Tattoo Ideas: Face, Neck, Head, Ears
By becauseilive
Have you ever seen footage from a prison yard or a black and white mugshot photo of a man with a black tear tattooed just below his eye? This is a common gang- and prison-related marking. The number of tears you have represents the number of people you have killed. But facial tattoos aren't just for criminals anymore. People who opt for neck, face and head body modifications are a far cry from those who only get tattoos in places that are discreet or can be easily covered up or hidden if necessary. Although as my father was quick to remind me when I got my tongue pierced at the age of seventeen, "Now you'll never get that high-power job in corporate America", not everyone has the same values, and not everyone cares whether or not their body mods are socially acceptable. As I was quick to remind him, "Who ever said I wanted a job in corporate America?"
Besides, face and neck tattoos aren't just for the hardest of tattoo lovers -- a girl I know has the signature of a friend of hers who died young inked in tiny print behind her ear, and it actually looks very tasteful, delicate and perfectly placed. The small butterflies and stars tattooed on the same place of the women featured in the photo galleries below look equally appealing. Kat Von D, renowned portrait tattoo artist featured on the TLC reality series "Miami Ink", has a series of thirteen small black stars lining her face alongside her brow.
Of course, there will always be someone willing to take it to the extreme, like the Lizard Man who covered his body with green scales up and down, including on his face, and had his tongue surgically split to appear more reptilian. Or the people who emblazon the names of loved ones in huge script on the sides of their necks, and the men and women who shave their heads and cover the scalp with words and images. Some people go the extra step and have metal nodes surgically implanted beneath their scalp to give the appearance of horns. For those of you with weaker stomachs, not to worry -- the most extreme tattoo I'm including here is the black and white image of a skull inked atop a guy's bald head.
[images courtesy of bmezine]
HEAD TATTOOS
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BEHIND THE EAR TATTOOS
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Comments
I LOVE the idea of the tiny words behind the ear. I hadn't even thought of that but I think that may have to be my next....THANKS!
I wouldn't get a tattoo on my face...the one on the back of my neck is close enough thanks...but I do like Kat's tattoos
hey these tattos are pretty stupid! my cat could draw better tattos with a knife and indian inks...
just thought ide comment on the tear drop tattooes you talked about the tear drop was origanally meant to signify how long a inmate had done on a life sentence 5 years for each tear drop some how some kid thought they would use this for there gang or whatever which seems quite odd seeing as these gangs are supposed to be all about honor when they can't even honor the meanings of some of the oldest tatts
shit tatoos
oh my god i love so much tattoos and bill (tokio hotel) and kat von but their tatto :(
i hate tattoos bu ti like tattoos behind the ears
i hate tattoos but i like tattoos behind the ears
ha ha
????????/
I think the pict's are bril ppl who say dere stupid. Dont have a clue ha
Your dirt
I have a japanese symbol for hope in red ink behind my ear, I love it and it's such a great location on the body as not everyone notices it, I don't think all my friends even know I have it still and I got it done almost 2 years ago! ;D
I would recommend behind the ear tattooing to anyone! ;D
I WANT A NECK TATTOO I NEED GOOD IDEAS
I want a tat on my earlobe but I don't know how good it will come out.
i definitely plan to get a face tattoo. just looking at whats already out there i want to be different. nice gallery thanks
i got tats and they are fuking shit 13 of them
Wonderful set's of Photos, I'm getting my first tattoo soon.. Woot!
Tats are so stupid. They used to have some cool meaning now every frat boy and his buddy has them. Don't even get me started on all the "gangsters" that are inked up....20th Century fad that will die I hope.
love the butterfly tat behind the eard, considering something similar now....!
i really think that red stars tattoo on that guy's face really sucks, i love tattoos but that one is hell NO!!
I actually have a music note behind my ear, and it's probably my favorite tattoo yet! And they are quite possibly the cutest tattoos!
