The wrist is one of the most visible parts of the human body and therefore having a tattoo on your wrist speaks a lot about your character. It is for this reason that wrist tattoos are common on both leading big shot celebrities and ordinary folks in a similar way. Well, what makes these tattoos so special to attract the attention of thousands of people?
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Wrist Tattoo History
Many centuries ago, wrist and arm tattoos were used to protect against illness, similarly to elbow tattoos. It was widely believed that if you had special carvings of designs in your upper or lower limb body parts, the bewitching curses thrown at you by witches and widely responsible for causing illness would not harm you. It is this wide belief among the early inhabitants of the planet earth that led to a widespread acceptance of arm tattoos by a majority of people. Over the years, the practice of having tattoos etched on the wrists was quickly adopted by seafarers for various reasons.
Among the common tattoo designs by seamen was the nautical star that they used as guide in the deep waters to keep them safe until they reached their destination. The use of these tattoos has gained greater meanings these days with many people citing inspiration as the main reason they would have a tattoo on their wrists. Inspiring images and messages are often engraved on the wrist to keep the wearer going during tough times. Other people, especially celebrities in prominent shows or sporting events use wrist and arm tattoos to send a message to their audience. In most cases, they put a beautiful image that will keep their followers talking, such as a wolf tattoo. Tattoos on wrists are these days also used for grandeur purposes where beautiful ladies engrave attractive images and messages for the sole purpose of winning soul mates.
Do wrist tattoos hurt?
Most tattoos are painful, especially those that are inscribed on places where the skin is thinner with little flesh to cushion the needle, and wrist tattoos hurt too for most people. It is therefore common to hear people talking about painful experience they underwent when they were being tattooed on their wrists, especially when it comes to complex designs like tribal tattoos. However, there are others who say wrist tattoos hurt less than in other body parts such as the thighs which has more flesh to cushion the needle. Whatever your experience, it is important to realize that wrist tattoos hurt, and necessary precautions should always be taken.
What does a Wrist Tattoo Represent?
During the 1950’s and 60s when tattoos were yet to achieve mainstream acceptance, a tattoo on the wrist was identified by gays and lesbians. During those days having tattoos on the wrist area quite often resulted into stigmatization and hence very few straight people had the audacity to engrave them on their bodies. Nowadays the association of wrist and forearm tattoos to gays and lesbians is not common but you never know what message you are sending to your tattoo admirers. Modern wrist area tattoos represent inspiration images that most wearers cannot do without.
Tattoos on the wrist areas are swiftly becoming popular among young people who prefer having their body piercing uniquely different from thousands of other tattoo wearers with decorations on their chests and upper arm areas. It is therefore important to point out that one of the reasons why tattoos on the wrists are popular is because of the newness feature they bring about in comparison to conventional chest tattoos and upper arm tattoos.
1. Morning glory flowers wrist tattoo
This tattoo appears nicely on the wrist creating a good impression on the wrist. It is among those tattoos that will be good to see and not to attract too much attention. The flower is likable by many and shaded in dark colors at the edges. The leaves have been clearly separated showing the flower blossoming on your hand. The cool thing about this design is that it also works perfectly as a foot tattoo if that’s more your style.
2. Musical notes wrist tattoo
Are you a fan of music? Well, what other better way to show your love for music other than by having this faintly painted tattoo on your wrist. The tattoo is designed with symbols of musical tones in very faint colors but appears nicely on your wrist. This is a unique tattoo that you will not find in most people’s body.
3. Bracelets wrist tattoo
The tattoo is a unique design to have on your wrist. The tattoo is made to appear as if one is wearing a bracelet on their hand. Drawn with dotted lines which usually indicate the various elements of a bracelet, the tattoo is drawn downwards to appear as if hanging from the hand. This is a very creative design, especially for women.
4. A maps wrist tattoo
If you love geography or just traveling around the world, this is the ideal tattoo for you. The tattoo has a map of the world with all the continents drawn on the wrist. Dark lines are used to show the boundaries will small dots to show islands.
5. A knot wrist tattoo
This tattoo is made with a design of a knot on the wrist from a piece of clothing. The painting is uniquely done and can appear as if you have tried something on your hand. The loops of the piece appear hanging after the knot has been making a very good impression of the hand.
6. Carpe Diem wrist tattoo
This tattoo has very encouraging words to show off to the world what you are all about. The words are telling people to enjoy the pleasures of the moment without having a lot worries about the future. It is a great design and yet a powerful message on your wrist.
7. The love wrist tattoo
The word “love” is one of the most used names in the world. The words perfectly fit on the wrist and what other better way to show you are a loving person than have a love tattoo on your wrist. Drawn in italics, the words appear nicely and make you look loving and adorable.
