Tattoo Categories

Angel tattoos look stunning and show the world your angelic side. Men and women often get them since they represent devotion, strength and chastity and can provide a sense of guidance. Popular designs include angel wing tattoos, cherubs, the archangels, and the guardian angels.

Animal tattoos are extremely popular. Some of the most common animal tattoos are koi fish, snakes, tigers, dogs, cats, birds, butterflies and horses. In many cases, the tattoo symbolizes strength or power. On Tattoo.com, ANIMAL TATTOOS are classified as the "animal kingdom". (As opposed to plants.) This section should include mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and insects. (Photo credit: Tiger Tattoo by Howard Teman, T-Man Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Butterfly tattoos are come in a variety of shapes sizes and colors and are both feminine and sexy. They are often placed on the arm, shoulder, butt, foot or lower back. They often symbolize the inner beauty of the person wearing them.

The cross is one of the most popular symbols found in today's society. It signifies an association with Christianity or any of its branches.

Dragon tattoo designs symbolizes wisdom, strength and freedom. They're often depicted as a snake-like, wingless creatures with claws and horns.

Asian and Chinese tattoos are rich in symbolism. The koi fish symbolizes masculinity and bravery. Dragon tattoos can have different meanings, ranging from harnessing the power of nature to good luck. Cherry blossoms symbolize feminine sensuality. Designs can also illustrate legends or history from Asian cultures. (Photo credit: Koi tattoo by Julie, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Bio-mechanical tattoo art originated in the late 1980s. The technique gives the three-dimensional illusion of skin that is ripped open to reveal both robotic and human parts. Early inspiration for bio-mechanical tattoo designs was derived from the art of Swiss Surrealist H.R. Giger, creator of the terrifying life forms and their otherworldly environment seen in the science fiction film classic Alien. In 1980, Giger received an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects for his work on the film. (Photo credit: Bio-mechanical tattoo by Victor Portugal, 9th Circle Tattoo, Krakow, Poland.)

Bio-organic tattoos are similar to bio-mechanical, in that the skin appears be opened up to reveal an abstract twisted image underneath. But, rather than a metallic look, the bio-organic tattoo features organic matter such as teeth, bones, plants, insects, or even coral and water. (Photo credit: Bio-organic tattoo by Don McDonald, Bodyworks Tattoo, Pittsburgh, PA.)

Black and grey tattoos are generally believed to have originated within prison systems, where inmates had no access to colored ink. The technique was brought to mainstream tattoo shops by Jack Rudy and his mentor, Charlie Cartwright. They perfected a single-needle tattoo machine to produce highly realistic shading in their tattoo designs. This technique works well for portraiture. (Photo credit: Black and grey tattoo by Marc Durrant, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Black ink tattoos are tattoos that use no color, only black ink. This looks great on tribal tattoo designs, Celtic tattoos, Japanese tattoos, symbols and more. It's really a matter of personal preference and something to discuss with your tattoo artist. Your tattooist will be able to tell you if a black ink tattoo would look better than color, based on your particular skin tone. Also, a black ink tattoo may make a bolder statement, and may be quicker, less painful and less expensive to have done. (Photo credit: Black ink tattoo by Julie, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Body modification refers to any deliberate alteration of the body for non-medical reasons. This includes (but, is not limited to) piercing, stretching, tattooing, the insertion of implants, scarification and circumcision. Body modification may be done as a form of personal expression, or for religious, artistic or aesthetic reasons. (Photo credit: Body modification by Nick Annis, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

A cartoon tattoo is typically a tattoo of a character that is highly recognizable from print or animated cartoons. Some examples would be Mickey Mouse, Tweety Bird, My Little Pony, Eric Cartman, Batman, Popeye or anything of that nature. (Photo credit: Cartoon tattoo by Dana Clinton, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

For the most part, this section of Tattoo.com features pics of celebrities who have tattoos. But, you will also find tattoo pics posted from fans that have memorialized their favorite celebrities in ink, as a form of self-expression. (Photo credit: Celebrity tattoo of Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands by Cory Cudney, Beyond DMT, Buffalo, NY.)

