Maybe you’re thinking of getting your first tattoo, or maybe you already have some other work done and want to keep it discreet. Whatever the case, minimalist tattoos are a tattoo style almost anyone can feel comfortable with. They’re generally smaller, more subtle and offer the chance to be a little abstract.
Choose Your Design
Your first step (if you haven’t already) is to choose the design you want tattooed. Almost anything can be drawn in a way that’s deconstructed or broken down into simple terms, but sometimes you need to get creative. In this process, you might consider some of the following questions:
- The size of your minimalist tattoo – While ‘minimalist’ generally means small, it could also mean a relatively simple design that doesn’t require as much color or linework. That brings us to…
- The location of your minimalist tattoo – In the case that you’ve already got somewhere in mind, this makes the size question easier to answer. If you need some inspiration, be sure to check out the next section!
- The style of your minimalist tattoo – Linework is a given on minimalist tattoos, but style choices like traditional, geometric or abstract can all play a part in what you get done depending on your preferences.
- The color palette of your minimalist tattoo – You can always opt for one or two colors depending on the theme, or keep it super simple with black linework.
Once you’ve narrowed in on both the subject matter and design aspects of your tattoo, you’re ready to find the place where it’ll live on your skin.
Choose Your Placement
You’ve finally zeroed in on what’s important, and you’re ready to find a place for your new minimalist tattoo. While it can technically be anywhere you want, smaller tattoos are often seen in locations that are more subtle than your forearm or bicep. Consider whether you’d like your tattoo on your upper or lower body and find some inspiration below.
Upper Body Placements
- Behind the ear – This spot is perfect for keeping your small tattoo to yourself with the ability to show it off when your hair is up.
- Back of the neck – Like behind the ear, the back of the neck is easy to hide with long hair and it offers slightly more room to boot.
- Along the wrist – The wrist is ideal when hiding your tattoo isn’t a concern, but you still want it to be subtle & personal.
- Upper chest – While some prefer a larger piece over their heart, the chest is ideal for having the choice to show it off with different clothing styles.
Lower Body Placements
- Top of the foot – Foot tattoos are perfect for keeping your tattoo under wraps in the colder months (or at work) and revealing it on warmer or less professional occasions.
- Side of the ankle – Your minimalist tattoo can be spotted on the ankle, but it’s still tucked away and will only get noticed if someone’s really looking.
- High on the leg or hip – Placing your tattoo high on the leg or inside your hipbone is a safe bet that virtually no one will see it unless you show it off.
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!