25 Banging Behind Ear Tattoos That You’re Going to Want

Are you looking for the perfect place to put for your next tattoo? You might be after a place that offers a touch of discretion which makes behind ear tattoos a perfect choice. However, if this is your first tattoo, you might want to hold off until you’ve been tattooed elsewhere as the experience of getting tattooed behind the ear is unique. If you poke the area of skin there, you’ll notice that there’s not much between the skin and the skull, and getting a tattoo there will literally make your skull rattle.

You might be into that, but we just wanted to offer a quick word of caution. Behind ear tattoos are especially great because they’re slightly obscured. By using the natural curved shape of the ear as a guide, tattoo artists can transform the area into the perfect little canvas that compliments the shape of your ear. These tattoos are a bit risky as some employers still hold antiquated views about ink, but for the most part, this is not a controversial part of the body to get inked. Let’s take a look at some of the best designs for behind ear tattoos.

Check Out These Stunning Behind Ear Tattoos!

Make It Sting!

Do you have big Scorpio energy? If so, you might want to look into scorpion behind ear tattoos. This one is done in red ink which looks so fantastic!

Make It Sweet!

If scorpions aren’t your thing but a different insect is, consider butterfly behind ear tattoos! Don’t these three look so perfect in this spot? There’s a reason butterfly tattoos are so popular, they’re gorgeous!

Fun with Florals

How precious is this stylized rose tattoo? Once it’s healed, this going to look like it’s always been there. Minimalist designs work perfectly for behind ear tattoos.

Seeing Stars

Simplicity really is bliss and that’s the case for these behind ear tattoos of abstract stars. Go minimalist for a more decorative and ornamental vibe.

For the Boys

We’ve seen a few behind ear tattoos for women but we must stress that this type of tattoo is for everyone! Behind the ear tattoos for men tend to be slightly larger but we find a small example here in the form of a black tree.

Best Shapes for Behind Ear Tattoos

The best shape for behind ear tattoos is a curved crescent moon that sort of cups and hugs the ear. Here’s a sharp example of how excellent this type of shape looks in the placement.

Angels

Here are more examples of behind the ear tattoos for men. How cute are these little diamond-holding angels?

A Sense of Humor

It’s always good not to take yourself too seriously. This person has decided that funny behind ear tattoos are the way to go! We find the word, “lobotomy” hiding behind the ear.

Constellations

Constellation tattoos are popular astrology-themed tattoos. We find them as behind ear tattoos fairly often. Here’s a cute example of one for Scorpio.

Make Waves

How refreshing does this wave look? Notice how crisp and delicate the lines are in this tattoo? It’s likely the result of a stick and poke tattoo that’s applied without a tattoo gun and, instead, completely by hand.

Shark Attack

We find a shark that looks like it’s floating due to the delicate shadow beneath. If you’re inspired by wildlife, let it inform your behind ear tattoos!

Show Your Grit

Little daggers are popular among behind ear tattoos. Here’s a sharp little one that looks really neat. Tattoos of weapons look so tough in this placement.

Mandala- Inspired

Mandala-inspired behind ear tattoos are really popular due to their ability to “bloom” out from the ear. We love how this one also makes a star shape immediately behind the ear. How clever!

RELATED: 25 Behind the Ear Tattoos That Are the Perfect Little Peekaboo

Get Creepy

If you’ve got an inner goth, express yourself with little behind ear tattoos in the form of bats. They look so good in black silhouette here. Tattoos are all about self-expression so don’t let anyone discourage you from doing you.

For the Love of Family

“Sometimes it’s the smallest tattoos that mean the most,” the person who shared this image captioned it. How true! If you want a behind ear tattoo that celebrates your fam, go for it!

Spread Joy

It’s okay to get a little goofy with your behind ear tattoos! This smiley face looks perfectly placed to encourage others who behold it smile. How fun!

Sweetgrass

Sweetgrass is a sacred grass of the indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States. It is used as a smudge, in herbal medicine. We find a lovely braid of it in tattoo form that looks very nice!

Buzzing In Your Ear

For whatever reason, bugs are really popular behind ear tattoos. We found this bee to be absolutely charming. You could even go smaller for a more subtle tattoo.

Spaced Out

For this person’s behind ear tattoos, they decided to go for an entire cosmic scene! We find celestial bodies situated on a sparkling blue background. It’s an ambitious design that really paid off!

Take Flight

Notice how the shape of this wing fits so perfectly by following the natural shape of the ear. The most successful behind ear tattoos pull this off well.

Petite & Perfect

This little elephant tattoo is so charming. There’s not a whole lot going on but it’s immediately clear what the minimalist shape is supposed to represent.

Creepy-Crawly

This little spider tattoo is so crisp and dramatic that it’s almost unnerving. For behind ear tattoos, if you get an insect, you’ll be in good company. People really like that creep factor!

Mental Health Awareness

Semicolon tattoos are extremely popular behind ear tattoos because they symbolize mental health awareness and solidarity. We find this one designed inside a lotus, a symbol of rebirth and growth itself!

Music, Play On

Where are the music-lovers at? Let music inform your behind ear tattoos! This one is so crisp and sharp and if you’d like the same, find yourself a tattoo artist of great skill. You can even request the design be applied with a stick and poke method to make it expertly sharp.

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Let ’em Know You’re a Queen

Here’s a cute Queen of Hearts behind the ear tattoo! We think it looks so smart in red ink! Consider getting initials or other meaningful designs in a similar fashion!

There you go! We hope you enjoyed these behind ear tattoos that deserve to be shown off and never hidden. These designs look especially good behind the ear thanks to their shape and the peekaboo nature of these sorts of ear tattoos. Behind the ear tattoos are a huge trend at the moment, so don’t be shy about it, you’ll be in very good company!