a shirt sleeve on an article of clothing. Just like for shirts, there are various sizes of sleeves. In this manner, the term is also used as a verb; for example, "being sleeved" means to have one's entire arm tattooed. The term is also sometimes used in reference to a large leg tattoo that covers a person's leg in a similar manner. As mentioned previously, sleeves come in more than one size. The most commonly seen is a full-sleeve, which covers the arm (or leg) entirely in tattoos from the shoulder to the wrist. Other variations of sleeves are the half-sleeve and quarter-sleeve. These tattoos only cover part of the arm, usually above the elbow, but half-sleeves can also be found below the elbow from the wrist to the elbow. A sleeve implies complete tattoo coverage of a particular area, so a half-sleeve is a tattoo that covers the entire circumference of the upper or lower arm. Likewise, a quarter-sleeve usually covers only a fourth of the arm, usually from the shoulder to midway to the elbow. The quarter-sleeve is not often seen because it is so high. For that reason, individuals may chose to get a quarter-sleeve so it can be cover with just a short sleeve shirt. Sleeve tattoos are usually a collaboration between a tattoo artist and customer to demonstrate a personal and unified artistic theme. Other times, a sleeve is created when a person has many smaller, separate tattoos on their arm and later has all the tattoos connected with a unified background design to form a sleeve. Planned sleeves generally require many long hours of tattooing and can take weeks, months or years to complete depending on if an individual wants to take the approach of one large design or smaller ones that interconnect. Some organizations have proposed rules banning sleeves among their members; the United States Marine Corps, for example, prohibited Marines from getting arm- or leg-sleeve tattoos after April 1, 2007. Those with sleeves who were already serving prior to this date are protected under a grandfather clause. Although some organizations have created these bans, tattoo sleeves have become so popular that several clothing companies have produced apparel that simulates the look of tattoo sleeves using transparent mesh fabric printed with tattoo designs. These sleeves can provide a temporary feeling of having a sleeve, and help someone decide if it is something they truly want. Additionally, these companies find a buying community in children and teenagers who may want to mimic someone they idolize, or wear for a costume. Some sleeve tattoos run beyond the length of the shoulder and onto the chest. This is a specific Japanese styled sleeve called a Hikae. When both arms are completely tattooed as part of a full body tattoo, these are usually called sleeve tattoos. Sleeve tattoos which are commonly found with faces of animals representing