Ocean tattoos
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Most people looking for an ocean tattoo already have the picture saved somewhere: a whale's outline, a horizon at dusk. Here, it comes in a blue-black that looks like the real thing. Wear it for a week or two. See if you still love it.
Pick your corner of the sea
- Sea creatures. Ocean life in fine line or solid blackwork: picture a leaping dolphin or a drifting jellyfish. Three animals have their own page: sea turtle tattoos, shark tattoos and octopus tattoos.
- Water in motion. One-line curls, brushstroke swells, swirls under a rising sun; the full range lives in wave tattoos.
- Horizons. Sunrise or sunset over open water, palms along the shore and other coastal scenes.
- Life at sea. Nautical motifs: think a lighthouse or a lone sailboat.
- Japanese-inspired designs with an ink-brush feel; cherry blossoms over water are a classic.
- Mini tattoo sheets that slip a few tiny sea motifs among other charms.
Styles run from fine line to engraving-style hatching, sumi-e wash, geometric and cartoon, always blue-black, never in color. Looking for an anchor or a mermaid? Head to anchor tattoos and mermaid tattoos.
Made for days in the water
Apply it the evening before a swim. For 8 hours, no water and no rubbing. After that it's waterproof: ocean, pool, shower, all fair game. Salt water, chlorine and toweling off do speed up the fade. Count on one to two weeks, nearer the short end if you swim every day.
Go small on the wrist or ankle, bigger on the forearm or shoulder blade. Forearm, shoulder, nape and upper back hold the color longest. Hands, fingers and feet fade faster, since they get the most soap and friction.
Application takes two minutes, tops. Don't judge it right away. The design starts out pale and the blue-black builds over 24 to 36 hours, as the jagua ink develops in the top layers of your skin. No needles, no PPD, vegan formula.
A week or two on your skin fits a vacation by the sea or a long trip. It's also a low-stakes test of the ocean tattoo you keep pinning before you go permanent: here's how to try a tattoo before you get it. Heading somewhere sunny? Pack a few summer tattoos.
Want a shell, a starfish, a boat's name or the coordinates of your favorite cove? Make it a custom tattoo: minimum order of 3, made in 3 to 4 weeks.
Before you pick one
What does an ocean tattoo mean?
There's no fixed meaning. People who wear one often mention calm, freedom, travel or a stretch of coast they feel attached to, and some simply like how the water looks.
Can I swim in the ocean or a saltwater pool with it?
Yes. Keep it dry and don't rub it for the first 8 hours after application; after that it's waterproof. Long or repeated swims in salt water or chlorine wear it down faster, so moisturize daily and use sunscreen to keep it around longer.
What are some cute ocean tattoo ideas?
Small, simple designs tend to work best: a sea turtle or a dolphin in a single line, a cartoon octopus, a fine-line jellyfish. If what you have in mind isn't here, a shell or a starfish for instance, go custom.
