A tattoo may be only skin deep, however the motivations for having one can be much deeper.

Especially if you’re getting inked for the first time.

If you’ve decided to get under the needle, you might be feeling anxious and have questions like

• What tattoo design should I get?
• Where should I get it inked on my body?
• What if it goes wrong?

Fortunately, you’ve come to right place.

The best part?

I’ won’t just list down the best tattoo ideas for men, but I’ll also share how to pick the right tattoo design for yourself.

In this article, I’ll break down

• Where should you get your tattoo?
• How to pick a tattoo design you’ll treasure for life?
• The best tattoo ideas for men

Eager to find out? Let’s get started.

What are tattoos? & Why should you get one?

Tattoos are permanent marks or designs or art that you can get on your skin. The procedure involves using pigments inserted through pricks into your skin’s top layer and its done by professional tattoo artists.

Tattoo designs for men, just like fashion, are often always driven by pop-culture and celeb style trends. For example, Indian cricketers have popularised body tattoos in the Gen Z and millennial circles.

Why should you get a tattoo? The reasons can be deeply personal or purely artistic. Generally, tattoos are symbolic of the person you are or wish to become, and what (or who) you care about.

We recently interviewed a tattoo artist who has tackled some of the most common tattoo questions.

Where should you get your tattoo?

If you’re planning to get a tattoo done, this is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Generally, you can get a tattoo anywhere on your body. Some common body parts where Men generally like to get a tattoo are their wrist, arm, forearm, chest, shoulders, sleeve, legs or neck. Below, we’re sharing some tattoo ideas by body placement:

1. Wrist tattoos

The wrist is one of the most visible areas on your body. A wrist tattoo can be a great conversation starter when new people you’re meeting notice it. Having a meaningful message written in a cryptic way can add a little bit of mystery and thoughtfulness to your personality.

2. Shoulder tattoos

A shoulder tattoo is usually sported by men who are into fitness and gym. They look sexy on people with strong and heavy shoulders.

3. Forearm tattoos

Forearm tattoos look good on people with a thin built . In the picture above, you can see a forearm tattoo design featuring an origami pink crane with a cherry blossom pattern on a black lotus surrounded by bits of other tattoos. Wouldn’t it look great on you too?

4. Arm tattoo

Few men actually tattoo their full arm. If you wear t-shirts often, arm tattoos can add more colours to your personality.

5. Sleeve tattoos

Sleeve tattoos make you stand out from the crowd. Some of these designs can make your arm look like a piece of canvas.

6. Chest tattoos

Getting tattoos on the chest for men can be risky and unappealing unless done right with the correct design. The key to having a good chest design is to have something unique and special when it comes to the artwork. It’s a part of our bodies that we don’t necessarily have to show and can be something personal.

7. Leg / Calf tattoos

Leg tattoos can look really sexy if done right. If you want to get a big tattoo and can’t really get one on the arms due to social and professional restrictions, you can always explore the idea of getting one on your legs.  Again, big artwork ideas are the way to go here.

8. Neck tattoos

Neck tattoos are not advisable unless you are a badass and can withstand acute pain. You need to understand that some parts of your body are sensitive and getting a tattoo on these parts may cause excruciating pain. The general neck area happens to be one of these areas but having a tattoo on the neck is a way to show the world what matters a lot to you.

Types of Tattoos by Form/Design

Different people have different preferences. Some prefer simple and tiny tattoos, while others prefer big, detailed and meaningful tattoos. Hence, we can segregate some popular tattoos by their design and form. Hoping that some of these designs inspire your next tattoo idea.

1. Simple tattoos

If you’re one of those who doesn’t overcomplicate his life, then a simple tattoo is something you should go for.

2. Small / Tiny tattoos

Most couples go for tiny tattoos together as a symbol of their connection. If you and your better half wish to add more depth to your relationship, you can look for an artwork that symbolises an idea that you both care about.

3. Meaningful tattoos

Meaningful tattoos could be messages that have a much deeper meaning than it may seem on the surface. Ideas that are big, universal and evergreen are great starters to think of a meaningful tattoo design.

4. Cool tattoos

Cool tattoos are for the fun-loving men. If you’re one of those who can stay cool in a burning stressful situation, you can share your idea of a chill, happy and worry-free life through a cool tattoo design.

5. Classic art

If you are like me who likes classic art and can’t really afford the real thing, getting a tattoo by a really skilled tattoo artist can do wonders.

6. Tribal tattoos

Tribal tattoos are the most popular form of artwork that people use for a tattoo. Some of these tattoos are sacred and some are special if they are personalized. Of course, not everyone gets tribal tattoos and sometimes, they can also turn off people but hey, as long as you have a strong personal connection with it, go for it!

7. Biomechanical tattoos

Biomechanical Tattoo is one of the most popular tattoo designs for men these days. You can get a cyborg look by adding mechanical elements inked into your body.

Takeaway

We hope you enjoyed the article. If you want us to add a unique tattoo design to this list, share it in the comments below with us. We would love to extend this epic list of tattoo design ideas.