Deciding on what tattoo to get can be a little overwhelming, especially if it’s your first. You may be searching for some kind of important moment, person or object that holds tons of meaning. Maybe you can’t decide on a style or coloring. Just remember, all that matters at the end of the day is that you like the way it looks. Not every tattoo has to take years of planning and have some insane amount of significance. They’re a great way to express yourself and alter your body in a healthy and positive way!
So whether you’re looking for a piece with personal significance or just want something cute, we’ve found some great lil’ tattoos from all over the internet that will hopefully help you make your decision.
1. A breathtaking landscape
A post shared by Lisa Orth (@lisaorth) on Dec 7, 2015 at 10:42am PST
The simple black and white of the landscape is super subtle and beautiful! However, a landscape tattoo would also look great customized with vibrant colors. The cool thing about a landscape is that you can either go with a generic scene or choose a place that’s special to you in particular. How cool would it look to have a mountain scape, a forest or a beautiful vista on your body?
2. A bouquet of flowers
A post shared by Lisa Orth (@lisaorth) on Mar 28, 2015 at 8:22am PDT
Tattoos of flowers almost always look amazing. Whether you have a favorite flower or just like the natural look of plants, there’s tons of awesome possibilities when it comes to customizing your tat. You can either go bolder with a big bouquet of multi-colored flowers, or keep it simple and classic like these black and white lilacs. If you like the style of this but maybe don’t love flowers, check out this artist’s Instagram page for tons of incredible line work in black and white — you’re guaranteed to get inspired.
3. Coordinates of a special place
A post shared by LITTLE TATTOO LOVE ♡ (@littletattoolove) on Aug 8, 2016 at 10:02am PDT
Coordinate tattoos are a clean and simple way to commemorate your favorite place. You could choose the coordinates of your hometown, your favorite place you’ve traveled or any location with some kind of significance. They’re super special because no one will really know what it means except for you. The classic typewriter font of this tattoo gives it a classic and vintage kind of look. If you like a more clean and modern vibe, try choosing a sans-serif font!
4. A delicate leaf
A post shared by Matylda Wolfenstein (@krolinktattoo) on Aug 25, 2017 at 7:03am PDT
How cool is this tiny contour drawing of a leaf? The style of this is what really makes this piece stand out, and this artist’s page is full of inspo if you like the simplicity of this ink. A small leaf drawing is a great idea for a first tattoo, since it’s small, simple and relatively uncomplicated. It’s also great if you know you want a tattoo but can’t think of anything super ~meaningful~ to get just yet. They just look nice!
5. A pic of your favorite furry friend
A post shared by Matylda Wolfenstein (@krolinktattoo) on Jun 5, 2017 at 11:52am PDT
Pay homage to your favorite family pet, or your favorite animal in general with a tattoo! Getting a portrait of your boyfriend can be a pretty risky move, but getting a tat of your favorite furry friend is never a bad idea. Whether you’re getting it in memorium of a past pet or just trying to show appreciation for the one you have now, a pet tattoo is special to you without being too serious. This one is awesome because it’s so tiny and dainty.
6. A unique contour drawing
A post shared by Matylda Wolfenstein (@krolinktattoo) on Feb 23, 2017 at 8:57am PST
Contour drawings are a great idea for a first tattoo because of how simple they are! Even if you have no idea what you want your tattoo to be of, find an artist you like and ask if they’re comfortable doing contour-style tattoos and see what they come up with. You can get your favorite plant, animal or go with something more ambiguous like this super cool portrait. It’s sure to look super unique and interesting without being overwhelming or super bold.
7. Your favorite place
A post shared by LITTLE TATTOO LOVE ♡ (@littletattoolove) on May 24, 2017 at 10:57am PDT
If you’ve got a ton of pride for your home state, this tattoo is a cool and personal way to celebrate it. This would look just as cool shaded in with some kind of image or design, or you can keep it simple like this one and opt for plain black linework. This tattoo can also be super teeny if you’re not ready for a bigger piece. Think of how awesome a teeny New York or California would look on the back of your neck or on your wrist.
8. Keep it classic with your favorite word or phrase
A post shared by LITTLE TATTOO LOVE ♡ (@littletattoolove) on Dec 7, 2016 at 11:58am PST
While the idea of getting, y’know, words, tattooed on you isn’t revolutionary, thinking of just one meaningful word can be a super cool idea for a simple first tattoo. It can be difficult to find that one perfect song lyric or lengthy quote, but finding a single word that is relatively important to you can be a little bit easier. Try thinking of some of your favorite mini-mantras such as “breathe,” or maybe you have a favorite word in a foreign language? The possibilities are endless.
