There’s something about the appearance of the lavender flower that’s just so soothing. It draws you in, envelops you. It’s like the light of the moon on a dark, misty night, something I don’t think I’ll ever get tired seeing.
For some people, the scent of Lavender keeps them sane, gives them a break from all the anxiety and stress.
If you like the Lavender purely for how it looks, then I guarantee you’ll enjoy learning about how it’s used commercially and how people perceive it as a symbol.
In this article, I’ve compiled 20 of the most badass lavender tattoos there are on the internet. Each piece’s artist is credited so that you can check out more of their work or choose to message them directly. There’s also a brief overview of the Lavender, so keep reading until the end!
Lavender Tattoos
Black and Grey Lavender Tattoos
In this simple piece, no colors are used at all for an elegant, muted look, by Marie Sophie. (@maryrain.tattoo on Instagram).
In this piece, the lavenders form a gorgeous wreathe. A few buds are seen in bloom, by Arché. (@archetattoo on Instagram).
In this piece, the artist uses black and grey exclusively. Lavender tattoos are also great as secondary elements and can be used to complete your sleeve or tattoo set, by PAUL MARTIN. (@paulmartintattoo on Instagram).
Colored Lavender Tattoos
One of the best places to put your lavender tattoo is right on your ankle. It’s invisible when you need it to be, and stands out when it should. In this piece, a pretty purple ribbon ties two lavenders together, by Onyx Ink. (@onyx_gil on Instagram).
In this piece, cursive lettering replaces the stem of the flower. The buds and leaves are drawn using gentle, elegant strokes, by Twin Monkey Tattoo. (@twinmonkeytattoostudio on Instagram).
In this forearm piece, the artist uses no outline, giving it a romantic, misty appearance, by Little Gold. (@littlegoldstudios on Instagram).
In this ankle tattoo, the colors are darker and more noticeable, by nine art tattoo. (@9art_tattoo on Instagram).
Another great place to put your lavender tattoo is along your clavicles, where it’s easily hidden under your shirt. When outdoors, the colors can stand out under the sunlight, by Artio Tattoo. (@artiotattoo on Instagram).
By Unknown Artist.
Finger Lavender Tattoos
Another right place to get a lavender tattoo is along the sides of your fingers. The slenderness of the flower makes it ideal for hugging the natural form of the fingers. It’s also not easily noticed and is a pleasant ice breaker for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, by Tattoo Will Bloom. (@tattoo.bloom on Instagram).
Illustrative Lavender Tattoos
For some people, when things get too heavy, smoke usually does the trick. In this shin tattoo, a couple of lavenders fill up a cigarette box, a reference to the lavender flower’s soothing properties, by Phia. (@phiawalla on Instagram).
In this piece, a cat sits on the edge of a crescent moon, admiring the night sky. Lavenders are used along with another flower as secondary elements, by xiso_ink. (@xiso_ink on Instagram).
In this piece, the lavender flower is more subtle. A ruby gem is used as the focal point of the piece, where it’s used in combination with the Lavender to form a constellation by xiso_ink. (@xiso_ink on Instagram).
In this one, the Lavender is seen in the background behind a sunflower and a pink rose. The artist refrains from using any black outline or more vibrant colors, which gives the piece a dark, nostalgic vibe, by Hunmin Nathan Ji. (@hunminji on Instagram).
In this piece, the number 12 is seen at the end of the stem. You can get creative with your lavender tattoo by playing around with words and numbers, by SaltandInk. (@saltandinknz on Instagram).
In this piece, a woman is seen underneath the soil, as if weeping. A gorgeous lavender flower grows from the top of her head, sending a beautiful message about mental health, by Ceren Şüyün. (@ceren.tattoo on Instagram).
In this gorgeous upper arm piece, a luna moth (Actias luna) perches upon a garden of lavenders. A mesmerizing crystal formation is seen on the foreground, by Blaynebius. (@blaynebius on Instagram).
In this piece, the Lavender is used along with a dandelion and a pink flower. Seen in the background is the constellation for the zodiac sign, Virgo, by Coco Vagina. (@coco_vagina on Instagram).
In this piece, a hummingbird hovers gracefully in front of a garden of lavender flowers. The artist uses watercolor techniques to create a beautiful, misty effect for the wings and background by Cyn Williams. (@cyn665 on Instagram).
Couple Lavender Tattoos
You can also opt to get an identical tattoo with a close friend as a form of remembrance and a symbol of your tight bond, by Elina. (@eligraff.tattoo on Instagram).
Lavender Symbolism
Before you get your lavender tattoo, you might find it interesting to understand the various symbolisms associated with the flower.
Even though it looks rather simple, the lavender flower has found a lot of use, which is why people have associated it with various ideas.
Here are some of the best ones.
Elegance, Refinement, and Luxury
For centuries, the color purple has been a reliable indicator of royalty, wealth, and power. The reason for this was because the purple dye was extremely difficult to obtain and produce.
