Complete Tattoo Styles Guide: Descriptions and Examples
Understanding Tattoo Styles from the artists at Sin on Skin in Halifax.
We can guarantee a lifelong addiction to our artwork. Our artists will be more than happy to guide you on your path to tattoo perfection. Read our Halifax Tattoo Guide for more important information on how to choose the best tattoo studio for you. Keep in mind that when an artist makes creative suggestions, it's for your benefit and that of your new artwork, so really listen to your artist. When they tell you an area is "not guaranteed," it's because that area has issues with shedding, color loss, loss of design and line blowout, making it impossible to guarantee a good heal. You may experience these issues within days of your tattoo being done or within the weeks that follow.
We can guarantee a lifelong addiction to our artwork. Our artists will be more than happy to guide you on your path to tattoo perfection. Read our Halifax Tattoo Guide for more important information on how to choose the best tattoo studio for you. Keep in mind that when an artist makes creative suggestions, it's for your benefit and that of your new artwork, so really listen to your artist. When they tell you an area is "not guaranteed," it's because that area has issues with shedding, color loss, loss of design and line blowout, making it impossible to guarantee a good heal. You may experience these issues within days of your tattoo being done or within the weeks that follow.
Tattoo Styles and Techniques :
- Portraits
- Tribal
- Polynesian
- Japanese
- Cover Up & Re Working
- Celtic
- Writing
- Working with Scar Tissue (mastectomy patients, surgery scars, burned skin)
- Photo Realism / Hyperrealism
- Fine-line and Minimalistic tattoos
- Micro tattoos
- Trash Polka
- Abstract
- Polygon
- Illustrative / sketch style
- Ambigram
- Religious
- Bio-Mechanical
- 3-D tattoos
- Stippling / dotwork
- Old School / Traditional
- New School / Neo-traditional tattoos
- Geometric tattoo styles/patterns,
- Family Crests / Emblems / Coat of Arms
- Horror
- Black & Grey
- Anime
- Full Color
- Cyber Sigilism
- Bio-Mechanical
- Stone Work
- Graffiti
- Cartoon
- Blackout
- Haida
- Continous line tattoos
- Chicano tattoos
- Negative space
- Embroidery tattoos
All can easily be done, but if your tattoo style isn't listed, then please tell us what you're looking for. Each artist has a wide & varied range of experience & styles, allowing them to help you design & create your next masterpiece. We encourage clients to take the time to find ideas/styles they like so that we can help them create/fine-tune their tattoo.
If you're unsure of who to book with, just let us know your ideas or preferred styles so we can assign the perfect artist to create your artwork. Each independent artist guarantee's their own work; any touch ups are free from the artist that tattooed you. The only exceptions to this rule are listed under "Non-Guaranteed Locations," which are done "AT YOUR OWN RISK" (see FAQ). If it was self induced damage to the tattoo, then there will be a fee for your touch up.
If you're unsure of who to book with, just let us know your ideas or preferred styles so we can assign the perfect artist to create your artwork. Each independent artist guarantee's their own work; any touch ups are free from the artist that tattooed you. The only exceptions to this rule are listed under "Non-Guaranteed Locations," which are done "AT YOUR OWN RISK" (see FAQ). If it was self induced damage to the tattoo, then there will be a fee for your touch up.
Abstract Style
This is a modern style of art, it usually doesn’t have any type of outline or any real structure. It breaks away from the traditional representation of animals, people, and the world around us.
Memorial
Memorial tattoos can be images representing a person’s life in some way. It may be a religious image, crosses, banners, praying hands, poems, flowers, or sometimes a portrait. Most want to incorporate items that had meaning or significance to the deceased and or their family. Often this type of tattoo is accompanied by lettering with the person’s name and dates of their birth and their death.
Tattoo of Remembrance. Poppies and military helmet represent those who have served for our freedoms. By Kyle
Stonework Style
This style of tattooing is using shades of black and greys, colors can be used as well, to produce the cracked stone like quality throughout the tattoo. These tattoos tend to be more detailed and can really give a tattoo a very old and rustic feel. Stonework is usually produced with a finer line to really show off every little crack and chip in the tattoo.
