These Hidden Tattoo Spots Are Both Discreet & Stylish

Tattoos are a work of art, which is why most people get theirs somewhere visible like their wrist, forearm — or smack dab in the middle of their chest. It’s also why hand tattoos, like the kind spotted on Hailey Bieber and Ariana Grande, have become more popular in recent years. Who wouldn’t want a pretty collection of tats trailing down their fingertips?

That said, there are plenty of hidden tattoo spots that are practically begging to be inked as well. These secret locations are perfect when you’re looking to hide a tattoo from your boss or your dad. But they’re also great for when you want a design to stay private — a portrait, just for you.

“A tattoo is first and foremost for yourself,” says Rylan Phillips, a tattoo artist with G Tattoo & Piercing in Toronto. He points to sentimental tats, like the kind that commemorate a milestone or a personal philosophy that you might not want to have on full display 24/7. But privacy isn’t the only reason to conceal your ink.

Since UV rays are known to fade tattoos over time, tucking your art away could also help it stay fresher longer. “A hidden tattoo will potentially age better as it will have less exposure to sunlight,” Phillips tells Bustle. And when you really love your art, that’s a major draw.

Of course, there’s also something cool about being a secret badass with a collection of cleverly hidden tattoos that people rarely see. Sometimes it’s fun to hide your art behind an ear or under a shirt, just because. Here are the cutest secret spots to hide a tattoo.

The Bottom Of Your Foot

While it’s super common to get a tattoo on the top of your foot, it’s not every day that you see one on the bottom of someone’s foot — and that’s kind of the point. Getting inked on your sole is one of the easiest ways to ensure your tattoo stays secret. No one will ever see it unless you let them.

Your Underboob

According to tattoo artist Anastasiia Gatsko, the crease just beneath to your breast is another sneaky spot to hide some artwork. “Scripts, dainty lines, and micro shading works well here,” she says. If you opt for a fine line tattoo, like a thin scripted word or short quote, it’ll be practically invisible in the shadows.

You can also place a bolder piece here, like Rihanna. Since this spot is pretty much always hidden under a shirt (unless you’re, well, Rihanna), you can rest assured your ink will stay fresh as a daisy.

On Your Finger

If you love the look of a hand tattoo, but don’t have the guts to go for it, try getting something small between your fingers. Once again, Rihanna was ahead of the curve, debuting her sultry “Shhh...” ink back in 2015.

To keep yours even more hush-hush, you could place your tat on the underside of your fingers as a more unique take on the trend. In either case, it’ll easy to cover a finger tat with a blob of concealer — or a couple of rings — if you need to.

Behind Your Ear

If you really want to hide a tattoo, look to celebs with tiny behind the ear tattoos, like Selena Gomez. The Rare Beauty founder has her fair share of ink, but the tat behind her ear is practically impossible to spot. (Be honest. Did you even know she had one?)

If you have long hair and always wear it down, a behind the ear tattoo will always be hidden from the world (and protected from tattoo-destroying UV rays). To really make your art disappear, make sure to place it directly behind your cartilage or closer to your hairline, so it blends in.

In Your Ear

This unusual placement is perfect for a smaller design. If you ever need to conceal it, simply let your hair down and — poof — it’s as good as gone. You can also easily bury it beneath a collection of earrings.

To be even more secretive, Gatsko recommends getting your tattoo done in UV ink, which will only show up under certain lighting _ but don’t forget there’s also the option to get a tattoo in white ink to match a paler skin tone or red ink à la Kylie Jenner.

Your Bikini Line

Another option is to stick your tat where the sun don’t shine — like in your bikini area. According to Gatsko, this is the ideal spot to place something dainty, like a butterfly. “It’s just so charming,” she says.

Her clients often get tatted in this area when they want new ink, but don’t necessarily want to show it off every day. They’ll go for the bikini line, she says, or right beneath the waistline of their jeans where it’s just out of view.

Your Back

According to Phillips, back tattoos are a lot more private than you might think. “Not only is the back rarely exposed, but it is also not something you can easily see on yourself,” he says. “An arm tattoo is something you will look down at and see daily, but for a back tattoo you have to get mirrors involved. This makes it not only private from others, but also partially private from yourself.”

He says this is the perfect place to stash the ink you love but don’t necessarily want to see every single day, like the sentimental kind that stirs up memories.

Inside Your Lip

Inside the lip is the ultimate hiding place for a tattoo, and it has the added bonus of fading fast. Many inner lip tattoos don’t last forever thanks to high cell-turnover, and that means you can get something goofy (or downright profane) and nobody will ever have to know.

This is likely why celebs, like Kendall Jenner, have no qualms about getting lip tats on a whim. Think of it is as a go-to spot the next time you want to get a tattoo on a night out, but don’t want to be hit with regret the next day.

Above Your Elbow

According to Lorena Lorenzo, a tattoo artist and owner of Indigo ArTattoos, the real estate right above your elbow may not be completely hidden, but it’s still incredibly discreet. If you have to dress more formally for work, you can simply throw on a blazer and pretend it isn’t there.

When you’re ready to rock a T-shirt on the weekend this ink will stand out, but it still won’t be as in-your-face as a forearm or chest tat.

Your Upper Thigh

Leg tattoos are also becoming more popular, with over 38 million views on TikTok, but it doens’t mean you have to get something eye-catching in the middle of your thigh. By moving it up just a few inches, you thigh tattoo magically feels a litlle more personal and protected.

The Back Of Your Neck

Trend alert: Celebs like Ariana Grande, Rita Ora, and Cara Delevingne all have neck tattoos, and the search also has over 45 million views on TikTok. While many people go bold and get their tat on the front or side of their neck, this locale is surprisingly secretive if you place your ink on the back of your neck right below your hairline. No one will know it’s there unless you wear your hair up or try out a micro mini bob — and even then, it isn’t too conspicuous.

Under Your Armpit

Fair warning: armpit tattoos hurt. This is due to all the nerve endings that make this spot extra sensitive. Once you sit through it, though, you’ll be left with a tattoo that’s as good as invisible most of the time. Unless you’re strutting around in a strappy ‘fit, no one will know that you have a pretty botanical tattoo hiding in dark.

Your Rib Cage

“The ribs are one of the most popular spots for hiding tattoos,” says Lorenzo. “A lot of people like that rib tattoos are cute, but they’re also easy to cover when they want to.”

Like your underarms, your ribs are a similarly painful spot for body art, but it’s worth considering if you want your tattoo completely hidden (that is, until it’s time to hit the beach).

Your Inner Ankle

Instead of placing your tattoo on the outside of your ankle, as most people tend to do, hide it on the inside and just like that, it’ll be so much tougher to catch a glimpse. This is another quick ‘n easy trick to make your ink a little less noticeable — while still keeping it cute.

Additional reporting by Kui Mwai.

Sources:

Rylan Phillips, tattoo artist

Anastasiia Gatsko, tattoo artist, owner of G Tattoo & Piercing

Lorena Lorenzo, tattoo artist, owner of Indigo ArTattoos