Thanks to millennials and Gen Z, astrology is more popular than ever. Besides the meme culture, it also comes with a great demand for astrology tattoos. From constellations to zodiac symbols, including not-so-obvious options like animals and planets, a zodiac tattoo can say a lot about you. It's a good way to have something unique and meaningful that truly represents you and your personality—and it's unlikely that you'll change your mind in the future since your birthdate doesn't change.
To get an expert view on this, we spoke to Brooklyn-based tattoo artist Missy and celebrity tattoo artist Dillon Forte for some opinions and advice for each sign. Scroll on for timeless tattoo ideas based on your astrological sign—don't worry, there are multiple designs for each.
Aries Constellation
A good go-to for astrological tattoos is getting the actual constellation. "Celestial motifs like constellations and planets are one of the most trendy astrological tattoo designs now," says Missy. The Aries design adds a bit of whimsy and originality with its inclusion of bigger stars.
Aries Geometric Ram
Just because Aries is the ram doesn't mean your tattoo has to be complicated. Consider getting a minimalistic geometric tattoo that breaks the idea of the ram down to basic shapes. "With geometric shapes, more people are becoming aware of its meaning to the universe and how life is patterned here on Earth, so that type of design is still gaining popularity," says Forte. The thick lines and dots at the end of the horns give this otherwise basic tattoo a sense of design.
Aries Symbol
If you're looking to get a truly minimalist tattoo that gets across that you're an Aries (but doesn't punch you in the face design-wise), try getting the basic symbol tattooed. This specific tattoo has a very delicate feel due to its thin lines, and the finger placement makes it feel even cuter.
Astrology is an ancient practice with so many layers, so your options are endless. If you know your natal chart, try to come up with something custom and unique, like incorporating your sun, moon, and rising signs together or even having your sun sign's ruler tattooed.
Taurus Bull
Taurus is represented by a bull, so why not get that exact symbol tattooed? This ink features half of the bull's face surrounded by delicate shading. The realistic face shape gives this design a detailed feel while still maintaining an air of simplicity.
Taurus Symbol
If you'd rather keep your Taurus tattoo simple, try breaking it down into a symbol design. This one is very simple and almost has a hand-drawn feel. Its placement on the finger also makes it a very personal tattoo.
Taurus Floral
A Taurus is very grounded, but sometimes you want a bit of whimsy. This bull tattoo combines astrology with the design aspect. The animal skull head shows a dark side while standing in strong contrast to the floral design and delicate crescent moons, showing the different elements and the true complexity of a Taurus.
Gemini Snake
Twins tend to symbolize Gemini, but any figure or pair with two identical elements can be used to represent the zodiac sign. So get creative! "Beyond the personal meaning and attachment, it’s also a great conversation starter if your tattoo isn’t painfully obvious on what it is," says Forte.
Gemini Angel And Devil
A typical stereotype of Geminis is that they are "two-faced"—in other words, they've got a good side and a bad side. This tattoo plays off that idea by showing a pair of identical twins except for their hair and head accessories. Just like the idea of having angels and devils on your shoulder, some people think Geminis are both at once.
Gemini Faces
Another take on the "two-faced" idea of Geminis, this design uses overlapping lines to give the tattoo a sketch-line effect. The two faces also look different ways in an effort to relate back to how each "side" of a Gemini can sometimes vary in personality.
Cancer Symbol
Sometimes getting the small symbol of your zodiac sign can be enough. This Cancer tattoo uses the minimalist mark as the base of the design, but it also adds space elements, like the moon and a star, to tie it in with astrology. The tapering lines also make the design feel delicate and give it an almost weightless feel.
Cancer Crab
The crab is the symbol of Cancer, and crab tattoos can easily be customized to your color, style, and size preferences. Here, the artist employs thin line art to create the animal's basic outline and fill it with stylistic detail. And don't be afraid to go big. "Animal symbols are easier to register as larger pieces," says Missy. "The universe is so big, so why not make your tattoo as well?" Forte adds.
Cancer Constellation
Constellation tattoos are the white t-shirt of the zodiac sign tattoos: They're basic, but beautiful nonetheless. "I really like the minimal constellation tattoos out there right now. On Instagram, I do see a lot of users getting constellation tattoos, so clearly, some celebrities or influencers are spurring a lot of interest in that," Forte adds. The artist keeps this Cancer design very basic, using small dots as the connection and little "x" marks to show the placement of the stars.
Leo Geometric Lion
Leos are (proudly) represented by the lion, and this animal design is fit for a jungle ruler. The geometric line art creates the base of the lion, but the lines themselves overlap and collide. This makes it feel as though the tattoo was created without the artist ever picking up their gun. The additional dots also give it a bit of detail without distracting from the bold outlines.
Leo Symbol
Customize your small Leo symbol tattoo a bit by adding a bit of color. This tattoo used red ink for its delicate lines. "It's nice to keep things small and more intimate, almost to remind yourself of your strength as a Leo, or your tenacity as a Capricorn, for example," says Missy.
Leo Constellation
Want the look of a constellation tattoo in a creative spot? Try it between the upper chest and the shoulder—it gives all the mystery that Leos love. This traditional constellation tattoo uses literal black stars to make it bolder. "Celestial and constellations designs can be dainty, minimal, more decorative," says Missy.
