Zombie Tattoos

While there are people who would never dream of getting something as scary as a zombie tattoo put on their body, these tattoos are becoming more and more popular recently, especially since the hit show “The Walking Dead” came out. For some, this type of tattoo is a face your fear type of thing, and what better way to do that than to have a zombie permanently inked on your skin? For others, a tattoo of this nature might tell others of the lack of fear for such things, and for others it may just be a way to attract attention. No matter what the reasoning behind getting one, there are plenty of different zombie tattoo designs that can be done to make an individual tattoo stand out. 

“The Walking Dead” tattoo can show your love of the popular hit series and there are more than enough gory scenes to get a great tattoo idea from. You can choose a specific zombie from one of the scenes or design one that looks like it belongs in the show. Adding the title of the show can be helpful for those few who do not watch it. 

Favourite TV characters can be drawn out as zombies; from Bart Simpson to one of the Disney Princesses, or Curt Cobain to Michael Jackson, there is no limit on which one of your favourite stars, alive or dead, can be pictured as a zombie. Zombies can be depicted as cartoons, anime, or real people. You can have them as a new age teen with piercings and tattoos or as a mobster from the 1920’s. 

You can also do a picture of a loved one that has passed, or one that broke your heart. Adding red roses to the design shows love for that person and black ones can mean hate. 

A zombie tattoo can be drawn however you like, from a scary monster type to a cute friendly one. The only limit to your tattoo design is your imagination and the abilities of your artist. Just remember that your tattoo is pretty much permanent, so make sure to get the right one the first time. 

Nautical Tattoos

Among popular nautical tattoos you will find such significant symbols such as sail ships, boats, anchors, rudders and compasses, mermaids and water-nymphs. They come in a great variety of designs and symbolic meanings. The most popular of these and pretty trendy nowadays are nautical star tattoos. This specific kind of a star actually is a symbol of the armed forces of the United States, but not many people take it in account getting these tattoos.

Nautical star tattoo meanings nowadays vary depending on personal meanings people add to this symbol: from the informal sign of a person really being a part of maritime forces of the United States to being a guide showing the way in life. Basically that’s a symbol of military and ability to find the right direction to get back home after wars, fights and other trouble military might get into. In all cases it is related to finding the right direction, although many people simply get it inked considering only the symbolic meaning of a star that holds a bit different meaning within than a nautical star. It truly looks nice and elegant coloured in different tones and many people get them as symbols of following their dreams.

Pay attention to the star colours! Traditional US maritime forces have this star in red and black. Nautical star in black and green stands for Irish culture and strength, but the one with black and pink symbolize the fight with breast cancer.

But there is one warning – many gangs nowadays use this star and having it might be even dangerous…

Dangerous this tattoo becomes when you get it in the wrong place or in wrong colours. For example, for Russian mafia nautical stars inked on both shoulders are tattoos one should earn not have for granted. The person who is not related to criminal society, but is wearing this tattoo on both shoulders might really get into trouble if getting into the way of Russian mafia.

Of course, nautical tattoos nowadays are not only for sailors or those related to waters, but research is pretty essential. Sailors where those who brought the tattoo art in spotlights, and their tattoos are pretty old symbols used in Western culture. It means – they have overgrown with different meanings, traditions and practical uses, for example, for recognition as it is in the case of Russian mafia.

Joker Tattoo

Not every person would wear a joker tattoo because it’s a really specific one. Those who play card games might now the nature of a joker, but jokers undoubtedly are related to jesters or court fools who were there to entertain others.  

To get to the root of numerous variations of joker tattoo designs, we should take a look at its meaning in card games.  In some games joker card really goes wild or ranks higher than any other card – it can make unexpected surprises for all involved in the game. You can fool many people, but you can’t fool a joker - that’s one of messages this tattoo tells about its’ wearer.

