Spontaneous or thoroughly researched and planned, tattoos are an experience that will inevitably keep you coming back for more. They can reflect your inner self, something momentous, or a random strike of inspiration and or just something you did for fun, and both of those are totally reasonable reasons to get one. So, as you finally-finally decide to get one but feel worried, a finger tattoo is the perfect, low-stakes way to go. Here are some finger tattoo designs that are perfect if you want to go for something minimal and elegant.
7 Subtle And Minimal Finger Tattoo Designs To Start Your Ink Journey
Everything You Need To Know Before Getting A Finger Tattoo
Why This Placement?
Finger tattoos are finally going mainstream, with big celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Rihanna embracing them with utmost grace. Apart from taking a centre, they are perfect for beginners, who want to experiment and start their tattoo journey as the space available is limited so you can go for something small
Does It Fade Away?
If you get something that is extremely dainty, the chances of it not healing well and fading away are high. So it is recommended to get a tattoo that has bold lines and is filled in if you don't want it fade (if you don't mind that, then feel free to get something dainty). Another thing to consider would be to get it on the fingers instead of on the sides, as those tend to fade away quickly.
Couple rings, or bands
Finger tattoos especially work well if you are a duo looking to get matching tattoos. They are cheaper than any jewellery and are also something you won’t have to worry about losing. This option is also rooted in the ancient fable that the 'ring finger is said to contain the nerve of 'love', which is directly connected to the heart'. However, not scientifically true, this could be a nice, symbolic gesture to honour the love, care, and affection towards one another. There are many matching designs, that you can take inspiration from, rings and bands being the most common.
Subtle Details With Flower On The Side
As discussed, finger tattoos are a great way to have tattoos in the most discreet, and elegant way. A tattoo on the side of your finger is as discreet as it gets, where you can get a small design of your like, and probably only a few would notice it. These are perfect for anyone who wants to get something very small and subtle and wants to keep it just to themselves. We recommend tiny flowers, abstract art, some personal symbolism for this one.
Shape It Up On Thumbs
Getting a tattoo on your thumbs is another great way to be very subtle with your tattoo designs and placement. We highly recommend getting simple shapes or some traditional arrow designs here, as they stand out in the most sophisticated way, while also being nice if you want to match it with one of your loved ones.
Letters On Your Knuckles
This is fairly common and the most obvious one. Tattoos around your knuckles will be the most visible kind, and can really enhance the look of your hand and fingers. Like with most finger tattoos, we’d like to recommend clean, simple designs, as you don’t want your hands to look too busy. They are also a great placement for some four-word letter inspiration if that's something you would like to go for. You can go with words like ‘LOVE’, ‘HATE’, ‘FREE’ or any names as well.
A Tiny V Below the Nail
If the design style that you are looking for is very minimal and extremely micro, then somewhere around or below the fingernail will be a good placement for it. When it comes to finger tattoo designs, clean-cut, minimal designs are the key, and also a perfect place to start for someone who is starting their journey of body art. So a tiny heart, a number, a paw, a shape, or some stars would be some really elegant styles to add near your fingernails.
Heart Placed On The Inner Side Of The Fingers
Another very discreet tattoo placement, where you can get something very personal, meaningful, and momentous is the inside of your fingers, across the palm side. A perfect place to put something closer to your heart, and would only be visible if you move your hand in a certain way. This style is also great for something minimal, and clean, and another very efficient way to embark on your tattoo escapades. Although, because this is a placement that sees a lot of friction (since we use our hands for everything and wash it often) it will not heal as well as other placements would, and the tattoo would have a higher chance of fading quickly.
Abstract Art On The Dorsal Side (Around The Knuckles)
Tattoos on the dorsal side of your palm, just near the knuckles are great for someone going for vines, flowers, or something abstract that requires a length, but you don’t want to put in on the fingers. This tattoo will be highly visible, and an ingenious idea for someone who has used the majority of the space around their fingers.
FAQs
Are there any artists that specialise in finger tattoos?
There are no separate artists as such for finger tattoos, but it might be useful to check the artist's portfolio for their smaller designs and assess how clean and sharp their line work is. Also try to see if if they are familiar with the design you have in mind.
How much does it hurt?
Although it depends on the person’s pain threshold, finger tattoos are more likely to hurt than other placements, as there is very little tissue cushioning, along with a huge network of nerves. Although, if the tattoo you want is tiny, it won't take long so you can probably power through it.Do they fade easily?
Finger tattoos tend to fade easily, and can require more frequent touch-ups than tattoos at other places.
