Geisha tattoos have been around for many, many years across all styles of tattooing.
Geisha girls are members of professional women whose job is to entertain men. But that was not always their role. The first geishas were male, and it was only 20 years later that female geishas entered, and dominated, the performance industry.
Geisha Tattoos serve as an ode to the feminine mystique.
Each part of a geisha has a certain symbolism, from her robes to her face paint, to what item she may be holding. Personally, I love geisha tattoos – they are fierce, beautiful, and intricate. I’ve done two this month and decided to take a look at some more for inspiration:
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Geisha Tattoo Ideas
1. Neo-Traditional Geisha Tattoo
This is a beautiful example of a neo-traditional geisha. I love the gentle facial expression and the floral elements that the artist chose to add to it.
The line work is extremely clean, and the color is well-saturated. I love the white highlights throughout this tattoo as they make this tattoo pop! Her robes have such cool textures to them and I like the solid red sun behind her.
2. Colour Illustrative Geisha Tattoo
Another beautiful full-color geisha! This tattoo stood out to me because of the bright Hannya mask on her head and the interesting color palette.
The choice of a fine line weight is unique for a design like this. I like the soft shades in her face and the richness of the fields of solid color. If you like this tattoo, check out our list of 20 Hauntingly Beautiful Hannya Masks
3. Cartoon Geisha Tattoo
I absolutely love this geisha tattoo! Not only is it adorable, but it is also extremely well executed.
The black is very solid, and the fields of color are well-saturated and bright! I love her facial expression and the simplified umbrella is a nice extra touch.
4. Black Work Geisha Tattoo
This is a unique take on a geisha tattoo – usually, their hair is neatly tucked into a bun, but this artist chose to illustrate her in a more dynamic way.
I love the movement in this tattoo and the knife tucked under her arm. The robe has an interesting pattern on it and I like the extra bit of detail in the sword handle and the ribbon in her hair. The line work is extremely clean and the black is well-saturated.
5. Illustrative Geisha Tattoo
I love this anime take on a geisha girl! The detail in the fan and the robe is so cool and I like the addition of some plants around her.
I love the textured shading in her hair and the detail in the tiny hands is amazing. The artist incorporated it into her existing tattoo extremely well, and I like the subtle use of color.
6. Geisha with Umbrella Tattoo
My favorite thing about American Traditional pin-up tattoos has got to be the silly hands that we draw, and this one is no exception!
I absolutely love the pattern in the umbrella and in her robes. The line work is extremely clean and all of the colors work perfectly together. Having her riding a crane gives this tattoo such a dynamic edge over all of the other geisha tattoos I’ve seen thus far!
7. Geisha Head Tattoo
This is an interesting take on a geisha tattoo as it’s just her head! I am quite a fan of these more creative tattoos and generally try to get my clients to let me play a bit with their designs.
I love the soft dot work shading in this tattoo. It really compliments the heavily saturated fields of black and open skin. I like the choice of blank eyes and the stars and sparkles add a mystical element to the design.
8. Painterly Geisha Tattoo
This painterly style of tattooing is starting to grow on me because you can have a lot more fun with your designs.
I absolutely adore her hair and the way that her robes end. The use of black and grey shading really works for a tattoo done in this style. The Geisha has a beautiful soft presence and I like her neutral facial expression.
9. Geisha Portrait Tattoo
What stood out to me about this tattoo is the use of different textures and gentle use of color throughout the design.
I love the expressive neo-traditional lines on her face and on her hand. The composition of this portrait is super unique and I enjoy how it fits the space on the client’s arm. If you’re a fan of this tattoo, I suggest you check out our list of 28 Neo traditional Tattoos To Feast Your Eyes Upon
10. Geisha Holding Sword Tattoo
This tattoo has so much movement and many dynamic elements to it that I don’t even know where to start! It is clean, textured, and elegant.
I love the pose of the geisha and the way she is holding the sword. The cherry blossoms are a great feminine touch and the illustrative panel in the background is super textured and creates great contrast against the lighter shades in the geisha. The line work is clean and the dot work is beautifully executed.
11. Trippy Geisha Tattoo
This tattoo is both abstract and precise. I absolutely love the myriad of different elements going on, but they all work so well together.
What I love most about this tattoo is the hair – it is so clean and well-shaded. I adore the stripes on the geisha’s robe and the subtle shading on the geisha’s body. This is such a cool take!
12. Trash Polka Geisha Tattoo
This is a cool take on a trash polka tattoo because the artist chose to use her hair as some of the painterly stroked. I like the subtle face peeking out from behind the hair and the little bit of blue in the eye.
The red brush strokes are well-executed and I like the border. If you are a fan of trash polka tattoos, check out our list of Trash Polka Tattoos
13. Black and Grey Geisha Tattoo
I absolutely love this geisha tattoo – black and grey tattooing has grown on me immensely over the course of this year as I have a new found appreciation for the style and where it comes from.