8. Lisianthus flower tattoo
The Lisianthus flower is one of the many flowers that people love. Having one nicely drawn on your wrists will show your love for flowers. The tattoo makes you look tender, young and loving. It is drawn to appear as if the flower is spreading on your wrists.
9. The feather wrist tattoo
This feather wrist tattoo is another great design where a small feather is nicely drawn on your wrist and some words added in between. The words life appears on wrist towards the end of the flower. It is a great way to show your love for birds. This style could also work well for a dragonfly tattoo.
10. A dove wrist tattoo
If you love birds, then this is another great hand tattoos option to pick other than the feather. The tattoo of a flying dove in your hand is a great choice, and shows love as doves are usually associated with love. A hummingbird tattoo could also be a great alternative in a similar style.
11. Semiplume bird tattoo
This tattoo is drawn the simple of the semiplume feathers of a bird. The feathers are among the softest. The feathers have dot developed barbicels making you appear soft and tender.
12. Mermaid wrist tattoo
Well, if you love mermaids, then this mermaid tattoo will perfectly appear on your wrist. Mermaids are super cool tattoo features; half human-half fish. You can also appear super cool with the design of the tattoo.
13. Contours feather wrist tattoo
These are the feathers that give color to birds. If you like birds then having this tattoo and coloring it with your favorite color will make you appear super cool.
14. Paper wasp wrist tattoo
Wasps can sting and having one of the designs as your tattoo is a show you too can sting. The tattoo is drawn with the wasp flying and appears nicely on the wrist. The tattoo is the common one found in water masses and usually flies above the water. A great choice if you love biology.
15. Camera wrist tattoo
The camera tattoo is a nice trick on your hands. The camera is drawn at the center of your wrist and appears just like a real camera. You can put your hand over your face in a manner that shows you are taking a photo of this tattoo. It is a great choice for those who love taking photos.
16. Star tattoo on wrist
Well, this tattoo has stars that seem to appear on the horizon as the sun fades away. The unique feature with this tattoo is the fact that it starts right where the wrist ends showing the stars spreading their light to the wrist. It is another very simple tattoo but a great choice.
17. A broken heart wrist tattoo
This is a tattoo meant to warn you of the realities of life. It is clearly drawn with the words, “hearts and thoughts do fade, fade away.” The simple of the heart and thoughts fading away are then drawn above the words.
18. Carnation flower tattoo
The carnation flower is among the best wedding flowers and having them as your design for a tattoo is great. The flower is beautiful, and the tattoo has been made to appear perfectly as the genuine flower. The greener parts from the stem grow all the way to the top where the flower blossoms out. Cherry blossom tattoos are also a great fit in this style.
19. Words wrist tattoo
This is among the simplest tattoo one can get. You simply get to choose the words, and the tattoo experts will do the rest. “I am not afraid to walk this world alone.” This is a full sentence that has been made to fit on the wrist and a good way to encourage yourself each day you wake up.
20. Wristband wrist Tattoo
The tattoo shows various bands drawn on the wrist. The dark, think circular lines on the wrist appear as if some band has been put on your wrist. They are a great tattoo, and one can choose to have the bands placed at any part of their wrist.
21. A Cool metal watch Wrist Tattoo for Men
A men’s classic watch looking tattoo. This wrist tattoo is both cool and amazing at the same time. From afar most people will believe you to be wearing a real watch, and even up-close, it is still very realistic. A very fun idea indeed.
22. Angel’s Wing wrist Tattoo on a lady’s arm
An Angel’s wing wrist tattoo idea. A quite simple but meaningful tattoo idea for people who feel that they are angels in one way or the other. It also reminds one of the winged messenger of the gods in greek mythology. Generally, it’s more fitting for women.
23. The Mount Everest Wrist Tattoo
A wrist tattoo idea for mountain climbing enthusiasts. One of the coolest wrist tattoos idea for people who have set a goal to climb a mountain, physically or metaphorically. It can also be used as a reminder of your past glory, so you can glance at it time and again.
24. Girlie Wrist Bow and Arrow Tattoos on the arm of a Woman
This is a very feminine wrist tattoo, it almost looks like a fashion accessory on its own. Definitely for the girlie girl who has no problems expressing her femininity. One of the coolest wrist tattoos ideas on the wrist for girls who are confident about themselves.
25. Colourful Wrist Tattoos for Women in Red and Blue
An artistically inspired wrist watch design tattoo. A bold statement and expression of aliveness. A lovely wrist tattoo design for people who want something a little extra-ordinary. Showcasing magic, with a colourful explosion, this tattoo is definitely for fun loving people. You will definitely get people staring.