Virgo Symbol
If you want a larger design that incorporates your zodiac symbol without making it the whole tattoo, consider something like this Virgo one. The biggest aspect of the design is the flower, which immediately catches your eye. However, the Virgo symbol is centered underneath the focal point to lead your eye directly to it.
Virgo Maiden
Because Virgo is symbolized by a maiden, there are many variations of women that could easily represent astrology. This tattoo uses a mixture of different black ink techniques, including varying line thickness and heavy shading. While the woman features many details, it's easy for the eye to instantly find the Virgo symbol and its connection to the zodiac.
Virgo Constellation
Perhaps the most unique of all the constellation tattoos featured, this constellation tattoo uses a bold outline to show Virgo's power to everyone. The spaces for stars are replaced by black dots as well as some personal elements, like a crown, a heart, and a musical note. Overall, this design feels intimate and not basic by any means.
Libra Scale
Libra's symbol is the scale, which represents balance and harmony. This delicate scale tattoo has just the outlines to give it a more delicate feel. The dotted shading gives a clean and crisp look to the tattoo.
Libra Constellation
Who says constellation tattoos have to be boring? This design employs small, doodle-like details to give the tattoo a sense of personalized whimsy. A combination of dots, stars, and hearts make up the design, and it features the small, minimalist symbol that represents the sign to tie the constellation back to astrology.
Libra Minimal
If you want to keep your astrology tattoo as minimal as possible, this is the perfect design. By drawing the Libra constellation using only thin lines, the design highlights the star sign's scale shape while remaining delicate and not clogged with too much detail. "Beyond the personal meaning and attachment, it’s also a great conversation starter if your tattoo isn’t painfully obvious on what it is," says Forte.
Scorpio Scorpion
Scorpions are the symbols of Scorpio, so they make great zodiac tattoos without being too in-your-face about being astrology-related. This tattoo mixes numbers of a year wand the animal in the center.
Scorpio Constellation
Another good astrology tattoo idea is to get a simple constellation. The artist dressed this design up with the details: The tiny dots and the opacity of the stars make the tattoo's shape immediately recognizable as a star sign, but they also add a bit of unique detail to the classic design.
Scorpio Symbol
Sometimes the best tattoos are the simplest; this design is just a simple, bold depiction of the Scorpio symbol. The boldness and size of the symbol make it stand out, though the lack of any other adornment or details makes it feel classic and effortless.
Sagittarius Constellation
Another way to dress up the basic constellation astrology tattoo is to add some florals to the design. Here, the artist uses a thin outline for every design element, so that no aspect overpowers another. This means that while the Sagittarius design is front and center, the florals get just as much attention.
Sagittarius Arrow
Due to Sagittarius being represented by the archer, any bow-and-arrow imagery can be used in an astrology tattoo for the sign. This arrow has a simple base design, but the shading and line work details give it a bit of charm.
Sagittarius Snake And Crossbow
While this is another archer-based design, the tattoo adds much more detail. Based around the crossbow, the artist uses a snake in place of an arrow to customize the symbol to the person being tattooed. The dot composition also gives the design a unique, complicated look.
Capricorn Woman
Capricorn's symbol is the horned goat and astrology is inherently at least a little bit like necromancy, so what better way to combine the two elements than a witch with horns? The artist uses black outlines to create the basic shapes in the design, as well as to add detail to the face and the hair. The shading is done with dots so as not to overwhelm the already complex design.
Capricorn Symbol
If you're a type-A Capricorn and want to get a simple, minimal tattoo to show your pride, try getting the zodiac symbol tattooed somewhere small. Here, the design is largely only one thin line. It gets a modern, feminine touch by adding some leaves on its end.
Capricorn Goat
As the representation for Capricorn, the goat makes a great tattoo option for someone who wants something unique and customizable. This goat has a basic black outline that's full of inner details.
Aquarius Water Bearer
Aquarius is Latin for "water carrier," so it's no wonder the sign is represented by a water bearer. This astrology tattoo uses a small water bearer that's chock-full of small dot details to make it seem like realistic pottery. It also cleverly uses the Aquarius symbol as the water pouring out of the bearer, incorporating astrology even more.
Aquarius Water Bearer
This design also features the water bearer image, but it goes big with the color and bold lines, making it feel more visible and realistic. Line details on the water make the waves seem as if they're truly in motion.
Aquarius Wave
If you'd rather keep your Aquarius tattoo sweet and simple, a great way to make it more unique than the basic zodiac symbol is to tie it to the water moving overtly. Here, the design takes the Aquarius symbol's base structure and turns it into waves, connecting it to the theme of water.
Pisces Symbol
A simple way to dress up a basic Pisces symbol tattoo is to add dots. This design features three dots on both the top and bottom of the symbol, giving it a sense of balance but still dressing up an otherwise basic astrology tattoo.
Pisces Fish And Symbol
Pisces is represented by a pair of fish, as well as its basic symbol. Both are pictured in this tattoo, though the fish are the main focus of the design. While the artist sticks with black ink for the whole image, the intense shading, dot additions, and small details make the design feel unique and like a labor of love.
Pisces Fish
There are no real rules for how the Pisces fish have to be laid out, and this astrology tattoo shows off Pisces pride in a minimal, whimsical way.