8 Tattoo Trends That Are Dominating in 2023
While everything from the change of the season to celebrating a birthday can have you feeling reflective about the past, chances are you're also probably looking forward to the fresh new energy that comes with ringing in a new personal milestone. One of our favorite ways to undergo a little personal refresh? Finding the best tattoos to add to our collection.
Last year's popular tattoos saw abstract styles and '90s-inspired designs, such as "tramp stamps," on the rise, but in 2023, the tattoo trends to watch include realistic styles, finger tattoos, and more. You may have a certain celebrity to thank for one of these.
"People are switching up the types of tattoos they get because of influence from others, for example, Hailey Bieber," Syd Smith, tattoo artist and founder of Blxck Rose Ink, tells POPSUGAR. "Her hand tattoos are some of the most common photos I receive for inspiration, and it has definitely been influencing other people."
That said, there are plenty of new tattoo designs that are predicted to be huge this year. Ahead, POPSUGAR spoke with a handful of artists to discuss the trendy tattoos you need to look out for. Keep reading to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to good tattoos to add to your collection.
2023 Summer Tattoo Trend: Butterflies
A popular '90s tattoo trend making a resurgence is butterfly designs. This insect tattoo briefly fell out of style because people thought it was too "basic," but that's changing. "People are starting to re-recognized them for what they are — a classic," Jazmin Paulino, tattoo artist at Fleur Noire Tattoo in Brooklyn, NY, previously told POPSUGAR.
2023 Summer Tattoo Trend: Butterflies
2023 Tattoo Trend: Micro Hearts
One of Smith's biggest predictions for trending tattoos in 2023? Micro heart designs. "I've personally been doing so many of them lately and I have seen so many other artists beginning to do the same," she says.
If you're a fan of tiny tattoos but would rather keep your design private, micro hearts are one of the best tattoo ideas for you. Get your tattoo in an inconspicuous place like the back of your neck on somewhere on your shoulder. Should you want it to draw some attention, opt for some place forward facing like your hands or forearms.
2023 Tattoo Trend: Micro Hearts
2023 Tattoo Trend: Tiger Designs
Another popular request that Smith has been getting for new tattoo designs is tigers. "They've already started to trend," Smith says. "However, instead of extremely fine and detailed realism pieces, there's been a resurgence of more simplified versions of a tiger face."
Tiger designs are notorious for being one of the more popular tattoos that embody the statement "go big or go home." They often can take up quite a bit of real estate on the body as a result. If you're a fan of the simplified, more abstract pieces like the ones Smith mentions, opt for designs that are more focused on line work, as those tend to not only take up less space in order for the tattoo to look more cohesive and coherent but you can also have a bit more fun with ink colors like the red design seen here.
2023 Tattoo Trend: Tiger Designs
2023 Tattoo Trend: Script Tattoos
Quote tattoos or script tattoos are some of the most popular tattoos for a reason: people often love the meaning behind them. "As words can carry significant weight, script tattoos allow the client something simple and sweet but also very meaningful," Wesley Austin, tattoo artist at Night School Tattoo, says. "They can range from a name of a loved one to a daily reminder, in a variety of fonts to add a touch of personality to the design."
2023 Tattoo Trend: Script Tattoos
2023 Tattoo Trend: Finger Tattoos
While we can't all be Hailey Bieber, we can get trendy tattoos like hers — which is exactly what Smith predicts will be happening in the new year. "Finger tattoos are definitely going to dominate the industry in 2023," she says. "I personally have done more of them in these past two months than I have ever before. It seems that people aren't as apprehensive about tattooing their hands, fingers, or neck as they used to be, especially if the tattoos are on the more dainty side."
If you want to join in on the fun but don't know where to start, keep your first design small and dainty like the micro heart seen here. Then after you have a feel for the trend, add as many designs as you please.
2023 Tattoo Trend: Finger Tattoos
2023 Tattoo Trend: Birds
Like one of the tattoo trends seen over the summer (fruit designs), the next tattoo design idea can be done in so many ways you might have more trouble narrowing down what not to get than the opposite. Enter: bird tattoos.
"Bird tattoos are getting bigger and I receive inquiries for them constantly," Smith says. Many of the inquiries that Smith has been receiving have been for more detailed portraits of the animal, but bird tattoos are one of the best tattoo ideas that you can get, because you can go simple and abstract like the design seen here or big and detailed like the crane design seen ahead — you simply can't go wrong with this one.
2023 Tattoo Trend: Birds
2023 Tattoo Trend: Wrist Tattoos
This tattoo trend is more about the location than the design — and that's what makes it one of the prime locations for the best tattoos. Wrist ink is perfect for anyone as it is a prime space for both delicate pieces or larger portraits. Whether you want to use the space as an extension of a finger tattoo design or you want it to stand alone, getting a wrist tattoo will ensure that not only can you easily see your design, but others can, too. Talk about an easy conversation starter.
2023 Tattoo Trend: Wrist Tattoos
2023 Tattoo Trend: Lower-Back Tattoos
The Y2K resurgence isn't slowing down any time soon. If you need proof: lower-back designs are one of the popular tattoos making a big comeback. "Because it [used to be] frowned upon to have visible tattoos, especially for women, [lower-back designs] became a great way to have a tattoo that you could still show off in a fun, sexy way or easily hide it," Hawaro Juul Petersen, founder and owner of Iron & Ink, previously told POPSUGAR. While younger generations are increasingly embracing the trend again, the versions that Petersen gets the most requests for are smaller and more dainty than their predecessors.