11 Tattoo Styles Explained [A BEGINNER’S GUIDE]

Unlocking the Artistry: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding 11 Tattoo Style

Tattoos are examples of beautiful artwork and often have significant meaning to the wearer. In addition to showcasing gorgeous tattoo styles or intriguing patterns, tattoos can commemorate someone important or inspire the wearer about the future. No matter what message a tattoo a tattoo is intended, the style used in the design can help tell that artistic story.

How many types of tattoo styles are there?

There are many tattoo styles out there that can help someone get the perfect artistic expression they desire. Even though we’ll mostly be discussing 11 of the most popular tattoo styles here (along with some honorable mentions), we encourage you to go out and explore all the fantastic tattoo styles that exist today.

Searching on the internet and following tattoo artists or tattoo shops on social media channels like Instagram are fantastic ways to get the full spectrum of tattoo styles out there. You never know which tattoo style might appeal to you the most!

1. Realism

While classic realism has been part of fine art since the Renaissance, traditional realism tattoos have only become popular since the 1950s, and they’ve developed a lot since then. Realism tattoos can depict anything, with the only requirement being that the tattoo looks as close to photorealistic as possible.

Portraits of famous people, loved ones, nature, and meaningful objects are common choices for realistic tattoos. If you’re looking to celebrate an important person, entity, or event, realism can be a great tattoo style. Make sure your artist has experience in realistic tattoos, and check out their portfolio to see how accurate their work can be!

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Do realism tattoos hurt more?

The question of which tattoo style is more painful is common, especially regarding realistic tattoos. Different types could provide different tattoo experiences. And even though a particular tattoo style does factor into how much pain you might experience, it’s not accurate to consider that factor alone when trying to gauge how painful a tattoo might be.

Pain when getting a tattoo is unavoidable. Sometimes, the location of the tattoo on your body will have more to do with how much pain you might experience than the tattoo style. Several factors could affect how much you might encounter, not just the tattoo style and location on your body.

The size of the tattoo, the length of the tattoo session, the skill of the artist and the equipment they use, and even how well-rested, well-fed, and hydrated you are before your session could affect how much pain you will feel. And, in the end, it could always come down to an individual’s pain tolerance!

This is another excellent reason why it’s essential to communicate with your artist about what you’re looking for, where on your body, and other questions, concerns, or fears you may have.

If you want to know more about tips to help avoid pain from getting a tattoo, you can read our blog about that before your next tattoo!

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2. Traditional & Neo-Traditional

With their bold lines and bright primary colors, traditional tattoos can trace their roots back to sailors in the 1700s. The classic tattoo style (old school or American classic) has evolved since then as inks and tattoo machines have improved.

Designs like hearts, anchors, roses, flags, and birds are famous examples of traditional or old-school tattoos. Sailor Jerry’s tattoo designs are some of the most famous examples of this style.

Bold, black lines are the basis of traditional tattoos, with simple, bold primary colors incorporated into the interior of the designs. While this tattoo style reached its peak popularity in the mid-20th century, it’s still a fundamental and popular tattoo style.

Traditional vs Neo-Traditional Tattoos: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Traditional and neo-traditional tattoos share many similarities, but they also have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Traditional tattoos, also known as old-school tattoos, are defined by bold black outlines, a limited color palette of primary colors, and simple, iconic imagery such as anchors, roses, and swallows. These designs were popularized by sailors in the 1700s and reached peak popularity in the mid-20th century thanks to artists like Sailor Jerry. The focus is on clarity and longevity, ensuring the tattoo remains vivid and recognizable over time.

On the other hand, neo-traditional tattoos build upon the foundation of traditional tattoos but incorporate more intricate details and artistic elements. They feature a wider color palette, including softer tones and gradients, and a variety of line weights to add depth and dimension. Neo-traditional designs often include more elaborate subject matter, such as animals, portraits, and mythical creatures, with an emphasis on texture and shading. This style allows for greater creative freedom while retaining the bold aesthetic of its predecessor.

When choosing between traditional and neo-traditional tattoos, it often comes down to personal preference and the story you want your tattoo to tell. Traditional tattoos are ideal for those seeking a timeless, iconic look, while neo-traditional tattoos appeal to individuals who want a modern twist on classic designs with added complexity and artistic flair. Both styles offer a unique way to express your personality and artistic vision through ink.

Cheat Sheet: Neotraditional vs Traditional Tattoo

FeatureTraditional TattooNeotraditional TattooLineworkBold black outlinesVaried line weights for depthColor PaletteLimited primary colorsExpanded palette with gradientsDesign FocusSimple and iconic imageryElaborate and detailed elementsArtistic FreedomStructured and straightforwardCreative and modernized approach

Quick Tips:

• Choose traditional tattoos if you want a classic, timeless aesthetic with strong lines and clear symbolism.
• Opt for neo-traditional tattoos if you prefer more detailed, colorful, and elaborate designs that build on traditional styles.

