InkCraftWrist Tattoo Designs for Men and the Watch Strap
20 men's wrist tattoos photographed on skin for InkCraftBy Uladzimir TumanauUpdated
Men's wrists are often broad, hairy on the outer side and already occupied by a watch. These wrist tattoos for men are photographed on the inner and outer wrist, with how to plan around the strap, the shirt cuff and a design that carries on over the back of the hand.
- biomechanical · colourTry it on — Color biomechanical cat tattoo on a man's wrist
- tribal · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white tribal tattoo on a man's wrist
- Japanese · colourTry it on — Color Japanese tattoo on a man's wrist
- fine line · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white fine line tattoo on a man's wrist
- traditional · colourTry it on — Color traditional tiger tattoo on a man's wrist
- fine line · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white fine line tattoo on a man's wrist
- geometric · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white geometric tattoo on a man's wrist
- linework · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white linework tattoo on a man's wrist
- ornamental · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey ornamental ornament tattoo on a man's wrist
- neo traditional · colourTry it on — Color neo traditional hummingbird tattoo on a man's wrist
- traditional · colourTry it on — Color traditional tattoo on a man's wrist
- new school · colourTry it on — Color new school sunflower tattoo on a man's wrist
- blackwork · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white blackwork moth tattoo on a man's wrist
- neo traditional · colourTry it on — Color neo traditional tattoo on a man's wrist
- neo traditional · colourTry it on — Color neo traditional tattoo on a man's wrist
- fine line · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white fine line skull tattoo on a man's wrist
- linework · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white linework eagle tattoo on a man's wrist
- fine line · black and whiteTry it on — Black and white fine line tattoo on a man's wrist
- traditional · colourTry it on — Color traditional heart tattoo on a man's wrist
- dotwork · black and greyTry it on — Black and grey dotwork bell tattoo on a man's wrist
Every pair is one tattoo: the design as it was drawn, and a photograph of that same design on the body.
These 20 tattoos on men's wrists, in numbers
- Body parts
- 1
- Black and grey
- 11
- Colour
- 9
- Most common style
- fine-line
Watch on one wrist, tattoo on the other?
Most people wear a watch on the non-dominant wrist, where it covers the outer face and part of the sides. A tattoo underneath is hidden and rubbed every day the watch is on. The simple answers are the other wrist, or a spot a couple of fingers higher, so the tattoo and the watch sit one above the other and each has its own space.
A broad wrist also changes the scale. On many men the inner face is wide and flat between the tendons, and a tiny symbol there reads as a mark rather than a design. A band that wraps the whole wrist, or a piece big enough to fill the inner face from just above the crease upward, suits the surface better. Hair grows mostly on the outer side, so the fine work belongs on the inside.
Cuffs, reaching and running onto the hand
A buttoned shirt cuff covers the wrist while your arms hang and slides back several centimetres every time you reach forward, shake hands or type. A wrist tattoo under a cuff is therefore covered in photographs and seen in meetings. If full cover matters, set the design higher on the forearm; if it does not, place it where it looks deliberate when the cuff rides up.
Some wrist pieces carry on across the back of the hand. That turns a tattoo you can sometimes cover into one you never can, and it changes the drawing: the design has to bend over the joint where hand meets wrist, and the hand section will need touching up before the wrist section does. The wrist page covers pain and healing, and the hand has its own page.
Common questions
- How big should a wrist tattoo be on a broad wrist?
- Big enough to hold its own on the surface: a band that circles the whole wrist, or a piece that fills most of the inner face above the crease. A small symbol sized for a slim wrist tends to look like a stray mark on a broad one, and it gains nothing from being tiny.
- Can a wrist tattoo go under the watch strap on purpose?
- It can, for someone who wants a tattoo that is hidden most of the day. Expect the strap to soften fine lines over the years, so keep the design bold, and leave the watch off until the skin has fully healed.
- Can a wrist tattoo continue onto the back of the hand?
- Yes, and it is a common way to extend one. Plan it as one design from the start, because the joint between wrist and hand bends sharply and a section added later rarely lines up. Hair on the back of the hand also means the hand portion needs bolder lines than the inner wrist.
- Which styles suit a small male wrist tattoo?
- Ones with a strong outline and a single subject. Traditional and neo-traditional work, an eagle, a moth or a sunflower, keeps its shape on the outer wrist through hair and cuff wear. Fine line and linework suit the inner wrist, where the skin is smooth and the design faces you. Either way, size it to fill the face it sits on rather than to look discreet.
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.