All tattoo styles with examples.

Nowadays it is difficult to imagine a person who has never heard of tattoos. Most young people even have several underwear designs, and those who are far beyond 40 years old do not disdain them. There are a lot of tattoo styles, each of which has its own meaning.

Most popular tattoo techniques and styles

Every year the popularity of tattoos is only growing. In connection with the growth of interest, new styles of tattoos appeared, that is, techniques for performing underwear designs. In principle, now it’s not surprising anyone with a tattoo, but you can pick up a really unusual sketch.

Modern tattoo styles are completely diverse: from simple and modest drawings to complex, voluminous, covering large areas of the skin.

Moreover, no one shares the styles of tattoos for men and women, most of the techniques are unisex.

The most popular tattooing techniques:

• Watercolor;
• Minimalism;
• Realism;
• Do-it-yourself;
• LINWORK;
• Old school;
• Lettering.

There are actually much more styles of tattoos, but many of them are not as fashionable as before. These include:

• Blackwork;
• New cheekbone;
• Tribal;
• Biomechanics;
• Steampunk
• Chicano
• Gothic;
• Ethno
• Oriental
• Handpoke;
• Lettering.

Most of the forgotten and less common techniques are now very different from the trendy trend of "minimalism", which is trending not only in the field of tattooing. However, this does not prevent you from trying them out if some style is to your liking.

Colorful watercolor technique

Many are familiar with the watercolor technique from the school day. From visual art, this style also migrated to the creation of wearable drawings.

Watercolor tattoos are done exclusively in color. You can safely say that a tattoo in this style is a real art! Since the drawings are very beautiful and bright.

Also, a watercolor tattoo can have a clearly defined contour, but most often it is drawn in its relative style from a blurry outline, spots, strokes and blots. It all looks original and fashionable.

Stylish minimalism

Minimalism is the most fashionable trend in recent years. Moreover, they follow this trend in different areas of life. Tattoos boom on minimalism is also not spared.

Minimalist style tattoos are concise, simple, often small in size. Such drawings are suitable for any age, gender and profession. It is due to their ordinaryness that such tattoos are in demand.

Minimalistic tattoos should have clear contours, so the choice of an intelligent master is simply necessary for quality work.By the way, do not forget that minimalism can include elements of other styles, which makes the choice of this technique the most attractive.

Cool realism in tattoos

Realism is rightfully considered one of the most difficult styles of tattooing, if not the most difficult (according to many masters). In many ways, he echoes the technique of 3D tattoos. Among the distinguishing features of realism are:

• Maximum realism of the picture;
• High-quality detail of the sketch;
• Execution in any color scale;
• Lack of abstract objects in the sketch.

Realistic tattooing requires some training. Not every tattoo master will be able to complete the drawing as reliably as possible. Therefore, such tattoos are performed exclusively by virtuosos of their craft and are an expensive pleasure.

Dot Tattoo Technique - Do-It-Yourself

The style of tattooing with dots is called a do-gooder (from the English “dot” and “work” - literally “work with dots”). This style appeared at the same time as the notorious “blackwork”, however, it has gained particular popularity relatively recently.

The do-gooder is truly a unique tattoo technique. Dots are applied to the body, forming a common image. Most often, a drawing is performed in the classic black version, less often - in red, very rarely they are made in color.

In some cases, the finish is used as an additional style for the tattoo to give it depth or fill small details with an original pattern.

Blackwork for the most daring

Blackwork is the only style of tattoos that is by no means performed in color options. The name of the technique itself includes the word "black", meaning black. All work on the "black" technique is really carried out exclusively in this color.

Blackwork was originally conceived as a style that allows you to block an old tattoo (even before laser tattoo removal was thought up). Then it grew and became a full-fledged technique, which has been resorted to by an increasing number of people.

Blackwork differs from other styles in volumetric elements clogged with black. Recently, silhouettes of nature, people and animals began to be filled in this technique, as well as geometry, abstractions and patterns that have become classic.

Blackwork is also successfully used in other styles: ethno, Maori, biomechanics.

