32 Cool Tattoos for Men in 2024

This contemporary tattoo combines a Sharpie anatomical heart with…a Sharpie. I love the idea and execution of this piece, especially the heart, which uses thick linework shot through with slightly different tinges of red ink to replicate the look of the permanent marker.

IG: mambotattooer

A mesmerizing back piece that features a massive eel curled around and through a 3D skeleton. The feature of this tattoo is its meticulous attention to detail from the realistic shading that offsets the intertwined images – light skeleton, dark eel, and black headdress. It’s a sensational piece of complex patterns mixed with flawless linework within a disturbing theme.

IG: 47volt

You won’t find realistic blackwork floral patterns better than this man’s chest tattoo. The whip-shading in the peony petals is nearly flawless but may be outdone by the packed black ink and negative space linework used for the leaves. I also like the design is placed squarely in the middle of the chest. It’s just a shame that I can’t zoom in further on the technical details.

IG: kubrickgood

This looks like a 3D rubber figure rather than a tattoo inked onto the skin. This dancer uses just three colors – black, navy, and scarlet – and has no shading (or a head and face), yet a sense of fluidity and movement is hard to replicate.

IG: aleksymarcinow

This tremendous artistic tattooing features two snakes imbued with numerous colors and inlaid geometric patterns. The snake shapes themselves are simple, flat images. The magic comes from different ornamental shapes being worked into each color through contrasting ink choices and clean lines. In particular, the gold metallic ink looks terrific over a black base and could make a brilliant design idea.

IG: pittakkm

Thai Sak Yant tattoos are spiritually symbolic designs etched with a single bamboo needle. Known as The Sak Yant Paed Tidt, this tattoo helps protect the wearer against harm when traveling in all directions. The details feature precise line art detail in the wards and Thai script.

IG: panumart_tattoo

These gray peony tattoos are a beautiful example of floral realism tattooing. The design is almost perfect, balancing soft colors from opaque shading techniques against small sections of precise linework. Shadowing the flowers at different budding stages generates different angles, details, and flowing patterns that provide depth and intensity to the elegant application.

IG: guppy.flowertattoo

This set of repeating shapes demonstrates how the client’s body is vital to the tattoo delivery. The idea is simple, but the execution takes mastery of unseen skills.
The artist’s understanding of anatomy and musculature provides a natural flow for the patterns to follow in a design that runs from his forearm, up over his shoulder, and down his side, and finishes at the abdomen.

IG: danasha.tattoo

This is a top-quality example of Japanese-style tattooing. The design features three wolves but mainly emphasizes a large blue canine with an exaggerated facial expression, sharp teeth, and raking claws. I like the placement of each wolf, their subtle color patterns, and the sensible use of wind and fire to add exciting filler.

IG: stupagdintattooer

Unlike many neo-traditional designs, this Japanese-style arm sleeve uses a limited palette to bring a demon theme to life. However, the vibrant orange that promotes fiery flame in opposition to the solid black and gray filler is outstanding. I love the technical skills displayed in clean line construction and color contrast against negative space, while the images – demon, devil, and spider skeleton – are all unique and exciting.

IG: _alvarito_tattoo

This could be my favorite tattoo in the gallery (I know my snake-loving son thinks it’s cool). The animal realism techniques used – contrasting patterns, shifting shade gradients, and smooth delivery – are outshone only by the placement and theme. I love the snakes meeting from opposite positions in a unique arrangement, the absence of other body art, and how one of the two serpents is in self-defense mode, jaws distended and ready to bite.

IG: uncogrim

Anatomical skeleton tattoos are challenging because there are many minute details to get right. Crafting one in the center of a client’s chest with shiny red ink furthers the technical difficulty. The piece is technically exceptional – a 3D rib cage, workable ball joints, white ink highlights to give the bones more realism, and the radioactive glow.

IG: oozy_tattoo

The female clown (payasa in Spanish) is a common theme in Chicano tattoos, branching from the motto “Smile now, cry later.” These tattoo designs often represent the client’s need to hide weakness and vulnerability – essential to many Chicano tattoo themes.

IG: francescofrigenti_tats

You could be forgiven for thinking this epic Mandala arm sleeve is finished, yet there’s still more work to do. Wherever you look, space overlaps, fills in, or contrasts with the concept next to it. The artist has filled the tattoo with nuanced black, gray, and negative space geometric combinations, with a realistic (for now) cicada thrown in for good measure.

IG: weschetattoo

This gothic chest and throat tattoo combines a large, blasted 3D skull with a geometric pattern found in medieval churches. It’s a remarkably skillful piece – the work needed to depict a skull split into three parts accurately takes technical knowledge and creative vision. I like that there are no sharp, straight lines – all are curved and flowing lines that match up into circles and arches.

IG: jimleclerctattoo

A staggering number of lines manufacture this complete back depiction of Utrecht. There are no shadows or color fills, just thousands of expertly inlaid lines in various lengths and patterns. The piece depicts a bustling cityscape filled with tall buildings, farms, businesses, and people with precise detail. This body art is a masterwork of line art tattooing on an epic scale!

IG: ivan.zagusta

There’s a lot to like about this heavenly Buddha tattoo. Firstly, it’s high on the body and respects Buddhist art and culture. Secondly, the three well-spaced main images look exactly like stone carvings – chock full of detail crafted from clever shading and white ink highlights. Finally, the three pieces are joined by a rich gold hoop that completely opposes the rest of the design and is balanced by a series of linework clouds.

IG: chou_tatt

This killer upper arm tattoo reminds me of every cigar-chomping tough guy you see in the movies, except it’s a gorilla! I like how the piece (a classic black and gray animal realism tattoo) gets a tinge of contemporary ink by intelligently incorporating the cigar’s smoke and glow into the color scheme.

IG: marko_tattoo