Female Tattoo Ideas

Tattoos for women come in all shapes and sizes.

There was a time when tattoos were for men only. But as body art has gained popularity in the past few decades, more and more women are sporting ink as well. And with an influx of women with tattoos comes a widening of art choices as well. Many women want a tattoo piece that's more feminine than the traditional flash art designs of pin-ups, panthers and skulls. Tattoo designs that mesh with your personality and aesthetics, regardless of gender, are always good choices. After all, once they're inked, they're yours for life.

Butterflies

Somehow, the butterfly has become the quintessentially feminine tattoo, so much so that they're practically cliche. Butterflies exhibit an astonishing variety of wing patterns, so nature provides lots of inspiration. To make your butterfly tattoo unique, consider nontraditional placements and angles--sideways rather than looking straight down, for example.

Florals

Tattoos with floral themes are classic and classy, yet still feminine. Again, nature provides an abundance of inspiration, from showy roses and tiger lilies to simple and sweet daisies, daffodils and pansies. Style can be ultra-realistic or more stylized, according to taste.

Birds and Feathers

Doves, bluebirds and other bird designs are another traditionally feminine tattoo element. Peacock feathers make a showy tattoo choice. Other feathers in isolation can convey a sense of delicacy.

Moon

The moon is a traditionally feminine symbol. A moon tattoo can be a crescent or the whole face; it can be accompanied by stars; a figure can be seated in the curve of the crescent; it can be rendered in any number of styles from tribal to Celtic to art nouveau.

Goddesses

Goddess figures make for an impressive yet undeniably feminine statement. These tattoos are best executed on a large scale--on the back, shoulder, forearm, thigh or calf. Popular choices include the Virgin of Guadalupe, various South Asian goddesses such as Kali and Durga, and Egyptian goddesses. Other places to look for inspiration include contemporary pagan art, African art and ancient art.

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau is a school of decorative art established at the turn of the 20th century. Its fondness for flowing curved lines and floral motifs makes it particularly suitable for female tattoo designs. Alphonse Mucha's posters typify the style.

Chinese Fans

Chinese folding fans are traditionally decorated with a landscape or floral motif; as tattoo art, you could choose any sort of artwork to decorate the outspread fan. This sort of tattoo makes a lovely upper or lower back piece and also looks attractive on shoulders, legs and upper arms.

Tattoo Placement

In addition to choosing different imagery for their ink, women also often choose different locations than men for their tattoo designs. Ankle and wrist, upper chest, below the navel, on the butt and curve of the hip are all considered more feminine placements. And then of course there is the infamous lower back tattoo, colloquially and disparagingly known as a "tramp stamp." It's still a fine choice for the right design.

References

• Stunning Tattoo Reviews: Female Tattoo Gallery
• Inked Magazine

Resources

• BMEzine: The Butterfly Effect
• The Female Canvas