Tattoos above the neck are often disparaged as unprofessional, especially in the slightly less liberal corporate world—but these beautiful minimalist ear tattoos prove that not all of them deserve to be scorned.

Adoring your body with tattoos and piercing is an old-age tradition. Historical research reveals that the Egyptians identified tattooing with nobility and fertility from 4000 to 2000 BC.

And ear tattooing is becoming very popular over the last few years, so popular that some tattoo enthusiasts say it could replace ear piercings.

Importance of Ear Tattoo

While some people consider ear tattoos as great beauty ideas, some just avoid it because of the fear of pain.

The ear area is an excellent place to get a tattoo as the area looks attractive if you ink it perfectly. It's also impeccable for expressing different types of feelings—ear tattoos have the power to express feminine, masculine or powerful feelings.

Simple, delicate, and artistic; these tattoo designs also toe the line between self-expression and professionalism.

Possibly the key thing that connects ear tattoos is their understated quality. Since they're placed in a prominent position—above the neck—the tattoo design doesn't need to be too elaborate to gain attention.

Just a simple, elegant ink tattoo should strike the perfect balance between being subtle and eye-catching.

Do Ear Tattoos Hurt?

Ears are delicate body parts, and it's quite natural to wonder if ear tattoos hurt. Getting an ear tattoo could hurt a lot if you have very sensitive ears.

And since ear tattoos are of the most sensitive types, you should find a highly skilled and efficient artist to do the task.

Ear Tattoo Ideas

The ear area isn't big enough to ink giant tattoos or highly intricate patterns. Each tattoo design is determined by the physical area of your ear.

Thus, most ear tattoo designs are small. You can place tattoos near or around your ear, depending on the size.

A curvy shape is the peculiarity of the ear. So, you can get a subtle and comforting tattoo design in this area. For instance, some type of wire or vine pattern can be considered. Such designs complement the shape of your ear.

The small shape on the earlobe is also a perfect place to design a tattoo, especially for those who like simpler tattoo pieces.

You can as well design the inside area of your ear with patterns such as hearts, stars, diamonds, mixed shape patterns, and flowers, or any other shape.

Check out some of the exciting ear tattoo designs popular today: