There is much to be said for a simple tattoo. They are more of a pleasure to wear and put on your body, and in time they will age better than something fussy. Should you be after something of meaning that is small and unambiguous, yet without the sense that you have put in a full sleeve in an afternoon, then a simple piece is where one would do well to start.
Years of hearing people tell me what they want and what they are at ease with has taught me this: as a rule, no one is sorry he or she started small. What I have found from my vantage point as Elowen Sullivan is that regret comes from rushing it, bad placement or a design that had some cleverness to it on Instagram but did not translate to one’s own skin. In this guide I have put together 25 ideas for you to consider, along with some practical advice on placement and aftercare, popular minimalist styles and read more read less beginner tattoos so the decision you make now is one you will still be happy with down the line.
Then there is the matter of infection prevention, an Australian health consideration that is given short shrift by some. Healthdirect’s safety guidance on tattoos is plain about the need for sterile equipment and cautions against being tattooed if the artist or studio cannot give you straight answers on hygiene. Not dramatic, just common sense when there are needles about.
The Case For A Simple Start
You can get a feel for how you like it without the expense or upkeep of a larger work. The whole process of designing is made clearer too, which is helpful if you are of a mind to get inked but are not sure where to put your foot down.
To put it in my own words, simple is not a synonym for boring, it is edited. With a clean line or a shape that requires no exposition a good small tattoo can be very expressive.
Expectation And Reality
One might think a tiny tattoo is foolproof and cheap. But micro tattoos and fine linework are not so easy; the smaller it is the less margin for error. People are taken aback to find “tiny” does not equate to “easy” for the artist who has to put crisp detail into a confined space.
And do not make a simple tattoo an afterthought. It is a poor strategy to leave your body art to ten minutes between lunch and the school run after weeks of deliberating over curtains. Something meant to stay put deserves better.
Minimalism Done Well
You will come across the same tried and tested styles on Pinterest or Adobe Stock. They endure because they are wearable and do not date as badly as the trend pieces. You have to know what you can put up with in terms of visibility and pain. A single-line on the rib may be lovely, but for a first time around a tiny ankle tattoo is more accommodating if you do not like to fidget with discomfort.
Minimalist Tattoo
Essentials only: black ink, a clean shape, little in the way of detail or superfluous shading. First-timers will find these heal in a more predictable fashion and remain readable. A flower outline, an initial, a star or moon, some fine geometry. Practical for a man or woman alike without being overly gendered.
Linework
Here you will find many an easy design. An outline of a bird, a mountain ridge, a spider, suns and arrows, or a leaf stem. Linework makes do with even lines instead of colour packing. Provided the lines are not absurdly thin an outline, whether abstract or animal, will stand the test of time.
Micro And Single-Line
Very delicate and small. On the fingers or hands where the skin is put through its paces every day they may not be the ideal beginner tattoo for long term crispness. A single-line will suggest an object or face with one unbroken line. It is effortless in appearance, but that is one of those words that belies the hard work of a skilled hand.
On Placement
As important as the design itself. There is a fine line between a small tattoo being discreet and coming across as oddly shouty, depending on where it is put. One should take into account the pain factor, how much an area is exposed to the sun or chafes from clothes, what is visible at work and the prospect of fading.
Should you be in a position to make up your mind in a day, do not put off the placement; make that your first priority, then the design and finally the booking. It is an order of business that will spare you some backtracking.
Wrist, Arm And Ankle
The minimal wrist tattoo has its adherents for the ease with which it can be viewed or put out of sight with a piece of jewellery or one’s sleeves. The inner wrist is apt for something tiny and of meaning, be it a symbol, initials or a date, but very fine lines have a way of softening with the years. For a beginner the arm is a good compromise. The upper outer arm or forearm present less of a challenge to the artist and are not as painful as some of the bonier areas while healing is more steady. An ankle is a neat canvas but fresh ink there can be a nuisance when putting on shoes and socks.
Finger, Hand And Behind Ear
Put a simple tattoo on your hand and it will draw the eye, for better or worse. All the washing and friction and sun will see to it that hands fade in short order. Fingers are prone to losing pigment and blurring so if a tidy design is the aim they may not be suitable.
For stars, moons or a bit of floral work, behind the ear is a subtle option. Healing is a bit fiddly though if you are given to sleeping on that side like a possum or put in hair products and wear glasses.
| Placement | Pain Level | Visibility | Healing Notes | Best For |
| Inner Wrist | Low to Medium | Medium | Watches and sleeves can rub on it | Symbols, words, tiny florals |
| Forearm | Low to Medium | Medium to High | A steady healer | Geometric pieces, linework |
| Ankle | Medium | Low | Irritation from footwear | Delicate motifs and small ideas |
| Behind Ear | Medium | Low to Medium | Your sleeping position and hair come into play | Micro tattoos, moons, stars |
| Fingers | Medium to High | High | Expect to need touch-ups, it fades | Very simple marks |
| Hand | Medium | High | Longevity is compromised by sun and washing | Bold blackwork |
Meaningful Motifs That Last
When it comes to simple tattoos, the symbolism is best left personal rather than trendy. There is no call to be making explanations to every stranger in the coffee queue about your tattoo, yet you ought to have your reasons for it. Elowen Sullivan favours designs that let their meaning be known in a quiet way. A dot-and-line constellation is a nod to a child’s month of birth without having to spell it all out on the forearm; a wave might denote an overseas move, a small branch family.
