Tattoos Tattoos have always been a form of expression from the one getting inked, and in these last years tattoos on the neck and the throat became strong statements of identity, of art and of femininity. Once seen as defiant gestures, such placements are now a step toward bold self-expression for independent women who treat a their bodies as a canvas. “It’s an interestingly personal area, one of the more visible areas but the least seen … a sort of private moment and a tattoo there is certainly bold, as you are showing it off with no need.” From floral sophistication to symbolic power, the designs placed here can vary from simple to detailed, from esoteric to fierce. Whether it’s your first or next, these neck and throat tattoo ideas will give you inspiration and help you come up with the perfect design that matches your vitality and vibe. Here, 13 stunning ideas for girls who want to show a little — and a lot — of their beautiful, bold body art.
1. Floral Vine Wrap
The vine wrap around neck design with flowers, is a classic and beautiful shape that recalls natural beauty and femininity. Curling from one collarbone upwards toward the ear or around the neck, this tattoo mimics the way a vine grows: natural, winding, and lithe. Typical flowers are roses (love), lillie (purity), and cherry blossoms (from the fleetingness of life). Its tendrils can flow elegantly over the throatlines of the neck, providing movement and a connection. This cut is ideal for ladies who desire a feminine yet strong depiction of beauty and strength. You can do it in two styles, too — fine line for a more subtle look or shaded for a bolder effect. A vine wrap also goes well with other tats or jewelry, for a layered look. It also is a good fit for those women that enjoy symbolism representing mother nature and want to display it proudly to wear it like a crown. Perfect for placement on the front or side, this tattoo is a quiet assurance that never feels inorganic or at odds with the body’s natural flow. It’s a fashion statement and a personally artistic act of branding.
2. Celestial Crescent with Stars
The image of the crescent moon with stars is ideal for your magical, poetic neck, or throat tattoo making it perfect for women who wish to replicate the spiritual energy and intuitive wisdom of the cosmos. The crescent moon represents growth, transition, and the divine feminine and stars symbolize guidance, aplrotection, and aspiration. This tattoo is usually curved under the neck or at the side of the neck, matching the natural structure of the body so it have a mild but enchanting detail. Illustrators often add decorative details such as dots, sparkles or small planets to enrich the cosmic theme. This pattern also appeals to women who are in tune with astrology, the moon, spiritual therapy, and meditation. It’s also a potent symbol of metamorphosis, which means it has particular resonance for anyone who has emerged from private trials. The lines, the dot placement make it look ethereal and almost enchanted, like it was kissed by the stars. In the right artist’s hands, however, it can be transformed into a dreamy and symbolic focal point, to heighten one’s otherworldly charms. Black ink or ethereal suggestions of silver and blue, this wall of tats makes a neck into a holy personal power sky.
3. Serpent Spiral
A serpent snaking up from the base of the throat or literally coiling around the neck is a powerful symbol of both power and transformation and literal rebirth. This idea is borrowed from early mythologies when the snake symbolized wisdom and preservation, especially in the female lore. The serpent can be inked in a coiled, circular spiral with its head lifted to face the sky — a sign of growth — or stylized to curve around the neck like a living piece of jewelry. This type of tattoo is for those daring women who have no fear in embracing their wild and mysterious self. In the snake, artists sometimes render complex scale textures, or go with a simplified, single-line silhouette to keep it slick. The snake can also be combined with flowers or geometric motifs to temper or strengthen the snake’s energy. It’s a visual so striking that it immediately demands your attention while bearing a great deal of symbolic weight. Great for the front or side of the neck this tat will stir up conversation. It pairs well with gothic or high-contrast design, but is versatile enough for almost any style. It’s not just about danger — it’s about evolution, intuition and wild feminine power.
4. Scripted Mantra or Quote
With a scripted mantra or uplifting quote delicately written along the back of the neck or the sternum, women can wear their personal truth on their skin as a positive affirmation. His designs focuses on typography (often designed in nice flowing cursive, calligraphic, or handwriting fonts) that actually goes with the shape of the body. The most popular placement is either just below the collarbone, covering the throat, or vertically behind the ear down towards the neck. The quote could be a word, such as “breathe,” “resilient” or “free,” or a longer phrase, such as “love yourself first or “this too shall pass.” Some women opt for mantras that have gotten them through tough times, so they will always have a reminder of strength and healing. The power of script tattoos is the simple appearance yet overwhelming strong emotional intimacy. Tattooed in black and grey or in muted color palette, these tattoos appear poetic and stylish. They look great for first-timers and seasoned collectors too — mixed in with other pieces or on their own as a stand-alone statement. It’s the perfect conjunction of voice, meaning and skin.
