Dragon tattoo

From a scaled serpent coiling up the forearm to a small winged silhouette behind the ear, dragons take more shapes than almost any other motif. This collection sticks to the ones that read best in blue-black: bold outlines, deep shading and strong silhouettes, printed in jagua ink that develops in the skin instead of sitting on top of it.

Japanese and Asian dragons

Long scaled bodies, fierce heads and flowing curves: the Japanese style is where most dragon tattoos begin. Expect fierce heads, solid black silhouettes and dragons sharing the frame with other Japanese motifs, drawn in engraving-style linework or soft wash shading. If the wider tradition speaks to you, our Japanese tattoos take it beyond the dragon.

Tribal, minimalist and ornamental

Prefer something graphic? Tribal dragons trade scales for sharp black curves and sit comfortably next to the rest of our tribal tattoos. Minimalist dragons reduce the creature to a few flowing lines, sized for the wrist, ankle or collarbone. Ornamental winged dragons add decorative detail for a shoulder blade or the upper back.

Size, placement and wear

Match the format to the spot: a long, vertical design follows the forearm, calf or spine, while compact heads and small silhouettes fit the inner arm or the nape. Forearm, shoulder and upper back keep the color longest, up to two weeks; on hands and fingers it fades sooner. Applying one takes two minutes at most. It looks pale at first, then darkens to blue-black over 24 to 48 hours. Keep it dry for the first 8 hours; after that, it's waterproof. No PPD, no needles.

Curious about what dragons stand for, from East to West? Our dragon tattoo guide covers the meanings. Drawn your own beast? We can print it as a custom tattoo (minimum order of three).