From adorable cubs to colorful designs, there are plenty of tiger tattoos for you to select from!
I'm a big fan of cats so whenever I get to tattoo tigers on my clients, it is always a fun day for me! I also love how creative a tiger tattoo allows people to be and it is great to see the cool and unique designs that they come up with.
In this post, I will show you the top tiger tattoo ideas and explain some of the concepts behind them too!
Here are the top tiger tattoo ideas that you can consider for yourself:
If you are looking for an adorable tiger tattoo, then you should consider getting a tiger cub tattoo!
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This kind of a tiger tattoo is a great symbol of childhood, innocence, fun, and even growing as a person. It is also a great concept if you are a parent and want to get a tattoo of your child but want a bit more of a subtle idea.
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What I love about these tiger tattoo designs is that there are just so many cute and unique ideas to consider!
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OK, I need to clarify - I am referring to getting a tattoo of a tiger face, not getting a face tattoo here! This is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a small tiger tattoo or a more subtle tiger tattoo design.
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One of the things that I love about the tiger face tattoo is that it is still such an awe inspiring design. After all, you just have to see the face of a tiger to appreciate the elements of strength, courage, and leadership associated with this magnificent animal.
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The tiger face tattoo is also an excellent option if you would like to get a tiger finger tattoo! After all, you do only have a limited amount of space on your fingers so it makes more sense to just try and fit the face in. It works just as well as a tiger hand tattoo, too.
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This way, you can add more detail and really make your tiger tattoo stand out.
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This is certainly one of my favorite tiger tattoo ideas. For one thing, it makes for an absolutely stunning tattoo design.
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A tiger's eyes are incredibly beautiful. The feline shape and color reminds you of intelligence, cunning, and wildness. There is also something hypnotic and irresistible about their gaze.
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A tiger eyes tattoo isn't just for aesthetic appeal, though. This can be a rather significant tattoo to get.
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See, a tiger's stripes act as camouflage and hide it incredibly well, making it seem almost invisible.
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This can be similar to your own personality. On the surface, it may seem like that there is nothing much to you. In reality, though, there are hidden depths that is usually only revealed to people who are deemed worthy.
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A tiger eyes tattoo can also be a reminder to never underestimate yourself. You are capable of a great deal, and oftentimes, you are unleashing just a fraction of your power. However, you may have an unlimited arsenal should you need to call upon it
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Now, this gorgeous tiger tattoo can be a rather tricky tattoo design to pull of. Due to this, you may want to consider a more experienced or talented tattoo artist to help you get it just right.
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Also, as you will have noticed from the above tattoos, this tattoo design looks really good as a tiger forearm tattoo.
The tiger is such a distinctive looking animal that you don't have to add too much detail when getting your tiger tattoo. Even a simple outline of the animal can be enough.
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These kinds of tiger tattoo ideas work well for anyone who loves minimalistic tattoos and wants to keep their tiger tattoo as simple as possible.
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What I do like about these tiger tattoo designs, though, is that they are still really stunning. Even with the barest of details, your tiger tattoo can look quite beautiful and distinctive.
This design can work as a small tiger tattoo or even as a tiger hand tattoo if you want!
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Have you ever heard a tiger roar? It is certainly impressive and can strike fear into the heart of the bravest person. When a tiger roars, it can be a warning sign not to mess with it.
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Therefore, a roaring tiger tattoo could be the perfect tattoo design for you. Now, you can get this kind of a tiger tattoo simply because it looks really cool.
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However, there can also be a meaning to such a tiger tattoo as well. A roaring tiger tattoo can be symbolic of your own nature - someone who doesn't take too kindly to other people stepping on your toes.
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Or, this tiger tattoo may also be a reminder to you let your inner animal out when you need to. After all, in this world, you need to roar if you want to get a little attention or respect.
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Did you know that the tiger is quite significant in Chinese culture? It is a symbol of strength, leadership, and courage. Also, it is considered a good luck sign and is even associated with wealth.
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The tiger is one of the main animals in China and is even a part of the zodiac. So, if you were born in the year of the tiger, then a Chinese tiger tattoo may be perfect for you.
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Of course, even if the tiger isn't your zodiac, this kind of tiger tattoo may be a good fit for you. This is because the tiger is considered the king of the beasts and the ruler of the earth.
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So, if you see yourself in a position of leadership or you aspire to be a leader, then these are the tiger tattoo ideas for you!
You may want to consider traditional Chinese artwork if you want a more authentic look for your Chinese tiger tattoo.
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In Chinese mythology, there are five tigers that maintain harmony and balance among the world. Each of these tigers have a corresponding color, a particular season, and a specific elemental.
The white tiger is the rules of the fall season and is associated with metal.
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To add even more meaning, white tigers do exist but they are very rare! It is a special genetic disposition that gives them their distinctive white fur.
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Now, the thing to keep in mind about a white tiger tattoo is that white ink is tricky to work with. There is also the fact that white does tend to fade more readily than other colors.
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If you are willing to commit to a white tiger tattoo, that's great! However, if you don't want the effort or the hassle, simply use white as a shading technique to get a similar effect.
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A blue tiger tattoo is associated with spring and the earth elemental.
For this kind of tiger tattoo, you have the option of having the entire tiger blue. Or, you can have a black outline and then color the blue in. It all depends on the effect that you are going for.
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This tiger rules over winter and is associated with water.
This type of tiger tattoo is pretty common and there are a lot of different tiger tattoo ideas to choose from here.
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This tiger association is a bit more predictable - it is linked to the summertime and the elemental is fire.
As an added bonus, red is also a lucky color in Chinese culture.
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The yellow tiger is the superior tiger, the one that has power over the rest. It is associated with the sun.
