If you’re looking for a tattoo, then it’s very likely that you’ve spent some time looking at tattoo designs. And if you’ve spent any amount of time on the Internet looking for tattoos, then you know how overwhelming it can be trying to find the right style.
There are so many different styles of tattoos out there. There’s traditional (also known as old school or Americana), new school, geometric, trash polka, Maori (Tā Moko), watercolor, bio-organic, Chicano-style, stick and poke, Polynesian, and so much more! It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of these styles, especially when you don’t really know what you like.
I’m here to help with that. I want to give you a bit of an overview of the most popular tattoo styles so that you have something to refer back to when choosing your own design. Keep in mind that no guide will ever cover every single possible tattoo style that exists. But this is a starting point. And remember, while it’s important to look for inspiration, ultimately, it’s your personal preference that decides which style you end up choosing.
Traditional Tattoos (Old School/Americana)
Traditional tattoos are also called old school tattoos, and they are often referred to as Americana tattoos. They’re the kind of tattoos that you see on sailors, bikers, and other people who love classic, vintage imagery. These tattoos usually have bold, saturated colors, but only use a simple color palette. The images themselves are typically two-dimensional, with thick black outlines and minimal shading.
Traditional tattoos often feature elemental symbols and motifs such as hearts, daggers, anchors, roses, stars, skulls, chains, and other similar images. The designs are usually quite precise, and often consist of a single image rather than multiple images arranged together.
These kinds of tattoos originated from sailor traditions, and were developed by Norman Collins, better known as Sailor Jerry. According to legend, he was taught by Japanese hand-poke artists who had come to America during World War II. His work became very popular among American sailors and others who wanted a “traditional” tattoo.
New School Tattoos
New school tattoos evolved from traditional tattoos, but pushed the boundaries of what was considered “traditional.” New school tattoos tend to be bolder, heavier, and more exaggerated. Many incorporate cartoon-like visuals, and sometimes push the envelope in terms of experimentation with style.
New school tattoos are characterized by their heavy outlines, vibrant colors, and playful, disproportionate, exaggerated designs. Some designs even take recognizable characters and cartoonify them, making them appear almost childlike in nature. Other new school tattoos play with degradés of traditional motifs, such as customized hearts and daggers.
While traditional tattoos emphasize precision, new school tattoos often include more shading depth and 3D effects. They may incorporate graffiti, hip hop, pop art influences, and other contemporary trends. In spite of all of the experimentation, however, new school tattoos still keep the older Americana feel that makes them instantly recognizable.
Geometric Tattoos
Geometric tattoos are defined by their composition rather than by specific subject matter. These tattoos rely heavily on repeating patterns, symmetry, and balance. They can be made up of real objects and figures, but those elements are always contained within structured bounds — not free-flowing shapes.
The modern iteration of geometric tattoos is very client-driven, and the artist has less say in the composition of the piece. This contrasts with traditional geometric tattoos, where the artist dictated the composition. Today, the client has more input into the design, and the artist uses his or her skill to make it happen.
Trash Polka Tattoos
Trash Polka tattoos are a formalized style that was created in 1998 by Simone Plaff and Volko Merschky of a tattoo club in Germany. While they’re not quite as popular in the United States as they are in Europe, they’re still fairly common around the world.
Trash Polka tattoos are photorealistic portraits or compositions combined with abstract shapes and forms. They’re usually inked in bold red and black ink, and have a chaotic, somewhat random design aesthetic.
Maori (Tā Moko) Tattoos
Maori (Tā Moko) tattoos are indigenous tattoos from the Maori people of New Zealand. These tattoos have deep cultural significance, and are used to delineate an individual’s social position within the tribe. These tattoos are also used to commemorate life achievements, and are rarely purely decorative in nature.
Polynesian Tattoos
Polynesian tattoos are tattoos that originate from the islands of Polynesia. These tattoos are steeped in history and cultural significance. Like Maori tattoos, Polynesian tattoos are usually rich in meaning, and are rarely purely decorative.
Watercolor Tattoos
Watercolor tattoos are one of the newer tattoo styles, and are inspired by the fluidity and blending techniques of watercolor painting. Watercolor tattoos usually feature soft flowing designs filled with vibrant colors.
Because of the technique involved, watercolor tattoos require significant artist skill and creativity. If you’re interested in getting a watercolor tattoo, it’s important to find an artist who specializes in this style.
Bio-Organic Tattoos
Bio-organic tattoos are a hybrid of several styles, including traditional, new school, and watercolor. These tattoos blend elements of nature with abstract forms, mimicking plants, animals, and human anatomy. These tattoos are often treated in a fantastical or exaggerated way, sitting between realism and imagination.
Chicano-Style Tattoos
Chicano-style tattoos are a style that originated in Central America, and were originally associated with gang members. However, today, you don’t necessarily need to be affiliated with a gang to get a Chicano-style tattoo.
These tattoos are usually composed of elaborate, detailed compositions that can take hours upon hours to complete. So if you’re thinking about getting a Chicano-style tattoo, you’ll need to be prepared to commit yourself to the process.
Stick and Poke Tattoos
Stick and poke tattoos are tattoos that are done entirely by hand using a needle and ink, rather than using a tattoo machine. Because of the handmade production method, stick and poke tattoos have a distinct look that’s easily recognizable.
Stick and poke tattoos usually feature thick, bold lines, and are usually limited to one ink color (often just black). Decorative patterns are small and intricate, and often appear along the edges of larger tattoos.
No guide can possibly list every possible tattoo style that exists, and no single person could ever describe all of them. But hopefully this gives you a good starting point. As you continue to look for tattoo ideas, you’ll probably start to notice styles that appeal to you more than others. Ultimately, it’s your personal preference that determines which style you end up choosing.