I love behind the ear tattoos, and think that they are like many have already said are really cute and yet descreet, I have two tattoos already one on each wrist, words and pictures and want a small pheonix behind my left ear! the tattoos youve posted are really quite cool, although dont think I could go as far as face tattoos, as dont think it would suit me! 4weeks and I'll finally have my pheonix =] whooo!
tattoos these days aren't very original. Gang members in prison are all a bunch of babies who can't take care of themselves.
locas no tienen nada que hacer or what???
ok if you dont even like these tattoos then why on earth would you waste you time looking at these & telling other ppl how stupid you think they are..im sure they dont care about what you think in the first place...UGH!!!!!!!
YO u are all missing the most important fact !! tattoos are personal to that indervidual,it dont matter gang related,someone u luve,or just a crazy idea you had one day tattoos are of personal taste if the person is happy thats all that matters.??
i really want the word serenity tattood behind my ear. its a great motto for me...but my uncle is a tat artist.. he says it'll be too small. but thats the point! i think behind the ear is great and meant for something small right?
TATTOOS A GOOD THING 2 HAVE
Cool tatts!! These people ROCK!!!
I have decided to get my first tattoo on my ear!
Emo, its like goth but for pussies. don't think face tattoos are a great idea, makes most people really ugly.
These tattoos rock* I have a tatt on my neck need ideas to cover the name had it for sometyme now.. it dosent do anything to me but it bothers if it has nuthing to do wit me u kno.. email me rey68ou1@gmail.com help me choose a design 2 tattoo ova it..
Ppl who hate tats: why the fuk u on this site then??
Well i got the 3 dots by my eye when i was 13 i was lil n stupid i regret it i want to do something to it cuz dont want them i was planing to do stars by my eye to cover which i think is hot but im triping cuz its gona be hard to get a job what u think i should do or get something different send me a messege please thanks!
I totally agree with kendra---but I have a tiny unfilled star in the left side of my face and a tatt on the inside of my ring and pinky finger. I ROCK!
those tattoos were fresh cause i have one on my neck says
new orleans for life
you can do that, although i dont think that will come out as well.
Most tattoo artists when wanting to make different shades of grey just dilute the black ink with water. That gives the appearance of shading (the lighter the color gets, the less noticible and so forth). If you mix white with it there is a chance the color wont stay as well over time, and also it will be much brighter looking and not realistic.
I have many friends who are tattoo artists and they all just dilute the black to make the different shades.
yeah, I can't believe how popular neck tattoos are now. i think I like the back of the neck better than the side, but that's just my opinion. i've seen some cool tats on the side of the neck as well, just depends on what you're looking for. it's also cool if you can have a design start on the back of the neck and then continue down the back, especially if the part on the neck actually looks like an original design and then you'd never know it extended down.
Geez I hope most of those are temorary. I say anyone who thinks they're gonna love a highly visible tattoo for the rest of their lives should try wearing their favourite logo shirt for a year non-stop and see how much they like it after then. Face tattoos are a stupidity barcode.
what up with that bad stuff
Hey, I really like the images you chose. Neck tattoos are pretty rockin. If you get a visible one it's a statement. It says F U Corporate and conformity...I'm gonna be a rock star! It'd be pretty cool to be in that place in life where I call the shots but for now I will get my tats where I they can be concealed.
I'm liking the nape of the neck more and more. Face tattoos are just a bad idea especially for girls.
wots the poi
nt in tattooin your face
Hey, did anyone ever get a tattoo behind the ear/ side of the neck? I'm getting one next week, a pair of cutting shears to symbolize cosmetology cutting upwards towards my hair, and I just wanted to know how bad the pain is? This is my 3rd tattoo the other 2 were on my hip and the center of my back. Thankss :)
PEOPLE PLEASE THINK ABOUT YOUR EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE 60 AND HOW WILL YOU EXPLAIN TO YOUR KIDS??
I MEAN IF YOU CRAK HEADS EVEN GET TO 60
Tatts are original to everyone who gets them. it obviously means something to them so why hate? and when im 60 or even 50 im not going to care what people think of me anyway. I dont now so why would i then? ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING NASTY AND HATEFULL SHIT I AGREE WITH KENDA WHY ARE YOU TAKING TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY TO HATE ON SOMEONE ELSE?
My boyfriend tattood a flower on my right cheek.
Now he is talking about tattooing all around my neck. A choker he calls it.
I am scared like hell, he'll do it one of these days.
