When someone says the word tattoo, generally images full of black outlines and colored ink will come to mind for most people. What a lot of people don’t realize, though, is that there’s a new trend going on in the body ink world. Some tattoos aren’t meant to stand out, emblazoned on your skin for all the world to see…and judge.
In fact, there are now quite a lot of uniquely gorgeous tattoo designs that are done exclusively in white ink! While plain old white may sound a bit bland to you at first, when you see some of these designs for yourself there will be no questioning why it’s all the new craze in the world of body art and ink! There is just something about the use of white that gives any image a much lighter, more delicate, almost magical feel to it.
With attributes such as this, it’s no wonder that so many people are opting for white ink in the tattoo parlor these days. We just don’t want you to miss out on all the amazing art that can be achieved in white. White ink can either compliment a darker-based tattoo, or it can stand on its own as a mesmerizing piece of work. To prove it, here is a list of 50 of the most incredible tattoos that put white ink to good use. We will let you decide for yourself which ones are best but one thing is certain; you will already be planning out your next ink job by the time you’re finished with this article!
1. The Balance
One of the best things about using white ink in a tattoo is that it will make any darker colors you’ve got going on in your tat really pop! The white acts like a highlighter in dark areas, and keeps the design feeling light and airy when used on its own. Using black and white ink in conjunction on the slithering snakes really brings to mind the balance between light and dark.
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Mirkosata/Bored Panda
2. The Crest
There are literally tens of thousands of family crests out there. Let’s face it, though, some are undoubtedly cooler than others. We would be willing to bet that any of them will give off that regal air much easier if inked in white, though.
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Instagram/White Ink Tattoo
3. Tattoo The Wind in the Waves
One of the hardest things for any artist to do is to truly capture the movement of wind and water in their imagery. This artist really knows their stuff, though, and knew that using white ink for the brushed look of windswept seafoam and mist would really bring the motions of the moment to life! We hope this person tipped them very well!
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Ink Me
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4. A Tattoo That Reflects Beauty from Within
Spires of hearts, the looks of lace, and curvaceous flowering vines? What more is there that a woman could want to reflect of herself in a tattoo? The white gives this henna-looking hand tattoo a flush of elegance that wouldn’t quite be there in another tone.
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May15tattoo/Instagram
5. Frog in the Throat?
Have you ever had a “frog” in your throat? Well, let’s just say that the croaky, painful feeling is nowhere near as pleasant or beautiful as this neck tattoo. The way the white ink is thinned out toward the edges truly looks like light reflecting off impressions in her skin. We only hope that she never comes down with the real deal!
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
6. A Real White Elephant
If you’re in love with a certain type of animal, why not celebrate that natural affinity with a gorgeous tattoo of them? Elephants are one of the most iconic images of wildlife out there, and this one done in white gives it an almost sacred appeal. The fine detail doesn’t hurt, either.
Source:
Ink Me
7. “You see but you do not observe.”
Remember how fun it was as a kid to write down a hidden message in invisible ink? Well, the fun never has to stop with white ink! If you have a message for the world, but only want some of it to be visible to a few, then trust us when we say that white is the right color for you!
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
8. Never Let Go Of Your Dreams
While dreamcatchers are beautiful works of art, they are supposed to be functional, too. Dreamcatchers are literally supposed to do just that; catch your dreams! The only problem with them is that they aren’t’ mobile, and you probably don’t carry one around with you in your purse. No worries! Tattoo a light, delicate one on your body with some white ink and voila! No dream will escape you again!
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
9. Beneath the Boob Beauty Tattoo
The Lotus is considered to be a sacred flower by many different people and is often associated with the voluptuous curves found on a woman’s body. This girl got the right of it when she chose the placement for her lotus. Placed directly between and beneath her breasts, we doubt anyone will ever miss its beauty.
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Ink Me
10. Tattooed Texture by Design
White ink can do more than simply give you a light outline. There are different techniques artists can use to raise a person’s skin up with the design, giving everything that’s inked a unique and textured feel to it. The depth combined with the white ink is always a stunner!
Source:
Pretty Simple Tattoos
11. Names That Matter
Everyone knows that getting a name tattooed on your body is a bit of a faux pas. This is especially true if that person is simply a boyfriend, even if it’s a long-term one. Let’s just hope these are the names of her kids and not every guy that has ever put an arrow through her heart.
The good news is that for those of you who just have to do it, you can get it in white ink and it will be less visible, but we’re sure your significant other will give you all the brownie points, just the same.
