35 Minimalist Tattoos That Are Impossibly Pretty

byChloe Metzger 3 months ago

35 Start slideshow

Photo: Getty Images

If cherries and black-star tattoos were the hallmark of ‘90s style, then teeny, tiny, barely-there tattoos are the reigning symbol of today. Call it the Instagram curse, where everything in our lives must be surrounded by white, blank space to be considered chic and picture-worthy, but tattoos have taken on a definitive minimalist vibe, and we’re very, very much into the trend.

MORE: The Best Moisturizers for Dry, Sensitive Skin

From scattered finger dots to sinewy forearm arrows and lines, minimalist tattoos have become the ultimate 20-something staple, and they’re just as addicting to look at as they are to actually get (except, you know, way less painful). So whether you’re looking for inspo for your next tattoo, or you just want some ridiculously pretty pictures to dreamily look at, we’ve got you covered. Scroll down to see our 25 favorite designs, and then grab your phone—you’ll definitely want to make an appointment to get inked by the end this.

MORE: The 6 Tattoo Trends Blowing Up Your Instagram Feed in 2018

Published December 2016. Updated November 2018.

0 Thoughts?

1 of 35

View this post on Instagram

Handpoked yesterday. Design by @daily_minimal check out his work! #handpoked #handmade #nomachine #sansmachine #handpushed #sticknpoke #stickandpoke #sticknpoketattoo #tattoo #tatuajes #tatuaggio #tatuagem #handpokers #dailyminimal #minimal #minimalism #circles #optic #skin #jewel

A post shared by HANDPOKE ONLY ~ by Nano ✌️ (@pontotattoo) on Nov 9, 2016 at 7:02am PST

Photo: Instagram/@pontotattoo

View this post on Instagram

#Dots by @soltattoo · Seoul 🇰🇷 #tattoo #littletattoos #smalltattoos #life #art #awesome #nature #woman #love #artists #tattoos #tattoofilter #tattoos #artist #tattooart #tf #minimalism

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Oct 30, 2016 at 4:55am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

귀에는 시술을 안해드린다고 공지를 적어놓긴했습니다만. 워낙 원하시는 부위이시고 좋지않을수도있는 결과물에 대한 상의끝에 간단한 십자가로 진행해드렸습니다. . . . #여자타투이스트 #여성타투이스트 #타투 #타투서언 #서언타투 #라인타투 #디자인타투 #십자가타투 #미니타투 #타투이스트서언 #타투도안 #tattoo #tattoos #linetattoo #tattooseoeon #tattooistseoeon #seoeontattoo #vintagetattoo #designtattoo #koreatattooist #seoultattooist #minitattoo #minimaltattoo

A post shared by 타투이스트서언(tattooistseoeon) (@seoeontattoo) on Nov 10, 2015 at 2:27am PST

Photo: Instagram/@seoeontattoo

View this post on Instagram

#Tree #tattoo by @stellatxttoo · @goldeniron_tattoos_toronto Canada 🇨🇦 #littletattoos #life #art #awesome #nature #woman #love #artists #tattoos #tattoofilter #tattoos #artist #tattooart #tf #smalltattoos

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Oct 16, 2016 at 6:19am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

Paper plane by @lindsayapriltattoo · @goldeniron_tattoos_toronto Canada #smalltattoos #littletattoos #life #art #awesome #nature #woman #love #artists

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Aug 22, 2016 at 10:16am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

Little #elephant by @tattooist_doy · Seoul 🇰🇷 #littletattoos #life #art #awesome #nature #woman #love #artists #tattoos #tattoofilter #tattoos #smalltattoos #tattoofilter #tattoos #artist #tattooart #tf

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Sep 23, 2016 at 5:22am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

#Handpoked by @pontotattoo · @iristattooart Buenos Aires #littletattoos #life #art #awesome #nature #woman #love #artists #tattoos #smalltattoos

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Aug 25, 2016 at 10:03am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

