A couple of weeks ago, I met a woman at work that claimed to love tattoos as much as I do. Curious about her statement, I asked her how many she had. Her answer was twelve. We talked some more, and I confessed I’d only inked myself twice, but that both tattoos were really important to me in different ways. After explaining the reasons behind both of my tattoos, it was her turn.When she started to show me her tattoos, I was underwhelmed, to say the least. I’d seen all of those tattoos on Google before. The single line bracelet, the tiny arrow, the Tibetan protection for love symbol, wings on her shoulders, musical icons shaped as hearts. When I dared to ask if they had some sort of special meaning, she said proudly that none of them had anything to do with her. She even confessed that the music one didn’t even make sense for her because she didn’t like music that much. But it was pretty, so she got it done.
I was kind of traumatized. There was not one piece of meaningful ink on her skin. She went way beyond the cliché of getting a trendy tattoo. This woman literally tattooed herself with every design she found out was cool. What’s worse, not so long after she got all of these tattoos done, she regretted them terribly. She was actually thinking about removing a couple of them soon. And it wasn’t that they were ugly; the designs themselves were very well done. But she didn’t feel they were a part of her. They were just an esthetically pleasing collection of poorly made choices.
Sadly, this happens more often than we think. In this day and age, there are lots of cool designs that have already been used too much. Tiny flowers, stylistic arrows, and simple geometrical figures are some of the most popular designs right now, and even though we all like them, they have ceased to be unique. So, if you have been struggling for a while now with your next tattoo, trying to find the middle ground between originality and aesthetics, this article might interest you.
If figurative tattoos seem like too cliché to you, words can save the day. It can be a line from a song, a poem, a movie, your favorite book, a Bible verse, or even something your mom says to you every day. Text tattoos are actually a great way to go when you’re not sure about a specific design.
If you’re one of those random people who have a particular love for astronomy, space designs are just what you’re looking for. The moon, stars, planets, and constellations never fail to make us feel like there’s something bigger than us. This is why this kind of design can be so inspirational.
If you’re not into space, that’s ok too. If you’re an outdoorsy person who’s into traveling, nature, animals, and landscapes, but you don’t want the typical rose on your forearm, these suggestions might interest you.
If you’re all about art and its different disciplines, then these designs might be better for you. Monochromatic or full of color, all of them are equally beautiful. Getting a black-and-white design or the complete rainbow of ink on your skin is a personal choice. And, yes, you can show your love for music without having to use a musical symbol.
Or maybe you’re looking for really minimalist and simple design? If so, take a look at these.
Last but not least, if you’re into visual arts, illustration, or photography, you can take inspiration from cool designs like these:
These are just a few recommendations, but they are all great ideas for your next design. The key to getting something unique (if that’s what you’re looking for), is to think outside the box. This way, you’ll end up with something you never thought about before and love it even more! Which of these inspired you to get a unique tattoo?
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You might also get inspiration from these artists and designs:
Obscure And Macabre Tattoos For Those In Love With The Occult
5 Mythological Creatures That Will Turn Your Next Tattoo Into An Epic Design
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