Compared to a wolf tattoo, a rose tattoo is more flexible and will work well in most body parts. Even in small sizes, it still looks nice. It can be inked in different styles as well. It looks great in both black-and-grey and with colors. You can also have it in a tribal tattoo style, which comes in solid black.
In general, a rose tattoo is associated with love or romance, with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, as the primary inspiration for the symbolism. This is why roses are the go-to flowers when someone wants to show love for another person no matter how clichéd it is. Men often link a rose tattoo to a particular loved one like a wife or a mother. Usually with a ribbon that bears the name of the person.
However, there is more to a rose tattoo than simply being a symbol of love and romance. Different colors hold different meanings. It is difficult, sometimes even impossible, to switch the color of an already inked tattoo. So be careful when choosing a color as it may symbolize a different thing than what you really had in mind. Not all rose colors work well on men, so we’ll just stick to red, yellow, orange, and black.
A red-colored rose tattoo is a symbol for love and romance. A person who wants to pay tribute to multiple loved ones may have a set of red roses, each representing an individual. A rose tattoo with the thorns included symbolizes sacrifice, especially when the rose is in a blood-red color. If you don’t want sacrifice to be part of the theme, you can omit the thorns and just include the leaves.
A yellow-colored rose tattoo symbolizes happiness and joy. It can be used as a substitute for a red rose tattoo if you want a tattoo that represents a loved one. For example, instead of a red-colored tattoo, we suggest going for a yellow-colored rose tattoo when paying tribute to a child if you have one.
An orange-colored rose represents optimism and a general love for living things. Since it is a mix of red and yellow, it can be seen as a symbol of both love and joy, making it a great alternative if you can’t decide between a red rose and a yellow rose. Nature lovers might also find an orange rose tattoo more attractive than all other colors.
A black-colored rose tattoo is often associated with death. If you want to honor a lost loved one through a tattoo, a black rose is an excellent choice. A lot of people often go with a Mexican Day of the Dead tattoo when honoring a deceased loved one. But if the colorful art isn’t particularly attractive to you, a black rose makes a great alternative.
The location of the tattoo depends on how many roses you want to include and the overall design of the tattoo. Want a full set of roses complete with leaves and interweaving stems? The upper back makes an excellent canvas for that. Legs and biceps are also good candidates. Want a single rose without the stem? You can have it on the forearm, neck, or hand. Want a rose tattoo flanked by the name of a loved one? The chest, which is closest to the heart, is the best place.
It all depends on preferences, really. For a more detailed view on how rose tattoos look on the body, check out these rose tattoos we unearthed from the internet.
