Heart tattoos have been a popular subject for tattooing for a long time. They frequently featured during the 1920's and 30's with sailors and military servicemen collecting these old-school style tattoos when they were stationed on land in between journeys. Sailors were continuously at the mercy of the elements and would frequently get tattoos of religious imagery and odes to their loved ones so they could keep them close, which made them feel at ease when they were so far away from home in dangerous situations.
Tattoo done by Alex Nunez
Tattoo done by Bruno Casarin
Tattoo done by Alex Duquette
Cute Love Heart Tattoos are really popular at the moment, and they're pretty versatile too so it's easy to see why these gorgeous little tattoos are so appealing. They may be meaningful for some, but for the most part they simply serve as a cute and cool tattoo! They work great as gap fillers and look amazing when coloured with pastel tones.
Tattoo done by Little Rach
Bert Grimm Heart Tattoos are another popular choice for those who are into their traditional tattoos. Grimm is one of the earliest pioneers in the tattoo industry and his influence in traditional tattooing is huge. Hailing from the USA, Grimm had a colourful career and began hanging around tattoo shops from the age of 11 and acquired his first tattoo machine at 12 years old. Throughout his career he tattooed in various locations such as Chicago, Las Vegas, LA, Honolulu, and China. He even tattooed at circuses and travelling shows before settling down at his own shop Bert Grimm's World Famous Tattoo. The original crying heart tattoo is a traditional style tattoo typically depicting a sad faced teary-eyed heart - a timeless design that's still tattooed to this day.
Tattoo done by @postgambino
Blackwork Hearts are a really great idea for a tattoo, with blackwork becoming increasingly popular over the years. There's such a stunning contrast between the black ink and negative space in blackwork tattoos which give a really striking result for any blackwork heart. Whether in the form of a geometric style, or as a black traditional tattoo, blackwork hearts really stand out from the crowd.
Tattoo done by Chris M
Tattoo done by Izabela Borowiak
Anatomical Hearts are perfect for those who want to have a more realistic touch to their tattoo. Cute love heart tattoos may be suitable for those after something small and traditional or neo-trad, but it's good to see anatomical hearts in tattoo form too, and they can often be portrayed really nicely in a realistic style. A crimson red tattoo ink is the perfect match for an anatomical tattoo, not forgetting the blue tones that feature in a typical diagram of an anatomical heart.
Tattoo done by Bianca Seagrave
Minimalist Heart Tattoos are perfect for those wanting cute love heart tattoos that are tiny and easy to hide. This type of tattoo is ideal for anyone who likes tattoos but only want 1 or 2, and want something very discreet and non-committal. Often literally just an outline of a simple heart, minimalist heart tattoos are simple and straight-forward and don't require much work from the tattoo artist's part, or much upkeep in terms of tattoo aftercare for new tattoos.
Tattoo done by Danila Meazzini
Tattoo done by Melody Kussner
So there you have it - a broad selection of heart tattoos to match your personality and style or to simply suit wherever the mood takes you at the time! There are plenty of incredible tattoo artists out there who specialise in specific styles so you'll have a lot of choice when it comes to deciding on the right kind of work for you, and there's a vast range of tattoo supplies to cater to any style. For tattoo artists who are looking to expand their colour palette to create those eye-catchingly cute love heart tattoos, or simply wanting to stock up their studio, then be sure to check out our online store.
Inspiration:
Sailor Jerry Tattoos
101 Heart Tattoos
Black and Grey Sacred Heart Tattoos
Bert Grimm's Legacy Seen in Tattoos of Grinning Suns and Crying Hearts