135+ Mexican Tattoo Ideas for an Authentic Tattoo Design

From the Mexican flag to Chicano designs, there are many different types of Mexican tattoos that you can get.

I lived in Mexico for a few years as a tattoo artist. During this time, I was able to witness the type of tattoos that were popular there. Some were based on ancient pride of their ancestors while others had clear signs of Hispanic influence. They were all beautiful in their own way.

In this post, I will show you the top Mexican tattoo ideas and explain the significance of the various designs too.

The Best Mexican Tattoos

As you can imagine, the term Mexican tattoos is pretty wide ranging. So, here are the best Mexican tattoo designs you can choose from:

Mexican Flag Tattoos

If you want to showcase your Mexican pride, what better way to do this than with a tattoo of the Mexican flag? It should come as little surprise to learn that this is a popular Mexican tattoo.

Before you go through such Mexican tattoos, know that one of the interesting things about the Mexican flag is that it represents Mexico's freedom. The green of the flag signifies independence - a way of life separate from the Spanish colonialists. Red is for the Roman Catholic faith and white is for union.

The emblem on the flag and Mexican tattoos is a nod to the Mexico that existed in pre-Hispanic times. According to the legend, the indigenous peoples of the land had a prophesy about the capital city of their empire.

The leaders would be able to identify their capital city when they found an eagle with a snake in its beak, standing on a cactus growing out of a rock that was surrounded by water.

As the story goes, the leaders saw this very scene in what was then named Tenochtitlán and is now Mexico City.

Here are the Mexican tattoos based on the flag.

If you are Mexican American, you may have dual loyalties. While your ancestors may be from Mexico, you were likely born or raised in the United States. So, for all intents and purposes, it is your home too.

If this is a sentiment you would like to portray in your tattoo, here are the Mexican tattoos you should check out:

Sugar Skull Mexican Tattoos

If you have been keeping an eye on tattoo trends, especially Mexican tattoos for the last few years, you will have noticed that sugar skulls have become one of the most popular Mexican tattoos around.

It isn't just people of Mexican heritage that are getting these tattoos.

Of course, I can completely understand the hype behind the sugar skull tattoo. It is absolutely stunning - however, do you know the meaning behinds such Mexican tattoos?

The History of the Skulls

Well, this tradition behind these Mexican tattoos actually harks back to Mesoamerican times - the very beginning of Mexican culture. At this time, skulls of war prisoners or human sacrifices were displayed on a rack. This was to signify that there was life after death. These were also offerings to the god of the Underworld to guarantee safe passage into the afterlife .

When the Spaniards invaded the area, the practice ceased but people made edible skulls out of sweet confections to use as offerings at altars.

These days, the sugar skulls are used as a part of the celebration for the Día de Muertos or the Day of the Dead. Now they are included in Mexican tattoos as well!

A Celebration of Loved Ones

In Mexican culture, death is not meant to be the end. Although loved ones may have passed on, people still carry them in their hearts and memories.

This is why all the elements of the Day of the Dead are bright and colorful. This includes the Mexican food, sugar skulls and Mexican tattoos based on them too.

So, if these kinds of Mexican tattoos intrigue you, remember that they are not about pain or suffering. Rather, it is accepting the circle of life and keeping the memories of your loved ones alive, particularly the happy ones.

The Sugar Skull Tattoo Designs

Now, for these kinds of Mexican tattoos, you can choose to get a more authentic design. In this case, look for inspiration from sugar skulls decorated by people in the past.

Of course, you don't have to simply copy what someone else has done. You are free to get as creative as you want with these kinds of Mexican tattoos.

Consider these Mexican tattoos when looking for a design for your own:

La Calavera Catrina Mexican Tattoos

If you hail from Mexican ancestry, you likely know what La Calavera Catrina refers to. In case you don't though, you may be a little confused. Despite this, it is likely that you have seen this kind of tattoo or image before.

In short, such Mexican tattoos look like a young woman with a skull painted over her face. In many instances, this design is similar to what you will see on sugar skulls.

If you were to visit Mexico during the Day of the Dead, you would find La Catrina depicted as a skeleton dressed in finery and an elegant hat.

the story of la catrina

So, what is the reality behind these Mexican tattoos and this figure?

Well, technically, she is a creation of a Mexican illustrator by the name of Jose Guadalupe Posada. Posada drew art and cartoons that represented comedy, societal progressions, and political elements.

The one thing that brought all of his stories together was that all of his figures were drawn as skeletons. This was done to show that regardless of your race, religion, age, socioeconomic class, or gender, we are all human.

There is also the feeling that death is the great equalizer and creates equals of us all.

As a result, this figure was co-opted into the Day of the Dead celebrations and is now a common feature.

la catrina tattoos

If the idea of these Mexican tattoos excite you, you are in for a treat, as there are plenty of Mexican tattoo designs to choose from.

The only thing to keep in mind is that Mexican culture traditions have become increasingly popular in other countries, as such Mexican tattoos have become heavily anglicized.

If you like, you can get a tattoo to depict this evolution. However, if you want to stay true to the original concept and want an authentic Mexican tattoo, I would suggest working with a Mexican tattoo artist to come up with the design.

At the very least, consider what other Mexican tattoo artists have done to determine what kind of details you should include in your ink.