Deciding between a neotraditional vs traditional tattoo depends on your personal preferences and the narrative you want to convey through your ink. Whether you lean toward traditional tattoos’ bold simplicity or neo-traditional styles’ enhanced creativity, both offer stunning ways to showcase your artistic vision.

Neo-traditional tattoos are similar to traditional tattoos but tend to have more complex color palettes and more variation in line weight. The subject matter for this tattoo style is also more varied, and there are beautiful examples of neo-traditional animals, people, and plant life.

What is the difference between a neo-traditional tattoo and just a traditional tattoo?

As stated above, a traditional tattoo and a neo-traditional tattoo have a lot in common since the latter is the evolution of the classic tattoo style. Neo-traditional tattoos have much more variety, from the color and line weight to the vibrancy and decorative details.

3. Watercolor

Watercolor tattoos are a style that’s becoming increasingly popular. This creative and challenging style uses a lighter, layered application of tattoo ink to create a brushed-on, watercolor appearance.

This style mimics watercolor paintings’ appearance and is excellent at incorporating gorgeous colors into your tattoo. If you’re looking for something beautiful but not overwhelming, these designs might be the perfect tattoo style for you.

Remember that this style may not wear as well as other tattoo styles with age as it tends not to have the black outlines that keep a design legible over time, and some color inks fade. Getting tattoos touched up is easy, which is the perfect way to keep your watercolor tattoo looking breathtaking.

4. Geometric

Geometric or sacred geometry tattoos are complex, challenging tattoos that have recently gained popularity. These tattoos use intricate patterns, shapes, and designs that have foundations in famous geometric images or mathematical practices.

Metatron’s cube, the flower of life, the nautilus shell, and other designs are famous examples of this tattoo style. These designs can be breathtaking if properly executed, but make sure your artist is up to the challenge!

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5. Script

Script tattoos refer to any tattoo that has text. You can use any language for these tattoos, although knowing what you’re saying and how to spell it is essential. We’ve all seen those disastrous tattoos where a word is misspelled, so make sure you and your tattoo artist are 100% certain of how your tattoo should be written out.

Even after you know what to write, the font, style, placement, size, and other factors should be discussed with tattoo artists to ensure you have the perfect tattoo. There’s enormous creativity in these tattoos, making it an easy style to start but takes a lifetime to master!

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6. Japanese

Tattoos that evoke classic Japanese artwork and kanji’s style, traditions, and artwork are usually grouped as” Japanese tattoos”” The history of tattoos in Japan dates back hundreds, if not thousands, of years, andit’ss as popular as ever today. Traditional Japanese woodblock prints, creatures from Japanese folklore, and written characters are typical subjects of modern Japanese-style tattoos.

These tattoos can be entirely in black ink or can have colors mixed in as the design may need them. The intricacy of the designs and complexity of the written characters often requires an exceptionally skilled tattoo artist. So, make sure your artist has experience in this tattoo style before they put a needle into your skin.

7. Illustrative Tattoo

The illustrative tattoo style can encompass a lot of tattoo art and styles. It is a style that comes from the mix of many different techniques and art movements. Many tattoo artists blend their style or aesthetic to make a piece even more unique.

An illustrative tattoo can also have an entirely different style. For example, you can find an ideal tattoo with vital elements of a traditional, Japanese, or watercolor style tattoo, which is whit’s’s versatile.

Looking for information for parents of young Tattoo Artists? Continue reading about parents who want to help their children become Tattoo Artists.

8. Trash Polka

Trash polka is another tattoo style that is growing in popularity these daysIt’s’s a style that often resembles a collage style since it resembles the technique and style of an art collage.

It tends to blend abstract elements with photorealistic images. Trash polka often incorporates a lot of shading and bold, black lines mixed in with dramatic pops of bright colors.

9. Black and Grey

At its core, the black and grey tattoo style is quite simple! A black and grey artist will create gorgeous tattoo art works using mainly black ink. A lot of shading will often be used to create depth in a piece, and sometimes, the artist will mix black with white ink to create grey shading to take that sense of depth to whole new levels. You will often see black and grey styles used for portraits, and Chicano, realistic, and Japanese-style tattoos, to name a few.

10. New School

The new school tattoo style is also a pretty standard and possibly some of the most colorful and vibrant tattooyou’llll see out there. This style took off in the 80s and 90s with a exaggerated and cartoonish aesthetic, usually filled with a lot of color and detail.

The new school tattoo style doesn’t share much with the old school other than their use of heavy lines. They’re pretty different, with the new school using a much more colorful and vibrant color palette and choosing to go with a exaggerated and caricature-esque art style.

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