Tattoo Styles Decoded

At Blue Bird Tattoo we believe tattoos are more than just art - they're a reflection of your personality, story, and style. That's why we offer a variety of tattoo styles to suit every client's unique taste. Here's a breakdown of the styles we specialize in to help you find the perfect fit for your next piece:

American Traditional Bold black outlines, a limited but bright color palette and iconic imagery like anchors, roses, eagles, daggers, and pin-up girls. Classic and timeless. A bold look that stands the test of time.

Neo-Traditional Think bold outlines, vibrant colors, and a touch of modern flair. Neo-traditional tattoos are perfect for designs that merge the classic tattoo look with updated artistic techniques.

Illustrative A style that tells a story. Imagery that bridges the gap between fine art and tattoos. Illustrative designs often feature intricate linework and shading, giving your tattoo a beautiful, hand-drawn feel.

New School Bright, exaggerated, and playful, New School tattoos are full of character and personality. Expect vibrant colors, exaggerated features, and forced perspective with a cartoon-like vibe that stands out.

Black and Gray Realism For hyper-detailed, lifelike tattoos, black and gray realism is the way to go. This style captures depth and texture beautifully, making portraits and intricate designs truly pop.

Anime-Inspired Perfect for fans of anime and manga! These tattoos feature clean lines, vibrant colors, and the expressive characters you love. A great way to bring your favorite shows or stories to life.

Cottage-core Whimsical and inspired by nature, cottage-core tattoos are perfect for those who love delicate florals, mushrooms, animals, and soft, earthy vibes.

Black and Gray Realism + New School Color Mashup Why settle for one style when you can have the best of both? This unique blend combines the lifelike detail of realism with the bold, playful energy of New School colors.

Stippling Using tiny dots to create shading and texture, stippling tattoos have a distinctive, artistic look. They're ideal for geometric designs, mandalas, or anything that requires intricate detail.

Bubble Gum Traditional Classic, timeless, and bold. American Traditional tattoos feature thick lines and vibrant colors, with a side of cutesy girly colors or subjects.

Minimalism Sometimes less is more. Minimalist tattoos are clean, simple, and elegant—perfect for subtle designs with profound meaning.

Japanese Inspired Traditional Japanese tattoos hold deep cultural significance which is why we don't do traditional Japanese tattoos. The style we offer is Japanese inspired only. Large, colorful designs that typically have deep meanings and stories behind their imagery. Featuring mythological creatures, floral motifs, samurai, geisha, and nature-inspired elements. They are known for bold black outlines and vibrant shading. We do our best to respect the culture while creating images in our own unique representations of it.

Color Realism Color realism tattoos are highly detailed, lifelike designs that use vibrant colors and intricate shading to create a three-dimensional effect. They often depict portraits, animals, flowers, and nature scenes with a focus on depth, texture, and light. This style requires advanced blending techniques and precise color matching to achieve a hyper-realistic look on the skin.

Whether you're drawn to the bold and colorful or the soft and intricate, our talented team at Blue Bird Tattoo can bring your vision to life. Check out more of our work on Instagram:

@tattoosbymissiblue

@bluebirdtattoostudio

@happycampertattoos

@beeinkedbyjess

@burgosink

Have an idea, but not sure what style it is or should be done in? Send us a message! We'd love to help you pick the perfect style for your next tattoo.