Tattoo Styles

Graphic is discipline and precision. Sharp outlines, geometric shapes, absolute contrast between black ink and skin. No blur, no midtones — only balanced composition. That "hardness" of line is what makes graphic so expressive: the tattoo looks strong and modern, and holds up beautifully with age. One of the few techniques where time only adds character.

Great for: architectural motifs, animals, plants, abstractions, mandalas, mechanical details. Sits perfectly on forearms, chest, thighs. A studio favourite — every third work at MY Tattoo is graphic.

Realism is the pinnacle of tattoo art. The artist recreates depth, soft shadows and detail, making the tattoo look like a photograph or fine portrait. Technically one of the hardest styles: it demands flawless tonal sense, colour depth and anatomy. Black-and-grey realism is the classic; colour realism is for those who want a true WOW.

Great for: portraits of people and animals, flowers, feathers, natural scenes. Best on large surfaces: shoulder, back, thigh. Needs healthy skin and careful aftercare during healing.

New School is a tattoo that smiles. Bold outline, neon colours, exaggerated proportions in the spirit of caricature or cartoon. Born in the '80s as rebellion against strict Old School. Today — one of the freest styles: you can do anything without worrying about "correctness". What matters is character and mood.

Great for: characters, animals with personality, cartoon illustrations, absurd or humorous scenes. Perfect on forearms and calves where there's room to "pop" with colour.

Fine Line is the art of restraint. Ultra-thin lines, almost lace-like drawing, minimum ink in the skin. The style demands jeweller-level precision: the slightest tremor and the line is off. But the result is unmatched — the tattoo looks like a delicate pencil sketch or an etched engraving. Popular with those who value luxury in details.

Note: fine line needs more attention during healing — thin lines are more sensitive to sun and wear. We recommend SPF protection and regular moisturisation.

Blackwork is for those who aren't afraid of decisions. Large solid areas of black, minimum detail, maximum impact. The ink is so dense the tattoo looks almost sculpted. Ideal for covering old or failed tattoos — the black fill reliably hides any image beneath. A style that only gets more expressive with the years.

Great for: those who value monumentality. Pairs beautifully with geometry and tribal. Indispensable for cover-ups — the go-to choice for hiding unwanted tattoos.

Polynesian tattoos are among the oldest in the world — done for over 2000 years. Every element carries meaning: waves mean sea journeys and ancestral memory, shark skin means protection, turtle means longevity and family, sun is the source of strength and new days. Not just a pattern — a personal story in the language of ancient peoples. Every tattoo is unique.

Great for: sleeves, shoulders, calves, back. Adapts beautifully to body anatomy — the pattern "wraps" the muscle shape. Personal symbolism should be discussed during the consultation.

Trash Polka was born in Nuremberg in the 1990s and remains one of the most recognisable styles today. It combines realistic images with abstraction, text with geometry — all in a two-colour palette of "only black and red". Deliberate disorder, layered elements, crossed-out fragments — that's not a mistake, that's the concept. For those unafraid to be misunderstood.

Great for: those who love contrast and provocation. Large size is essential — small Trash Polka barely exists. Sleeves, back, chest are ideal canvases.

Minimalism in tattoo is the "less is more" philosophy. A few lines, a geometric shape or silhouette — and everything needed is said. In reality, making a simple minimalist drawing is much harder than a detailed one: every line must be perfect because there's nothing to hide behind. A style where craft shows in every millimetre.

Great for: a first tattoo or a personal meaning carried in a quiet gesture. Wrist, ribs, neck, behind the ear are favourite spots. Pairs well with fine line and lettering.

Neo-tribal is a rethinking of classic tribal through a contemporary tattoo lens. The rigidity of rhombuses and zigzags is gone; in their place — smooth organic shapes that "grow" along the body. Black, bold, no colour — but no clichés either: every work is unique. The style has returned thanks to the trend for raw aesthetics in tattoo.

Great for: those who love asymmetry and bold choices. Looks excellent on shoulders, ribs, neck. May include blackwork and dotwork elements.

Old School is a tattoo culture legend, born in the port shops of early 20th-century America. Sailors got anchors, eagles, hearts with "Mom", swallows and pin-up girls. The style is built on bold black outline, a limited palette (blue, red, green, yellow) and simple but iconic imagery. What "never goes out of style" — for over 100 years now.

Great for: those who love tradition and want a tattoo "forever". Looks great in any placement, holds up for decades thanks to the bold outline.