Stonework Medical Symbol Tattoo
Portraits
A tattoo artist has to be extremely skilled in his field to be able to convey a person’s likeness onto another person skin. Some are meant to show love, admiration, loss or birth. Portraits are often created using fine line tattoo style. Choose your artist carefully, a photo realistic tattoo takes a high level of skill and talent you won't find an artist to do one at just any studio - be picky.
Greyscale/Black Portrait Tattoo by Kyle
Surrealist / Horror
This style covers everything from Salvador Dali to Fantasy monsters and incoherent nightmares. Full of symbolic scenes, strange dream-like scenarios, humor (sometimes the humor is gleeful, impish or sometimes it can have a sarcastic or cruel twist). Using bizarre creatures and people to create continuity between the images, some are single images used to shock or catch your attention. It can also be known as "Lowbrow art" or "Pop Surrealism."
Stippling/Dot-work
Stippling is creation of a pattern with varying solidity or shading using small dots or specks, rather then using lines
or solid areas. Together they create an amazing piece of delicate and intricate art!
or solid areas. Together they create an amazing piece of delicate and intricate art!
Irezumi /Traditional Japanese
Japanese tattoos tend to be big, bright, and focused on cultural symbols. Traditionally, Japanese-style tattoos were done without machines using the trbori (“hand-carved”) technique.
Asian themed tattoo styles frequently use Koi fish, cherry blossoms, Buddha, lotus, dragons, war dogs, samurai’s or geisha’s. This style tends to utilize bold red, green, yellow, and brown in your designs, as well as plenty of black in the background to make the brighter colors pop.
Many of these are used in combination to tell a story as well as create a piece of timeless art. This type of tattoo is usually very detailed. This is basically a tattoo that will cover the whole body. The work is carefully planned out ahead of time before the work on any part of the body begins. This style seems to be more 2 dimensional or flat, almost like print on fabric.
Common themes are:
Asian themed tattoo styles frequently use Koi fish, cherry blossoms, Buddha, lotus, dragons, war dogs, samurai’s or geisha’s. This style tends to utilize bold red, green, yellow, and brown in your designs, as well as plenty of black in the background to make the brighter colors pop.
Many of these are used in combination to tell a story as well as create a piece of timeless art. This type of tattoo is usually very detailed. This is basically a tattoo that will cover the whole body. The work is carefully planned out ahead of time before the work on any part of the body begins. This style seems to be more 2 dimensional or flat, almost like print on fabric.
Common themes are:
- Tigers (strength and courage)
- Dragons (wisdom and wealth)
- Koi fish (inspiration and struggle)
- Japanese Samurai (honour and self-discipline)
- Fu Dogs (power and protection)
- Flowers (positivity and good character)
- Cats (good luck and fortune)
- Masks (anger, jealousy, and transformation)
- Demons (mischief or evil)
- Snakes (transformation and rebirth)
- Octopus (intelligence and adaptability)
- Wind bars (change and the impermanence of things)
- Water (purity and life)
Oriental Tattoo Sleeve with Koi by Kyle
Black and Gray
This is when shading is heavily utilized. Black and gray work is typically used to create some type of 3-D effect without using color.
Highlights are often added using white. White ink can also be used to smooth out sharp transitions between the different shades.
Highlights are often added using white. White ink can also be used to smooth out sharp transitions between the different shades.
A beautiful realistic black and grey Owl tattoo by Kyle LeBlanc at Sin on Skin Tattoo Studio.
Celtic
These designs are made up of intricate knots. Celtic comes in many forms; knots, crosses, spirals, trinity knots, tree of life, and animal forms. This style of art represents the people from Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton folklore.
Celtic Knots and Hound Tattoo by Kyle
Graffiti
This style represents a radical contemporary art style, it mimics the street style art you see all around you. You see it as letters, numbers or incredible works of art on sidewalks, walls, vehicles, etc.. Now you see it as a style for the skin.
