20 Tattoo Ideas For Women Who’ve Always Wanted To Get Inked But Are Too Nervous

There’s a generational stigma about getting tattoos, particularly for women. But, hey — it’s 2022. Let’s start being bold and getting those tattoos! Here are some tattoo ideas for women who’ve always wanted to get inked but were maybe too nervous to do it before.

  1. Roman Numerals When you find yourself on the ‘Basic White Girl’ tattoo interest, you know you’re in the right place. If you’re looking for your first tattoo, start with something simple like roman numerals. You can put a significant date or time that is special to you. The ankle is a great place to start.
  2. Literature quotes We’re amping up from the roman numerals, but all those bookworms out there, you know how your favorite quote just hits different. Why not get it inked on you forever? It’s what Virginia Woolf deserves.
  3. Flowers on your wrist Don’t be afraid of the basic option — it’s certainly one of the most popular tattoo ideas for women, and that’s for good reason. You might find yourself admiring other girls’ flower tattoos, but why stop there? If you can’t beat them, join them. Embrace your fun side!
  4. Tramp stamp I know, it’s a real throwback to the ’90s and it doesn’t have the best reputation, but I think it’s retro and fun and one of the most ironically hilarious tattoo ideas for women. Plus, it doesn’t actually have to be bad art, right?
  5. Get your favorite fruit This sounds like the result of a random words generator, but it’s a great opportunity to embrace color with your tattoo. So many people have black and white tattoos, but your body should be fun and artistic. Get a pair of cherries on your butt, or watermelon slices on your thigh. Who cares!
  6. Get a biblical quote Often people get biblical quotes on their feet — maybe it’s something to do with Jesus’ footsteps. It makes you feel connected to your spirituality, and it’s a reassuringly subtle placement.
  7. Symbolic lyric on your back I love back tattoos and they tend to be one of the most popular for women in particular. They’re sexy, and the back is such a huge, smooth canvas to work with. It’s meaningful to you, as well as being something for your partner to enjoy. Plus, if it all goes wrong, you can’t see it!
  8. Feathers on your calf Feathers are an excellent and elegant choice for a tattoo for a woman. You can get it in color, line art, or a silhouette. There are so many subtle meanings associated with feathers: new life, separation – change.
  9. Your pet This is one of the most heartwarming tattoo ideas for women (and men)! It sounds cheesy, but our pets are near enough the most important things in our lives. It makes sense that we would want to hang onto them. Find your favorite picture of them or a fun silhouette of their ears or when they’re mid-stretch. I guarantee it will get you all the compliments.
  10. A pile of books Have you always been a book lover and has it always been really important to your identity? If yes, then get a tattoo to commemorate it. This is a great idea for all the nerds out there to embrace their heritage! This is one of the best tattoo ideas for women who really love to read. The only question is which book you’ll choose.

More creative tattoo ideas for women

  1. A snake This is sexy, dangerous territory. You can go small, with a snake around your finger, or you can go big with a snake from your lower back to your shoulders. Think about all the smooth, sensual lines and the confidence of a huge snake tattoo. Wow. In fact, one of the more creative tattoo ideas for women is to get an Ouroboros, which is where the snake is kind of eating its own tail, creating a never-ending cycle.
  2. The sun I love a good old-fashioned sun tattoo. In this case, I suggest a black and white version, on the shoulder. It accentuates natural muscle tone, which is a big plus.
  3. The semi-colon If you were on social media five years ago, you will know the hold that this tattoo idea had over us. It represents a personal struggle with mental illness and shows solidarity with those suffering as well. It’s a poignant and powerful idea and one of those artsy tattoo ideas for women that a lot of people will appreciate.
  4. A mustache on your inner finger This is a joke… mostly. If you were around in 2012, you will remember this phase well. I think it’s fun and it’ll show your friends just how edgy you are when you raise your mustachioed finger to your nose and magically disguise yourself.
  5. An outline of your hometown This is an excellent conversation starter. You can either have your state, county, or even your national flag inked and it will reassert your sense of personal identity. I think a fine line looks really tasteful and classy.
  6. Get a random animal There’s a time and a place for doing things “just because.” Tattoos are one of those things, particularly on women. What shows that you’re cool and don’t take life too seriously like having an unexplained stingray tattoo?
  7. Vines around your elbow I think these are graceful and really complement the aesthetic of your arm. Lots of women have insecurities about their arms, and bodies in general, so I’m a big believer in using tattoos to accentuate or conceal these areas. Whatever makes you reclaim your body and feel comfortable – do it!
  8. Mountains from that trip you took that time Mountains look really regal, particularly around your shoulders or at your ankle. The triangle shape flows with your body and it’s mysterious. You will always have a reminder of your travels and a sense of perspective.
  9. A group of swallows This is a popular design, and rightly so. I love the blacked-out outline of the swallows as they spread around an area of your body. You can add to your birds whenever you want, and they’re so sexy on women who want to show they can have a good time.
  10. A loved one’s handwriting This is a serious one. Sometimes, you can’t let go of grief. By commemorating the handwriting of your loved one, you are honoring them, and keeping them with you always. It might even help you to move on.
Hannah has a Masters degree in Romantic and Victorian literature in Scotland and spends her spare time writing anything from essays to short fiction about the life and times of the frogs in her local pond! She loves musical theatre, football, anything with potatoes, and remains a firm believer that most of the problems in this world can be solved by dancing around the kitchen to ABBA. You can find her on Instagram at @_hannahvic.
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