If you’re managing a tattoo parlour, you’re going to want to be able to communicate with your customers successfully about their design wants. Sometimes, you might even get customers who come in knowing that they want a tattoo, but without a fixed idea on what the design should actually look that.
In that moment, you’re going to be really glad that you’re up to date on all the latest tattoo trends and have plenty of inspiration to offer them. Most tattoo artists keep portfolios they can show off to their clients too, but if your portfolio is missing a key design trend in tattoos, you might lose that customer to an alternative studio in the future.
In this blog, we’re going to look at a variety of popular animal tattoos, where this trend originated, and what we can learn from it.
Tattoos depicting animals have their origins in ancient history, and the thinking behind them hasn’t changed much in the modern day. The popularity of the Harry Potter Patronus quiz should tell you all you need to know about the connection that many humans feel towards certain species of animals.
There are often animals that are stereotyped for particular traits, and many people who see themselves exhibiting similar traits find themselves feeling an affinity for the animal in question. For example, individuals who see themselves as loyal survivors might feel an affinity for the wolf. People who identify as wild, wise and high-flying might opt for an owl.
Sailors in particular have a history of getting tattoos to bring them luck, and it was thought that a fish tattoo might help a man thrown overboard to swim (like a fish) and survive the ordeal.
Animal aspirations aren’t the only reasons why people might want animal tattoos, however, as many use tattoos as a way of remembering a loved one, and sometimes that loved one is a pet. As such, the ability to successfully draw and ink a variety of animals for your customers could bring a lot of meaning to their skin space. The ability to keep the memory of their beloved pet alive on their skin and close to them forever can bring a lot of comfort, especially in times of grief, and you could be providing this service to your customers with the right portfolio, skills, and tattoo equipment.
Some animals are more popular than others, perhaps because their species has more of an established personality. If you have a client who enters your studio knowing that they want an animal tattoo that symbolizes part of their identity, the following guide might be able to help them come to a conclusion:
Wolf Tattoo – The wolf is a tattoo for a pack-orientated individual. This pack might symbolise their friends or their family. The wolf is also a hardy creature, able to withstand cold and harsh climates where food is scarce, and hunting is time-consuming. An individual with a lot of determination might feel an affinity to the wolf.
Dolphin Tattoo – Dolphins symbolise freedom, friendship and intelligence. Like birds, tattoos of dolphins and other fish symbolise a daringness to go where others cannot, because these are the animals that enjoy life in terrains that seem quite alien to most humans.
Bear Tattoo – The bear signifies strength and depending on the individual and the depiction of the tattoo, the bear could symbolise either wisdom or destruction. Whether the bear is good or evil, it will almost always portray magnificence.
Owl Tattoo – Like dolphins, owls suggest freedom, but they’re also known for being incredibly wise. Their ability to turn their heads to mind-boggling angling gives the impression that they are all-seeing, which lends to their wise-imagery.
In literature and some cultures, owls have also been used to signify madness and brushes with death, so an owl tattoo could signify an important personal memory for its wearer.
Stag Tattoo - The stag is a masculine figure that represents growth and resilience. Like the bear, the stag also represents deep feelings of spirituality.
Snake Tattoo – Snakes were very popular tattoos for the Ancient Egyptians, and they often represented female gods. In the modern day, the snake might represent a cunning attitude to life, but they also commonly communicate rebirth, transformation and healing. These positive traits of growth are linked to the snake’s frequent skin shedding, which is read as change and development by artists.
Swallow Tattoo – the outline of a swallow is very unique, meaning that a swallow tattoo could be quite small yet still immediately recognisable for its species. This makes it a popular choice amongst first time tattooees.
As a bird, the swallow naturally represents freedom, but it has a specific history and tradition for carrying soul to heaven at the point of death. The swallow represents wanderlust and experience as well as freedom.
Lion Tattoo – The ultimate cat tattoo – the lion represents strength, power, and strong family bonds. It represents someone who usually displays a very calm exterior, but contains a lot of passion deep down.
Horse Tattoo – Horses have long been resilient companions to humans, and so the horse might represent a sociable nature. The stallion, however, is also a symbol of wild freedom.
Of course, the trick to giving your clients the best animal tattoo experience is to use high-quality tattoo guns to ensure that the process of applying the tattoo is as smooth and painless as possible. We can help to supply you with tattoo machines, needles, and numerous aftercare products to help your clients maintain their new tattoos.