5. Mandala Radiance
A mandala tattoo around the throat or over the neck represents harmony, balance, and inner peace. Mandalas, an ancient pattern taken from sacred geometry, provides us with a secret key to the inner psyche and the exterior world. This can act almost as a spiritual touchstone, something that radiates an energy and alignment out from a central place, usually the base of the throat or the upper part of the sternum, in a female wearer. Symmetrical petal shapes, geometric designs and symbolic dots are common fillers within these circle tattoos. They may be intricate and symmetrical, or abstract and interpretative. The mandala is a perfect mixture of art and meditation, and it’s very frequently picked by women who are in the process of getting in tune with their inner self or those on a journey of healing themselves. The reason it is ocularly strong is it’s radiating structure – it pulls the eye in and out at the same time. But they can be customized with meaningful additions, such as lotus flowers (purity), om symbols (universal connection) or crescent moons (feminine energy). There’s so much that goes into a mandala throat tattoo, and it’s so much more than just a “pretty picture.” It’s a symbol of spirituality and a reminder to stay aligned with what we want every time we glance in the mirror.
6. Feather Whisper
A feather tattoo design near the thigh or neck can symbolize liberty and a spiritual rising. The feather is light, elegant and has deep symbolism over a variety of cultures. Whether you take influence from Native American culture, where the feather is a symbol of the sacred, or the less esoteric “let it go” or “rise above”, this tattoo has a soul that cannot be denied. Whether nestled alongside the neck or floating from just below the ear to the collarbone, a feather may appear to hover or drift, contributing to its dreamy appeal. Artists will typically keep their lines as fine and light as possible to capture a more realistic, airy feather, or stylize the feather with additional elements such as beads, splatters of ink or gradients. This tattoo is perfect for ladies who view life as a path of lightness, development, and transcendence. It’s ideal for free spirits, for people who think outside the box, for folks who march to the beat of a different metaphorical drum. A feather is fragile, but also fearless — a silent, yet spectacular tribute to freedom.
7. Butterfly Transformation
“Butterfly tattoo on my neck is timeless” it’s a symbol of change and femininity and rebirth. The butterfly’s journey as it transitions from a caterpillar to a chrysalis to a winged beauty is a fitting symbol for personal reinvention and the adoption of fresh starts. Skimming along the side of the neck or just below the ear or through the center of the throat, a butterfly tattoo emerges as the center of graceful firmness. The design can be done in photorealistic, minimalistic or can be stylized with tribal or abstract elements. The wings can have elaborate designs or symbolic elements such as flowers, stars or written mantras. Butterflies also enable a theatrical pop of color —pastels for lightness, or bright tones for something more robust. This design strikes a chord with many women because it represents their own story—emerging stronger, wiser, and more free after the tough stuff of life. It’s a softly powerful decision, one that strikes the perfect balance between beauty and strength. The butterfly tattoo with its universal significance and infinite customization makes things really interesting as it intimates trails of freedom or quest for life.
8. Ornamental Collar Design
Collarbone collar tattoos resemble jewelry, encircling the neck and sitting next to/on top of the collarbones as an everlasting necklace. Often based on lace, tribal designs, or Art Nouveau images, these tattoos have a lot of intricate lace and are symmetrical and highly decorative. It’s the dream both of body art and decoration for women. Dotwork, filigree, and line details merge into a solid piece that covers the full front and side of your neck. These tattoos can be made more intricate with gemstones, flowers, or geometric mandalas. It’s the essential intersection of style and substance — wearable art that never loses color, lustre or beauty. Perfect for ladies who wish to make a high-impact, this style is royal and rebellious. An ornamental collar tattoo sets off formalwear and clean lines, and it is likely to be your signature style. It is an homage to workmanship and beauty and to the natural grace of the body, one that fuses culture and creation in a flashy figuration.
9. Phoenix Rise
The phoenix rising from the ashes is an intense throat and neck tattoo choice, representing rebirth, strength, and the unconquered spirit. The mythical bird sets itself on fire and is reduced to ashes, only to then emerge as a new bird—so it’s a fitting one for the women who have overcome adversity. The design typically starts in the direction of the back of the neck, then goes up, with wings stretching toward the jaw or curling slightly around the collarbones. The phoenix is typically depicted in elements of fire, shining with the colors of flame and resembling a bird of embers fluttering off into the night. Be it in black ink, or rendered with fiery reds, oranges and golds, the phoenix tattoo depicts someone who is a living, breathing testimony to an experience that has made one emerge stronger within. For a lot of women, that chapter is one of renewal, of coming into their power, of spiritual awakening. It can lend itself to the deeply personal or the audaciously expressive, depending on the design. This tattoo is not simply a design; it’s a story beneath the skin, one of overcoming perpetual limitations by prevailing. It takes your attention, demands its space, and pays homage to a woman’s inherent journey through fire and rebirth.
