If you are a man, the image of a mermaid may disturb your sleep by appearing in your dreams. If you are a woman then you might have been envious of their surreal and eternal beauty.
These majestic beings make us feel a lot of emotions. The bone-chilling history behind them further compels us to get their tattoo etched in our body canvas.
Because of their sexual imagery, many people have labeled this tattoo as misogynistic. However, this is far from it. The mermaid tattoos function as an emblem for expressing the views and opinions of women. It is a symbol of their freedom.
These tattoos often had been slept on in the past. However, with the modern depictions, popularity has been resurgent. People have finally found solace in the explicit and voluptuous imagery of the mermaid tattoos.
Mystifying Meaning Behind Mermaid Tattoos To Motivate You
Some scholars think that mermaids are the most terrifying creatures to exist on the planet while others claim that they are gentle souls that help voyagers in the sea. Which one should you trust? This conflicting aspect is what makes the mermaid tattoo so interesting. So today, we are going to look at some universally agreed meanings and symbolism of mermaid tattoos to end the debate.
All That Glitters Isn’t Gold
This one is quite straightforward. The mermaids may have gentle skin and a sensual body but their intentions aren’t innocuous. They always look to hunt down the voyagers that pass through them.
They will first deceive them by singing melodious songs and exciting them with their revealing body. As soon as they get too close, they drag them deep down the ocean. This teaches us that you shouldn't blindly trust anything without seeing what goes on inside.
The Notion Of Duality
The human-fish hybrid body symbolizes the duality inherent in humanity. It's more like a yin-yang symbol that portrays two conflicting aspects such as life-death, joy-sadness, or chaos-peace. You can commemorate some heavy meaning using the tattoo.
A Symbol Of Femininity
The sensual imagery of the mermaids has long been used to express femininity. Women have been oppressed since the dark ages. Although we preach that patriarchy is no more, it still exists in every society. The mermaid tattoo allows women to express themselves with alluring colors and patterns. They can finally be themselves.
Celebrities With Mermaid Tattoos: More Reason To Get These Alluring Designs
We all have idols that we look up to. We try to mimic their fashion style. When a celebrity that we admire has a tattoo, our subconscious mind tells us to get it as well. So, if you are struggling to fix your mind then look at this table. See if any of your favorite celebrities' names are on the list or not. If there is then you will find some strength to embark on the journey.
| Celebrity Name | Place Of Mermaid Tattoo |
|---|---|
| Adam Levine | Back |
| Harry Styles | Left Arm |
| Alexis Skyy | Calf |
| Christina Rocci | Left Ankle |
| Bethany Cosentino | Upper Arm |
Stylish Mermaid Tattoo Designs To Mesmerize You
There are so many depictions of these creatures in the media that it's hard to make a list of tattoo designs. From comic books to modern live-action movies, mermaids have been a staple in most literature focused on the ocean.
Whatever the design is, you need to make sure that you get the morphology right. Sometimes, artists portray the mermaid in a hideous manner that can ruin the body canvas. So, you should illustrate the mermaid tattoo in a proper stature and expression.
To help you select the tattoo of your dream, we have compiled a comprehensive list of tattoo designs and their descriptions. Enjoy.
Traditional Mermaid Tattoo
You can't take your eyes off this tattoo. The velvety skin of the mermaid will glue your eyes to the art piece.
The beautiful curvy hair of the mermaid along with the revealing body will create a range of emotions in your mind. Colors play a crucial role in this tattoo so you should make sure you use the correct palette. The purple or violet color is perfect for representing the femininity of the mermaid.
Some additional elements such as feathers or bubbles can enhance the sensuality of the tattoo. Posture is also important. A mermaid tattoo with a hideous posture can destroy your body irrespective of the details.
Little Mermaid Tattoo
Hans Christian Andersen created a masterpiece in 1837 about the vicious creatures that lurk deep in the shadows. It focused on the adventures of a beautiful mermaid and all the odds that she had to pass through to succeed.
After the original fairy tale, Disney tried to capitalize on it by making the 1989 animated film. It seems like whatever Disney touches turns into gold because the film became an animated classic in no time.
The mermaid design gained so much popularity that girls all over the world wanted to be like her. The little mermaid tattoo takes you back to the day when things were much simpler.
Mermaid Scale Tattoo
The lower portion of any mermaid consists of tiny ball-like shapes called scales. These scales are similar to those of most aquatic fishes.
The unique shapes of them are highly aesthetic. The shading is done in a way that they feel popping out from the body canvas. The color contrast of the scales is by far the most intriguing aspect of them.
