Best friend tattoos are the ultimate show of camaraderie, and a great way to commemorate an important experience or relationship.

One of the best things about a bff tattoo is that they aren’t limited to any one style or approach: literally anything can be used to memorialize these powerful relationships, as long as the friends agree on the shared significance of the matching tattoo design.

Some people prefer their matching best friend tattoo to be a secret, with the true significance of the design only apparent to the tight knit friends that share the ink. Other people like their friendship tattoo to be a bit more straightforward.

There a number of symbols—shaking hands, the pinky promise, and crossed arrow tattoo designs are common—that more clearly represent this powerful bond.

Whatever the design, a shared trip to the tattoo parlor for some tattoo pain, some shared ink and shed blood, is the perfect way to honor the friendships that make life worth living.

1. Animal BFF Tattoo Ideas

Source: @cassienovah via Instagram

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Animals make for great tattoos, it’s just that simple. Whether it’s elephant tattoos or a butterfly there is something about the way people connect with different animals that makes them the perfect subject for a matching friendship tattoo.

The work on display in this gallery provides a great cross section of the styles and approaches that can be utilized for animal designs: black and gray bees, full color fish and a cartoon elephant tattoo perfectly demonstrate why so many people choose to commemorate their friendships with matching tattoo ideas.