Unusual and delicate linwork

The name of the “linework” style is also speaking and is translated from English as “line work”. The technique of linework is to perform a tattoo through fancy connections of various lines. The style is especially popular among girls, but men will also be interested.

Linwork perfectly complements the finisher, forming unusual patterns together. Such tattoos on the forearm and lower legs look especially interesting, some prefer to fill them on the stomach or hips.

Tribal tattoo for classic lovers

Tribal tattoo style is one of the very first emerging techniques in the field of body art. Therefore, it does not differ in particular complexity and is a plexus of various monophonic lines connecting in a geometric pattern.

Do not confuse tribal with linework. This technique is performed with wide lines, weaving into an ornament that resembles the style of sketching of the Mayan tribes. It was from this style that such trends of tattoo as ethno and linwork were born.

Currently, there are two subspecies of tribal: neo-tribal and 3D-tribal. In a neo-variant, tattoos can be colored, and 3D implies the presence of shadows to give a visual volume to the picture.

Biomechanics, bioorganics and steampunk - tattoo for the daring

All three techniques: biomechanics, bio-borders and steampunk - are closely intertwined with each other, it is almost impossible to consider them separately. The bioorganic is a subspecies of biomechanics, which in turn is very similar to steampunk. All techniques with 3D effect are performed.

Biomechanics is a relatively young style compared to others. You can determine this technique by drawing - a mechanical part protruding from torn leather.

Bioorganic, as a kind of biomechanics, is abstract and represents a combination of inorganic and organic nature, that is, human and natural factors.

Steampunk is a well-known direction in literature and cinema, which migrated into fashion, and then the style of tattoos. In this technique, the human body appears as a biomechanism. Therefore, it is very easy to confuse it with biomechanics.

Old school and new school, like an ageless tattoo style

Old school or the "old school" of the tattoo world is distinguished by bright colors and a thick black outline. This style appeared a long time ago, which is why it is considered one of the fundamental.

The most popular drawings using the "old school" technique are the images:

• Anchors
• Hearts
• Roses
• Swallows

The “new school” technique, as opposed to the old school, is a new type of tattoo, but it has retained the fundamental elements of the “old school” - bright shades of paint and a thick stroke.

New School combines humor, philosophy, abstraction and even graffiti.

Often, characters from famous comics, computer games, and cartoons are used as a sketch for new cheekbones. Branches of this technique also appeared: cyber punk (associated with virtual games), acidic and "wild" styles.

The new meaning of the Chicano style

Initially, the Chicano style was exclusively among the representatives of the underworld. It all started with the need to divide the criminals into groups, so tattoos were used as identification marks of each gang.

The initial examples of such drawings, unfortunately, have not been preserved. And over time, the original meaning of the Chicano tattoo lost.

Mostly portraits of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, various Saints, as well as crosses, prayer phrases and everything related to religious subjects are used as sketches of this style. Also portraits of clown girls and the image of pistols or retro cars.

Not for the faint of heart: gothic, horror and trash polka

Gothic style has been known for a long time, it was especially common in 2006-2007. However, the fashion for Gothic tattoos has survived to this day. Gothic tattoo style is a combination of dark colors (black, dark gray, purple and red) with gloomy images. Among the top popular images of the "Gothic" technique are:

• The face of death;
• Crosses
• Ravens;
• Imitation of scars and cuts;
• Black angels.

Along with the Gothic style, one can also consider such an unusual technique as horror, which, translated from English, means horror. The horror genre usually refers directly to movies or games, however, in the field of body art, too, it has gained followers. Horror can even be attributed to a subspecies of Gothic tattoos.

The main difference between the style of "horror" from the "Gothic" is that in addition to the classic gloomy images, there are terrifying drawings in the form of monsters, pictures from horror films and bloody scenes.

Unlike the previous two styles, the “trash” or “trash-polka” technique differs in some absurdity of the drawings. The main symbolism of this style includes the image of death, corruption, fear and vulgarity. Everything is done in black and red.

The main goal of such a tattoo is a negative impact on the psyche. That is why this style is less and less in demand.

