The charm of the small tattoo in 100 photos that will make you want one

by John Griffith
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The first tattoo is an important decision that must be well thought out. That’s why embarking on over-ambitious tattoo projects is not the best decision. Thus, we advise you to go for the minimalist solution or the micro-tattoo as it is often called, instead. In this article, we have selected for you more than 100 models of small tattoo designs, which are discreet and elegant. Of a very varied nature, they will prove that they are not any less spectacular than the imposing drawings and that really sometimes the best things arrive in small boxes.

Why should you choose a minimalist tattoo?

The minimalist tattoo is known to have several strengths. Firstly, it is a very good option for novices who do not yet know their pain sensitivity rate. Secondly, of course, it is much easier to cover up a tiny tattoo, than a model that extends over a considerable area. Thirdly, this type of tattoo, as we have already suggested, could be easily masked and hidden, which makes it perfect for people who would not want to attract too much attention. And finally, contrary to what you might think, the small tattoo could also be quite expressive. What’s more, its aesthetic value is significantly greater and its elegance much neater.

Small tattoo idea – a multitude of symbolic patterns that adorn the hands

woman with hands, gathered in front of her face, sun moon and arrows hand and finger tattoos, small tattoo

How to choose a tattoo?

The minimalist tattoo in general means simplicity and discretion. So, we can not expect a drawing too complicated and elaborate. Nevertheless, the small, clean patterns could also carry a special meaning. Opt for a simple design instead. You can always go bigger later. This would also be the professional tattoo artists’ advice. Otherwise, the most important thing is that the tattoo matches you and reflects your personality, interests and character. Finally, tattoos represent a drawing that tells personal stories and experiences that have marked us in one way or another.

Example of a small wrist tattoo, inspired by love for the journey and the sea

hand laying on a geographical map, small boat sailing wrist tattoo, small tattoo

What motive to choose?

There are plenty of criteria when we are choosing the main motif of our tattoo. In reality, the symbolism of tattoos has now become a true science. Therefore, you could easily get lost in the universe of all the symbolic objects that you can get inked on your body. Let’s not forget that besides the conventional symbols, there is also another world of tattooing with personal symbolism – codes that can only be deciphered by the person who wears them. The feathers, the silhouettes of birds, the stars, the small graphic letters, the crescent moon, the heart and the anchor – this is only a small part of the symbols that we see quite commonly tattooed on people’s skin.

Keep in mind, however,  that it is still good to learn about the symbolism of the small tattoo beforehand. The same motif can have a few totally different meanings. Such is the case of the flower tattoo , whose interpretation changes according to the type of plant chosen. The lotus flower, for example, is commonly related to purity. However, it could also be a new beginning in life after a period of turbulence and existential difficulties that we have overcome.

Elegant model of small tattoo behind the ear – the rose is usually associated with love, passion and sensuality

brown hair in a messy bun, small tattoo, small rose behind the ear tattoo, white blouse

What is the best location for a small tattoo?

As for the location of the small tattoo, there are no real limits. However, there are some parts of the body that support the minimalist tattoo much better and emphasise its beauty. We are talking about the forearm, wrist, ear, ankle, shoulder, shoulder blade and fingers. These places will turn your tattoo into a real gem.

Now, let us check out our superb selection of 100 photos that demonstrate the beauty of the small tattoo. Although the latter is mostly reserved for women, later in the article, we will give you several nice suggestions for men, too.

Small tattoo of a girl drawing with a beautiful flower crown

woman holding a flower, face and flower crown forearm tattoo, small tattoo, white background

Very discreet – black rings tattooed on the finger

black rings tattoo around the finger. small tattoo, woman wearing a brown cardigan, holding a mug

Lana Del Rey and her small tattoo letter M on her hand 

small tattoos, lana del rey looking at the camera, wearing black leather jacket, small m letter hand tattoo

Small tattoo idea for him and her – floral motifs, inspired by the love for nature

couples matching tattoos, nature inspired, small tattoos, lots of potted plants in the background

A crescent moon ankle tattoo – a symbol of femininity, as well as hope and ambition

crescent moon ankle tattoo, girl wearing jeans, wave coming at her, small tattoos

A strand of lavender tattooed on the ankle – an example of a small elegant woman tattoo

lavender ankle tattoo, small tattoos, lavender herb next to a woman's foot, white background

Small hearts that intertwine in a pretty floral pattern

woman wearing a floral swimsuit, small flower heart forearm tattoo, small tattoos, golden bracelet

girl wearing white sneakers and jeans, small tattoo ideas, small flamingo ankle tattoo