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
12. Den of Snakes
People have had an obsession with snakes since they have had obsessions at all! While western culture tends to throw a bad light on snakes, many other cultures the world over hold the slithering beings in high regard. Whether or not these creatures are good or bad, though, they always make for one hell of a design element with their scaled, curving bodies. When done in white, we can see why people think they’re so beautiful.
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Ink Me
13. Intricately Intriguing
White ink is wonderful to use when your planning for a highly intricate design. Most colors will tend to “bleed” or fade over time, and as they do they can run together and turn your gorgeous tat into an awful, permanent mess. Use white ink instead to get clean lines that make the art look less busy. At worst, it will fade in place and you’ll have to get it touched up.
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Brittany Graves/Instagram
14. Light As A Feather
Feathers have their place in symbology as much as snakes or anything else. Their soft curves and the detail of the fine hairs in the feather can make for a beautiful tattoo on anybody. If you’re wanting to take it to the next level, though, ink it in white to get that ethereal vibe to it.
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
15. Beat of a Heart
Sometimes we want to tattoo something that’s deeply personal and sentimental to us on our bodies. That doesn’t mean, however, that we want to be asked about it by everyone we meet over the course of our lives. That’s why white ink is so perfect for a private tattoo. It’s still visible, but you have to be looking for it.
Source:
Ink Me
16. On Wings Unseen
People often get a pair of an angel’s wings tattooed on themselves to commemorate the loss of a loved one. You may have noticed, though, that after a few years the bold shading of the wings can fade into a dark mass of ink that makes you wonder if you would ever want an angel with wings like that to have your back. Tattooing them in white instead will accentuate the spiritual nature of the tattoo, rather than defiling it.
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Anouk/Instagram
17. Remember What Keeps You Grounded
Do you ever find yourself just feeling lost in life? Like if you weren’t bound by gravity you might just drift away? Don’t worry; we all feel like that at times. Getting an anchor tattoo in white will help remind you that you’ve got a reason to stay grounded, and the white ink will act as a light at the end of your tunnel.
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
18. Trail of the Eclipse
Some people feel deeply in tune with the phases of the moon, and for good reason. Humans are made up of 70% water, and the moon pulls on our bodies the same way it pulls at the tide. This woman got a spine-length tattoo of the different phases in the eclipse, and the white ink captures them perfectly.
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Ink Me
19. Light To Accentuate The Dark
There is nothing wrong with using good ol’ fashion black ink to line and shade your tattoo with, but don’t throw the option of white ink out altogether. Adding in just a few details in white next to a black outline can make the dark ink stand out that much more than if it were there alone. Be like this person and get creative with your options!
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Resilience Ink/Instagram
20. Runes Around The Rose
This tattoo has so many elements of light and dark at play its downright haunting. The rose is solid black and contrasts absolutely perfectly with the white snake that is slowly coiling itself around it. The runes peppered around the snake-entwined rose add a layer of mystery and intrigue to the tattoo that’s almost maddening. Beautiful piece of art!
Source:
Ink Me
21. The Light of the Leaf
Having a great tattoo will always be affected to at least some extent by body placement, and most people realize this. What they don’t always take into consideration, though, is how color choice will play out in the overall appearance of their tattoo, also. It is exactly that; the choice of color and body placement, that makes this tattoo so beautiful. Light, wispy, and barely there, the elements of the design are completely representative of the delicate branch of leaves itself.
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Lara Maju/Instagram
22. The White Whale
This tattoo is super creative. Using the shadow cast by the girl’s ear as an element of design in the tattoo overall, the artist inked the whale swimming toward the shadow, and it looks just like he were swimming into the shadowy caverns of the sea. Done in black or blue, this tattoo wouldn’t have the same feel. The white certainly makes it pop!
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Playground Tat2/Instagram
23. Geometry of Light and Shadow
This artist uses geometry in his tattoo design to delineate the relationship between light and dark. Encapsulating solid, shapely shadows within white, hollow geometric frames, the artist has achieved an almost alchemical task and has transformed the impression of heavy matter into airy-seeming elements.
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Daniel Meyer Tattoo/Instagram
24. Light and Delicate
Yet another fantastic reason to use white ink in your tattoos is if you’re planning on getting a large piece of work done on a very open and visible part of your body. While tattoos in general have become more commonplace, neck tats are still frowned upon pretty heavily in most circles. If you know you want one, though, consider getting it inked in white. That way its much less visible to others, but you will know it’s there and it will pop out at you every time.
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Tattoo by Dodie/Instagram
25. The Sun in the Blizzard
What better color to tattoo a blizzardly snowflake in than white? This adorable tattoo holds the sun and the mountains encircled in a tiny snowflake and, as you can see, is still clearly visible. This would make great flash work for any snow bunny in search of some ink!
