Original & Inspired Arm Tattoos for Women

Guess what part of the body is the most popular to get tattooed? If you guessed arms, you would be correct. Arm tattoos for women and men are the most favored for a couple of reasons. First, the arms are some of the most visible parts of the bodies but that does not mean that arm tattoos can’t be easily hidden! Further, tattoos on the arms are some of the least painful.

Arm tattoos for women range from dainty micro tattoos to huge full-sleeve designs. That means there is a diversity of shape, design, placement, and style on display among these tattoos. If you’re considering an arm tattoo, you should take a look at the examples we collected from social media. They represent the latest and greatest tattoos that show the possibilities and limitations of arm tattoos for women. Let’s explore the world of arm tattoos!

Discover the Best Ideas for Arm Tattoos for Women!

Small & Cute

Micro tattoos are hugely popular especially for those who are getting their first tattoo. These tiny designs are completed relatively quickly and appear modest and understated. These three swallows are a great example.

Meow

Here’s another one of the small arm tattoos for women. Cat tattoos are very popular today for both pets and wild beasts. A very fine line and a pop of pink are all it takes to create a memorable design.

Butterfly

Butterfly tattoos are hugely popular today. We find one on the upper arm which is second only to the forearm in popularity among arm tattoos for women. Bold and black makes a statement.

Florals

Forearm tattoos land on the most popular location of all. Forearms have a great shape for elongated designs and make them the perfect spot for spilling florals or a slithering snake. In the above tattoo, we find a bit of both. This would be a great start to a half-sleeve tattoo.

Lily of the Valley

Here’s another example of another direction you can take your design. For arm tattoos for women, botanicals that stretch up the forearm are really popular. It’s easy to see why!

Scenes from the Upper Arm

Because the upper arm is thicker, you can get away with a landscape-style portrait or scene. In this example, we find a handsome crane wearing a hat.

Experiment with Color

If you’re not afraid of colorful ink, really lean into it. Watercolor tattoos are popular among arm tattoos for women today. The technique makes a tattoo appear as if it’s been painted on instead of tattooed.

Ornamental

Ornamental tattoos have always been popular. In this design, we find tons of tiny dots and fine lines that look as light as air. After you’ve decided on placement, consider the shape and make sure that it accentuates the area you want tattooed.

Mango

Arm tattoos for women are increasingly being completed using the stick and poke method to achieve ultra-fine lines and small designs. Notice how tiny the lines are that make up this mango? That’s done by hand and with a single needle.

Get Creative

Working with a tattoo artist you trust means that you can share your far-fetched ideas and request the artist realize it for you. In this design, we find a fish-peony creature that’s so evocative and cool. The sky’s the limit!

Split the Sun

Sun and moon tattoos are massively popular among arm tattoos for women. Turn to the heavens for ink inspiration and you won’t be sorry!

Mandala-Inspired

Mandala-inspired tattoos are some of the most sought-after designs today. Tons of people are drawn to the geometric patterns and the intricate detail that they can contain. Here’s a handsome example in black, grey, and red.

Pastels Pop

Single line tattoos are wildly popular and here is an example that has worked some tremendous color into its design. A rainbow of pastels really pop and look so fun and youthful.

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Everyday Objects

An emerging trend today is to get everyday objects as arm tattoos for women. Think a teacup, a chair, a kettle, a vase, etc. Elevating everyday objects to art is a fantastic idea for your own design. This fork is a surprising stunner.

Macabre

Arm tattoos for women are the most successful when they’re original and your own. In this tattoo, we find a woman carrying a skull with a rose in place of a head. It’s mysterious and odd which are great qualities for your tattoo!

Portriat

This is one of our favorite arm tattoos for women we stumbled across. Big, half-sleeve tattoos that fill the upper arm are especially nice if you’re not afraid of the commitment. We find magic in this expressive portrait. Wow!

A Feather

We stumbled across a ton of feather tattoos but none looked like this one. Black ink has been tossed out in favor of some vibrant colors that range from purple to seafoam. Although feather tattoos are common, you can still create a one-of-a-kind design.

Photorealism

Photorealism is a skill that only some tattoo artists are capable of achieving. However, some artists can bring a tattoo to life. In this example, we find a statue of Medusa that’s striking. Find a tattoo artist who can do something similar keep them close!

Peaceful

Here’s another example of a photorealistic tattoo of a statue. Lotus flowers and a halo-like circle complete this breathtaking arm tattoo.

Bear Girl

Sometimes called “Lady Head” tattoos, portraits are very popular among arm tattoos for women. We find goddesses, gypsies, and other faces among these tattoos. The artist who shared the above image called it “Bear Girl.”

Earth Mother

Here’s another example of the goddess arm tattoos for women. We find a tribute to the Earth Mother in this design which looks bewitching and magical.

Have No Fear

If you’re not afraid of a commitment, you can go with a bold and black arm tattoo. We find a fern tattooed with negative space to make it really pop. You can do something similar with other simply shaped objects to make a statement.

From Other Art

The artist has turned to tapestry to inform this half-sleeve design that looks like you’re looking at carpet and not a tattoo. What a dream of a tattoo! Art, in all its forms, is endlessly inspiring. Turn to it for a creative tattoo!

Really, Do It!

Where the last tattoo turned to tapestry, this one turns to paint to inform the design. We find two panels inspired by Van Gogh. Some of the best arm tattoos for women are inspired by different art forms.

Follow the Trends

Glitch tattoos are a huge trend today. Notice how this eye looks like it has waves going through it? That’s a hallmark of this trend that has really taken off in the last couple of years.

With Love

If you’ve got something to say, you can spread the word with ink. Arm tattoos for women of quotes and sentiments are extremely popular. In this warm example, we find “Do all things with love.”

Say Your Piece

Here’s another one of the arm tattoos for women that’s all about conveying an idea. “There is something you must always remember…” this watercolor tattoo says. “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

A Wrap

A really cool thing you can do with arm tattoos is to wrap an element around the arm. These flowers look as if they’re climbing up the arm. You can replicate this with anything long like a snake or a chain or a rope. You get the idea!

Anthropomorphism

Give a plant or animal human features and you’ve instantly made the creature more interesting. For arm tattoos for women, we often find plants and animals with the cutest little faces. You could call something similar your own!

Go Red

Red ink is such an upgrade over black ink arm tattoos for women. Red immediately reads more interesting to the eye and if you like the color, you should definitely consider it for your next tattoo.

Blackout

An unlikely trend today among arm tattoos for women are blackout tattoos. Some of these all-black tattoos are coverups while others are just a desire for a big block of black on the arm. It’s a huge time and pain commitment but the result definitely makes a statement.

Nostalgia

People love their Disney tattoos and you will find a ton of them on arms all around the world. Sleeping Beauty (AKA Princess Aurora) looks stunning here in the sketch style tattoo.

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Phoenix

We started this out with bird arm tattoos for women and we will end it with one of the most storied birds of all, the mythical Phoenix. We find this one drenched in color and flanked by some gorgeous peony flowers.

There you go! Did you find some amazing arm tattoos for women to inspire your own ink? We hope you got some ink inspiration as well as a better understanding of the possibilities and limitations of tattoos on the arms. For the most part, the sky’s the limit, so dream big and let an artist help you realize the perfect tattoo for you!