Angel wings – in memory of someone we’ve lost – our guardian angel

angel wing wrist tattoo, small tattoo ideas, girl wearing a white top, silver cross necklace

angel wings wrist tattoo, guitar in the background, lots of bracelets, small tattoo ideas

Lili Reinhart and her small arrow – symbol for mental health awareness

lili reinhart looking at the camera, small arrow forearm tattoo, small tattoo ideas, dark red lipstick

arrow forearm tattoo, small tattoo ideas, woman wearing a white top, with long blonde hair

arrows moon and heart hand tattoos, small tattoos for men, woman wearing white nail polish, white sneakers

arrows pointing down wrist tattoo, small tattoos for men, woman wearing ripped jeans, white blouse

Birds represent freedom

flying black eagle wrist tattoo, small tattoos for men, hand in front of a white background

brown hair in a messy bun, small tattoos for men, birds flying away back tattoo, blue straps

black cat back tattoo, woman pulling her black hair back, small tattoos for men, woman wearing a shirt

crescent moon behind the ear tattoo, small tattoos for women, black hair in a messy bun, jean jacket

You can express and solidify your religious beliefs through your tattoo

small cross wrist tattoo, small tattoos for women, black leather watch strap, black background

woman holding a vintage camera, small camera finger tattoo, small tattoos for women

Express the love for your pet with a small tattoo

cat and red roses wrist tattoo, small tattoos for women, blurred background

black and white cat wrist tattoo, cat holding a person's hand, small tattoos for women, sleeping cat

colourful feather forearm tattoo, cool small tattoos, person wearing a black shirt, on a white background

colourful stars and planets wrist tattoo, cool small tattoos, blurred background

small compass wrist tattoo, man wearing a black shirt, with blonde hair, cool small tattoos

small cross and lock hand tattoos, cool small tattoos, person wearing all black

eye lightning bolt and roman numerals ankle tattoos, cool small tattoos, person wearing washed jeans

black feather behind the year tattoo, woman with a blonde hair in a ponytail, small meaningful tattoos

five birds flying away wrist tattoo, small meaningful tattoos, woman with long black hair, wearing a white blouse

Flower tattoos are very beautiful and elegant

two flowers small back tattoo, small meaningful tattoos, woman wearing a white blouse

woman wearing a black and white top, sunflower shoulder tattoo, small meaningful tattoos

small flower behind the ear tattoo, woman with brown hair in a messy bun, small meaningful tattoos

small tattoos with meaning, flowers tattoo inside the arm, person wearing a grey t shirt

Colourful floral patterns on both forearms

colourful flowers forearm tattoos, on both hands, small tattoos with meaning, woman wearing a red sweater

flowers wrist tattoo, woman's hand with black nail polish, in front of a white background, small tattoos with meaning

four birds flying away shoulder tattoo, small tattoos with meaning, woman with blonde hair

four colourful flowers hand tattoo, small tattoos with meaning, woman wearing a floral dress

half a sun finger tattoo, small bestfriend tattoos, woman with white nail polish wearing a white shirt

small heart ankle tattoo, person wearing washed jeans, small bestfriend tattoos, crossed legs

inscription wrist tattoo, woman wearing a blue plaid shirt, with brown hair, small bestfriend tattoos

Joy of living tattoo

joie de vivre forearm tattoo, small bestfirend tattoos, man carrying a vintage camera, wearing a blue cardigan

letter envelope with a heart back tattoo, woman with blonde hair, small bestfriend tattoos

small flower hand tattoo, woman with long brown hair, small tattoo ideas for men

small bow wrist tattoo, small tattoo ideas for men, hand clutched in a fist, in front of a black background

A small tattoo for all the queens out there

small crown finger tattoo, hand in front of a white background, small tattoo ideas for men

three small dots under the nail tattoo, golden rings on two finger, small tattoo ideas for men, mint green nail polish

Iggy Azalea and her small finger tattoos

small tattoo ideas for men, live love crossed finger tattoos, iggy azalea staring at the camera, wearing a black cap

Small tattoo ideas for women

small lotus flower back tattoo, small tattoos for guys, woman with a long black hair, blurred background

love finger tattoo, red nail polish, small tattoos for guys. tables and sofas in the background

love finger tattoo, woman with a black nail polish, small tattoos for guys, hand in front of a black background

Small tattoo – barely noticeable letters on the nape of a blonde woman

woman with a pierced ear, with blonde hair, clarity neck tattoo, small tattoos for guys, golden necklaces

Disney inspired – Mickey and Minnie small tattoos

mickey and minnie ankle tattoo, woman wearing washed jeans, small tattoos for guys, red nail polish

Small meaningful tattoos – a mountain landscape

mountain landscape foot tattoo, small tattoos tumblr, bare feet, on a wooden floor