Symbols People Return To
You will find hearts, arrows, birds, waves, crosses and the like in abundance. They are common because they are easy to make your own and visually uncluttered, appealing to all manner of style and age. Initials and dates are popular too but you have to be choosy about placement. If the numbers are very small and the spacing tight they will blur, so have the artist size them for longevity not vanity.
Quietly Personal Choices
A pet outline, a zodiac sign, a word of reminder or the shape of a coastline you like are all fine choices. The most effective tiny meaningful tattoos are those that stand on their own merits even if the observer is ignorant of the story behind them. Script is to be had but err on the side of brevity; in miniature long cursive is the death of good intentions.
Ideas By Design Family
If you have a screen full of screenshots and nothing quite does it, try to sort by motif. It makes for a shortlist you can put before an artist instead of a vague “something simple”.
What follows is the practicalities: what is beginner-friendly, what works on skin and what is deceptively hard to put down well.
Floral And Botanical
To have something soft without any fuss, a floral is hard to beat. A daisy, eucalyptus leaf, wildflower trio, a sprig of lavender or rose stem are all good. On the shoulder blade, wrist or ankle they make for a small simple tattoo. Linework or blackwork can be employed for a more delicate or bold contrast as you see fit.
Geometric And Abstract
Those with a taste for order and clean edges will be suited to the geometric. A minimalist approach with circles, triangles, fine grids, mountain lines or abstract dots is modern and no mere fad.
The thing most will tell you is a matter of scale, and that is where people err. You cannot have geometry on too small a canvas or the precision is gone; let the angles have some room to breathe.
Animals And Insects
There is no shortage of small tattoo ideas in the way of swallows, cats, butterflies, bees, fish and fox outlines. Even a spider can be done in a minimalist vein with good effect so long as you do not over-detail it and keep it clean. When you put an animal motif in silhouette or line form it is at its best. Shrink the design any more and you will have a mess of fur, feathers and a host of little legs.
Celestial And Nature
You will find moons, suns, stars, waves and lightning bolts are crowd pleasers; they are well suited to small spaces. They make for a nice complement to a symbolic piece should you want some substance to the tattoo without it having the air of a school project.
Then there are the classics like a wave on the ankle, a small star on the wrist or a crescent moon behind the ear. There is a reason they are so common: they are tidy, they are immediately legible and do not come across as being overdone on the wearer.
Starter Designs To Practise
Before making a booking one might sketch out a few concepts to see what style appeals. This is not to be confused with putting a needle to your own skin, but a sensible means of discovering which shapes you gravitate towards. For inspiration Tattooing101, Shihori Obata, YouTube and Instagram are the go to’s; EZ Tattoo Supply and the like are of more use to the professional or apprentice. At home you will want to think pen before ink.
- Some of the easier tattoos to put down with a pen are a heart, leaf, wave, tiny flower, arrow or cat face.
- A beginner may wish to talk an artist into an outline flower, a small bird, an initial or date.
Technically the easiest to execute is a very unadorned shape with clean spacing, say a small heart or star. A dot or cross is about as basic as it gets but basic is not synonymous with best. The skill of the artist and his choice of needle count for something.
Choosing The Right Fit
What makes a sound tattoo is a combination of practicality, meaning and readability. Lacking one and the design could look all right on a phone but not on an arm in the real world.
Beginners would do well to avoid trouble by picking a placement that heals well and an artist with clean healed work, not merely what is put on display under the studio lights. Go with a shape that holds up even when a little bigger.
Size And Budget Reality
Do not assume simple is cheap. With minimum charges at many studios a small tattoo will run you much the same as one a bit larger. In Australia you will see different minimums from city to city, but for the most part a small piece is priced at the studio minimum. It is worth asking. And do not overlook the cost of a touch up on a very small design on the hand or foot.
Artist Selection And Safety
If micro or linework is to your taste, see examples of how those have healed. An artist who is fine with large scale pieces is not necessarily adept at the delicate kind. Make inquiries at the studio on sterilisation, single-use needles and aftercare, and if your intended spot is not suitable. Should an artist put the stamp of approval on a poor idea with a “no worries”, take that as a sign to make yourself scarce.
Aftercare That Actually Matters
It is in the aftercare that a fine tattoo can be undone. One might think a less dramatic tattoo demands less of you but fresh ink is indifferent to your minimalism.
