There are a lot of reasons why one might choose to get a tattoo done in ultraviolet ink. Maybe there is a hidden image or message that you only want to be visible when you are out partying at the night club. Other times, the glowing ink adds a whole new layer to an otherwise simple tattoo. The main reason to get one of these ultraviolet tattoos though is that they are just plain cool.
We’ve gathered 50 of the most unique ones we could find to share with you today. We’re warning you though, once you see a few of them, don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning an impromptu trip to the tattoo studio soon to get one done on your body. After all, what is there to lose? If it doesn’t turn out how you hoped, all you have to do is avoid black lights for the rest of your life and no one will ever even know it exists.
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Noil_Culture
1. Rose Petals
The enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast looks even cooler when it’s glowing. In the movie, the Beast has until the last petal from the flower falls to learn to love again. If he does not earn Belle’s love in that amount of time, he will forever remain in his monstrous form.
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rob_beast_tat2
2. Rising Up
When placed under UV light, this beautiful Pheonix tattoo lights up. It is the perfect complement to the mystical bird. In Greek folklore, the Pheonix is associated with new life rising from the ashes.
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wildthingtat2
3. Rave Flowers
These cool floral designs only show up under black lights. When placed under the bulbs, they glow bright red. It is the perfect tattoo for someone with a professional day job who still loves going out clubbing at night.
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Imgur
4. UV Wavelength
We have seen plenty of heartbeat EKG tattoos before, but this one looks like some sort of sound wave tattoo or a graph measuring some sort of unknown frequency. While it’s unclear what it actually is, it definitely looks very neat when glowing.
Source:
cemstattookitchen
5. X-Ray Vision
This skeleton tattoo is perfect for Halloween parties. Under normal light, it is not visible at all. However, under black light, it looks like an x-ray version of the person’s body. You can see all of the bones in their arm.
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Essa Licona
6. Eureka!
You know how sometimes a genius idea just suddenly pops up into your head? It’s called a lightbulb or eureka moment, and this is the tattoo version. It is a creative use of symbolism by the artist.
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chrisinkdup
7. London At Night
This is one of the coolest black light tattoos ever. It shows the London skyline at night. Big Ben, the London Eye, and all of the other landmarks are completely lit up. In addition, different colored fireworks are going off above the city.
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Bored Panda
8. Mind’s Eye
This is tattooing taken to new heights. It is an amazing work of art. The eye looks fantastic normally but put it under the black light and you’ll see that almost every inch of the tattoo is covered with various types of UV ink as well.
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rob_beast_tat2
9. Welcome To Underland
In most circumstances, all that can be seen is an unusual smiling face. However, the real magic happens under UV light. That is when we learn that the face actually belongs to the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.
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Kaluaman
10. After Dark
Here we have another night city scene. It features a giant Ferris wheel, several buildings, and on the far left there is even an all-black cat. It is the only feature of the tattoo that doesn’t use UV ink.
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ta2leo
11. Angel Wings
Under black lights is when these angle wings really shine. They cover the entire length of the girl’s back. We could definitely see tattoos like this surging in popularity one day.
Source:
Richie Streate
12. Thick Spine
This guy has a massive spinal column running up his back. It is much larger than a normal human’s spine and glows at night. He must be going for an otherworldly alien look.
Source:
Bored Panda
13. Glowing Tree
This neck tattoo is incredibly trippy. The swirling branches of the tree glow bright green in the presence of the black lights. There are little flower blossoms scattered around the branches.
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tiffrexrei
14. Mischievous Grin
Here we have a very evil and mechanical-looking Cheshire Cat. Instead of the whole cat lighting up, this one is the opposite. Only the cat’s eyes and smile glow.
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chrisjuddtattoos
15. Beautiful Wilderness
The night sky glows brilliantly and illuminates the outlines of the mountains. It is a well-known fact that there isn’t much light pollution out in the wilderness. This tattoo captures the essence of what it is like perfectly.