Selena Gomez express her love of music with her tattoo

selena gomez photographed, small musical note wrist tattoo, small tattoos tumblr, golden hoops earrings

Small matching tattoos

tree and owl finger tattoo, small tattoos tumblr, couples matching tattoos, blurred background

palm tree ankle tattoo, person wearing black converse shoes, small tattoos tumblr

A cute panda – small tattoos with meaning

panda inside a heart small tattoo, small tattoos tumblr, in front of a white background

pencil finger tattoo, woman wearing burgundy nail polish, small butterfly tattoos, silver rings

Inspiration drawn from the theme of the forest, the mountain and the treasures they hide

pine tree wrist tattoo, small butterfly tattoos, hand amongst pine trees in a forest

small pineapple finger tattoo, person making a peace sign, small butterfly tattoos, in front of a grey background

Small lotus flower tattoo

lotus flower crescent moon dots finger tattoos, small butterfly tattoos, chrome nail polish

pink wrist tattoo, small butterfly tattoos, hand in front of a grey fur blanket

rose behind the ear tattoo, red bandana on the brown hair, in a messy bun, small sunflower tattoo

Smmall tattoo on the ankle – graphic drawing of a cactus

ripped washed jeans, small cactus ankle tattoo, small sunflower tattoo, bare feet on a tiled floor

small rose forearm tattoo, small sunflower tattoo, woman wearing white blouse, black trousers

small sunflower tattoo, small anchor ankle tattoo, person wearing washed jeans, white sneakers

small anchor neck tattoo, man with a black beard, wearing a grey shirt, small sunflower tattoo

Kristen Stewart and her very discreet small tattoo

cool small tattoos for guys, kristen stewart waving, wearing a white dress, with a short brown hair

Small bestfriend tattoos

hearts matching wrist tattoos, hands in front of a grey background, cool small tattoos for guys

Vanessa Hudgens – small butterfly tattoos

vanessa hudgens smiling, wearing a sheer black blouse, with black hair in a bob, cool small tattoos for guys

small flower ankle tattoo, cool small tattoos for guys, person wearing jeans, with bare feet

Small tattoos for men

rose hand tattoo, men's hand in front of a black background, cool small tattoos for guys

Small tattoo ideas for men

small rose hand tattoo, small forearm tattoo, man wearing washed jeans, black vans shoes, black shirt

small black stars tattoo around the wrist, small forearm tattoo, person wearing all black

small black airplane wrist tattoo, small forearm tattoo, city landscape in the background

Small feather tattoo on the finger

small black feather finger tattoo, small forearm tattoo, woman with a french manicure

Small tattoos for guys

small wave wrist tattoo, small forearm tattoo, hand coming out of water, wearing a black watch

small lotus flower tattoo, small wave wrist tattoo, woman with white nail polish, wearing a jean jacket

woman sitting down, typing on a macbook, leaves wrist tattoo, small lotus flower tattoo

smile finger tattoo, person typing on a macbook keyboard, small lotus flower tattoo

hand laying on floral bed linen, small lotus flower tattoo, star constellation wrist tattoo

Cool small tattoos for guys

swallow flying away neck tattoo, small lotus flower tattoo, man looking away from the camera

Best small tattoos for men

three arrows forearm tattoo, man wearing a jean shirt, small tattoo ideas for women, crossed arms

arrows pointing down forearm tattoo, small tattoo ideas for women, wearing a blue top and shorts

three birds flying back tattoo, woman tying her hair in a ponytail, small tattoo ideas for women, wearing a white top

three small stars collarbone tattoo, small tattoo ideas for women, woman with black hair

small tattoo ideas for women, small triangle forearm tattoo, person wearing a white sweater

three entwined triangles hand tattoo, small matching tattoos, person wearing a black leather jacket

small triangles wrist tattoo, on both hands, woman with both hands, in front of her face, small matching tattoos

two birds on a tree branch wrist tattoo, person wearing white sneakers, small matching tattoos

two birds flying away shoulder tattoo, woman with long black hair, small matching tattoos, black straps

two roses back tattoo, woman with blonde hair, in a messy bun small matching tattoos

best small tattoos for men, two black stars wrist tattoo, large silver bracelet, red nail polish

white and black triangle wrist tattoos, on both hands, best small tattoos for men, hands in front of a white background

white nail polish, shopping cart in the background, best small tattoos for men, small black dog pow wrist tattoo

three red heart wrist tattoo, best small tattoos for men, woman with black hair, wearing a white top

small sun wrist tattoo, best small tattoos for men, woman with yellow nail polish, in front of a blue background

John Griffith
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.

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