Cool Back of the Neck Tattoos That Make a Statement

One of the most popular tattoo placements is one that most people can’t see! Yes, back of the neck tattoos are roundly loved despite the fact that a mirror is necessary for the person with one to see it. That makes these tattoos most interesting as they are expressly for the person who has the tattoo but also a treat for the beholder.

Back of the neck tattoos are popular for a variety of reasons but one draw of this placement is pain. The back of the neck is one of the least painful places on the body to get inked. Neck tattoos on the front and sides can be very sensitive but there are fewer nerve endings in the back making it an ideal place for a tattoo that won’t hurt too much. We rounded up some awesome examples of back of the neck tattoos to inspire your very own neck ink. Take a look!

Get Inspired for Your Own Ink with These Back of the Neck Tattoos!

Mother & Daughter

Mother-daughter tattoos are just the sweetest. They are fairly common as back of the neck tattoos. If you’re after a sweet family tattoo, your neck could be the perfect spot for it.

A Call for Calm

“Serenity,” this very delicate word tattoo says. The line is so fine here that we have to imagine that it was applied using the stick and poke method that results in the thinnest of lines.

Beautiful Butterfly

Butterfly tattoos are extremely popular on the back of the neck as the shape of a butterfly works well in the real estate. Black ink is all it takes for an evocative tattoo.

Sailor Moon Star Locket

Turn to pop culture for tattoo inspiration and you could walk away with something extremely meaningful to you. We find a locket from Sailor Moon in this tattoo which looks absolutely magical.

Lovely Doves

Simple lines are all it takes to bring one of our favorite back of the neck tattoos on this list to life. We find three doves in flight gracing this person’s neck.

A Longhorn

The back of the neck can be adorned with any design that you see fit. There are no rules! So, if you want a longhorn’s skull back there, by all means, go for it!

Leo Symbol

Astrology tattoos are really popular back of the neck tattoos. In this example, we find the symbol associated with Leo with the addition of a cute little, black heart.

Mandala-Inspired

How about this placement? We find a Mandala-inspired design here that creeps up into the hairline. It proves magical, almost elusive, and one of the coolest shapes for the back of the neck tattoos.

Eyes Back There

Most of us grew up hearing “I’ve got eyes in the back of my head,” from a parent or caretaker. This tattoo takes that literally! We found many back of the neck tattoos with eyes as it is a very popular design for the area.

Medusa

We are huge fans of Medusa tattoos. Here she is with glowing eyes and a head full of snakes. It works very well as a back of the neck tattoo. In fact, it’s a most arresting design.

Fern Frond

Botanical elements are huge among back of the neck tattoos. We find a fern frond here with a lovely, deep green. A slight highlight has been added to make it even more interesting.

Arya’s ‘Needle’

Any Game of Thrones fans out there? Here’s Arya’s sword named needle. Take a look at how fine those lines are! We imagine this one was completed by hand without the use of a tattoo gun. What a winner!

Celtic Swirls

Birth, death, rebirth or the “triple goddess” or the Holy Trinity… This Celtic symbol can mean a number of things. Celtic knots and other meaningful symbols are popular back of the neck tattoos. Choose one that means something special to you and go to town!

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Delicate Butterflies

A yellow ribbon is often considered a symbol of suicide prevention and awareness. We find it flanked by two stunning butterflies that look both delicate and vibrant with green and purple ink.

Bengal Tiger

Wow! How excellently did this tattoo of a Bengal tiger turn out? We love it paired with those very tiny botanicals that help sweeten the deal.

Sun & Moon

For back of the neck tattoos, sun and moons are wildly popular. This one done in black ink proves that simplicity is bliss.

Breathy Botanicals

Who can be mad about flowers? These dazzle even though they have been applied with standard black ink. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for your back of the neck tattoos. Go with something you love and walk away with a tattoo you cherish for life.

Dragonfly

One of the few back of the neck tattoos on this list with color, this dragonfly vibrates with color and movement. The lovely orange of the bug really pops off of a subtle, blue background.

Forever Love

Some of the most popular things ever to be tattooed are combined in this design that pairs heart symbols with an infinity one. Black and purple inks come together to produce a solid neck tattoo.

To the Letter

Well, we did not expect to fall in love with a letter tattoo but we absolutely have with this very detailed letter “S.” Clean lines and tidy work go a long way in making a tattoo successful.

Micro & Meaningful

For the faithful, cross tattoos are so very special. We find this simple one paired with lavender for a sweet look that makes a statement while still being understated and sweet.

New Beginnings

Here’s a symbol for new beginnings that has found its way on the back of the neck. It’s an interesting idea to have the symbol for growth “behind you.” Perhaps, this person feels it propels them forward.

Hot-Air Balloon

Who doesn’t love a micro tattoo that tells a story in a very tiny amount of real estate? How cute is this little hot-air balloon? It’s the perfect tattoo for an adventurer.

Gradient Snake

Snake tattoos are so elegant even if they are a touch creepy. Surprisingly, we did not find too many as back of the neck tattoos. However, this one does look very cool with a gradient effect that gets more intense as your eye travels down the design.

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Eye Flower

We leave you with a whimsical tattoo that imagines a human eye inside of a flower. It’s cute, a bit weird, and has been tattooed in bold, black ink with a fairly thick line. Express your singular point of view and you won’t live to regret it!

There you go! Back of the neck tattoos are so cool because they provide an opportunity to express yourself in a way that feels almost like a secret. If you’d like something to show off, consider something similar for your own neck tattoos!