Inkhead? Whether you just got your first tattoo or you’re busy hunting every inch of your skin to see where you’ve still got space, your art isn’t ordinary. It tells a story — your story — and it’s just asking to be shared on Instagram.
The thing about great stories? They also deserve hard-hitting captions. Stuck? We’re here to help you out with a huge list of cool and interesting tattoo captions for Instagram. If you’re in the mood for a quick caption that you can just copy/paste to brighten up your latest selfie, you can do that — but if you prefer writing your own, a little inspiration can really get things flowing, so rummage around and see if any of our ideas spark your next awesome caption!
We’re pretty sure that you’ll find a good caption idea for your vibe no matter who you are, but if you’re in a hurry, we’ve made it super easy for you. We’ve separated our tattoo Instagram captions into neat sections to help you find the best one in no time — whether you need a caption for ink in progress, or you’re just taking a selfie with your ink showing prominently.
How to Write Tattoo Captions for Instagram You Won’t Want to Erase
The fact that Instagram is the world’s most visual social media platform is half of what makes it so great for sharing your awesome tattoos — but make no mistake. Captions also matter. Instagram posts with interesting, carefully thought out captions get up to 150 percent more engagement in the form of views, likes, and (the holy grail!) comments.
Wondering how to get your tattoo captions for Instagram right? Check out these tips and see which ones fit your mood:
- Are you snapping pics while you’re getting inked? You’ll wear that art on your skin for the rest of your life, so now’s a great time to give the artist whose hard work will tell your story a big shout-out. Trust us — a mention really helps your artist out!
- Consider making your tattoo Instagram captions funny, because there’s nothing like making your IG followers laugh to earn yourself some likes and comments. If most of your followers are inked, too, inside jokes about being addicted to tattoos or the silly things people without tattoos say are sure to be a hit. If not, you can’t go wrong with puns.
- Getting a memorial tattoo? Use your tattoo captions for Instagram to tell its story, and don’t be scared to get a little sentimental. These kinds of captions are a wonderful way to create a fitting tribute.
- You know everyone who doesn’t have tattoos is super curious about what it’s like — so why not go there in your tattoo captions for Instagram? Try to make your captions as immersive as possible by sharing the details of how you’re feeling right now — from the first line to the shading, and from the feeling you get when you see the finished tattoo to the way it feels like an ordinary part of yourself after a while.
- You could also consider using quotes for your tattoo Instagram captions. We have some examples specifically about getting tattooed in our quotes section below, but the quote you get could also be about the subject of your tattoo — whether that’s love, adventure, nature, or anything else. Just make sure you take the time to pick the perfect quote for your photo!
Still need inspo for your tattoo captions for Instagram? We’ve got it in droves, so dig in and see if you can find a great one-liner for your next Insta post!
Tattoo Instagram Captions for Selfies
1. Because sometimes, ink speaks louder than words.
2. Love the skin you’re in. I do, ‘cause it’s all mine.
3. Head in the clouds, arm on the tattooist’s table.
4. Tattoos everywhere, don’t care.
5. So many tattoo ideas, so little time…
6. This smile? It’s not quite as permanent as my ink, but it’s getting there.
7. What’s it mean? It means I call the tattoo shop my second home, that’s what.
8. About to get a new tattoo! But first, let me take a selfie.
9. Turning my body into a garden, one floral tattoo at a time.
10. Yeah, but at least my skin tells a story.
Funny Tattoo Captions for Instagram
11. That feeling when folks ask you how you feel about being old, wrinkled, and tattooed: Beats just being old and wrinkled!
