Exactly how it sounds, that’s how it is. But a black and grey tattoo isn’t just ink devoid of colour. This tattoo style seeks to let the design breathe, without overwhelming you with bright colours and bold statements. There’s nowhere to hide when it comes to black and grey, or modern monochrome, tattoos. While it can indeed encompass a range of subject matter and genres, this style can depict anything and everything in shades of grey. One of the most impressive forms black and grey takes on is that of realism and hyper-realism. Traits of black and grey tattoos include no colour (monochromatic) using black, grey, and white ink only with heavy shading and rich in contrasting elements. Conventional black and grey tattoos are referred to as grey-wash where the tattooist will use a soft hitting tattoo machine to lay in smooth shading. Prior to the introduction of white ink, the grey shade was accomplished by watering down black ink. These days, tattoo professionals combine black ink and white ink to achieve the monochromatic effect. Black and grey tattoos are far from boring. Without a single drop of colour, a monochromatic piece is one of the tattoo styles that can leave a significant impression.

Characterized by a more cartoon-ish style, the new school tattoo has exploded in popularity starting in the 70s. These traits characterised by this unique style. Perhaps the most influential characteristic of a new school tattoo lies in the color schemes. They are bright and undeniably non-traditional. New school tattoo colors differ from old school tattoos in the use of the color palette and the skin. Old school tattoos or traditional and neo-traditional tattoos use one part color, one part black or grey, and the other part skin. New school designs borrow from this style, but with bolder and brighter elements. This type of design generally includes colors like ultra light blue, deep lime green and different shades of purple. They’re extremely colorful no matter what subject you choose. Another feature that you will find in a new school tattoo includes the use of 3-D shading. There is a heavy influence in how the shading interacts with the skin that creates the three-dimensional effect. New school tattoos tend to be more un-realistic overall and this can be found throughout the shading techniques. Your tattoo artist may use different techniques to create drastic effects that allow the tattoo to stand out and make an impression. One of the characteristics in a new school design that compares with an old school tattoo is the use of heavy outlines. This influence is important to the design features of a new school tattoo in order to incorporate classic elements of tattoo culture. The use of heavy outlines adds to the color sensation of these pieces because of the grand contrast.

If you’re looking to make a very obvious statement with your ink, look no further than the breathtaking chicano style. Chicano, or chicana, is the chosen identity for many mexican americans in the usa. Steeped in the history of the mexican revolution, los angeles low-riders and pachuco culture, these pieces encapsulate a gangster’s paradise. Although chicano tattoos were born behind bars, it is a widely influential style that many tattoo enthusiasts flaunt. Traits of chicano tattoos include being usually smooth black and grey and detailed with well-defined contours using fine lines with soft shading on high contrast designs making use of shadows. They often incorporate several images in a mosaic composition. Modern chicano tattoos are inspired by santa muerte, which means holy death, the image of a woman looking defiant with guns, masks, and money. For inspiration, look to iconic films like mi vida loca, or characters such as jay hernandez’s el diablo in suicide squad. But you don’t have to be a gangster to sport this style. Today, chicano tattoos are associated with the ‘futility of being and high justice’; a theme beautifully expressed with the realistic surrealism of this style.

It’s really easy to confuse neo-traditional with classic americana tattoos. Why? Because as the name suggests, this tattoo style evolved from its name-sake. While old school themes are the focus of neo-traditional, this style boasts lush, decorative details. Like new school, neo-traditional honours old school with a modern and colourful approach. The main difference between classic americana tattoos and neo-traditional tattoos comes down to the use of colours and a broader range of motifs. With traditional ink you’re limited to anchors and mermaids, but with neo-traditional pieces you can ink pretty much anything you want from animals to florals. Neo traditional tattoos often include features like pronounced line work and dark clean outlines, lush colours from a larger palette (but still classic), decorative, highly illustrative, art-nouveau and art deco aesthetics, colour gradients and often the use of white ink to highlight features. Art nouveau and art deco combine in this style, bringing together strong curves, romanticised scenarios, and luxurious detail. New patriotic imaginarium, such as native americans, portraits and skulls, are found in this style. Unlike new school, which aims to blow out proportions and almost mock the strictness of old school, neo-traditional remains true to the art of tattoo aesthetics. It’s as if the new school style grew up and learned that being traditional isn’t so bad after all.

