InkCraftBehind the Ear Tattoo Ideas for Men With a Fade
24 men's behind the ear tattoos photographed on skin for InkCraftBy Uladzimir TumanauUpdated
For a man with short hair, a tattoo behind the ear is rarely hidden: a fade or a clipper cut leaves it on show from the side and from behind. These behind the ear tattoos for men sit beside their flat designs, so you can judge how each reads in plain view.
- blackwork · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white blackwork moth tattoo behind a man's ear
- illustrative · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey illustrative raven tattoo behind a man's ear
- ornamental · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey ornamental star tattoo behind a man's ear
- new school · colourTry it on — Color new school compass tattoo behind a man's ear
- dotwork · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey dotwork tattoo behind a man's ear
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese koi fish tattoo behind a man's ear
- illustrative · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey illustrative moon tattoo behind a man's ear
- blackwork · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white blackwork hole tattoo behind a man's ear
- traditional · colourTry it on — Color traditional sunflower tattoo behind a man's ear
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese snake flower tattoo behind a man's ear
- tribal · colourTry it on — Color tribal dragon tattoo behind a man's ear
- illustrative · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey illustrative tattoo behind a man's ear
- fine line · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white fine line flower tattoo behind a man's ear
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese koi fish tattoo behind a man's ear
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese oni tattoo behind a man's ear
- ornamental · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey ornamental eye tattoo behind a man's ear
- new school · colourTry it on — Color new school skull tattoo behind a man's ear
- watercolor · colourTry it on — Color watercolor shark tattoo behind a man's ear
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese lips tattoo behind a man's ear
- biomechanical · colourTry it on — Color biomechanical flower tattoo behind a man's ear
- tribal · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white tribal flower tattoo behind a man's ear
- dotwork · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey dotwork tattoo behind a man's ear
- illustrative · colourTry it on — Color illustrative shark tattoo behind a man's ear
- traditional · colourTry it on — Color traditional rose tattoo behind a man's ear
Every pair is one tattoo: the design as it was drawn, and a photograph of that same design on the body.
These 24 tattoos behind men's ears, in numbers
- Body parts
- 1
- Black and grey
- 11
- Colour
- 13
- Most common style
- japanese
Fades, clipper cuts and a spot on show
With a fade or a short back and sides, the hair around the ear is clipped close to the skin, and a tattoo behind it is visible from the side and from behind all day. On most men this is therefore an open placement, not a hidden one, and the design needs to read at a glance from a few feet away.
Between haircuts the hair grows back around the piece, and the edge nearest the hairline is covered first. Keep the main shape on the bare skin over the bone and let only minor detail approach the hair. A piece that continues down into the side of the neck is simpler to plan at the start than to add later.
Glasses, sideburns and a busy side of the head
The arms of glasses and sunglasses rest on top of the ear and run back along the side of the head, crossing the upper edge of this spot. Keep the design below that line and it stays clear of frames. A beard does not reach behind the ear, but long sideburns frame the front of it, and with both in view the side of the head can look crowded; simple bold motifs sit better alongside facial hair than intricate ones.
For how the bone here feels, and the noise of the machine so close to the ear, see the behind the ear page.
Common questions
- Will a behind the ear tattoo show with short hair?
- Yes, all the time. Any cut shorter than a few centimetres around the ears leaves it visible from the side, and a skin fade shows it completely. Hiding it would mean growing the hair over the ears, so choose it expecting it to be seen.
- Can a behind the ear piece run down into the neck?
- Yes, and it is a common way to give a small spot more presence. The piece starts on the bone behind the ear and follows the muscle down the side of the neck, and with short hair the whole line is on view. Plan the full length at the start, so the top reads as a beginning rather than a finished piece.
- What designs suit a behind the ear tattoo on short hair?
- Compact motifs with a strong outline and some open space inside: a single symbol, a small animal or flower head, a letter, a simple geometric mark. Because short hair keeps the piece in view from a distance, contrast and a clear silhouette matter more than internal detail.
- Which tattoo styles hold up behind a man's ear?
- Traditional and blackwork suit the spot best: bold outlines and solid fill keep a small piece readable from across a room when a fade leaves it in view. Japanese-style subjects, a koi or a flower head, work when drawn compact with few internal lines. A symbol with personal meaning, a star, a compass or a moon, reads well as one strong outline.
See it on your own skin first
InkCraft places a design on a photo of you — scaled, wrapped and shaded to the spot you pick, so you can judge the size against your own body before it is permanent.