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If you're looking for some inspiration for your next tattoo, or just want to see some of the most creative and well-done pieces out there, the subreddits r/tattoo and r/tattoos are the perfect places to start.

These online communities are full of enthusiasts who share their own ink, as well as the designs they admire from other artists around the world. Whether it's a beautiful watercolor-like bouquet of flowers, a geometric animal portrait, or a classic bold skull, everyone is bound to discover something they like, no matter their taste.

So continue scrolling to check out our hand-picked content from these subreddits, and don't miss the talk we had with tattooist and owner of Swansea, United Kingdom-based studio Highwater Gallery, Josh Young.

#1

My Dad Died On December 15, 2016. Today, I Got A Tattoo

My Dad Died On December 15, 2016. Today, I Got A Tattoo

42dftba Report

#2

My Cat, Meonji, By Yeonno In Hongdae, Seoul Korea. It's My First Tattoo Ever And Took 11 Hours

My Cat, Meonji, By Yeonno In Hongdae, Seoul Korea. It's My First Tattoo Ever And Took 11 Hours

goyangimamma Report

When thinking about inking your skin, it's important to understand what you're getting yourself into. "I would say one of the most common misconceptions about tattooing perhaps would be the time it takes to design and perform a tattoo," Young told Bored Panda.

"I think to the inexperienced customer, they can, a lot of the time, assume we are able to just 'knock up' a quick design and unfortunately, the line 'the tattoo should only take half an hour' is thrown in quite a lot."

#3

Calvin And Hobbes Embroidery Patch By Duda Lozano In Sao Paolo, Brazil

Calvin And Hobbes Embroidery Patch By Duda Lozano In Sao Paolo, Brazil

Reddit__PI Report

#4

Wildflowers By Jing From Jing's Tattoo Studio In Flushing, NY

Wildflowers By Jing From Jing's Tattoo Studio In Flushing, NY

Reddit__PI Report

#5

My Brother, My Sister And Me (Triplets) Finally Decided To Get Our First Tattoo

My Brother, My Sister And Me (Triplets) Finally Decided To Get Our First Tattoo

Noah_Keulen Report

Young is guessing that it could stem from flash sheet days, "where you could just pick off the wall and get it done quite quickly. Or perhaps it comes from watching 'reality' tattoo shows that are cut to show the design, set up, and execution done in half an hour."

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Either way, the artist thinks people should invest a bit of patience to educate themselves rather than meet these assumptions and misconceptions with frustration.

#6

Golden Balloon Dog Made By Me, Pony Lawson At My Shop Mayday! Tattoo Co In Chicago

Golden Balloon Dog Made By Me, Pony Lawson At My Shop Mayday! Tattoo Co In Chicago

PonyDanger Report

#7

My Grandma & Grandpa - By Eli Wood At Lombard Street Tattoo In Portland!

My Grandma & Grandpa - By Eli Wood At Lombard Street Tattoo In Portland!

sydken Report

#8

Done By Chris Rigoni At Bloodlines Ink In Perth, Western Australia

Done By Chris Rigoni At Bloodlines Ink In Perth, Western Australia

thatonecritter713 Report

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#9

My Little Trash Cat By Zzizziboy In Seoul, South Korea

My Little Trash Cat By Zzizziboy In Seoul, South Korea

hootandahalf Report

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Caro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn, my 8 year old daughter just saw this and wants this. And I completely understand....

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"Another common misconception would be the pain aspect," Young added. "Yes, the procedure can be painful, but the body is incredibly resilient and everyone is surprised at their own pain tolerance.

"We as humans are capable of sitting through huge amounts of trauma and so when anyone mentions they wouldn't be able to sit for a tattoo, I would encourage them to just give it a bash and they will be pleasantly surprised at their own tolerance."

#10

Fish Bones, Done By Trevor Varem, Mission Tattoo Parlour, Calgary Alberta

Fish Bones, Done By Trevor Varem, Mission Tattoo Parlour, Calgary Alberta

Holdenl2121 Report

#11

Scar “Cover Up” I Did The Other Day. Now She’s Got Her Best Friend Looking Back At Her :) Done Be Me - Adam Makharita (@adamdeanart) At Dot. Creative Group In NYC

Scar “Cover Up” I Did The Other Day. Now She’s Got Her Best Friend Looking Back At Her :) Done Be Me - Adam Makharita (@adamdeanart) At Dot. Creative Group In NYC

adamdeanart Report

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#12

My Arm, Done Today In One 8 Hour Sitting By Hannah Flowers Of No Regrets In London UK. What’d Ya Think?

My Arm, Done Today In One 8 Hour Sitting By Hannah Flowers Of No Regrets In London UK. What’d Ya Think?

