The body is essentially a limitless canvas for a tattoo artist, and the collarbone area is a beautiful but sometimes overlooked location for new ink. There’s something alluring about the clavicle, and it offers a few different placement options. Collarbone tattoos can be placed right on the bone, extend to the shoulder and down the arm, and even be incorporated into larger chest pieces.
If you’ve been tooling with the idea of getting a collarbone tattoo but are still trying to figure out what exactly you want to get, this gallery is full of ideas that are perfect for the boney location, whether you’re looking for an inspiring quote in script, colorful butterflies, or something more minimalist. While these tattoos look incredible, photo inspiration is not the only thing you should show up to your appointment with. “It’s always important to get a good night’s sleep, stay well hydrated — I think this is one of the most important ones — and eat a good meal,” Michigan-based tattoo artist Carrie Metz-Caporusso previously told Allure. Nobody wants a needle poking into their skin while they’re fighting sleep or their stomach is growling, so plan accordingly.
Don’t forget about aftercare, either. “A tattoo takes approximately four to six weeks to completely heal,” Shari Marchbein, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, shared with Allure. “And one of the biggest mistakes you can make after getting a tattoo is to let it dry up.”
Whether you’ve already decided on your artist and body art or you’re just starting to research your design, let this gallery of collarbone tattoos be your guide for your next ink appointment. And of course, if one of these designs catches your eye, you should always reach out to the original artist for permission to have it recreated if you can’t make an appointment with them yourself.