The Joker card in fact is not that old as other cards, but has been developed from “The Fool” card in Tarot. Joker stands for sharp mind and cleverness, ability to improvise and act without concrete script or plan, ability to deal with unexpected and make people laugh more about themselves than at a joker.  This definition pretty clearly stands for improvisation theatre actors as we know them nowadays. It’s not just a fool who can crack jokes he/she has learned by heart, but someone who has ability to observe, listen, analyse, dare and speak up and show the spectators themselves in a way that they even laugh about it.  It’s always related to taking risks.

Joker face tattoos you can see nowadays inked wouldn’t seem nice or cute at all. They mostly have artful, fraudulent and even devilish facial expressions. So do they really mean fooling people in a way that brings benefit to the joker and does bad to others? Some horror movies definitely have added a bad meaning to this character. Is joker tattoo nowadays really standing for values from “the dark side”? That’s an arguable questions and the answer you can get only from the wearer of such tattoo, or from yourself if you are planning to get one like that as well!

Hawaiian Tribal Tattoos

From all tribal tattoos Hawaiian tribal tattoos nowadays are probably the most popular and meaningful body decorations. Their organic flow forming into different meaningful shapes is truly beautiful and adorable, so it’s not a surprise that these tattoos are loved among both men and women around the world.

In Polynesia where Hawaii Islands are located, tattoo art has been significant for many centuries. Western culture hadn’t really discovered it yet, when Polynesians already developed their body art to the highest level of elegance.

Hawaiian tribal tattoo meanings can vary depending on forms and figures depicted. Historically these tattoos were made to mark heritage, status, special achievements, believes, but first of all the tattoo wearers relation to this Pacific region. All Hawaiian tribal tattoo designs reflect nature – leaves and flowers, lizards and turtles, shells and fishes. All small elements are placed in perfect harmony to create together the big picture of harmonious tattoo that stands for… harmony in nature. Not just people with Hawaiian heritage would want to get something like this, and it’s totally understandable. No matter where in the world you are – beauty and harmony of nature goes hand in hand.  

Pretty often these tribal tattoos are made also as frames for other symbols depicted in the same Hawaiian tribal style. Turtles symbolize long life, shells stand for wealth, but these Hawaiian tattoos in which the tribal ornaments together form something similar to a human being is Tiki – the first human on Earth with enormous abilities to smell danger.

Your tribal tattoo might be simply your body decoration without any symbolic meaning in it. Of course, they look great and elegant, perfect for upper arm tattoos, wristlets on large back pieces. But if you want to combine your Hawaiian tribal tattoos with other symbols or tattoo any figure that would be formed in this tribal style, research Hawaiian symbols. All tattoos inked taking in consideration the Hawaiian perception of beautiful body art will be considered Hawaiian tattoos; and wearing something without knowing its’ meaning probably is not what a mindful tattoo wearer wants.

Cloud Tattoos

Cloud tattoos are traditional part of Japanese tattoos and it’s not that often people choose to ink clouds on their own without other symbols. Researching the symbolic meaning of clouds in different cultures it seems that they definitely deserve to stand as main figures in tattoos not just background fillers.

Traditional Japanese cloud tattoo would always be a supplement of a tattoo on the upper part of body. That’s the cloud and wave rule of Japanese tattoo art where clouds symbolize sky and waves would always come in the tattoo placed on lower part of body standing for ground and waters. It doesn’t mean that you couldn’t have a cloud tattoo, for example on your ankle, if you find a good explanation why you want to place it there. Japanese artists would simply tell you that it’s better to consider the balance of natural world if you want to get the best out of your tattoo.  

Some really amazing cloud tattoo designs depict people in swings hanging from clouds, deities riding clouds and, of course, birds, unicorns and rainbows are just perfect together with clouds. Clouds stand for dreams: they are up into the sky moving by the power of wind, travelling great distances and always changing. If we wouldn’t have any creative abilities we wouldn’t be able to see different figures formed from clouds into sky – so they symbolize also creative mind of humans.  

In Greek and Roman cultures clouds were home for gods and goddesses – hidden from eyes of people behind clouds deities could work and connect. But Oriental cultures like Chinese and Hindu would always see clouds as symbols of transition and impermanent obstacles. Nothing lasts forever and everything is always in change. This is not just a reminder that bad events and unhappy feelings will fade out, but also that good things in life are as unpredictable and unstable as unpleasant ones.  

