13 Colorful Tattoo Ideas that Will Inspire You to Think Beyond Black and White

By Devon Abelman, Allure

We don't limit our wardrobes or makeup to just black and white, so why do so with tattoos? (Well, most of us, at least.) Some of the best tattoos we've found while scrolling on Instagram are made up of some of the brightest colors in the rainbow. A colorful tattoo is exactly the same as a black-and-white tattoo — except tattoo artists use the brightest, borderline neon inks they can find. (It should be noted that none of the tattoos you're about to see aren't done with glow-in-the-dark or UV-reactive ink, though. All of these are considered unsafe and have not been approved by the FDA.) Colorful tattoos heal and feel the same way as any other body art. The biggest difference comes down to the order in which the colors are applied. "Any amount of darker ink that seeps into the neon can adversely effect the color permanently, particularly its ability to glow when placed under UV light," says Kayla Newell, a tattooer at Kilroy's Tattoo in Portland, Oregon. "So I use it really carefully." As for whether a colorful tattoo lasts as long as a black-and-white design, the jury is still out. "All tattoos fade with time, but color definitely fades faster than black," says Charline Bataille, a Montreal-based tattoo artist. And all agree that by rubbing some sunscreen on tatts — every day — will keep them from fading faster. Without further ado, keep scrolling to for 13 colorful ink ideas etched by some of our favorite tattoo artists on Instagram.

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Feline Friend

Shout out to all the cat lovers out there. Let this portrait of a client's feline by Newell inspire you to add to your cat-themed beauty repertoire.

Technicolor Text

Shannon Perry, the owner and an artist at Valentine's Tattoo Co. in Seattle, Washington, is known for her realistic tattoos of people, gemstones, and fruit, but we're loving this rainbow script.
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Bright Bouquet

When brainstorming tattoo designs, Bataille likes to sit down with her client and always asks them what their favorite flowers and colors are — no matter what the tattoo is. "When I draw my tattoos, I always collaborate with my client," she says. "To me, their agency is very important." This bright bouquet just happens to play on both the client and artist's preferences.

Space Out

Jess Koala, a California-based tattoo artist, paid homage to one of her favorite spots, the Integratron at Joshua's Tree. The mix of cosmic vibes and the landmark is giving us major tattoo wanderlust.
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Pretty Woman

Albie, an apprentice at Valentine's Tattoo Co., creates mini pieces of modern art on the daily. Her Miami Vice-meets-art deco-style tattoos are a bold take on classic body art.

Slither Along

Wrap your arm with something that slithers. Newell's neon snakes are an excellent point of reference.
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Me, Myself, and I

Tell everyone who your heart really belongs to, like one of Koala's clients.

Printed Petals

Albie makes a strong case for polka-dotted florals with this pink-and-turquoise tattoo.
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Walk on the Wild Side

"My client wanted a tiger that was vulnerable, tender, dangerous, and ready to attack!" Bataille says of this colorful tattoo's backstory — and damn, did she make that happen.

A Shoo-In

Getting this heel might hurt more than breaking in a pair, but it will forever be just the right size. We're obsessed with this one Albie created.
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Vivid View

Newell created a colorful cacti-filled desert on one of her clients.
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Make a Statement

"My client wanted to use a strong symbol of second-wave feminism and reappropriate it to her own definition of activism," Bataille explains. "She wanted to reject the oppression beauty standards of capitalist white supremacist patriarchy while still putting a cutesy, frilly piece of clothing on her skin because she is, herself, quite girly. To each their own!"

Fluorescent Flowe

Whether it's a rose, pansy, or peony, Koala inks up some of the boldest buds under the sun.

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