When considering a tattoo, many people turn to hot trends for inspiration. And there are plenty of interesting styles that come and go. Today, we take a look at a fairly new and painful style that body art fans are obsessed with: solid black tattoos (also known as blackout tattoos). Popularized by tattoo artists like Chester Lee and Hanumantra Lamar, solid black ink pieces are having a moment right now – we’re going to find out why and we’re going to give you the pros and cons of this striking graphic tattoo style.

Going all in with solid black tattoos

First of all, what’s a blackout tattoo? Well, as the name says, they’re basically solid black tattoos that use things like negative space or intricate geometric shapes to creative an often unreal looking design. Blackout tattoos are inspired by neo-tribal tattoos, which evolved from ancient sacred tribal markings and they involve tattooing large areas of the body in solid black ink.

This trend is more for those who are hardcore tattoo enthusiasts and like with any tattoo style, you should consider the pros and cons before getting inked. Besides the powerful visual impact, solid black tattoos come with several positive aspects. They’re a super-convenient way of hiding old tattoos, they’re unique and appealing,  and they look smashing on any part of the body. While some choose striking black blocks to make statement, others use the color as a background to create extra dimension.  There’s no actual meaning for tattoos like this, they’re purely aesthetic. Perhaps no piece of body art draws the eye the way a solid black sleeve does.

Is important to know that solid black tattoos have their drawbacks, despite their popularity and timeless appeal. Firstly, they tend to age poorly, with the ink spreading and blurring over time, making the details less defined and the overall design less sharp. Secondly, solid black tattoos may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with darker skin tones, as the ink can blend in and become less noticeable. Thirdly, solid black tattoos can be challenging to cover up or remove if you change your mind about the design or want to make room for new tattoos. Finally, black ink has been known to cause allergic reactions in some people, which can lead to swelling, itching, and scarring. It is important to consider these potential downsides and discuss them with your tattoo artist before committing to a solid black tattoo.

Unleash the beast with these powerful solid black tattoos

Tattoos come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but sometimes a bold, black block of ink can make an even bolder statement than even the prettiest, full-color tattoos, as you’ll see in the image gallery below. Whether you’re looking for solid black tattoo ideas for yourself or just want to marvel at the work inked on people who were brave enough to take the plunge, you’ll definitely understand why blackout tattoos have been springing up on Instagram over the past few months. At the end of the day, if you decide to go for a solid black tattoo – the most important thing you can do before getting one is taking the time to find the right studio and/or artist. Check out these amazing solid black tattoos and be inspired!


blackout tattoo ideas

 tattoo artist © Lupo Horiokami

blackout tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © Sarb

solid black tattoo

tattoo artist © Hanumantra

solid black tattoos

tattoo artist © Max Rathbone

solid black tattoo

tattoo artist © Sarb

solid black tattoos

tattoo artist © Hanumantra

solid blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © Diamante Tattoo

blackout tattoo

tattoo artist © Vitaliy Bezenkow Tattoo

solid black tattoo

tattoo artist © Vitaliy Bezenkow Tattoo

solid black tattoo

tattoo artist © C H E S T E R

blackout tattoos

tattoo artist © Vitaliy Bezenkow Tattoo

solid black tattoos

tattoo artist © Hanumantra

blackout tattoo

tattoo artist © Sarb

solid black tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © Sarb

solid black tattoos

tattoo artist © Vitaliy Bezenkow Tattoo

blackout tattoos

tattoo artist © Vitaliy Bezenkow Tattoo

blackout tattoos ideas

tattoo artist © Sarb

blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © Vitaliy Bezenkow Tattoo


blackout tattoos

tattoo artist © Hanumantra

solid black tattoo for women

tattoo artist © C H E S T E R

blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © 3KREUZE

blackout tattoo mandala

tattoo artist © Sarb

awesome blackout tattoos

tattoo artist © Diamante Tattoo

solid black tattoo for women

tattoo artist © Nissaco

blackout tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © PIERLUIGI DELIPERI

blackout tattoo designs

tattoo artist © C H E S T E R

solid black tattoos

tattoo artist © Lupo Horiōkami

blackout tattoos

tattoo artist © Vitaliy Bezenkow Tattoo

blackout tattoo designs

tattoo artist © Esther Garcia

solid black tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © bryltattoo

solid black tattoo designs

tattoo artist © Giovanni Ronchi

solid black tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © Lupo Horiokami

blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © Diamante Tattoo

solid black tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Max Rathbone

blackout tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © Lupo Horiōkami

blackout tattoo ideas for men

tattoo artist © Leks Skinhunter

solid black tattoo for women

tattoo artist © Esther Garcia

blackout tattoo ideas for men

tattoo artist © Sarb

blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © Max Rathbone

solid black tattoo designs

tattoo artist © Hanumantra


blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © Effedots

blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © blackbearwhiskey

blackout tattoo designs

tattoo artist © Sarb

solid black tattoos

tattoo artist © CHESTER

blackout hand tattoo

tattoo artist © Nissaco

blackout tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Diamante Tattoo

blackout tattoo ideas

tattoo artist © G A K K I N

solid black tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Esther Garcia

cool blackout tattoos

tattoo artist © Lupo Horiokami

blackout tattoos for women

tattoo artist © Max Rathbone

solid black tattoos for women

tattoo artist © blackbearwhiskey

blackout tattoo ideas for men

tattoo artist © Effedots

blackout tattoo ideas for women

tattoo artist © Josh Stephens

awesome solid black tattoos

tattoo artist © G A K K I N

For more ink inspiration, also see:

• 50 Eye-Catching Lion Tattoos That’ll Make You Want To Get Inked
• Awe-inspiring Book Tattoos for Literature Lovers
• 50 Meaningful and Beautiful Sun and Moon Tattoos
• 50 of the Most Beautiful Owl Tattoo Designs and Their Meaning for the Nocturnal Animal in You
• 50 of the Most Beautiful Mandala Tattoo Designs for Your Body & Soul