InkCraftRib Tattoo Ideas for Women Around the Bra Band
21 women's ribs tattoos photographed on skin for InkCraftBy Uladzimir TumanauUpdated
On women the ribcage is crossed by a bra band and meets the side of the bust just under the arm. These female rib tattoos are mostly shown with a top lifted clear, each beside its flat design, so you can picture where a band would cross each one.
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese rose tattoo on a woman's ribs
- traditional · colourTry it on — Color traditional heart tattoo on a woman's ribs
- new school · colourTry it on — Color new school dragon tattoo on a woman's ribs
- geometric · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white geometric elephant tattoo on a woman's ribs
- watercolor · colourTry it on — Color watercolor skull tattoo on a woman's ribs
- tribal · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white tribal lips tattoo on a woman's ribs
- blackwork · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white blackwork lion tattoo on a woman's ribs
- biomechanical · colourTry it on — Color biomechanical tattoo on a woman's ribs
- new school · colourTry it on — Color new school bird tattoo on a woman's ribs
- dotwork · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo on a woman's ribs
- blackwork · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white blackwork hummingbird tattoo on a woman's ribs
- watercolor · colourTry it on — Color watercolor cross tattoo on a woman's ribs
- illustrative · colourTry it on — Color illustrative peony tattoo on a woman's ribs
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese peony tattoo on a woman's ribs
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese lips tattoo on a woman's ribs
- fine line · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white fine line tiger tattoo on a woman's ribs
- linework · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white linework abstract tattoo on a woman's ribs
- ornamental · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey ornamental wolf tattoo on a woman's ribs
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese anchor tattoo on a woman's ribs
- blackwork · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white blackwork lily tattoo on a woman's ribs
- geometric · colourTry it on — Color geometric ornament tattoo on a woman's ribs
Every pair is one tattoo: the design as it was drawn, and a photograph of that same design on the body.
These 21 tattoos on women's ribs, in numbers
- Body parts
- 1
- Black and grey
- 9
- Colour
- 12
- Most common style
- japanese
Above the band, below it, or along it
A rib piece on a woman has three sensible positions. High on the side, under the arm, it sits beside the bust and is covered by most tops. Below the band, along the lower ribs towards the waist, it shows in crop tops and bikinis. Running vertically from the armpit to the waist, it passes under the band and is seen whole only when the band is gone. Choose by the clothes you want it seen in.
On many women the side narrows from the ribcage into the waist, and a vertical design that follows that inward curve looks drawn for the body. Script along the side, a flowering stem, a long feather or a snake all use it; so does a smaller piece set on the lower ribs, just where the curve begins.
Pregnancy, weight and the lower ribs
The ribcage itself widens in pregnancy, and the skin along the lower ribs and the waist stretches with it, while the upper side under the arm changes less. Designs placed high, or ones built from loose, flowing shapes, usually settle back to how they looked. Tight geometry and long straight lettering across the lower ribs show the stretch more.
Weight change moves the same area, since the waist below the ribs is where it tends to show. For why this spot is known as a hard sit and how the sessions are split, see the ribs page.
Common questions
- Will a bra cover a rib tattoo?
- It depends where the piece sits. One high on the side, level with the bust, is partly under the side of most bras and hidden by any top. One on the lower ribs sits below the band and shows with crop tops. A vertical piece crosses the band, which covers a strip of it every day.
- What size should a female rib tattoo be?
- Size follows the gap you choose. The strip below the band is short and wide, suiting a small to medium horizontal piece. The side from armpit to waist is tall and narrow, suiting lettering or a long stem. A design sized to fit between the band and the hip bone never has the band crossing it.
- Do rib tattoos show in a bikini?
- Pieces on the lower ribs or low on the side show in most bikinis and in swimsuits cut away at the sides. Higher pieces under the arm are partly covered by the band and straps of the top. A plain one-piece hides nearly all of the side, so a rib tattoo is the least visible choice with one.
- Which tattoo styles suit a woman's ribs?
- Japanese-style peonies and dragons suit a tall piece following the curve from ribcage to waist, and bold blackwork reads from a distance in a bikini or crop top. For a small rib tattoo on the lower ribs, below the band, fine line or a single rose or hummingbird in watercolour sits neatly. Script along the side is the simplest way to use the height.
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.