When you draw the tattoo, you should make sure that there is a subtle change in color from one edge to another. It can be bold to subtle or subtle to bold. If you can achieve this, your tattoo will look one of a kind.
Mermaid Tail Tattoo
The tail is what sets the mermaid apart from the humans. The elegant fluke of the mermaid looks more like a wing that propels them to elevate in the water.
Like any other fish, there are scales throughout the mermaid's tail. These structures are so translucent that they sparkle when light hits them.
Near the edge, the mermaid's tail opens up just like the petals of a flower. It branches out into many subsections creating a mesmerizing structure. All these components have to be accurately depicted in the case of the mermaid tail tattoo.
Siren Mermaid Tattoo
In recent times, all we think when we hear about a siren is a loud cacophonous noise to notify people about an imminent danger.
However, in Greek mythology, sirens were a creature similar to the mermaid. They had the upper portion of a human being and the lower portion of a bird.
Like the mermaids, they were a symbol of the temptation caused by women. Not to sound misogynistic but most civilizations were lost because of women. The siren mermaid tattoo will always remind you not to fall for the evil women around you.
Mermaid Skeleton Tattoo
Mermaids live far longer than an average human being. Although a tentative life span hasn’t been estimated, it's surely in the hundreds. However, they also die naturally just like human beings. Their beautiful and warm flesh slowly turns into nothing but skeletons.
Aside from a natural death, mermaids often meet an unfortunate end because of the brutality of the voyagers. They kill them mercilessly so that they can sell the body parts. That’s why in many movies and comics, you can see mermaid skeletons on the shores.
These tattoos are quite interesting because they portray that even mermaids can’t evade death. It’s inevitable. The tattoo teaches us that you live once and you should make it count.
Outline Mermaid Tattoo
The outline mermaid tattoos are dainty art pieces that don’t scream for attention, unlike the other designs on the list. They are devoid of any sort of color so that each of the parts is distinguishable.
As there isn’t any color, there is no room for error. Even a small mistake in drawing the patterns will be readily visible. So, you should have a steady pair of hands. Most mermaids often wore natural jewelry such as flowers and stones. You should depict them as well in your tattoo.
Small Mermaid Tattoo
This is a discrete design that is not meant to be showcased to the world. The cute design can melt even the rudest of souls on the planet.
Most of these designs don’t fill up the body parts with jarring colors. Rather it incorporates lines and curves to shape up the entire outer surface of the mermaid. Some gentle stars are drawn beside the mermaid to enhance the adorableness of the artwork.
Pin Up Mermaid Tattoo
Pin Up tattoos are highly glamorous women wearing very explicit clothes. Their revealing attire can excite even the most boring of souls. Although highly controversial, these tattoos were illustrated for a noble cause. During World War two, many soldiers got pin-up tattoos to get a feeling of home.
The concept behind the pin-up mermaid tattoo is the same. The sexual imagery can bring you warmth and peace even in a strange and unknown place full of chaos and disruption.
Simple Mermaid Tattoo
Simple mermaid tattoos don’t go into elaborate details. It keeps things simple by only incorporating a handful of colors. Rather than an aggressive pose, the mermaid is seen to be in a calm state. The whole purpose of the tattoo is to bring you peace.
The sleeping posture is quite popular therefore you should try it out. When the mermaid sleeps, their humongous hair gently moves in the ocean water creating breathtaking scenery.
Black Mermaid Tattoo
In recent times, there has been a stir of controversy surrounding the recent “The Little Mermaid movie”. Historically, the little mermaid has always been portrayed as a white character. However, in the most recent depiction, the mermaid is seen to be black.
This has garnered a lot of speculation with some critics branding Disney executives as racist. If you ask us then it's not the race that is the problem. The whole character has been butchered with corny dialogue and mixed with woke feminism.
An amazing black mermaid can still be represented. Take the black mermaid tattoo for example. The beautiful monochromatic color scheme along with the splashes of water truly creates an artistic masterpiece.
Mermaid Thigh Tattoo
Your thigh has a bit of a curve to it. Therefore, you have the opportunity to represent the mermaid tattoo in a voluptuous manner.
Although you may not agree, the mermaid has always been sensual. They are known to incite sexual excitement in the human brain. The mermaid tattoo perfectly does that. Each part of the body is beautifully crafted with sensual curves that will steal your heart.
Mermaid Pisces Tattoo
The classical depiction of the zodiac symbol, Pisces, stems from ichthyocentaurs. It's a creature that has pretty identical characteristics to the mermaid. The only difference is that the ichthyocentaurs are male while the mermaid is female.
As there is an apparent association with the sea and fishes, both of these symbols go hand in hand. You can easily depict the 330-degree symbol of the Pisces combined with the mermaid in any part of your body canvas.