12. What does this one mean? It means I got drunk when I was 21.
13. Got 99 problems, but just as many tattoos, so I guess we’ll call it even.
14. Oh, these tattoos? They’re just my way of weeding out small-minded people.
15. Tattoos are my cardio and this sleeve is just a warm-up.
16. Covered in ink and don’t care what you think.
17. Felt cute, got inked, definitely won’t delete later.
18. Ink runs through my veins, and art dances through my brain. What’s your superpower?
19. Flower power, tattoo edition. Who wants in?
20. Make-up is fun, but tattoos are forever.
Cute Tattoo Instagram Captions
21. Tattoos are my happy place and I can’t wait to get another.
22. I’m not saying I’m a tattoo addict, but I might just be a tattoo addict.
23. Tattoo vibes, epic times, and long nights.
24. On Wednesdays, we sit in the tattooist’s chair.
25. People come and go, but ink is forever.
26. Oh, these? They’re just a love story written on my skin. Feel free to admire.
27. Confidence level: Currently considering a cute neck tattoo.
28. Art is my love language, and I wear it on my sleeves.
29. What will I do when I get bored of this one? Get another, of course!
30. Getting a tattoo of my cat to remember him forever. He’s in my heart and he’ll forever go everywhere with me.
Getting a New Tattoo Captions for Instagram
31. Three hours down, about four to go. Keep me busy!
32. When life gives you a half sleeve appointment, beg your followers to keep you entertained!
33. Getting my first tattoo, I’m so excited!
34. New year, new me, new tattoo!
35. Ink + skin = an awesome work in progress!
36. Her art, my skin. Together, we’ll tell a beautiful story.
37. Came for the tattoo, stayed for the fun. This studio is epic!
38. Because one picture tells a thousand stories.
39. The tattoo artist’s chair beats the dentist’s chair any day. Just sayin’.
40. I endured five hours of agony and all I got was this lousy picture.
Cool Tattoo Reveal Instagram Captions
41. New tattoo, who dis?
42. The first rule of Instagram: Never show new ink in its ugly phase. Always wait until it heals!
43. Finally showing you guys my new tattoo, thoughts?
44. Beauty fades? Well, this one never will!
45. Why go to therapy when you can just get a bunch of tattoos?
46. Where art and adrenaline collide. Meet me there and get inked.
47. I wore it just for you.
48. Still can’t believe I get to wear this piece of art for the rest of my life!
49. When life gives you the best tattoo artist ever, keep going back for more.
50. Not everyone likes tattoos, but then again, not everyone matters.
Tattoo Captions for Instagram With Friends
51. Getting matching friendship tattoos!
52. Sure, you can sit with us… but only if you’re ready to get inked.
53. We’re tickled pink to get ink!
54. Good friends bail you out of jail, but best friends line up to get matching tattoos.
55. Our friendship motto: Think ink!
56. ‘Cause friends don’t let friends get inked alone.