Sketch style
This style of art has a fresh from the drawing board feel. Using sketch lines to create your tattoo. Nothing is perfect, sometimes lines do not touch or close.
Sketch style bear tattoo
Trash Polka
This bold style stands out on it's own; with much of the work done in black and grey. The artist then uses red accents to really make a statement with this piece. Although some artists will use other colors, red is the true color of a Trash Polka style.
The style was introduced in Wurzburg, Germany at the Buena Vista Tattoo Club by Simone Plaff and Volko Merschky. The style resembles fine art collages; it combines realistic images with smears, smudges, sometimes words, and kinetic designs that generate a chaotic look to the piece. Trash Polka pieces are only done in red or black ink. According to Volko, "This style is a combination of “realism and trash; the nature and the abstract; technology and humanity; past, present, and future."
Check out examples of Trash Polka designs here.
The style was introduced in Wurzburg, Germany at the Buena Vista Tattoo Club by Simone Plaff and Volko Merschky. The style resembles fine art collages; it combines realistic images with smears, smudges, sometimes words, and kinetic designs that generate a chaotic look to the piece. Trash Polka pieces are only done in red or black ink. According to Volko, "This style is a combination of “realism and trash; the nature and the abstract; technology and humanity; past, present, and future."
Check out examples of Trash Polka designs here.
Blackout Tattoos
A blackout tattoo is normally the last resort in covering up a tattoo that someone is no longer happy with. Sometimes it's a bad tattoo, a person's name or something that you no longer want to remember. A blackout tattoo is just that, we're completely blacking out the area using solid black ink. You will be left with a black band or potentially an entire body part. We're seeing many people that I've gotten tattoos that can't be covered up using traditional means and a blackout tattoo is their only option.
Religious Tattoos
The link between tattooing in religion goes back to the Egyptians. They would tattoo the dead so that they would have relative information when they passed to the other side. The Christians would tattoo a cross under the hand on the wrist to identify themselves to be devout Christian and a true believer as opposed to Roman spies.
Religious Tattoo of Jesus by Kyle
Tribal Tattoos
This type of work was handed down from multiple cultures including Native American, Micronesia, and Polynesian. In ancient times, they would be represent one as an accessory to a certain tribe, also express puberty, a milestone in life or marriage. American Indians form of tribal tattoo was meant to represent culture, ritual beliefs, spirits or nature. Hawaiian tribes carried tattoos as a form of identification, protection or mourning expressions. Many tribes used tattoos to show bravery. Tribal tattoos are usually black in color and are composed of solid geometric designs. Can also be done in a "stonework effect" or in color but black is the most common.
Tribal inspired Tattoo on Lower Back by Kyle at Sin on Skin
Realistic
Usually represented by portraits or true-to-life scenes/landscapes that showcase the fine line detail of a photograph or painting.
This particular tattoo style is one of the more time-consuming tattoo styles, due to the detail levels you can achieve when done by a professional tattoo artist.
This particular tattoo style is one of the more time-consuming tattoo styles, due to the detail levels you can achieve when done by a professional tattoo artist.
A Realistic Forest Scene Tattoo by Kyle
Cartoon / Anime Tattoos
The style everyone remembers from the 90’s with it’s Tasmanian Devil inspired tattoos that too many people had. Now the cartoon inspired tattoo is making it’s comeback as clients look to relive their childhood. Hello Kitty, Auto bots, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, maybe your favorite video game, you name it we’ve done it. Bold bright colors, fun and whimsical, as a stand alone piece or as part of an entire sleeve.
Everyone's favorite superhero, Deadpool by Kyle
Haida
Body modification / tattooing, has been practiced for centuries. Groups on the Northwest Coast; such as the Haida, were no exception. The tattoos themselves, were indicative of status, spiritual devotion and decoration. For the Haida, body art and adornment were a means for individual expression, as well as their part of a social unit, or a lineage. Haida tattoos put a persons identity and spiritual connection on display through the use of crest figures and/or guardian spirits.
