Tattoo Designs - Ideas to Consider

Every day thousands of people elect to get a tattoo, but can''t decide which design to use. It''s a difficult decision unless you know what you want. Not only are there an unlimited number of tattoo designs available, you''ve got the permanancy factor to overcome. In all likelihood, your new tattoo will be with you for life, so you''ve got to be certain that your choice of design will be as relevant to you years into the future as it is today. 

Tattoos are a highly personal items and can mean so many different things to each person. For example, some people use tattoos to express their personality, some people use them to show their love for another person, while some people see tattoos as art and their body as an empty canvas. 

Perhaps the best way to go about finding your perfect tattoo design is to ask the basic question, "Why do I want a tattoo?". Hopefully that should help you to narrow down your options. 

The next stage is to look at as many different tattoo styles as possible. Weed out the styles and the types of design that you don''t like and see what''s left. At present, some of the most popular tattoo designs include; 

1) Angel 

Angel tattoos are popular with people who want to reflect the religious or spiritual side of their personality. Alternatively, if you would like an angelic design without the religious overtones, why not consider a fairy tattoo? 

2) Butterfly 

A butterfly tattoo represents grace and freedom. They also symbolize beauty, which makes them popular with women. They''re also perfect for people who have never had a tattoo before or those who want a small tattoo. 

3) Celtic 

These ancient patterns and designs, which are often represented by elaborate knots and crosses are perfect for anyone with Scottish or Irish family connections.

4) Cross 

Again, these designs can symbolize religious faith, but they''re also commonly used with eternity symbols to show enduring love or friendship. So they''re good if you want to get a tattoo with your children''s names on it. 

5) Flowers 

Flower tattoos are a sign of beauty, growth and regeneration. And if you want a bright, vibrant tattoo with plenty of color, flowers will give you an endless number of possibilities. 

6) Stars 

Star tattoo designs are extremely popular and as such have come to symbolize a different cultural, social and religious meaning for many millions of people. In general, star tattoos represent positivity, dreams and high ambitions. 

7) Tribal 

Tribal tattoo designs have got a long and diverse history. Over the years different styles and shapes have come to represent many different historical tribes and cultures. So they''re great for people who want to show a connection with their past ancestors. 

But beyond the actual design that you choose, there are a number of factors that will help to personalise your tattoo. 

Some tattoos, mainly the larger designs, such as dragons, angels, birds etc, are much more elaborate and intricate. The attention to detail is amazing and the end result is a highly lifelike piece of artwork. Alternatively, many tattoos, mainly the smaller designs, such as hearts, stars, flowers etc, are much simpler and more like a cartoon character in style. Colorful but with less detail. 

Which brings us to the issue of color. The colors chosen for your design play a large part in the overall look and spirit of your tattoo. In general, women tend to select smaller tattoos with bright, vibrant colors. On the other hand, men go for larger designs with more muted color and extra detail to make the design look as lifelike as possible. 

If you want to emphasize a side of your life, such as your beliefs or your culture, it''s possible to combine traditional tattoo designs with items that reflect these values. For example, your design could incorporate a small cross, tribal lettering or even the colors of your home country''s flag. 

And finally, if you want the ultimate in personalisation, some people have their tattoo custom designed by an artist to combine several items that represent the various themes of their life. So in effect their tattoo or tattoos tell their life story.