Body scarification has been going on since the inception of time. Drawings on a paper can be artistic but they don’t symbolize an individual's character properly. That’s why, people opt for etching a jarring design in their body canvas to commemorate their beliefs, ideology and the things that they aspire to be.
In the realm of tattooing, there isn’t a better place than the shoulder to portray fantastic imagery. Its size and dimensions are just perfect for any kind of hypnotic designs. There is a weird sense of theatricality in the shoulder that adds a lot of depth to the aesthetic of the tattoo.
Men always prefer to showcase themselves. This tendency can be dated back to the prehistoric days when they had to do a wide range of antics to impress the females. Inking bold colors and enigmatic patterns in the shoulders always seemed to work. Even after so many centuries, the trick still works like a charm.
The Misunderstood Meaning Behind Shoulder Tattoos For Men
One of the general consensus is that shoulder tattoos are done only for the sake of looking intimidating. Men get these kinds of tattoos to show off and impress their peers.
If you are an individual with a similar mindset then you are clearly missing the point of the tattoo. The tendency to showoff is one of the reasons why people get this tattoo but it's not the primary reason.
The main reason why men get the shoulder tattoo is because they want to depict themselves as strong individuals. From a very young age, men are taught to not cry and always hide their emotions. The suppressed emotions can become a heavy burden for most men. The shoulder tattoo acts as an amulet to express themselves so that they can get some relief.
Mind Blowing Facts About Shoulder Tattoos For Men To Intrigue You
We conducted a thorough experiment among 12,000 internet users to figure out which is the most popular shoulder tattoo design for men. Our findings suggest that the most popular design is undoubtedly the eagle shoulder tattoo with 30.2% votes whereas the least popular design is clearly shoulder star tattoo with only 12.8% votes.
In another intriguing study of ours, it was found that people from the age group of 26-35 gravitate more towards getting the shoulder tattoo compared to the older demographics. The percentage of people getting the shoulder tattoo was an astounding 36 percent for the age group of 26-35 whereas the percentage was lowest for the age group of 56-65 with just 11.1 percent. This data was quite obvious as older people tend to stray away from getting tattoos because of the taboo.
Fantastic Shoulder Tattoo Ideas for Men And Where To Find Them
Your shoulders have quite some space which enables you to draw your hearts out. Unlike the other places in the body, you have the opportunity to pour your creativity in the body canvas.
Shoulder tattoos demand to be a bit grandiose. A minimalistic tattoo can work but it doesn’t fit the sensuality of the shoulders. That’s why, you should opt for a tattoo design that has intricate patterns along with whimsical colors to both bring out a festive mood and convey your deepest, darkest emotions.
Choosing a tattoo design can be tricky especially for the shoulders. Many have sleepless nights just selecting a particular design. For this reason, we have taken a responsibility to give you the most fantastic tattoo designs so that you don't have to take any hassle.
Flower Shoulder Tattoo
Flowers are the perfect centerpiece for the shoulder tattoo. Although we find them to be in various sorts of colors in the wild, most artists prefer to illustrate them in a black and white color scheme.
The black and white ink brings out an artistic vibe that can’t be depicted in any other form. It also highlights the creativity as well as the expertise of the artist beautifully.
Any kind of flower can work in the shoulder. You only have to keep in mind that the size of the flower doesn't get too big otherwise it will look quite overdone and messy. You should always opt for a flower design with tons of intricate petals.
Shoulder Blade Tattoo
Mandala designs are always the first priority for the shoulder blade tattoo because of their labyrinth-like patterns that resemble the ups and downs of human life. Floral patterns are also a great choice as they always look magical on the body canvas.
Rose Shoulder Tattoo
Many opt for just the flower with its petals and hypnotic core. But we recommend that you include the leaves as well so that the overall tattoo has a natural vibe that can soothe you.
Lion Shoulder Tattoo
There are a lot of things you can do for the lion shoulder tattoo. For example, the mane of the male lion is quite intriguing as it has a unique sense of flair to it.
So, you can easily enhance the imagery by illustrating the mane in your own flamboyant way. An excellent design is to portray the mane with different whimsical colors and give them a snake-like structure.
In ancient mythology, there were lions with snakes protruding from their heads. Your tattoo will be reminiscent of those days that will surely bring out a menacing vibe.
Butterfly Shoulder Tattoo
There is nothing more artistic than to have a butterfly sticking in your shoulder. The alluring colors on its wings makes you forget all your worries of the hectic life.
As they are naturally quite colorful, you are obligated to incorporate a wide range of colors in the tattoo. You should illustrate the main body in a hyper realistic manner with special emphasis on the different compartments of it.
Although the imagery of the butterfly is more than enough, it is advisable to include a few other natural elements such as some green leaves or swirls of bushes to enhance the aesthetics.