Haida Design brought in by client
Polynesian, Samoan, Maori, & Tahitian
Each Polynesian island has it's own styles of tattooing making it a truly unique experience. Modern or traditional styles make up this style, using flowers, faces, figures, animals, and abstract shapes. Depending on style it may be bold, black abstract and figurative designs or fine line high detail , single needle outlines, designs that concentrates more on symbolism or overall design. Usually done with a tattoo machine or by wooden sticks, which is a traditional hand tapped tattoo. This style is used to express identity, personality, one's society status, hierarchy, and sexual maturity. Polynesian tribe tattoo styles symbolized traditions, legends and religious beliefs.
Maori art is from The indigenous people of New Zealand, known for their use of extensive body markings to represent cultural identity and status.
Samoan art is generally made up of the geometric patterns that are based on ancient designs, and often denote rank and status. The Samoan warrior's tattoo began at the waist and extended to just below the knee .
Maori art is from The indigenous people of New Zealand, known for their use of extensive body markings to represent cultural identity and status.
Samoan art is generally made up of the geometric patterns that are based on ancient designs, and often denote rank and status. The Samoan warrior's tattoo began at the waist and extended to just below the knee .
A Polynesian style ankle/foot tattoo
Lettering & Ambigrams
The use of lettering and fonts has always been a popular ink choice among clients. With so many different options out there, finding that perfect font is key. Some are hard to read when written out, so keep that in mind when choosing a font. Use a site that allows you to see your word or quote in the chosen font style to see if it's easily read and clear to the eye.
Also popular are Ambigrams. This is when you can incorporate two words together — a composite in one tattoo. When read upright it will be 1 word, then when flipped upside down it will read another. Not all words can work with this process.
Also popular are Ambigrams. This is when you can incorporate two words together — a composite in one tattoo. When read upright it will be 1 word, then when flipped upside down it will read another. Not all words can work with this process.
Fine line work
Fine line tattooing is one of the newer styles you’ll find in tattoo shops and has been achievable because of the improvements made with tattoo machines, inks, and needles. Artists today are able to add more detail and special effects to their artwork. Fine line is often used in portrait tattoos or to achieve a delicate look.
We consider fine-line work to be a more delicate style, almost feminine, with no room for error. It's a beautifully simplistic style, great for those who want a tattoo but may not want to commit to a larger piece.
Keep in mind, these fine line styles do not hold up as well over time. The thinner the line, the less chance you have of keeping it crisp.
We consider fine-line work to be a more delicate style, almost feminine, with no room for error. It's a beautifully simplistic style, great for those who want a tattoo but may not want to commit to a larger piece.
Keep in mind, these fine line styles do not hold up as well over time. The thinner the line, the less chance you have of keeping it crisp.
Watercolor
Watercolor tattoo designs are meant to have the same opaque look as watercolor paint on paper. These tattoos tend to have soft-looking edges and plenty of color (often pastels).
This style stays away from black outlines & heavy lines. That way, there's no distraction from the softness this style creates in a piece.
Watercolor is still considered a new style; it's been around for the last 5-10 years. To do a truly perfect watercolor piece, you need to have some black ink within the base of the tattoo so that the piece will hold up over time. On it's own, the softer colors can tend to fade out or soften a bit too much around the edges, making it harder to see or really show up on the skin. When completed, it can resemble a painting more than a tattoo.
This style stays away from black outlines & heavy lines. That way, there's no distraction from the softness this style creates in a piece.
Watercolor is still considered a new style; it's been around for the last 5-10 years. To do a truly perfect watercolor piece, you need to have some black ink within the base of the tattoo so that the piece will hold up over time. On it's own, the softer colors can tend to fade out or soften a bit too much around the edges, making it harder to see or really show up on the skin. When completed, it can resemble a painting more than a tattoo.