Also known as traditional american, these tattoos are among the most well known western tattoo styles. It’s the first style your parents (or grandparents) will think of when you say you’re getting a tattoo, representing counterculture rebels and america’s tough-guy history. Traits of traditional tattoos include bold, saturated colours, simple colour palette and simple shading (if any), thick black outlines, precise and crisp two-dimensional images, elemental, clean designs (symbols and motifs). This style is attributed to norman collins, aka sailor jerry, who learned the craft from japanese hand poke tattoo artists. They’re closely tied to the ocean and nautical imagery, pinup girls, fierce animals, hearts, roses, and daggers. Sailors would tattoo their nautical achievements at sea. For example, a tattoo of king neptune meant you crossed the equator. And a sparrow tattoo would be earned for every 5,000 nautical miles traveled (which is roughly a quarter of the earth’s circumference). We thank classic americana tattoos for birthing other styles like new school, neo traditional, realism, and others you’ll read about here. Choose this style for a tattoo that will age well and likely never go out of style (they haven’t yet!).

Get ready to sit in the chair for a few hours… a realism tattoo is a true commitment to great body artwork. And it should be, because the artist is literally engraving the world as you see it onto your skin. Photo-realistic tattoos (the ones you could confuse for an actual photo of something real) are an investment in time and money. But don’t let that scare you off! This style is an absolute classic, and perfect for capturing something or someone very specific. Realistic tattoos portray anything from people and animals, to nature, scenery and objects and come in all sizes, black and grey, full colour, or a mixture of the two which has incredible visual impact when done well. Traits of realistic tattoos include accurately and proportionately depicts a person, place, or thing (even imaginary things like dragons), can be full colour, black and grey, or both. Common themes include portraits and animals. Medium to larger pieces are more common (as this style requires fine details). Tattoos that are photo-realistic started to pop up once tattoo machines upgraded from their roots in traditional, to medical grade technology. As time goes by, this style is more and more refined, with experts in realism easily identifiable. A tattoo artist that specialises in realism has a critical eye for detail, taking as much time as necessary to accomplish the desired effect of etching a photograph on your skin. Through the use of fine lines, contrast, shading, and 3d effects, as well as different sized needles and a range of tones, your artist will bring your tattoo to life. Hyper Realism: One step beyond photo-realism is hyper-realism. These tattoos not only look real, but they look as though they’re actually there on your skin. Hyper-realistic tattoos have depth, shading, and unreal quality about them (which is ironic given their name!). When you get this style, expect people to want to touch your ink to verify their reality.

Another sub-genre of realism is portraiture, which is the photo-realistic tattoo of people. You’ve seen these tattoos before – you either love them or hate them! Great portrait tattoo artists achieve an eerily accurate rendition of real people. Expert portrait tattoo artists achieve the character and personality of real people. Almost like you know what they’re thinking, or what they’ll say next. Some tattoo enthusiasts see this style as the ultimate compliment, a chance to immortalise a family member, hero or (often) a pop icon. Others may not agree so much and think it’s just plain creepy to get a tattoo of someone else’s face on your body. You can be the judge! Either way, portraiture is a very easy style to spot. Enjoy these tattoos in colour or black and grey scale, usually medium to larger in size due to the level of detail required, and don’t expect any hard black outlines. Portraiture captures the true likeness of a person when done well, and you simply can’t achieve that level of hyper-realism without modern-day techniques.

Here’s a fun tattoo style you may not have been able to identify until now! If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind tattoo that will smack everyone who sees it in the face – look no further than the realistic trash polka style. A true trash polka tattoo is done in all black and red, however you’ll see variations most often using blue instead. This is a sub-genre of realism created by german tattoo artists simone pfaff and volko merschky. Broken down, the name implies that there are elements of photorealism and literal trash. The trash could be bits of newspaper or cigarette butts, to pretty much anything! Traits of realistic trash polka tattoos include having a collage-like structure including images of photographic realism, print materials, hand-writing and typography, along with literal trash. Smudges or splashes of red paint or ink and they often have surreal, abstract or geometric elements. This is a bold style choice. You better have the attitude to back it up!

The word ‘mandala’ is in fact sanskrit for ‘circle’, although you’ll find oval and lotus shaped mandala tattoos as well. Mandalas have been around for centuries, both as a form of meditation as well as art in the hindu, buddhist and christian religions. Ancient monks would draw intricate mandalas on sand in temples, while in hinduism, a mandala would be used in prayer rooms to help with focus. When you tattoo a mandala onto your body, you’re inviting peace, love, and mindfulness into your life. A beautiful and intricate pattern of geometrical fine lines, mandala tattoos are composed of shapes and symbols that radiate from the centre outwards. Mandala tattoos are a reminder to be grateful in life; to live in balance and harmony. You’ll be able to spot one right away by their use of fine lines in complex geometrical patterns. Oriented towards a centre design, such as a star or flower. Circular in nature, but can be oval or lotus shaped. Symmetrically balanced. The blooming, circular nature of a mandala can symbolise femininity, creation, and rebirth. Due to their round shape, mandalas are well suited for forearm, chest, or back tattoos. Each mandala should be as unique as the individual wearing it, so work with your artist to build the perfect tattoo together.For a taste of divine cosmic infinity, opt for a mesmerising mandala tattoo.

