Mend Your Soul With These Cool Broken Heart Tattoo Ideas

by John Griffith
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Tattoos, I’ve always believed, are more than just ink on skin. They’re tales, emotions, and memories imprinted on our bodies. A few years ago, after suffering through a very difficult breakup, I was seeking for a way to express my healing process. That’s when I decided I wanted a shattered heart tattoo. The process of selecting the design and having it inked was cathartic. It truly allowed me to rebuild my soul fully and restore my strength. It served as a daily reminder of my strength and the beauty that can come from adversity. If you’re on a similar journey and want to communicate your emotions through body art, you’ve come to the right place. Today, I want to share with you my collection of cool broken heart tattoo designs. These tattoos represent not only heartbreak but also the strong process of healing and growth. So, let’s check them out!

Choose a tattoo from our gallery to help you remember you can overcome anything

How To Move On After a Break-Up?

Moving on after a break-up can be a daunting task. Especially if you didn’t see it coming. However, it is something that almost everyone has experienced, only to find the love of their life afterwards. So, if you are feeling down right now because of a failed relationship, it is time to pick yourself up and start working on getting past the hurt. It may not be easy, but it is completely doable and there are plenty of guides out there on how to do it. Of course, guides can be generic, so you need to go at your own pace and do the things that make you happy. However, following some of these tips will definitely speed up your break up recovery process.

Everyone has gone through at least one bad break up in their life

back tattoo of heart with black outlines gray shadows heart tattoo on hand held together with bandages

Allow yourself to feel all the emotions

After a break-up a lot of people make the mistake of pretending they are okay. It is easy to get carried away when your friends say it’s no big deal or you say to yourself that you didn’t love that person anyway. That, however, is the wrong way to go about this. It is okay to feel sad after a break up. This person has played a big part in your life, you have spent so much time together, it is normal to miss them. So, you need to allow yourself to feel that. Let your emotions out, cry if you need to, different people deal with emotions in different ways, but it is important to deal with them nonetheless.

When you let your emotions out you will feel better instantly

black anatomically correct hear with dagger going through it blood dripping heart tattoo on wrist thigh tattoo

Focus on yourself

Have you always wanted to go to a cooking class, but your partner wasn’t into it? Well, now is your chance. Not having to coordinate your hobbies with a significant other is so much easier. Now is the perfect time for you to go out there, focus on your own wants and needs and do things you have always wanted to do. In other words, it is time to be selfish, especially if you have had to make a lot of compromises for this relationship. Plus, the more time you spend doing things that interest you, the easier it will be to move on and the faster the time is going to pass. Furthermore, spending time outside allows you to meet new and interesting people, which are definitely going to take your mind off your failed relationship.

Go out and do things you love to mend your broken heart

Move at your own pace

Don’t compare yourself to others. Your best friend broke up with her boyfriend and ended up dating another guy 2 weeks later? Great! That may work for her, but it may not work for you. Move at your own pace and don’t rush into things you don’t feel comfortable doing. Jumping into another relationship just to forget the previous one may lead to even more heartbreak and disappointment. So, if you don’t feel like dealing with dating right now, that is perfectly okay. What’s more, if you feel like staying at home for a week, crying and eating ice cream, that is okay too. Dealing with a break up has its own grieving phase, which everyone survives in different ways. That is why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others, just do what makes you feel good right now.

Don’t compare your process to others

Stop blaming yourself

Usually, if you have been broken up with, the first question that comes to mind is “What did I do wrong?”. It is human nature to look at ourselves first and start blaming ourselves for the failed relationship. Then you start rewinding back for things you could have done differently or moments where you felt like you did something wrong. We are here to tell you, however, that almost all of the time, there is no one to blame. Sometimes these things just don’t work out. Maybe you were just too different, or you were in different stages in your life. Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you are meant for each other. What’s more, is this was your person, you would have found a way to work through your differences. So, don’t blame yourself, don’t look for things you could have done differently, and just find a way to move on.

Playing the blame game never helps

Don’t look for closure

Closure is such an overrated thing. Especially in a break up. It is good to be given an explanation as to why the relationship is ending. But, forget about closure. You will always want to say more, you will always want to ask for more questions. The healthiest thing to do, however, is to just accept the break up and stop looking for answers. Because, believe it or not, the person sitting across from you may not even have them. At a time of sorrow you will be looking for logic, but the person who broke up with you may have based their decision on emotions. Therefore, they may not be able to answer your questions. That is why, you need to accept your faith and move on. Find the closure in your own mind, instead of looking for it from the other person.

Closure comes from within

black heart outline inside made of glass shattered in the middle heart tattoo designs forearm tattoo

Distance yourself

“I think we should be just friends”. This devastating sentence has led to many heartbreaks. What’s more, lots of people accept this friendship just because they don’t want to lose that person. By doing so, however, you don’t allow yourself to move past that person. After a break up you need to what is best for you and what is best for you is to distance yourself. Stop checking their social media, stop texting them, don’t meet up with them for a cup of coffee. Allow yourself the freedom of not having that person in your life anymore. Staying friends after you have been together for a long time is not a bad thing, but give yourself time to heal first. Then, if you feel like you want to be friends, then that is okay.

Don’t accept their friendship just so they can stay in your life

black putline of two pieces of a heart separated in the middle heart tattoos with names inside the leg tattoo

Why Should I Get a Broken Heart Tattoo?

