Armbands were traditionally made of bronze and jet, an inner gemstone formed from petrifying wood under great pressure, like in historical times like the Bronze Age. Metal bands back then, however, had a slightly different name called “arm rings”. The Kandyan drummers of Sri Lanka continue to use arm rings despite the passage of time, as they celebrate an age-old tradition. When you look back at Sri Lankan history, you will find stories of brides wearing armlets to ward off bad luck.

Knights would wear scarves or kerchiefs around their arms during jousts as a form of emotional attachment or conviction for the lady they were going to fight. Now you know why it’s put into a song. “Wear your heart on your sleeve” originally originated from a phrase. Traditional or not, armbands can be found on the arms of men from all walks of life, including military service (a brassard), journalists, professional sports teams, and more. Interestingly enough, modern roles and roles that distinguish who belongs to what group, team, role, rank, or function are connected in essence to the past.

Keeping in mind all of this, these tattoos can serve a variety of purposes. Historically, tattoos tended to be rare, as people opted for cloth or metal, but if you have something significant to you, why not get it permanently inked on you? It’s the very reason why tattoos exist in the first place.

Browse the following list of the 161 best armband tattoo designs for men. With so much inspiration available, you’ll no doubt come up with a few ideas to wear around your sleeve ranging from classic to modern, cool to whimsical.

Ideas for Armband Tattoo Designs

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With armband tattoos’ versatility and cultural significance, it comes as no surprise that they are among our top sellers at our semi-permanent tattoo shop. Tattoos of these types are probably most popular in the solid, tribal, and Celtic styles, but with a bit of creativity, armband tattoos and bracelet tattoos can be customized in endless ways. Some designs feature animals, landscapes, and words, for example. Try to think outside the box with how you can incorporate symbols that have meaning to you when you’re interested in these tattoos but want something unique.