Erica
My boyfriend tattood a flower on my right cheek.
Now he is talking about tattooing all around my neck. A choker he calls it.
I am scared like hell, he'll do it one of these days.
Erica
My girlfriend is getting a tattoo on her left cheek, she has one on her forehead already!
I love it!
She is a naturally very pretty girl, she has some on her body already and on her arms.
It drivews me nuts!
I want her to be extensively tattood eventually.
She is now 25 years old. When she is 35 she will be beautifully heavily tattood woman!
Her name is Ginny,
Gene.
Erica,
You make it seem like your tranquilized when he's doing this. Your scared like hell? Who's making the decisions here? Curious about people who get face tattoos. What do you do for a living? How old are you? I see a lot of street kids in Berkeley, Ca with street tats. It's sad.
As a tattoo artist, i will never tattoo someone's hands, face or neck. They are "career killers". Unless you are a mature, established, adult who already has found their career and way in life, I will never tattoo their necks, face or hands. Most people who come into the shop wanting these tattoos are young kids 18-24, most of whom have no idea what they want to do with their lives, and if they do have an idea, it is horribly unrealistic. They see some rap star or reality tv star or rock star with a face, neck or hand tat and think its cool so they want one too. I tell em to get their shit and life together, then we can talk about inking up your face, hands or neck.
i like kats face tats as well and i also like the face tats on star trek on deep space nine i cant remember her name on the show
How I pity you poor kids, who permanently brand yourself with your tattoos as pathetic losers, drug users, drunkards, partiers, criminals, etc., No employer will ever hire you, you can never have a relationship with a normal person since when they see you they will want to vomit and run, and when you go in the store, people look at you like you are the walking dead.
sorry I was so frank but you should hear from someone truthful, someone other than these losers telling you to go ahead and ruin yourself/.
My comment is on Rob. We don't care if you don't want to be tatd! why do you care if we are?
What are you afraid of a little individualism? I am a mother of 4 girls, and my girls love me for me not my tats. They are as individual as the person wearing them. so if I were to guess what type of tat you would have it would be say " I'm an ASSH LE!" My tats tell a story of who I am, BETTY BOOP says I am sexy, Chilly Willy says I am fun, My ladybug says I am cute and fun, MY Family tat says just that FAMILY! and my lower back of a huge butterfly says prrrrr.... come get me Matthew, who by the way is my husband of over 20 yrs!
get a life Rob
I fuckin love tattoos have 2 sleves an connected chest piece an throat :) but anyone who tattoos their entire face does some heavy drugs dude
In response to Kelley, I care because I find tattoos repulsive to look at and i don't want to be grossed out when I see you in the store, OK? And if you want to call names, you say I am an assho_e but you are definitely a fool.
discusting and sick. guages that big and shit ewww... you people are discusting!
Eight months ago I got my first tattoo, my mum came with me at tattoo shop and I got a nice flower with a bird on left side of neck. Five days ago, for my 16 years, my mother offered my a nice and colorful butterly that I choosed to put on right cheek, and since I had 250 bucks from grandma I decided to put a nice sacred heart on left cheek. First tattoo last one hour and half, second 4 hours; it was very painful but well worth it. Now I'm happy and am searching ideas for something to put on left side of neck.
OK OK 2 the ppl who seem 2 think that just because u have tattoos ur a freak or sumthin...i have loads ov tattoos including a big gothic cartoon girl that covers the whole ov my arm....now....i am happily engaged with 2 children and work in a nusery....now try tellin me i cant be with a normal person! or get a fuckin job!!!!!! fuckin retard....grow up....u no how many ppl now a days have tattoos.......i bet half the ppl doin the hiring are tattood!!!!
OH and btw rob...i aint a druggie,partier,criminal or anything else u want 2 brand ppl with tattoos as......i hardly ever go out...i have NEVER been in trouble by the police and DNT do drugs....I DNT EVEN SMOKE!!!! so grow up .... i love tattoos there part of who i am...i am idividual and dnt wish 2 look like other ppl....and tattoos mean something......i have my kids names on me..u tellin me thats disgusting? like some1 sed we dont care if u dnt wanna have tattoos so y shud u care if other ppl do??? if u hate tattoos so much y are u even on a site like this? is it because ur the pathetic 1 and aint got nething better to do???
iwant 1 behind my ear going to get 1 very soon ive aready got 2 on my wrists they are dooley!!!!!!