Having your heart broken is something every person in the world has gone through. And while some people are able to move on swiftly, others are not so lucky. For some, it is a life-changing experience, especially if the relationship has been a very long one. A broken heart tattoo can help mend your heart. It also commemorates this important moment in your life. So, if you have had to change your whole life and mindset after a break-up, a broken heart tattoo is just for you.

Get a tattoo to help you heal through the pain

What Does a Broken Heart Tattoo Symbolize?

A broken heart tattoo is a powerful symbol. It frequently signifies intense emotional events such as heartache, loss, and the path to recovery and resilience. So, a tattoo can serve as a symbol of personal strength. It can be an indication of a time of growth and transformation. According to acclaimed tattoo artist Kat Von D, shattered heart tattoos are among the most meaningful designs that customers choose. “They symbolize the profound impact of emotional pain but also highlight the beauty of healing and the strength that comes from overcoming hardships,” she says. Whether the tattoo is a memorial to a lost love, a personal milestone, or a reminder of one’s inner strength, the shattered heart design combines vulnerability with empowerment, making it a highly personal and meaningful art piece.

You can mend your broken heart with a cool new tattoo

The Best Placement For a Broken Heart Tattoo

The placement of a broken heart tattoo has a tremendous impact on its meaning and visibility. This makes the placement a very personal decision. According to popular tattoo artist Dr. Woo, the optimum placement for a broken heart tattoo is determined by how you intend to engage with it and its significance. “For those who see their tattoo as a private reminder of their resilience, places like the inner wrist, ribcage, or upper thigh are ideal,” he says. These places allow for private reflection and can be readily concealed when necessary. On the other hand, if you see your broken heart tattoo as a symbol of strength and a conversation starter, more obvious sites such as the forearm, shoulder, or neck can be a good choice.

Choose a placement that works best for you

Broken Heart Tattoo Ideas

Tattooing has long been acknowledged as a therapeutic art form that provides a special means of expressing and working through intense feelings. When we encounter heartbreak, our natural resilience and flexibility show through. They direct us to heal and grow. Accepting the pain and allowing ourselves to experience all emotions is an important aspect of this process. Broken heart tattoos provide a creative outlet, translating personal suffering into beautiful and meaningful artwork. They represent not only pain, but also power, healing, and the human spirit’s extraordinary endurance.

Browse through our gallery for a few ideas

blue tears falling out of heart with red and black outlines heart tattoo on chest blue eyes red lips nose

Broken hearts come with a lot of life lessons

broken heart forearm tattoo heart tattoo on wrist red female face drawn inside drops of blood underneath

A gorgeous realistic beautiful tattoo

    crying heart tattoo anatomically correct heart slashed in the middle held together with safety pins shoulder tattoo

We’ve all had our hearts broken at least once

drawing of heart in black with stiches tied together in the middle with ribbon heart tattoo designs black and white drawing  forearm tattoo of heart with eyes nose mouth broken at the top heart tattoo on chest crying tears

green background on red heart broken with stitches safety pin bandages heart tattoo on chest shoulder tattoo

heart finger tattoo two pieces of a heart broken in the middle filled with black ink two roses inside back of leg tattoo heart tattoo designs drawing of anatomically correct heart stitched up with bandages and safety pins

After the rain comes the rainbow

 heart tattoo on hand black outlines of heart broken in the middle wrist tattoo on woman wearing red thread as bracelet heart tattoo on wrist red outlines of small heart split in the middle black background heart tattoos for men red heart broken in the middle held together with thread with bandages nail in it  heart with chains and stitches devils wings heart tattoos with names tattoo on the back of the shoulder

Don’t just say “I’m fine”, look for help if you need it

im fine written over leg tattoo of heart split in the middle held together with stitches heart tattoo designs  inside the finger tattoo crying heart tattoo red outline of heart broken in the middle  outline of anatomically correct heart in black with two black daggers going through it small heart tattoos forearm tattoo purple rose with thorns above broked red and black heart bird on the side heart tattoo designs side of leg tattoo

This tattoo is so realistic

red anatomically correct heart slashed in the middle heart tattoo on wrist back of leg tattoo   ribcage tattoo heart tattoos with names broken heart with bandage feather and star with black outlines small black heart broken in the middle filled with black ink heart tattoo on chest hand tattoo below the thumb small hand tattoo heart tattoos for men heart broken in two with black outlines hand resting on black leather chair small heart tattoos forearm tattoo of anatomically correct heart with dagger going through it

Even a smaller broken heart tattoo can be just as effective

small red heart broken in the middle heart tattoos for men behind the ear tattoo tattoo on the side of the arm broken heart tattoo black and white photo heart into pieces

So beautiful

two pieces of a heart broken in the middle heart finger tattoo one with female face other with skull drawn inside white background back of leg tattoo of dead broken heart heart finger tattoo hanging with rope with bandages

Broken heart tattoos are more than simply ink on the skin. They are powerful symbols of personal strength, resilience, and the path to healing. Whether you select a modest design in a discreet area or a dramatic statement in a more obvious one, these tattoos can serve as powerful reminders of your ability to survive and grow from loss. By embracing the beauty and meaning underlying these designs, you can turn your sorrow into a magnificent representation of your inner power. I hope these broken heart tattoo designs inspired you. Remember that creativity and self-expression are frequently the most powerful forms of healing.

Your heart and tattoo will heal together

white background broken heart tattoo with black outlines not filled with ink inside the arm tattoo

John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.