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Table of Contents
Hand Tattoo Meanings
Hand tattoos have been extremely popular throughout the history of tattooing.
Tribal tattoos were often placed on various parts of the body, including the hands. Such markings were usually prominent as tattoos for girls.
The Rabari, an ethnic group of India and Pakistan, for instance, would place tattoos all over their body including their arms and hands as a symbol of their faith in magic.
Hand tattoos are not only stunning to look at but are also quite symbolic.
The hands are one of the ways we interact with the world. They form a connection between us and our environment.
Besides that, they are also a very visible part of the body, which is why so many ancient cultures decorated their arms with jewellery and other forms of adornment.
People that get tattoos on their arm are often thought to be bold and outgoing, but more importantly – they are thought to be quite unique!
Hand tattoos are a rather daring choice in a world where the stigma around tattooing still exists.
We use our hands in social interactions, such as through handshakes and gestures, as well as in daily activities such as writing or household chores.
This makes hand tattoos a very visible form of self-expression.
Combined with how elegant and classy hand tattoos can look, this also makes it a very artistic form of self-expression!
Hand Tattoos: Designs & Meanings
Finger Tattoos
Finger tattoos are often one of the least recommended placements since, in addition to being quite painful to get, they fade quite easily.
Nonetheless, they hold a unique fascination for most people! They are usually smaller, minimalist pieces, often with simple yet profound meanings.
Finger tattoos are also perfect for anyone looking to get a small tattoo that is visible yet not too obvious.
Finger tattoos also work really well as couple tattoos!
A quick note of caution though! Since these tattoos fade easily, they will require a lot more care to maintain.
Find out how to properly care for your tattoos at The Jhaiho Tattoo Care Guide
Knuckle Tattoos
While most finger tattoos have a more graceful look to them, knuckle tattoos create a much stronger impression. Due to this, they are often thought of as prison or gang tattoos.
The most common knuckle tattoos are four or eight-letter words placed across the fingers of one or both hands.
You can also get symbols instead of words as knuckle tattoos, which makes for a perfect way to get several small tattoos that mean different things to you!
Knuckle tattoos remain a relatively unpopular placement for tattoos since most people think of them as socially or professionally unacceptable.
Yet, knuckle tattoos have been gaining in popularity and can actually be quite beautiful!
Want more animal tattoo meanings? Check out Animal Tattoos and their Meanings
Palm Tattoos
While not one of the most popular kinds of hand tattoos, palm tattoos make for quite an interesting choice.
They’re extremely painful to get for most people and fade faster than most other hand tattoos, but they’re a great placement if you’re looking to experiment a bit!
If you prefer something more futuristic, try a 3D or illusion tattoo – such as this awesome biomechanical hand tattoo!
If a palm tattoo is a little too edgy for you, you could try a tattoo on the back of the hand instead.
Tattoos on the back of the hand can also be extended to the fingers, wrist, and arm, such as in this gorgeous piece!
Wrist Tattoos
Wrists are quite dainty and are thus a perfect placement for minimal tattoos!
But that does not mean you can’t get something a bit more extensive tattooed on your wrist!
Tribal armbands are always in style, and this tattoo beautifully combines this classic tattoo with a more modern one – the semicolon.
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