Behind The Ear Tattoos To Inspire Your Next Ink

Summer is well and truly on the way and we've already began scrolling for subtle tattoo inspiration to adorn our sunkissed skins. As major fans of all things small and subtle, there's one particular tattoo placement we've been seeing all over our feeds: behind the ear tattoos.

With the likes of Zoë Kravitz and Ariana Grande opting for delicate behind the ear tattoos, it's clear the popularity of this placement is on the up. 'I love that they’re so subtle, and people that have them love that they’re not visible straight away,' says tattoo artist at Top Boy Tattoo, Gee Hawkes. 'For people with longer hair, I’ve often had them say they love the option of being able to hide the tattoo by wearing their hair down and showing it off with their hair up.'

Do behind the ear tattoos hurt?

If you don't have the highest pain threshold (we're not judging), behind the ear tattoos can also be a practical choice. 'Clients that have had pieces done in that area have said that the pain is minimal,' says Hawkes. 'I’ve been told by many people that it’s actually the noise of the machine, the slight vibrations or the way they have to sit that can make it uncomfortable.'

What behind the ear tattoo should I get?

When deciding on your design, it's important to take the size of the piece into consideration. Too much detail can sometimes get lost in a smaller design and always check to see the type of artwork the artist specialises in (this can range from blackwork to realism) before you book. 'Behind the ear pieces suit being quite small as it’s such a small area to work on,' advises Hawkes.

'However there isn’t a "correct" size they should be, I’ve seen amazing pieces behind the ear leading up from a neck piece or down from the side of the head, it just depends on personal preference.'

What aftercare do behind the tattoos need?

So you've had your tattoo and the hardest part is out of the way right? Not so. Aftercare is super important for any tattoo to ensure the longevity of the piece and to avoid infection, but extra attention should be paid to behind the ear tattoos for a couple of reasons, as Hawkes explains; 'For that area, the same as any tattoo, the main thing is to be keeping it clean! Definitely make sure you’re washing out all shampoo and conditioner properly after you’ve washed your hair.'

'Also monitor product buildup from things like dry shampoo or perfume that can sit in that area. Another thing I’d probably avoid is wearing earrings that touch the back of the ear/neck - jewellery can hold a lot of germs and you don’t want to transfer these onto the new tattoo.'

Skin looking bare all of a sudden? Read on for our edit of super pretty behind the ear tattoos to inspire your next ink...