26. The Infinity interlocking Triangle Wrist Tattoo
A lovely tattoo for both its artistic and scientific nature. This is definitely for the smart guy who also has a deeper understanding of nature and spirituality. Interlocking triangles depicting the attraction of opposites, which is considered the fundamental force of nature. This tattoo is for the initiate.
27. The secret meaning Wrist Tattoo
This tattoo is a very weird tattoo, which is very perfect for very weird people, or for people who consider themselves non-traditional. With multiple layers of possible hidden secret meanings, you will have a lot of explaining to do at parties and other social encounters.
28. Attitude is Everything Motivation and Reminder Wrist Tattoo
The perfect reminder tattoo. Stylish, cool and well designed, this tattoo is one of the most meaningful wrist tattoo ideas ever, especially for people who are into self-development, or who have come to understand in one way or another, the importance of inner game. A steady reminder to be awesome.
29. The Secret of life Triangle Wrist Tattoo
A very beautifully conceived and designed tattoo. This tattoo is a lovely work of art with a deep and hidden meaning. Although it can mean many things to many people, the triangle will symbolize the forces of nature, out of which life, in this case plants, are kept alive.
30. Beautiful Butterfly and Flower Tattoo
A very lovely wrist tattoos idea for women. Butterfly wrist tattoo designs are very popular among women. A way to showcase one’s beautiful nature and to express one’s tenderness, butterfly tattoos are also very perfect as wrist tattoos. Here, the butterfly is depicted around a flower, nice, lovely scenario.
31. A big black Bird Wrist Tattoo
A very cool wrist tattoos concept, this bird tattoo could be depicting an eagle or a falcon. The important symbolism though is that of the freedom in the skies. This tattoo is perfect for skydivers, para-gliders e.t.c It can also work for bird lovers.
32. Mountain top Wrist Tattoo
This is one the frequently reoccurring wrist tattoo ideas among mountain climbers and hikers and all the people who are in love with the outdoors. It is a show of love and commitment to one’s favourite hobby and a constant reminder of the time spent doing what you love.
33. The Atomic Wrist Tatto
A simple but straight to the point tattoo. The perfect idea for nerds, or any other persons with interest in physics. In the middle is the nucleus, made up of neutrons and protons, and the lines circling the nucleus depict the orbit of electrons spinning around the nucleus.
34. The Needle and Thread Wrist Tattoo
This is a very artistic tattoo depicting a needle and thread using perfect curves, this tattoo is one of the most expressive wrist tattoos ideas for women of men, who are into knitting, sewing or any other related activity. It is a nice work of art depicting another artist’s love.
35. Breathe simple words Wrist Tattoo
A simple tattoo with the words “breathe”. It is a constant reminder of one of the greatest gifts in life, which is air. As grownups, we breathe unconsciously most of the time, and especially when we are so focused on a topic, we often do forget to breathe.
36. Flying high Wrist Tattoo
A quite stylish and cool in a simple way tattoo, it depicts birds flying high up in the sky. A good idea for people who are into bird-watching or have a love for birds in another form. It is also a good tattoo idea for base-jumpers.
37. Sophisticated Dot-matrix Wrist Tattoo
A very nerdy tattoo, it depicts a dot matrix which gradually fades away in a nice optical illusion. The dot matrix is very important in digital technology. It is the foundation of digital displays like the Lcd and Plasma displays. This is a tattoo for technically minded people.
38. Romantic Owl on a Branch Wrist Tattoo
This black and white tattoo is for people in love. With an owl on the branch and two hearts hanging from the same branch, with the initials of the two lovers� names, this tattoo signifies a lasting romantic commitment to a lover. A subtle, but yet strong declaration of love.
39. The modified Tao Wrist Tattoo
A weird tattoo with deep mystical symbolism. Though not exactly the symbol of the Tao, it does represent the Tao still, in its own way. A depiction of the attraction of opposites, male and female, up and down, e.t.c A good idea for those with esoteric interests.
40. The digital Player Mp3 Wrist Tattoo
This tattoo is cool, modern, creative and hilarious. Depicting the controls of a digital music player on a person’s arm, it somehow paints a picture of the future, in the maybe not so distant future, when mp3 players will be integrated into the human body. Very nerdy.
41. Cool wrist arrow wrist tattoo
This is an amazing arrow tattoo that looks fine on both men and women. The arrow appears to be hooked to a string that hangs the wrist downwards. A great tattoo design idea for those looking for something not so announcing.