Japanese tattoo tradition spans over 1000 years. Irezumi isn't just a pattern — it's a whole language of symbols: koi carp means perseverance and overcoming, dragon means wisdom and power, tiger means courage, chrysanthemum means perfection and samurai spirit. Big waves in Hokusai's style are another classic motif. The style features smooth colour transitions and mandatory background fill.

Great for: sleeves, back, thighs. Needs a large canvas — small Japanese tattoos barely exist. Usually takes several sessions to complete.

Dotwork is the most meditative tattoo technique. The image is built entirely from individual dots: the denser they are, the darker the area. No lines — only points. Up close you see the dotted texture; from a distance, a clear image. Especially striking in mandalas, geometric ornaments and botanical illustrations. The process is slow but the result is one of a kind.

Great for: mandalas, geometry, delicate illustrations, spiritual symbols. Sits well on ribs, shoulder blades, forearms. A style that always feels individual.

Watercolor tattoos mimic the effect of watercolour painting: soft blurs, "dripping" paint drops, no sharp outline. Looks as if drawn with a brush, not a needle. Technically demanding — the artist must understand colour thoroughly and control ink bleed. The tattoo looks fresh and artistic but needs a touch-up every 3–5 years.

Important: we recommend adding a thin black outline to preserve the shape over time. A pure watercolour tattoo without outline is most beautiful, but also the fastest to fade.

Geometric tattoos are built on mathematical precision: perfect angles, strict symmetry, proportional shapes. From a simple triangle to complex mandalas and the "Flower of Life" — sacred geometric symbols with thousand-year histories. The style can be purely linear or combine 3D effects. Pairs excellently with dotwork and fine line.

Great for: chest, ribs, spine, forearms — anywhere with a symmetric surface. Sacred geometry often carries spiritual meaning — "Flower of Life", "Metatron's Cube", "golden ratio".

Sketch style mimics an "unfinished" pencil or marker drawing: visible strokes, lines that "run out" past the outline, unfilled areas. All those "flaws" are deliberate and carefully calculated by the artist. The style looks organic and fresh, as if the artist just made a rough draft directly on the skin. The feeling of a tattoo "in progress" is constant and captivating.

Great for: those who love "unfinishedness" as art. Illustrative motifs, animals, portraits in sketch style — the classics. Excellent on forearms and calves.

Chicano emerged in the prisons and neighbourhoods of Los Angeles among Mexican-American gangs in the '40s. Today — a standalone art style with a recognisable aesthetic: black-and-grey shadows without outline, realistic portraits, roses, crosses, skulls, pin-up girls with tears under the eyes, calligraphic lettering. Unique atmosphere of the street and melancholy.

Great for: those who respect the culture and want a tattoo that "tells a story". Classically sits on arms, neck, chest, stomach.

Lettering is when the font itself becomes art. From classical calligraphy to handwritten script, from Gothic letters to custom handmade inscriptions — each style carries its own mood. Text tattoos usually carry the deepest personal meaning: quotes, dates, names, phrases. Crucial: the font should be picked with the same attention as any image.

Tip: don't tattoo the font too small — letters merge together over a few years. Minimum letter height — 5–6 mm. Handwritten scripts need especially precise execution.

Portrait is the most responsible work in tattooing. Likeness to the original is critical: even a minor deviation in proportion and the person is "not quite right". The artist must know facial anatomy well, handle light and shadow, and convey character and emotion through detail. Most often — a sign of deep love or memory.

Important: a portrait needs a high-quality photo with good lighting. The better the photo, the better the tattoo. Don't skimp on size — a portrait should be at least 10 cm tall.

Ornamental style draws inspiration from decorative arts across cultures: Indian henna, Arabic calligraphy and arabesque, Balinese ornaments, mandalas. The pattern repeats and develops, filling the space rhythmically and harmoniously. Distinguished by a special femininity and softness, though it also looks great on masculine bodies.

Great for: thighs, décolletage, arms, spine. Classically pairs with fine line and dotwork. Especially striking across larger areas.

Scandinavian tattoo tradition traces its roots to Vikings and Nordic mysticism. Runes — ancient letters with magical meaning; Vegvísir — a compass symbol for protection on the road; Thor's hammer — protection and strength; Valhalla, Odin's ravens and the wolf Fenrir — all powerful symbols. Modern style combines classic ornament with blackwork and graphic elements.

Great for: those who identify with strength, resilience and protection. Shoulders, forearms, chest — traditional placements. Runes alone or combined with imagery — the classic approach.