Tribal tattoos will generally date back to the owner’s heritage or something related to his culture. But this does not have to be necessary every time; it can also show a person’s personality traits or symbolize power and protection. For example, in ancient times, tribal tattoos were used as a sign of courage by warriors, and these marks were used to give them strength.
There are many ways to wear a tribal tattoo, but we will look at how one can do a sleeve design.
72 Tribal Tattoos Idea
1. Unique Tribal Tattoo On Full Sleeve
The tribal tattoos were even used to determine an individual’s marital status and social hierarchy, so get it today if you have a tribal tattoo of your culture!
An Aztec represents the social status of a warrior; for another variation of the Aztec tattoo, you can have a look at this Mexican tattoo. This Aztec tattoo may include shamans, butterflies and monkeys.
The Polynesian tattoo was used as a part of communication back then, and these tattoos will include symbols like shark teeth, turtles, spearheads and Enata.
This is a unique tribal tattoo and symbolizes “the day of the dead” in Mexican culture. Not believing in mourning the dead, they celebrate the deceased’s life with colors. This is the reason that this tattoo is made with colors.
Celtic animals are considered the most powerful creatures in the world. The Celtic circles are symbols of nature and organic energy. You can get this tattoo if you are a nature-person and respect it.
Vikings have a rich history and are talked about because they were one of the most powerful tribes that existed. You will not see many people wearing this tribal tattoo, but it looks great.
Viking tattoo is not such a popular choice among the tribal tattoos, but descendants of Norse still wear this tattoo. Fierce Vikings who used to fight in battles used to wear this tattoo in black and white.
Some Viking tattoos even symbolize “helm of awe,” which was incredibly significant among the tribe. If you want a unique tribal tattoo, then you can wear this one.
If you want a dramatic tattoo, then Viking tribal tattoo should be your choice as it is a great artistic expression and is the symbol of fierceness, protection and guidance.
A person getting a tribal tattoo can represent a fighter in life as warriors used these tattoos. So all the warriors out there who fight every day in life can get this tattoo to derive motivation.
The dreamcatcher is not unfamiliar to anyone now because it has gained popularity. The dreamcatcher came from the native American tribe, and it is known to catch all your negative vibes. You can look at the native American tribal tattoos and if you are wearing this tattoo, it will keep you away from negative energy.
12. Elegant Mexican Aztec Tribal Tattoo On Full Sleeve
If you include symbols like butterfly and monkey to your tattoo, it will add more significance. As the butterfly is for transformation and the monkey is for dancing, it is for joy if you choose a frog. So it may show that you have transformed for good and you like dancing.
13. Illustrative Dreamcatcher Tribal Tattoo On Sleeve
The Native Americans used to use the dreamcatcher as a sign of victory, so after winning a battle, it was a part of their celebration, and now the dreamcatcher is known to keep you away from catching negative dreams and bad sports.
This stone tribal tattoo will look like markings and carvings done on a stone-like it was done in ancient times. The stone tribal tattoo is also an on-of-a-kind tattoo.
Minimalistic tattoos look great, and if you are looking for a simple tribal tattoo, then a tattoo with less ink and good detailing will do the work for you. The simple tattoo design does not have intricate patterns and motifs.
Tribal tattoos are a great way to honor your ancestors and stay connected to your roots and your heritage. If you are looking for your first tattoo in a tribal design and one that you can hide easily, then a tiny tribal tattoo is the best choice for you as you can choose the occasions on which you want to flaunt your tattoo.
Sleeve tattoos for girls can have some symbols added to them that have a feminine touch like you can have a butterfly, flowers or the face of a lady added to your tribal sleeve tattoo.
Forearm tattoos look great on men and are a popular choice among men because forearms come in the most beautiful parts of men, and even many girls notice this part of men. So to make your forearm even more engaging, you can choose an attractive design. Additionally, the forearm is a minimal pain level, and tribal tattoos require much more carving than other tattoos.
21. Graceful Scorpion Tribal Tattoo On Full Sleeve
A Scorpion in tribal design is also an excellent idea for a tribal tattoo; it can show your personality trait that you are not someone to be messed up with.
