Despite being heavily tattooed, I actually have a very small tattoo on my neck. It’s the words “Protège Moi” which translates to “Protect Me”, from my favorite Placebo song. Funnily enough, it has helped me so much in my career because sometimes when I ask clients what font they want, they point to my neck (it’s typewriter font).
Your neck is one of the most visible spots on your body to tattoo, so you should think long and hard about what you will get tattooed onto it. I have delved into neck tattoos and chosen my top throat, side of the neck, back of the neck, and tiny tattoos to date.
Throat Tattoos
Luna Moth Throat Tattoo
A striking and bold tattoo! Moths and butterflies are quite common for neck tattoos, but they aren’t usually as bright, which is why this one stood out to me.
The bold line work is extremely clean, and the color is very well-saturated. I love the color palette on this tattoo – it gives it a feminine feel. The design fits the flow of the throat perfectly. If you like this tattoo, I recommend checking out our list of 22 Moth Tattoos to Admire.
Skull Woman Throat Tattoo
I love this tattoo because while it is a skull, it’s still feminine! Cat skulls are somewhat common in the tattoo world and usually symbolize death and destruction.
I love the composition of the flowers around the cat skull. The artist chose to leave the flowers fairly simple and make the leaves and the skull darker. This works beautifully for the client and suits her so well! The fine line work is so clean, and I love the skull’s texture.
Mandala Throat Tattoo
Mandalas are perfect for a throat tattoo. They can be designed to fit just about any throat with existing tattoos, which makes them super versatile.
The shape of this mandala is feminine and intricate and goes onto the chest beautifully. I like the solid black contrasting with the areas of negative space. The dot work is exceptionally fine and complements the existing tattoos on the side of her neck.
Ornamental Throat Tattoo
This tattoo is so simple and yet so stunning! I love the placement, as it feels like it’s doing the job of joining her existing tattoos together.
The dots are all the same size, and the line work is perfect. If you’re looking to get something a bit more subtle, this is the perfect style to consider!
Dark Lettering
Dark lettering has gained a lot of popularity in the tattooing world. It is often paired with spider webs, moons, and gems, and the neck is a popular spot for it.
I love this tattoo because of how textured it is with the ink splatters around it. Clean line work is difficult to achieve on the neck due to how thin the skin is, but the artist achieved this beautifully. I also like how they also worked with her existing tattoo to complete the design.
Double Koi Fish Tattoo
This koi fish tattoo is placed delicately on the “eve’s apple,” which would be a tough thing to sit through, but based on the excellent results, it worked out well!
The swirling kois have a striking resemblance to the Pisces zodiac sign glyph. If you like this, make sure you check out our Pisces tattoo list.
Rose Throat Tattoo
This is an interesting design for the throat! The artist chose to go with asymmetrical roses which works really well with the geometry behind it.
I like the lighter shades in the roses juxtaposed with the dark leaves. The line work is very clean and the shading is smooth and interesting. This tattoo is unique and beautifully executed!
Back of Neck Tattoos
Fern Neck Tattoo
I love this tattoo, and not just because I am obsessed with plants! It is such a good spot to put a fern leaf as it flows with the body perfectly.
I like the fine lines and the use of texture in the fern. The size is nice and bold and suits this client extremely well. If you like this tattoo, I highly recommend our list of 22 Plant Tattoos to Admire.
Creation of Adam
The Creation of Adam is a tattoo that is done at least once per week in our tattoo studio. The Creation of Adam has a lot of different meanings for each client, from religious connotations to just loving art!
I really enjoy the placement of this tattoo as it is extremely unique and works really well with the design. The hands are very well done, with great texture and fine line work.
Dainty Neck Tattoo
This is a beautiful and feminine tattoo. I love how it flows with the client’s hairline and with the shape of her neck. The line work is quite clean, and I like the bold shading.
Peony Neck Tattoo
You can never go wrong with a beautiful Traditional Japanese peony tattoo. The artist played well with the design, creating a balance within the asymmetry.
I love the strong, bold use of color and the slightly thinner line weight. I especially like the small pops of yellow and white in the center of the flowers.
Floral Neck Tattoo
I absolutely love this tattoo – it reminds me of a design you might find on a ceramic tile panel. It is so clean, and the black is brilliantly saturated.
The symmetry is almost perfect, which is tricky to achieve on the back of the neck due to how stretchy that skin can be.
Mandala Neck Tattoo
Another example of how well mandalas can work as a neck tattoo! I love how it flows with the body and the use of natural elements of the leaves and the flower.
I like the strong use of black and the dot work shading throughout. A beautiful, clean, and well-executed tattoo!
Lotus Flower Dainty Tattoo
This is a fun little design that will peek out of the top of a t-shirt, but will be fully revealed with a tank top. I love the ornamental design, and its overall feminine look!