We dont judge you's cause your not tattooed,so dont pass judgement on us,personaly i love all the art iv just seen an can apreciate it,i have tatts all over me an each one is a reflextion on my personality an individuality as for those who made remark's about what about when we 60 etc think about all the woman who get boob jobs,hmm i wonder wat a set of 20 yr old boobs is gonna look like on a 60 yr old woman,sad thing is majority of society finds cosmetic surgery acceptable yet frown at us
Tattoos are a dense way of expressing the desire of the libido or lower self to connect to the abstract. They are the abstract and are ineffable and unattainable. On the body they soon become old, then banal, and then absurd as the mind in culture chooses other abstracts to identify itself with. They represent slavery and abdication of the body in conjunction with reality itself as it presents itself to be. They are a cultural abstraction and distraction, always representing the middle heaven of culture. Arm bands of the 90's represent a tribal abstract that now no longer exists, so now an arm band which actually almost had a religous connotation is an absurdity. The global eco-tribe conciousness is gone, and its remnants now stick out as unrecognizable symbols of absurd vanity. All is vanity is coined in the tattoo. It's highest relevance would be a tribal indicator as in the military, bikers or the rockstars of old, when they had the rebellious committment of sincerity, and spiritual distinction and dedication to one's art or way of life.
I don't mean to judge. The above is just one perspective I've had from time to time.
des plple is dumn watz wrong wit dem retards crazieeeee azzzzzzzz bitchz
I simply cannot understand this craze for tattooing. There is alleged to be a "spritual" side. I am an engineer and scientist. Human skin usually takes care of itself. What is the functional point of injecting ink into human skin, especially when the ink spreads with time and looks aesthetically awful after 10 to 20 years ? I have wondered whether or not I should invest in training an equipment to open a tattoo removal parlour - maybe I can earn a good living from it in retirement !
Kind regards
Timok
hey yall do really good tattoos i love yalls work..
I have loads of tattoos on my site.
@MissJess.. I guess its cause the word will be so small and it will blur and just look like a blob eventually..
Ok people I have both my arms heavily tatooed up my chest legs. My hand exc... I am 31 and im not a gangster drug addicted or a rock star.... I am a CEO of! Adt yup I am white collar I drive a company benz and all baby don't let these haters make u feel bad for having tatts they r urs. I was told all my life I would work at pizza hut for the rest of my life now I wave at them headed to there factory job as I take my family on vacation every other month on out private corperate jet. Ha ha back n ur face bitches,,,,,,,,,,
Tattoos are a form of art. Some tattoos are really fantastic graphical concepts and enshrine great creativity and thought. Where I have a doudt is why thisart needs to be expressed in an unstable media like skin wherein the ink gradually diffuses, enters the blood stream and then causes cancers and reduces functional operation of human organs vital for life. Maybe I'm just too objective and "unspiritual". I cannot understand this craze for tattoos. It seems to appeal to some illogical primordial drive lying deep down in the human psychi. Would it not be more sensible to express this tattoo art on a more stable substrate than living skin ?
Best regards
my girlfriend has most of her face tattooed mainly to cover up previous badly done tattoos she got at a younger age i have to say its looking loads better now mainly because she found a good artist who was able to turn it around. she always says if she could turn back the clock she would never have done it in the first place! think before you ink!!
Face tattoos can be covered up with make up cant they? If your worried about jobs and the like, throw on a bit of foundation, girl and guy alike, no one will notice!
