Feather Tattoos

A feather is almost pure line: one shaft, rows of fine barbs, an edge that frays at the tip. That makes it easy to get right at a small scale, and easy to live with for a couple of weeks before deciding on anything permanent. A temporary feather tattoo from us is printed with jagua ink. The ink develops in the top layer of your skin and turns blue-black, so it reads as real ink, not a print.

Feathers, and what they turn into

Feathers breaking into birds. Near the tip, the barbs come loose and become small birds in flight: the classic feather with birds design. If the birds are the real draw, head over to our bird tattoos.

Feather and butterflies. A long feather with butterflies scattered around it, for a design with a bit more movement.

Feather and infinity. The shaft curves into an infinity loop, finished either with a flight of birds or a rose.

All of them are linework, in blue-black. Want something with more span? The sister collection of wings tattoos has single wings and pairs, and both pages sit within our symbol tattoos.

Getting the timing right

Wet the back, press, peel. Two minutes, done. Then comes the part that surprises most people: even a small feather tattoo starts out faint, almost gray. Its full blue-black takes 24 to 36 hours to come through, so apply it 1 to 2 days before a wedding, a trip or a big night. No water and no rubbing for the first 8 hours.

From there, it's waterproof. Showers, swims and workouts won't lift it, because the color is in your skin rather than on it. Expect one to two weeks on the forearm or shoulder blade. On hands and feet, it goes faster. Daily moisturizer and sunscreen help it hang on, while long soaks in chlorine or salt water and heavy sweating wear it down sooner.

Your feather, your words

A single fine line feather with a date along the shaft. A first name, or one short word. A feather crossed with an arrow. Each of these can be ordered as a custom tattoo, from 3 copies, in standard sizes up to L. The design is approved before printing and made in 3 to 4 weeks. With three copies as the minimum, matching feathers for siblings or close friends are an easy fit.

Questions about feathers

What does a feather tattoo symbolize?

Lightness and freedom are the answers you hear most. Some people wear one for a fresh start, others in memory of someone they've lost, and a feather that breaks into birds is often read as letting go. Plenty of people simply like the way it looks, and that's reason enough.

Where to put a feather tattoo?

Its long, narrow shape follows the lines of the body: the inside of the forearm, along the collarbone, down the ribs, across the shoulder blade. For something discreet, go small on the ankle, the wrist or the nape. The forearm, shoulder blade and nape also hold the color longest, while hands and fingers fade first.