From wolves and lions to landscapes and geometric shapes, there are many different designs you can choose for your forearm tattoo.
I did most of my first tattoos on forearms and for men. This is one of my favorite tattoo spots. You have plenty of space to work with but the unique curves in that area mean you have to get creative with how you design the tattoo.
In this post, I will introduce you to all the forearm tattoos for men that you can get. I have also included the significance of some of the designs.
Here are the top forearm tattoos for men for you to choose from!
Wolf tattoos are a fairly common tattoo design for forearm tattoos for men. This is mainly due to what the wolf forearm tattoo represents.
Some people like this tattoo because of the lone wolf concept - a wolf that travels alone and makes his own way. He plays by his own rules and is only concerned with meeting his own standards.
However, the sentiment towards wolves have been changing recently. In reality, wolves are social creatures. They travel in packs and look out for one another. So, if you believe in your friend group or family or see yourself as a leader, this is a great forearm tattoo to consider.
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Lions are similarly one of the more popular forearm tattoo ideas. A lion tattoo also happens to make for one badass forearm tattoo.
For one, these are majestic creatures and can be brought to life with the right tattoo artist. With the right details, coloring, and shading, you can make a lion look as lifelike and as cool as you want.
Apart from the aesthetic, the lion is the king of the jungle, and at the top of the food chain. If this is what you aim to be in life, this forearm tattoo is perfect for you.
For this lion tattoo for your forearm tattoo, there are a few options to choose from. You can have the head of a lion or get the entire body. You may also want to have a jungle as a backdrop.
Remember, forearm tattoos hurt only a little so you can afford to get a slightly larger image if you want to.
Since such forearm tattoos for men are fairly popular, you may want to branch out and add other elements to your forearm tattoo. There are plenty of other tattoo elements like clocks and compasses that can add personal meaning to your tattoo.
Of course, it doesn't just have to be about aesthetics. If you just want a forearm tattoo to look cool, you can add more details and elements.
In case you want a more unique approach, work with a tattoo artist who can offer more creative forearm tattoo ideas.
While such forearm tattoos for men are in black ink, this doesn't have to be the case for you. You can choose a more colorful forearm tattoo.
Or, you could do something unique. You can get most of the forearm tattoo done in black and grey. Maybe you can have key elements of the tattoo highlighted in color. This will make for quite the contrast and will certainly make for a more interesting forearm tattoo.
The only thing to keep in mind with a forearm sleeve tattoo is orientation. Work with a tattoo artist who understands the dimensions and the curves of your forearm. This will help with tattoo design as well as tattoo placement.
Here are some of the forearm tattoo ideas that you can consider:
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If you feel that lions are a little mainstream, you may want to consider a tiger forearm tattoo instead.
These felines are just as majestic as lions, but they are more unusual and exotic. They also boast powerful symbolism in case you're looking for a meaningful tattoo. Tigers are associated with courage, strength, power, and ferocity. They are also associated with royalty.
This is another one forearm tattoo for men where you have your fair share of options to choose from. You can also include a landscape as the backdrop. Here, you can have a more tropical vibe due toe typical habitat of the tigers.
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There has been a recent uptick in the number of people getting snakes as forearm tattoos. This is mainly because the worldview on snakes has been changing.
In Western culture, snakes are associated with deviousness, sin, and the devil. In many Eastern cultures, though, snakes are revered.
For one, they are often associated with various deities and are considered to be the messengers of these gods. Snakes also symbolize the link between the world below and above. So, they are seen as wise, capable, and adaptable.
Snakes are also symbols of transformation. They can shed their skin and renew themselves. So, this is a great inner forearm design to get.
The meaning behind the snake can change depending on the kind of inner forearm tattoos that you want.
For instance, if you are a medical professional or if you have struggled with illness for much of your life, you may want to consider the Caduceus symbol - two serpents wrapped around a staff and surrounded by wings. This is a symbol for medicine and healing.
A snake among flowers is a more dangerous symbol. It could be a reminder that terrible things can hide behind a pretty face.
A snake wrapped around a dagger is also a popular choice for forearm tattoos for men. Here, it can be a symbol of ferocity, danger, and elegance.
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If you want to stay close to nature with your forearm tattoo but feel like animal motifs are a bit overplayed, a tree tattoo could be just the thing for you.
One of the perks of getting this kind of tattoo is that it works for tattoo collectors who like small tattoos or large tattoos. There is also a lot of variation on how much detail you can add to such a forearm tattoo.
You can choose to simply get the outline of a tree or get one in great detail. Keep in mind that the level of detail you add to your forearm tattoo can alter its meaning.
For instance, a tattoo with deep roots depicts a strong foundation - this can refer to your sense of self, your family, or your core beliefs.
The branches, on the other hand, are more symbolic of your future. The more spread out they are, the greater your hopes and dreams. If you are family-oriented, these branches can also symbolize the important people in your life.
If you're looking for more personal tattoo ideas, you may want to consider an inner forearm tattoo. This way, it will face you and not others.