Handpoked this mehndi inspired ornament a few days ago! #handpoked #handpoke #handpushed #handmade #sticknpoke #stickandpoke #stickandpoketattoo #tattoo #tatuagem #tatuaggio #tatuaje #tatuagem #fingertattoo #dedos #finger #ringfinger #mehndi #mehndiart #ornaments

A post shared by HANDPOKE ONLY ~ by Nano ✌️ (@pontotattoo) on Jul 28, 2016 at 8:56am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@pontotattoo

View this post on Instagram

Minimalist Aquarius constellation #tattoo by Lara @laramaju · @cocoschwarz Berlin · via @tattoofilter #littletattoos #smalltattoos #life #family #art #girls #fashion #style #awesome #tattoofilter #tattoos #tatuaje #artista #tatuajes

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on May 12, 2016 at 10:07am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoo

View this post on Instagram

#Handpoked avocado #tattoo by Nano @pontotattoo #littletattoos #smalltattoos #life #love #art #girls #fashion #style #awesome #tattoofilter #tattoos

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Dec 30, 2015 at 10:16am PST

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

#littletattoo inspired by #Michaelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam', by @jayganzi via @tattoofilter #tattoo #smalltattoo #art #awesome #life #love #girls #fashion #style #fineliner #tattoofilter

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Sep 18, 2015 at 10:04am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

'Create yourself' #matchingtattoo on @goenke, via @tattoofilter #tattoofilter #life #love #girls #tattoo #fashion #art #awesome #littletattoo #smalltattoo #style #quotes

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Sep 7, 2015 at 10:01am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

Ampersand #tattoo on @penelopefabia, via @tattoofilter #littletattoo #smalltattoo #art #girls #awesome #life #love #fashion #minimal

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Sep 2, 2015 at 3:59am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

Another #beautiful piece by the talented @seoeontattoo, #quaver #tattoo on the #tragus #littletattoo #art #awesome #girls #life #love #music

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Feb 22, 2015 at 11:15am PST

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

두번째 받으신 손가락 타투! 이번에도 관리 화이팅입니다 ㅎ . . . #여자타투이스트 #여성타투이스트 #타투 #타투서언 #서언타투 #라인타투 #디자인타투 #심볼타투 #미니타투 #손가락타투 #타투이스트서언 #타투도안 #tattoo #tattoos #linetattoo #tattooseoeon #tattooistseoeon #seoeontattoo #vintagetattoo #designtattoo #koreatattooist #seoultattooist #handtattoo #fingertattoo #symboltattoo #minimaltattoo

A post shared by 타투이스트서언(tattooistseoeon) (@seoeontattoo) on Feb 19, 2016 at 7:49pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@seoeontattoo

Photo: Instagram/@drag_ink

View this post on Instagram

발찌대신* . . . #여자타투이스트 #여성타투이스트 #타투 #타투서언 #서언타투 #라인타투 #디자인타투 #미니멀타투 #발찌타투 #발가락타투 #타투이스트서언 #타투도안 #tattoo #tattoos #linetattoo #tattooseoeon #tattooistseoeon #seoeontattoo #vintagetattoo #designtattoo #koreatattooist #seoultattooist #minimaltattoo #minitattoo #blackwork #blacktattoo

A post shared by 타투이스트서언(tattooistseoeon) (@seoeontattoo) on Jan 11, 2016 at 1:02am PST

Photo: Instagram/@seoeeontattoo

View this post on Instagram

낙서느낌으로:) . . . #여자타투이스트 #여성타투이스트 #타투 #타투서언 #서언타투 #라인타투 #디자인타투 #미니타투 #팔타투 #낙서타투 #타투이스트서언 #타투도안 #tattoo #tattoos #linetattoo #tattooseoeon #tattooistseoeon #seoeontattoo #vintagetattoo #designtattoo #koreatattooist #seoultattooist #drawingtattoo #sketchtattoo #minimaltattoo

A post shared by 타투이스트서언(tattooistseoeon) (@seoeontattoo) on Aug 13, 2015 at 2:21am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@seoeontattoo

View this post on Instagram

Home-made tattoos : a very, very small map for my old flat-mate, traded for a plant : 2016

