15 of the Worst Cliche Tattoos That You Should Avoid Getting

15 of the Worst Cliche Tattoos That You Should Avoid Getting

Tattoos are a way of showing your creative self-expression, except when you decide to get a lame cliche tattoo. Here are 15 of the worst cliche tattoos to avoid.

Tattoos can be a beautiful and creative way to express yourself or commemorate something special. Tattoos can also be a permanent bad decision.

Don’t fall victim to an embarrassing tattoo. Here are 15 cliche tattoos you should avoid when you’re planning to get a tattoo.

How to Know if You’re Getting One of the Many Cliche Tattoos

Cliche Tattoos

Cliche Tattoos

Below are the most cliche tattoos right now. Like fashion trends, every day more tattoos become a cliche. The best way to predict if that tattoo you’re planning to get will become a cliche one day is, to be honest with yourself.

Ask yourself if the design you’re getting means something significant to you that you will like for years to come, or if you’re just following a trend. Tattoo trends are harder to get rid of than fashion trends.

Here are some of the most common cliche tattoos.

1. The Infinity Sign

The infinity sign tattoo symbolizes rebirth, reincarnation and forever. Similarly, your infinity tattoo will also last forever. This tattoo is everywhere, so go for a sign that’s more unique.

2. The Chest Wings

Chest wings is a very detailed design that covers your entire chest. Sometimes people even get this on their back.

You might be tempted to get this piece because of it’s symbolic and inspiring symbolism. Or how you hope that like in nature, you tattooed wings will help you fly. In myths, wings are earned, but you only have to pay for your tattooed chest wings.

If you’re in great shape, you might feel you need this design. Sure, your chest wings look nice now. But will you still like this design when your pecks sag to man boobs or when your back is hunched over?

Probably not.

If you must get wings, perhaps go for a more subtle design in an area that less likely to hunch or sag with age.

3. The Lower Back Butterfly

Lower back tattoos or “tramp stamps” are never a good idea. Luckily you can hide them with clothes, but they will make an appearance during swimsuit season.

If a lower back tattoo still sounds appealing to you, at least go for a design that isn’t as cliche as a basic butterfly.

4. A Heart on the Wrist

This tattoo is usually gotten after a break-up. Quick, relatively painless, and seemingly subtle, an outline of a heart seems like the perfect ink.

Turns out this tattoo is incredibly cliche. We’re pretty positive it’s a prerequisite to being a contestant on The Bachelor.

5. Tribal Tat

Tribal tattoos are also incredibly common, and we’re guessing most people who have these tattoos have never been in a tribe. Often this design will take up the entire arm, making it difficult to ever look classy in a short-sleeved shirt.

6. The Dandelion Birds

This tattoo of a dandelion blowing in the wind and transforming into flying birds seems to be everywhere these days. It’s meant to symbolize your fate and the fulfillment of your wishes.

The dandelion stalk symbolizes to let go of the past, so this design can also represent rebirth and resilience. Or also “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” a motto as cliche as this design.

7. “Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost”

Speaking of cliche lines, having the phrase “not all those who wander are lost” tattooed on your arm is incredibly cliche. So don’t get lost with this tattoo after wandering into your local tattoo parlor.

Try to think of a phrase that actually means something to you, and perhaps get that tattooed somewhere.

8. “Carpe Diem”

“Carpe Diem” or “seize the day,” is another cliche tattoo text to get. Instead, try seizing the day with a more original phrase.

9. Om Sign

We get it, you do yoga. You talk about it all the time, you don’t need to get the om sign on the back of your neck too. Also, don’t you want to be able to admire your tattoo without using a hand mirror?

10. Anchor

Either you have a boat, have been on a boat, or need a reminder to stay grounded. Maybe look into another way to stay grounded or show of your love for boats because an anchor tattoo is incredibly cliche.

11. “This Too Shall Pass”

Getting the phrase “this too shall pass” tattooed on your body is a great way to remind yourself that things get better. Unfortunately, your tattoo will not pass and it’s also cliche.

12. Dreamcatcher

You might be tempted to get a dreamcatcher piece on your back or neck to symbolize that nice dreams will travel through and bad dreams will be caught, and the feather at the bottom is the breath of air which is key for life.

You also can just get a dreamcatcher and hang it up in your room. Dreamcatcher tattoos tend to be big pieces, that unlike an actual dream catcher are cliche and will last forever.

13. Barred Wire

Barred wire tattoos symbolize that you are not an open book, you’re unapproachable and difficult to understand. They also likely show you got this tattoo sometime around the 90s.

These tattoos are also really cliche, so perhaps find another way to symbolize that people should leave you alone. Like not a tattoo that will for sure spark conversation.

14. Geometric animals

We’ve been seeing a lot of geometric animals lately, mainly foxes. While these designs look cool and unique now, they’re becoming a cliche and soon they will feel incredibly dated.

15. Area Code

If you might want to get your area code tattooed on you in either large block numbers on your forearm, or in subtle small numbers somewhere else on your body. You might think that this tattoo is key, to remind you where you came from.

You know you grew up, it’s in your cell number. Unless you keep forgetting your area code when you call your parents, avoid this cliche tattoo.

Get a Unique Tattoo

Don’t blend in when you were born to stand out. Your tattoo should express yourself in a unique way. Don’t be one of the many people with cliche tattoos.

Talk to a tattoo artist at the Skin Factory Tattoo shop before making your final decision.  We have tattoo shops in Las Vegas, Henderson and Maui Good luck!

For more resources and insight on tattoos, check out our blog.

To learn more, contact us here.

Las Vegas Tattoo Shop

Lahaina Tattoo Shop

Big Island Tattoo Shop