Besides beauty, tattoos are diverse. Tattoos are as unique as the people who get them. They vary in type, style, size, placement, etc.

A tattoo style is its outlook. Many confuse this with type, which can be a picture or text. Different tattoo styles can give varying meanings to a single depiction. Simply put, two people might have a dragon tattoo with different styles.

Here are the classic tattoo styles you need to know.

Traditional/Old School Tattoos

The main characteristics of old-school tattoos include bold lines, bright colours, and noticeable imagery like anchors, beautiful ladies, roses, etc. In addition, you might notice skulls, gothic signs, and other spooky artwork among musicians and gang members.

Traditional tattoos are the most common tattooing style. They’re beautiful and eye-catching, and they embrace the history of tattooing. However, if you’re unsure of the best body art, try old school.

Japanese Tattoos

Japanese tattoos, also called Irezumi, became popular in the Edo period. They were largely popular among the merchants, who liked woodblock prints. Since then, the Japanese have embraced the tattoo culture, with notable individuals and mythological creatures getting tattooed.

Most Japanese-style tattoos tell a story about the country’s rich history. Besides their boldness and beauty, this is what makes Irezumi powerful.

Watercolour Tattoos

Watercolours resemble the appearance and fluidity of pigmented watercolour paintings. However, the standout quality of this tattoo style is its visual appeal. Regardless of the art you choose, everything looks attractive in watercolour. Moreover, their fluid outlook makes them an ideal cover-up body art.

Tattooists achieve the watercolour effect using similar techniques used in other tattoo styles. However, it isn’t true that watercolour tattoos require less ink – they use the same amount as other tattoos. The only significant difference is the number of ink colours used. Here, the artist uses more colours to attain a fading gradient.

However, using contrasting colours is the best way to beautify watercolour tattoos. For instance, darker shades look best on light-skinned people and vice versa.

Minimalist Tattoos

Some people mistakenly think that minimalist tattoos are small. In reality, these tattoos have a simple design with clean lines and lots of negative space.

Minimalist tattoos work best with simple artwork that doesn’t need several details to depict a message. Although any colour can work, black is the most popular choice because it keeps it simple.

Tribal Tattoos

Tribal tattoos are as old as traditional and Japanese-style tattoos. Despite being a single style, it’s a collection of different tattooing cultures from aboriginal groups worldwide. The groups include Marquesas, Native Americans, and Polynesians.

An average person might not tell the difference between tribal tattoos. However, an expert can identify the origin of a specific tattoo – they can differentiate a traditional Maori tattoo from a Polynesian tattoo. Although they have unique patterns, tribal tattoos are black and cover large body parts.

Glow-in-the-Dark Tattoos

Do you want a tattoo that’s invisible and shiny at night? Then, get a glow-in-the-dark tattoo, also known as a UV tattoo. These use fluorescent pigments that glow under UV light because it triggers a specific light wavelength.

UV tattoos gained popularity in the 1990s when neon lights started trending. At the time, the ink had phosphorus, a carcinogenic element. Nowadays, the inks contain fewer harmful compounds.

Wrapping Up

Sometimes, choosing a tattoo style can be overwhelming because of the several options available. The secret to getting a good tattoo is considering style, meaning, and background over mere looks. You don’t want a beautiful tattoo whose purpose you don’t understand! Remember, tattoos are permanent, so don’t rush your decision and seek out the best tattoo artists.