Celtic tattoos stem from designs used by the Celts, a diverse group of tribal societies that lived in the Iron Age of Europe - typically from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, England and Scandinavian countries. Celtic tattoos are very ornamental, consisting of spiral motifs or complicated interlocking knots. Pure knot designs appear to have no beginning or end, symbolizing the repeated crossing of the spiritual and physical planes. Each knot pattern has a specific meaning. Other Celtic tattoo designs include animals, dragons, family crests, the tree of life, or other images. In these types of Celtic tattoo designs, the knot pattern may be ornamental to frame the illustration. The Celtic cross with a circle symbolizes the unity of four directions under the sun. Celtic tattoos are often done in black ink, but can also include color. (Photo credit: Celtic cross tattoo by Howard Teman, T-Man Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Classic Tattoos (also known as Traditional or Old-School Tattoos) are reminiscent of the style used from the early 1900s - 1950s. At that time, a limited selection of ink color affected the tattoo artist's design capabilities. Artists relied on bold black outlines with very little shading, using the spot colors; green, red, yellow, and the occasional blue or brown. Popular subjects were naval and armed forces emblems, pin-up girls, heart and dagger tattoos, eagle tattoos and Harley Davidson symbols. These often included a banner or ribbon, with lettering relevant to the theme. An example would be a pin-up girl tattoo with a ribbon that says "MAN'S RUIN". The master of this tattoo era is Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins (1911-1973), whose style is emulated today in the Ed Hardy clothing line. (Photo credit: Classic Harley Davidson tattoo by Marc Durrant, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Photos in this section are tattoo designs that include color. If you're new to tattooing, discuss your color choices directly with a professional tattoo artist. He or she will have knowledge as to what colors will look good, both with your choice of tattoo design and your skin type. (Photo credit: Color tattoo by Aaron Della Vedova, Guru Tattoo, San Diego, CA.)

This section includes tattoos of comic strip characters, and tattoos that are similar to the type of illustration done in comic books. (Photo credit: Comic style tattoo by Christopher Allen, Beyond DMT, Buffalo, NY.)

Fantasy tattoo designs cover the realm of the imagination...from fairies to mermaids, dragons, unicorns and genies. You can explore this section of Tattoo.com to get ideas for your next fantasy tattoo. (Photo credit: Fantasy tattoo by Julie, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Flash tattoo designs are the sheets of drawings you see on the walls of a tattoo parlor, or set up in books that you can browse through. These drawings give customers a starting point to consider what type of tattoo they might get. The drawing is quickly transferred to the skin, saving the tattoo artist time. (Photo credit: Flash tattoo by Illya, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Tattoos of flowers and plants can be done simply because they are beautiful designs. But flowers can also carry a lot of symbolism to the person who chooses a flower tattoo. Even the color of the flower can hold special meaning. For example, a red rose would express true love and devotion, while a yellow rose symbolizes friendship. Lotus flower tattoos are very popular in Asian and Japanese designs. (Photo credit: Flower tattoo by Mike Erwin, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Traditional Japanese tattoos are called horimono. This art form became popular with the working classes in the latter half of the Edo Period (in the 18th century). As the common people rejected the old Confucian beliefs of the Samurai, they began to enjoy novels, drama, songs and theatre. The Japanese tattoos were styled after woodcut prints of heroes in the books and publications of that time, and themes were based in human experience and feeling. Some common motifs in Japanese tattoos are koi fish, tigers, dragons, phoenix, and lotus flowers. Kanji characters are also used as pictograms to tell a story, similar to Egyptian use of hieroglyphics. (Photo credit: Japanese tattoo by Aaron Della Vedova, Guru Tattoo, San Diego, CA.)

Photos in this section of Tattoo.com are tattoos of scripting and lettering. For other alphabetical characters used as symbolism, also see our sections on Japanese and Symbols. (Photo credit: Lettering tattoo by Slim, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Macabre tattoos are designed to inspire horror through shocking subject matter, dwelling on death. If you're looking for a tattoo that's grim, ghastly or gruesome, you're in the right place. (Photo credit: Macabre Freddy Kruger tattoo by Cory Cudney, Beyond DMT, Buffalo, NY.)

Mashup tattoos are like hybrids. They combine two or more existing ideas into one new theme. Or, if you're looking for an interesting way to add to ink that you already have (rather than doing a cover up), then you'll want to check out the tattoo photos in this section. (Photo credit: Tattoo by Julie, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Old School Style Tattoos (also known as Classic or Traditional Tattoos) are reminiscent of the style used from the early 1900s - 1950s. At that time, a limited selection of ink color affected the tattoo artist's design capabilities. Artists relied on bold black outlines with very little shading, using the spot colors; green, red, yellow, and the occasional blue or brown. Popular subjects were naval and armed forces emblems, pin-up girls, heart and dagger tattoos, eagle tattoos and Harley Davidson symbols. These often included a banner or ribbon, with lettering relevant to the theme. An example would be a pin-up girl tattoo with a ribbon that says "MAN'S RUIN". The master of this tattoo era is Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins (1911-1973), whose style is emulated today in the Ed Hardy clothing line. (Photo credit: Old school tattoo by Illya, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

This section of Tattoo.com contains anything not mentioned in any other section. Here, you'll find many custom designs that each have their own unique story. (Photo credit: Ribbon tattoo by Christopher Allen, Beyond DMT, Buffalo, NY.)