Besides, as already said, they mean some different to each person, whos anyone else to judge, everybody enjoy life! still haters gonna hate though :(
hi everyone i have just got my whole head done it gets finishd in couple of weeks i havnt seen many females with whole head tatts great pics of what i have seen on here though
Wow, there are some really judgemental folks on here...sad really. I would just like to say that not everybody who is heavily tattooed is a degenerate drug addict or total loser. I have full sleeves, a chest piece and countless other body modifications. I'm a doctor. Yes, a doctor. And I paid my way through med school by working as an "alternative model" so I can't be that horribly repulsive. I figure if someone is so judgemental, negative & preoccupied w/ outside appearance that they can't see past my tats, then they are most definitly not worth my time & friendship!
does it hurt behind ears
does it hurt tattooin behind ur ears i really want it...but m scard too
I wanna get a tattoo on my head. Curious to know how painful it will be. Yeah Don is right alot of those tattoos were poorly written
I am a 26 year old mother with 2 boys and another baby on the way . . . And I have a tatoo on my face. Let me start out by saying that I do not and will never regret getting this tatoo. If I would have ended up regretting it wouldn't be on my face today. To those people who think if you have a tatoo like this you will never get a good job, it just goes to show you don't think much of yourself. I have a lot of great jobskills and if an employer can't look past a tatoo and see those skills they are obviously not people I want to work for anyways.
I helped design an eyebrow tattoo for my next door lady.
It is a musical key, right in the middle of her left eyebrow.
It looks terrific!
I am sorry now that I did not do that first !
Presently I am looking to design something similar for my eyebrow.
Carole M
love tattoos and i cant wait to grt the one on my face should have it by the end of augaust very excited.
for all you people that are stereotyping everyone with tattos worry about your own lives and not someone elses who has nothing to do with you. we arnt freaks or weird or druggies we are more secure in our lives then anyoneelse we look how we want and are very comfortable with that and for everyone who says you will never find a women looking like that. well enigma you know the guy that has his whole body tatted like a puzzle and blue well he was married to katzen the tigger lady and she is sexy as hell very beautiful and great body.what you see as ugly we see as sexy and beautiful peole say if your not tottal happy with the way you look do someting about it and we are . any way body modification everyone does the just dont know it body builders modify there bodys by lifting some people by booob inplants coloring your hair pieerse youe ears puttin on make up or growing a beard so before you comment on us learn what your talking about and mind your own fucken buisness leave us be and well leave you be
Hey mark, screw who you're screwin! You'll never get anything but a dead-end job with visible tats (unless you have talent, which you clearly don't). To norma people, excessive tats say: Hey,look at me! I'm stupidand wnt you all to know it! Grow up.
tattoos is great style for our todays youngster
you idiots why do you have to hate.. yeah thats all its summed up to a bunch of fuckin haters
i love my tattoos they are myn not yours so dont fukin worry about it get a life and go put all that energy into something else instead of surfing the web apparently randomly finding thinks you dont understand and throwing your biast unappreciated opinnion out there to people who are discussing something they love and enjoy and are passionate about i got my first tattooo when my sister passed away i have tattoos that remind me everyday of the trials and tribulations that made me the person i am today so as my first tatt that wasnt of great significance says fuk ur face andif you dont like it eat me!!
Two years ago I got my first face tattoo. My boyfriend did it himself and did a great job.
He's been after me to do a choker on my neck. I resisted him until a month ago.
I have now my neck circled with a series of flowers of every imaginable color. It is very flashy and I am not sure I like it. But my boyfriend is nust about it.
It turns him on like crazy!
Erica.
A while ago I helped design a neat eyebrow tattoo for my next door lady. It was so noce that I was sorry, I had not got it myself.
Last week I got up enough nerve to have my eyes done as I had always imagined them...
Rye liner, eye shadow and two new eyebrows with my right one interupted with a musical key !!!
It is all permanent and now, when my old eyebrows grow in again I will have them removed electronically.
I look wonderfull ! I love it !
Next on the program are my lips. WE discussed already how I want it.
I'm so thrilled!
It definitely is a sensual experience to know that your face is getting tattooed. Scary, yes, but something to never forget.
I feel so sexy now !
My boyfriend is in Afghanistan yet and it will be a great surprise for him when he gets home.
He always wanted me to get some tattoos, I pleased him with a big rose on my arm with his name under it.
He loved it, now I have a bigger surprise for him !
I can't stayaway from the mirror now !!
Carole
Erica,
You are a good girl for doing what your boyfriend told you to do. He is in charge and your place is at His feet doing His bidding. Continue to get tattooed to His liking.
