The process of selecting a design for a new shoulder tattoo is time-consuming and exhausting. There are so many ideas and variations that you can feel stuck. However, you shouldn’t look further. In this article, we collect 50+ ideas of different classy shoulder tattoos for females. We also add their meanings, so you will find something special for you.
Shoulder tattoos are beautiful and suit everyone. You can cover it with long sleeves or show it if you want. The possible designs include colorful, black and grey, small and big, detailed and just in fine lines.
Here are some hints, that help you choose easier:
- If you are looking for a shoulder tattoo to emphasize your elegancy, look at the delicate floral, wording, or butterfly designs.
- To represent the inner strength and spirit with shoulder tattoo look at animalistic, avian, and skull tattoos.
- If you looking for small and simple shoulder tattoos, we recommend checking the whole article. Every art can be adapted to a simple design, so it is better to select a tattoo by its meaning.
Shoulder Tattoo Ideas Categorized by Placement
The shoulder itself is usually too small to get a big art. However, it is connected to the chest, back, neck, and the rest of the arm so you have enough area to fully express your idea. The different areas of our body have different sensitivity. If the pain matters to you, you should account for it.
Tattoos Over the Shoulder
Over the shoulder or deltoid is the least painful placement. Women often choose this placement for a shoulder tattoo because it is convenient in terms of inking different designs. Our recommendation would be to get a symmetrical tattoo, placing the centre on a shoulder bone to highlight the natural relief.
Within examples, you can see a tattoo of an interesting symbol, an umbrella with the rain underneath. It means your protection even in situations when multiple bad things happen simultaneously.
Feminine Tattoos on Shoulder Blades
Usually, people don’t place memorable or reminder tattoos here because you can’t see the place. You can choose a light-meaning art that resonates with your inner state for this area.
The shoulder blade area is one of the least sensitive zones on the body. However, tattooing becomes more uncomfortable closer to the upper shoulder or the spine. Still, the pain is manageable.
In the examples of shoulder blade tattoos, you can see the symbol of “yin and yang,” which means unity of the opposites and balance. In addition, we added floral designs and a design with a bird.
Front Shoulder Tattoos
This is a delicate and even a little intimate place. Front shoulder tattoos have eye-catching elements that will probably attract attention. Here you probably should place something that represents yourself directly or symbolically.
The examples below include a hummingbird tattoo, a daffodil inked in a watercolor style, and a tree seed. These tattoos are beautiful and special, carrying the meanings of a new beginning, lightness, individuality, and happiness.
As for the pain, this area also should give you no unpleasant feelings. However, the area near the armpit can be more sensitive.
Tattoos for the Top of the Shoulder
The top of the shoulder is probably the rarest placement among all shoulder tattoos. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t come to mind in the first place when you think about the tattoo. Or maybe these tattoos are harder to cover if you like to wear clothes with a wide neckline.
Among the examples, we added a cute small sunflower and a maple leaf. These tattoos represent the end of a hard time and the start of a brighter future.
As for the pain, this area is probably the most painful among possible placements of shoulder tattoos. There are fewer muscles on the bones and the skin is sensitive and soft.
Shoulder Half-Sleeve
The half-sleeve tattoo starts from the shoulder and goes to the elbow. It is a big commitment. It costs higher than a small or medium-sized tattoo and takes more time. You can include so many elements with special meanings to you.
For instance, you can go with a classical design for a half-sleeve, which is flowers. We would recommend choosing a fine line for this tattoo, as it makes it look precise. You can also add such designs as spaceships and mountains to create a beautiful composition.
The half-sleeve tattoos are big; the feeling should be like a cat’s scratches.
Shoulder and Chest Tattoos
This is the hottest and the sexiest place among our ideas. Usually, these tattoos are longed-shaped and go under the clavicle. Women prefer floral motives here, but birds or lettering are also popular.
Inking over the clavicle can give you some unpleasant feelings as well as near the center of the chest where the most bonny parts are located.
Ideas of Classy Shoulder Tattoos for Females Categorized by Designs
Flower Shoulder Tattoos for Women
Floral and botanical arts are the most popular among females. These elements are dainty and meaningful and look great in all styles and colors. That’s why they are considered classy. Just look at these awesome tattoo ideas:
- ? Cherry blossom is a symbol of love, beauty, short life, and the passing of time.
- ? Rose represents love, passion, and beauty.
- ? Peony means nobility, honor, and beauty.
- ? Sunflower is associated with good luck and long and happy life.
- ? Lavender symbolizes calmness, purity, and devotion.
- ? Poppy stands for life and death, peace, and sleep.
Animal Designs
The tattoos of wild animals look fabulous on women! These designs have powerful symbolism in all cultures in the world, and people usually have strong associations with some species. Animal tattoos represent strength, protection, loyalty, integrity, perseverance, honor, and more. Here’s the meaning of the most popular animals people choose to ink on their bodies:
- ? The snake symbol means immortality, transformation, and good health.
- ? Fox represents your intelligence, lability, and ability of deception.
- ? Wolf depicts protection, strength, loyalty, and freedom
- ? Koi stands for strength, perseverance, and struggle to overcome obstacles in life
- ? Tiger is associated with independence, strength, power, and fearlessness
- ? The lion symbolizes nobility and bravery. Women also choose it to depict their motherhood, and role in the family as a provider.
Butterfly Designs
Butterflies are associated with lightness and freedom. It is usually selected by women who want to emphasize their elegance and femininity.