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Blizzard Mama/Instagram
26. Who’s your favorite Dino?
White ink also makes for awesome outlines. Let’s face it, a lot of people’s tattoos were only ever meant to be an outline! Not only will white ink help keep it simple, but it also gives the feel of your tattoo a much lighter and airier appeal than the darker inks will ever be able to accomplish.
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By Mosler/Instagram
27. Light in the Compound of Love
Okay, this one is for all you science nerds out there. Really, it’s for anyone hooked on the notion of “love”, but most people wouldn’t know it. This tattoo is a beautiful representation of a molecular compound called Oxytocin, but you might know it better as Love. Oxytocin is the endorphin that is released when a person feels loved, and it is this compound people are referring to when they say someone is “addicted to love”.
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Piccolino Tattoo/Instagram
28. Dark Art in White Ink
While artists often do one element of design in black and another in white for that counterbalance, this artist did something else entirely. Instead, he added the elements of light and dark into one long, flowing piece. Like yin and yang, the color change from black to white along the snake’s long, undulating body can’t help but remind us of the constant tightrope we walk between the light and the dark.
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Hunted by Wolves/Instagram
29. Light Up Your Patronus
On the off chance that you aren’t a Harry Potter fan and don’t know what Expecto Patronum means, it is a spell in the books that calls forth a person’s guardian animal in the form of pure, bright white light. In Latin, the phrase literally translates to, “I await a patron” or, more aptly, “I await a protector”. It really only makes sense to do this in white ink.
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Kristiwallsnyc/Instagram
30. Traditional looks better in White
Using white ink adds a strong element of tradition to a design with an untraditional focus. The stem running up to the rose between the leaves says “Things are better if I stay.” Perhaps a silent reminder to herself? Regardless, the white ink will encourage people to naturally see a stem where there’s actually words.
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Old Town Tatu/Instagram
31. When The Ink Says It All
Sometimes we need a silent reminder to ourselves to get out there and live our lives to the fullest. White ink is perfect for that. Light enough to be seen by you in an instant, but not so bold that everyone in the world can see it.
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Diana Gescu/Instagram
32. A Trail of White Roses
If you’re getting a delicate looking piece done on yourself, consider inking it in white. The bright light color will only lend to that whispy-like feeling of delicacy. Even lace won’t be able to hold a comparison to the beauty of your tat.
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Alia the Ginger/Instagram
33. White Bear in 2D
It’s really amazing what white ink can do for a relatively common image. We are all familiar with the shape and image of a bear, and are even used to seeing fully black silhouettes of them inked into people’s skin. When done in white with geometric lines, though, it takes the image into the realm of abstract 2D, where we see the bear’s shape with new eyes.
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Biza Buzetti/Instagram
34. Symbolic Snake Symmetry
This piece of art is really noteworthy. See how he uses the dark, bold of the black ink to make his symbol pop? This coupled with the massive snake coiling down through it in white makes for an unbelievably dramatic image that marries the elements of light and dark into one magnificent piece.
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SATTTVISION/Instagram
35. Beauty Every Way You Turn
Sometimes you can find yourself a little slice of beauty in the most unlikely of places. While we are used to seeing neck tattoos on men and roses on women, rarely do we see a man with a rose delicately inked into his neck behind his ear. This guy just proves that there really can be beauty anyway you turn in life.
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Pati.San.Martin/Bored Panda
36. Battle Scars
Some people might be left scratching their heads looking at this piece. Even so, people get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. Some get them to cover up physical scars that they don’t want the world to see. Others? Well, they sometimes get tattoos to reveal unseen battle scars left from an event they had to survive through. Then again, some people get them simply because they like the way they look. Either way, it’s working for this kid.
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Wes Broske/Instagram
37. Unique as the Snowflakes
Have you ever heard that, just like our fingerprints, no two snowflakes are ever exactly the same? Knowing that, it would seem that these light, delicate falling flakes of frozen water are the epitome of what it means to be unique, and some people like to wear them as a badge of honor. White ink is perfect for keeping the lines of your snowflake looking light, delicate, and clean, just like the real thing!
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Mbymosler/Instagram
38. Hear the Chevrons?
This tattoo is truly rune-like. Chevrons are some of the oldest symbols around and have heavy use in many ancient cultures all over the world, including Native Americans, Aboriginals, and Africans. If you’re looking for a small tat that has its roots deep in history, you can’t go wrong with this one!
