As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve sounding out the end of yet another year, we totally get it if you’re itching for something different…
You may well be eyeballing the tattoos popping up on your feed and be feeling inspired to get your very first or add to your already growing collection. With so many to choose from, we’ve got your back and have rounded up the very best ink-redible tattoo trends for 2023.
Let’s dive in.
TREND 1 | MISMATCHED ‘IGNORANT’
You’ve most likely seen this trend in action if you’ve got a friend with a bunch of mismatched tattoos. It’s characterised by simple, one-off, often hand-drawn designs that scream an I-got-this-at-a-party aesthetic.
Coined by many celebrities (check out Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Scarlett Johansson for inspiration) that look like they’re been completely covered in stickers. It’s different and completely individual and that’s why we love it. If you jump on the bandwagon, simply choose whatever scribble, shape, or sentence you want — the more out there and random, the better.
TREND 2 | HAND POKE
Often called stick and poke tattoos, hand poke tattoos are going nowhere fast. They’re set to be a big hit, especially for those of you who are looking for something simple and delicate.
Instead of using a machine, artists hold the needle directly and dot to dot to create an image that’s often organic and ‘homemade’ in style. Don’t be fooled though, a good practitioner’s work should be indistinguishable from what’s achieved with a machine.
TREND 3 | MICRO REALISM
If you love the look of super-realistic-looking tattoos with a ton of detail, then ask your tattoo artist about micro-realism for a cute take on the trend. Micro realism tattoos take all the detail of realism tattoos but on a much smaller scale, made possible by advancements in ink and machine technology.
TREND 4 | PAINTING TATTOOS
Public Service Announcement: Painting tattoos will also be everywhere come 2023. Painting tattoos are a fantastic example of an old art form converted to a tattoo style. These have exploded in popularity recently because they take the quite stiff style of realism and micro realism and make it more soft and flowy. It really suits designs inspired by nature that really pop when done with colourful ink.
TREND 5 | GEOMETRIC FINE LINE
Another fun option in the new year will be anything fine line or geometric. Think shapes, designs, lines, and patterns with intricate detail that come together to create a delicate and elegant appearance. They’re subtle, discreet and a great choice for those who want a tattoo but don’t always want it to stand out.