11 Tattoo Styles Explained [A BEGINNER'S GUIDE] (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest tattoo style to learn? ›

If you are new to tattooing, we recommend traditional tattoo design first. Many new artists find it the easiest to learn to draw because it is 2-D and only uses one line weight, making it the perfect tattoo style to master first.

Micro-Realism tattoos are a descendant of the Realism tattoo, only shrunk down into mind-blowing, miniature images. Increasingly the celebrity tattoo of choice, Micro-Realism tattoos are created using the very tiniest of needles, making it one of the hardest tattoo styles to master.

While there are more than 50 different styles to choose from, the top 8 most popular tattoo artforms can be broken down into the following categories. Traditional - Featuring artwork and art styles found in the 1700s, traditional body art aims to capture the start of the modern tattooing era.

Although the two tattoo patterns may appear similar, their style is quite different. While dark and grey work aims at using different shades and soft hues, blackwork is far harsher.

A: Yes, you can self-teach yourself tattooing, but it's crucial to prioritize safety, practice on synthetic skin or fruit first, and consider an apprenticeship with a professional to ensure proper technique and hygiene standards.

Different kinds/styles of tattoos can also cause a change in discomfort level. Bold, solid lines may hurt more than dotwork or stick-and-poke tattoo styles.

The types of tattoos people regret most are lettering/script (19%), symbols (16%), names (12%), animal designs (10%) and tribal tattoos (9%).

The world's oldest figurative tattogos have been discovered on two 5,000-year-old mummies from Egypt. Tattoos depicting a wild bull and a Barbary sheep were found on the upper arm of a male mummy, while the shoulder and upper arm of a female mummy bore “S” shaped motifs.

Traditional tattoo style is arguably the most popular type of tattoo in the world because it is affordable, and many artists are familiar with this technique. Some of the most requested designs of tattoos include butterflies, roses, dragons, snakes, flowers, and lions.

What tattoo styles last the longest? ›

Tattoos done in black or grey ink tend to hold up over time and are the least likely to fade when regularly protected and treated with care. Blackwork tattoos and Black & Grey tattoo styles have a high guarantee of aging gracefully.

Blackout tattoos are a type of tattoo that involves tattooing an area of the body completely black. Although many people get blackout tattoos as a standalone piece, they are also a method of covering up unwanted tattoos.

Black-and-gray (also black-and-grey, black and grey/gray) is a style of tattooing that uses only black ink in varying shades. This tattooing style is thought to have originated from prisons in the 1970s and 1980s and was later popularized in tattoo parlors.

Unlike colored tattoos, which may fade or appear less vibrant on certain skin tones, black and grey tattoos tend to age well and maintain their visual impact over time. This makes them a popular choice for people with darker skin tones or those who want a more subtle and understated tattoo.

Synthetic Skin: Our #1 Choice

Synthetic skin (our favorite brand is ReelSkin) is a sheet of silicone that looks and feels like human skin. Synthetic skin can lie flat on your work area, which makes these first “tattoos” much easier.

The outside of the arm, especially the upper arm and outer shoulder, requires less pain tolerance for tattoos. They are large, meaty areas with low sensitivity. Full arm sleeve tattoos are common for arms. Those trying to minimize pain often opt for fine line tattoos.

Characterized by fine linework and delicate details, Minimalist tattoo style focuses on simple, clean designs with minimal to no shading, heavy use of negative space and a limited colour palette. Minimalist tattoos feature the basic elements of any given design and are done almost exclusively in black ink.