Many get tattoos as a way to express themselves – who they are as a person and their personality. These kinds of tattoo enthusiasts make sure that the designs they choose would do all the speaking. Most designs tend to have meaning so they use that to tell others who they are. Among these tattoo designs are Leo tattoos.
Leo tattoos are usually worn by people who are born under these stars. They have their own personality type that, according to astrology and horoscopes, are governed by celestial bodies. While each of us are unique, these can be eerily accurate – almost every Leo you will meet have the same traits. This is why Leo tattoos have become rather popular designs.
Today, we will be talking about what these Leo tattoos stand for and what are the best designs to get.
Who can get Leo Tattoos?
Usually, those who get Leo tattoos are those who have this as their Zodiac sign. They are born between July 23 to August 22. They can get their Leo tattoos in various forms and designs.
However, some people do get these kinds of tattoos even though they do not have this as their Zodiac sign. Most of the time, these people have someone dear to them that are born under the sign of Leo. That is why they include the design in their tattoos. It is a form of dedication and honor to these people.
Leo Tattoos Symbolism – The Legends
The Zodiac sign Leo is symbolized by a Lion. Apparently, this is connected with the Greek mythology version of Romeo and Juliet, and the story of Hercules.
One of the trials Hercules had to face was to fight the Nemean Lion. The Lion lived in a cave in Namea and terrorized the people there. Hercules was tasked to kill it. However, its hide was impenetrable that the hero’s arrows simply bounced off it. Ultimately, Hercules found the Lion, strangled it and used its own claws to finish the job. Then, he used the hide as his own cloak that was able to help him on his other tasks.
The other legend surrounding the history of Leo was inspired by the story of Thisbe and Pyramus. The end of the story was rather familiar, as it was almost the same with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It’s similar in the sense that both lovers decided to end their lives, thinking their partners were killed. In the Greek myth though, the lovers found a lioness with fresh blood on its mouth.
The Connection of the Myth and the Zodiac Sign
These stories were actually rather depressing. However, it does coincide once you look at it in a different angle.
For example, in the story of Hercules and the Lion – the Lion got scared of the hero and hid in its own cave. In the end, it faced its own demise with its own claws. It could suggest that those who are born under the sign should not be afraid and be brave. If they get frightened, they could regret the action of hiding or avoiding things they are scared of. In addition, the words that they say to others won’t hurt those people in the end – it will only end up hurting them.
Personality Traits of Leo
According to their signs, people have different personality traits. Even if you do not believe horoscopes, you will definitely find it amazing to know that a lot of people find their personalities rather accurate with Zodiac sign personalities. Of course, some of them do have some traits that are different. But they find almost everything the same.
If you are a Leo, you might actually find this one relatable, too.
So, according to astrology, here are the personality traits of a Leo. You can also use this to give meaning to your Leo tattoos.
Leos are known to be creative, brave, passionate, generous, cheerful, and humorous people. But like many others, they also have their own negative traits. It is said that Leos could be arrogant, lazy, stubborn, inflexible, and self-centered.
These people are also very helpful and kind-hearted. If they see someone in need, they are most likely to help. And since they are ruled by the sun, you can expect them to be energetic – as sun is an infinite source of energy. Going to parties and having fun with a Leo friend is definitely an amazing feeling.
Leos make amazing leaders. But sometimes with their self-centered nature, they somehow dislike not getting the attention or being heard.
Designs for Leo Tattoos
There are a few types of Leo tattoos: quote, lion, constellation, and the astrological symbol. You can combine any of these so you can come up with a more unique tattoo look. You can also choose a different kind of tattoo style.
While Leo tattoos are not as popular as other types of tattoos, you can still find quite a lot of designs that can inspire your ink. Here are some of the best we’ve found plus some inspiration on how you can do your next design.
Roaring Lion
Since the lion is the symbol of Leo, it is one of the most common elements you will see in Leo tattoos. However, it is quite hard to differentiate the difference with a Leo tattoo and a simple lion tattoo. Sometimes, some people will view it as a mere lion and not a symbol of your Zodiac sign.
But that’s cool. In the end, the important thing is how you view your own tattoo. If you want, you can also add symbols that will make your tattoo more obviously a Leo design.
Nonetheless, the roaring lion tattoo design is a good way to show one of your key traits: bravery and courage.
It can be done in a classic tattooing style. But more tattoo enthusiasts are getting theirs in 3D tattoo. The result is a stunning and eye-catching design.