57. Oh, me? I’m just here to keep my bestie company while she gets a full sleeve!
58. Us? Commitment issues? Clearly not!
59. Squad goals, tattoo edition!
60. Today’s forecast? Big tattoos with spells of loud laughter!
Romantic Tattoo Instagram Captions for Couples
61. Murphy’s law: Couples who get each other’s names inked do not stay together. We’re getting matching skulls, instead.
62. Love is in the air and we’re just syncing up our tattoos!
63. Hand in hand, we’ll get inked together.
64. One for me and one for you…
65. Some love stories never end, and this is just the beginning.
66. Love etched into our skins, because we see heart to heart.
67. Matching tattoos for me and you because this love story is like voodoo.
68. Oh, us? We’re just writing our love story in tattoos.
69. You + me + tattoo studio = always.
70. The compass of our hearts always leads to each other! That’s why we got compass tattoos!
Inspirational Tattoo Captions for Instagram
71. Not all who wander are lost. Some are just brainstorming ideas for their next travel tattoos.
72. Travel, tattoo edition: Get only ink, take only pictures.
73. Count your life not in years, but in stories worth translating to your skin’s canvas.
74. You miss 100% of the tattoos you don’t get, and for me, that’s obviously way too many.
75. My skin. My stories. My rules. His art.
76. Wake up, drink coffee, get tattooed, rinse, and repeat.
77. Whoever says money can’t buy happiness clearly has no idea how much this sleeve costs.
78. Why have plain skin when you can tell your story in tattoos?
79. Because if they’re gonna stare, you might as well give them something really pretty to look at.
80. The tattoo machine doesn’t ask questions. The tattoo machine simply understands.
Silly Tattoo Instagram Captions
81. Some mysteries will never be solved. Like why I got this toilet paper roll tattooed on me.
82. It’s not about the destination or the journey, it’s about all the tattoos you get along the way.
83. Oh, this one? It tells the story of how my best friend thought she could make a great tattoo artist back in college.
84. You can never have too many pigeon tattoos or take too many selfies.
85. Another day, another herbal tattoo. I think I’m addicted.
86. If you need me, I’ll probably be at the tattoo studio planning my next leg sleeve.
87. Skip leg day? Nah, this is my leg day.
88. This is the result of telling my tattoo artist to surprise me when he asked me what I wanted.
89. This little guy? Yeah, I asked my son to pick out a tattoo for me, and this is what I ended up with.
90. I love ham sandwiches so much I just had to memorialize that romance story.
Adventurous Tattoo Captions for Instagram
91. Adventure is near, and tattoos are always here!
92. I’m getting a map tattoo because I love exploring the world!
93. I’ll never be lost again with my tattoo of a compass.
94. My story. Your mystery treasure hunt. You’ll never guess what each of these tattoos means.
95. Me? I’m just exploring the wide, wide world, one tattoo studio at a time.
96. I run on sarcasm, black coffee, and tattoo ink. HBU?
97. Getting the best tattoo ever? Yeah, there’s just not an app for that.
98. Life ain’t perfect, but an afternoon spent at the tattoo studio definitely can be.
99. When adventure calls, get a new tattoo!
100. Ink splashed dreams and adventures that go on forever. What’s your deal?
Awesome Quotes for Tattoo Instagram Captions
101. “Tattoos aren’t meant for everybody and they’re too goddamn good for some people.” — Lyle Tuttle
102. “Show me a man with a tattoo, and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past.” ― Jack London
103. “But for me, to get the tattoo was part of moving into adulthood. Making a choice that is permanent and that I’ll have to stick with.” — Francois Arnaud
104. “My body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.” — Johnny Depp
105. “Anyone who’s had a tattoo knows once you get your first one, as you’re walking out the door, you’re planning the next.” — Chris Evans
106. “Maybe that’s what I needed. Another tattoo. Some pain on the outside to ease the pain on the inside.” ― NR Walker
107. “Tattoos exude pain and pleasure all at the same time.” — Chester Bennington
108. “A tattoo is an affirmation: that this body is yours to have and to enjoy while you’re here. Nobody else can control what you do with it.” — Don Ed Hardy
109. “Tattooing is about personalization and creating a unique art form on the most intimate of canvases, the human body.” — Kat Von D
110. “I think tattoos are a way to express yourself without words. Without having to explain yourself, people can look at your tattoos and see who you are.” — Jodi Morgan
Short Tattoo Captions for Instagram
111. Keep calm and get inked.
112. Live, love, laugh, and get tattooed.
113. It’s always tattoo o’clock somewhere.
114. Tattoos aren’t the answer. They’re the question, and the answer is yes.
115. Tattoo studio vibes only.
116. More ink? Always!
117. As long as it involves tattoo studios and crazy stories, I’m in!
118. Meet the newest member of my tattoo family!
119. Yes, I made a mistake, but at least I have NO REGERTS.
120. When life gives you ink, let it sink in.
Creative Writing Prompts for Tattoo Instagram Captions
Want to keep the creative ideas flowing? This list of prompts will help you do just that, so if you prefer to write your own tattoo Instagram captions but you’re still not quite sure how to get started, we’ll help you fix that in no time. You know what to do! Just pick a sentence starter that makes sense to you and finish it in a way that speaks directly to your photo.
121. Tattoos: Because life simply isn’t complete without …
122. Alexa, play “Blank Space” and …
123. Nothing says… like getting inked and …
124. The story of how I got my first tattoo? …
125. When life gives you ink …,
126. My newest tattoo is a mix of … and …
127. The only thing everyone with ink has in common? Tattoos. And also …
128. Pictures on skin and …
129. But my favorite tattoo? It’s got to be …
130. Tattoos always make me …
FAQ About Tattoo Captions for Instagram
How long should my tattoo captions for Instagram be?
That’s a good question, and it can be quite tricky to find the right balance. Short, catchy Instagram captions between 140 and 220 characters (or, sometimes, even less) tend to perform the best in terms of engagement, but sometimes, you just have more to say. That’s OK, but always make sure that every word adds value and try to see if you can shorten your tattoo Instagram captions without changing the meaning.
Do you have any tips on writing engaging tattoo captions for Instagram for tattoo studios?
Many of the caption ideas you’ll find here can still help you if you’re a tattoo artist building a portfolio and promoting your work on Instagram, but you do have some extra things to consider. After all, you’re trying to get business through Insta. It’s a great idea to include tattoo Instagram captions that simply show off your work and capture the cool atmosphere at your studio, but you’ll want to add a call to action to at least some of your captions. It really helps!
Should I include any emojis in my tattoo Instagram captions?
Yes! Emojis are Instagram’s love language, and because of their visual power, captions that include them get 17 percent more engagement than those without, on average. The best options depend on what’s in your photo, so make sure the emojis you choose are relevant. For example, if you’re sharing pics of getting a tattoo, ❤️, 😁, ✏️, and even 😖 (for especially painful spots!) might all be great for the moment.
Can you recommend any good hashtags to add to my tattoo Instagram captions?
Some of our favorite picks include #tattoo (obviously), #tattooaddict, #tattoocollector, #newink, and #getinked, but if your studio has its own hashtag, strongly consider adding that, too!
