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Top 80+ Best Hold Fast Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]

Top 80+ Best Hold Fast Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]

  • Next Luxury / Tattoo Ideas
  • by — Jono Elderton

Quote Tattoos

Hold Fast is the epitome of old school tattoo, often etched and scarred across knuckles all over the world. 

To Hold Fast can quite literally be the difference between life and death for sailors, who live their life in the heavy rigging of ships, working against rough seas and treacherous weather. 

A hold fast tattoo once meant you could handle yourself on the roughest oceans. This maxim was a staple of early sailor tattoos Hold Fast remains a proud example of American traditional design as the symbolic meaning has evolved along with wider body art. 

According to Aitken-Smith’s Tattoo Dictionary, Hold Fast has grown to incorporate the ideal that “no matter how rough life gets, one must always be strong to see it through.”  

As this gallery demonstrates, the traditional hold fast tattoos remain at the forefront of the message, however the ideal is opening to other styles and technical application. 

1. Anchor Tattoos with Hold Fast Script

anchor hold fast tattoos jimmykuderiii

Source: @jimmykuderiii via Instagram

anchor hold fast tattoos lowsodiumjim

Source: @lowsodiumjim via Instagram

anchor hold fast tattoos matt_fletcher_tattoo

Source: @matt_fletcher_tattoo via Instagram

anchor hold fast tattoos megan.mcnamara.tattoo

Source: @megan.mcnamara.tattoo via Instagram

anchor hold fast tattoos needles_tattooing

Source: @needles_tattooing via Instagram

2. Upper Arm Hold Fast Tattoo Ideas

arm hold fast tattoos denimar_studio

Source: @denimar_studio via Instagram

arm hold fast tattoos kaylastattoos

Source: @kaylastattoos via Instagram

arm hold fast tattoos maddogsandenglishmentattoo

Source: @smaddogsandenglishmentattoo via Instagram

arm hold fast tattoos mandanasty

Source: @mandanasty via Instagram

3. Forearm Hold Fast Tattoo Ideas

forearm hold fast tattoos anton_schafer_

Source: @anton_schafer_ via Instagram

forearm hold fast tattoos bigfoottattoos

Source: @bigfoottattoos via Instagram
Source: @kevyn_harper via Instagram
Source: @bigfoottattoos via Instagram

forearm hold fast tattoos herb.tattooing

Source: @herb.tattooing via Instagram

forearm hold fast tattoos katattackmac

Source: @katattackmac via Instagram

forearm hold fast tattoos metrallainktatto

Source: @metrallainktatto via Instagram

forearm hold fast tattoos mswinter

Source: @mswinter via Instagram

forearm hold fast tattoos tylerhtattoos

Source: @tylerhtattoos via Instagram

4. American Traditional Hold Fast Tattoos

simple hold fast tattoos lulabelle28

Source: @lulabelle28 via Instagram

ship hold fast tattoos bryanmholt

Source: @bryanmholt via Instagram

ship hold fast tattoos dragonerotattoo

Source: @dragonerotattoo via Instagram

ship hold fast tattoos horifudo_loyaltytattoo

Source: @horifudo_loyaltytattoo via Instagram

5. American Traditional Linework Lettering

simple hold fast tattoos 2 ambro.art.tattoo.raglan

Source: @ambro.art.tattoo.raglan via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos ambro.art.tattoo.raglan

Source: @ambro.art.tattoo.raglan via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos big_papa_ren

Source: @big_papa_ren via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos 1 wizardbarbell

Source: @wizardbarbell via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos 2 wizardbarbell

Source: @wizardbarbell via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos ls_teeth

Source: @ls_teeth via Instagram
Source: @passionateportraitsphotography via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos octopink.tattoo

Source: @octopink.tattoo via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos riot.saiko

Source: @riot.saiko via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos things.we.carry

Source: @things.we.carry via Instagram
Source: @stuffikindacareabout via Instagram
Source: @breeellaneeley via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos uh_lyss_uhhh

Source: @uh_lyss_uhhh via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos luisfdordzdlg

Source: @luisfdordzdlg via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos inkjoneser

Source: @inkjoneser via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos drztattoos

Source: @drztattoos via Instagram

6. Hold Fast Thigh Tattoo Ideas

thigh leg hold fast tattoos aftenstormcloud

Source: @aftenstormcloud via Instagram

thigh leg hold fast tattoos alexrobinsontattoo

Source: @alexrobinsontattoo via Instagram

thigh leg hold fast tattoos blacksailstattoostudio

Source: @blacksailstattoostudio via Instagram

thigh leg hold fast tattoos jluv_lucky13

Source: @jluv_lucky13 via Instagram

thigh leg hold fast tattoos maco_oculto

Source: @maco_oculto via Instagram

thigh leg hold fast tattoos mandanasty

Source: @mandanasty via Instagram

thigh leg hold fast tattoos richwarburtontattooist

Source: @richwarburtontattooist via Instagram

thigh leg hold fast tattoos roy_drage

Source: @roy_drage via Instagram
Source: @chooglin_stu_tattoo via Instagram

7. American Traditional Filled Hold Fast Lettering

traditional hold fast tattoos allykernahan

Source: @allykernahan via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos biffbiff_29