Evil Mermaid Tattoo
Most people get deceived by the beautiful face and the sensual body. These are just tricks to grab your neck and drag you to the deepest part of the ocean to strangle and devour your body.
Most famous depictions don't focus on this aspect of the mermaids. According to most scholars, voyagers and sailors always became cautious when there was a herd of mermaids around. They kept their senses alert so that they wouldn't be hypnotized by going near them.
The evil mermaid tattoo portrays the menacing and frightening aspect of the mermaids with colorful details. The teeth and the eyes are important as these elements are crucial to portray the maliciousness.
Watercolor Mermaid Tattoo
Stemming from the days of paleolithic Europe, this stylized mermaid tattoo uses an ancient technique of using paint of suspended pigments.
As the majority of the color is in a water-based solution, it tends to mix beautifully with the skin creating a seamless design. For depicting an aquatic tattoo such as the mermaid, there is no other alternative to the watercolor tattoo.
Sexy Mermaid Tattoo
The thought of the mermaid instantly makes our hearts pump with sensual imagery. But why? The combination of humans and fish is supposed to be gross and grotesque-looking. Why is it so beautiful and elegant?
Well, the answer to this question is quite difficult. It's perhaps our connection to the ocean that makes the lower part of the mermaid so sexy. Furthermore, the upper portion is completely revealed which also accentuates the sensuality to a whole new level.
Black and White Mermaid Tattoo
Although the title of the tattoo suggests that the artwork only comprises a monochromatic color scheme, most contemporary artists don't follow the norm. They try to add some colors to the body to enhance the aesthetics.
To be honest, black and white tattoos can seem a bit outdated. Don’t you agree? They may look vintage with the subtle patterns but the younger generation doesn't connect with the imagery. That’s why, the upper portion of the human part is drawn using black and white colors while the lower or fish part is depicted with whimsical colors.
Dark Mermaid Tattoo
The history behind the creatures isn't always that pretty. The beautiful mermaids that we obsessed with killed sailors and voyagers mercilessly. Beneath their warm flesh lies a deadly soul that can drag you to the pits of hell.
This dark side of the mermaids is represented in this tattoo. The entire imagery is illustrated using highly saturated black color to portray the rawness. You will be intrigued by the aesthetics as well as be terrified of its presence.
Anchor Mermaid Tattoo
Depending on the culture, mermaid tattoos have different meanings and symbolism. In some literature, they are depicted as human beings while in others they are portrayed to lure them into the deep sea and strangle them. However, one evident characteristic across all the depictions is that mermaids played a role in the stability of the ocean.
They could cause storms or erupt giant waves at their will. If they favored a particular boat then they could stop all the incoming attacks from harming it. The same can be said for anchors. These mechanical objects stabilize the boats by attaching to the water ground. Illustrating the mermaid’s tail as an anchor can be a riveting idea for a tattoo.
Mermaid Back Tattoo
With the back tattoo, you have the luxury to depict the entire sea, not just the mermaid. It's like you have a giant body of water on your backside just waiting to be used as a canvas for a jarring mermaid tattoo.
The central focus would be the mermaid. However, you should also emphasize drawing a plethora of colorful fish gently flying beside the mermaid. Some corals and plants protruding from the soil can create an aquatic vibe that soothes our souls.
Vintage Mermaid Tattoo
Classy and timeless. These two are perfect adjectives to describe the tattoo. Rather than portraying the mermaid as just another creature, the tattoo makes it seem like the goddess of the sea.
The entire imagery feels like the entire ocean does her bidding. Even the ocean waves move and form with the consent of the mermaid. Shading is an important aspect of the tattoo as it makes the overall design look much more realistic and thought-provoking.
Mermaid Foot Tattoo
The most apparent difference between the mermaid and us is that we have feet while the mermaids have tails. You may often desire to have a tail instead of a foot so that you can dive underwater and explore the hidden secret of the universe.
The mermaid foot tattoo is a brilliant expression of our thirst for knowledge. These tattoos are highly colorful and often consist of other aquatic elements such as fishes and corals. Tattoos refrain from drawing the fingers as it can get a bit messy.
If you believe in zodiac signs and are obsessed with celestial alignments then this is the right tattoo for you. The zodiac sign, Aquarius, is heavily associated with water as can be visualized in their sign.
One of the quintessential elements of the seas is known to be the mermaid. So, the combination of these two aquatic components makes a hell of a tattoo. As astrology is involved, it's best that you include the moon and stars in the background to bring out an ominous feeling.