Sun tattoos can also be done in tribal design, and the Sun is the symbol of light, direction and guidance. In ancient times the Aztecs thought they needed to make blood sacrifices for the Sun to rise, and it was also considered a symbol of growth.
An elephant tattoo in dark black ink and patterns of tribal texture looks fantastic as a tattoo, and the elephant symbolizes loyalty, prosperity and family.
This particular tattoo has become very famous because of the renowned wrestling superstar Roman Reigns; you must have seen the tribal art tattoo sleeve he wears.
A tribal tattoo connected to the chest and shoulder and comes down as an arm sleeve looks very attractive on strong men. For example, you can look at a similar tattoo of the celebrity wrestler actor Dwayne Johnson- The Rock. He has a vast tribal tattoo design starting from the chest and extending from the shoulders to the arm. Moreover, the tattoo on the shoulders fades very slowly compared to other body parts because there is not much stretch.
A lot of tattoos are to signify a rite of passage, for example, a butterfly tattoo. Similarly, earlier, these tribal tattoos were used to denote an essential rite of passage for men when a boy turned into a man or a warrior called manhood.
You can even get a wolf tattoo on your arm done with a tribal design pattern. The wolf is the symbol of loyalty, family and protection. To work on the design, you can consult your tattoo artist to decide the culture you are honoring to use its format.
A dragon wrapped around the arm is a mesmerizing masterpiece, and the dragon symbolizes fearlessness and wisdom. Therefore, the dragon is considered an important symbol in Japanese culture.
Tribal tattoos are not just simple lines and random symbols added into a pattern; these are meaningful art that came from ancient indigenous culture; look at the composition of this body art, for instance.
The tribal tattoos used to hold religious and social meaning in the past, so you can even use the tribal tattoo to show your devotion towards religion.
The lion is a popular choice among men for tattoos. A person wearing a lion is the symbol of his courage and bravery. Although it is also a symbol of royalty and respect, you can give it a blend with your favorite tribal motif. In the past, lion tattoos were worn by men to show their achievements.
The tribal tattoos were used to define the social status of the individuals and were used mainly as a symbol to identify leaders. So, for example, if you see yourself as alpha, you can get this tattoo.
35. Astonishing Maori Tribal Tattoos On Full Sleeve
The Maori tattoo represents the individual’s whakapapa; the word whakapapa stands for ancestry. Maori is the expression of cultural heritage and identity. It was also used to symbolize knowledge, skill, and eligibility to marry in ancient times.
The Aztec tribal tattoo was used to show the accomplishments and belonging to a particular tribe and taking pride in their group. The Aztec was also the symbol for shaman and warrior and several other entities of an individual.
The blend of modern art with tribal design has added significant value to traditional tribal tattoos; talented tattoo artists can add their version and show their creativity in the tattoo by adding symbols and random lines. For example, look at this tattoo with a blend of red and black it makes a beautiful contrast.
A gifted tattoo artist can give a tribal touch to almost any tattoo using any symbol. So you don’t have to copy a design; if there is some favorite symbol in your mind, it can be converted into a tribal tattoo. An animal can also be used and converted into a tribal design.
41. Tribal Tattoos Idea With Initials On Full Sleeve
You can add the initials of your name with the tribal tattoo sleeve to give it a unique look. The round part of the shoulder is excellent for adding initials.
The traditional tattoo of the Hawaiians is called the Kakau, this was the body art used in earlier times, and it represents war hula and honoring the Gods; it is also a mark of protection.
45. Brilliant American Indian Cherokee Tribal Tattoo Design
If you have read about the American-Indian tribes and are fascinated by them, you can get this tribal tattoo on you, it has a skull, and the top is made with feathers. This particular tattoo has high detailing, the skull stands for the ability to overcome difficult situations, and the feather symbolizes freedom.
The starting place of your tribal tattoo will depend upon the size and pattern of the design. The tattoo’s visibility is also an essential factor that will decide your tattoo placement.
The tribal tattoos have been a part of the Filipino community for about 500 years now; then, it was known to protect the bearer from the enemy. However, this tattoo is unique and looks pleasing to people.
