Regardless of what kind of back tattoo you’re dreaming of, we have the experience and craftmanship to bring that vision to life.
Where to Place a Back Tattoo
Sure, a back tattoo obviously goes on the back, but where should you place yours specifically? Most of our clients choose any of the following:
- From shoulder to shoulder (this style is especially great for wing tattoos – birds, angels or dragon tattoos are popular styles)
- An upper portion near one of your shoulders that takes up about ¼ of the back
- From the bottom of the neck and down the spine, perfect for a design that plays with the symmetry of our body
If you’re struggling to think of the best placement, we can have a conversation.
What size? What’s your budget? What’s your dream design?
In the meantime, we’d suggest thinking about how often you want the tattoo to show. Many people are shocked with back tattoos because, unless it’s warm outside or we’re at the gym/pool, they’re hidden. It’s fun when new friends realize you have a massive piece hidden from plain view.
Others love the idea of a back tattoo that can be seen when you’re wearing a tank top (so putting it higher towards the shoulder is a better idea). Placement will play a big role in size, too, but as you wonder how big you’d like your future ink to be, ask yourself the following questions to help aid you in your decision:
- What does this design mean to me? Is it something I want all to see? Or do I want something more personal and mysterious?
- Does it have a lot of shadows and intricate line detail? Or is it more simplistic?
- Do you have other ink on your back already?
- Are you looking to build a cohesive sleeve across your back? Combine a few vignettes? Or do you think this will be your only back piece?
Your artist can assist you and offer different-sized stencils to ensure you’re vibing with what you’ve chosen; it’s a huge investment and a labor of love! You wouldn’t want something you regret later – wishing you got something bigger or smaller instead.
Are Back Tattoos Painful?
As with any tattoo — no pain, no gain, right? There is always some discomfort with a tattoo, but people continue to do it repeatedly, and over time, it gets easier. The back isn’t the most painful place to get one (although areas with less fat and muscle closer to the neck, spine, and collarbone do hurt more). If you’re worried about the pain, avoid getting your back tattoo in a more bony area like your spine. Plus, you can usually get your ink done in multiple sessions.
As long as you follow the directions of your tattoo artist before, during, and after the session, your tattoo will be incredible, and your back will heal beautifully.
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out some of our favorites from Sebastian at Indigo Tattoo Studio.
We may be biased, but we think this is fine line work and that the koi fish and flower looks incredible on our client’s shoulder.
The back is an excellent place for a hyper-realistic photo of a loved one or cherished icon.
This sweet colorful owl was done for a client recently, and we used watercolor for an extra pop of background color.
A back tattoo doesn’t have to mean a big tattoo! The spine is a popular place for fine line word art and minimalist designs.
With such a large canvas, it’s a lot of fun to design a piece that’s predominantly featured on one side, but has elements that scatter across the other side. Birds, flower petals, and water droplets are great elements that can create a flow pattern.
Here’s a glimpse into our process. This was a client who came in for a sleeve and then wanted the work to continue onto his back for one cohesive design.
Feeling inspired? Send us some photos of your idea, we’d love to have you come into the studio and flesh out your vision.