ThorgrinHaphazard Report

#13

Tattoo By Alba, Long Story Tattoo, Prague | Artwork By Mahdieh Farhadkiaei, Iran

Tattoo By Alba, Long Story Tattoo, Prague | Artwork By Mahdieh Farhadkiaei, Iran

verriable Report

The most important thing first-timers should concentrate on, according to the tattoo artist, is comfort. "If the customer is not comfortable and relaxed, then usually it sets the precedent for how well they sit during the tattoo procedure," Young highlighted.

"Too many times I've seen first-timers hella nervous and not made to feel relaxed and instead of excited, they are fearful, and don't actually sit very well or enjoy the whole experience. It is a tattooist's responsibility to ensure that they are not only providing the very best tattoo for the client but making it the most enjoyable experience too."

#14

2.500 Years Old Tattoo

2.500 Years Old Tattoo

JaspionCY Report

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Yvonne Dauwalder Balsiger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This ancient mummy of a mysterious young woman is known as the Ukok Princess and she was found in Siberia https://siberiantimes.com/culture/others/features/siberian-princess-reveals-her-2500-year-old-tattoos/

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#17

Honey Bees For A Pair Of Married Beekeepers, By Keith C (Me) At Spinning Needle Tattoos In Ft Worth

Honey Bees For A Pair Of Married Beekeepers, By Keith C (Me) At Spinning Needle Tattoos In Ft Worth

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Whatever is driving you to a tattoo salon, it's enoughю After all, it's your body! 

"Most first-timers tend to get a tattoo for personal reasons," Young said. "I think because the tattoos tend to have far deeper meanings behind them, it encourages them to get over the fear and get it done."

"Once people start getting a lot of coverage, that's usually when the silly non-meaning tattoos tend to break out," he added, laughing.

#18

Kiddo Created A Crazy Creature Out Of Construction Paper So I Had My Tattoo Artist Interpret It!

Kiddo Created A Crazy Creature Out Of Construction Paper So I Had My Tattoo Artist Interpret It!

jhscobie Report

#19

Finally Got To Do Something Creative With My Ugly Shoulder Scar Thanks To Chris Earnhart At Arcade Tattoo, Ca

Finally Got To Do Something Creative With My Ugly Shoulder Scar Thanks To Chris Earnhart At Arcade Tattoo, Ca

SloDilf1493 Report

#20

My Eastern European Folk Art Tattoo With Pigeons. Done By Koral At White Rabbit In NYC

My Eastern European Folk Art Tattoo With Pigeons. Done By Koral At White Rabbit In NYC

Mikelightman Report

#21

I Covered Some Gnarly 3rd Degree Burn Scars With A Fire Dragon By Adam Sky, Morningstar Tattoo, Belmont, California

I Covered Some Gnarly 3rd Degree Burn Scars With A Fire Dragon By Adam Sky, Morningstar Tattoo, Belmont, California

Tattoodles Report

If you need reassurance, remember that industry professionals really want you to have a positive experience. "My advice would be to any first-timers, if you are not made to feel comfortable when in the tattoo shop, look somewhere else."

"We at Highwater Gallery and many good tattoo shops I know of, strive to make you as relaxed and comfortable as possible, whilst also understanding that it can be very daunting and you can be a bag of nerves coming in," the tattoo artist explained.

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#22

Me And My Dog! Made By Mentat Gamze At Studio Aureo, Rome (Italy)

Me And My Dog! Made By Mentat Gamze At Studio Aureo, Rome (Italy)

Pjohnx Report

#24

My Latest Piece Done By John Tarrao At Stone’s Throw Tattoo In Berwyn, Pa. Philly Suburb. I Still Can’t Get Over. I’m Still Blown Away

My Latest Piece Done By John Tarrao At Stone’s Throw Tattoo In Berwyn, Pa. Philly Suburb. I Still Can’t Get Over. I’m Still Blown Away

fluorescentgreenmcm Report

#25

First Tattoo! Clarinet Designed By My Father And Done By Pascal Guimond At Sinister Skin In Port Moody Bc

First Tattoo! Clarinet Designed By My Father And Done By Pascal Guimond At Sinister Skin In Port Moody Bc

_BaleineBleue_ Report

In Young's opinion, "cups of tea or coffee, reassuring words of encouragement, a very laid-back attitude to time frames, and a calm and relaxed approach to the process all help to create the best experience possible for you for your first tattoo."

"Tattoo shops thrive on repeat customers so they should be doing everything they can to encourage you to come back, even if getting a tattoo tends to be a little painful now and then!"

#26

In Utter Awe At This Japanese Back Piece Done By South Korean Artist, Zumiism

In Utter Awe At This Japanese Back Piece Done By South Korean Artist, Zumiism

trashbaby73 Report

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Caro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful. I wonder how much you have to pay for it. ( it's worth every penny).