India is a country that has many different tribes, and they used to wear tattoos as a declaration to their tribe. Some tattoos are inspirations taken from decades-old carvings of dragons, tigers and other symbols. So each Indian tribal tattoo design has a deep meaning to it.
The Indian tribal tattoos have several different meanings. People used to get jewelry tattoos on them as they thought this was the kind of jewel they were wearing that no one could steal from them. Animal tattoos were used for mourning loved ones, like a tiger tattoo or some other animal. If you belong to this community, you can get this tattoo on you.
Talking about African culture reminds me of the storytelling trait; this tattoo is also like one that gives a vibe that there are stories hidden behind the tattoo. African tribal people wore these tattoos to symbolize bravery and courage.
A tribal tattoo that uses a single kind of pattern in the whole sleeve is the one that looks magnificent; however you can always experiment with the design, you can even get in a way that looks like a lot of buildings are stuffed in your tattoo.
Samoan tribal tattoos came into existence from polynesian tribe. Samoans invented this incredible piece of art; the first tattoo belongs to them. This tattoo will usually have seashells and waves and things related to the sea; it looks great as an arm tattoo sleeve.
The Polynesian tattoos body art is pleasing to the eye, and it contains a combination of black and negative spacing. If you choose this, it will look like a one-of-a-kind tribal tattoo.
When you look at the tribal design, you will find that most tattoos are in black ink, and some contrast with the skin color to create a negative space body art design. But the Cherokee is different from all as it has colors added to it, and you can choose your favorite colors for the highlights of this tattoo.
If you are looking for an entry-level tribal tattoo, this may be for you. This tattoo has a design similar to a small air-swirl, and it originates from the Celtic tribal tattoos, and they are a bit darker than the Celtic tattoos. Most of these tattoos include dogs, birds, dragons, and other symbols.
Africa is famous worldwide, and an astonishing thing about it is that some tribes exist to date in its regions. The African tribal tattoos include flowers, elephants, Gods etc.
A tribal tattoo belongs to some culture or heritage and dates back to it. The tribal tattoos are different depending upon the culture you are looking at, and the design also changes similarly. All designs and tattoos often are related to some back story like social standing or achievement and many more things. Like some of them are a symbol of protection and power.
Before getting one consult your tattoo artist to know the significance behind one.
Are tribal tattoos cultural?
Yes, because all the tattoos come from the ancient history of humankind and the existence of all previous folk. The tattoo shows the timeline of the beginning of the fact scattered in groups across the globe. All the texture in black dots and lines was used for ceremonial and sacred practices and formed as the main component of the foundation of tribal tattooing.
Is it disrespectful to get a tribal tattoo?
No, it is not disrespectful in general, but if you are wearing one without adequately comprehending the meaning, it can harm someone’s sentiments and be rude. For instance, there may be a tattoo done in a particular culture for their Gods, and your placement of that tattoo may be disrespectful to some. If tattooing someone’s exact design is considered rude, it also shows that you do not have your own identity as tattoos show your personality. Tribal tattoos are a great way to establish connection and respect to heritage and ancestors.
Can anyone get a Ta Moko?
Yes, you can undoubtedly get a Ta Moko; in fact, anyone who wants to immerse himself in the Maori culture can wear the Moko. If you are passionate about Maori culture, you can look at your different tattoo design options. A body art person who makes Ta Moko can guide you best with the significance of wearing traditional patterns like the Maori one.
It is the same for any cultural tattoo; if you want to wear it with respect and your intention is pure, you can wear a tattoo of all cultures like the Polynesian, Hawaiian, Filipino, Indian, etc.
Can I get a tribal tattoo?
Yes, anyone can get a tribal tattoo; if you are related to a culture or not associated with culture, you can get a tattoo as a mark of respect in either situation. But you must have a proper understanding of the tattoo and understand what it signifies. For example, if you want a tattoo design only if you like a pattern, it can be touchy to someone.
Bottom Line
Tribal tattoos are all about the history and the track and links with the people that existed if you fantasize about the culture of the people that lived. So there is no better way than getting a tribal tattoo, connecting with the heritage, and showing respect to the dead ancestors.
