Top 50+ Best Simple Tribal Tattoo Ideas – 2022 Inspiration Guide
When most people consider the prospect of a tribal tattoo, the idea of large scale, highly detailed and elaborate body art immediately comes to mind, and for good reason.
However, there are a lot of tribal tattoo ideas that factor in simple black ink tattoos, or small-scale designs made to fit contemporary locations like the wrist, hands, and neck.
The following collection of top 49 best simple tribal tattoo ideas showcase that you can achieve versatility and variety in black ink designs. These examples provide inspiration for you if considering a tribal style tattoo piece.
1. Simple Tribal Tattoo Ideas for the Ankle
Source: @tattoobypatu via Instagram
Source: @andrey.frey_ via Instagram
Source: @tattoobypatu via Instagram
Source: @the_secret_tattooshop via Instagram
Source: @tupactattooestudio via Instagram
2. Simple Upper Arm Tribal Tattoos
Source: @carsonlittlepage via Instagram
Source: @kaiyootattoo via Instagram
Source: @pulubingbyahero via Instagram
Source: @wesley.gouveia via Instagram
Source: @jonytattoo_ via Instagram
3. Simple Tribal Back Tattoo Ideas
Source: @geoff_sin_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @tattoo_artist_joe_fj via Instagram
Source: @tattoobypatu via Instagram
Source: @yihxing96 via Instagram
Source: @rizo.tattooer via Instagram
4. Simple Tribal Tattoo Ideas for the Chest and Side
Source: @m_campbell12345 via Instagram
Source: @manu_3occhio via Instagram
Source: @tribal_tatau via Instagram
5. Forearm Tribal Tattoo Ideas
Source: @americantattootarragona via Instagram
Source: @goodman.tattoo via Instagram
Source: @laineytattoo via Instagram
Source: @sloweace via Instagram
Source: @spc.tattoo via Instagram
Source: @tattoobypatu via Instagram
Source: @tribal12tattoostudio via Instagram
Source: @vik_b_tattooer via Instagram
Source: @_colorofmysoul_ via Instagram
6. Simple Tribal Tattoo Ideas for the Hand
Source: @alexan_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @angelicapositano via Instagram
Source: @khaqanstattoos via Instagram
Source: @mr.inkwells via Instagram
Source: @tribal_tatau via Instagram
7. Simple Leg Tribal Tattoo Ideas
Source: @my_art_cuz_why_not via Instagram
Source: @valentina_lakali via Instagram
Source: @greghawkestudios via Instagram
Source: @nanii_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @teau_designs via Instagram
8. Simple Tribal Tattoo Ideas for the Neck
Source: @kenex_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @tatuaggidaclaudio via Instagram
Source: @uenuku232 via Instagram
9. Simple Shoulder Tribal Tattoo Ideas
Source: @setharcane via Instagram
Source: @tattoobypatu via Instagram
Source: @tyttitattoo via Instagram
10. Small Simple Tribal Tattoo Ideas
Source: @rebel_inks via Instagram
Source: @tattoolagomera via Instagram
Source: @vero_art_tattoo via Instagram
Source: @zele.tattoo.piercing via Instagram
11. Simple Tribal Wrist Tattoo Ideas
Source: @fmr.tattoos via Instagram
Source: @gash_ink_tatts via Instagram
Source: @hends_dyak via Instagram
Source: @jerotattoo77 via Instagram
Source: @sandip_uttam via Instagram
Simple Tribal Tattoo FAQs
Many patterns in tribal tattoo style are drawn from nature, with the layered designs referencing the fishing, hunting and warrior lifestyle that sustained island peoples for thousands of years.
These different patterns are also associated with strength, good luck, feats of physical strength and spiritual guardians.
These tattoos tell the wearer’s story as well as working to bring them good luck and keep them safe in battle, although in modern times this deeper significance is not always as clear.
Simple tribal tattoos show insight into contemporary tattoo ideas, and how they’re changing tastes for all different styles of ink.
No longer do collectors look solely for large scale symbolic pieces, the interest can lie in doing smaller scale ink in more interesting places than traditional spots like the chest, thigh, upper arm, or calf.
By getting a small simple tribal tattoo it can be placed in areas such as the hands, fingers, on the neck or face (like the traditional Maori Ta Moko).
Getting tattoos specifically linked to rites of passage or culturally significant events is usually not the type of thing you could get done if not naturally part of that culture, as it’s policed within the cultural and tattoo community.
For example, the Maori Ta Moko tattoo is strictly done by Maori only for Maori, however there are different tattoo art designs within the medium called kirituhi which are just as rich in tradition and meaning for non Maori.