In Australia you have to be mindful of the UV, it does not muck about. So the area has to be kept out of the direct sun and protected. Heed the artist on cleaning for the first few days. No baths or ocean until it is healed, and leave any flaky skin alone. Put on something loose fitting where you can. Once the tattoo has healed, do not neglect sun protection; this is of particular importance for ink on the hand, wrist or ankle.
While a small tattoo will as a rule heal without issue, one should have more patience with hands, feet and fingers where there is a good deal of friction. And if you are in the habit of working with water, putting in a hard day at the gym or wearing gloves from morning to night, put your artist in the picture when you book and they will put forward their views on placement and timing.
25 in the Design Gallery
For those in a hurry to run through some ideas and not be put off by waffle, consider this a no-nonsense mood board, complete with alt text and captions. It is handy whether you are looking for a simple men’s or girl’s tattoo or something that does not fit into either category.
Make numbers 1 to 10 your first port of call for a shortlist; they are the most accommodating for size and placement and the best beginner tattoos.
1. Tiny heart. A classic, soft piece (alt: an outlined heart on the inner wrist).
2. Crescent moon. The celestial way to keep it simple (alt: fine line moon to the rear of the ear).
3. Single star. Discreet and fast to put in (alt: a black star of small proportions on the ankle).
4. Wave line. For the ocean enthusiast (alt: a minimalist wave on the forearm).
5. Leaf sprig. Botanical and clean (alt: eucalyptus branch on the arm).
6. Daisy outline. A friendly way to start with florals (alt: daisy on the wrist).
7. Lightning bolt. Small but bold (alt: near the collarbone).
8. Arrow. Linework done right (alt: small arrow on the forearm).
9. Initial letter. All the personal touch with none of the fuss (alt: a serif initial on the inside of the arm).
10. Roman numeral date. A neat way to memorialise (alt: date in minimalist style on the wrist).
11. Tiny sun. Cheerful, not cloying (alt: an outlined sun on the ankle).
12. Constellation. Hard to beat for symbolism (alt: a star sign in fine dot-and-line work).
13. Cat silhouette. The pet lover’s go-to (alt: an outline of a cat, seated and small).
14. Bird in flight. You can read it and it is light (alt: a swallow in silhouette).
15. Butterfly outline. Delicate and well known (alt: on the shoulder).
16. Spider. Quirky and graphic (alt: a line spider of the tiny variety on the forearm).
17. Mountain line. Travellers will like it (alt: single line mountain on the arm).
18. Small cross. Traditional, spare (alt: fine line cross on the wrist).
19. Flower trio. Some detail but no clutter (alt: three micro flowers on the ankle).
20. Geometric triangle. Modern and sharp (alt: black outline on the forearm).
21. Evil eye. A protective motif for certain (alt: a symbolic eye).
22. Abstract face. A stylish affair in one line (alt: on the upper arm).
23. Fish outline. Clean and a bit playful (alt: on the wrist).
24. Paw print. A staple for a pet memorial (alt: little paw by the ankle bone).
25. Word in small print. Keep it brief (alt: a one-word fine line on the forearm).
Who is it for?
The low-fuss individual, the first-timer, or anyone who wants to be able to build on it later will find a simple tattoo suits them. Equally sensible if you need to see how it sits with your workplace or gauge your pain tolerance.
As for the beginner, we would not make very tiny finger script, an over-detailed hand piece or ultra-fine micro realism a first choice. They might look deceptively straightforward online but after healing they are apt to be a let down.
Elowen’s take
There is a reason a simple tattoo is the shrewd first option: it has room to breathe. It is grown-up and can be meaningful without any straining at all, which cannot be said for the trends one sees making the rounds on the internet.
Take this from the guide: have an artist you can trust and whose healed work you have seen, and opt for clarity and good placement rather than being clever about it. When the filters are off and you are in the daylight with a coffee going cold, the best ideas are the ones that still hold up.
FAQ
What Is The Easiest Thing To Tattoo?
A small heart, star or dot, a cross, a plain wave; any of these unadorned shapes with good spacing will be the easiest to put under the needle. In general an open, basic form is simpler than a minute piece of work with all its detail and more readily legible.
What Are The 10 Most Common Tattoos?
One will find hearts, stars, roses, names and initials, as well as crosses, birds, butterflies, moons, dates and quotes among the most frequently done motifs. They are popular in their simplicity for the way they can be put to different styles and locations.
What Is The Most Basic Tattoo?
It would be a dot or line, a single initial, a tiny heart or small cross. That being said, it is still up to the artist for quality in terms of line control and hygiene, and whether the size makes sense for the part of the body in question.
What Are Some Good Starter Tattoos?
For a beginner there is a small floral, an arrow, a leaf sprig, some simple geometry, a constellation or a wave. These are not hard to personalise and one can put them in a good spot without difficulty.
Do Simple Tattoos Fade Faster?
In some instances they do, particularly the very fine micro work on the hands, feet or fingers. You will get better results over time with a bolder line and proper aftercare than by going for the smallest design you can.
