Florals, specifically roses, are easily one of the most popular tattoo ideas out there due to the endless customization possibilities and longstanding history. Back in the day, soldiers and sailors used to ink themselves with blood-red blooms to symbolize a loved one. And now, whether you get a minimalist design hidden behind your ear or a string of shaded stems on your shoulder, roses still make a gorgeous (and timeless) tattoo design choice. As they are so favored, you may need some help narrowing down the tattoo style in which to get your rose from the thousands of options out there. For that, we present 50 rose tattoos below that range from hyper-realistic and traditional to creative and abstract.
Floral Cover-Up on Inside of Arm
“Tattoos are often designed to flow with and complement the shape of the body,” says cosmetic tattoo artist Shaughnessy Otsuji. But in addition to complementing, they can also work to hide old work you’d like to cover up. This piece, for instance, was actually intended as a way to hide an old script tattoo. The result pairs a variety of florals for a piece that doesn’t lack style.
Hands and Roses on Forearm
Hand tattoos are very on-trend right now, and the thin outline in this design adds to the delicate and feminine feel of the rose. “I’ve seen some incredible rose tattoos in my lifetime but often most of the designs are pretty traditional,” notes tattoo artist Dillon Forte.
Spine Stem
Elegance is the name of the game with this single rose back tattoo. For a touch of customization, this piece includes a name written in cursive, hidden within the long stem.
Rose Arm Sleeve
Here, it’s all about being bold. Weaving the black rose tattoo into a full sleeve adds so much impact. “I like it when people and artists think outside of the box. There’s infinite possibilities with any piece of artwork,” Forte says.
Back-of-the-Arm Sailor-Style Rose
This retro style is such a throwback, thanks to its bright hues and classic style. The “Mama” in the middle is really what seals the deal, though.
Forearm Rose Head Wrap
This design showcases a woman wearing a rose-accented head wrap. It’s a simple, no-color style that still manages to be intricate and artful.
Rose Hand Tattoo
The classic rose tattoo gets an upgrade with deep details and hand placement. This is an ideal piece for someone who wants art that covers nearly their entire hand.
Classic Rose Shoulder Tattoo
The rose tattoo here is done in American traditional style, giving it a cartoonish look due to the thick black outlines, the thorn elements, and the extra line detailing. This is a great way to break the rose down to its simplest shapes but still achieve a complex tattoo. “Tried and true is a good option if you are unsure of the direction you want to take with your tattoo,” Forte says. “It’s best to find an artist whose style you like, then workshop the idea with them. Every tattooer generally has their own take on common themes.”
Ankle Rose Heart Tattoo
Getting a few basic, black-outlined roses in a heart shape gives a bit of whimsy to the design and adds to the roses’ natural romanticism. The additional leaves and dots add to the personalized, hand-illustrated vibe.
Upside-Down Sternum Bouquet
This piece spans within the rib cage, as if this family of roses is growing within. One of the interesting aspects is that it mimics an upside-down bouquet, as if the roses are being hung to dry out.
Flora and Fauna Rose Tattoo on Back
This colorful mix of flora and fauna weaves together bold red roses with exotic cats and sparrows. We love the juxtaposition.
Two-Tone Rose Tattoo
While no rose looks alike in the wild, they certainly can on you. These double, two-tone blooms are totally twin flames (and absolutely stunning).
Rose Lighter Tattoo on Arm
One way to punch up a rose tattoo is to design around the flower. In this design, the rose is the focal point, but the lighter adds more of a designed feel to the ink. Remember that a colorful design like this one requires extra care — so keep in mind expert tips. “My favorite product to use on tattoos and delicate skin is Zensa Healing Cream ($25) as it works to maintain tattoo ink vibrancy and minimize scarring as it helps to heal skin,” Otsuji says.
Minimalist Rose Forearm Tattoo
This rose tattoo uses basic, clean lines to create a crisp design. By not adding any extra lines, dots, or shading, the tattoo remains modern and minimalist.
Finger Rose
If you’re a fan of rings and all things that glitter, try a rose finger tattoo. Think of it as a permanent piece of jewelry that accents your fave stacks, no matter the metallic or style.
Glass-Encased Rose Forearm Tattoo
Make your tattoo an ode to your one true love (and a specific Disney movie) by getting a glass case tattooed around the rose.
Super Delicate Ribcage Rose Tattoo
By using extremely thin lines and small, intricate detailing, a rose tattoo gains an extremely delicate feel. The shading on the leaves also gives it a realistic look that stands in contrast to the crisp line of the stem.
Thigh Rose Tattoo
Play up the femininity of roses by incorporating saturated colors and placing the design on your thigh. The tattoo feels romantic and chic.
Memorial Roses on Arm
This tattoo was designed to pay homage to the wearer’s lost dog. The artist took an existing dog tattoo, covering it with bright red roses.
Small Fineline Arm Rose
This tiny tattoo style, done in shades of black and gray, shuns color in favor of shading. The result is classic and somehow modern, thanks to the design.
Watercolor Rose
If you look closely at this watercolor tattoo piece, you’ll notice the dotwork and brushstroke technique the artist used to create this romantic, blush-toned double rose.
Creeping Rose Vine on Back and Shoulder
This stunning pair reveals one full-bloom rose with one bud. It’s symbolic of growth (and would be a great mother-daughter option) but it’s beautiful all its own.
Rose Portrait
The key to combining two pieces is to keep the tattoo style the same, seamlessly connecting one ink to the other. This tattoo serves as the perfect example, showcasing a thorny rose and a feminine side portrait.
Full Rose Stem Thigh Piece
This bold, large stem duo looks like it was taken straight out of a comic book thanks to the fully filled in, stark black leaves and sharp lines.
Rose Bouquet Tattoo on Back of Arm
Who says rose tattoos can only include roses? Add some of your other favorite flora to the design to create a bouquet of flower tattoos, rather than just one. If you want to keep the rose the focal point, follow the lead of this look: Make it the only actual blooming flower.