Sunflower Shoulder Tattoo
Sunflower tattoos feel like the sun has risen in your body canvas exuding a positive aura that will uplift your mood even in the darkest of days.
The sunflower tattoos can be quite a few types. Some prefer to capture the natural ambience of the flower while others opt for something a bit more artistic with a black and white color palette.
The main aspect that you should emphasize the most is to portray your transitions in life. Everyone has bad times. But the night is the darkest just before dawn. Your sunflower tayto should be a stark reminder that good times are ahead.
Shoulder Dragon Tattoo
We often wonder if we could be alive back in the prehistoric days to witness the majestic dragons flying menacingly wreaking havoc in the sky. The overall aesthetics of the dragon is through the roof.
Although they are viewed as enormous creatures, you can surely illustrate them in a minimal area of the shoulder. Rather than invoking the dragon in a horizontal manner, you should opt for a vertically style tattoo that looks more appealing to the eye.
Tribal Shoulder Tattoo
If you look at the discovery channel, you will often come across tribal people full of body paint. They usually paint themselves up before going into battle as they believe the illustrations will give them power to dismantle their opponents.
This belief has even translated into the modern world. Many people consider that having a tribal tattoo on the shoulder will give us strength and wisdom similar to our tribal brothers. Then, we can be successful in every aspect of our life.
American Flag Shoulder Tattoo
This kind of tattoo is the perfect embodiment of an individual's patriotism. If you truly love your country then this is a must for you.
Rather than illustrating the flag in a proportional manner, you should make a version of it that looks like it's slowly blending with the skin of your shoulder. Although it may sound intimidating to you, it's quite easy to depict. All you need to do is illustrate some waves at the edge of the flag to get that unique aesthetic.
Cross Shoulder Tattoo
The cross is a symbolic tattoo that has special significance for those who are a bit religious. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself and endured immense pain for the sake of human beings. The cross is a sign that portrays the sacrifice in a simplistic manner.
The black cross is the traditional way to illustrate the symbol. But as modern culture became more and more widespread, the sign had to change a bit. Nowadays, people draw the cross with some sprinkles of color here and there to take the tattoo to another level.
Small Shoulder Tattoo
Although there is enough space to draw a medium sized tattoo with adequate amount of textures and colors, most people prefer to get a small shoulder tattoo. This is mainly because bigger tattoos tend to look messy and overdone.
A small tattoo that is readily apparent can look beautiful in the shoulder. You can experiment with a wide range of elements from floral patterns to animal designs. Anything looks adorable when it is done in a miniature form.
Chest Shoulder Tattoo
Your shoulder is very close to your chest. So rather than illustrating a tattoo solely on the shoulder, you should extend it to the chest as well. It will look quite fantastic. If you don’t believe us, take a gander at Rock’s chest shoulder tattoo.
Anything can work in the chest but usually, artists prefer a tattoo with floral patterns or Mandala designs. Highlighting the edges gives an artistic impression.
Top of Shoulder Tattoo
There are many people who often struggle to find out the exact location of the shoulder where they should get their tattoo. Some prefer the bottom of the shoulder whereas others consider the center to be the perfect spot.
But in our opinion, there isn't a better place than the top of the shoulder. It gives the overall tattoo an external dimension that makes the imagery look amazing. Furthermore when you get a tattoo on the top of your shoulder, it tends to get more sunlight making the tattoo glow. How amazing is that!
Wolf Shoulder Tattoo
Wolves are the perfect symbol for the current generation of individuals who prefer to be loners. If you go into your youtube page, you will see an alarming number of videos conveying just how many people want to be like wolves.
Apart from their symbolism, wolves also have a jarring design. From the narrow mouth to the fur throughout their body, each aspect of the wolves makes a formidable tattoo design. Furthermore, the subtle off white colors are always mesmerizing to watch.
Shoulder Armor Tattoo
During war, most soldiers wore armor on their shoulder because it is undoubtedly one of the most exposed parts of our entire body. Therefore if it was unarmored, there was a huge chance of getting injured by arrows or spears from the enemy.
In the modern era, there aren’t any typical wars where you have to wear armor to protect yourself. The current battles are fought in the mind. Those who have the sharpest wits tend to be the winner. When you have the shoulder armor tattoo, you will always be on top of your game. Noone will be able to outsmart you.
Sun Shoulder Tattoo
The radiant sun glowing in the distance is always inspiring to us. From the aura I exude to the strength I possess, each part about the sun is truly motivating.
People in today's generation are depressed. They are slowly losing the will to pick themselves up. Even the slightest blows are tearing them apart. In such times, the sun tattoo on the shoulder can truly be a blessing to them. With the sun tattoo, they will realize that life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. There will be darkness lurking every now and then. But like the sun, you have to shine the brightest after each night.