I like the earring and the waves at the bottom of the geisha. The horns have an interesting texture and the third eye is such a cool extra element! The Hannya mask addition on the bottom of her face is dynamic and unique.
14. Sketchy Geisha Tattoo
This is a tattoo that made me go “wow!”. I am obsessed with the depth and texture, as well as the use of different line weights.
The pattern on her robe is nice and simple and lets the tattoo breathe. I like the expressive sun behind her head and the beautiful facial expression.
This art style reminds me of the characters from the Arcane show on Netflix. Be sure to check out our list of best Arcane tattoos if you like this style.
15. Geisha Fan Tattoo
We all know by now that I cannot talk about a tattoo without adding an American Traditional tattoo to the list! This is such a cool idea for a traditional fan tattoo.
What I like most about this tattoo is the limited use of shading on the fan and the geisha’s face. These tattoos are often quite heavily saturated so this is a unique take on the style. I like the bold line work and the soft pastel color palette.
16. Dog Geisha Tattoo
How gorgeous is this take on a geisha tattoo? I love this cheerful dog enjoying her bowl of ramen!
The artist chose to not use black line work which is a cool take on this style of tattooing. The shades in the dog’s face are very well done and the color is well-saturated. I love the border around the tattoo and it fits the spot on the body perfectly! Check out our list of 15 Tasty Ramen Tattoos to Make You Hungry
17. Geisha Wearing a Hannya Mask Tattoo
What I like most about this tattoo is how well it fits the shape of the shoulder. It ends so beautifully with a soft dot work mandala!
I like the contrast between the areas of solid black and the open skin. I like the soft shading on her face and the interesting texture of her hair. The Hannya mask looks like its made of wood and I like the addition of the septum ring.
18. Geisha with Fan Tattoo
I like the clever play of the skull jaw on the fan held up to the geisha’s face – it is such a clever idea! I like the contrast between the black and grey elements and the shaded areas of bright red.
The line work is well executed and I like the white highlights in the hair. We have an article on 40 Gorgeous Shoulder Tattoos for Women for you to check out!
19. Traditional Geisha Tattoo
Another really cool traditional geisha tattoo. I appreciate all of the different patterns in her robes and the addition of her tiny traditional shoes!
I like the simple red sun on the fan and I absolutely love how it fits the gap on the client’s leg. These tattoos are timeless and so interesting to look at.
20. Cyberpunk Geisha Tattoo
This is a cool and playful take on a geisha tattoo with a cyberpunk feel. I like the bright pink peony in her hair and the orange makeup around her eyes.
The cyborg neck with the mechanical comb in her hair is such a cool addition and makes me think of our list of 32 Futuristic Cyberpunk Tattoos to Dream About
21. Geisha Flail Tattoo
I am a huge fan of flail tattoos – so much so that I have one tattooed on my knee! Flails are such a badass weapon and a geisha head is a really cool thing to have as the ball of the flail.
I love the single-needle vibe of the chain and the spikes on the geisha’s head. It works so well with the more traditional Japanese feel of the face and hair. This tattoo has so much movement to it and really packs a punch!
22. Realistic Geisha Tattoo
This is a beautiful and feminine realistic geisha girl. I like the very soft cherry blossoms and strong facial expressions chosen for this geisha. The tattoo fits the flow of the arm very well and the shading is very smooth and well-executed. This is a timeless tattoo that will age very well.
23. Namabuki Geisha Tattoo
What a cool tattoo to get on your hand! A Namabuki tattoo is a tattoo of a severed head and illustrates the final moment of seppuku.
I love the color palette used on her face – the blues and purples work so well together to create that dead vibe to it! I like the weapon going through her eye and the blood drops look almost real! The texture in the hair is super cool and I love the bright golden comb.
24. Small Geisha Tattoo
This is a lovely tiny tattoo of a geisha doll! I love the movement of the hands with the robe falling over them as it makes it even cuter than it already is!
I love the highlight on the hair and the tiny red cheeks! This is an adorable tattoo for someone who wants something a little bit smaller.
BONUS: Geisha and Cloud Tattoo
I drew this geisha for fun and posted it on my story and it was immediately booked! I love the simplicity of the geisha’s face and the shape of the cloud.
I decided to have the geisha holding a bunny because it’s something a little different! The color palette is quite muted and I chose to do a large field of solid black to help with contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Meaning of a Geisha tattoo
Geisha tattoos symbolize mystery, mastery of their craft, beauty, and love for Japanese culture.
Summary
There are so many different ways to do a cool geisha tattoo! From badass black work to adorable colorful cartoon ones, geishas are super dynamic and interesting to tattoo.
You can include lots of personal elements and manipulate the design to fit the flow of the body. I hope this list gave you some inspiration for your next tattoo!
