Wave tattoo

A wave tattoo looks best small. Think of a single curl on the inside of the wrist, a crest tucked behind the ear, or a short line of swell along the collarbone; the ankle and the side of a finger work well too, if you want something discreet. Every design here develops in blue-black and reads like real ink rather than a sticker sitting on top of your skin.

What you’ll find

• Single waves. One unbroken line, or a quick brushstroke that leaves a little texture in the foam.
• Wave and sun. A sun rising or setting behind the water, drawn in fine line, spirals or rays. For suns without the water, browse our sun tattoos.
• Shoreline scenes. Pieces where the wave is one part of a bigger picture, such as a lighthouse and sailboat, a bottle adrift, pines below a mountain ridge or the four elements.

Now and then a Japanese-inspired panel joins the lineup, a bigger piece with stylized crests set among blossoms or clouds. Those larger pieces aren’t always in stock. Fish, shells and the open sea itself have their own home in our ocean tattoos.

Ask people why they chose an ocean wave tattoo and you often hear about motion and resilience, or about keeping "ride the wave" in sight on a hard week. Some simply like how calm the line looks.

What to expect after application

Exfoliating the night before is optional, though it gives a crisper result that tends to last longer. The application itself takes two minutes, tops. After that, keep the spot away from water and rubbing for 8 hours. Right after you peel the paper, the design looks faint, almost see-through, and that’s normal. Within 24 to 48 hours it darkens and settles into the skin, which is why showers and swims don’t smudge it. Count on up to two weeks of wear. Hands and fingers fade sooner, since they get washed and rubbed all day long; our guide on how long temporary tattoos last goes into more detail.

Plenty of people try a temporary wave tattoo first, just to be sure, before booking the permanent version. Already sketched your own? Order it as a custom jagua tattoo; we print at least 3 copies of each design.

Wave tattoo questions

What is the meaning behind a wave tattoo?

There is no single answer. Many wearers link it to movement and to bouncing back after a rough patch; for others it stands for calm, or for a place by the water that matters to them.

Where should I put a wave tattoo?

Small waves sit well on the wrist, the ankle, the collarbone, behind the ear or along a finger. Keep in mind that fingers and hands fade faster than the forearm or shoulder.

How long after a temporary tattoo can I swim in the ocean?

Wait 8 hours after application. After that the tattoo is waterproof, so you can swim, though long or repeated swims in salt or chlorinated water make it fade a little sooner.