Mexican Tattoo Ideas

Popular Mexican Tattoo Styles

Mexican tattoos take their influence from the rich history, symbolism and culture of Mexico. People who get this style of tattoo many times will incorporate some iconography from religion, different indigenous motifs or other vibrant designs that are meaningful in their own ways.

Traditional tattoos are bold and color and feature symbols such as serpents, roses and sugar skulls. Oftentimes, these are drawn in bright hues but with bold black outlines. 

It’s also very popular to pay homage to the Day of the Dead (or Dia de los Muertos) in Mexican tattoos. This is a Mexican holiday that celebrates not only the dead but life, and it has symbolic elements such as candles, marigolds and sugar skulls.

Basing tattoos around some of the most famous Mexican cultures such as Mayan and Aztec is popular, too. This could be in the form of gods, symbols and warriors that pay tribute to these ancient cultures.

Best Mexican Tattoo Placements

Mexican tattoos are very versatile, in that they can be placed anywhere on the body. What you need to consider is what type of tattoo you want, how you want it to look and what you want it to mean.

The back and chest are great spots for larger tattoos that have intricate designs. This could include Aztec warriors, big sugar skulls and/or religious imagery. These can be bigger pieces of art that include scenery and tell a full story.

Sleeves are great if you want your Mexican tattoo to be visible. Many people who get them here will get a design that’s continuous and flows with the body, and that is bold as well. 

The legs are the perfect spot for cultural tattoos that incorporate Mexican iconography, jaguars and eagles. Again, tattoos placed here can flow with your natural curves.

Women’s Mexican Tattoo Ideas

Women’s Mexican tattoos often integrate feminine designs with cultural pride. They often exude feelings of strength, beauty and even nature. That’s why roses paired with sugar skulls are so popular among women. They often are designed to have intricate details and vibrant colors.

Florals are popular for women, too, with lilies, marigold and roses all symbolizing spirituality and love. They’re often used in conjunction with birds or butterflies, which have deep cultural meanings.

Men’s Mexican Tattoo Ideas

It’s very popular for men to get Mexican tattoos that are bold and powerful. Mayan and Aztec symbols are often used by men to represent warriors, ancient gods or other elements. The pairing of roses and skulls is often commonly done by men, as it represents the balance between life and death.

Snakes and eagles are paired together a lot, too, as they represent the constant struggle between evil and good. Men get these Mexican tattoos often to symbolize their inner strength.

Mexican Tattoo Meaning

Mexican tattoos can have a lot of different meanings. Many times, they pay homage to cultural heritage and ancient cultures from the past. They also are done to represent Mexican holidays and traditions often.

Others take the direction and inspiration from Mexican culture to design something that has deep personal meaning for themselves.