10. Gothic Lace Veil
For ladies who want something a little darker and more romantic, a gothic lace veil tattoo provides mystery, seduction, and eternal glamour. This motif resembles the look of sheer lace fabric placed over the neck or draping down the neckline, making a sexy yet savvy impression. With black grown up themes like Victorian, goth and elaborate fabric prints in mind, the small skulls, roses, crosses, and baroque curls can be added to your lace veil. Typically using black and gray, this aesthetic is rooted in delicate line work, smooth degradation and ornamental fine detail. It envelops the neck like an invisible corset or elegant scarf with a whisper of vintage glamor and gothic romance. For others, it also represents hiding and revealing — a poetic twist of vulnerability and strength. Either if you belong to the gothic subculture or you just love the theatrical, this design is an eye-catcher. It’s eerie and lovely, a paean to complexity and contrast — to the elegance that blooms in darkness. Great for the contemporary femme fatale.
11. Dragonfly Grace
Featuring dragonfly whose glistening wings and darting flight symbolize change, transformation, and shedding of one’s ego for lightness of being. A dragonfly neck or throat tattoo is an unconventional yet feminine representation of liberty and delicate power. The design is frequently worn on the diagonal, rising from the shoulder and up to the neck, or just below the neck. Artists can accent its wings with thin lines, shimmering colors or abstract curlicues. A few feature water ripples, flowers or light sparkles to give a sense of placidity and motion. Dragonfly is a symbol of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and enlightnment, and the communication from the elemental world. It signifies emotional maturity, transformation and inner clarity, often for women. Whether rendered as a realistic single creature or part of a bigger symbolic image, the dragonfly design calls the hearts and minds to examine and rejoice in transformation and growth. It’s a lovely tip of the hat to nature, instinct and the poignancy of impermanence.
12. Anatomical Heart
A tattoo of an anatomical heart on the throat or neck is raw, real and filled with emotion — nothing like the traditional heart symbol at all, closer to the heart as it actually exists. It encapsulates the messiness of human emotions, human bodies, of everything that happens in life. Usually tattooed with the spinning blood vessels and shading that brings out its muscle, the anatomical heart is the symbol for passion, strength, and realness. It is especially impactful when centered directly on the throat, or slightly off-center near the collarbone. For women, the meanings could be emotional vulnerability, medical importance, and brutal honestly about love and ones self. Others get it customized by adding in their initials, flowers stem from it or clockwork pieces to symbolize time, struggle, and eternal love. It’s smart and provocative and daring while never ignoring the various forms of risk and desire that propel people. Not for the faint of heart — literally or figuratively — it is a monument to bravery, truth and unvarnished humanity.
13. Eye of Protection
Protective Eye The Eye of Protection (also called the “Evil Eye” or the Eye of Horus) is a symbolic neck tattoo for women who desire protection, spiritual insight and inner vision. Commonly found at the base of the throat, or in the back of the neck, the eye, looking up/out of the body or at the earth, evokes the perpetual watchful guardian. Whether it is ornamented with flourished lines, its geometric rays or teardrops, this tattoo blends old mysticism with new art. For others, it is the like the “third eye” — a passageway to higher consciousness and intuition. For some, it’s protection against negativity and harm. For women scarred by betrayal, jealousy or emotional harm, its vigilant friendliness is a solace. Artists can incorporate it with mandalas, moons or feathers to give it more depth and make the image their own. Simple or intricate, the Eye of Protection is profoundly empowering and reminds the wearer of a truth: she is always seen, always watched over, always protected, and is always having access to a higher truth. It is a statement and a shield — an ancient amulet with a now-aesthetic and let’s be honest, it’s also just a beautiful piece of jewelry.”
ByEunkyung Le e July 9, 2018 Neck and throat tattoos are more than just an adornment; they make a huge statement about your personality, resiliency, and your take on life, making a permanent tattoo design that showcases your story and your own style. When one chooses to tattoo such a prominent and personal part of their body, they are making a bold and courageous statement — it’s not just about the esthetics or the symbolism — you must have the conviction. These are your daily reminders for what you stand for and who you are and all you’ve traveled through. They’re used to represent stages of one’s life, inner strength, and to support spiritual beliefs and personal values. Many women found that this type of body tattooing was more than just ‘pretty’; it was the ultimate divine expression of unique individuality. The contours of the neck and throat create art that moves, reacts to light and changes with the wearer, every tattoo is a living breathing work of art. Whether intricately delicate or boldly printed, it says, here I am, come closer and, most of all, look at me. There’s nothing like committing to a neck or throat tattoo for a woman; it’s the ultimate statement of vulnerability and confidence all rolled into one, and I think there’s really no better way to honor one’s femininity than embracing both of those things so fiercely! At the end of the day, these are tattoos of personal empowerment; a permanent reminder of that boundless self-love and bravery whose values are eternal; and you can’t go wrong with that, now can you? They’re an invitation to the world to observe you — not only the surface, but the soul underneath.