Forget symbolism, get your message across with a custom script tattoo. Choose initials, one word, or an entire quote to spell it out: there’s no disguising what your tattoo says. But that doesn’t mean your script tattoo doesn’t have a special significance to you. In fact, custom lettering is often one of the most personal tattoos you can get, aside from a portrait tattoo of a loved one. Popular tattoo styles include latin letters, the arabic alphabet, cyrillic or kanji, but your script tattoos can also be in japanese or other languages. Together with traditional tattoos, lettering and numbers are one of the oldest tattoo styles. Examples of modern custom script tattoos include names or initials, numbers, dates, or coordinates, words, phrases, mottos, etc. Quotes, expressions, sayings, statements, poems, etc. Passages, scriptures, paragraphs, oaths, stories, etc. This style of tattoo can go anywhere, depending on the size of the font. When you have your script where you can see it, you’ll always be reminded to live by what it says. It’s best to keep long script tattoos in a simple font, but feel free to embellish a single word or two. Once you’ve chosen your preferred typography, taking into consideration the size of the tattoo and placement on your body, our artists ensure consistency and composition.

Tattoo styles come and go, but one style continues to maintain its popularity throughout the centuries. And that’s traditional japanese, or irezumi, aka oriental tattoo styles. Originating during the edo period (1603-1868), japanese style is rooted in folklore featuring heroes from the suikoden and mythological. Think creatures of legend (dragons, kirins, phoenixes, etc.), Lotus flowers, characters from the japanese language, tsunami waves, and dramatic smoke. Sure it’s changed over time and artists have their own interpretations of the style but one thing remains the same: they’re highly symbolic. This is a genre well known for large pieces that cover the back, arms, legs, and even the torso. Bear in mind that there are rigid rules surrounding this style, for it to truly be considered irezumi. For example, buddha can only be depicted above the waist, and you can only pair certain animals with certain flowers. Traits of an oriental tattoo style include two-dimensional with bold, curvy lines, bold, rich, traditional colours (black, red, blue, etc.) Large pieces (full arm sleeves, full leg sleeves, full back, etc.) Modern interpretations include black work and one-off designs. Themes include legendary creatures, symbolic animals (i.E. Koi fish) , lotus flowers, buddhas, waves, and smoke. Traditional japanese tattoos are not just for the yakuza, just like traditional americana tattoos are not just for sailors or criminals. However, irezumi was born from covering up tattoos that japanese criminals received in prison – we’re talking street cred. To that end, tattooing was associated with the yakuza mafia which led to the practice being outlawed until 1948! The practice of penal tattooing died out in the 17th century, but the art of decorative irezumi has proven eternal. You better be committed if you’re going for an oriental piece, and prepared to sit for a very long time. These tattoo style is a work of art and your skin is the canvas.

Go bold or go home with blackwork tattoos. Originating from the bold, black lines of tribal tattoos, this postmodern genre incorporates imagery of geometric, negative space, thick lines, dotwork and more. As far as style goes, this is a very broad category of tattooing. Modern tattoo artists got ahold of the ancient form of tattooing and put their own spin on it. Once tattooing became more widespread and acceptable, we started to see a deviation from traditional ink. Tattoos became less about spiritual meaning, such as those worn by polynesians, and more about aesthetics. The style includes blackout too. Blackout tattoos are solid black pieces, usually found as cuffs on arms and legs but can encapsulate entire body parts. How do you spot a blackwork tattoo? Put simply, blackwork pieces are created using only black ink. But this tattoo style is far from simple. A lot can be achieved through the combination of different sized needles, various techniques, and heaps of modern shapes, patterns, and images. These are also a great option for covering up a tattoo, however keep in mind that it will be very difficult to cover up or remove a blackwork tattoo. Traits of blackwork tattoo style include crisp, all black designs, only black ink, no shades of grey. Thick outlines and large filled in areas with intense shading and use of negative space.

In practical terms, all tattoos are a set of dots, inked with pigments that, together, create a bigger picture. So what makes Dotwork a style of its own? Simple: the artist’s ability to harmoniously use dots of different sizes to create sensations of depth, contrast, and continuity. This is done by coordinating quantity, distance, position and the size of the dots per opposition to the traditional needle strokes (used to create solid areas or lines). Focusing solely on the use of black and grey ink, this style became popular during the ’90s and was inspired by post impressionist techniques such as Pointillism. This style should not be confused with handpoke, which refers to the technique used to create the tattoo. A dotwork can be made using electric tattooing machines as well as handpoke technique. The most common features of this style are symmetric patterns, 3D effects and the use of negative space (through the absence of dots). In any dotwork, a random dot’s presence is irrelevant per se, but all the small contributions produce the essence of this artwork. Virtually any style can be used alongside dotwork, thought illustrations and blackwork are the most common ones. Almost all dotwork is made using solely the color black.