It should not come as much surprise at all that the carnation tattoo is as popular as it is considering its symbolism and its lovely look. These are fantastic flower tattoos because they look great on the skin and because most people will recognize at least some of the symbolic meanings attached to them.
Below you will find out all of the reasons why so many people choose carnation tattoos over all of the other flower options available to them and, hopefully, you will be able to figure out if this is the right tattoo for you.
Easily the most common meaning attached to people’s carnation tattoos is love. Sure, the rose is still at the top of the charts when it comes to love tattoos, but the carnation allows people to get something a little bit different while also being able to attach this classic meaning. On top of that, some people simply like the look of the carnation tattoo over the other “love” flowers, so it just makes sense for them to get one of these designs.
Another meaning that you might want to use with your carnation tattoo is captivation. That can mean that you’re captivated with something specific, in which case you’d include that something in the design, or you find that you are often fascinated by new things that you discover. This is an extremely unique flower tattoo meaning that you will only be able to get it with a carnation tattoo.
What might surprise you is that the carnation tattoo is sometimes used in religious designs. This is because it is said that a carnation was placed around Jesus when he was on the cross. You don’t even need to include any other religious symbols in your design, though that could help to make the meaning clearer to outside observers. Of course, you can just as easily keep the tattoo’s meaning private by leaving it on its own.
The carnation is also a common flower at weddings, so some people will get this tattoo to show their love for the one they married. It could be included in a larger anniversary type of design, or the flower alone could be all you need. Since most people have bushels of carnations at their weddings, you rarely see a single carnation when this meaning is used, though you definitely can get a single carnation tattoo if you think it will look better on your skin.
Yet another reason why carnation tattoos are so popular these days is because you can choose from a number of different colors to use. The classic pink carnation is probably the most popular color out there, but you can also get it in red, blue, purple, or even black. The colors themselves can actually add even more meaning to these tattoos, though most people simply choose the color that they think will pop the best.
Many people who get carnation tattoos use the “love” meaning and will include the name of the person or thing that they love above or below their flower. This can be a great way to make your tattoo design unique to you and so outsiders know that it represents your love for something.
If you do decide to add some text to your carnation tattoo, you should take your time when deciding on the font to use. You don’t want the text to be the focal point of these designs, so it’s best to use one that is most subtle and impactful simultaneously.
What’s pretty great about carnation tattoos is that they work equally well as small or larger designs. You can get a carnation tattoo that stretches all the way down your arm or even your back, or you can get one that fits down the side of your hand. No matter what size it is, all of the meanings mentioned above can be attached to your design. You will want to think about placement before you start designing your carnation tattoo, though, so you can know how much detail you can include in the design.
You will find that most carnation tattoos are pink or red, but they actually look quite attractive as black tattoos as well. You might think that people only get black flower tattoos to use dark meanings or because they’re on a budget, but the truth is that some flower tats actually look amazing in black.
You might even find that you like the look of the carnation in the dark because it works well with your skin tone. After you’ve had your design drawn up, it’s a good idea to test out your carnation in multiple colors before you commit to anything.
We always recommend that people looking to get flower tattoos should have a respected artist do the work for them, and that’s definitely true with carnation tattoos. Even if you are not getting a heavily detailed flower or set of flowers, a good artist will be able to place your carnation(s) perfectly on your skin, making them that much more attractive.
They also won’t hesitate to tell you if you need to make tweaks to your design before they get to work. These days it’s pretty easy to find a good artist in your area; just use your computer or phone and chances are you will see some reviews of some local talent!
It’s probably obvious to you now why carnation tattoos have been and will continue to be extremely popular flower tattoos. They look amazing, they can be placed pretty much anywhere on your body, and just about everyone can use at least one of the meanings that are attached to this wonderful plant.
Sure, it’s not the most popular flower tattoo on the planet, but it just may be the perfect one for you. Just be sure to be patient during the design process and be sure that you find an artist who will be able to give you the exact carnation tattoo that you have been imagining.