Life is better with friends, there’s no two ways about it. Whether they are lifelong relationships, forged in childhood and spanning decades, or newer friends, finding common interests in sports and music, the bonds that we make are what bring joy into our lives. Given the importance of the roles that we play in each other’s shared experiences, it is no wonder that people like to commemorate these friendships.

Many people join social clubs as a way to demonstrate a communal relationship; other people use a shared interest like sports or motorcycles as a way to strengthen the bonds between each other. While these are all legitimate ways to establish the ties that hold a group of friends together, some people prefer a more permanent memorial.

Tattoos have long been used as a means to demonstrate a shared ideology, though these days you don’t need to be in a biker gang to have matching ink. Friendship tattoos are a popular way to permanently display the importance of a relationship between individuals. Whether these pieces are between two people or a larger group, they can be beautiful tributes to the shared bond of friendship and loyalty, and will permanently commemorate these relationships that are so important in our lives.

Here are some great examples of the different forms and styles that these meaningful tattoos can take.

1. Black and Gray Friendship Tattoos

Tattoos are about as personal as you can get; permanently marking one’s body is a powerful act, and as such the design and style are deeply personal. Just like all things aesthetic, people have different tastes. Some people like bright vivid colors, others like a more subdued approach.

Black and gray tattoos have an elegance about them that many people prefer, and this lack of color allows artists to achieve a more classic look in these tattoos. Whether the designs are made up of big bold line work, clean script work, or delicate shading, these black and gray pieces are a great way to memorialize a friendship between two or more people.