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Just like with neck tattoos, not everyone agrees that inking your palms is a good idea. The palms are unlike most other locations on the body because their callused skin presents the artist with a tricky texture to work on. Palm tattoos are also very prone to fading. However, a pro tattoo artist who's very experienced with the needle together with reasonable expectations can result in excellent tattoo design, even if it's on your wrinkled little fingers! Bored Panda has compiled a list of creative tattoo ideas that fit in the palm of your hand, and their imperfections only add to their uniqueness. From trippy 3D designs to gentle minimal strokes, these pieces definitely deserve the attention they can get!

#1

We Don’t Typically Recommend Palm Tattoos, But This One Has A Lot Of Meaning To Our Customer. Plus We Do Really Love How It Turned Out

Hand with a minimalist palm tattoo of a paper airplane and heart, showcasing one of the best palm tattoos.

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Inked Mag advises to not complicate a palm tattoo with intricate designs, shading, or color palettes. "Palm tattoos are extremely prone to fading and falling out, which means simplistic designs with solid black will last the longest over time," they write. "Keep your body art as simple and readable as possible, otherwise, you'll be left with an illegible mess."

#2

Dot Work Paw Print

Hand with a paw print palm tattoo, a creative example of best palm tattoos.

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Leo H
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Watch ink masters they will tell you the worst place to get a tat is the hands cause it won't last

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Instead, they suggest considering lots of dots. "If you’re not looking for a simple black outline of your small tattoo, you can opt for dot work shading. Most other shading styles won't hold. However, saturated dot work can stand the tests of time if the dots are applied in multiple passes. An artist applies dot shading like they would linework, depositing more pigment per dot than the wash-like shading you see in the whipping technique."

#3

Very Fun Tattoo Done Today

Realistic spider palm tattoo with intricate details on a person's hand.

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Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arrrrrrrrrg!!!!! *runs awaaaay* _____________oh it is a tattoo right *cough* i weren't tricked. _________________arrrrrrrrrrrg.

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But if dots aren't your thing, there are other alternatives that you'll see in this tattoo gallery. For example, designs that are bold and black. "Let us say this loud and clear: BOLD WILL HOLD. Small, intricate and delicate designs will fall out, but heavy blacks will stay saturated in the skin long after the tattoo has healed. Callused skin that is constantly in motion, like the palms, has a faster regrowth than other locations on the body, which means that tattoo ink fades or falls out at a faster rate."

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#10

Minimal Palm Tattoo

Palm tattoo with the word "EARTH" inked in different colors.

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Foxxy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

white ink fades sooo quickly so they would either have to live with ART once the E and H fade or get it touched up every few years.

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#11

Got Some New Ink

Man with intricate eye design palm tattoo, holding hand up to face outside a tattoo shop.

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Von
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F*****g dope. Excuse my language, but mad props to the artist. The eye of the pyramid. Very clever.

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#17

Palm Tattoos Are A Serious Undertaking But I Assure You Ariel Is Up To The Task

Hands with palm tattoos featuring a minus and plus sign, highlighting unique palm tattoo designs.

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#20

Something Different

Close-up of a palm tattoo featuring a minimalist gear shift design.

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S
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually know someone who has/had this same one on his palm. Cody, that you? LOL

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#23

My First Palm Ever! Turned The Machine Way Doooooown For This One

Skeleton design on a palm tattoo, showcasing intricate black ink details.

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#25

It Was A Great Pleasure To Make This Beautiful Trifle On The Palm Of Jure

Geometric star design palm tattoo on an open hand, showcasing intricate black ink details.

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#30

Palm Tattoo

Palm tattoos featuring a wave design across both hands.

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Slune
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I don't hope the inspiration comes from "Tsunami" the ancient Japanese wood print! It looks like frozen claws.

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#32

Is It Shark Week Yet?

Is It Shark Week Yet?

