Sternum a.k.a. Underboob tattoos or under breast tattoos are becoming incredibly popular with women these days. From a tiny love heart to an incredibly detailed mandala, getting a tattoo under breasts has become one of the trendy placements.
If you are thinking about getting an underboob tattoo or looking for some inspiration, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will talk all about underboob tattoos, including underboob tattoo pain, cost, designs, aftercare, and more. We have also put together a collection of 125 trendy underboob tattoo designs to inspire you for your next tattoo.
Contents
- 1 What is an underboob tattoo?
- 2 Things to consider
- 3 FAQs
- 3.1 Do Underboob Tattoos Hurt?
- 3.2 Can I Wear a Bra Over My New Underboob Tattoo?
- 3.3 What Should I Wear When Getting an Underboob Tattoo?
- 3.4 Can I Lay on my Underboob Tattoo?
- 3.5 How Long Does an Underboob Tattoo Take to Heal?
- 3.6 How Should I Prepare myself for a Underboob Tattoo?
- 3.7 Why Underboob Tattoos Cost More?
- 4 Designing an Underboob Tattoo
- 5 Underboob Tattoo Ideas
- 5.1 Underboob Tattoos – Floral Designs
- 5.2 Underboob Tattoos Geometric
- 5.3 Underboob Mandala Tattoos
- 5.4 Underboob Tattoos – Insects & Animals
- 5.5 Decorative Sternum Tattoos
- 5.6 Underboob Skull Tattoos
- 5.7 Traditional Underboob Sternum Tattoo
- 5.8 Underboob Tattoos on Rib
- 5.9 Various Underboob/Sternum Tattoo Designs
What is an underboob tattoo?
The underboob refers to the parts of breasts below the nipple. So, basically, Underboob tattoos are any tattoos that you get around that area below the bra. Some underboob tattoos cover the sternum between your breasts. Others extend to a side boob tattoo design that covers the ribs area. Scripts and floral tattoos around the side boob or the ribs are prevalent, but the tattoos on the sternums are growing in popularity, whether it is a bigger piece that stretches out underneath, or more discreet, simpler designs in between the cleavage.
Things to consider
It’s a very private area for many women, so make sure you are comfortable with the tattoo artist. If the idea of potentially baring your breasts to a stranger isn’t ideal for you, then maybe go with a female tattoo artist. If you are also uncomfortable sitting with your tops down for several hours in front of the other customers or shop staff, then ask for a private room if possible. Most tattoo shops use dividers and partitions for privacy.
If you want to get a proper underboob tattoo, then, unfortunately, you cannot do it while you are wearing a bra. To get a natural-looking tattoo in that spot, the tattoo artists need to see the whole canvas so the design can flow well on your body.
Make sure you’ve done your research before getting an underboob tattoo and go to someone reputable and comfortable tattooing in this area. The skin in the sternum area is very thin. So, it is really easy for an inexperienced tattoo artist to go too deep, and that’s when you see a blowout. It kind of looks like the ink spilled underneath the skin.
FAQs
Do Underboob Tattoos Hurt?
The sternum and rib areas are susceptible spots. They have been known to be more painful areas for tattooing. The closer the skin is to bones, the more painful it is to get tattooed in that area. The skin on the sternum and ribs is very thin. So, you can expect some pain there. How much pain you will feel also depends on the tattoo artist. If they are heavy-handed, you’ll feel more pain. While if they are light and gentle, the pain will be less. So, pick your tattoo artist carefully. It also comes down to your pain threshold. Everyone handles pain differently and has a different pain threshold. Thus, the amount of pain felt when getting a tattoo will vary from person to person.
Can I Wear a Bra Over My New Underboob Tattoo?
If your tattoo is still fresh, then you should not wear a bra because it will rub the area or create friction. That could cause the scabs or any flakiness to rub off before the right time and fade the tattoo.
What Should I Wear When Getting an Underboob Tattoo?
