Neck tattoos are some of the most visible on the body. After the face, the neck gets the most sunlight. The face, hands, and neck are off-limits for most people who are considering where to get a tattoo. For some tattoo enthusiasts, it’s the only place left to get inked! Neck tattoos are tricky because the neck is a very sensitive part of the body.
Now, you’ll notice that most people who have neck tattoos already have been tattooed elsewhere. If you walked into your local tattoo parlor and asked for your first tattoo to be on the neck, you might get a funny look or even a suggestion against it from the artist. Most neck tattoos are modest, and they generally are micro tattoos or small tattoos that aren’t easily clocked. We decided to look for the most over-the-top and bold neck tattoos that really make a statement. Here are 40 big bold neck tattoos that were a real pain in the neck.
Take a Look At These Awesome Neck Tattoos for Ink Inspiration.
This woman has a very colorful chest piece and a great number of neck tattoos. The overall design makes us think of Disney animated films. We especially love all the vivid blues used.
Simply done in black ink, this neck tattoo takes up a lot of real estate. The abstract, geometric design contrasts with the butterfly tattoos that are already on her chest. The person calls her tattoo, “my neck jewelry.”
This simple black zigzag design uses the shape of the neck to inform its shape. As you can see, not the first time at the rodeo, she has cute hand tattoos as well.
If you look at this geometric design for too long you’ll start to feel like you’re falling forward. The tattoo artist used white ink on black to create this incredible design.
Take a closer look at this rose. As you can see, instead of petals, it’s made up of hundred-dollar bills. It’s one of the unique and creative neck tattoos that conveys a lot in one simple design.
The back of the neck is much easier both to tattoo and get tattooed. This beautiful black and grey ship is a stunner and one of the most evocative neck tattoos on this list.
You’ll notice there are two distinctly different neck tattoos. On the shoulders, a bat. Above the bat, there’s a more complicated design of a dove with rays of sunlight beaming down.
There is a lot of tattoo to take in here. We love how delicate the grey looks around the lips near the center of the chest. We love the architectural details here that really make this design stand out.
This handsome neck tattoo is mandala-inspired and is a stick and poke tattoo comprised mostly of dots. This photo must of been taken after the tattoo had healed a bit because the hair on the back of his head would have been shaved.
Death’s-head moths are popular designs for neck tattoos. For many, the tattoo will conjure memories of The Silence of the Lambs. There’s also a grenade on the side of his neck so we get that this person is into some macabre stuff.
Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine Chapel, God Created Adam, is beloved and instantly recognizable. This closeup of just the hands looks incredible and would be a great piece of inspiration for other neck tattoos.
We told you moths were popular neck tattoos! Here we have another death’s-head moth but this one’s a part of something more substantial. We love how two different styles of tattooing: fine line, and dot work are employed and contrast with one another.
Honeycomb Filler
The person who shared this image was proud of the “dot work honeycomb filler.” In addition to all those little dots, you are treated to a roaring black cat and stunning flowers. If you’re inspired by big cats, bring them to life as neck tattoos.
This pair of tiger eyes is certainly unique and kind of menacing. However, the eyes are beautiful and the texture and shading of the fur look almost like an abstract pattern.
This woman had her chest piece tattoo extended up to her chin. The tattoo is a dot work tattoo that looks fantastic. We love how the shape compliments the shape of the neck.
This tattoo design is wild! The shape like a combination of a Rorschach test and an owl with spread wings. The eyes of the owl are piercing. As you have seen, creatures right on the Adam’s apple are popular neck tattoos.
Diamonds are not this girl’s best friend. This colorful mandala-inspired tattoo includes a “necklace” of jewel shapes. Ornamental designs make for some of the best neck tattoos for women.
This huge floral tattoo was shared by the tattoo artist who completed it. She said the person getting the tattoo “Didn’t flinch once.” Which is impressive! These flowers are beautiful but they stretch from the ear all the way to the shoulder. We imagine something similar being popular for other neck tattoos.
Here’s another neck tattoo that stretches all the way from the ear to the shoulder. This abstract design looks almost like the stacked vertebrae of a spinal column.
“No matter how much you change, you still have to pay the price for the things you have done,” this tattoo reads. Which seems a bit bitter. We love the stylized lettering!
Gentlemen, giant flower neck tattoos are better than skulls. We would just like to put that out into the universe. This colorful chrysanthemum is another favorite.
The person who shared the image of their tattoo referred to it as a “sacred geometry” design. The tattoo looks like its made of thread! This geometric neck tattoo is a blast.
This black rose tattoo is incredible but it’s made even sweeter knowing that there’s another matching one on the other side of the neck. Matching neck tattoos are totally an option for the left and ride side of the neck.
How beautiful is this nightingale tattoo? You can get a slice of life tattooed on your neck like this by working with a skilled tattoo artist you trust.
We realize we’ve shown you a few moth neck tattoos at this point but we had to also share this one which has been completed with the most dramatic ink. How fun are these colors?
Take a close look at this wold tattoo and you’ll notice there’s an extra eye which is unnerving. The neon pink highlight color was an interesting choice that really pays off.
In this lovely tattoo, we find a lovely cat. If you’ve got a love for a furry friend, let them inform your neck tattoos!
Neck tattoos are not going to be for everyone. To begin with, they hurt. Secondly, not all of us have superiors at work who would understand. It takes courage to make a commitment like that. After all, one false move could potentially really mess your neck up. We don’t want people relegated to a life of turtlenecks and scarves.
Andrew is a Chicago-based writer who enjoys finding the best of the internet, obsessively making lists, and cooking for friends. After studying Film and Art History, he developed a deep love for both topics. Celebrity news, pop culture, and stories that bring people together are his passions.
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