Our favourite small tattoos to inspire your next session

Tattoos are personal. That's not to say that every bit of ink must be weighed down with symbolism. Sometimes we pick things because we simply like how they look. Sometimes we commit to a tattoo because we're bored. That's certainly true for my first time: a hazy, crude little sun I stick-and-poked onto my middle finger when I was 15 years old. The tattoo itself is inane, a bit cringe, but I like it because it's a reminder of how good it feels to trust my instincts and make a mark. Sometimes that's all it takes.

So why do you get tattoos? And when down to the wire, what do you pick? Tattoo trends are sort of hard to avoid. But chances are, if you're getting one you've made peace with the fact that each piece will inevitably be of its time. And if not, there's always laser removal.

In the last decade or so, there's been an uptick in small tattoos, particularly for women. We've realised not every session has to be devoted to a chest piece or sleeve. We can build our collection, inch by inch. Tastes have varied during this period. We've gone from infinity ouroboros to spiderwebs to wave outlines to native flowers to "angel energy" to fine feminine bows. And our preferred placements have shifted too. Where maybe prime real estate was the ear or decolletage, it's since moved to the neck, wrists, spine and forearms.

RUSSH Beauty Annual cover star Jill Kortleve comes to mind. Her biceps are spangled with small-scale tattoos, each as unique as the next. While other It Girls like Gabbriette and Hailey Bieber have a budding archive on their body. Elsewhere, Bella Hadid proudly wears Arabic script on her shoulder. While sister Gigi has her daughter Khai's name inscribed on her arm – the rare case where getting a name tattooed is a good idea (wino forever).

Loving small tattoos? Below, we've included a trove of inspiration for you to consider ahead of your next appointment. See our favourite small tattoos from models, actors, musicians and more.

Small tattoo inspiration

Jill Kortleve

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Adut Akech

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Myha'la Herrold

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Barbie Ferreira

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Willow Smith

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Rosalía

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Gigi Hadid

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Zoë Kravitz

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Mona Tougaard

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Bella Hadid

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Gabbriette

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Emma Corrin

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Vittoria Ceretti

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Julia Fox

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Kaia Gerber

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Adwoa Aboah

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Hailey Bieber

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Jemima Kirke

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Dua Lipa

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Miley Cyrus

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Devon Lee Carlson

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Jordan Daniels

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Emma Chamberlain

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Reese Blutstein

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Courtney Trop

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Deba Hekmat

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Caroline Iaffaldano

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Tiama Tilbee

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Mimi Elashiry

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And some more...

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Feature image: @emmachamberlain @vittoria & Pinterest