Lion head
Most roaring lion designs only show the head. But some designs also show the lion’s entire body. Of course, you can just picture out the head. If you want that, you can always choose to express other emotions. It is actually much better if you depict the lion with the emotion or trait you are most known.
For example, you can portray the lion that is a little more laid-back. It can represent you being kind. Or you can also portray it as determined and focused. This is much better if you are the leader and the dominant type.
Of course, you can do all these with different tattooing styles. Apart from the classic and 3D tattooing style, you can also try doing a minimalist approach. However, you will not be able to portray other emotions well since minimalistic designs lack in too much details.
Still, it’s a good style especially for women.
Leo Quote
Other tattoo enthusiasts do not really like fancy or bold tattoo designs. That’s acceptable since everyone is entitled to have their own likes and dislikes and opinions about designs. There are just some people that prefer delicate looking tattoos.
But how can you show that with a Zodiac sign tattoo that is depicted by a lion?
Well, you do not really need to choose the lion. Instead, you can choose other designs such as a quote tattoo. You can choose to have “Leo” tattooed on you plus your birthday or just your birth month. There are also likely quotes about Leos and Zodiac signs that you can choose.
Quote tattoos are now part of the mainstream tattoo industry. Both men and women enjoy getting quote tattoos because of their versatility. It can go from simple and elegant to even fancy and cool. It just depends on how you want it.
Leo Constellation
Another subtle design you can choose is the Leo constellation tattoo. It is perfect for a minimalist tattoo since you can simply make it with dots and lines.
The dots represent the stars. You do not really need to connect them with lines but most of the time, designs included connecting the dots to really show the constellation. It can be big or small, depending on your preference. You can also place it anywhere you like.
Most of the time, this is partnered with other symbols of Leo.
Astrological Symbol
The Leo astrological symbol is also a popular choice for Leo tattoos. Apart from the constellation, it is perhaps the best way to make your design more obviously linked to the Zodiac sign.
You can also get creative with your design. For example, you can combine the sign with a lion’s face. Make sure that the imagery is one and connected. Otherwise, it would be the same as creating these individual elements and trying to tell people they are one.
If you like a more minimalist approach, the symbol itself would be sufficient. It is great to have on the wrist or ankles. Try making a stylized version of the symbol but make sure that you do not stray far away from its original form. If you are having trouble, you can always ask your tattoo artist to help you.
Lion, Symbol, and Sun in a Heart
This unique tattoo shows almost everything a Leo could ask for. It shows a lion’s head forming one side of the heart. The other side is created with the astrological symbol for Leo. Within that side is the sun, shining down on the lion.
The sun is the source of Leo’s energy and its ruling heavenly body. It just makes sense that it is on your design. The design could also show your warm and kind-hearted side. Or your energetic and fun personality. You can distinguish which of these you like to portray by the emotion of the lion’s head.
Sun and Symbol
Since the ruling celestial body of Leo is the sun, you can include that on your design.
For example, you can create a tribal sun design and put the symbol in the middle. Or you can make the symbol the more prominent feature of your tattoo and then add the sun as an accent.
Creating designs are a little hard but with the help of a good tattoo artist who understands your vision, you can find the best design for you.
Leo Tattoos Placement
The placement of your Leo tattoo plays a great part of making or breaking your design. You should carefully choose where you want your design to be. Or perhaps, what the design should be depending on where you want to have your tattoo.
Either way, here are some of the best placements especially for tattoo newbies. These areas can make almost any design look good, but are not as painful as some areas of the body.
- Arm – The outer arm is the best place to get tattoos. With an abundance of muscles and even fats, the pain you will feel will be more bearable than usual. You can also create bigger designs here if you want. However, be careful and say away from the inner bicep area since it’s one of the most painful parts.
- Wrist or Ankles – These are two places that are getting more popular with girls. These are perfect places for delicate and minimalist tattoos. Some find these areas a little painful and that’s because the skin is thinner and they are closer to the veins, especially on your wrist. However, the hands and fingers tend to be more painful.
- Back and chest – As with the arms, there is an abundance of muscles and fats in these area. You just want to stay away from the bony areas and you will be fine. These are also great places for bigger tattoos. Since these can be covered by clothes, you can be as wild, bold, and vibrant as you want with your designs.
You should also talk to your artist. They can help you with your decision and make sure that your design works perfectly well with your placement.
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