Chest tattoos are symbolic for the wearer in that they present themselves “face forward”. For men, a full chest tattoo is a hallmark of masculinity, strength, and power, plus a personal touch in regards to the size and design. Something close to your heart is inevitable, maybe your tattoo design might take that literally. A simple chest tattoo can be more sentimental, perhaps someone’s name or a small, symbolic image of a loved one. Something larger and more overarching can mean the prescence of something incredibly important to the image bearer, as the body is a canvas for the art of our lives. Nothing better presents that than the full bearing of chest pieces, looking towards someone who can interpret it with the person in front of them.

Is the chest painful to tattoo?

If you’re just starting out in the world of chest tattoos, it’s helpful to begin with something small, just to get a feel for how well you can tolerate the process. A small chest tattoo can be anything from a loved one’s name, a heart tattoo, or a tiny symbol of something important in your life. Once you’ve made up your mind, you can start the process and then move on to bigger and better things, and come up with something totally unique or traditional to wear with pride.

Chest Tattoo Ideas:

Since the frontal chest area is typically one of the larger areas of skin on the male body, there are a great number of incredible ideas for chest tattoos for men. Women can have more unique variations of these tattoos due to their body structure, and each one is emblematic of the wearer in a personal way.

Heart Tattoo:

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of the chest is the fact that your heart lies within it, so there are a great many tattoo designs for it. Whether you want something traditional or even gory, tattoo artists often have a great number of ideas for the heart, each one a symbol of the person that bears it. You don’t need to put your heart on a sleeve tattoo, you can do it where it belongs instead!

 

Quotes Tattoos:

You may have seen some of these on social media sites; where people take a short quote and have it drawn on their chest. There are a number of powerful and inspiring words to choose from, whether you want it to be something you’ve said, someone close to you, or perhaps even someone you admire. You can get your words inscribed in a certain font for further personalization, as well as in different colors and design styles.

 

Wings Chest Tattoos:

Wings are often seen as symbolic of a journey, either something you have completed or are on the way in doing. On your chest, wings have ample room to spread into the “wind” and be seen by others as a way to showcase this spiritual part of you. Depending on the style of your wings, they can be playful or beautiful, metallic and aggressive, or soft and hopeful.

 

Snake Chest Tattoos:

Snakes are often seen as clever and even conniving, but their design on a tattoo is typically a sign of respect for traditional artwork and the ever present potential danger of nature. Someone with a snake on their chest might be using it to serve as a warning, or as simply an appreciation of the way that this reptile symbolizes an older art style that can get lost in more contemporary design.

 

Skull Tattoo:

Skulls are popular in the tattoo space, as they are almost always something personal, whether in resemblance to the personality of the wearer or something that they hope to project. On your chest, a skull can represent another set of eyes looking ahead, and watching out for others, almost in distrust.

 

Owl Tattoos:

Like the snake and skull, owls are symbolic of the personality of the individual with their art. For owls, they are a wise, watchful bird, almost always calm and present in the moment, ever alert to danger. On the chest, an owl is a protector and vigilant guardian for the wearer.

 

How to care for a new tattoo on your chest?

If you’ve just gotten your procedure done, you’ll definitely need to take some time to heal. The chest has a lot of interconnected muscles across the body, mostly in the arms, so driving, writing, and moving around in general can prove difficult. If you got something large, like a dragon chest tattoo that crosses over the entire space of your skin, it will obviously take much longer to heal and feel very sore. Take care in strenuous activities, and be on the lookout for signs of infection and irritation.

 

What to wear when getting a chest tattoo?

Men typically don’t have as much of a problem in getting the actual process of chest tattooing done, but women can have more difficulties. Females should find a comfortable sports bra that covers up and private areas, but leaves space for the artist to work on their design. Men can make themselves more comfortable by placing their shirt underneath them while getting work done, so that their skin is exposed and easier for the artist to work with. You should always make sure that your artist is keeping you comfortable during the entire procedure.

How to hide a tattoo on your chest?

You can definitely still get a chest tattoo even if your professional life is against it. Sometimes this means taking care that the design doesn’t rise too high above your shirt line, or making sure that you wear something underneath that can cover it up. No matter what you decide, you’ll have full control over whether or not anyone gets to see your art. Since each piece is personal, you get to decide how often it is shown to others, as well as presenting it as something meaningful for yourself.