Back Tattoos

Bringing Sexy Back

Back tattoos differ from tattoos on any other part of the body for one fundamental reason. As obvious as it seems it comes down to the simple fact that you can't actually see the full tattoo unless you look in a mirror. Even then you don't really see it as it is but a reflection. Of course you can get a tattoo on your chest or even on your face and stand in the mirror looking at it for hours admiring while you pat yourself on the back on how goddamed good it looks on you but lets get to the point.

Burmese bikers on Harley Davidson showing tattoos.

Japanese dragon back tattoo © Some Rights Reserved

However you would be forgiven for arriving at the conclusion that back tattoos are done purely to show off to other people. Its like the old joke about a girl wearing sexy clothes for herself NOT because it drives the guys crazy. I can only take so much of that shit before it starts to wear thin. Why would you want to spend up to 30 hours of pain and thousands of dollars in some cases if you didn't want to show your tattoos off.

Bee tattoo design on girl © Some Rights Reserved

The advantage of back tattoos is that you have so much area to work with. You can literally turn your back into a living canvas and not have to worry too much about curves or muscle getting in the way or the appearance of the tattoo changing shape too much later on in life as gravity takes effect. If you are really into your ink it seems too good to pass up and take full advantage of this canvas of blank skin begging to be to be covered with beautiful ink?

Egyptian scarab beetle full back tattoo.

Egyptian scarab beetle tattoo design © Some Rights Reserved

The drive towards full on back tattoos (by females in particular) is partly fulled by the drive away from the association with the lower back tattoos which have become something of a cliche in recent years. So rather than going for the stereotypical tribal lower back tattoo many chicks are switching it up and getting full pieces. This is doesn't even take into consideration all those girlies who have lower back tattoos that they got on a whim in college and want them covered over. When it comes to cover ups of lower back tattoos the only way is up really.

Japanese Samurai tattoo design © Some Rights Reserved

As for the actual tattoo designs that people are going in for there will always be the perennial styles that never seem to date. Eastern inspired work seems to be the go as does any type of religious iconography. Statues of the Buddha or the many forms of Indian deities are also popular. Christian symbols seem to be a popular choice with crosses and the other religious imagery. There really is a no shortage of inspiration amongst any of the worlds religions. You don't have to be an adherent to any particular faith just resonate with a certain religious image or deity.

The Virgin Mary works well as a back tattoo © Some Rights Reserved

The bottom line is that you can mix it up and come up with your own design or totally go for a custom piece and let the tattoo artist work his magic. It doesn't really matter if have a fully formed idea or just a general feel such as floral designs in the way of chrysanthemums, lilies, lotus flowers or an Eastern design such as a Japanese themed piece (incorporating dragons, koi fish or Samurai designs for example) that you can keep adding to over the course of years or any number of the unlimited possibilities. Thats where the real advantage is .. you can really take your body (art) to a whole new level even if you only get to see it once in a while ;-)