Up until recently, finger tattoos weren't necessarily the most mainstream, but with celebrities' stamp of approval and the fact that they're completely customizable, we've seen them grow in popularity. Finger tattoos are able to be inked in almost any style—meaning you can opt for a design that suits your own personal vibe. Plus, lots of people opt for ring finger tattoos as a form of permanent "jewelry" or in lieu of a physical wedding ring. Make no mistake, though; even if you go for a more minimal feel, a finger tattoo makes a statement thanks to its visibility. Whether the impact is major or minor is based on the details of your design—including size, placement, and pigment—and the style it’s inked in.
Finger tattoos are one of the more painful places to get tatted due to both a lack of muscle and fat between skin and bone and that area having a lot of nerves. Unlike some placements, though, the pain is not a one-time experience; finger tattoos need regular touch-ups because our everyday actions tend to make the ink fade more easily. For those who are ready for a personalized and statement-making piece of ink, here are 34 amazing ideas for your next finger tattoo.
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Hyper-Colorful Designs
At first glance, these hyper-colorful finger tattoos look like rudimentary shapes, but they're actually based on real-life symbols, like a rainbow and a watermelon. We love the use of a different design on each finger.
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Vine
This creeping vine moves from the wrist down the pointer finger and extends on to the middle finger. It's a simple and elegant black design that almost serves as a piece of jewelry.
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Birth Year
Represent your birth year with this innovative take on a classic tattoo. Rather than keeping the numbers relegated to one digit, this inking puts one number on each finger, for a nod to '98 that isn't too obvious.
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Fine Line Variations
We love the contrast of a colorful manicure and minimalist, fine-line tattoos. Here, each finger gets a different design, ranging from a cross to a vine wrapped around an index finger.
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Bands
Rather than just one wedding ring-style band tattoo, this design utilizes two very thin bands and a myriad of designs mixed in, for a bold but still simple look.
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Ribbon
For a minimal but not boring tattoo, a small ribbon wrapped around the finger is a delicate touch. A bit of color, like this red, will make it pop even more.
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Airplane
Make a small design look crisp and smooth by using only black ink. By filling in the image—like the plane here—you’re able to focus on the details of the shape without overwhelming it.
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Beyoncé's Simple Dots
Keep it minimalist with a series of simple dots, perhaps one for each sibling or child that you have.
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Minimalist Stars
If you want a more whimsical feel for your finger tattoo, go basic black and minimalist, like this collection of stars and a crescent moon.
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Botanic
A minimal finger tattoo doesn’t have to be small; this design is spread out and the empty space gives it an airy feel. Using only outlining and connecting it to more art on the wrist makes a statement without being in your face.
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Moon
Moon tattoos hold a lot of meaning and make a great idea for a finger design. Inking the moon with just outlining (as seen on the middle finger above) also keeps it feeling light and dainty.
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Hypnotic Swirls
Simple swirls create a hypnotic design on the pinky and middle finger.
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Letters
Single letters are a great idea for the finger because there are so many placement and size options. You can also ink the design in a number of different styles to make it more personal.
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Initials
Get your own (or a loved one's) initials tattooed delicately in a script font.
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Heart
Hearts make great finger tattoos because they can be any size and remain recognizable. Placing it on the underside of the finger gives it a more surprising and intimate feel.
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Zoë Kravitz's Crescent Moon (and Star)
Kravitz's moon and star finger tattoos complement each other perfectly.
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Laurel Wreath
Laurel wreaths are popular tattoo designs, but they don't need too much space. They're easily adaptable should you want one inked on your finger. The thin leaves and lines create a crisp image, here.
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Dotted Lines
Thumbs are often overlooked, but they provide great space for tattoos. This dotted line design is minimal and delicate.
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Flower
There are lots of different floral designs to choose from like this unexpected doodle version. The movement pairs great with the placement, and you can ink them in any style.
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Rihanna's "Shhh"
You'll never have to (verbally) put someone in their place with this tattoo.
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Flame
Make more of an impact with a flame design. The length of the finger means you have space to show movement in the flames as well.
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Star-Crossed
Is it a glittering star or a cross with a star at the center? You decide which meaning is more important to you.
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Patchwork Vibes
When you keep the theme dainty and personal, every finger tattoo that you add to your collection will look good—the proof is pictured.
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Scribble
Small scribbles or abstract designs are easily designed for the finger due to their innate versatile nature. Make the lines crisp for impact or soft for aesthetics.
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Cherry
Use bright colors in an outline-only design to make an impact without taking up too much space. Placing it on the bottom of the inner finger keeps it hidden and intimate.
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Eye
Using the side of a finger gives you more room lengthwise to play with design and placement. This ink uses the extra room as negative space for a minimal feel.
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Emoji Lore
Emojis are fun, playful, and totally customizable to create your own message. These hand tattoos feature fine line emoji-type designs for a overall delicate feel.
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Starbursts
Starbursts and line art explosions can spread across the fingers for a statement-making design. Use black ink for a bold look or colored ink for more whimsy—whichever you prefer.
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Butterfly
Butterflies make for great finger tattoos because of their ability to be intricate or basic. While this design is complex, using only black ink keeps it from feeling overwhelming.
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Written Ring
For something more unique than just getting numbers or letters inked, wrap the design around your finger like a ring. Use color for certain symbols to make them pop.
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Seeing Stars
Finger tattoos don't always have to be done in shades of black. Red gives a fun, punchy pop to these fine line stars.
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Exaggerated Flower
Because flowers grow and fingers are long, you can add whimsy to a design by exaggerating the features in the space. Keep the base design simple so as not to overcomplicate it.
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Abstract Line
Because abstract designs can use so many different elements, they can be customized to fit the space and your style. Keep the elements basic to create a crisp tattoo.
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Flowing Florals
For impactful florals, have the design stretch across multiple fingers. Using a medium black outline keeps it feeling light despite its size.