9. Show off your love for traveling
A post shared by “Be inspired….” (@tiny_tasteful_tattoos) on Feb 18, 2017 at 3:50pm PST
If you absolutely love traveling but can’t think of a particular place or experience to honor, this tiny airplane is a great idea. Even if you haven’t traveled much, this tattoo still looks adorable and would be a great option for a first tat. Why stop at planes? Transportation-themed tats offer a lot of options. Maybe you love to drive, ride your bike or go sailing. Any way you prefer to travel would look great as a tat.
10. Your favorite constellation
A post shared by “Be inspired….” (@tiny_tasteful_tattoos) on Dec 8, 2016 at 3:31am PST
This is a classic idea for a tat that is sure to look straight-up magical. Even if tattoos of moons and stars may be a little overdone, it’s because they’re simple, beautiful and pretty hard to mess up. Constellation tattoos are great idea for a first tat because they can be very small and subtle since they’re essentially just dots and lines. Plus, you can pick your favorite singular constellation, or go for the whole night sky if you’re considering something bigger or more complex.
11. An intricate geometric design
A post shared by “Be inspired….” (@tiny_tasteful_tattoos) on Mar 7, 2016 at 4:09am PST
The intricate lines and delicate detail work on this tat make it look straight-up mesmerizing. This kind of line-based art is great because you can be as detailed or as simple as you want. With something this complex, you may want to take extra care to research an artist whose work you like beforehand, since each one has a unique style which means that they may approach the tattoo differently. Once you find an artist you like, this kind of tat will look super beautiful and impressive.
12. Some clean and simple line work
A post shared by “Be inspired….” (@tiny_tasteful_tattoos) on Feb 28, 2016 at 4:44am PST
It doesn’t get much more minimalist than this. These simple linework tattoos are similar to geometric ones in that they are more of an artistic piece than a personal statement. While these tattoos may look extremely simple, achieving super-straight and even lines can be extremely difficult. However, if it’s done correctly, these tattoos are super artful, unique and delicate. This one done around an ankle looks super cool, but they would be equally cool on your wrist, upper arm or anywhere else!
13. A fun little doodle
A post shared by “Be inspired….” (@tiny_tasteful_tattoos) on Feb 23, 2015 at 2:23pm PST
Another great idea for your first tattoo could be a simple, original doodle. Whether it’s a doodle you create yourself, or a simple sketch you decide on with your artist, these tiny doodles look creative and straight-up adorable. Cover an area of your body with a scattering of a doodles, or select one or two small designs. The hand-drawn look of these celestial doodles makes them look particularly whimsical and charming, so talk to your artist if this kind of imperfect, freehand style you like!
14. Your favorite skyline
A post shared by “Be inspired….” (@tiny_tasteful_tattoos) on Feb 9, 2015 at 12:00pm PST
This skyline is another great way to memorialize your favorite city, or in the case of this tattoo — cities. This one in particular is unique because rather than shading/outlining each building individually, the entire silhouette is one, continuous contour line. This style is super clean and simple. If you want something a little more complex, this kind of tat would like just as cool with some coloring/shading. Plus, you can go big like this rib tattoo, or start with something smaller on your wrist or ankle.
15. Pay homage to your favorite hobby
A post shared by “Be inspired….” (@tiny_tasteful_tattoos) on Jan 11, 2015 at 2:25pm PST
Do you have a particular hobby or interest that’s close to your heart? Consider getting a representation of one of your favorite activities for your first tat! A little camera like this is great for photographers, but the possibilities are endless: a tiny whisk if you love cooking, a little boot if you love to hike, a tiny guitar if music’s your thing. These tats can be done super tiny and simple like this one, or you can decide to go big and detailed.
16. Show some love for your fav food
A post shared by Colin O’Keefe (@colin_okeefe) on Feb 6, 2017 at 9:50am PST
And of course, who doesn’t love food? It doesn’t even have to be your favorite food, these tattoos just look super cute and fun. Whether you like the look of this simple pineapple or want to do something a little less healthy (we’re thinking a tiny burger or donut would look awesome), you have infinite options. This tat is cool because the pineapple was chosen because it’s a symbol of welcoming. Maybe your fav food has a cool, underlying meaning that you didn’t know about, so hit up the internet to see what you find!