Ethnic techniques that suit everyone.

Speaking about the ethno style in the field of tattooing, one cannot fail to note the versatility of this technique. Ethnic tattoos include many varieties that are divided according to peoples and tribes, using certain ornaments to apply patterns to the skin.

The most popular types of ethnic tattoos:

• Polynesia;
• Celtic;
• Slavic;
• Maori;
• Maya and Aztecs.

Also, the ethnic style is called “ornamental”, as it is performed mainly with the help of unusual patterns and ornaments. Less commonly, portraits are present in tattoos, such as in the Mayan and Aztec techniques. Before choosing the right kind of ethno-drawings, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the styles of tattoos with examples and explanations.

Mayans often depicted on their bodies the images of the gods in whom they believed. The tattoos were mostly black and white and very large. At the Aztecs, the style of application was different in color, tattoos could be of any shade. They also preferred drawings of bloody scenes, pyramids, skulls and the god of death.

Celtic style and Maori are very similar, so they are often confused with each other. Both techniques are performed in black and occupy most of the skin. Mostly they are stuffed on the shoulders and forearms, less often - on the chest.

The difference between the techniques is that in Maori, there is often some kind of additional image in addition to patterns and ornaments. For example: sun, lizard, marine life, turtles. Celtic technique focuses mainly on unity with nature, so even the patterns themselves are often interwoven into a common pattern: the tree of life, deer, wild boar and other inhabitants of the forest.

Another variety of ethnic tattoos is the Polynesian technique. The drawing made in this style is distinguished by the symmetry, rigor and accuracy of the ornament.

The main element of the Polynesia technique is the face of God, including in the form of an animal.

It can be different fish, forest animals, etc. Thus, a person identifies himself with this pattern and takes over the power of the selected animal.

It is also believed that a tattoo in ethnic style can bring good luck. They are mainly stuffed on the shoulders, forearm, chest, less often - the stomach. In ancient times, facial tattoos were especially common.

Stylish and bright oriental

The Oriental technique is the embodiment of the oriental style in tattoos. It includes tattoos with Japanese and Chinese motifs. The main theme of tattoos in the style of "Oriental":

• Geisha;
• Dragons and snakes;
• Koi fish;
• Carps and warriors;
• Masks of demons;
• Sakura - Japanese Cherry;
• Lotus.

Mostly tattoos are performed in color with black and white elements. The background is usually a stained glass ornament or waves (if fish are stuffed), a little less often - fire.

The size of such tattoos varies from medium to large. Small oriental tattoos are extremely rare.

Funny and funny hand-tattoo tattoos

Handpoke is also called a home tattoo. This is due to the fact that such tattoos are very simple, usually small in size, contoured, without colored elements, and often with silly or even indecent content.

You can choose absolutely any object, even from the surrounding interior, as a sketch for a handpoque tattoo.

Many consider this technique to be a common bag, however, to create such a deliberately careless and unpretentious tattoo requires skill. Nevertheless, even novice tattooists do not disdain this style, and it is especially popular among fans of the old school.

Elegant lettering and volumetric lettering

Tattoo inscription is the most common style of tattoos, which is actively used by both girls and men to decorate their body. The inscriptions can be part of the overall picture or a full tattoo, and of any size. The text can be in any language, but the most fashionable are:

• Latin;
• English;
• Russian;
• Japanese and Chinese;
• French;
• Italian and Spanish;
• Arabic letters.

Usually stuffed with any winged expressions, names of loved ones, memorable dates or words indicating the character of a person. Less commonly, lyrics, prayers, or poems.

The font is selected individually, depending on the place of tattooing and the text itself. It can be a classic even font or calligraphic italic, while men prefer Gothic options.

However, you need to understand how ordinary tattoo inscriptions differ from lettering.

Lettering is a stylized inscription applied to the body in various fonts. Typically, such tattoos are much more classic inscriptions. Creating a font for a tattoo is an art and a very long process.

Such inscriptions consist of many different additional elements, curls and squiggles. Particular attention is paid to the thickness of the lines and direction of the text.