Aries in tattooing: what each symbol means

The most common motif is the ram's horns – shorthand for strength and for going after what you want. They work at any size, from a thin line to a heavily shaded realistic piece. Second comes fire, the element of the sign: a flame, sparks, smoke, anything that keeps moving.

The ruling planet of Aries is Mars, and its glyph – a circle with an arrow – doubles as the symbol of the sign. It is small, legible and holds up at just a couple of centimetres. If you want something quieter, there is the constellation: four stars joined by a line, no further explanation needed.

Styles that suit Aries

Realism works for a ram's head or a close study of the horns – but it needs room, and under ten centimetres the detail disappears. Geometry goes the other way: the horns broken down into shapes and lines, clean and current.

Fine line is usually the choice for a first tattoo – the Mars glyph or the outline of the horns in a few strokes. Watercolour makes most sense on flames, where the bleeding edges do exactly what fire should do. Just count on colour gradients fading faster than black.

Where to place it

Small symbols – Mars, the constellation, an outline of the horns – sit well on the wrist, ankle, behind the ear or on the collarbone. Larger pieces with a ram's head want a surface: shoulder, shoulder blade, chest or thigh. The forearm is the compromise that works for both, and it is the most visible.

The gallery below is actual work from our studio – pick a direction and we will sort out the rest at the consultation.

Zodiac signs