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tatmurphy
16. Hidden Code
This one is like the futuristic barcodes that sci-fi fans imagine that the government will eventually put on humans or androids. It shows a computer binary code — the instructions for computer processors made up of ones and zeros.
Source:
absolumtattoos
17. Butterfly Glow
These beautiful butterflies are even more beautiful when held under a black light. They go from ordinary to magical. You would never expect it just by looking at the original ink.
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rob_beast_tat2
18. Hieroglyphics
This UV tattoo shows dozens of stars beginning at the woman’s foot and trailing up her leg. There is a mix of various different sized-stars of multiple colors. At the top is an ankh symbol. In Egyptian mythology, it represents life.
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tatty_81
19. Mystical Dreams
This one features a dream catcher done in white UV ink which gives it the appearance of a chalk drawing. We love the feathers and beads hanging off of it. It all flows very well together.
Source:
ivestatic
20. Hendrix Experience
Jimi Hendrix is one of the most well-known rockers of all time. His work and music influenced an entire generation and he deserves a lot of respect. This UV tattoo does a fantastic job of memorializing his image.
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Imgur
21. Master Yoda
The force is definitely strong with this one. It’s an amazing recreation of Yoda from the Stars Wars franchise. The eyes, nails, and lightsaber of the wise master were all done in UV reactive ink.
Source:
Intimate Body Art Studios
22. Ultimate Power
This is the Triforce symbol from the Legend of Zelda videogame series. It is made up of three triangles stacked on top of one another. It represents the “The Golden Power” that was left behind when the Goddesses departed for the heavens.
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scotty_robotty
23. Hakuna Matata
It means no worries for the rest of your days — it’s a problem-free philosophy. There is also a lovely Simba tattoo next to the phrase. The forehead of the little lion glows in the dark where Rafiki marked him in the opening scene of The Lion King.
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redrumink541
24. Wonders Of The Ocean
Some jellyfish actually glow in the dark naturally. This tattoo highlights the incredible aspect of the exotic sea creature. The only difference is that the tattoo version only glows under black light.
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Imgur
25. Lunar Phases
This back tattoo is extremely elegant. The beads show the different phases of the moon and how it looks at night. The whole thing is framed on each side by natural floral patterns.
Source:
inkternity
26. Northern Sky
This tattoo is of the Big Dipper — part of the Ursa Major constellation. It glows when exposed to UV light, making it appear like the dots are connected. It looks just like something you would see at an observatory or space museum.
Source:
Bored Panda
27. Geometric Symbols
Here we have an ultraviolet mandala tattoo. It is stunning to begin with, but underneath the black light, it looks even cooler. The glow in the dark nail polish that she used in the photo adds a nice touch too.
Source:
wylegalink
28. Fantastacial Pup
This woman decided to get a rainbow UV puppy paw tattoo. It appears as though a magical dog walked across her leg. In a way, the paw prints look like windows into a rainbow fantasy land with white stars in the sky.
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rob_beast_tat2
29. Hand Gun
This man got a tattoo of a pistol on his hand. The barrel stretches down his index finger so he can point his hand out and pretend like he is shooting. It only shows up under black lights. During regular life, it’s like it doesn’t even exist.
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luckytattooshops
30. Crazy Eye
This UV masterpiece shows a very red eye. The blood is pouring off of it like dripping paint. It is a pretty spooky tattoo that mostly appeals to those who are into the horror genre.
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rob_beast_tat2
31. Other Worlds
Here is another eye tattoo. Although, it’s even crazier than the last one. It looks like the kind of mind-bending mythological creature that one might see while engaging in deep spiritual practice.
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designbyry
32. Mouse Logo
This hidden Mickey Mouse tattoo only shows up under black light. Our guess is it’s more of a Deadmau5 reference than a Disney one though. The famous electronic music producer is well known for wearing a similar glowing mouse head costume during his performances.
