25 Cool Rose Tattoos for Men

Rose tattoos for men are timeless designs and some of the most requested at tattoo shops around the world. In general, rose tattoos are equally as popular for men as for women and they are roundly beloved by most. Rose tattoos for men come in all shapes and sizes ranging from full-sleeve tattoos bursting with blooms to micro designs that take up very little real estate. Further, you will find them in a variety of colors and design schemes. By far, the most popular style of rose tattoos for men comes in black and grey ink.

We decided it was a great idea to survey the landscape of rose tattoos for men to discover the most popular designs today and others that push the envelope and realize new possibilities. If you are considering getting a rose tattoo, you have come to the right place, my friend. We’ve got some truly incredible ink to share with you. Scroll through our favorite designs below to find the right fit for you.

In a Sleeve

Let’s kick this list of rose tattoos for men off with a maximalist design that goes all-in. We find a sleeve tattoo with a skull wrapped around a rose and a snake below for good measure. If your motto is “go big or go home,” this approach could be right for you. You could do a full arm of roses or incorporate the flower into something larger for something that offers narrative.

On a Hand

Hand rose tattoos for men are extremely popular today. We find a cool black and grey one in the above example. It’s another tattoo that is not going to be for everyone but if you’re not afraid to get your hands inked, it could be the right direction to go in for you.

Go Traditional

Rose tattoos have been around for a very, very long time. They are hallmarks of traditional tattooing. In the above example, we find a very traditional take that harkens back to the likes of Sailor Jerry and Ed Hardy. If you want to celebrate the history of tattooing, go for a traditional or neo-traditional design.

Hyperrealism

On the other end of the spectrum, you could go in a more realistic style that looks more like an actual rose. Some artists are more skilled than others when it comes to this approach so make sure to do your homework to find an artist who is seasoned in realistic designs.

With a Dagger

The more traditional dagger and rose pairing finds the dagger piercing the rose (put a pin in that) but we liked this X-shape pairing that marries hard and soft, straight and organic.

With a Snake

Make your rose tattoo more evocative with the addition of a creature of some sort. This one finds a snake tangled up in the rose to great effect.

As Part of Something Larger

Finally, some color! Rose tattoos for men can put the focus on the bloom itself or act in concert with other design elements. As we mentioned in the intro, black is the color to beat when it comes to rose tattoos for men. But, colorful ink has its virtues.

Colorful Ink Rocks

Here’s a rose grouping done in a neo-traditional style. The artist has done an impeccable job with the shading here. Notice how offbeat these color choices are? We find golden orange and even blue in the leaves, for example. Experiment and play around until you find the right color combo for your design.

Really, It’s Fantastic

Color meets realism in this, dare we say, romantic tattoo. The buttery look of the texture on the petals is just remarkable. There is no denying this artist’s talent.

Neo-Noir

And, we’re back to black. In this design, we find a moody take with very bright brights and the darkest of blacks. They create a thrilling contrast that reads as ethereal and even haunting.

Crisp and Green

With rose tattoos for men, so many folks are rigid in their scope. But, there is so much you and an artist can cook up for your design. For instance, you could go with a radical color like this neon green and gold rose. Don’t forget that you make the rules.

Warm It Up

Most rose tattoos for men forgo ornamental elements and instead come off as straightforward. However, in the above example, we find some ornamentation at the wrist with an abstract shape that forms a V. Above it, we have the star of the show, the rose, which is magically engulfed in flames. What a winner!

3D

3D tattoos like this are a mildly popular trend today. We think it’s a really fresh effect that we would like to see more of among rose tattoos for men.

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The Shadow of the Rose

Here is one of the coolest rose tattoos for men we found. It takes the shape of a rose but is filled with a completely different scene. We find the features of a face inside, like a cutout of another world. We have never seen anything like it which means that it’s as fresh as it gets.

Go Small

We have seen a lot of big, bold rose tattoos for men so far but that’s not a rule. If you want something small, remember that sometimes the small things make the biggest impact. This tiny rose behind the ear looks fantastic.

It’s Not a Bad Deal

If you’re looking for small rose tattoos for men, consider something like this with bold, thick lines. It’s straightforward with no frills. This placement on the hand looks great but it could work just about anywhere. Might we suggest the neck?

Go Your Own Way

This rose tattoo looks both familiar and completely foreign. The shape of the bloom is off, and we mean that in a good way, as well as the shapes of the leaves which look rather spiky. You’re the master of your own tattoo destiny!

Blades ‘n Roses

Here’s another one of the offbeat rose tattoos for men. Instead of thorns, knives, cleavers, and all manner of blades have been swapped in. Often, the weirder the tattoo, the better. We’ll let you be the judge of that in this case.

Create Some Art

Wow! Here is one of the rose tattoos for men that is singular in its style. There’s some really delicate linework on display as well as masterful shading. We get texture, drama, and so much depth from this design.

Dark and Twisty

No one said the rose must be alive! We find one losing a petal as it sits in a bottle. This rather poetic design is the only one like it that we saw. We find it to be a refreshing idea and it looks really cool.

On the Knee

If you know what sort of rose tattoo you want but are unsure of placement, might we suggest your knee? Any subject matter that seems to radiate out in a circular fashion looks fantastic on the knees. That means that there are plenty of rose tattoos for men on plenty of knees out there.

With a Fade

Yes, we realize that a tattoo on the head is not going to be for everyone. But, we loved this one so much that we just had to share it with you. The cool green found in the stem and leaves is the perfect color to dramatically contrast the orange and red blossom. Notice that cool color fade? That’s money.

Mash ’em Up

A cool idea that tattoo artists have been exploring in recent years is to combine two traditional tattoo elements into one design. The classic scorpion tattoo meets a traditional rose in this macabre marriage. You could have a spider rose, a snake rose, or any other thing your heart desires.

Express Yourself

Here is one of the rose tattoos for men that has a sense of humor. “I’m not alright,” it says over a black blossom with a smiley face inside. We don’t know what’s going on and we don’t care. You get to decide the tone and style of your tattoo so that it best reflects your personal style.

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Bold Will Hold

We did not forget about that dagger piercing a rose that we promised way at the start of this list. We find it in the boldest black here with sharp, crisp, clean lines helping to really make it shine. For some, a time-tested design like this one will be best. Enjoy!

Gents, what did you think of these rose tattoos for men? We hope you feel inspired by them and that you will consider getting something similar tattooed. If you are still looking for more ink inspiration, keep reading. We’ve got plenty more rose tattoos to share with you.

Discover Even More, Cool Rose Tattoo Ideas Below:

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.

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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!