Here are the Mexican tattoos you can draw inspiration from:

Lucha Libre Mexican Tattoos

Lucha Libre is a Mexican form of wrestling. It takes its origins from Greco-Roman wrestling. Now, unlike the wrestling that you get in the US and Europe, Lucha Libre consists of more aerial moves and requires great athleticism from the wrestlers.

To add to this, Lucha Libre often featured wrestlers wearing masks. Some wrestlers were known to wear their masks for their entire careers, never letting the public see their true identity.

Also, the masks were a way of separating the winners from the losers. The winners got to keep their masks on while the losers had to remove theirs. In many instances, they were never allowed to wear their masks again.

To add to this, Lucha Libre has a story - in most instances, it is a fight between good and evil. So, these kinds of Mexican tattoos can portray more than just the culture - these Mexican tattoos can also be a way to depict a struggle between the good and bad elements in your life.

Check out the Mexican tattoos based on this concept:

Mariachi Mexican Tattoos

If you want an authentic Mexico tattoo, what is better than a Mariachi tattoo? This is a great option if you are looking for folk based Mexican tattoo designs. After all, UNESCO did declare mariachi as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

What's more, if you are considering more positive Mexican tattoos, then this is certainly an option. After all, Mariachi singers and bands are typically hired for birthdays, and other joyous events.

So, these kinds of Mexican tattoos can be reminders of happy times spent in Mexico or with Mexican relatives.

These Mexican tattoos are also excellent options if you don't want to get a common tattoo design and want something a bit more unique.

These kinds of Mexican tattoos also work really well for musicians - they can help you remember your roots!

Check out the Mariachi Mexican tattoos:

Charro Tattoos

A loose definition of charro would be a Mexican cowboy. These days, charros are known for their elaborate costumes - tight fitting pants, ruffled shirts, boleros, and sombreros. They will typically participate in Mexican rodeos.

Before Mexico gained her independence, charros used to work for Spanish-owned lands. When the revolution began, they were crucial to the efforts. This is why they - and their style - continue to be so important.

Below, you will find Mexican tattoos based on charro outfits. With most of these Mexican tattoos, you will notice that the figures are skeletons. This is a nod to the illustrator Posada.

Using skeletons in these Mexican tattoos is a way to create equality in the subjects.

If you want, you can follow the same concept as in these Mexican tattoos. If not, you are free to come up with your own designs.

As these Mexican tattoos consists of various elements from olden culture, expect to find certain concepts like the cactus plant and snake tattoos included in the design as well.

Here are the charro Mexican tattoos you can get:

Loteria Tattoos

La Loteria is a game of chance that is similar to Bingo. One of the differences here is that you have pictures instead of numbers.

The original Loteria cards were hand painted. As a result, you can get absolutely beautiful tattoos if you look for Mexican tattoos based on the original designs.

One of the reasons you should get these kinds of Mexican tattoos is due to the aesthetic element. At the same time, it's important to think of the meaning behind this game.

In olden days, this game was meant to bring families together. This might have been the case for your own childhood.

These Mexican tattoos could help you remember the good times you had with your family.

Check out these gorgeous Loteria Mexican tattoos:

Mesoamerica Tattoos

Over the last few years, there has been a reclamation in Mexico and among those of Mexican descent. As a result, Mexicans and Mexican Americans are rethinking their identity.

The reality is that there are many elements of Mexican culture that were forced on the people by the Spanish colonialists. What's worse, these elements and these components displaced traditions that were already in place by the indigenous people.

Due to this, a lot of people are looking into the art and traditions of their roots - the Aztecs and the Mayans. If this is something you are interested in as well, the following Mexican tattoos may be a better option for you:

Maya tattoos

The Maya came first - they settled in parts of Mexico in around 2600 BC. They had a very scientific temperament and a fully-formed language that is still spoken in parts of Mexico today.

Here are the Mexican tattoos based on this civilization:

Aztec Tattoos

The Aztecs waere known for their warrior-like nature. They were constantly looking to conquer new cities and expand their riches and empire. They were also known for offering human sacrifices.

However, this shouldn't take away from the fact that this civilization produced some beautiful works of art.

Here are Aztec tattoos that have drawn inspiration from this ancient civilization and culture:

Mexican Artwork

Mexico was home to some truly revolutionary artists. Two of the best-known Mexican artists were Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Even today, their work is well-known around the world.

Rivera's work involved murals and the Mexican way of life. It also highlighted nature, history, industry, and inequalities of the country and its people.

Here are some of the Mexican tattoos based on his work:

Kahlo focused on introspection, the human body, and death in her art. She is also a feminist figure. If you are interested in her work, here are the Mexican tattoos you can consider:

Chicano Tattoos

If you are looking for authentic Mexican tattoo art for your Mexican tattoos, look no further than Chicano tattoos.

This was a style of tattooing adopted by Mexican American people. Many of these tattoos were designed in prisons. As such, there was a distinct tattoo style that was quickly adopted on the outside as well.

For these kinds of Mexican tattoos, the subjects vary quite a bit. They include the Virgin Mary, beautiful women, low rider cars, and other symbols of Mexican American culture.

If you want an authentic Chicano tattoo, should consider looking up authentic images or working with a tattoo artist who is proficient in this type of work.

Here are the Mexican tattoos that you can get based on this concept:

Well, there you go - all the Mexican tattoos that you can get! With so many categories and designs to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice. At least, you will know that you are picking the perfect Mexico tattoo for you!