There are so many different tattoo styles to choose from that it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. There are numerous types of ink (many more than are listed below), and everyone has their own tastes. The key to a beautiful and distinctive tattoo, though, is taking the time to learn each style in terms of not just how it appears, but also its history.
Once you've decided on a style, look for a tattoo artist that specialises in that style to ensure your tattoo is as flawless as it can be—both in style and in your connection to it. For those who are still undecided about their next tattoo, here is a complete guide of tattoo styles to help you choose the best appearance for you.
Minimalist Tattoos
Minimalist tattoos do not have to be small; designs in this style are characterised by simple, clear lines and a liberal use of negative space. The notion behind minimalism is that "less is more," and minimalist tattoos follow this similar principle by including graphic designs and a wide range of linework delicacies.
Because minimalist tattoos tend to simplify designs, it works well with designs that can be visualised with a few lines or without a lot of complexity. Minimalist tattoos can be any colour, though black ink is most commonly used to keep the design as plain as possible. Visit danteink.com to get your tattoo done and find more ideas.
Negative Space Tattoos
Negative space tattoos are designs created by incorporating skin into the artwork and inking pigments to shape parts to create a visual. Negative space tattoos, as opposed to using an outline to create the tattoo's picture, employ the skin as the outline and the pigment as the generally "blank" sections of a design.
Handpoked Tattoos
Handpoked tattoos, often known as stick-and-pokes or machine-free tattoos, are handcrafted designs. Handpoking is done by attaching a needle (professionals use tattoo-grade needles) to a rod-shaped device, such as a pencil, to create an analogue tattoo machine, rather than the tattoo artist utilising a rotary or coil machine to inject the ink into the skin. According to Jamerson of Brooklyn-based tattoo company Nascent Flash, they are less intrusive, less painful, and "less daunting" than a machine-done tattoo.
Words and Phrases
Word and phrase tattoos, sometimes known as "script" tattoos when referring to cursive designs, are popular because there are no actual guidelines or structure to them—other than that they must contain letters. You can take a word or phrase and add a picture to it, basically combining two tattoo styles into one.
Floral Tattoos
Floral tattoos can have a variety of meanings depending on the type of blossom (a lily, for example, represents both devotion and purity). Floral tattoos, on the other hand, could be purely aesthetic, as flowers are a popular love and tend to feel dainty or feminine in tattoo form.
Line Art Tattoos
"I noticed line art tattoos started to explode up on Instagram around 2015," explains Astrid Elisabeth, co-founder of Somewhere Tattoo in Brooklyn, NY. "I trained myself to tattoo since I couldn't find anyone who was into this style." They appear to have increased in popularity since then."
Watercolor Tattoos
Watercolor tattoos are designs created with pigment that replicate the look and fluidity of a watercolour painting. Any artwork looks fine in a watercolour style, from ink with bold lines and abstract patterns to tattoos with a soft look and pastel colour palette; they can even function as cover-up tattoos due of their flowing aspect and the necessity to fill up space.
According to tattoo artist Britta Christiansen, the watercolour appearance is accomplished by employing the same general procedures as any other tattoo style. A widespread misperception is that less ink is used in digital graphics than in traditional designs, although this is not the case. The same needles and depth are used, but the design uses a larger variety of ink colours to create a fading gradient appearance, according to Christenson.