A post shared by stanislava pinchuk (@m_i_s_o_) on Nov 15, 2016 at 1:35pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@m_i_s_o

View this post on Instagram

: home-made tattoos : Sybille's weaving pattern on her hand - traded for hoop earrings woven from my hair (for fucking real). @sybille_paulsen

A post shared by stanislava pinchuk (@m_i_s_o_) on Apr 19, 2016 at 3:15pm PDT

Photo: Instagram/@m_i_s_o

View this post on Instagram

“Expect nothing,” wise matching words by @balazsbercsenyi · NYC 🇺🇸

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Nov 16, 2018 at 8:19am PST

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

@banksy's balloon girl by @mjtattooing · @west4tattoo NYC 🇺🇸

A post shared by Little Tattoos (@little.tattoos) on Nov 20, 2018 at 8:35am PST

Photo: Instagram/@little.tattoos

View this post on Instagram

Tiny wave 🌊 . . . . . . . . . . #art #tattoo #handpoke #handpokedtattoo #handpokedtattoos #handpoker #handpoked #stickandpoke #stickandpoketattoos #wave #wavetattoo #ocean #oceantattoo #foottattoo #littletattoo #smalltattoo #tinytattoo #minimalist #minimalisttattoo #minimalism #finelineart #machinefreetattoo #finelinetattoo #stickandpoketattoo #machinefree #dotwork #blackwork #vancouver #tattoos #inkdusttattoos

A post shared by Steph (@ink.dust) on Nov 22, 2018 at 3:53pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@ink.dust

View this post on Instagram

Wine anyone???🍷🥂 #tattoo#tattoo#small#smalltattoo#minimalism#minimalist#minimalisttattoo#wine#glass#wineglass#wirst#wristtattoo#wineglasstattoo#singaporetattoo#bugistattoo#singaporetattooartist#tattooist#tattooartist#alanchiam83

A post shared by Alan Chiam (@alanchiam83) on Nov 22, 2018 at 7:10pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@alanchiam83

View this post on Instagram

Tout petit petit tattoo ! ☀️Pour la belle @chloeb._photography et sa maman 🖤. Silhouette de la mère et sa fille (design pas de moi, demande spéciale et personnelle 😜). M.e.r.c.i 🙏🏽 . . . #Stbarth #stbarts #stbarths #stbartstyle #stbarthtattoo #sbh #gustavia #goodvibes #tattoo #graphicart #graphictattoo #blacktattoo #tattooideas #minimalism #minimalist #minimalisttattoo #ink #inked #islandtattoo #stbarthelemy #caribbeantattoo #caribbeangirl #youngtattoers #stbarthvibes #flashtattoo #flashworker #montreal #montrealtattoo #stbarthtattooartist

A post shared by • Bly Tattoo • (@bly__tattoo) on Nov 22, 2018 at 3:41pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@bly_tattoo

View this post on Instagram

• S Y M B O L S • . . . [tags] #simbolstattoo #symbols #tattoo #handpoke #moontattoo #stickpoketattoo #tattoergirl #handpoked #handpokedtattoo #freemachinetattoo #tattooist #tattooer #minimalisttattoo #tinytattoo #flashtattoo #lazytattoo #bogotá #ilovebogota #art #passion #iloveit #lotustattoo #triangule #dots

A post shared by Fernanda Villota (@deojosgrandes) on Nov 22, 2018 at 10:54am PST

Photo: Instagram/@fernanda_villota_v

View this post on Instagram

Repost from @juan_blat_tatuajes Esperaba conocer el qué, el cuándo y el quién... y al final obtuve las respuestas 😉 I waited for what, when and who... and finally I got the answers 😉 #fotodeldia #photooftheday #picoftheday #instafoto #instaphoto #laberinto #labyrinth #tatuaje #tatoo #originaltattoo #cooltattoos #nicetattoo #tattooporn #tattoofan #tattooartist #tattoart #niceink #minimalisttattoo #autoconocimiento #selfconscious #selfconsciousness

