The armband tattoos were a popular craze 10 to 15 years ago; however, it is gradually becoming a hot trend again today. These types of tattoos are appealing because it’s easy to show and can be swiftly hidden in your sleeve.
What Do Armband Tattoos Mean?
Though you will find plenty of those who acquire armband tattoos on account of its edgy look, there are a large number of those who inked tattoos which have a special meaning to them. For instance, black armband tattoos are chosen by those who want to keep the memory of loved ones who passed away. The origin of this comes from the tradition of wearing black armband clothes which is a sign of grieving.
Meanwhile, the cherry blossom armband tattoos in China signifies love, bravery, and femininity. On the other hand, in Japan, it is a sign of the impermanence of life. Then again, there are others who proudly favor the armband tribal tattoos. Folks from Hawaii honor water-based or themed tattoos because it is a symbol of their Hawaiian culture and tradition pride. Want to know more? Here is our round-up of various armband tattoos and its meaning.
57 Armband Tattoos with Meaning
Armband Tattoos For Men & Guys
Cross Armband Tattoo
For devout Christians, having the cross inked as an armband tattoo is their way to show their religion and spirituality.
Geometric Designs Armband Tattoo
Those searching for something simple but creative opt for this type of geometric design.
Hawaiian Armband Tattoo
Hawaii residents worked hard to preserve their culture despite foreign influences. You can normally see Hawaiian armband tattoos featuring water inhabitants or the flora and fauna of their beautiful island.
Bible Verse Armband Tattoo
Another way for devout Christians to show their spirituality is to have their favorite bible verse inked as their armband tattoo.
Nature Armband Tattoo
As can be seen here, tattoo enthusiasts who are nature lovers will definitely want to display this type of tattoo on their arm.
Musical Notes Armband Tattoo
If you are a music enthusiast, show your penchant for music by inking musical notes as your tattoo. Moreover, make it more impressive by mixing up various notes.
Birds Armband Tattoo
Equally amazing is this bird armband tattoo. Are you fond of birds? Choose this birds sitting on one of the stripes tattoos.
Simple Black Band Armband Tattoo
As mentioned earlier, Black armband tattoos are carried by those who want to cherish the memories of loved ones who passed away.
Animal Armband Tattoo
In general, animals are fascinating subjects for armband tattoos. As shown here, the tiger represents courage, power, and bravery.
Navy Armband Tattoo
Service men from the Navy essentially select tattoos that remind them of their vocation. Navy armband tattoos ordinarily involve waves, compass, navy vessels, or anchors.
Roman Numerals Armband Tattoo
Meanwhile, there are people who are not fond of large showy armband tattoos. If you are part of this group, try this Roman numeral tattoo. You can choose to ink on your armband a date that is significant in your life.
Forest Armband Tattoo
Men who love camping will certainly admire this forest armband tattoo.
Skulls Armband Tattoo
Popular with men are skulls armband tattoos. Here is another pattern of this classic tattoo which embodies an individual’s boldness and grit.
Cosmic Armband Tattoo
If you are tired of the typical armband tattoos design, then you can definitely go for the cosmic tattoo.
Armband Tattoos For Females & Ladies
Astronomy Armband Tattoo
Women fascinated with astronomy can choose these phases of the moon armband tattoo.
Bands Armband Tattoo
In the same manner, ladies can also honor the memory of their loved ones by opting for these plain band tattoos.
Brushwork Armband Tattoo
Latest among armband tattoo designs is the brushwork style. Women searching for something simple and straightforward will love this tattoo.
Arrows Armband Tattoo
The arrows are a prominent choice for armband tattoos. Opting for this design reminds the bearer of his or her goals and direction in life.
Landscape Armband Tattoo
Taking some time off to enjoy nature can help relieve stress. By all means, if you love to travel, pick the landscape armband tattoos.
Flowers Armband Tattoo
Flowers are in essence a prevalent tattoo for females. When selecting flowers, it usually shows the femininity of its bearer.
Lace Armband Tattoo
There is nothing more feminine and dainty than the lace armband tattoos.
Cherry Blossoms Armband Tattoo
Again, the cherry blossom armband tattoos signify different meanings. In China, it represents love, bravery, and femininity. On one hand, in Japan, it is the sign of the impermanence of life.
Ornamental Designs Armband Tattoo
Ornamental types of armband tattoos are not only feminine but also ethnic looking.
Animals Armband Tattoo
Ladies can likewise select animal armband tattoos. You can see here a girl sporting an elephant tattoo which embodies strength, power, and loyalty.