Mermaid Moon Tattoo
In many of the depictions, mermaids are seen to gently caress their hair on the shores. The perspective is sometimes in a way that feels like the mermaid is sitting in the curve of the moon. How magical is that!
The mermaid moon tattoo captures this exact scenery. As it's a celestial tattoo, you ought to incorporate a bunch of other similar elements such as the stars and planets. A whimsical background is always a plus.
Capricorn Mermaid Tattoo
This is yet another tattoo for the zodiac lovers out there. Although most people went into a frenzy getting the tattoo, very few know the significance behind the imagery.
The Capricorn zodiac sign stems from a creature known as the sea goat. It has quite similar morphology to the mermaid as the majestic creature is also known to have a fish-like lower portion. Because of such similarity, tattooists have combined the concepts to make a jarring design.
Mermaid Forearm Tattoo
Last but not least is this magical artwork that you have complete control over. As you can easily stretch out your forearm, you can either opt for showcasing the mermaid tattoo or conceal it whenever you desire.
Most forearm tattoos are done in a vertical style so that the most space can be utilized. The hair of the mermaid is typically quite alluring so you can try to extend the majestic hair in a curvy fashion. Spiritual components such as the Koi fish can always give an aesthetic touch to the tattoo.
Mermaid with Baby Tattoo
There is a lot of misinformation surrounding the mermaid. Some media outlets have always portrayed these creatures as vicious beings that only want to gouge out your eyes.
But history portrays them a bit differently. When voyagers traveled in their ships, they would often take their families with them for comfort. Sometimes, their babies fell into the water and it was the mermaids that rescued them. The mermaid with the baby tattoo portrays the innocence of these charismatic creatures.
Cat Mermaid Tattoo
Just the other day while scrolling the newsfeed, we came across an intriguing story of a woman who wrote her entire assets in the name of his pet cat. This story is all you need to know to understand how much people care for the animal.
These fluffy creatures have taken a special place in most of our hearts. We often dress them up in bizarre costumes to laugh. Seeing them in mermaid attire can both fill our hearts with joy and intrigue us. The elegance of the cat complements the alluring colors of the mermaid quite well.
Blonde Mermaid Tattoo
There has been a lot of debate surrounding the hair color of mermaids. Some historians claim that they had velvety orange hair whereas others hint that they had human-like black hair. We don’t want to stir up more controversies. However, one thing we can all agree on is that women look the most sensual with blonde hair.
Ask any man in the world and they will agree with us in a heartbeat. There is just something seductive about the color that can excite even the dullest of souls. That’s why, it's always a good idea to represent the mermaid with blonde hair.
Disney Mermaid Tattoo
We have already mentioned how much of a disaster the recent Little Mermaid movie was. Months before the release, people were bombarding the movie as being racist and sexual.
The critics and audiences were a bit too harsh on the movie and discarded it without even viewing the movie. To be honest, the movie isn’t that bad. Most importantly, the depiction of mermaids has elevated the spirits of many young black girls across the world. They have become confident in themselves and their abilities to change the world whether anyone likes it or not.
FAQ
Are they sexually offensive? The first thing that comes to people’s mind is this question along with other thoughts degrading the tattoo. This has mainly happened because of the lack of knowledge that people have about mermaid tattoos.
That’s why, as tattoo enthusiasts with years of experience, we wanted to give you the most accurate information so that there is no doubt.
Q: Can Men Get Mermaid Tattoos?
Ans: This hurts to see on the trending page. Why do people keep thinking that certain tattoos are only tailored for a particular gender? It's not like that. Tattoos are like water. It can take any shape, size, race or gender.
Q: Why Do Harry Styles Have A Mermaid Tattoo?
Ans: The story behind the tattoo is quite heartwarming. Harry Styles wanted to showcase a tribute to his father, Desmond Styles. He was a passionate fisherman who often went on fishing trips across the country. The mermaid tattoo shows respect for his father's passion. It also shows the strong bond between the father and son.
Q: How Long Does It Take To Get A Mermaid Tattoo Done?
Ans: It depends on a lot of factors. Primarily, the time required for the completion of a mermaid tattoo is proportional to the number of details. If you incorporate a lot of colors then the tattoo would need multiple sessions of about 18-20 hours.
On the other hand, a simple or outline tattoo takes a lot less time because of the lack of textures and colors.
Conclusion
Chimera is a staple across all ancient Greek mythology. Most studies focused on these monsters with parts from different species. However, nothing tops the aesthetics of the mermaids.
When all the other monsters tend to frighten you, the mermaid tattoo allures you with its beauty and sensuality. You travel to a spiritual world where you and these enigmatic creatures swim seamlessly for eternity. The jarring designs of the tattoo will take you into a state of total euphoria.