A post shared by Architect...life observer (@arquitopias_miguel) on Nov 22, 2018 at 7:18am PST

Photo: Instagram/@arquitopias_miguel

View this post on Instagram

” With a brave heart anything is possible “🐘 • Artist : Basnik Heartdog ( ช่างบาส ) • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IG : inkmortalthailand More information : สอบถามข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมได้ที่ 👇🏻 Inbox (FB) : Inkmortal Tattoo BKK Tel : 087-337-2696, ‭090-926-8999‬ ‭Line : ‬https://line.me/ti/p/cdUMNQA70N #inkmortalthailand #inkmortaltattoobkk #tattoo #tattoobkk #tattoothailand #minimalisttattoo #tinyelephant #elephanttattoo #khaosanroad

A post shared by • INKMORTAL TATTOO STUDIO • (@inkmortalthailand) on Nov 21, 2018 at 8:29pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@inkmortalthailand

View this post on Instagram

Gaviotas ⚡️🖤⚠️😻 Info y citas: 3175737276

A post shared by Alto Voltaje (@altovoltaje_tattoo) on Nov 17, 2018 at 4:42pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@altovotaje_tattoo

View this post on Instagram

#tattooforgirls #tattoolovers #tattoomodels #tattootravel #tattoo #tattoolove #minimalisttattoo #smalltattoo #starstattoo #startattoo #tattoostars #konwenans #jeleniagora

A post shared by Konwenans (@konwenans.studio) on Nov 21, 2018 at 7:32am PST

Photo: Instagram/@konwenans.studio

View this post on Instagram

Bom dia! Obrigada a todos pelas mensagens 🎀 Atendendo em estúdio privado Com hora marcada 🇧🇷 Bairro Petrópolis - Porto Alegre 🇧🇷 Agendamentos por DM Lembrando que no dia 10/dez estarei na feira de arte independente da @acasacc com flashzinhos de 50 a 150 e estarei aceitando cartão! Além de mim terá muito mais atrações nesse pátio lindo e vibes... Vai no perfil deles e se informa sobre o evento! Na semana estarei postando no stories mais infos. #fineliners #finelining #rose #tinytattoos #smalltattoos #microtattoo #tatuagensfemininas #tinytattoo #finelinetattoo #fineline #delicatetattoo #minimalista #art #minimalisttattoo #minimalists #tattoobrasil #femaletattooartist #tattooartist

A post shared by Evelyn Hell Tattoo (@evyhelltattoo) on Nov 21, 2018 at 5:33am PST

Photo: Instagram/@evyhelltattoo

View this post on Instagram

Aquela Tattoo minimalista e delicada ❤️ ⚓️ #minimalismo #minimalisttattoo #tattoodelicada #tattooporelas #tattoodasminas #ancoratattoo #tattoofineline #arttattoo

A post shared by Tamires Giarola (@tamiresgiarolaink) on Nov 20, 2018 at 3:36pm PST

Photo: Instagram/@tamiresgiarolaink

View this post on Instagram

Pizza anyone? #pizza #pizzas #pizzatime #pizzatattoo #pizzalovers #pizzalover #napoli #naplesitaly #igersnapoli #napolifoodporn #smalltattoo #smalltattoos #fineliner #tattoofineline #tattoo #tattoos #ink #inked #tinytattoo #tinytattoos #smallthings #pizzaslice #italy #minimaltattoo #minimaltattoos #minimalism #minimalisttattoo #cute

A post shared by ☞ Cabiria Tattoo Studio ☜ (@cabiriatattoo) on Nov 19, 2018 at 6:05am PST

Photo: Instagram/@cabiriatattoo

View this post on Instagram

🎨🖌️🌙 tattoo com @samaraoliveirag 🙏 Whatsapp para orçamento (38) 99362615 #tattoodelicada #tattoolua #saturno #minimalisttattoo #tattoofeminina #tattooja #tattoo2me #tattoofineline

A post shared by Noé Vaz (@noah__vaz) on Nov 19, 2018 at 5:59am PST

Photo: Instagram/@noah_vaz

Next slideshow starts in 10s