A tattoo is an art and, like any art, it comes in different wonderful styles, with different features. Before you decide what tattoo suits you best, you should discover the following 12 popular tattoo styles. They are all amazing, and the result is fantastic, but you should give it some thought before making the decision and see what style defines your personality best. Let's see the most popular tattoo styles that will blow your bind:
Realistic tattoos.
The name sums up pretty well this particular style: beautiful, incredibly realistic tattoos. They have astonishing photography like elements, with great details. It is the opposite style to new-school, showing real natural landscapes, portraits, animals. In this case, the tattoo artist must be a good painter and requires him to translate in detail the exact characteristics. If we are referring to portraits, then he must be able to capture the personality of the person into his tattoo, and this requires special skills. The work is elaborate and must be performed in several sessions for the best result. Realistic tattoos can be done in colors or black and grey.
Neo-traditional tattoos
As the name indicates, this style of tattoo has a modern twist to the old-school style. These tattoos are more elaborate than the traditional ones and require hours of delicate work and attention to detail. Modern artists use new tattooing techniques and new perspectives for a fresh vibe. Clear lines define the style, often bold black lines, but it doesn't have any restrictions regarding the color palette. Some designs feature 3D images or white lines for a more modern twist. If you wonder what type of tattoos are used in neo-traditional, you should know that most often are featured people or animals, evoking a certain feeling or emotion. All of these tattoos tell a story; it can be related to your beloved animal, your soulmate, or another significant person in your life. You can place this kind of tattoo in any part of your body you desire; they are no limitations to this. And if you want to go over the top, you can mix a neo-traditional tattoo with realistic elements; the result will be fantastic.
Blackwork tattoos
As the name suggests, this type of tattoo is usually made with solid black, and other colors are rarely used. It is among the most popular styles of tattoo and is unisex, looking extremely good both on women and men. These tattoos sometimes feature just one image, while other times, they can evoke an entire plot, as in a comic book page. People often desire this type of tattoo to cover old scars or old tattoos; they are adequated for this. Any kind of drawing can be done using this technique, and the result can be beautiful. Regarding the part of the body on which you can successfully place this tattoo, you should know that it is suitable for almost any part, but most commonly, they are placed on neck, arms, legs or backs. Blackworks tattoos are not simple, as you probably think. They feature shadows, different color tones, volume, and sometimes is mixed with dotwork style, for an outstanding result. The most common ideas for this technique are mandalas, ethnic, lettering, and geometry. If you are thinking of these types of tattoo, you should consider blackwork.
Chicano tattoos
This style of tattoo is still popular, representing a unique art. It originates in 1940 from Texas, California, and New Mexico and is typical for Latin-Americans, especially for gang members. As the years passed, gang members were assimilated into civilians, and this type of tattoo became quite popular. These tattoos had a lot of symbolism and deep meanings, and sometimes all life story of a person was inked on the body. It was a spectacular work of art, although not easy to understand by others. As the Chicano tattoo grew in popularity, the deep meaning somehow managed to disappear, but it still represents a great style, exotic and intriguing. Today, the most common themes for these tattoos are the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and other religious figures.
Dotwork tattoos
Dotwork tattoo is a style that can only be performed by highly skilled tattoo artists, with great patience and talent. These tattoos are created by using individual tiny dots, which unite into a detailed design, forming amazing body drawings. The technique originates from ancient times, and the style became famous since 1990, in England. They are true masterpieces, and this is why they became popular worldwide soon. Dotwork tattoos represent real artwork, which evokes powerful emotions. The good news is that they are any limits regarding the image. It can be a realistic portrait or any kind of vision, such as flowers, religious symbols. The final result will be very 'alive', and you will never get bored. The most common colors used are black and red, but the artist can also use other colors if you desire. Dotwork tattoo is a style suitable for the ones who aren't afraid to get all the attention. It is remarkable, and it is worth the effort and pain.
Japanese tattoos
Japanese are well-known for their extraordinary tattoo techniques, spending a considerable amount of time in studying this art. Usually, for this style are used bamboo sticks with needles, as an old tradition. But new tattoo machines are allowed as well. The most common themes for Japanese tattoos are dragons, warriors, and samurai, but also their unique flowers, such as sakura cherry. As you probably expected, every tattoo has a deep meaning and symbolism worth admiring. These tattoos cover a big part of the body, featuring multiple color details.
New school tattoos
This style originates from 1980 and represents the rebellious teenager and the rave culture. The new school tattoos feature vibrant colors, fat lines, and usually, subjects are drawn in cartoons, comic cons, or graffiti style, creating abstract images. Another distinctive of this style is represented by ink-free areas, which can be huge and have a special meaning. This style is suitable for open-minded persons who want a bright, beautiful tattoo. The design is playful, engaging with a somewhat crazy fantasy part included.
Geometry tattoos
Geometry tattoo is a style that becomes more and more popular. These tattoos are often made in uniform black ink, but some artists love to play a little bit with colors as well, depending on your wish. To perform a geometry tattoo, the artist often combines different standard elements and abstractions. He will combine lines to create a particular image, such as an animal, flower, or merely geometrical figures. It can be a challenging task for the tattoo artist, but the result is beautiful. They are no l?imits regarding the size of this tattoo; it will look great in any dimension, big or small. Regarding the placement, you can choose whatever part of the body you want.
Watercolor tattoos
A trendy style, the watercolor tattoo, is aesthetically pleasing. The result resembles very much a painting made with a brush than a tattoo created with needles. In this kind of style are used splashes of colors, smoothly blended to create the illusion of a real painting. However, the tattoo has touches of black ink to allow it to resist well in time. It is a true masterpiece and is perfect if you desire a bold, colorful tattoo.
Trash polka
It is an instantly recognizable tattoo that will never go unnoticed. This style combines different design elements that vary from geometrical to abstract and traditional. It is a unique blend of features meant to tell a story. The trademark is red and black ink, with splatters around the design. It was initially created in 2014, in Germany, and its popularity increased since then worldwide. The result of this type of tattoo is a chaotic collage style, meant for bold individuals.
Old school/Traditional tattoos
This tattoo style is the oldest and the best known western form. It is mainly characterized by the limited color palette(red, green, black), bold lines, recision, two-dimensional design. It usually features iconic American images such as eagles, hearts, roses, and other patriotic symbols. The founder of this particular style is Sailor Jerry, who learned the technique from Japanese artists and developed in his perspective, introducing the American elements.
Tribal tattoos
This style is inspired by the traditional tattoos of Polynesian and Aztec cultures and is probably the oldest style known. Tribal tattoos were designed for warriors to make the identification to a specific tribe easier, but also they were meant to scare the enemy. Thick lines and geometric patterns characterize tribal tattoo. It is depicted in big loops, swirls, and hooks and sometimes is designed to represent animals. The colors used is black. They are fascinating, and they can be performed on any part of the body: on arms, legs, backs. They are also numerous symbols from which you can choose from; the most popular nowadays is the Celtic cross and knot.