Feelings become part of your skin—and so do couple tattoos. They’re one of the most powerful symbols of friendship or love. Because even if your feelings change, your tattoo stays. You have to think it through very carefully!
Of course, a couple’s tattoo with a design you personally love is always ideal. This shouldn’t depend on your partner and their choice. After all, you’ll have the tattoo with you for the rest of your life, even if your partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend stops walking through life with you at some point. It sounds very serious, but couple tattoos can also be fun. We’ll show you what the most common couple tattoos are and what you need to know to take care of them.
These couple tattoos are available
Of course, matching tattoos aren’t just for lovers, engaged couples, and married couples. There’s no law in the world that forbids a mother and daughter from getting matching tattoos. Siblings can also get matching tattoos, as can best friends. Matching tattoos simply show that two people share a close bond.
You may have seen two people with tattoos that are absolutely identical. This is the most common type of couple's tattoo. But, of course, there are many more options:
- Many people get tattoos of their partner's initials, full name, or nickname.
- Symbols that represent a shared experience or a motif closely tied to your own relationship are also popular choices for couple tattoos.
- Two puzzle pieces that fit together are popular as couple tattoos. You can also get a heart or another simple design tattooed in two halves.
- Couples often choose a date as the subject of a tattoo to commemorate a special day they spent together.
- The coordinates of the place where the couple met, or a location that holds special meaning for them, are also a good choice.
This list is not exhaustive. When it comes to couple tattoos, you and your partner should choose something you both like. Make sure you both like the designs, regardless of what the other person chooses.
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Get inspired!
Ideally, your tattoo shouldn’t be the same as everyone else’s—it should be a personal choice. The same goes for couple tattoos. You decide what you like. And since many couples, siblings, parents, and children already have birthdates, wedding anniversaries, names, initials, or coordinates inked on their skin, you can certainly choose your own personalized couple tattoo.
Use the image search feature on your favorite search engine to find plenty of couple tattoos that can serve as inspiration. Photos of couple tattoos (some more successful than others) are circulating on social media.
Custom scenes or designs based on memories you and your partner share are especially beautiful. The same scenes and designs, but executed differently, and your tattoo artist has already created a stunning piece that connects you and your partner. By the way, it doesn’t have to be old-school or classic: modern styles often result in particularly striking designs.
What exactly is the nature of your relationship with your partner? You’ve had your ups and downs; your journey together hasn’t been entirely smooth. Tell your tattoo artist about it. Then they can create a personalized design based on a single line that traces your journey together. Stylistically, it’s a thin line that is as simple and subtle as it is complex.
If what you really want are names, dates, or coordinates, you also have the option to customize everything. Simply combine the letters and numbers you want with a simple custom design. We’ve also seen designs featuring thin lines combined with data in Morse code.
If it ever comes out: cover-up and concealment
Not all relationships last a lifetime. Parents and children grow apart, siblings go their separate ways, and couples break up. You may still like your partner’s tattoo. We hope that’s the case. However, people often want to get rid of their couple’s tattoo after breaking up. In that case, there are two options: You can get a cover-up, or you can remove the tattoo with laser treatment.
During laser treatment, the tattoo fades, and individual elements or colors can be completely removed. Smaller tattoos can be removed more or less completely. The effectiveness depends on the depth of the tattoo, the colors used, and its size.
With a cover-up, the old tattoo disappears within or beneath a new design. Once it has faded enough, it can simply be covered over. You’ll still see a darker shadow. But skilled tattoo artists integrate these shadows into the new design so that they become an integral part of it. The second option is to incorporate the old design as-is. This is best explained with an example. If your tattoo features a small heart with a name and/or a date underneath, the letters and numbers can be faded out. The heart is incorporated into a new, larger design (perhaps a mandala or a complex artwork). Since the new tattoo is larger than the previous design, the faded areas disappear beneath the new design and are therefore no longer recognizable or only very difficult to recognize.
How to Care for Your Partner's Tattoo
In general, couple tattoos require the same care as any other tattoo. Follow the aftercare instructions provided by your tattoo artist. Avoid sun exposure, exercise, and swimming for the first few days after getting a tattoo. A tattoo is an open wound that can cover a fairly large area, so you need to make sure the wound heals properly and without leaving scars. If a scab forms on the tattoo, leave it alone. This scab is likely to be discolored because the body forms it from the fluid in the wound and any foreign matter it expels from the wound. The scab is a kind of natural bandage that the body applies. Leave the scab on the wound.
Cover the exposed wound to keep dirt out. Once a scab has formed, support the healing process with a tattoo ointment. This will keep the scab soft and supple. If necessary, cover the tattoo with a breathable bandage. Of course, wash your hands thoroughly before touching the tattoo.