Mandala Shoulder Tattoo
The Mandala art style is truly something majestic. The intricate patterns sometimes are so puzzling that your mind can't even comprehend what's going on.
The labyrinth-like lines and curves remind us about the puzzles in our own life. That's why, many people get this tattoo. However, the sophisticated designs along with the bold colors are quite arduous to pull off. Therefore, you should opt for this tattoo only when you have the willpower to carry on until the tattoo is finished.
Shoulder Cover-up tattoo
Sometimes out of excitement, we get the most horrendous tattoo. Our sorrows know no bounds when this happens. We think to ourselves that all is lost.
But thankfully, you can easily revert the situation by getting a beautiful coverup tattoo. Usually, we don’t get a giant tattoo on the shoulder. The size of the tattoo typically ranges between small to medium. So, you can easily overshadow the previous tattoo with a tattoo that has bold colors without any hassle.
Octopus Shoulder Tattoo
Octopus are intriguing creatures that are often found on the shores or hidden underneath corals or rocks. Usually, the ones found in the shores are of small size. But there are also gigantic octopuses that live in the deepest parts of the ocean.
These octopuses are quite menacing to say the least that can fever even whales with their twisted tentacles. Because of their mysticism, many people opt for the octopus tattoo on the shoulder.
Snake Shoulder Tattoo
Most snakes are venomous creatures that can inject the poison in their prey within seconds. With their razor sharp fangs, they can kill their prey and devour them to fulfill their needs.
The portrayal of snakes in the body canvas has been going around for a long time especially when biker gangs were around. There are still many gang members that have the snake tattoo to convey a sense of fear. If you also want to intimidate others, the snake shoulder tattoo is a perfect choice for you.
Eagle Shoulder Tattoo
This is currently the most popular shoulder tattoo design for men according to our survey. The reasons for its immense popularity can be attributed to the majestic feathers along with the aggression viewed in the eagles.
The eagles have been a staple for American culture. You can see this menacing creature in the passport and other objects of the nation. Most people opt for this tattoo because it conveys their patriotism for the country with a unique blend of colors and jarring patterns
Shoulder Cap Tattoo
The shoulder cap has a unique dimension to it which makes it a good choice for a tattoo. As the sunray directly reflects on the shoulder cap, any kind of imagery tends to glow creating a beautiful scenery.
Your shoulder cap doesn't have that much space to work with. Therefore, you shouldnt opt for a design that is too demanding. Rather choose a style that comprises minimal textures and colors to portray your message and emotions.
Cherry Blossom Shoulder Tattoo
During the time of cherry blossom, the entire nature appears to be something out of a fairy tale. The beautiful pink color in the petals are so mesmerizing that you cannot help but stare at them for hours on end.
Our lives can turn out to be quite dreadful. With repeated downfalls, we often forget to enjoy the little moments. The festive vibe of the cherry blossoms will remind you that you should enjoy every second of your life.
Shoulder Star Tattoo
Since our childhood, we have a deep fascination for the stars. The polygonal shapes make us wonder about what it's like in that blue part we call the sky.
We often look at the stars aligning with each other creating a unique imagery. There are many who believe that the alignment of stars makes a shape that we envision in our minds. Because of such mysterism, people always adored the thesis celestial objects. Having a star tattoo on the shoulder will make you look like someone that has descended from outer space.
Wing Shoulder Tattoo
Imagine if you had wings protruding from your shoulders. How amazing would that be! You won't have to get stuck in a traffic jam for hours. You can just extend your wings to the fullest and fly above all the vehicles to your desired destination.
These kinds of scenarios are only feasible in our imagination. Luckily, we can bring them to life by getting a wing shoulder tattoo. When you see the tattoo on your shoulder, you will feel like a superhero that has the capability to fly.
Spider Web Shoulder Tattoo
Who doesn't love spiderman? Since our childhood, we have been obsessed with this masked hero mainly because of his association with spiders. We all wanted to replicate the famous scene where he learns how to shoot spider web for the first time.
There is something about the spider web that instantly gets us hooked. From its intense elasticity to the sophisticated pattern, the spider webs are truly something of wonder. When you have the spider web tattoo on the shoulder, you will also start to feel like the web slinging hero.
Arm Shoulder Tattoo
Confining yourself to only your shoulder for drawing the tattoo isn't always optimal. As you don't have much space, you cannot pour your imagination into the artwork.
The arm shoulder tattoo allows you to go absolutely wild and illustrate whatever you want in a large magnitude. The tattoo will work more as a statement portraying that you are not to showcase your tattoo to the world.
Name on Shoulder Tattoo
We always expect our significant other to do something that stays forever. Some opt for stunning jewelries while others buy properties or vehicles for their partner. But there is nothing that shows your dedication and passion for your partner than the name on the shoulder tattoo.
