Tattoo artist reveals 11 of the most common designs people ask for (2024)

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Landscapes and nature-themed tattoos are popular.

Kelly Kapowski, a tattoo artist at Ascension in Chapel Hill, North Carolina,said many people come in wanting tattoo designs inspired by the landscapes that surround them.

"In North Carolina, everyone adores the trees and the mountains and the scenery, so I do a lot of mountains and trees that are common in North Carolina," she told Insider. "Wave tattoos are also a popular choice."

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Similar to landscapes, tattoos of insects are also common.

A variety of insect designs are also common in the tattoo world.

"I do a lot of bees and butterflies and moths and lightning bugs," Kapowski told Insider.

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Tattoos showing school spirit are especially popular in university towns.

Since her shop is located in a college town, Kapowski said she sees a lot of students, alumni, and locals looking for school-themed tattoos.

"Most of them would get their frat or sorority logos and symbols," she said. "We also get a lot of school-pride tattoos."

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Floral designs are a classic request.

Kapowski said she's found that women are often interested in getting simple, floral designs.

"Girls will come in wanting something very delicate, so they get simple lines of a flower under [their] ribs," she told Insider.

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Matching tattoos of all shapes and sizes are common at her shop.

According to Kapowski, groups of people often come into her shop looking for matching tattoos to symbolize their love and connection.

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Pet tattoos are a way to show devotion to a furry friend.

People often get tattoos to memorialize their love for their pets.

Kapowski said that the most common pet-memorial tattoo she sees is a paw print resembling the customer's beloved animal.

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Infinity symbols have been popular in recent years.

Infinity tattoos have become an increasingly common trend over the years.

Many people who get matching tattoos with someone or get ink to honor loved ones will ask for an infinity symbol to be incorporated into the design.

"We get mothers and daughters coming in and wanting infinity symbols or pet owners wanting the infinity symbol with paw prints," Kapowski said.

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Hearts are also a common tattoo request.

Hearts are a simple and universally popular tattoo design that can symbolize love or simply make for fun body art.

Kapowski told Insider that people are often interested in getting hearts inked on their hips or behind their ears.

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Getting inspirational words and quotes is another popular trend.

Kapowski said her customers often want inspirational words or quotes promoting strength and good virtues.

She said the words "faith," "believe," and "always" are some of the most common ink requests that she gets.

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Tiny tattoos are all the rage.

Rather than doing large, complex pieces, many people opt for tiny tattoos.

Kapowski said she regularly tattoos "lines and dots and random symbols" on the insides of customers' fingers.

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Moons and other celestial designs are also a staple at her shop.

Kapowski said her clients often come in asking for crescent-moon tattoos, which have been known to symbolize things like life, death, and change.

Read more:

• 8 things tattoo artists want people to know
• 12 things tattoo artists wish you would stop doing
• Here's what you can do if you don't like your tattoo
• 8 things you need to know before getting your first tattoo