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disneytatts
33. Head Tattoo
This man got a tribal pattern on his head outlined in black ink. It was then shaded with ultraviolet ink. It’s a very fierce design that’s sure to big a bit hit at parties.
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Richie Streate
34. Hammer Of Thor
Thor is a very powerful deity. He is the god associated with thunder in Norse mythology. So of course, it would only make sense that his hammer has electricity radiating off of it.
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Emma Holt
35. Starburst
This image has obviously been ran through a few filters. However, the tattoo itself is very clear. It’s a multicolored three-dimensional star. We love how the color is juxtaposed against the shaded edges.
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Jacks TheRipper
36. Fantasy Fan
It’s an extremely detailed depiction of a character from Avatar on her foot. It looks so good that it’s hard to believe it’s actually a tattoo. Her face even lights up just like the character in the movie.
Source:
Intimate Body Art Studios
37. Glowing Heart
This person got an ultraviolet heart tattoo on her arm. It’s because she always wears her heart on her sleeve. She is a very emotional and open person.
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lizzysouth
38. Magic Mushroom
This UV mushroom tattoo is super psychedelic. It has smoke coming out of a chimney in the mushroom cap and glowing slime dripping off of the edges. The striated stem almost appears like it is dancing as it twists around.
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alorainkslinger
39. Luminous Elixir
Here we have an old fashioned soda bottle tattoo. The man must be a big fan of the bubbly drink. Although, it’s the first type of soda that we have ever seen that glows. We would be hesitant to drink it.
Source:
Bored Panda
40. Finger Lightsaber
The man is very pleased with how his “glow-in-the-dark lightsaber finger tattoo” turned out. Now he carries the Jedi weapon with him everywhere he goes. Although, he’ll still need a black light to activate its power.
Source:
Anotherbadcreation
41. Swimming Around
This seahorse is happily floating in the current of the ocean. The UV ink makes the bubbles around it appear like the sunlight from the surface above is reflecting off of them. It’s a very neat effect.
Source:
Bored Panda
42. Superhumans
Here we have a Marvel comic superhero tattoo of The Incredible Hulk. In the story, the hero was exposed to gamma waves following the detonation of an experimental bomb. Now his skin glows in the dark from the radiation.
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rob_beast_tat2
43. UV Flower
In regular lighting, the flower tattoo shows up in a pinkish-red hue on the skin. However, under black lights is when it really comes to life. What looks like a scar blossoms into something amazing.
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pachuco_tattoo
44. Changing Meanings
This hand tattoo shows the peace sign. However, expose it to ultraviolet light and the message completely changes. It then looks more light a neon sign giving off the middle finger.
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tattoo_styles
45. Expecto Patronum
Harry Potter fans will recognize this image. It is what happens when a wizard casts a Patronus charm. A silver-white guardian appears in the shape of an animal to protect the spell-caster.
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everforthright36
46. Getting Into Trouble
“I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good,” the tattoo reads. Luckily, the parents won’t easily find out. The tattoo is only visible in dark and dingy nightclubs that are filled with black lights.
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Hakaraia Jacobs
47. Watermelon Slice
Fancy a slice of watermelon? It looks absolutely delicious. The fruit looks so much tastier when it is lit up under a black light. It is so ripe that it is glowing.
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andreba19
48. Lighting Up
Here we have another tattoo that is probably best hidden from the parents. It’s a marijuana leaf tattoo that only becomes visible in ultraviolet light. It starts shining bright green.
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athenageorgia
49. Thought Crime
This awesome tattoo appears to be a reference to the Thought Police from the novel “1984”. The camera is telling people to obey. It can see what you are thinking. If you have the wrong thoughts, it will zap your brain.
Source:
Noil_Culture
50. Starry Night
This one is of the famous Vincent Van Gogh painting Starry Night. The stars get extra bright when viewed under ultraviolet light. The rest of the tattoo is done in black outlines and functions great as a contrast to the beautiful sky.
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_____tukoi_____
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