With more women getting more interested in tattoo, thigh tattoos have gotten popular. It’s one of the most common places where ladies get inked because of a few factors. One of those is that thigh tattoos just have this general vibe of sexiness and sensuality. These are something that can be used to describe any woman.
Apart from that, it’s also a place where women can have any design they want. They can be as fancy and loud with the tattoo as they want. It can easily be hidden with clothes. Nonetheless, they can also wear short, skirts, and dresses to show them off if they want. Plus, the area provides more skin for more complicated designs.
Thigh tattoos for women are not the usual women’s design you’ll think of. It’s a chance for them to be fierce and powerful. But of course, there are designs that work for the demure as well.
History of Thigh Tattoos
Headings
Since the time of Ancient Egyptians, tattoos have always been a thing. They created tattoos that are meant to help people such as wards against evil. There’s even a tattoo to avoid still birth and labor pains.
However, people most commonly associate the history of tattoo with the Polynesian people.
Polynesian tattoos are tribal and are used for various purposes, depending on where in Polynesia it originated. For example, Samoan and Tonga tattoos speak about the the wearer – his social status, age, and experiences in life. The most common place for tribes back then were the abdomen to the knee. That means their thighs are often filled with various tribal designs. Meanwhile, Maori tattoos are a symbol of their pride and their tribe.
Nonetheless, we can all agree that these tattoos were created to become a part of the wearer – just like it is today.
Thigh tattoos were common in the old days. These can be dated back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras.
These days though, thigh tattoos were more for hiding the design and simply personal preference.
Meaning of Thigh Tattoos
Tattoos have varying meanings. It can be based on the general meaning that is given to it or by the meaning given by the wearer.
However, the placement can also have a general meaning for the tattoo design. For example, the Polynesian ankle tattoo symbolizes innocence. On the other hand, a Polynesian tattoo on the inner thigh could portray seduction and/or sensuality. That maybe why until now, thigh tattoos still represent those.
Some tattoo enthusiasts choose a design based on its meaning. This is because they want their tattoos to represent them and their stories. And that’s no surprise. Tattoos are indeed used as a form of self-expression.
Of course, tattoos don’t need to have any meaning at all. You can still have one just because you liked how it looks. This is mostly true for abstract and geometric designs. But it is still wise to do some research as to what your design might mean. Sometimes, some designs do not have the best meanings and others might mistake your design for that.
Common Types of Thigh Tattoo for Women
There are several elements that are commonly used for thigh designs. These can be made with different styles which makes these elements really versatile. Here they are and what they mean. Plus a few ideas on how you can style and design them for your ink inspo.
Compass thigh tattoos
The compass is a popular design for women and can be placed on various parts of the body. However, it’s a great design for the thighs especially if you want it bigger.
A compass as a tattoo could still tell different things. But generally, it represents a voyage or a travel. That’s why this is the best designs for those who love to travel. This tattoo can be a way of representing your love for new places and for new adventures. That’s why it’s common to accompany it with a rose – the symbol of love.
Apart from roses, you can also accompany it with an anchor. The design may seem to “sailor-y” but it actually denotes religious guidance. You see, the anchor is one of the biggest symbols of faith.
Of course, it can be used by sailors and seafarers as a representation of their career. However, some believe that it has a far deeper meaning. It’s said to represent guidance and direction.
You can add a map to your design or make it 3D. Since you’re putting it on the thighs, you’ll have limitless options for how it could look.
Rose thigh tattoos
Roses are a household name in the tattoo industry. It is a design popular among men and women. You can also get great combinations with a rose such as the one mentioned above: a compass and rose tattoo.
But before that, here’s what a rose tattoo means: love and passion. Well, it’s the general meaning that’s attached to the element. The rose is a favorite not just because of its versatility. The depth of its meaning also attracts a lot of tattoo enthusiasts.
Roses have color specific meanings. Love and passion is the meaning for a red rose. But when you change it to, say, a blue rose, the meaning changes. Blue roses are not real so as a tattoo, it represents the unattainable and unreachable. White roses, on the other hand, signify innocence.
There’s also meaning if you choose more than a single rose in your tattoo. For example, three tattoos say “I love you.”
When it comes to design, you can accompany it with elements like the skull, a portrait of a woman, an eagle or a dove and many more. Of course, adding elements could also change its meanings drastically.
Owl thigh tattoos
Birds are pretty popular tattoo elements. But if you want to pick one specific bird, it would be the owl.
Owls are creatures of the night since they’re basically asleep during the day and hunt when the sun’s out. Their incredible eyesight enables them to capture their food even when it’s completely dark. That’s probably why they became a symbol of foresight and vision.