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Know that tribal tattoos are an oversimplification. The reality is that there isn't just one kind of tribal tattoo.
The tattoo style and designs are based on the culture that inspire these forearm tattoos. The most popular tribal forearm tattoo ideas are Polynesian and Maori. These can either be a half or full forearm sleeve tattoo.
What you need to keep in mind about such forearm tattoo ideas is that these patterns aren't random. Instead, each one has a meaning and is a part of a larger story. Due to this, you cant simply get a tattoo based on the way it looks.
To get the best results for a forearm tattoo, I suggest working with a tattoo artist that has experience with such tattoos. This way, they are bound to give you the right body art.
Also, make sure to do your research. These tattoos hold a lot of meaning and significance to indigenous peoples. It is only right to respect this and understand the forearm tattoos for men that you get inked on your body.
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If you're a person of faith, an outer forearm tattoo is a great way of proclaiming your beliefs.
As you will have noticed, I said spiritual and not religious forearm tattoos for men. This is because you can be spiritual and not religious but not necessarily the other way around.
In any case, there are a lot of forearm tattoo ideas to choose from.
If you follow the Christian faith, crosses, images of Jesus or the Virgin Mary, and doves are all suitable options for forearm tattoos for men.
If you're a part of the Hindu faith, you can choose symbols for certain deities. While the trishul and drum are most common for Shiva, you can choose symbols for any god.
When it comes to Buddhism, you can choose sacred leaves, the lotus, and temples as options for your half forearm sleeve tattoo.
While you can get a Buddha tattoo, be aware that certain countries frown on this. They are even banned in certain places. So, you may want to think twice before getting such a forearm tattoo, especially an outer forearm tattoo as the design will be quite visible.
If you are more spiritual than religious, there are some other options available for forearm tattoos for men. This could include the om symbol if you are searching for small forearm tattoo ideas.
If you're on the lookout for more impressive half forearm sleeve tattoos, consider getting chakra tattoos. This is more in line with yoga and meditation and can help you experience a sense of balance. It is also a great idea if you prefer more unique forearm tattoos for men.
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A compass tattoo is an oldie but a goodie when it comes to forearm tattoos for men. One of the reasons it's such a popular choice is because people like to get this inner forearm tattoo when they feel they are at a crossroads in their life.
A compass tattoo can be a good way of telling yourself that it doesn't matter if you don't know where to go next. Or, it could be your good luck symbol - hope that you will find the right path soon enough.
Some people also consider these forearm tattoos for men as a symbol to be guided by your heart or to live your life the way you want and not base your decisions on what others want for you.
Keep in mind that you don't just have to get a compass for your tattoo. Of course, if you want a simple forearm tattoo, by all means, go ahead. If you want something more complex, you can add a map or any other element that has meaning or significance to you.
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When it comes to clock or watch forearm tattoos for men, the meaning is quite clear. This tattoo design will remind you of the passage of time.
These forearm tattoos could remind you that time is moving fast and you need to make the most of what you have. Or, it could actually be a reminder to slow down.
If you want to mark a special time, for instance, the moment your child was born, you can do this with clock forearm tattoos.
Want to go for a completely different tattoo design? Then you can go with a cool hourglass tattoo.
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These are newer, but absolutely stunning forearm tattoos for men. While mountains and lakes feature heavily in such concepts, you can get any landscape as body art. The choice is up to you!
These forearm tattoos for men can take up your entire forearm. Or, you can have the tattoo contained within a geometric shape if you want a more precise tattoo design.
This tattoo design works just as well on the outer forearm as it does the inner forearm. Now, depending on the size of these forearm tattoos, you will need to discuss with your tattoo artist about how the design needs to be oriented.
Your tattoo artist will inform you of the best design so that there is a smooth flow from the front to the back of the tattoo.
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Geometric tattoos, especially forearm tattoos for men, have been becoming increasingly popular. This is because, the minimalistic style is taking over forearm tattoos and geometric shapes help to create a nice, clean look.
Despite the minimalism of these forearm tattoos, you can can also construct a complex design with these lines and shapes. If you want something truly unique, use the following forearm tattoos as inspiration and work with your tattoo artist to create a design of your own.
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Last, but not least, check out script forearm tattoos for men. These tattoos can be made of any words and phrases that have special meaning. It could be the name of a loved one, a word you want to remind yourself of, a phrase that inspires you, or even a bible verse.
The only thing you need to figure out is the type of script to use and the position of words for the best results. While you can get this tattoo on your outer forearm for greater impact, it works better on the inner forearm.
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Well, the price can depend on various factors. You can depend on where the tattoo parlor is located. Another thing to consider is the experience levels of the tattoo artists - the better they are, the more they will cost.
The size of the forearm tattoo matters as well. A single tattoo will cost far less than a half tattoo sleeve. You should also consider the complexity of the tattoo designs. Simple ones are cheaper than those that contain detail.
Well, there you go - all you need to know about forearm tattoos for men. It doesn't matter if you're getting your first tattoo or tenth, this is the ultimate guide for all the forearm designs out there.