50+ unique and trending ideas for men’s and women’s neo-traditional tattoos. More than 10 different groups: women’s portraits, Japanese-themed, skulls, and more.
Table of Contents
Japanese and American traditional tattoos have always been timeless and their popularity has not decreased. However, now they have a very serious competitor – neo-traditional tattoos. They allow you to embody the most daring ideas using bright colors and stylish drawings.
Note:Before choosing a tattoo idea, you should be sure to read the cautions and contraindications.
Why Is Neo-Traditional Tattoo a Good Choice?
Neo-traditional tattoos are a logical development of traditional tattoos. They allow you to embody any idea and theme just like the traditional ones but with several significant differences.
- ? Bright colors. Neo-traditional tattoos are more like illustrations. To create them, they use bright colors in the same color scheme.
- ? Volumetrics. In them, there is an effect of darkening. This allows you to create a three-dimensional drawing.
- ? Emphasizes musculature. The volume of the picture can emphasize the relief of your body and focus attention on the musculature.
- ? Clear lines. Neo-traditional tattoos use lines of varying thicknesses. Because of this, the pattern is better readable from a distance.
- ? Live drawing. The composition can include a light source as a design element that will make your tattoo more lively.
Neo-Traditional Tattoo Ideas for Men & Women
We’ve collected 60+ neo-traditional tattoo ideas for men and women and highlighted the 10 most popular categories:
- ? Animals;
- ? Birds;
- ? Women’s Portraits;
- ? Japanese-themed;
- ? Skulls;
- ? Flowers;
- ? Butterflies;
- ? Dagger;
- ? Owl;
- ? Snake.
??? Bonus: for each symbol or composition of the neo-traditional men & women tattoos, we’ve compiled the meanings so you don’t have to look them up again.
? Let’s get to choosing!
Animals
Neo-traditional animal tattoos look favorably on any part of the body. However, most often they are done on the arms from shoulder to elbow or from elbow to wrist. Among the most popular ideas of female neo-traditional tattoos are bunnies, squirrels, and cats. Men prefer to get tattoos of tigers, bears, lions, and even deer.
Below we list interpretations of the most popular male and female neo-traditional animal tattoo ideas.
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Birds
Neo-traditional bird tattoos are also often done on the arm (up to the elbow and above the elbow). Girls prefer to do such drawings on the hips, emphasizing the lines of their bodies. The most popular birds are tits, crows, bullfinches, and ducks.
In general, the tattoo of the bird always means something sublime – the desire for vast expanses of the sky, daydreaming, a tendency to daydream, a sense of flight, and weightlessness. In most cultures, the bird is firmly associated with freedom, the divine will.
? BluebirdCourage;Endurance;Ability to adapt to any conditions;Loyalty;Fairness.
? RavenMilitancy;Courage;Wisdom.
? BullfinchFreedom;Confidence;Fortitude;Agility;Independence; Courage; Confidence.
? DuckIntegrity; Simplicity;Sensitivity;Resourcefulness
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Women’s Portraits
Women’s porters in the non-traditional version look very elegant. The lines of different thicknesses emphasize the contours of the face and make the picture more expressive. Such tattoos are also mostly done on the hands of both men and women.
The prototype of a female portrait can be anyone: a character from literature, a movie, a deity, and just a beautiful girl.
A neo-traditional female portrait tattoo can have the following meanings:
- ? Beauty;
- ? Inspiration;
- ? Virtues;
- ? Inner Power;
- ? Love;
- ? Patronage of the Muses;
- ? Modesty;
- ? Responsiveness.
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Japanese-Themed
Neo-traditional Japanese-style tattoos are bright and deep in color. The most popular ideas for such tattoos do not take folklore as a basis but simply concentrate on the visual style and presentation. Most often you can find tattoos with a snake, flowers, skulls, portraits, birds, and animals.
We have already described the meanings of these elements in the article, so you can check out the links above.
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Skulls
Neo-traditional skull tattoos are complemented by other elements. These can be flowers, daggers, animals, and so on. The use of lines of different widths also makes the drawing look like an illustration. In the case of skulls, this is a huge plus as the composition will look more coherent and contrasting.
The neo-traditional skull tattoo is a symbol of sacrifice and forgiveness. This meaning is borrowed from Christian canons. However, such drawings can also have the following meanings:
- ? Power;
- ? Protection;
- ? Power;
- ? Significant change of life;
- ? Overcoming a great calamity.
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Flowers
Flowers are one of the most popular ideas for neo-traditional tattoos. This is because the very idea of flowers in the form of a tattoo is very popular, and the fact that in the neo-traditional version they look more refined and elegant. Such drawings can be done on the arms, legs, shoulders, on or under the breast.
The main leitmotif of the colors is joy and vitality. They are always associated with springtime and the beginning of a new life. In some cases, flowers can have the following meanings:
- ? Love;
- ? Passion;
- ? Freshness;
- ? Unity;
- ? Vitality.
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Butterflies
The idea of the butterfly tattoo has a deep history. The Indians believed that this insect was a reincarnation of the soul of fallen warriors. Therefore, such a tattoo has always conveyed the connection between close people.
Now the neo-traditional butterfly tattoo is chosen because of the bright and symmetrical coloring of the animal. It allows you to take a picture that will attract people’s eyes.
Neo-traditional butterfly tattoos can have the following meanings:
- ? Independence;
- ? Freedom;
- ? Courage;
- ? Determination.
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Dagger
The neo-traditional dagger tattoo is often complemented by other elements. For example, a snake, flowers, skull, and so on can wind around the dagger. Such tattoos are done by people with strong and strong-willed characters, as the dagger symbolizes the desire to protect themselves and others.
In some cases, neo-traditional tattoos with a dagger can have the following meanings:
- ?Determination;
- ?Power;
- ?Brutality;
- ?Honor;
- ?Courage;
- ?Fortitude;
- ?Willpower.
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Owl
In a separate category, we put the neo-traditional tattoos of owls as men and women do them more often than any other pictures of birds.
Tattoos with an owl are most often done by men on the chest in the form of a complete composition with other elements. For example, in addition, you can depict leaves, flowers, swords, and so on.
Such tattoos can have the following meanings:
- ? Wisdom;
- ? Knowledge;
- ? Life experience;
- ? Prudence.
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Snake
Neo-traditional snake tattoos, like the owl tattoo, are often complemented by other elements. For example, a snake can be upholstered around a blade, skull, flower, or even a deity.
Such a drawing has contradictory meanings. For example, in the Bible the snake symbolizes temptation, and in medicine – wisdom and knowledge.
Neo-traditional snake tattoos can also have the following symbols:
- ? Serenity;
- ? Poise;
- ? Protection;
- ? Nobility;
- ? Wealth.
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