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Vicky Pila/Instagram
39. A Reminder For Those Who Judge From Behind
You would think that people in life would approach you with the general understanding that you are your own unique individual and not there simply to serve their purposes or self-image. You would be wrong, though. Sometimes people, even and especially adults, need a reminder that you are here to fulfill your own life’s dreams, and not anyone else’s.
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Tattoo by Chang/Instagram
40. A Dance Between the Light and the Dark
Good and evil. Black and White. Yin and Yang. The constant unseen dance between the light and the shadows in your life will reveal itself to you more and more. Over time, you will begin to understand the need for both in order to create the beauty that your heart seeks.
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Ann Gilberg/Instagram
41. Skin Raising
Not only is the detail of this tattoo downright hair raising, but it’s also a clever play on words and color. In case you couldn’t tell, this woman’s hand tattoo is of a massive black widow…inked in white. Yeah, this chick totally gets an A+ for creative thinking!
Source:
Mirkosata/Bored Panda
42. A Thin Break in the Line
Some tattoos don’t have to be jam-packed with detail and color to achieve a skin-worthy status. White ink is especially useful for those tattoo lovers that like to keep an element of minimalism to their body art designs. If you’ve already got some black on you but want to add a few more lines for detail, ink it in white and be amazed at how it makes your black ink come back to life in a whole new way!
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Moruse_/Instagram
43. Highlight the Cosmos
Of course, when you use white ink over dark ink, it is going to highlight the image as a whole. That’s why the white ink is working so well in this tattoo! How better to catch the effervescent luminosity of the moon and stars than to chase the dark with the light?
Source:
Ink Me
44. Bird in Flight
Using white to highlight and accentuate certain edges or curves in a piece of work done in mostly dark ink works on more than just the wind, waves, or stars. It works especially well on animals. This bird looks all the more filled with life and movement from the thin white highlights running through her wings and feathers, and looks completely different than it would in just dark ink alone.
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
45. Armed in Flowers of Light
A lot of people love using henna to cover themselves in beautiful flowers to make themselves feel like a queen on their big day. This type of artwork doesn’t have to be temporary, though, and it doesn’t have to be brown, either. Henna tattoo designs that are inked in white add such an element of pure beauty that it’s hard to look away. So, why pigeonhole such amazing artwork to only being visible for a couple weeks? Get that tattooed and you will feel like a queen everyday for the rest of your life!
Source:
Ink Me
46. Lighting Up Thor’s Hammer
So, we haven’t mentioned this yet, but did you know there’s something else that’s extra special about using white ink? Yep, and it’s the blacklight effect. When this type of ink gets blasted with a blacklight, it gives the image an appearance of electricity coursing all throughout it. This effect alone makes it a must-have ink for anyone wanting to boast a badass image of Thor’s Hammer!
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
47. Feathers and Fairydust
There are just certain visuals that an artist can achieve using white ink that they can’t with black or colored ink. The wind-whipped, wispy, ethereal vibe that enchants people so readily is always much more easily achieved using white ink and variant shades of it. That’s why this feather literally looks as though it were just hit with a handful of Tink’s fairy dust. We’re actually genuinely surprised this person didn’t just float away!
Source:
Ink Me
48. Where Light Gives Life
Even if you already have a beautiful tattoo, don’t discount what adding in a hint of white can do for it. Just look at this butterfly. The colored design is unquestionably gorgeous on its own, but adding in the white ink highlights really brought this image to life. It almost looks as though this butterfly alighted on her shoulder for just a moment, and is ready to lift herself up into the wind again.
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
49. Let Your Light Shine And Your Wings Show
Remember that electrical effect under the blacklight that we mentioned. Well, if you think it makes Thor’s Hammer look cool, think about what it would do for a pair of angel wings. For some unknown reason, we tend to associate both the color white and ethereal blue light with the presence of angels. White ink lends both visual aspects to a pair of tatted wings, appearing white by day, and an electrified Heavenly blue by blacklight. You’ll really have your friends wondering with this one!
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
50. When You Take The World With You
If you are a real lover of travel and the entire world is your playground, then we may have found just the tattoo for you! World map outlines in tattoos are nothing new, to be sure, but they are usually done in a simple bold black. While it doesn’t take away from the shapely beauty of the continents, it doesn’t really do much for them, either. Getting it done in white ink, however, will make it look like the map is ready to pop off your skin and whisk you away on an adventure!
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White Ink Tattoo/Instagram
There you have it, people! Hopefully, one of these 50 majestic designs will inspire you to add some white ink into your skin collage, and really give people something to look at!
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