But apart from that, owls are also known as a symbol of intelligence. You likely has seen cartoons or shows where the wise animal is portrayed by an owl. It may be because of their capability to see everything even without moving much.
Owls are also big totem animals in Native American culture. You can definitely combine any other symbols from the culture such as a dreamcatcher.
Other than that, an owl’s eyes in 3D is one of the more popular designs. Tribal styles are also very in.
Quote thigh tattoos
Quotes often require more space than normal, especially if you’re working with sentences or even a full paragraph. The thighs would be perfect for that.
Usually quote thigh tattoos are more than just words created in fancy font. There are usually other elements involved to make the design a little more visually appealing.
The great thing with quote tattoos is that even when made simply, they still look amazing. Unlike with other smaller design that drown in the space, quotes fit into the area quickly.
You can choose from the many different quotable quotes from famous people, movies, and books. Some even create their own words. Apart from statements, you can also put the name of the people you care about.
Animal head thigh tattoos
Apart from owls, other animals have also become a huge thing in the world of tattoos. The most popular ones are wolves, lions, tigers, elephants, cats, and dogs. These animals’ heads are a great choice when it comes to thigh tattoos. You’ve got the perfect way to make use of all the space. If you want a meaningful tattoo, you’ve also hit the jackpot.
These animal heads could mean different things. But they range from courage to gentleness as well as loyalty to mysticism. Of course, you can also use other animals for your design. There’s a lot to choose from like foxes and deer. You can research about their meanings if you want a perfect symbol to represent you.
One of the best styles for these kinds of tattoo is the tribal or geometric design. We say tribal or geometric since there’s quite a thin thread between these two. Most tribal designs these days are filled with geometric patterns. But there are also geometric patterns that appear more modern and abstract. That one is definitely one style we love, too.
Apart from that, 3D styles are also very in-demand. You will need the assistance of a good tattoo artist to ensure that the end result is what you’re expecting. It’s best if you look at their portfolio or find a specialist to guarantee a cool 3D tattoo.
Floral thigh tattoos
While the rose continues to be the most well-known and sought-after floral tattoo design, there are still other types you can consider.
There are sunflowers, peonies, cherry blossoms, lilies, stargazers, carnations, and more. Floral designs can be made with only black ink or as colorful and radiant as their real life versions. Designs also vary from the simplest ones to the fanciest types. Most of the time though, floral tattoos have an additional element. It could be the background of a certain designs such as an animal head.
But you can also make them the main focus like put them on a vase. A vintage-style floral tattoo is also trending now.
Thigh Tattoo Designs
With all the elements and styles, it’s not a surprise that your choices for a thigh tattoo is limitless. You can choose the normal and popular designs. Or you can create your own unique one. The latter is the best if you want a more personal tattoo.
Anyway, here are some amazing designs we’ve found that could inspire your next ink:
Flowers in bold outline
Most of the time, floral tattoos are delicate. However, some women like their flowers bold. It includes a bolder outline, some spaces with solid black ink, and without any color. This design is great for women who have their own fragile and bold side. Putting it on a sexy area could also denote your boldness when it comes to sensuality.
Sketchy marine theme
Tattoos can either look like paintings, photographs, and even sketches. The latter is a favorite when it comes to making strong designs look more subtle. For example, a marine them with an anchor and an enormous marine life such as a koi or octopus would look better if it’s slightly more toned down on women. You can have the design in subtle lines that look like a sketch made with pencil or charcoal. Of course, this is a personal preference.
Native American tribal headdress
Apart from the dreamcatcher, the tribal headdress is another symbol of the Native American culture. Now, you should be aware of cultural appropriation if you’re deciding on getting a similar tattoo design. Some people might find it offensive that you’re using such important symbols as nothing but a fashion statement.
Then again, it could also be a show of pride – especially if you have a Native American blood in you. This design is often for women who like more bad-ass designs than girly girl ones.
Tribal lotus flower
The lotus flower is a major symbol in Eastern culture. It represents resilience and purity. However, it’s best known as the flower of Buddha and therefore, a famous symbol in Buddhism.
Nonetheless, it also became a big ladies’ design in the tattoo world. It’s often created with geometrical patterns to form a tribal lotus flower. Most of the time, it’s merely created with black ink. There are various shapes, dots, and swirls. Nowadays though, more people are incorporating subtle colors to their designs.
Sugar skulls
Sugar skulls are these ornately decorated skulls that are famous in Mexico. They are used during the Day of the Dead. With the name of the deceased loved one on the forehead, it is said that the sugar skull honors and calls them.