You will need to think about before your tattoo appointment is what to wear during the session. The best is to wear a zip-up jacket so you can zip open the middle but still have your body covered. It will give your tattoo artist full access to your sternum.
Can I Lay on my Underboob Tattoo?
If you have a fresh tattoo, then don’t sleep directly on the tattoo or have it sitting on the sheets because it can secrete a little bit. If you are a stomach or side sleeper, then try to sleep on your back, at least for a few days, so the new tattoo doesn’t rub off on the sheets
How Long Does an Underboob Tattoo Take to Heal?
Smaller tattoos heal faster than the bigger ones. Just like any other tattoos, if you follow the below aftercare, then your underboob tattoo will heal a lot quicker.
Make sure that you keep the tattoo clean from the dirt and grime. Rinse it down in a nice warm shower with regular soap. Moisturize the tattoo daily, but don’t over-moisturize. Allow your tattoo to breathe. If you are wrapping it during the day to protect it from the dirt, then make sure to take it off at night time.
Do not expose it to the sun. If you are at the beach or out in the sun, then make sure to cover the tattoo. Also, make sure that you don’t scratch it when it’s scabbing.
Depending on the design and the size, underboob tattoos can take up to two to three weeks to fully heal.
How Should I Prepare myself for a Underboob Tattoo?
The night before getting your tattoo, try to get a good night’s sleep. Before the appointment, eat a full meal to make sure that your blood sugar level is up since you know it’s going to be painful. Also, bring some music with you to keep yourself distracted during the tattoo session.
Why Underboob Tattoos Cost More?
The cost of tattoos depends on many different factors, such as the size and design of tattoos. But if you’re looking to get an underboob tattoo in the sternum area, then you can expect to pay up. It’s a problematic area for tattoo artists to tattoo. Because of the thin skin and uneven surface area, it is tough to do a detailed tattoo there. So those reasons underboob tattoos can cost more and require more sessions.
Designing an Underboob Tattoo
You can choose whatever tattoo design you want. But for the sternum area, choose a balanced design. The design doesn’t have to be perfectly symmetrical but at least balanced. So that it doesn’t look like one side is heavier than the other. When it comes to the side boob area or the ribs, you have more freedom to do whatever design you want. The tattoo looks beautiful when your design complements the angles and the curves of your body. People want to get super detail tattoos on the ribs. But every persons’ skin is different. If a tattoo looks so clean with thin lines on somebody, that doesn’t mean that it will look the same on your skin. So you need to consider the shape of your body and skin when you are designing your underboob tattoo. You should always consult with your tattoo artist for their opinions.
Underboob Tattoo Ideas
The most common underboob tattoos for women are mandala, geometric, skulls, butterfly, moth, scarab, floral, lettering, and traditional style.
Underboob Tattoos – Floral Designs
Among the floral designs, the lotus and the rose are probably the most popular. The lotus tattoos are often beautifully incorporated with mandala on the sternum. A single rose tattoo is also trendy between the cleavage.
Underboob Tattoos Geometric
Underboob Mandala Tattoos
Besides the floral designs, mandala is very popular for underboob tattoos. Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe.
Underboob Tattoos – Insects & Animals
The snake, owl, scarab and butterfly tattoos are most common on the sternum. People often combine them with flowers, mandala and other meaningful objects.
Decorative Sternum Tattoos
Underboob Skull Tattoos
Traditional Underboob Sternum Tattoo
Underboob Tattoos on Rib
Scripts and quote tattoos look pretty good on the side. But floral and mandala designs also look pretty rad on the rib under the breast.
Thanks for the tip about using a zip-up jacket so that I can still adequately cover up my body while getting an underboob tattoo. I have recently recovered from severe tuberculosis that might have been lethal if it wasn’t treated earlier. As a commemoration of my survival, I think a tattoo would be a lasting symbol that I can always look back to in the mirror.