However, many women choose it as the symbol of metamorphosis. If they have experienced a hard period in their lives or have gone through personal development, they select a butterfly to represent this change.
Butterflies look great both in black-and-gray colors and in colorful variants. Depending on the color the final meaning of the tattoo can vary.
- ? Blue stands for good luck and new beginnings.
- ? Black represents the temporality of lofe abd the concept of aging.
- ? Purple is associated with nobility and creativity. The purple butterfly can show your support for somebody with fibromyalgia.
- ? Yellow shows happiness, joy, and peace.
- ❤️ Red symbolizes love and passion.
- ? Pink stands for love, youth, and femininity.
Bird Designs on Shoulders
Birds are a well-known symbol of freedom. Depending on the type the bird represents a unique meaning that resonates with some person’s perception. Some of the most common bird types for shoulder tattoos are:
- ? A Cardinal is a red bird that represents love for life and passion.
- ? Dove is a common symbol of peace and innocence.
- ? Raven is known as a mysterious bird. It stands for wisdom and intelligence as well as death, and dark magic.
- ? Owl represents knowledge, intelligence, and mystery.
- ? Hummingbird means love and attraction.
- ? Swallow stands for safety and peace.
Mandala Shoulder Tattoos
Mandala art comes from ancient times. It looks like shapes and symbols which are located symmetrically in the circles around one center. It is a strong symbol of balance in Hinduism and Buddhism.
The most common variation of the mandala is a combination with floral design so the final art looks like a flower. Females choose this combination as a symbol of femininity and life.
Usually, every mandala has its own specific meaning, so you can discuss with the tattoo artist what elements you want to incorporate.
Designs with a Skull
Skull is probably one of the most recognized symbols for the tattoo. It has many meanings and can be used in both positive and negative connotations. Meanings include death, dark side, strength, overcoming challenges, rebellion, and even celebration of life. With the latter meaning, the skull acts as a reminder to live life to the fullest.
Skulls can also go with some additional symbols, for example, roses. The combination of roses and skull represents a confrontation between opposites concepts. For example, life and death, beauty and vitality, good and darkness. It also means the beginning of a new life.
Feminine Dream Catcher Tattoos
The dream catcher symbol originates from Native American culture. It has beautiful and special designs. It represents protection and safety, as the item itself protects from bad dreams and negative spirits. Females choose this design as a representation of how they are able to protect themselves from the harsh realities of our world.
There are many variations of the traditional design of the dreamcatcher. You can change the shape of the hoop and the elements to incorporate into the fringe. For example, it can be feathers, beads, arrowheads, crystals, and jewelry.
Simple and Feminine
Something is charming about the simple and small tattoos. Maybe because they can bring as much personal meaning as huge arts. Maybe because they are so petite and feminine.
In the hands of a good tattoo artist, almost all objects can be done in a simple design. Usually, these tattoos are black and gray, have less fading, and just draw the contours of the object.
Words and Phrases
Insscriptational tattoos are placed on the top of the shoulder or from the collarbone to the shoulder. Usually, this is one word or a short phrase that appeals to your personality. It can be anything you associate with yourself and your life.
The most popular design for wording tattoos is handwriting because it looks feminine, delicate, and elegant.
Cute Shoulder Tattoos
You can also ink something that is awake warm memories or thoughts. For example, something connected to your kids, husband, family, hobbies, or even favorite art. It doesn’t mean that it should be a realistic portrait. It can be just associations and images that come to your mind when you think about the subject.
We don’t recommend tattooing the names of your partner if you are not sure that this life-lasting love. Removing the tattoo is painful, expensive, and time-consuming.
Summary
Classy shoulder tattoos for females suit women of all ages and shapes. The shoulder is a popular placement for the first tattoo because of tolerable pain and ease of covering. As shoulder tattoos are popular and widespread most of society accepts them and you won’t run into troubles in your career.
Most females opt for small or medium-sized tattoos like flowers, lettering, or butterflies. Usually, these tattoos go over the shoulder or spread to the chest. No matter whether you select the design based on the symbolism or just because you like the art, your tattoo should appeal to your personality and make you happy.
FAQ
? Is a shoulder tattoo feminine?
Sure! Every tattoo can be feminine or masculine, depending on your perspective. Tattooing is all about creativity and freedom to adapt any design. However, if you’re interested in the designs women choose more often, be sure to check our article!
? How Much Does a Shoulder Tattoo Cost?
The average price for the 4”-4” tattoo is about 350$ and above. However, it depends on the style, the experience of the tattoo artist, and the location of the studio. We create a special tattoo price calculator to calculate the approximate sum for the tattoo based on these factors.
? Is the Shoulder a Good Place for a Women’s Tattoo?
The shoulder is probably one of the best places to get a tattoo. You can easily cover it if needed or can show off by wearing a top. In addition, as bones here are covered with a thick layer of muscles you won’t feel unmanageable pain during the inking session. Neither aging nor pregnancy affects the skin of the shoulder a lot, so the tattoo won’t deform over time.
? Can I Wear a Bra After a Shoulder Tattoo?
If you make the tattoo only on the shoulder, then you can wear a bra even during the healing process. However, if the bra straps cover the part of the tattoo, then you should give up the bra for up to 2 weeks to ensure fast healing. The period is usually enough to heal the skin. If wearing a bra is important for you, you can opt for a strapless bra or the nipple covers.
? What Should I Wear for a Shoulder Tattoo Session?
We recommend wearing a dark, plant-based loose T-shirt or a tank top for the session that will allow the skin to breathe and can be moved out easily if needed.
