Forever bracelets and rings are easier to hide than other hand tattoos, says Perr. “They just blend in with your other jewelry,” she explains. “You’d be surprised, people rarely even notice them.” What matters is that you know it’s there (and that you don’t need to one-handedly close a bracelet clasp or use soap to slide a stuck ring off your finger again).
Butterflies
Mira Mariah
On average an adult’s hand is about three inches wide, which is around the same size as the wingspan of a monarch butterfly. Whether you opt for a biologically accurate sketch or a tiny outline of the creature, there’s no better symbol for surviving change (and coming out stronger on the other side) than a butterfly. Mariah’s line-drawn creations are done in black ink, but there are 17,500 variations of real-life inspiration out there, in every color of the rainbow.
Tiny stars
Daniel Winter
Daniel Winter
If you aren’t sure whether you want to stop at one hand tattoo or add more over time, a tiny star is a great place to start. Los Angeles-based tattoo artist Daniel Winter, a.k.a. Winterstone, says clients often ask for a star tattoo to mark a celebration or tie in with a meaningful astrological symbol. One star works anywhere on your hand (and won’t break the bank when it’s time for a touch up), but you can add a few more to create your own personal galaxy.
Wiggly lines
Mira Mariah
Mira Mariah
“I’ve noticed really stylish and well-read girls getting purely ornamental linework [tattoos],” Mariah says of these wiggly lines. The abstract designs are a bit of a Rorschach test, evoking topographical lines on a map, the inside of a seashell, or whatever shape your brain creates. There’s lots of variety to play with here, like the number of lines you want, how bold or delicate you want the lines to be, and what you want them to encircle. To create them, Mariah draws these designs free-form on her clients.
Charms
Mira Mariah
Daniel Winter
Mariah coined the term “charms” to describe a category of cheeky, instantly identifiable designs that she tattoos on clients’ hands or wrists. They usually depict small, sentimental or recognizable icons that would otherwise adorn a charm bracelet, such as a tiny Eiffel Tower, coffee cup, or a heart. (If you’re Hailey Bieber, it’s a simple and very coquette-core bow.) Evil eyes are popular charms for fingers, too, as are inked versions of emojis like flames or sparkles. Mariah often sees clients who don’t have a lot of tattoos start with these.
Realistic florals
Deanna James
Deanna James
“Flowers are a timeless subject matter,” says Deanna James, the owner of Eden Body Art Studios in Dallas. Instead of fresh-cut florals, this more environmentally friendly option involves realistic-looking orchids, daisies, roses, or whatever your favorite flower is rendered in vivid color. Her floral tattoos typically end where the fingers begin to prevent the image from needing to be broken up across five digits.
Vines
Mira Mariah
Mira Mariah
If you’re looking for a simpler tie to nature, Mariah has noticed vine hand tattoos growing in popularity. She’s tatted larger pieces that crawl up the hand and tinier ones across the knuckles (she has a version of the latter herself). Aside from leaf shape and size, there’s one more crucial decision to make here: Will your vine grow from the wrist and toward the fingers, across the hand, or even across both?
Initials
Daniel Winter