Photorealistic tattoos are pictures inked on the skin, yet they look extremely true to life. Whether you want a portrait of a family member or a picture of your dog accurately drawn in ink, find a tattoo artist who specializes in this area. Your tattoo artist can help you determine how large the tattoo should be to achieve the desired level of detail. Many photorealistic tattoos are done in black and grey, but they are not limited to black ink. (Photo credit: Photorealistic tattoo by Megan Hoogland, Leviticus Tattoo, Minneapolis, MN.)

Piercing is a type of body modification that entails puncturing or cutting the body, to create an opening for temporary or permanent jewelry to be worn. Piercing has been practiced in many cultures throughout history, since ancient times. (Photo credit: Piercing by Will Settle, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Pin-up tattoos are tats of beautiful women, celebrities, fashion models and the like. Pin-ups gained popularity during World War II, but the style still lives on today. (Photo credit: Pin-up style tattoo by Howard Teman, T-Man Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

This section of Tattoo.com includes photos of portraits tattooed on the skin. These tattoos are usually highly realistic images to forever remember the perfect picture of a loved one. (Photo credit: Che Guevara portrait tattoo by Josh Carter, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Tattoos in this category mark the faithful in all types of religions. Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many other religions are represented in this section of Tattoo.com photos. (Photo credit: St. Michael tattoo by Marc Durrant, Yoni Tattoo, Tarzana, CA.)

Check out this section to see sexy tattoos posted by Tattoo.com members and tattoo artists. If you're a member, you can rate your favorite artists and write reviews, and post comments on other member's photos. (Photo credit: Sexy tattoo by Howard Teman, T-Man Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Star tattoos come in various patterns and sizes. There are small stars, stars within stars, star constellations and so many variations in between. Star tattoos are often found in uncommon areas for tattoos such as around the eyes and behind the ears. With proper shading star tattoos can appear to shine or even be in motion.

This section of photos posted by Tattoo.com members includes symbols that represent many ideas and cultures. Some of the more popular symbols include musical notes, signs of the zodiac, stars, peace signs and crosses. When posting your photos, provide a caption so other members can learn more about what that tattoo means to you. (Photo credit: Music symbols tattoo by Illya, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Once a month, we review all the pics that have been posted by Tattoo.com members, in the Tattoo Contest category. To learn more about cool prizes you can win, check out our contest page.

Traditional Tattoos (also known as Classic or Old-School Tattoos) are reminiscent of the style used from the early 1900s - 1950s. At that time, a limited selection of ink color affected the tattoo artist's design capabilities. Artists relied on bold black outlines with very little shading, using the spot colors; green, red, yellow, and the occasional blue or brown. Popular subjects were naval and armed forces emblems, pin-up girls, heart and dagger tattoos, eagle tattoos and Harley Davidson symbols. These often included a banner or ribbon, with lettering relevant to the theme. An example would be a pin-up girl tattoo with a ribbon that says "MAN'S RUIN". The master of this tattoo era is Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins (1911-1973), whose style is emulated today in the Ed Hardy clothing line. (Photo credit: Traditional tattoo design by Josh Carter, Studio City Tattoo, Studio City, CA.)

Tribal tattoos stem from a specific indigenous background, civilization or ethnicity. Contemporary tribal tattoos are stylized designs, typically done in black ink. Tribal designs can be from cultures such as Native American Indian, African, Egyptian, Mayan, Aztec, Hawaiian, Samoan, Maori, Polynesian, South Pacific tribes, Micronesian, Melanesian, New Zealand, Eskimo and Inuit, Wiccan, Pagan, Tahitian, and much more. To give other Tattoo.com members insight as to why you got your specific tattoo, you can add a caption to your tattoo photo to describe what your tribal tattoo means to you. (Photo credit: Tribal tattoo design by Kareem Masarani, Newport Tattoo, Newport Beach, CA.)

Review this section of Tattoo.com to find outrageous tattoos. If it's funny, crazy stuff, you'll find it here. (Photo credit: Tattoo of Lego stuck in bottom of foot by Big Payaso, Big Payaso's Body Art Studio, Canoga Park, CA.)