Fine Line Olive Branch Tattoo
Another common tattoo we see are these single olive branches. They often represent peace, and a are a great tattoo for those looking for a simple plant.
Watercolour Leo Star Sign Tattoo
Astrology tattoos are getting more and more popular, and the Leo mark represents the symbol of the lion.
Geometric Neck Tattoo
A simple, but beautiful tattoo to get on the back of your neck! I love the design and the amount of dots they chose to include in it. The line work is clean and the black is well-saturated.
Small Neck Tattoos
Script Neck Tattoo
Script tattoos on the neck are so feminine and delicate, and this one is no exception.
I love the choice of font for this tattoo, and the placement makes a statement, especially considering the chosen word.
Neck tattoos are very difficult to do because of how thin the skin is, and this artist did such a great job with some of the cleanest lines I’ve ever seen on the neck.
Bird Neck Tattoo
Swallow tattoos represent both travel and coming home, and are timeless tattoos. The amount of detail the artist was able to put into such a tiny tattoo is quite impressive! I love the placement of the swallow – it almost looks like it is whispering in the client’s ear.
Colorful Flower Neck Tattoo
This tattoo is a re-work of an old tattoo, and the artist did such a good job bringing it back to life! I like how the flowers have movement despite being so small.
I especially like the extra pop of color, and the little petals coming off of the flowers. A subtle, soft and playful tattoo.
Fairy Wing Neck Tattoo
As a kid, I was obsessed with anything to do with fairies and this tattoo really spoke to me. I love how feminine it is. The client chose such a perfect spot for a more subtle neck tattoo. The lines are clean and it flows perfectly with the shape of the client’s ear.
Chain Neck Tattoo
A tattoo that is both small and bold at the same time! I really love how simple this tattoo is, and the placement and size are just perfect for the client. Each link is the exact same size, and the line work is super clean.
Spiritual Moon Hand-Poked Tattoo
This piece is a combination of small celestial elements, slowly getting larger as the artwork gets higher and higher up the neck.
Side of Neck Tattoos
Skeleton Neck Tattoo
This tattoo reminds me of an angel and a devil speaking into your ear. I love the placement of the tattoo and the way the smoke coming out of the skeleton’s mouth forms the shape of the devil.
The line work is extremely impressive as this part of the body is difficult to tattoo. I love the glitter effect in the heart and the strong use of white in the skeleton. If you like this tattoo, I recommend you check out our list of 21 Broken Heart Tattoos.
Bamboo Neck Tattoo
I love this tattoo for its simplicity and composition. It looks like a Japanese sketch pulled straight out of a history book. I really enjoy the subtle use of shading in the bamboo stem, and the extremely fine lines in the leaves and the Kanji. The placement is perfect and makes such a statement
Butterfly Neck Tattoo
Butterfly and moth tattoos are perfect for the side, front, or back of the neck. I absolutely love this tattoo for how gentle it is.
The line work is so clean! I love the small areas of solid black and the very soft shading. This tattoo is delicate, feminine and so beautifully done. One of my absolute favorites!
Micro Realism Flower Neck Tattoo
Flowers are quite popular on the side of the neck and I can see exactly why! The shading is soft and I love the extremely fine line work. The flow of the flowers works beautifully with this client’s neck.
Red Swirling Lines Neck Tattoo
I absolutely love this tattoo. It is so striking, and it flows extremely beautifully with the client’s body. Having it done in red ink makes it a little more subtle and matches the organic form that the design has.
The line work is extremely clean and the contoured lines are well-executed. If you like this tattoo, I suggest you check out our list of 12 Fierce Red Ink Tattoos.
Bio-Mechanical Neck Tattoo
I love this tattoo because of how unique it is. It’s kind of like a mash-up of ornamental and bio-mechanical tattooing. I like the asymmetry throughout the design and especially the dots along one side.
It fits the shape and flow of the shoulder and the neck. The line work is very clean, especially considering how tricky this area of the body is to tattoo. This tattoo makes quite the statement!
Sunflower Neck Tattoo
Sunflower tattoos are another common subject, and this big one is suited perfectly on the side of her neck. It provides tons of room for the artist to get as much detail as possible.
Frequently asked questions
How much are neck tattoos?
Like most tattoos, neck tattoos will range in cost depending on the experience tattoo artist, the size of the piece, and the style.
How bad do neck tattoos hurt?
Pain levels will mostly depend on where the tattoo is on the neck. Expect the most painful spot to be on the throat, then less on the sides and back.
Some people may find that getting a tattoo on the neck is relatively painless, while others may find it to be quite painful.
Summary
I hope this guide to women’s neck tattoos helps you inspire your next piece! If you’re curious about more best of galleries, check out our shoulder tattoos for women, hand tattoos for women, and thigh tattoos for women lists.