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Black and grey illustrative skull in an ornate knight's helmet covers the inner upper arm.A traditional bat head with yellow eyes breathes orange flames on a forearm.

Tattoo styles

Traditional

American traditional: bold black outlines, a short palette, and designs that have looked good on skin for a hundred years and still do.

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Bold will hold

Traditional is the grammar of tattooing: a heavy black outline, black shading, and a handful of colors (red, yellow, green, sometimes blue) packed solid. Eagles, roses, daggers, swallows, ships, panthers, pin-ups and banners with a few words.

Color illustrative horned beetle with a skull body and faces on its wings sits on the thigh.
A traditional orange tiger head bares its fangs among small stars on the upper arm.A color illustrative pin-up covered in small tattoos runs along a forearm.

The rules exist because they work. Thick lines stay crisp as skin ages, solid color stays bright, and simple shapes read from across a room. It is the style we recommend most often for a first tattoo, and the one that still looks right thirty years on.

A traditional sailing ship rides blue waves above a red flower on the thigh.
A traditional eagle grips a green snake above a blue cactus on the forearm.

Fresh off the needle

  • A traditional blue swallow spreads its wings on the chest below lettering.
  • A traditional horseshoe with hearts and purple flowers sits on a forearm.
  • A traditional planchette surrounded by yellow flowers sits on a forearm.
  • A black and grey bat spreads ragged wings with red accents on the inner forearm.
  • A traditional color pirate woman in a hat with a flower and sword covers the back of the hand.
  • A traditional color sailing ship, waves and rope frame sit above a rose on the thigh.
  • A traditional boxer with wrapped fists and a black eye stands above red flowers on the forearm.
  • A traditional red-haired mermaid with a green tail sits between curved lettering on the upper arm.
  • A traditional black and grey skeleton mermaid tattoo curls its scaled tail along a forearm.
  • A traditional beach sunset tattoo includes a palm tree and compass rose on a shoulder.
  • A traditional eagle tattoo spreads black and grey wings with yellow accents across a lower leg.
  • A color illustrative lava lamp contains red alien heads floating in blue liquid on a calf.
  • Color illustrative blue and orange chameleon on a leafy branch sits on the upper arm.
  • Traditional color moth with a skull on its body and patterned wings sits on the upper arm.
  • Black and grey traditional hourglass with a skull and scythe sits on the forearm.
  • A traditional bulldog tattoo wears a green helmet and spiked collar on a calf.
  • A blackwork pin-up figure with flowers for a head and fishnet stockings stands on an outer upper arm.
  • A colorful traditional pin-up diver wearing a helmet covers an upper arm.
  • Color illustrative red roses with green leaves cover a shoulder and upper arm.
  • A black and grey illustrative eagle, flag and guitar surround a Free Bird banner on the upper arm.
  • A traditional woman in a leaf skirt raises a bloody club while wading in water on a forearm.
  • A traditional red boxing glove trails yellow and green flames on the elbow.
  • A traditional black cat grips a green fish on the upper arm.
  • A colorful illustrative bird skull, checkerboard and rose sit within a diamond frame on the calf.

Flash from the wall

  • SlaineTraditional
  • Roger SolisTraditional

Fast to tattoo, slow to fade

A traditional orange and black tiger with raised claws stretches along the forearm.
A traditional black and grey poison bottle tattoo bears a skull and crossbones on an upper arm.

Most traditional pieces are done in one sitting. Flash from the wall is tattooed as drawn; custom pieces are drawn in the same language. The artist will push you toward fewer elements and bigger shapes, and that advice is the whole style.

Slaine, Arty and Madison work in traditional here, each with a different hand: Slaine leans into characters and creatures, Arty into clean classic shapes, Madison into saturated color on a classic frame. Flash days are built on this style.

At a glance

Lines
Heavy black
Palette
Red, yellow, green, black
Sessions
Usually one
Ageing
Excellent
Walk-ins
Yes, flash and small custom

Who to ask for traditional

  • A traditional purple snake coils around a green clover over a red glow on a calf.
  • Arty faces the camera in a tilted green-brimmed cap before framed tattoo art.

    Arty

    Neo traditional · Black and grey · Cover-ups

  • Madison Sweet smiles in dark-framed glasses and a tan top against a weathered wood wall.

    Madison Sweet

    Neo traditional · Illustrative

  • A traditional shark with an open mouth and yellow rope covers a calf.
  • Slaine faces the camera in a white shirt in front of framed tattoo flash.

    Slaine

    Neo traditional · Illustrative · Black and grey

  • Ryan wears a grey shirt and skull pendant beside a driftwood display in the studio.

    Ryan

    Neo traditional · Polynesian · Geometric

  • A traditional woman's face, skull and red roses cover an upper arm.
  • A crying face tattoo wears a green thorn crown with yellow tips.

    Coy

    Japanese · Black and grey

  • A color illustrative lotus and Om symbol cover the throat.
A cartoon zombie pin-up in a red top sits on a gravestone on a calf.A black and grey Death tarot card with a skeleton and scythe sits on a lower leg.

Questions people ask

Traditional pink candy hearts reading 'Get lost' sit with blue flowers on a forearm.

What is the difference between traditional and neo-traditional?

Traditional keeps the palette short and the shapes simple. Neo-traditional keeps the bold outline but adds more colors, depth and detail. Same bones, more flesh.

Can I get a traditional piece as a walk-in?

Yes. Flash and small custom traditional pieces are what walk-in days are for. Bigger custom work books a consultation.

Black and grey brass knuckles reading 'FAFO' cover the back of a hand.

Will the colors fade?

Solid traditional color is the longest-lasting color in tattooing. Sunblock after healing keeps it that way.

A black and grey realism sleeve combines a veiled woman, thorn-crowned man and roses.A black and grey realism portrait of Jesus with tears and a crown of thorns covers a forearm.

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