Source: @biffbiff_29 via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos bigpit101

Source: @bigpit101 via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos bodyartistsd

Source: @bodyartistsd via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos brandon8_6ward

Source: @brandon8_6ward via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos crazydayztattoo4life

Source: @crazydayztattoo4life via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos darkstartat2

Source: @darkstartat2 via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos dear_jenna_photography

Source: @dear_jenna_photography via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos edanalexander.tattoo

Source: @edanalexander.tattoo via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos highfiveg

Source: @highfiveg via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos j_bachman13

Source: @j_bachman13 via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos jackthomasnewton

Source: @jackthomasnewton via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos jaime.paes.tattoo

Source: @jaime.paes.tattoo via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos johntheconqeror

Source: @johntheconqeror via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos jrgenadolfsen

Source: @jrgenadolfsen via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos misterholt.tattoo

Source: @misterholt.tattoo via Instagram
Source: @artbydrex via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos painfullartstudio

Source: @painfullartstudio via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos pinkytbo

Source: @pinkytbo via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos royals_and_rags

Source: @royals_and_rags via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos royaltytattoo

Source: @royaltytattoo via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos rumbl3_43

Source: @rumbl3_43 via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos showtime_2

Source: @showtime_2 via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos siwood1979

Source: @siwood1979 via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos voilierphilosoft

Source: @voilierphilosoft via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos handsometomtattoos

Source: @handsometomtattoos via Instagram

traditional hold fast tattoos ylfieson

Source: @ylfieson via Instagram

8. Holdfast Tattoos with Innovative Knuckle Lettering

unique hold fast tattoos axelle_pin_up_tattoo

Source: @axelle_pin_up_tattoo via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos dynahogg

Source: @dynahogg via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos jharris_tattoos

Source: @jharris_tattoos via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos ledarville

Source: @ledarville via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos muintsi

Source: @muintsi via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos savageimagez

Source: @savageimagez via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos shomase_tattoo

Source: @shomase_tattoo via Instagram

unique hold fast tattoos terence_tattoo

Source: @terence_tattoo via Instagram

simple hold fast tattoos rosi i

Source: @rosi.i via Instagram

9. Hand and Wrist Hold Fast Tattoos

wrist hold fast tattoos collybopink

Source: @collybopink via Instagram

wrist hold fast tattoos kbmovement

Source: @kbmovement via Instagram

hand hold fast tattoos bsas_rider83

Source: @bsas_rider83 via Instagram

wrist hold fast tattoos macieldri

Source: @macieldri via Instagram

wrist hold fast tattoos riley_tattoo_art

Source: @riley_tattoo_art via Instagram

hand hold fast tattoos ink_and_iron_athletics

Source: @ink_and_iron_athletics via Instagram

hand hold fast tattoos john_slack_tattooer

Source: @john_slack_tattooer via Instagram

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Hold Fast Tattoo FAQs

What does Hold Fast mean traditionally?

To Hold Fast was the difference between life and death for sailors, who lived their life in the heavy rigging of ships, working against rough seas and treacherous weather.

A line of rigging tied up and tightly secured is termed ‘fast,’ anyone braving the wild seas had to figure out quickly how to cling on tight.

What does Hold Fast mean in contemporary tattoo?

According to Aitken Smith’s Tattoo Dictionary, Hold Fast has grown to incorporate the ideal that “no matter how rough life gets, one must always be strong to see it through.”

It is a symbol of strength – the metaphor of the sailor clinging to the rigging of his ship when the storm is hammering, and the seas are raging.

Why are hold fast tattoos often inked on the fingers?

Hold Fast tattoos are overwhelming chosen to be tattooed across the knuckles of both hands.

The four letters of each word fit perfectly and being added to the hands used literally to hold on for dear life sum up the entire mindset behind the phrase.

What else could I incorporate into Hold Fast tattoo ideas?

For those who aren’t keen to explore finger tattoos – many seasoned collectors and rookies have reservations – a hold fast design can be placed anywhere you can fit an American Traditional tattoo.

They are often etched alongside nautical seascapes, old ships, and anchors, while swallows and sparrows are also popular design themes.

How much does a small hold fast tattoo cost?

For the very quick, very small simple tattoos shops institute a shop minimum.

More complex work can cost around $200 for an hour from a well-established, skilled professional for a small tattoo.

In demand artists and single needle specialists can charge up to $500 per hour.

Jono Elderton

Writer

Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing from Deakin University.

Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing from Deakin University.

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