21 Bold Black Rose Tattoos That Are As Beautiful As They Are Moody

Paint it black, baby. Rose tattoos are among some of the most popular designs requested at tattoo shops today and have been for centuries. Roses are widely used in traditional tattooing and have seen a modern makeover with buds resembling black roses in recent decades. Further, roses make for excellent “filler” which simply means they can be employed to cover blank space between larger elements of full or half-sleeve tattoos. Black rose tattoos take things to a whole new level!

Whether or not you want them incorporated into another design or to be the star of the show, you really can’t go wrong with black rose tattoos. We wanted to discover the latest and greatest black rose tattoo designs so we took to social media to find the tattoos people can’t stop talking about so that you have some truly inspired and handsome options to consider. Take a look at these black blossoms!

Traditional

This black rose tattoo is done in a traditional style but what makes it untraditional is the fact that only black ink has been used. It really makes a statement with all of that black ink and no one could miss it.

Silhouette

One of the most popular forms of black rose tattoos today are these silhouettes of roses. They look so fresh and modern and unlike much else.

Clean

We’ve got some wickedly clean lines with this black rose tattoo. Gentle shading helps bring depth to the petals which look soft next to the more rigid lines found in the leaves. We love a good contrast and this one is bringing it to the party.

Black with White

A little white ink can really make a black rose tattoo sing. In the above example, it has been used as a highlight to make the darker features of the design really pop.

We Gotta Hand It to You

As you have already seen, black rose tattoos are very popular on hands. The most popular style is a big rose that covers the back of the hand but it’s not your only option. You can go small for a dainty little detail like this.

Lit By a Star

Black, grey, and white all sing in harmony in this star-lit black rose tattoo that has some incredibly splendid details. The way the artist has played with light really makes the blossom look as if its made of silver.

Soft Texture

By letting some of the skin tone shine through this black rose tattoo, the artist has created a gentle texture that appears soft and supple. It’s a very cool effect and we did not see it a ton. So, you would have a pretty unique design if you went in this direction.

Negative

Are you getting major Andy Warhol vibes from this black rose tattoo? The saturation has seemingly been flipped here to create a truly fresh effect.

With Teeth

We’re not entirely sure what is going on here thematically, but this rose with a crescent moon and some teeth wrapped around it really caught our eye. Tattoos are all about self-expression and we encourage you to get as weird with your own as possible. The more “out there” it is the more fitting it will be for you.

Realism

We find some fairly impressive realism on display in this stunning, black rose tattoo. Every little bit of this design is on point. That. makes it one of our favorite black rose tattoos on this list.

A Pretty Pair

Why have one black rose tattoo when you can have two? In this fun design, there is not as much black on display which gives the overall look a lighter appeal.

Black Splash

This can be considered a splash tattoo or watercolor tattoo depending on who you are asking. Hallmarks of this style of tattooing include ink that looks like it’s bleeding just like water color pigments and splash marks that give the illusion of liquid.

Micro

Micro tattoos are hugely popular today and you could go very small with your black rose tattoo and be very pleased with the outcome. At times, it is the smallest things that make the biggest impressions.

RELATED: 33 Gorgeous Small Rose Tattoo Ideas

Cool Shapes

This is a really interesting black rose tattoo that looks almost like one of the tribal tattoos that were wildly popular a couple of decades ago. We’re not sure if that was the goal but we are sure that these shapes look very interesting and unlike anything else on this list.

A Letter Inside

Now, these black rose tattoos that look like silhouettes are really popular but you can still make one all your own. One such way is to include a letter or symbol inside that helps tell your story.

Black Magic

Here’s a magical, grey and black rose tattoo that brings whimsy. It looks utterly enchanting. If you would like something similarly bewitching, we encourage you to seek it out. This is a really cool one.

Neo-Traditional Fun

Neo-traditional tattoos marry old shapes and motifs to newer ideas and takes from today. This black rose tattoo looks both old and new, fresh and classic. We think it is a total blast on the back of the hand like this.

Keeping an Eye On It

if there’s one thing we know about tattoos it’s that people will put an eye on just about anything. Thanks to that detail, this black rose tattoo has a hint of mystery to it and a slight creepy factor. We’re all about it!

Understated

The artist swung for the fences with this paired-down black rose tattoo that boils the classic design down to the sum of its parts. There are no tiny details here, just thick, bold lines that look awesome.

Rose Window

Here’s an interesting concept for you to consider. We find a black rose tattoo that seems to be made of glass that has chipped and broken. It’s the only tattoo like it that we saw. It’s visually exciting and offers a bit of a narrative to go along with it.

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Singular Style

Finally, here’s a singular black rose tattoo that is done in a unique style that no one is going to be able to duplicate. The shapes in the leaves and the dramatically contrasting black and skin tone petals truly soar. This is also a very fun placement that we think a bunch of folks will enjoy.

There you go! We hope you enjoyed these black rose tattoos and found them to be cool and inspiring. As you have seen, black rose tattoos really deliver the drama so if you’re on the fence about getting one, you should hop right off and go to a trusty tattoo artist. If you’d like to see even more rose tattoos, keep reading!

Get Ink Inspiration from These Stunning Rose Tattoos.