Clouds stand for dreams and obstacle changes. They can bring refreshing rain in unbearable heat; they can give shadow in sunny days and come with heavy rains and thunders as well.  Having this information in your mind you could really think of some cloud tattoos ideas where they would proudly stand as the main symbols, not just filler.

Soccer Tattoos

If you love soccer you might love soccer tattoos! If soccer is something you have been playing since childhood, if that’s something you do professionally, if playing soccer with friends are your best childhood memories or soccer really has taught you a lot – go for it! Even if you might not play soccer for the entire life, maybe a little soccer ball inked on your body might be the greatest reminder of things you have experienced playing soccer!

Soccer players often get their well-trained bodies inked. Among their tattoos you will see not just things related to this game that more than a hundred years ago originated in England. Among popular soccer player tattoos are angels, flames, wild animals, wings and saints, names and portraits of their family members and tattoos that remind of their ancestries. Just look at such a world class soccer players as David Beckham, Dani Alves, Zlatan Ibrahimovich or Daniel Agger – many of their tattoos are masterpieces with personal meanings.

It’s pretty popular among rock music fans to get portraits of their favourite and the most inspiring rock stars inked on their bodies. What about a tattoo on your body in honour of the most inspiring player who for you truly stands out in the world of soccer?

If you are not the one willing to wear portraits of famous soccer players on your body, but are looking for something that could clearly stand for football, think about getting a soccer ball tattoo!

Soccer balls have already found places on many soccer fan bodies, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t be original. It’s easy to combine soccer balls with other symbols like flames or quotes and names. Girls love soccer balls combined with flowers in their tattoos showing both – love for this manly game and their femininity as well. You can also combine soccer ball with a winner’s cup, eagles, shields, flags, crowns, sexy ladies or strong soccer players in your tattoos. Your soccer tattoo can be as original as far your or your tattoo artist’s creativity can reach!

Tree Tattoos

There is probably nobody out there who gets a tree tattoo just because it looks nice and without any personal meaning of getting such tattoo. It can symbolize the wearers love for nature and it can stand for growth from the roots deep down into the ground reaching high into the sky. It can represent family or stand for wisdom and higher perspective. You can get an elegant tattoo of a tree representing your values without having a specific kind of tree, but you can also dig deeper for symbolic meanings of different species.

Palm tree tattoo looks different than depiction of other trees like oaks, ash-trees or maples that might look alike when drawn without leaves or from a distance. Palm trees can grow only in places that are sunny and warm enough, that’s why they are symbols of solar power standing also for protection and vitality. Apple tree can be related to Christianity if you take in account Biblical story of Adam and Eve, but in other cultures it symbolize also fertility, love and romance. Birch trees symbolize stability, adaptability and spirits of the dead. Hazels stand for creativity, knowledge and in some cultures witchcraft, but oak trees symbolize life itself, strength, family and heritage, longevity and wisdom. Looking for any tree tattoo meaning you might have to find out if that’s a specific tree inked on one’s body.

Many people will confidently tell you that tree of life tattoos are clear Christian symbols relater to Bible. Actually this concept has been used in many cultures even before Christianity came. The tree of life shows a connection between the underworld, heaven and the world that is our visible reality. In Biblical story the tree of life has fruits that can give eternal life, but in other cultures this tree itself stands for eternal life. We grow roots, get through the layer of ground into the world where many outer obstacles influence our growth, we get higher and higher, green and flower, give fruits and seeds that fall down and start the same journey. With this perception of the world nothing ever ends. It’s religious, paganism and mythological symbol at the same time. The difference is only in accents you put in your tattoo, but this concept undoubtedly has been important in almost all cultures everywhere around the world.

Whatever is your choice, every tree tattoo embodies physical and spiritual growth, strength and ability to access whatever is hidden deep down (into ground) to reach higher perspectives (with branches that make you wider and reach higher up to the sun).