Fabric traders could only obtain the dye from a small mollusk found in the Tyre region of the Mediterranean Sea. To even produce just a single gram of Tyrian purple, they needed more than 9,000 mollusks. Because of this, the prices for Tyrian purple dye were outrageously high.
Queen Elizabeth forbids anyone except members of the royal family to wear purple. And there was no way to imitate the dye for widespread use. It was for royalty and royalty only. For this reason, the color purple has long been associated with royalty. This is also why lavender flowers are a symbol of elegance, refinement, and luxury.
Femininity
Even though purple is traditionally accepted in modern times as a feminine color, it’s interesting to note that it didn’t start that way. Because purple was rare and expensive, it was seen as a color of royalty, and thus masculinity.
But when the 19th century came along, Sir Beau Brummel, a male fashion leader at the time, began to move away from colorful attire and towards more neutral colors such as black, brown, and grey.
He philosophized that men needed only well cut and fitted clothes to look their best, so most colors were associated with femininity until the reintroduction of bright colors back to male fashion in the late 1960s.
The color of lavenders also has a fresh, gentle appearance, similar to the character of a caring woman. For this reason, Lavenders are known to symbolize and celebrate femininity.
Serenity
One of the most common uses for the lavender flower is an essential oil. In this form, it has been known to influence mental and physical health positively. By spraying it in the air or on a pillow, its scent can help you feel more relaxed and at peace. It also finds use in massage therapy, as direct contact with it can induce a feeling of calmness and relaxation.
Lavender FAQs
What is the Lavender often used for?
The Lavender (or Lavandula) has a variety of uses, mainly in aromatherapy, cosmetics, cuisine, and medicine. The most commonly used species of Lavender is Lavandula angustifolia, or the English Lavender, which is native to the Mediterranean.
- Cosmetics
As a cosmetic product, lavender oil is beneficial for skincare. It’s an excellent skin cell regenerator and is used to treat acne, dehydrated, and abused skin and sensitive skin. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, so it’s also great for treating burns, inflammations, psoriasis, and wounds.
- Cuisine
Most people use the dried buds (also called the flowers) of the Lavender for culinary applications. When used in cooking, it amplifies both the sweet and savory flavors in dishes, which makes it a great partner for sheep’s-milk and goats milk cheeses. It also pairs well with herbal teas and chocolate and is used in the US to make lavender scones and marshmallows.
- Therapy
Commercially, the Lavender is used mainly for the production of essential oils. These oils are used as a perfume, for aromatherapy, and skincare. The odor is very relaxing, so people often spray it on their pillows at night time so they can sleep better. Lavender oil can also induce relaxation through direct skin contact, which is why it’s often used in massage therapy.
- Medicine
Researchers have studied the possible effects of lavender oil in alleviating anxiety and sleep disturbances. Some have also conducted preliminary research into its potential for anti-disease. However, due to poor study design and conduct, there has not been much progress.
Where should I put my Lavender tattoo?
If you work and live somewhere rather conservative, I suggest putting it somewhere easy to hide. The forearm is a trendy place to put these tattoos since it provides enough space and visibility. The problem is, it can be too visible for some people.
If your circumstances don’t allow you to put it anywhere visible, then I suggest you don’t. A forearm tattoo forces you to wear mostly long sleeves, which can be a considerable hindrance depending on the nature of your work. Although the purer appearance of the Lavender does help with alleviating anti-tattoo doubts, it’s ultimately your call whether a tattoo like this will hinder your career in any way.
But if you think it will, and you still want to get one, people often get small tattoos like these on their chest, ankle, or the back of their ear. These are very safe, and very aesthetically pleasing placements for most tattoos of this type.
Will it hurt?
Probably less than you’d expect, as you might have seen, most lavender tattoo designs don’t incorporate too many other elements. Most are pretty small in general, so chances are your tattoo session isn’t going to hurt much or take too long at all.
Now it just depends on where you want to put it. The forearm and upper arm are popular places to put these tattoos. If that’s where you want to put yours, the pain won’t be as intense because there is a protective layer of fat and muscle.
However, if you want to put your tattoo somewhere thin and bony (like the fingers, wrist, or ankle), then you’ll have to brace yourself for a higher intensity of pain. Those areas have next to no fat and muscle, which means there’s not much to protect you from the impact of the needle.
Don’t worry, though. The pain is more of a “tolerable” type of pain like being scratched or pricked. And after a while, endorphins start to set in and dull out the stress and pain. See, even though there are “pain hotspots” all around the body, it does a pretty good job of adjusting.
For a comprehensive discussion on which body parts hurt most when getting tattooed, check out this article by Healthline on tattoo pain.
Conclusion
Not only is the lavender flower aesthetically pleasing, but it has also helped a significant number of people cope with their anxiety and ultimately find peace.
Did you enjoy these Lavender tattoo designs, or are you looking for more inspiration? Check out the following links to see more designs from talented artists.
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