So, you’ve decided that you want to get inked. And now you need to filter through the countless tattoo ideas to find a design you love enough to make permanent. Whether it’s your first time or fifteenth, deciding on a tattoo design can be a lengthy process.
The permanency alone is a daunting prospect (top tip: a tattoo is a bad medium for declarations of love), and then there’s the difficulty of choosing something that will remain timeless and immune to ever-evolving trends. Oh, and throw in the fact that you need to decide on tattoo placement and it’s no wonder the process can be a lengthy one.
Here to help, we’ve rounded up the best tattoo ideas for women – from dainty designs and uplifting quotes, to bold illustrations and graphic symbols. Sometimes, even a single dot will do (anyone remember Phoebe’s tattoo of the Earth “from a great, great distance”, in Friends?)
What are the best tattoo styles?
The answer to this is, of course, subjective. There are myriad tattoo styles out there and what one person likes, another may dislike. But generally speaking, there are a few styles that continue to be popular. Cursive styles, for instance, always look cool – choose a word, phrase or single initial and find a size/font you like.
Flower tattoos are also in-demand and have various meanings, depending on the bloom you pick. For instance, rose tattoos represent love and passion. Other tattoo styles include line art tattoos (where it looks as though the design is drawn in one continuous line) and watercolour tattoo ideas.
Whichever tattoo style you go for, make sure to do your research first to find a reputable parlour and tattoo artist with experience in this style. Plus, find out everything you need to know about tattoo aftercare.
How do I find a meaningful tattoo?
When searching for tattoo ideas, it’s important to find a design that’s true to you. Consider what makes you happy – the lyrics in your favourite song, or maybe a symbol that reminds you of a loved one – person or pet. If you’re not sure where to start, look for visual inspo (Pinterest and Instagram are great for this) and consult a tattoo artist who can help dream up a few ideas based on what you tell them.
If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next tattoo, keep scrolling to see our round up of the best tattoo ideas with different placement ideas from lip tattoos to collarbone tattoos…
Cherub tattoo
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While the subject could seem quite old-fashioned, this design is the complete opposite and Lydia Amor’s back of the ankle hand poked cherubs are 100% angelic and 100% stylish.
Scenic tattoo
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You can’t fail to be wowed by John Washington’s bright and beautiful mountaineer scenescape. In a bold, old school design, if you’re looking for the wow factor, this has plenty.
Single line portrait
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More subtle than a sketched out version of a face, this outline of a silhouette is original and delicate.
Constellation tattoo
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A stellar piece of work, whether it’s your star sign constellation or someone else who means the world to you, this is as chic as it gets.
Multicoloured artwork
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So incredibly striking, this brightly coloured tattoo really pops. Playful and cartoonish, it’s Kiran’s speciality.
Monochrome rabbit tattoo
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Even if you’re not an animal lover you can’t fail to be wooed by this cute cartoonish rabbit tattoo by genius tattooist Mike Love.
Miniature ear tattoos
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If you fancy decorating your ears but want artwork instead of jewellery, these mini multicoloured drawings and doodles could be the inspiration you’ve been looking for.
Matching stickman tattoos
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Hand poked, fine line tattoos should be a go to for creating cute designs like these matching stickmen. Safer than a ‘name’ tattoo for your loved one, it’s original and endearing.
Dinky dice tattoo
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If you’ve got a date or age or number that has great relevance to you, this is a clever design to showcase it as you can use the numbers on the dice to represent it on your behalf.
Fiery dragon back tattoo
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Intricate and eye catching, this design isn’t for the fainthearted but it’s a modern way to display a Chinese dragon. The red and pink ink together is a match made in heaven.
Dates tattoo
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From birth dates to anniversaries to memorable moments, Adam Claridge has created a beautiful and simplistic way to display those special digits.
Musical note tattoo
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This treble clef finger tattoo positioned neatly on the thumb is a must for musicians.