The tattoo works as a stark reminder of just how much your partner loves you. There doesn't need to be any sort of intricate patterns or alluring colors. Just the name of your loved one with a cursive or italic font is more than enough to convey your emotions.
Phoenix Shoulder Tattoo
We have a lot to learn from the phoenix. After going through absolute hell and burning themselves up, they rise from the ashes. They have the insane ability to be reborn.
Many people fantasize about being born again. We always suffer from an inferiority complex that we are not enough. We always aspire to be the better version of ourselves. The phoenix shoulder tattoo will always compel you to be reborn every single day so that you can achieve all the success in life.
Shoulder Skull Tattoo
Skull tattoos always look quite intimidating on the body canvas. Their appearance goes to a whole new level when it is etched on the shoulder.
The overall color of the skull usually comprises of black and white. You should illustrate the surface parte in white while the eyes and the nose that needs to be depicted as voids can be drawn using a deep black ink. The shoulder tattoos often leave a mark on people. So, you should be careful with it.
Birds on Shoulder Tattoo
How many times have you looked up in the sky and saw a flock of birds flying without any worry? These majestic creatures always intrigues us with their natural flying prowess.
While some artists opt for an avian species that is quite intimidating, the current trend is to make the birds look absolutely adorable. That's why birds like hummingbirds or doves are on the tip of the iceberg. You should always add some curves and lines in the background of the bird to give your little friend some company.
Angel Shoulder Tattoo
We always want a guardian looking over us. In our times of distress and frustration, we always hope that there is someone who will guide us a way out.
There is no better guardian than the angels. With their divine wings, they can grant us hope and strength to keep on pushing forward.
The artistic depiction of these spiritual entities are truly quite wonderful. They have a positive energy exuding from them that can even turn the most pessimistic person in the world to seek hope.
Tiger Shoulder Tattoo
Lions may be the king of the jungle but there is no other animal as respected and feared as the tiger. With just their presence, they can strike fear in the most terrifying of predators.
The main reason for getting this tattoo is because of the jarring appearance of them. They have unique stripes all over their body which is always a pleasure to watch. The mellow orange color is something that may seem ordinary but when you see them in person, it feels like something out of the world.
Shoulder Roman Numeral Tattoo
The Romans have long been gone but the numericals they used to use still remain. This proves just how significant they were for the earth.
Each and every Roman numeral has a bizarre aesthetic. It has a vintage vibe to it that always makes it look quite artistic. Usually, people get the roman numeral tattoo to depict a milestone or a significant event of their life.
Neck to Shoulder Tattoo
Although this has been said a million times, there isn't a place in the body as sensual as the neck. Therefore if you are opting for a shoulder tattoo, you should definitely extend it to the neck to make the tattoo much more divine looking.
The main reason why this kind of tattoo is so revered is because of its ambience. When you have a tattoo on the neck, it creates a sense of anticipation in your heart. You are taken back to the old days when you used to lay underneath a tree to look at the beautiful sky.
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FAQ
The internet is quite a misleading place. While searching for information about shoulder tattoos, you may be greeted with thousands of spams and phishing sites that can ruin your life. It may sound like we are exaggerating but this is the harsh truth. Therefore, you need to be careful.
To ease your process, we have selected some of the most intriguing questions that are circulating on the internet. Our attempt to solve these questions will definitely give peace of mind.
Q: What Is The Best Tattoo For A Men’s Shoulder?
Ans: The answer to this question completely depends on your preference. Some like to get a minimalistic tattoo design while others want to portray their emotions in a grand manner.
We recently did a study on the popularity of each design which you can find in the upper section of this article. Currently, the eagle shoulder tattoo is the most popular because of its symbolism along with a jarring aesthetic.
Q: Are Shoulder Tattoos Lucky For Men?
Ans: Yes, they are believed to be quite lucky for men. You may be an agnostic or an atheist but you will start to believe the power of shoulder tattoos once you have one. It will give you strength and wisdom to face the toughest hurdles in life with a smile.
Q: Do Shoulder Tattoos For Men Hurt?
Ans: Any kind of tattoo will hurt. But the magnitude of the pain can fluctuate depending on the place. The shoulder doesn't have that much nerve endings compared to the chest or the thigh.
Therefore, the pain is not that excruciating. You will easily endure the pain if you distract yourself with any other thought.
Conclusion
For centuries, shoulder tattoos have been a vessel for expressing men’s opinion and beliefs. The men of the current generation have been oppressed. This may sound funny but it's the truth. Things have become so bad that they need to be careful of uttering a single word because everything is considered to be offensive.
In such dire times, the shoulder tattoos can become a beacon of hope. The tattoo will give the men the strength to express their ideas. They won’t feel scared anymore. Who knows, the glory days of men will be back again with the help of the shoulder tattoos.