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#36

Little Old Match Stick

Little Old Match Stick

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#39

Ant Tattoo On Palm

Ant Tattoo On Palm

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miaow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

but what if there was a real insect on your hand, how will you find it? The lucky ant can blend in with the crowd lololol :D

#40

The Moon

The Moon

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#42

Artwork On A Palm

Artwork On A Palm

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#43

Snowflake

Snowflake

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PinkPanda
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really pretty, I’d personally put it somewhere other than the palm, though.

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#45

So This Happened Today, Finally Got My Other Palm Tattooed

So This Happened Today, Finally Got My Other Palm Tattooed

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#46

Snake's Spine. Traditional Berber Tattoo. Antique Protection Symbol Against Bad Things And Evil Eyes

Snake's Spine. Traditional Berber Tattoo. Antique Protection Symbol Against Bad Things And Evil Eyes

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#49

Palm Skull Tattoo

Palm Skull Tattoo

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#50

Emotional Landscapes/Don’t Tell Me To Smile

Emotional Landscapes/Don’t Tell Me To Smile

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#53

Nick Didn’t Enjoy This

Nick Didn’t Enjoy This

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#57

Warrior Palm

Warrior Palm

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#58

Healed And Fresh

Healed And Fresh

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#59

Palms For Emilie

Palms For Emilie

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#60

Palm Tattoo From The Voodoo/Tribal Flashes

Palm Tattoo From The Voodoo/Tribal Flashes

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#61

Little Bit Red “Creation Of Adam” Hands For Jaleesa Made Today On The Palm

Little Bit Red “Creation Of Adam” Hands For Jaleesa Made Today On The Palm

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#62

I Got To Make Brennas Day Today. Thank You For Sitting So Tough

I Got To Make Brennas Day Today. Thank You For Sitting So Tough

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#63

Fresh And Healed Pictures Of This Unalome In The Palm I Did Some Time Ago

Fresh And Healed Pictures Of This Unalome In The Palm I Did Some Time Ago

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#65

Scissors On Palm

Scissors On Palm

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#66

Cat Tattoo

Cat Tattoo

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#68

Heart Tattoo

Heart Tattoo

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#69

Had The Pleasure Of Ruining Bri's Day Yesterday With These Palm Tattoos

Had The Pleasure Of Ruining Bri's Day Yesterday With These Palm Tattoos

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#70

Well This Was Just A Little Bit Of Fun And Also... Ouch

Well This Was Just A Little Bit Of Fun And Also... Ouch

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#71

Client Of Steel

Client Of Steel

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#74

Beautiful Line Work

Beautiful Line Work

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#76

Palm Tattoos

Palm Tattoos

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#79

Rose On A Palm

Rose On A Palm

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#80

Bang Bang, Shoot Shoot

Bang Bang, Shoot Shoot

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#82

Born To Ride

Born To Ride

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#83

You Could Have The World In The Palm Of Your Hand, But It Don't Mean A Thing 'Til U Change It Your Damn Self

You Could Have The World In The Palm Of Your Hand, But It Don't Mean A Thing 'Til U Change It Your Damn Self

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#84

A Hardcore One Today

A Hardcore One Today

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#85

Stairway To Hell

Stairway To Hell

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#86

No Need To Cry

No Need To Cry

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#87

Bojack Horseman

Bojack Horseman

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#88

Palm Tattoo

Palm Tattoo

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#89

Palm Tattoos

Palm Tattoos

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#91

Palm Tattoos At Richmond Tattoo Arts Festival

Palm Tattoos At Richmond Tattoo Arts Festival

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#92

Spider Web Palm Tattoo

Spider Web Palm Tattoo

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#93

"An Empty Hand Can Still Become A Fist" And "All We Love We Leave Behind"

"An Empty Hand Can Still Become A Fist" And "All We Love We Leave Behind"

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#94

Probably The Most Painful Tattoo I Have Ever Gotten

Probably The Most Painful Tattoo I Have Ever Gotten

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#95

Abduction Tattoo

Abduction Tattoo

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#96

Both Palms Together

Both Palms Together

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#98

More Barbed Wire Than A Cattle Farm

More Barbed Wire Than A Cattle Farm

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