Lady Darkwood.
i think your tattoos are gay
I have 7 tattoos and gettin a 8th in 2 weeks. I love every single one of them and I also have 8 piercings.
I don't care if some people don't like tattoos, each 2 there own. but I don't take drugs, shoot people, or do any crime. I have my own business 2 children and a gorgeous husband. so if people don't like it why look or be on a tattoo site? its peoples personal choice to be an arsehole, we just choose 2 be creative and do our own thing.
wats a good cover up for the name carrie on my neck 2in old english
ithinqk thiss shidd iss dumb uu shouldnt be piercin or gettin tattoos all ovah yo bodyh thadds juss not cutee,imayh be wronq nudd thass juss my opinion !
I have a few face tattoos, some on my neck head, behind my ears, 2 sleeves, my hands, fingers, and even some on the palm of my hands. I have a normal job and live a normal life. I'm not a drug addict, criminal, or whatever else people think. I don't expect everyone to look at me the same but that's the nature of people, and it's also their choice. The thing is, I didn't get my tattoos for anyone but myself. They can say it's stupid or crazy or whatever they want, but at the end of the day I'll probably never see them again so who cares. It's my body and my choice to do it, just like it's your body and your choice not to. Some people might get tattoos for what most people consider to be stupid reasons, but it's their reason, not yours so respect them for being themselves.
Why does the most peoples hate tattoo?
I have my entire upper body inked chest,neck,throat,back,abs+obliques,arms(hands,knuckles,fingers)
i just recently got stars on the right side of my face they will down to my neck where my dads nickname is and a huge star around his name so the meaning of that one will be "he is always a star on my mind" all my tatts mean something.i do wanna get 2 more on my face and more on my body just not sure of what...any ideas?
Im looking for a kickass skeleton/demon full body tattoo....anybody know a good place to find one? Email me a metal.mouth@yahoo.com! P.S. attach pics if you have any. THANKS!
i love to make tattoo
i love to make tattoo
Many years ago it was the privilege of a sailor who had rounded both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn to have a red star and a blue star tattooed on his earlobe. It was, in a sense, the precursor to prison tattoos of today where a symbol has meaning of event in the outside world. Having sailed around both capes I would qualify but at my age, I believe I'll decline the honor.
write "follow your bliss"
it's a nice thing to say on a tattoo.
Tattoos are obviously not for everyone. As someone from the deep south, tattoos used to be linked in my mind with poor white trsh, and greasy guys with beer guts. Then I got out into the real world and realized that tattoos are one of the best ways to express you're personality. People in general are so focused on stupid shit half the time, that it's nice to be able to throw the truth in their faces.
Tattoos are one of the most passionate and permanent forms of self expression, as long as you get something for a reason. I don't recommend just jumping under the needle just for the sake of getting ink. Make sure it's really what you want. Tattoos should have a story behind them no matter what they are. They also aren't a dying fad. They are becoming more and more socially acceptable. I am heavily tattooed with a pierced septum, snakebites, and 1' gauges, and I can't count the times that random people have stopped me on the street and asked me about my work. Just keep it tasteful.
omg!!!! these tattoos are pretty sweet and i would deffinetly get some of them. I love tattoos ever since i saw my oldest brother jarrods tattoos i've wanted to get tattoos!And kat i love watching miami ink when you were on there too.But now i love to watch your show L.A ink,i watch it all the time!I even got my grandma to watch it with me,i walked in the house one day and asked her why she was watching this and she was like because she thinks that the tattoos that you do are amazing,i agree haha i love watching the tattoos that you do for these people, and i like how you put so much heart into doing the peoples tattoos it's like they come to life with all of the details that you put into them i wish i could get a tatto done from you it would be amazing!oh and i seriously no joke love your stars tattoo on your face my favorite shape is a star!
If you hate tattoos dont look at thrm who are u to judge anyone cuz of there tats u tattoo haters need to boss up n get one..
And kat von d is sexy as hell she realy pulls off her tattoos very well
I'm tatted add me on fb facebook.com/victoria5diaz
does your hair grow after you get a tattoo on your head?
GreatTattoosNow 4 years ago
Wow tons of great pictures here. I like how you catagorized each of the images into galleries. Not much for facial tattoo myself but nice hub!