Sugar skulls, like skulls, are also symbols of life and death. However, instead of being too morbid and sad about it, sugar skulls are more about accepting it as a part of life. It’s also used to honor the dead so even in tattoos, it should be big. That’s why it will be a perfect piece for thigh tattoos.
Your sugar skull can be as colorful or elegant as you want. The important thing is you don’t copy anyone’s design.
Guns and roses
No, not the band. Guns and roses have been a recurring theme in the world of tattoos. However, the way they have been drawn keeps getting better and better as years pass by. Now, you’ll see designs that look almost too real.
As we know, roses are symbols of love. But guns are often associated with violence and crime. Their contrast in meaning is often what draws people to this design. Most of the time, it has a personal meaning for the wearer. Perhaps it can represent what we can do for love. Sometimes we break our own rules for the people we care for.
Colorful flowers and birds
Not everyone want vividly colored tattoos on usually exposed places. While many tattoo enthusiasts are proud, some believe it’s not really in their persona. But when they do get such tattoos, they often have it bigger and in places that are hidden most of the time. That’s probably why you’ll see a lot of brightly colored thigh tattoos.
Flowers and birds are among the most common pieces for these colored tattoos. Why not? These elements are indeed colorful in real life. You can have the excuse of choosing all your favorite colors from reds to yellows.
Beautiful peacock
Speaking of colorful birds, you’ll definitely want a peacock tattoo design.
Peacocks are the symbols of elegance, beauty, and pride. And why not? They’re definitely one of the most beautiful birds or creatures. They have this amazing tail that spreads like a fan, with a multitude of colors.
While you’ll want to highlight the fan-like tail, another design is perfect for large tattoos. You can start with the head on your side, usually near the abdomen. Then, extend the tattoo down until the tail reaches your thighs. It may be a big tattoo that can take days to finish, but it will definitely be worth it. Plus side tattoos extending down the thighs can be extremely sexy to look at.
Garter-like
A simple and yet sexy design is a ribbon around the thigh. You can also make it more lacy or with more designs. This design is inspired by the thigh garters you wear during the wedding day.
Apart from ribbons and lace, you can recreate the garter-like design with other elements. It could be simple lines or a geometrical patterns. You can even do it with flowers or with a sexy net-like garter. The important thing is that it goes around your thigh in a circle.
Skulls and flowers
If you want to go for the normal kind of skull but still want it to be a little more girly, flowers is the good combination. You can add different kinds of flowers but it seems like roses are the most popular choice. You can add them around the skull. Or you can make it look the flower is blooming from its eyes.
This is kind of a darker design but still one of the best nonetheless.
Koi and peonies
The koi and peonies are two of the biggest symbols in Japanese culture. The koi often means good luck while peonies are known as the King of Flowers. It’s also known to be a symbol of good luck and of wealth.
Since these are great Japanese symbols, it’s best if you do them the Japanese style. This style is best known for its bold outline and vibrant colors.
Birds out of the cage
Birds in general are symbols of freedom. The best way you can portray this is either a flock flying away (which is really a famous design). But another design that best describes this are birds flying away from its cage.
These kinds of tattoos could work big or small. And sometimes, artists choose to add a single pop of color apart from the black ink.
Getting Thigh Tattoos
If you want a thigh tattoo, you first have to choose your design and where you’re going to place it. You’ll then need to find a reliable tattoo artist who will do it for you. Of course, you probably know these.
However, we have some tips for you – especially for the first-timers.
You’ll likely need to finish the entire procedure in one session. But this could depend on the design you choose. Some designs, especially the bigger ones, could take a couple or more sessions. But usually, there’s at least 70% of the tattoo done. You’ll be able to see the design for yourself.
If you have low pain tolerance or ticklish on your thigh area, then you might want to consider this for the design. You can even avoid these problem areas and focus on having your tattoo somewhere that doesn’t bother you much.
Apart from that, you should begin treating yourself to healthy foods. There’s a need for a stronger immune system when you get a tattoo. Remember that your tattoo is a wound. It’ll take time before it completely heals. If you want it to heal faster, you should have a healthier body.
And you’ll definitely want to care for your tattoo a little bit more, especially if you’re having a massive tattoo. You should avoid using tight clothes for a long while. It’s also best to avoid swimming pools and the beach for some months.
Most of all, clean the area often. Use mild and fragrant-free soap.Also, use mild lotion so the skin doesn’t dry. This will also help in the faster healing and keep the colors vibrant.
