When it comes to getting inked, what designs do you prefer? It can feel like a big commitment to hit the tattoo shop, but you don’t always have to come out with a giant piece. You can choose a small design that still packs a powerful message. If you aren’t sure what you want, then you’re in luck. We’ve compiled our favorite small tattoos for men in the following guide.
Tattoos for Men: You Don’t Always Have To Go Big
While there is nothing wrong with a sleeve or back piece, you don’t always have to choose the biggest area to tattoo. There may be several reasons you don’t want to invest time or money into large-scale tattoo jobs. Here are three reasons to choose a smaller piece of art.
1. Small Tattoos Are Great Introductions
If you haven’t been inked up yet, you may be on the fence about what you want or how you’ll feel about the process when it’s finished. When you enter a tattoo shop, you begin with the consultation. After the consultation, your artist will come up with a unique design, and afterward, he or she will tattoo it onto your body. No one wants to leave a tattoo shop with regret, and if this is one of your first times, you may want to start small and see how you feel.
2. Smaller Pieces Can Be Covered
Not everyone can afford to show off their ink at work. If you need to cover your tattoos at your nine-to-five, you aren’t going to want to cover yourself head to toe in art. While we may love tattoos, we know it’s not always socially acceptable to show them off. Clothes can easily cover most small tattoos.
3. Ink Can Be Collected
The tattoos your choose are an expression of yourself. They may remind you of who you are and what matters the most to you. When you choose a smaller piece, you have more options. You can try a patchwork style and collect small pieces to fill in the blanks with symbols or themes that matter to you. As you grow, there’s always room to expand your collection.
Emblematic Locations for Your Ink
The location of your tattoo may be almost as important as the design you choose. Small tattoos for men can be placed on a variety of body parts. Ultimately, it is up to you and your artist to choose the ideal location.
Forearm
The forearm is one of the most popular locations for small to medium tattoos. Your forearm is a versatile area where you could choose geometric shapes, portraits or scripts; all three choices would look fitting.
Chest
Chest tattoos do not need to be entire pieces that span the full width. A simple, small tattoo looks clean and sharp. Unless you have full sleeves and require a chest piece to pull it all together, smaller pieces tend to look better on the chest.
Wrist
When you tattoo the wrist, your only option is to go small. The wrist may be small, but it has flat skin that makes it easy to work with. For those new to tattooing, this is a great place to experiment.
Bicep
While the bicep has enough room to fit a decent tattoo, you have the ability to keep smaller pieces hidden under the sleeve of your shirt when necessary. The bicep is one of the most common areas to tattoo for men.
Back
The back is the perfect expanse of skin for a variety of tattoo sizes. When you choose a smaller piece, you have the option of filling in the space around it or letting the ink stand on its own. When you don’t have a full back piece, you should always opt to center your tattoo.
5 Killer Tattoo Ideas for Men
There are many ways to reconnect with your manliness throughout the year, but one way to connect is through tattoo designs that reflect your masculinity. If you’re on the fence about the design, here are our favorite picks for small tattoo ideas.
City Skylines
How much hometown pride do you have? If your town means a lot to you or if you’re a traveler, you may want to consider having an etching of the city skyline. For famous cities, a simple outline can be enough to identify it.
Great Outdoors
If hiking, camping, surfing or any other outdoor activity is part of your personality, why wouldn’t you want to express that through a tattoo? Tattoos that represent the great outdoors may include trees, mountain outlines, waves and other natural inspiration.
Good Luck Symbols
Popular tattoos for men include good luck symbols. Many good luck symbols are naturally small. For example, dice and koi fish represent luck and can easily be tattooed in areas as small as the wrist.
Pet Portraits
How much do you love your four-legged friend? Dogs, for example, are a popular choice for a lot of men. There are a lot of ways to design your pets. You can choose a stylized portrait or a paw print. Bring a photo of your pet to discuss your artist’s vision.
Sports and Hobbies
If you never miss a game, you can choose a smaller piece to represent your team. Pick between mascot symbols, a football, or any other representation of your favorite team. In addition, any hobbies that matter to you are worthy of having a spot on your skin.
Personal Taste Governs the Best Tattoos for Men
Your ideal tattoo depends on your taste and personality. Be creative with your new ink. While we can inspire, only you know what you want. Think about what you want others to know about you. When you meet a stranger, do you want to be pegged as an outdoorsman, a musician, or someone born and raised in your home city? You choose the impression you give when you choose the tattoo that suits you the most.
At Rugged Standard, we don’t want you to struggle through life. We’ve collected the resources to teach you about all things manly, including tattoos for men. From family to sports, travel and leisure, we have what you need.