Gray Wash
Black and grey tattoos are a versatile, monochromatic style that uses only black ink diluted with water or white ink to create varying shades, tones, and gradients, rather than using a full color palette. Originating from 1970s and 80s prison culture, this technique is now a staple of modern tattooing, celebrated for its timeless, dramatic, and high-contrast look.
This technique relies on shading, contrast, and depth to create images, rather than relying on a wide range of colors, and is often favored for its ability to produce highly detailed, realistic, and soft-toned results. A skilled artist uses every shade in between to build form, texture, and realism. Solid blacks anchor the darkest shadows. Mid-tones create volume and dimension. The lightest areas, where ink is most diluted or absent entirely, represent highlights and negative space.
This technique relies on shading, contrast, and depth to create images, rather than relying on a wide range of colors, and is often favored for its ability to produce highly detailed, realistic, and soft-toned results. A skilled artist uses every shade in between to build form, texture, and realism. Solid blacks anchor the darkest shadows. Mid-tones create volume and dimension. The lightest areas, where ink is most diluted or absent entirely, represent highlights and negative space.
Samurai warrior tattoo by Kyle. Stunning details in this piece
Bio-mechanical
This is a machine like form of art that sometimes combines humans with machines. If you are familiar with HR Geiger’s artwork then you’ll be familiar with bio-mechanical artwork.
H.R.Giger inspired tattoo by Kyle
Memorialize Children's design/drawings
We love to do these types of designs! We love doing these Types of designs! They allow us to capture your child's innocence in a drawing that they've done for you. Allowing you to memorialize those moments so you can enjoy them at any time!
Cyber Sigilism
Cyber sigilism is a modern, digital-age aesthetic. Combining 1990s neo-tribal tattoo art with futuristic, gothic, and occult themes. Characterized by sharp, thin-lined, black ink, it often features abstract, symmetrical shapes resembling biomechanical circuitry or thorny, skeletal, "sigil-like" patterns.
Color
Colored tattoos can be done in vivid or subtle tones, depending on the effect the tattoo artist is trying to achieve.
New School
Unlike the Neo Traditional style, New School tattoos push the limits of believability and color palette.
It often has a “cartoon” look to it, with exaggerated facial features, almost like a caricature.
The general rules for New School styles are:
Common themes are:
It often has a “cartoon” look to it, with exaggerated facial features, almost like a caricature.
The general rules for New School styles are:
- Use bright colors
- Go for a 3-D “graffiti” effect
- If you’re doing a design with a face, make the features much larger than they would be in real life (big eyes, big teeth, and/or big nose). Slightly exaggerated features.
Common themes are:
- Animals
- Skulls
- Cartoon characters
- Food
Embroidery Tattoos
Although we don't have an in house artist who does this style, there are some amazing local artists that do.
Old School (American Traditional)
Old School (AKA. Old Skool or American Traditional) tattoos are usually images that are two-dimensional, bold colors using only a simple color palette and low intricacy/detail. Popular in the 1800's and are also referred to as nautical tattoos.
These include mermaids, ships, anchors, pin ups, banners and sparrows (See the full list below). They consisted of bold, blue-black outlines, usually filled with solid red and green with rare additions of blue, yellow, brown and purple; with little or no shading.
Norman Keith Collins, also known as “Sailor Jerry" is one of the most well known traditional tattoo artists. Thicker lines are used and the inspiration is typically nautical and military in theme. Using Eagles, anchors, swallows,ships, hearts and banners.
The most common things we see in Traditional tattoos.
These include mermaids, ships, anchors, pin ups, banners and sparrows (See the full list below). They consisted of bold, blue-black outlines, usually filled with solid red and green with rare additions of blue, yellow, brown and purple; with little or no shading.
Norman Keith Collins, also known as “Sailor Jerry" is one of the most well known traditional tattoo artists. Thicker lines are used and the inspiration is typically nautical and military in theme. Using Eagles, anchors, swallows,ships, hearts and banners.
The most common things we see in Traditional tattoos.
