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Tattoo Styles

Every style has its own rules, history, and artists who live it. Browse the styles below to see what defines each one and find Australian artists who specialise in it.

Not sure which? Take the quiz
Traditional tattoo
TraditionalBold outlines, limited colour palettes, and iconic imagery like anchors, roses, and eagles. Covers American traditional, old school, and the wider folk traditions.
Neo-Traditional tattoo
Neo-TraditionalModern evolution of traditional tattoos with enhanced detail, expanded colour palettes, and contemporary subject matter.
Realism (colour) tattoo
Realism (colour)Vibrant photorealistic tattoos with full colour, capturing lifelike portraits, nature, and detailed imagery.
Realism (black & grey) tattoo

More styles artists work in

Artists pick from all of these when they set up. Search any of them in Explore to see who does it.

Abstract
shape, colour and gesture ahead of a recognisable subject
American Traditional
the strict end of traditional: thick outlines, flat fills
Biomechanical
machinery and sinew fused into the body
Blackout
large areas filled solid black
Cartoon
bouncy outlines and exaggerated proportions
Celtic
interlaced knotwork drawn as one continuous line
Chicano
fine black and grey, usually soft smooth shading
Cover-ups
designed around whatever is already there
Cyber Sigilism
spiky tribal forms with a digital edge
Embroidery/patch
rendered as stitched thread on fabric
Glitter
sparkle rendered in ink, highlights doing the work

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Not sure which style suits you? Read the style guides →
Realism (black & grey)Monochromatic photorealistic tattoos using black and grey shading for stunning contrast and depth.
Japanese (Irezumi) tattoo
Japanese (Irezumi)Traditional Japanese tattoo art featuring dragons, koi fish, cherry blossoms, and mythological imagery with rich cultural symbolism.
Neo-Japanese tattoo
Neo-JapaneseModern interpretation of Japanese tattoo art blending traditional imagery with contemporary techniques and styles.
Blackwork tattoo
BlackworkBold solid black designs using heavy saturation, negative space, and graphic patterns for striking visual impact.
Geometric tattoo
GeometricPrecise geometric patterns, sacred geometry, and mathematical designs with clean lines and symmetrical compositions.
Fine Line tattoo
Fine LineDelicate, minimalist tattoos using thin precise lines for elegant, subtle designs with intricate detail.
Illustrative tattoo
IllustrativeArtistic illustration-style tattoos that look like drawings on skin, often with sketch-like qualities and creative compositions.
Ornamental tattoo
OrnamentalDecorative patterns inspired by jewelry, architecture, and cultural ornamentation with intricate flowing designs.
Script/Lettering tattoo
Script/LetteringText-based tattoos featuring custom lettering, calligraphy, quotes, and typographic designs.
Micro-realism tattoo
Micro-realismTiny, highly detailed realistic tattoos that pack incredible detail into small designs.
Surrealism tattoo
SurrealismDreamlike and fantastical artistic tattoos blending reality with imagination for unique, thought-provoking designs.
Dotwork tattoo
DotworkIntricate tattoos created entirely from dots, producing unique textures, gradients, and geometric patterns through stippling techniques.
Anime tattoo
AnimeJapanese animation and manga-inspired tattoos featuring beloved characters, vibrant colours, and distinctive anime art styles.
Portraits tattoo
PortraitsLifelike portrait tattoos of people and pets, capturing faces and expressions in black and grey or colour realism.
Botanical tattoo
BotanicalFloral and plant tattoos from delicate fine line sprigs to bold blackwork blooms, native flowers, and full botanical sleeves.
Horror tattoo
HorrorDark horror tattoos featuring film icons, creatures, and macabre imagery, usually in dramatic black and grey realism.
Art Nouveau tattoo
Art NouveauElegant Art Nouveau tattoos with flowing lines, ornamental frames, and Mucha-inspired figures and florals.
Graffiti
spray-can lettering, throw-ups and wildstyle
Hand-poked
worked by hand, dot by dot, without a machine
Hyperrealism
realism pushed past what the photo shows
Indigenous
designs rooted in first nations cultural traditions
Māori Tā Moko
koru and kōwhaiwhai forms, spirals and curved bands
Minimalist
small and spare, one idea per piece
New School
cartoon exaggeration, usually under heavy outlines
Nordic
norse knotwork, runes and mythic beasts
Polynesian
banded patterns that wrap and follow the body
Pop culture
characters, films, games and album art
Sticker
designs rendered as vinyl stickers, usually with a white border
Tebori
hand-poked with a traditional japanese rod
Trash Polka
usually black and red on a chaotic collage ground
Tribal
usually solid black shapes with sharp tapers
Watercolour
washes and bleeds that run past the shape
Woodcut/Etching
cross-hatched line more than soft shading
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Popular styles

  • Traditional
  • Fine Line
  • Realism (black & grey)
  • Japanese (Irezumi)
  • Blackwork
  • Neo-Traditional
  • Realism (colour)
  • Geometric

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Tattoo guides

How to Find a Tattoo ArtistHow to Book a Tattoo AppointmentHow Tattoo Deposits Work in AustraliaJapanese Tattoo MeaningAmerican Traditional Tattoo MeaningFine Line TattoosBlackwork TattoosMicro Realism TattoosGeometric and Dotwork TattoosRealism Tattoos

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