42. A clock tattoo on the Wrist wrist
The clock tattoo above is a great tattoo idea on the wrist. The round clock is a nice fit and appears cool on the wrist. The hook for attaching the clock to the wall is also nicely imprinted making the clock appear a natural fit.
43. Beautiful butterfly Wrist tattoo
The butterfly tattoo is a great tattoo design and an excellent choice for women. We all know how beautiful butterflies look and having one on your wrist is a sure sign of beauty. The tattoo nicely fits into the center of the wrist will all wings spread out wide.
44. A beautiful flying dove Wrist tattoo
For those looking for a simple tattoo on their wrist, this dove tattoo is one of the best wrist tattoos you can get. It does not require a lot but still appears great on your wrist.
45. A cool campus direction Wrist tattoo
The campus direction tattoo is appearing beautiful on the wrist with all the latitudes and longitudes clearly drawn. The tattoo is a great pick for those looking for something good and simple. You can both side of the campus on your wrists.
46. A beautiful flower wrist tattoo
The beautiful flower wrist tattoo is an excellent choice for the wrist with flowers and leaves nicely imprinted. The leaves and flowers spread over the wrist correctly making the wrist look beautiful from a distance. It is another great tattoo idea for men and women although it is best suited for women.
47. A great rounded Wrist tattoo on a guy
The tattoo is designed to circular images that represent strength. It is ideal for men, and one can use symbols that mean something to them. A great choice if you don’t need something the so conspicuous on your wrist.
48. Thinly painted arrows’ wrist tattoo
Arrows can be used to mean a lot and the thinly painted arrows’ tattoos are great on this arm wrist. The tattoos point towards the palm of the hand. It appears great on the hand when bangles or some bracelets are worn to match with the arrows.
49. Matching tattoos idea: A beautiful butterfly wrist tattoo
The butterfly tattoo is a great pick nicely matching with the sweater worn. The butterfly is beautifully drawn with dotted lines as seen in the actual tattoo on the wings. The butterfly appears flying and one can choose the color of the butterfly they want to match with their clothing.
50. A simple, words wrist tattoo
If you need a simple tattoo idea, then the words tattoo above is a great pick for both men and women. The words, “let it be” are meant to encourage you on your dreams each day. Very simple and one and choose what the words they want to be written on their wrist.
51. A beautiful bee wrist tattoo
If looking for a perfect insect as a tattoo idea apart from the commonly used butterflies, then the bee tattoo is a great choice. The tattoo of a bee on the wrist sounds fun but then it appears nicely and a great way to show to the world what you are all about.
52. The prince crown wrist tattoo
Well, if you want to feel like a princess, then the prince crown tattoo is a great idea for a tattoo. The crown is beautifully imprinted on the hand with dotted lines at the top and bottom to make it look more appealing. It is a great tattoo design for young ladies.
53. A great scales wrist tattoo
The tattoo will make your hand appear as if you have scales in your hand. Stemming from the start of the wrist downwards, the scales are imprinted one over another appearing like what you see on the fish. It is a great pick and appears conspicuously from far making it a great choice for those who love attention.
54. A crown with decorations wrist tattoo
The small tattoo of a crown on the wrist is a great choice with decorations al around the crown to make it look beautiful and amazing. The tattoo design appears as if it is placed on some top with feathers and other small crowns all around it. This is also such a great couple tattoos idea.
55. The Love Wrist Tattoo
This is another simple tattoo idea that is easy to imprint and a great choice for those who like to pass a message around. The word “Love” is nicely imprinted in italics with the V being into the shape of scissors. A great idea and passes a good message around without having lot writing on your hands.
56. A unique crown finger wrist tattoo
This is a unique finger tattoos idea for a tattoo where a crown is made in the shape of the hand. The fingers spread out with two small fingers at the end. It is nicely decorated all round and will leave onlookers wondering what it means.
57. The beautiful oceanic view wrist tattoo
The tree tattoo incorporates all the features one can imagine when on a trip to the beach. The tattoo has all those palm trees found near the beach with stars appearing in the sky to show the time. It is a great choice to show where you love spending your time.
58. A tiger’s face wrist tattoo
Probably a good fit for men, the tiger’s face is a great choice for men on the wrist. The tattoo is nicely fitted on the wrist with the eyes looking frightening as the tiger looks in the jungle.
59. The elephant wrist tattoo with a balloon
The imagination of an elephant carrying a balloon floating in the air is a great idea for this tattoo. The elephant holds a balloon of love high in the air further showing love is in the air.
60. A motivational wrist tattoo
Faith, Love and Hope are all the word people need to have each day to make it through life. Well, what better way to share that with the world than having a faith tattoo with the words perfectly fitting on your arms. For more ideas check out our mosaic tattoos and batman tattoos!