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#27

Kimono Inspired Geo/Spirograph Piece Done By @nissaco In Japan, Osaka

Kimono Inspired Geo/Spirograph Piece Done By @nissaco In Japan, Osaka

0ooopz Report

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InvincibleRodent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a really cool tattoo, but with these full chest/abdomen pieces that extend this far down, there is always something a tiny bit funny in the nipples and belly button being just... there. I know why that is ofc, but the visual still always makes me crack a smile.

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#28

My Latest Tattoo, Winnie The Pooh And Friends By Ashley June At 522 Tattoo Just North Of Seattle

My Latest Tattoo, Winnie The Pooh And Friends By Ashley June At 522 Tattoo Just North Of Seattle

Acymru Report

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#29

My Grandma (77 Years Young) Just Got Her First Tattoo! "It Didn't Hurt At All"

My Grandma (77 Years Young) Just Got Her First Tattoo! "It Didn't Hurt At All"

pafdoot Report

#30

Embroidery Flower Tattoo By Ksu Arrow

Embroidery Flower Tattoo By Ksu Arrow

Pepsn_p Report

#31

My New Tattoos, To Cover Up Old Self Harm Scars. Changing Sadness To Beauty

My New Tattoos, To Cover Up Old Self Harm Scars. Changing Sadness To Beauty

AlternativeEdgeLord Report

#32

Freehand Retouch/ Redesign By Omar Hunter, Guadalajara, Mexico

Freehand Retouch/ Redesign By Omar Hunter, Guadalajara, Mexico

musicalsteve Report

#34

Done By Erin Chance At Unkindness Art In Richmond Va. Inspired By Beth Cavener’s Sculpture “All Tangled Up In You”

Done By Erin Chance At Unkindness Art In Richmond Va. Inspired By Beth Cavener’s Sculpture “All Tangled Up In You”

StormieTheCloud Report

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Riva Eick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautifully executed, but there's nothing beautiful about a snake killing a bunny.

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#35

Moon Goddess By Cam Pohl (Lansing Mi) Done At Austin Tattoo Invitational

Moon Goddess By Cam Pohl (Lansing Mi) Done At Austin Tattoo Invitational

ARTattooCollector Report

#36

Very Fine Ear Piece Done By Kevin At Black Bear Ink, Eindhoven (The Netherlands)

Very Fine Ear Piece Done By Kevin At Black Bear Ink, Eindhoven (The Netherlands)

Eurwen4 Report

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#39

Dark Floral Sleeve By Jacob, An Artist At Til Death Denver

Dark Floral Sleeve By Jacob, An Artist At Til Death Denver

tatuator Report

#40

Leonardo Da Vinci Done In Istanbul, Turkey

Leonardo Da Vinci Done In Istanbul, Turkey

kayra551 Report

#41

Mario Goes To Work - Mat Frankin, Tat Franklin Studios / Columbus, Ohio

Mario Goes To Work - Mat Frankin, Tat Franklin Studios / Columbus, Ohio

ALowlyRadish Report

#42

My Shin By Mike Boyd. Done 12 Months Ago. Just Found You Guys

My Shin By Mike Boyd. Done 12 Months Ago. Just Found You Guys

BCurios Report

#44

Fresh Pink Panther/ Tiger On The Chest By Manh Huynh At Freedom Inks, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Fresh Pink Panther/ Tiger On The Chest By Manh Huynh At Freedom Inks, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

manwiththebanana Report

#45

My First Tattoo(S). Geometric/Forest/Nature Theme. By Justine Nordine @ The Raw Canvas In Grand Junction, Co

My First Tattoo(S). Geometric/Forest/Nature Theme. By Justine Nordine @ The Raw Canvas In Grand Junction, Co

Kyle95670 Report

#46

My First Tattoo. Done By Shinya At Studio Muscat, Tokyo (8 Months Ago)

My First Tattoo. Done By Shinya At Studio Muscat, Tokyo (8 Months Ago)

Vilas1 Report

#47

Left Healed , Right Fresh. Both Will Be Touched Up (I Am An Apprentice)

Left Healed , Right Fresh. Both Will Be Touched Up (I Am An Apprentice)

marcelust Report

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Lennart
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really good execution on the blades, especially the waves, but the handles seem to fall of in comparison. Still apprentice level 100

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#49

My Wifes Fresh 'Pan's Labyrinth' Tattoo Done By Tara At Mooresville Tattoo Company, Mooresville Nc

My Wifes Fresh 'Pan's Labyrinth' Tattoo Done By Tara At Mooresville Tattoo Company, Mooresville Nc

plasticbagroadkill Report

#50

A Bobby Pin- Done By Billy Gamble At Top Secret Tattoo, Waco, Tx

A Bobby Pin- Done By Billy Gamble At Top Secret Tattoo, Waco, Tx

terminalbachelor Report

Note: this post originally had 109 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.