The rose is an almost universal symbol for love in tattoo design – it’s one of the most enduring and highly visible motifs in body art going back centuries.

Often, color variations, style switches, and placement choices create nuanced symbolic meanings or technical interpretations of the classic rose tattoo idea.

The following collection of images and ideas bring together the best facets of rose tattoo design and implementation. There’s a style, size, shade or placement from many different tattoo artist portfolios that’s perfect for new tattoo inspiration.

See more about – The Ultimate 150+ Best Flower Tattoo Ideas

1. Traditional Rose Tattoos

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While depicting love, the American traditional rose tattoo is often tattooed onto the body without any thorns, much like the actual flower.

Sailors would often receive the single rose tattoo to honor their loved ones, including a girlfriend they had to leave behind while on a trip out to sea.

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2. Roses Small Tattoo Ideas

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The rose is also a badass symbol of strength, courage, and nobility, while linked with different meanings for colors and a range of historical connections.

Small tattoo concepts of roses are becoming hugely popular for their versatility in style and placement, and there’s a growing market for temporary tattoo design as well.

See more about – The Top 71 Small Rose Tattoo Ideas

3. Rose Tattoo Art for Men

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Red rose tattoo ideas are the most popular rose design, and are some of the most recognizable tattoos across all styles of body art for both men and women.