- Roses
- Panthers
- Tigers
- Flowers
- Women’s faces
- Pin up girls
- Sailboats
- Compasses
- Watches
- Anchors
- Knives
- Skulls
- Snakes
- Eagles
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Swallows
Traditional Style sailing ship with background 1/2 sleeve
White Ink Tattoos
White ink leaves you with a tattoo that looks more like a scar or skin discoloration. Over time it can turn pink, yellow or beige. It may also completely fade away within the healing phase or months after. Many tattoo artists will advise their clients to add a pale blue, pale yellow or pale purple to add another pigment to which the white can grab hold.
White ink is great when used in small areas, like edging out a flower, highlight as an accent to the tattoo or to use for reflection points on tattoos; meant to show a representation of reflections. When used in larger areas, they tend to not hold up well and tend to fade out completely within a year or less depending on how much the tattoo is exposed to sun light.
White ink is great when used in small areas, like edging out a flower, highlight as an accent to the tattoo or to use for reflection points on tattoos; meant to show a representation of reflections. When used in larger areas, they tend to not hold up well and tend to fade out completely within a year or less depending on how much the tattoo is exposed to sun light.
In this tattoo of a wine screw you can see how white highlights really make this piece pop. As a highlight, white is amazing, on it's own it tends to blend into your skin too much to be appreciated.
This (1 month old) Harper signature white ink tattoo is very hard to see. This is why we don't use white on it's own, it tends to fade into your own skin tone.
Cover Up or Re-working
Using color and technique to hide an old tattoo with a new tattoo or just having someone re line and Re color and old tattoo so that it looks as it should. Many make the mistake of using the wrong cover design or wrong colors to cover – causing the old piece to resurface through the new one. Make sure you have an experienced artist do this for you.
Kyle used a beautiful Orchid to cover this old tattoo and 6 inch scar.
Geometric
Sacred geometry tattoos are spiritual in nature and have a religious significance. It has many motifs, one being the very popular, Flower of Life or another variation, Metatron's Cube (based off the original Flower of Life). The nautilus shell, Ouroborus and Mandala, are also part of this group.
Mathematical patterns, dot-work, beading style accents, and hints of color, are also found in this incredibly detailed and delicate style.
Polygon
A Polygon style is any 2-dimensional shape formed with straight lines. Triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, rectangles, and hexagons are all examples of polygons. It's also very close to an abstract style.
A Polygon base (triangle) with rose, re worked by Ryan. Filling out the rose and coloring the background, gave it a more completed look
Neo Traditional or Modern Traditional
Neo traditional tattoos can be considered a more modern version of American Traditional. Neo Traditional means, traditional with newer elements added to the design. This tattoo style began in the 1980's and refers to a tattoo style that is bold and bright with lower intricacy. While Neo Traditional style tattoos are still 2-D and very technical, they use different line weights, more subtle gradients, additional colors, and more intricate details.
Contemporary & fantastical designs, combining multiple styles of tattooing into one piece. It's distinct from the old school style in that it contains more elaborate blending and shading gradations with a more extensive color palette. Imagery should have realistic proportions.
With new school, it’s all about free-styling. New school steers away from traditionalism; it’s all unique patterns and custom ideas. It's almost a combination of hip-hop and graffiti styles: jagged edges and bubbly lettering. With new techniques on the rise, modern equipment, and advances in the industry, the new school style is becoming more and more influential.
Contemporary & fantastical designs, combining multiple styles of tattooing into one piece. It's distinct from the old school style in that it contains more elaborate blending and shading gradations with a more extensive color palette. Imagery should have realistic proportions.
With new school, it’s all about free-styling. New school steers away from traditionalism; it’s all unique patterns and custom ideas. It's almost a combination of hip-hop and graffiti styles: jagged edges and bubbly lettering. With new techniques on the rise, modern equipment, and advances in the industry, the new school style is becoming more and more influential.
Colorful seahorse tattoo by Kyle
We see these used in Neo-traditional work:
- Native American portraits
- Animals
- Flowers
- Birds