Beauty
20 Thumb Tattoo Designs That'll Make You Want More Ink
Major hand tat inspo ahead.
A few key considerations come to mind when thinking about a new tattoo, and chief among them is where to place it. If you’re looking for something small, you could always go with a cute thumb tattoo. They may not be the most common within the world of hand tattoos, but artist Jaz Paulino of High Hopes Tattoo in New York City says that the element of surprise works for some body art.
“This placement feels more unique compared to where you'd typically get finger tattoos,” Paulino tells Bustle. “I find thumb tattoos to be so unexpected, yet they have the potential to leave a really big impact depending on the design.” And the design options for thumb ink are plenty: you could go with dot work, fine linework, geometric designs, portraits, you name it.
Since these tats feature more micro-sized designs, Paulino recommends scouting a tattoo artist who specializes in hand and finger tattoos. She also notes that thumb tattoos — and any hand tattoo, really — are more likely to experience fading. It’s exposed to sunlight more regularly, and, as she explains, “We use our hands for literally everything, and that has a lot to do with the healing process.”
To better your chances of winding up with the eye-catching design you sat for and making sure it lasts, remember to follow your artist’s aftercare instructions. Those could vary by design or even climate, but, as general rules of thumb (ahem), you want to avoid swimming, baths, and direct sunlight, and to keep your new ink properly moisturized.
Now, the fun part: Scroll ahead for 20 thumb tattoo ideas that are sure to inspire your next ink.
2Single Flower
Flower tattoos are a classic design, and this simple yet dreamy one extends from the thumb all the way up to the wrist.
6Sun & Moon
Here, thumb tattoos on both hands tell the story of the sun and the moon, done in fine linework.
7Unalome Symbol
In Buddhist culture, unalome symbols like the one seen here represent a journey toward freedom of clarity of the mind, and enlightenment.
10Tiny Butterfly
Nostalgic ’90s-style butterfly tattoos are especially hot right now, and this tiny shaded one is super adorable on the thumb.
11Pair Of Scissors
For the fashion designer, a pair of fabric scissors like these would feel perfectly apt.
17Egyptian Ankh
This cross — representing “life” — is one of the most recognizable of the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
18Woods Scene
For this outdoorsy person, this graphic scene of trees and a half-moon makes for a cute piece of body art.
20Dreamy Rose
Rose tattoos are having a moment amid the Y2K era resurgence, so consider a detailed one like this for your next hand tat.
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