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Now, you may think that a yellow tiger tattoo would simply look like a regular tattoo design but this isn't the case. Keep in mind that tigers are actually orange, so go for a brighter yellow or a gold-yellow for this kind of tattoo.
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When it comes to Japanese myths about tigers, these stories are heavily borrowed from Chinese culture. Due to this, tigers are quite revered in Japan as well.
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They are also associated with strength, bravery, and luck. So, getting a Japanese tiger tattoo has quite a positive meaning. These are also popular tiger tattoos for men.
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So, how do you distinguish a Chinese tiger from a Japanese tiger tattoo? Well, this all has to do with the design.
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When it comes to your Japanese tattoo, you should follow the Japanese style that is typically found in native artwork. For more intricate or complex designs, you may want to consider a tiger sleeve tattoo or a tiger thigh tattoo.
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Here are some of the tiger tattoo ideas that you can use as inspiration:
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A lot of tiger body art tends to be done in black or grey. And, this is fine - these tattoos looks great! However, if you are someone who prefers brighter or more vibrant tattoos, then you may want to want to add some color in there.
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How much you want to add depends on the kind of tattoo that you want. If you want a realistic tattoo, then you will need to use orange, white, and black stripes.
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If you don't mind playing fast and loose with the rules, then you can go crazy with your tiger body art. Not only can you choose any color that you like, you can also consider certain other aesthetics as well.
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For instance, you can go with a watercolor tiger tattoo if you like - it can take a typical tattoo and transform it into something else.
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This is another one of my favorite tiger tattoo ideas. One of the reasons that I love it is because there is such a contrast between tigers and flowers.
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Tigers can seem tough and very masculine. Flowers, conversely, tend to have a more feminine association. So, there is a contrast here.
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However, when you combine the two elements together, what you get is a balance. And, the resulting tattoo is quite stunning.
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The other thing that I like about this kind of this kind of tattoo is that it adds beauty and style to an already gorgeous tattoo design.
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Now, you may want to put in some thought into the kind of flower that you want. A tiger rose tattoo is pretty popular, but this isn't the only option available to you.
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Keep in mind that flowers have meaning. So, choose a flower that holds special significance to you or a loved one.
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And, if you have a sense of humor, you can get a tiger lily tattoo along with your tiger tattoo design!
In this case, I am referring to the traditional style of tattooing. This is where you have black, bold outlines and bold colors to boot.
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A traditional tiger tattoo has a vintage feel to it. So, it is a great idea if you want a more classic tattoo. This design has been around for a while and it doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon.
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For your traditional tiger tattoo, you can choose to simply stick to the animal only. Or, you can add other elements that are typically associated with this tattoo style. This includes flowers, daggers, or even a snake tattoo if you want!
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The great thing about this kind of tattoo art is that you can play around with concepts and ideas a little. I do suggest working with a tattoo artist that is familiar with this tattooing style, though.
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As I mentioned earlier, tigers are considered ruler of the earth realm. Dragons, on the other hand, are considered rules of heaven. So, they are considered opposing elements but are still counterparts.
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As a result, tigers and dragons balance out one another. They are also typically associated with the yin and yang symbol as well.
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If this tattoo idea appeals to you, then it is just a matter of figuring out how you want to make it work. For instance, you can have the tiger and dragon placed in such a way that they resemble the yin and yang symbol.
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Or, you can have the tiger on one arm or leg and the tiger on the other. Another concept would be to make it look like the tiger and the dragon are fighting one another. As you can see, there are plenty of ideas to choose from!
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While the lion is popular in the Western world, tigers are native to the East, specifically in Asia. Due to this, the tiger is considered one of the most powerful animals in this region. So, there is quite a meaning attributed to the tiger as well as the tiger tattoo.
In fact, the Royal Bengal tiger is the national animal of India. So, if you have Indian ancestry, then you may want to get your national animal inked on you as a sign of patriotism.
For instance, the tiger is a prominent figure in Chinese culture where they are known as the king of beasts.
Here, the tiger represents strength and bravery and is often associated with soldiers. A tiger tattoo is also a symbol of leadership.
The tiger is also often linked to the Chinese God of Wealth and is portrayed in many artworks beside this deity. As a result, the tiger is also associated with wealth in Chinese folklore.
According to one of the Chinese myths, it is believed that there are five tigers maintaining the balance of the world. The white tiger is ruler of fall and is associated with metal. The black tiger rules the winter season is and is linked to water.
The blue tiger is associated with spring and rules over earth elementals. The red tiger oversees summer and is linked to fire. Finally, the yellow tiger is associated with the sun and is the supreme ruler over the other tigers.
Tigers are also considered protectors, especially for those who have passed on. Tigers on gravestones symbolize peace for those who have died.
There is no one right spot for your tiger tattoo. Instead, tattoo placement depends on the size and design of your tiger tattoo.
With smaller tiger tattoo designs, you have a few more options. Your tiger tattoo can be placed anywhere from your finger to behind your ear! Of course, with a larger tattoo design, then you will need to place your tiger tattoo in a more appropriate position.
Still, you have plenty of options here - you can get everything from a tiger foot tattoo to a tiger forearm tattoo. And, if you want to go really big, then you can get a tiger back tattoo as well!
Well, I would say that a tiger tattoo is a good thing, especially as this animal is often associated with good luck and prosperity.
Sure, tigers do have their negative aspects - they are known as man-eaters in some parts of the world, but the meaning behind your tiger tattoo is yours to decide. As such, it can have a positive meaning if you want.
There you go - these are all the awe inspiring and gorgeous tiger tattoo ideas that you can possibly need. It doesn't matter what kind of design you're looking for, you are sure to find it here!
