From scripts to ornamental designs, I have the top tattoos to decorate the side of your face with!
I have to admit that I am still getting used to doing sideburn ink but it has been a fun journey. Not only do I get to test out my skills on an unusual surface, but I also get to enjoy the cool designs that my clients show up with!
I have included the most fun and creative sideburn tattoo ideas for you to choose from - plus I have included some advice on how to put your spin on these designs!
Here are the top sideburn face tattoos for you to choose from:
One sideburn face tattoo that you can consider for yourself is a script tattoo. This involves inking any word that you want on the side of your face. Some people choose words like ‘amore’ to perhaps indicate the importance of love in their lives.
Image by @stillballin6_ via Instagram
Or, if you want to honor a partner, child, or some other important person in your life, then you can also choose a name for your sideburn tattoo. And, keep in mind, your sideburns tattoo doesn't have to be in English - you can choose any language at all! If inking yourself in a language that you aren't fluent in, then you should check with a reputable translator about the translation.
Image by @ajatattoos via Instagram
If you want, you can keep such facial tattoos pretty simplistic with a minimalistic black ink lettering tattoo. Or, you can spice things up with a different font color. In case you want to get really creative with your tattoo, then you can choose a really cool, intricate, or unusual font.
This is a different kind of script body art - you use runes found in the ancient Nordic language instead of a modern language. This kind of tattoo works really well if you are of Nordic descent and want to pay homage to your culture.
Image by @rebekahjane.ttt via Instagram
A runic sideburn face tattoo can also be a good option if you want to conceal the true meaning of your tattoo or even if you just want to get a cool-looking tattoo. Now, runic designs can be readily found in the tattoo industry but make sure that you are using authentic runes to get your message across.
As the name suggests, this tattoo involves numerals - you can choose any kind of numerals that you want - Roman, Arabic, etc. Such sideburn face tattoos are a great way to commemorate a particular year or date.
Image by @lacysart via Instagram
This could be somebody's birth year (including your own), a wedding anniversary, or even the year that a loved one passed away.
I love a floral sideburns tattoo because it can be both feminine, beautiful, and badass. Now, when it comes to facial tattoos like these, the first thing to consider is the type of flower you want to use in your sideburns tattoo. If you want something tried and true then you may want to go with classic rose sideburn tattoos.
Image by @27tattoo via Instagram
Of course, just because rose face tattoos may be a classic option in the tattoo world doesn't mean that this is the one that you should go with - there are plenty of beautiful flower tattoos to choose from. One thing to keep in mind is that each flower can have its own meaning. So, if you want your body art to have a specific meaning, then you can use a particular flower to do this.
Image by @hernandez.ink via Instagram
Once you have decided which flower is right for your sideburns tattoo, then you can work with your tattoo artist to determine which size, design, and orientation will work for you.
If flowers aren't really your thing, there is no need to worry - there is another approach for your vines sideburns tattoo - vines or even a side fern face tattoo. They may not be very famous face tattoos, but they do have the advantage of being aesthetically pleasing. Also, since they tend to have a winding design, they can be perfect for such a facial tattoo.
Image by @lady.grimm via Instagram
Another thing that I like about vines and side fern face tattoos is that you have a few options when it comes to size. Depending on the design, you can make the sideburns tattoo small and minimalistic. At the same time, you can go in the opposite direction and opt for something a bit more notable.
Image by @farian____ via Instagram
Butterflies are fairly popular in the tattoo world and with good reason - they are incredibly beautiful and versatile. Due to this, if you do want to get a butterfly as a sideburns tattoo, there are plenty of design options available to you.
Image by @miss_preciouss via Instagram
In case you want to keep your body art simple, then you can choose to just get the outline of the butterfly, perhaps add a few details so that the butterfly has a pattern. On the flip side, you can decide to go all out and make your butterfly look as realistic as possible. What's more, you can do this while still keeping your facial tattoo as small as possible, as long as you have a talented tattoo artist.
Looking for something a little spookier or perhaps a little bit more gothic? Then you can opt for a spider! Once again, there are so many different designs for you to choose from here. You can opt for a small, simple spider or go for something large and terrifying.
Image by @rekstagram and alleycatstattoostudio via Instagram
You can choose to get just the spider or just the web. This all depends on the size of the design and the kind of vibe that you want to go for as well.
Image by @handpokedbylizard via Instagram
A skull sideburn face tattoo is a pretty versatile design. On the one hand, you can choose to design it in a slightly more gothic fashion if you wish for a more macabre concept. On the other, you can also get a hyper-realistic skull if you simply want a cool and aesthetic tattoo.
Image by @goosetheartist via Instagram
Of course, you don't have to only choose a human skull for your sideburns tattoo - as you can see from the tattoo below, you can even get a bird skull or an animal skull if you prefer. So, there are a ton of choices available for you here!
