Nature Tattoos

Wildflowers, leafy stems, pine silhouettes, mountain ridges, the curl of an ocean wave: this is the outdoors in temporary form. Our nature tattoos gather what grows, rises and moves outside, drawn in fine line, bold blackwork, dotwork shading or simple outlines.

Pick your corner of the wild

Botanical fans usually start with flower tattoos: single stems, bouquets, wreaths and long vines. If you want something rooted, tree tattoos cover pines, palms and bare branches, while forest tattoos open up into treelines and woodland scenes. Beyond plants, you'll find peaks and sunsets, waves, and small creatures of land, air and sea: bees, dragonflies, birds and sea life.

Size it to the spot

Nature tattoos scale easily. Tiny sprigs and mini sheets suit fingers, ankles and the area behind the ear. Medium pieces sit well on the inner forearm or along the collarbone, and long vines or landscape bands follow the line of the arm, the spine or the ribs. The forearm, shoulder, nape and upper back hold color longest; hands and feet fade sooner because they get washed and rubbed all day.

Each design goes on in under two minutes with a damp sponge. It looks pale at first, then darkens to a realistic blue-black over 24 to 48 hours as the jagua-based ink develops in the top layer of your skin. No PPD, waterproof, and it wears for up to two weeks: enough time to see whether that mountain range really belongs on your arm before you book a permanent one.