Birds Armband Tattoo
A different take on the ordinary bird tattoo, this design is remarkable since the bird is almost leaving the line and tattoo. This will be a terrific choice for bird lovers.
Trees Armband Tattoo
Consequently, numerous women opt for the tree armband tattoos. The tree stands for several meanings among those are strength, prosperity, and life.
Abstract Armband Tattoo
Your creativeness will undeniably show with this abstract armband design.
Minimalist Geometric Armband Tattoo
Those ladies wanting a geometric design but a simplistic tattoo will appreciate this Minimalist style.
Tribal Armband Tattoos
Polynesian Armband Tattoo
Singular Enata Armband Tattoo
The Enata usually symbolizes men, women, and occasionally gods. Others who opt for this tattoo choose to place it within another tattoo to signify individuals and their relations. When you see an Enata situated upside down it signifies a destroyed enemy.
Enata Pattern Armband Tattoo
As shown below, the pattern illustrates an Enata combined together. Otherwise, it’s also a series of humans holding hands. At any rate, a row of Enata placed in a semi-circular form normally symbolizes the sky likewise, the elders safeguarding their descendants.
Simple Shark Teeth Armband Tattoo
The shark teeth exemplify security, resilience, guidance, as well as tenacity in Polynesian culture.
Complex Shark Teeth Armband Tattoo
Besides the meaning given above, shark teeth likewise signify flexibility in various cultures. Here is a sample of complex shark teeth design that you can see in several tribal armband tattoos.
Spearhead Pattern Armband Tattoo
To show a person’s warrior nature, the spear or spear-head is incorporated in the tattoo. Regardless, this Polynesian tattoo also stands for an animal sting.
Ocean Waves Armband Tattoo
In effect, ocean waves portray life, change, and constancy of change. At the same time, it symbolizes the realm beyond where the deceased head to and stays on their last journey.
Simplified Ocean Armband Tattoo
As mentioned earlier, the ocean as well as where the departed rest for their final voyage. Thus, the ocean can signify death and the realm beyond.
Turtle Armband Tattoo
The turtle embodies several meanings like health, procreation, and durability in life, foundation, harmony, and rest. Apart from this, it likewise embraces the principle of unity such as the merging and uniting together of families.
Turtle Shell Pattern Armband Tattoo
Besides the turtle figure, another motif derived from it is the turtle shell pattern. As has been noted, enthusiasts of the native armband tattoos alternatively choose this pattern in replacement of the turtle figure.
Tiki Armband Tattoo
In the meantime, the Tiki figure likewise embodies worshiped ancestors, priests, and chiefs who were elevated as semi-gods after they passed away. It is in fact known to symbolize security as they are regarded as guardians.
Tiki Eyes Armband Tattoo
The eyes are one of the remarkable components of the Tiki figure. As a matter of fact, it is customarily blended within other symbolic tribal armband tattoos.
Native American Armband Tattoos
Dreamcatcher Armband Tattoo
On the whole, you will see Native American tattoo with a rope tied around an arm, comprising of some beads and a handful of feathers hanging from it.
Knots Armband Tattoo
Traditionally, the Celtic Knot is described as a love knot particularly when you see more than one path woven into another. It is an ancient design which exemplifies the timeliness of a subject such as love or humanity.
Favorite Armband Tattoos
Armband Tattoos Cost: How Much Are They?
Important to realize is that whether or not it’s your first time to get a tattoo, make sure to go to an established tattoo salon. Others may opt to get inked in an unknown tattoo parlor since it’s cheaper, however, weigh in the various health risks that come along with it. With this in mind, a professional artist normally charges per hour but in doing this you can be sure of the quality of the service. Professional fees are approximately $100 to $300 per hour. Price can still increase to thousands of dollars depending on the dimensions of your tattoo. Furthermore, if you opt for a custom tattoo, charges approximately start from $50 to $300.
Final Thoughts on Armband Tattoos
In the long run, armband tattoos are a reflection of your individuality. While many decide to get a tattoo only because of aesthetic reasons, yet there are numerous who place tattoos which have significant meaning in their life. All things considered, since armband tattoos are permanent on your skin make sure to choose wisely on your particular design.
Hey readers! I’m Jeffrey and your tattoo artist of the day;) I have been drawing and painting my whole life, and after graduating high school I decided it was time for a bigger challenge and I started drawing on people. I’m so fortunate I got to express my creativity through my body art and even more so to share my passion with my now wife Emilie. She started working with me in my tattoo shop as a piercer and I started writing about and photographing, my creations on this blog. I love to hear from you and hope you enjoy our work together!