Contrarily, the spider tattoo in the West has become a way to communicate that the wearer has been in prison when the tattoo is correctly placed. Convicts will sometimes get the spider tattoo on themselves because it represents that they have been caught in a web, the prison system. These images most often appear as a silhouette, completely filled in black, on various parts of the body including the face. Criminal tattoos, as they are known, often appear on the face, underneath the eye, symbolizing a devotion or affiliation with criminal activity and past criminal acts.

Much more than a criminal symbol, many people choose to tattoo a spider image on themselves to create a sense of ominousness. Additionally, the spider automatically conveys a sign of caution, unpredictability and an uncontrollable wildness.

Spider Tattoo Variations

There are different styles and variations of the spider tattoo that might look cool or have slightly different meanings than others. Below are some of the spider tattoo variations that we have seen over time.

Black Widow Tattoo

The black widow spider tattoo is generally a sign for strong women. The reason you will see women with this tattoo is because it is a sign of female empowerment. The female black widow is known to eat the male black widow after mating. This is symbolic of a woman not needing a man in their life and they are strong without the presence of a man around.

Tarantula Tattoo

The tarantula tattoo can be a darker symbol when tattooed on the body. It is probably the most terrifying of all the species of spider, so you can imagine it wouldn’t have a very happy connotation. It is said that if a tarantula shows up in your dream it might mean you are in bad health, represent a dark side of your personality or mean disappointment.

Spider and Skull Tattoo

The spider and skull tattoo seem to go hand in hand when trying to convey a dark theme. As we stated above, the spider is often associated with death and dying so when paired with the skull, it reinforces the theme. Many are fans of horror movies and the darker sides of life. It doesn’t make them bad people but they’re just into it.