Boom!

Let’s kick things off with a bang. We find a hyperrealistic design here with blooms that look as real as can be. This is such a lovely shape for placement on the thigh.

Less Is More

Here’s a design that’s going the more minimalist route. If you’re someone who lives by the mantra “less is more,” something understated like this could be the best option for you.

Just Lovely

If you really heart those rose blossoms, go right ahead and show that love. We find an anatomical heart here that’s sprouting some gorgeous pink flowers.

Micro Rose Tattoo

Micro tattoos are a huge trend today. Some are simple as is the one in the above example while others are incredibly detailed. Put a pin in the latter as we will get to one before this list is over.

In a Single Line

Another big tattoo trend today is single-line designs. Incredibly cool designs can be completed with one line as you can see in the above example.

All About the Shapes

Here’s one of the most unique rose tattoos on this list. We find petals that form independent shapes that seem to fit together like the pieces of a puzzle. Exhilirating!

Rainbow Rose

Yet another highly visible tattoo trend today comes in the form of a watercolor tattoo. We find all the colors of the rainbow in this example that looks like watercolor pigment swimming on paper.

Neo-Traditional Black and Red

Here’s a bold design that adopts some traditional elements while resulting in something completely new. It’s all about bold shapes and thick lines.

Black and Grey and White

Black and grey rose tattoos are very popular today. This one has the inclusion of white ink that adds a pop of highlight and dimension to the design. Artists experimenting with white is a rather new trend that is not going to slow anytime soon.

Don’t Make Me Blush

In this sensuous design, we find a blush rose next to some dark green leaves. Take a look at how fine those lines are they help give the design a soft texture.

Traditional

Here’s a very traditional interpretation of a rose. Hallmarks of traditional tattooing include basic shapes, thick lines, and understated shading. This one checks many of those boxes.

Traditional Part II

Traditional does not just mean black and grey. In fact, color is preferred for many old-school designs.

Traditional Part III

Here’s another traditional design that really pops. Did you notice the tiny heart at the center of the blossom? What a sweet touch.

Dream Magic

Take a look at this dreamy tattoo that finds realistic flowers paired with more ethereal imagery in the form of the moon and butterflies. The whole thing seems to glow with gold. Bravo!

Head of Roses

Here’s one of our favorite rose tattoos on this list. It takes a fresh approach to the color application as well as some bold textures. Find yourself a tattoo artist with a point of view and you could walk away with a real work of art.

Words in the Stem

Rose tattoos (and other flowers) with words or names written in place of a stem are very popular today. It’s a cute idea but it’s ubiquitous at this point. So, know, that if you go forward with this design, you’ll be in good company.

RELATED: 35 Fresh Flower Name Tattoo Ideas

Silhouette

Silhouette rose tattoos are mildly popular these days. Our favorites are the ones done in all black or, even better, all red ink. They have a touch of mystery to them that you just can’t beat.

Gothic Roses

A pair of gothic rose tattoos complete with spiderwebs have found their way onto this person’s chest. If you’d like a bold chest piece, it’s clear roses are a winning way to go.

Feeling (a Little) Blue

Here are some more micro rose tattoos. We find a touch of blue here that is such a darling detail.

Micro Realism

This tattoo is not exactly micro but its micro-details are immaculate. We imagine this very fine tattoo was completed with the stick and poke method which is done with a single needle by hand without a tattoo gun.

Sketchy

A cousin to the watercolor tattoo is the sketch tattoo. This style finds elements found in actual pencil-drawn designs that often include motion lines and other motifs seen mostly in animation.

Haunting

Wow! This breathy and ethereal design looks as if it’s been composed of smoke. This is one of the most interesting rose tattoos on the list.

Magic In Mini

Here’s another micro tattoo with tons of detail packed into such a small amount of real estate. It looks like a piece of jewelry.

Crisp

Here’s an example of a fine tattoo that’s not reinventing the wheel. It’s a standard design that’s just been expertly tattooed.

Delicate

Take a look at these razor-sharp lines. The result is an extremely delicate design that looks like it’s floating on the skin.

Dark Art

Chiaroscuro is a term of art that describes the use of strong contrasts between light and dark. We find that term applicable here in this showstopping back tattoo.

With Character

Have fun with your rose tattoos. The flowers can be the star of the show or simply supporting actors. They look excellent crowded around this owl.

Geometric

Work with your tattoo artist to discover the possibilities with your rose tattoos. This person has leaned into a geometric style to create a one-of-a-kind design.

Ribs and Roses

We like the thematic juxtaposition of life and death in this design that finds a ribcage filled with roses. You could interpret this as life from death or a number of ways.

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In Flames

We leave you with this fresh design that finds a rose on fire. The more unique and singular your rose tattoo design the better. Express yourself to the fullest and you’ll walk away with a design you’ll love forever.

There you have it! We hope you found some exciting rose tattoo designs to inspire your own rose tattoos. There’s no wrong or right way to go about it. Tattoos are all about self-expression and that means your rose tattoos can range from abstract to figurative and from black and grey to full color. If you loved these rose tattoos but want to expand your ink inspiration, take a look at these amazing birth flower tattoos for each month of the year!