Image by @zebra_ink_ via Instagram
If you are looking for a sweet and simple tattoo idea, then you may want to consider a heart tattoo. This works well if you want a smaller or a more subtle design. Want to kick the design up a notch? Then take inspiration from this really cool Queen of Hearts idea - it works for someone who is sentimental as well as someone who likes to take chances in life!
Image by @xdenyse via Instagram
Image by @xdenyse via Instagram
If you are looking for something on the kookier side for your sideburn face tattoo, then you may consider a human tooth! For this kind of tattoo, you can work with your tattoo artist to create a realistic-looking tooth or to add a bit more of a cartoon effect to the design.
Image by @misslaurentattoos via Instagram
I saw this sideburn face tattoo and fell in love with it - it is just so stunning! One of the things that I like about this axe design is that despite its small size, there is plenty of detail. So, when designing your tattoo, you have many options to choose from - old-fashioned axes, realistic ones, or even ornate designs!
Image by @kelli.turner.art via Instagram
I do have to say that the downward-facing dagger tattoo is one of the more popular tattoo ideas and I've got to admit that it is a pretty cool design. This kind of sideburn face tattoo works equally as well regardless of whether you are looking for something simple or ornate.
Image by @merveinkperth via Instagram
If you are looking for something a bit more basic, then you may want to get something along the lines of a knife tattoo. In case you would prefer a more complex design, then you can add details to the handle and blade of the knife tattoo and convert it into a dagger design.
Image by @denohathnofury via Instagram
If you are looking for something a little bit less common than a dagger for your sideburn face tattoo, then you may want to consider a sword tattoo instead. This can be a good option if you want your tattoo to have a smaller width but to travel down most of the length of the side of your face.
Image by @alexrobinsontattoo via Instagram
If you like the idea of weapons but want to do something rather different, then this is the tattoo design that you should consider. It is a scythe, like what the Grim Reaper uses. Even if you are looking for a non-violent tattoo, this design can still work as scythes were used for harvesting as well.
Image by @emberhawk_tattoo via Instagram
If you are looking for a simple, classic tattoo, then a diamond can be a perfect option. You also have the option to go with a more basic design or to go all out and create a very detailed tattoo as well.
Image by @bb.ghost.tat2 via Instagram
In case you want a slightly more contemporary approach, you may want to consider a crystal face tattoo instead. This can work well if you want to add a slightly witchy or pagan element to your design.
Are you into astrology? If so, then zodiac facial tattoos may be the way to go. Now, for this kind of tattoo, you can choose to only get your zodiac sign inked on you. However, if you want to commemorate other important people in your life then you can include their signs in your design as well!
Image by @pokedbyjay via Instagram
An arrow tattoo can be for aesthetic purposes or because it has a special meaning for you. If you are only interested in creating an artistic design, then you can go ahead and choose from minimalistic arrows or more classic designs.
Image by @acestattoo via Instagram
On the other hand, if you would like your arrow tattoo to have meaning, then you may want to face it upwards. This is because an arrow can be associated with moving forward, as it has a tendency to only move in that motion.
I like this tattoo as it has a rather classic feel to it. I also like the fact that it can be considered a positive symbol as well - a flame to bring light to the darker elements of life.
Image by @tazhotzon via Instagram
If you feel like you would prefer a more modern version of this tattoo then maybe you can go with a lighter instead!
Considering going with a tattoo that has a darker vibe to it? In this case, you can consider a coffin tattoo - I will say that this is a pretty unusual option but still a cool one nonetheless.
Image by @redwavetattoo via Instagram
A coffin doesn't automatically have to have a dark meaning to it. This could be your way of depicting that all things come to an end!
The tattoos that you see here are often referred to as mandala tattoos, but this is a bit of a misconception. In reality, mandalas are diagrams or artwork that can act as focal points during meditation - in turn, these can help you to help you in your spiritual journey.
Image by @rebekahjane.ttt via Instagram
These tattoos, however, are more aptly described as ornamental designs. They typically contain dot-work patterns and may contain motifs such as flowers, along with decorative elements. I have to say that these tattoos work really well as sideburn designs so they are something you should consider!
Image by @stickswell via Instagram
Image by @anitawilsontattooist via Instagram
Technically, a sideburn tattoo is a face tattoo. However, it can be a good option for people who want face tattoos but also don't want their ink too visible. Your sideburn tattoo can easily blend in with your actual sideburns or your hair.
Also, you can design your sideburn tattoo to be small enough that it isn't very noticeable.
Sideburn tattoo can be a little less painful than other face tattoos but still expect your tattoo to cause a moderate amount of pain. Keep in mind that the pain can vary depending on the exact location of your tattoo.
For instance, if you want the tattoo close to or over a bone or near very thin skin, then the pain can be a bit higher.
You should also bear in mind that each person has a different tolerance to pain. Some people may feel that a sideburn face tattoo isn't so bad and others may consider it fairly painful.
Well, there you have it - the top sideburn face tattoo ideas to choose from! As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity for you to get really creative with your tattoo and to create a design that is entirely your own!
