14 Gothic Tattoo Ideas: Wear It 2 Weeks Before You Ink
Gothic tattoo ideas you can wear before you ink. Each design looks like real ink and lasts 10 to 14 days, so you can live with the size and the spot before you commit.
The core gothic symbol, small enough for the wrist or the ankle. Size: 3 x 3.9 cm (1.2 x 1.5 in). See the small skull design.
5. Skeleton hands
Two bony hands, a nod to memento mori. Forearm or chest. Size: 6.1 x 5 cm (2.4 x 2 in). See the skeleton hands design.
6. Death moth
The moth with a skull on its back, a soft goth favourite. Sternum, back of the neck or forearm. Size: 7.5 x 4.6 cm (3 x 1.8 in). See the death moth design.
7. Spider web
A small web for the elbow, the knee or the back of the hand. Size: 3.5 x 4.2 cm (1.4 x 1.7 in). See the spider web design.
8. Small spider
A spider for the side of the finger, the neck or the wrist. Size: 2.5 x 3 cm (1 x 1.2 in). See the small spider design.
9. Fine line dagger
A long, thin dagger that follows the forearm or the spine. Size: 3.9 x 15.5 cm (1.5 x 6.1 in). See the fine line dagger design.
The pirate flag with its skull, for the upper arm or the calf. Size: 8 x 5.4 cm (3.1 x 2.1 in). See the Blackbeard flag design.
12. Ace of spades
The death card of the deck, for the forearm or the calf. Size: 10.2 x 13.3 cm (4 x 5.2 in). See the ace of spades design.
13. Vegvisir
The Norse rune compass, for the forearm, the back of the neck or between the shoulders. Size: 5.2 x 5.2 cm (2 x 2 in). See the Vegvisir design.
14. Celtic knot sleeve
A long celtic knotwork piece that runs down the arm: the way to see a full sleeve before you commit. Size: 13.9 x 44.5 cm (5.5 x 17.5 in). See the Celtic knot sleeve design.
What does a gothic tattoo mean?
A gothic tattoo plays with dark romance: death, change and beauty that fades, drawn in strong black lines. The meanings below are the common ones.
Skull and skeleton hands: memento mori, a reminder that life is short.
About 4 cm or less: the finger, the wrist, the elbow (spider, web, small skull).
5 to 13 cm: the forearm, the sternum, the back of the neck (death moth, skeleton hands, vegvisir, flag, ace of spades).
15 cm and longer: down the forearm or the spine (dagger, sword), or the whole arm (celtic sleeve).
Size is the easiest thing to get wrong with a gothic tattoo: too small to read, or too big for the spot. Every product page gives the exact size in cm.
Not sure yet? Wear it for 2 weeks
Wear the design at its real size for 10 to 14 days (7 to 10 on the fingers): a real-looking tattoo on your own skin, not an on-screen preview. Want your own design? Send your drawing and wear it first with a custom temporary tattoo. New to this? Read how to try a tattoo before you get it.
How do you put it on?
Application takes about 5 minutes. The colour develops in 24 to 36 hours, then the tattoo looks like real ink and fades on its own after 10 to 14 days. The ink is plant-based, vegan and free of PPD.
Most gothic tattoos speak about death, change and dark beauty. A skull is a memento mori, a reminder that life is short. A death moth stands for transformation, a snake for change, a dagger for a trial you came through and a spider web for patience. The ace of spades reads as luck or a challenge. Wear one for 2 weeks and see if the meaning still feels like yours.
What tattoos do goth girls like?
Goth style leans on a few classic motifs: a death moth on the sternum, a small spider web on the elbow, a fine-line dagger down the forearm or a tiny skull on the wrist. Thin black lines read gothic without looking heavy. On this page, the spider is 2.5 x 3 cm and the dagger 15.5 cm long. Try one on your own skin for 10 to 14 days before you book.
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