Mandala Tattoos

A mandala grows from the center out: rings of petals, dots and lines repeating in near-perfect symmetry. Rooted in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the circle often stands for unity and balance to the people who wear it. Each mandala tattoo in this collection is printed in jagua ink that develops in the skin, so fine linework and dense dotwork come through as crisp blue-black detail rather than a glossy sticker.

Lotus, dotwork and geometric

Most designs start with a flower. Lotus mandalas stack layer upon layer of pointed petals, floral circles soften the pattern, and dotwork versions build their shading from countless tiny points. If the lotus is the part you love, our lotus tattoos take it further, while sharper lines and frames sit with our geometric tattoos.

Pendants, animals and symbols

Chandelier designs hang a lotus or a small mandala above strings of beads and drops, a shape made for the sternum, the space under the bust or the center of the upper back. Others fold the pattern into an owl or a pair of butterfly wings, or set it around an Om or a sun.

Choosing size and placement

Round mandalas look best on flatter areas: the forearm, a shoulder blade, the upper back or the thigh. The forearm, shoulder and upper back also keep the design longest, up to two weeks, while anything on the hands or feet fades sooner. Wearing a large mandala tattoo on your sternum or back for a week or two is an easy way to judge the scale before committing to permanent ink.

It goes on in two minutes or less. It looks pale at first, then reaches its full blue-black over 24 to 48 hours. Keep it dry for the first 8 hours; after that, it's waterproof. Vegan, with no PPD.

For the symbolism of the flower at the heart of so many mandalas, read our lotus tattoo meaning guide. Other designs with a spiritual side are gathered in spiritual tattoos.