8 Tattoo Trends That Are Dominating in 2023

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.