Glyph is a word that comes from the Greek language. It refers to graphic symbols that don’t look like letters, but more like characters. Numeric, alphabetic, symbols within a character, glyph come in various shapes and sizes. A simple-looking, clean and seemingly basic glyph can hold a great meaning. This is a great advantage when it comes to tattoos. This means that a glyph tattoo can be as personal and as cryptic as you want it to be.
A glyph tattoo isn’t self-explanatory and it isn’t rudimentary either. Usually not very large, they may look mysterious in black and white or fascinating in color. Thanks to their general geometric shape, they can be combined with elements such as flowers or landscapes. The combinations are virtually infinite.
More modern than geometric tattoos, glyph tattoos are inked in various techniques, ranging from watercolor to dotwork. They have the power to catch the eye and also leave a sense of wonder to the person who sees it. In addition, they serve as reminders, motivational symbols and much more, depending on who wears them.
Types of Glyph Tattoo Designs
There are multiple types of designs when it comes to glyph tattoos. The most popular ones are those comprising triangles. Depending on the arrangement of the lines within the triangle, the meaning changes. If the triangle is empty, you can use the space to fill with flowers or other elements that you like. Moreover, there are glyph used for zodiac signs, shaped like arrows and those that look like roman numbers. You can look at the pictures below to identify some of them and many steal some ideas as well!
Pain Expectancy vs. Your Personal Tolerance
A glyph tattoo can be placed anywhere on your body. So, when it comes to pain levels, they will differ according to the body part that you choose to ink. If your design is small, then you don’t have to worry about pain because the tattoo artist will be ready in no time! One popular location for such tattoo are the fingers. Just as a word of advice, finger tattoos don’t last very long so you might want to avoid that area if you don’t want to get them redone in a few years. Mostly simple, these tattoos shouldn’t cause you too much pain.
Take the Aftercare Stage Seriously
Since a perfectly straight line wouldn’t look too good if it wasn’t healed evenly, you must take the aftercare stage seriously. Keeping your tattoo moist with special tattoo healing creams and washing it at least twice a day for a few days are mandatory steps that you must take. Try to stay out of the sun, dusty places, public pools and so on. A properly cared for tattoo will heal in one week and you’ll enjoy it for the rest of your life.
Break Your Piggy Bank for a Tattoo
What you need for a glyph tattoo is a tattoo artist with a steady hand. You’ll want those lines straight and neat, so you’ll want to pay the right price for it. A small tattoo shouldn’t cost you more than $100. Prices differ according to location, popularity, artist, whether or not your tattoo contains color and how long it takes to be done. Do your research and save money if you want a truly qualitative tattoo that you’ll love for the rest of your life!
1. A Celtic symbol in watercolor
When opting for a watercolor tattoo, it’s great to add black outlines to keep the ink in place.
2. Multicolored triangles on forearm
Made of a multitude of triangles, this glyph tattoo is multicolored and confers a striking visual effect to the wearer.
3. Inverted triangle with roses inside
The inverted triangle is a symbol for Female, Lunar, Yoni, Shakti, Passive, Cave, Down, and Mother. In addition, it becomes extra feminine with a colored and black and white roses inside.
4. Triangular rose and a trace of black ink
Featuring a very modern tattooing style, this design was successfully personalized.
5. Large triangle on the wrist
This triangle type means “create”. It fits nicely on a guy’s wrist due to its larger size and thicker lines.
6. Waves bursting out of a triangle
A glyph tattoo suited for surfers or sea lovers, this one is situated on a girl’s thigh and features only black and white shades.
7. Challenge, transcendence and creation
These two minimalist arrow are decorated with triangular glyph. They mean challenge, transcendence and creation.
8. Create, explore and express
Starting from her hand, towards her forearm, the triangles mean create, explore and express. She seems happy about getting them! I would be too considering how good they look!
9. God is greater than the highs and lows tattoo
More or less a religious tattoo, this one is so encrypted that few people will know what it means unless you tell them.
10. A glyph for Libra
This is a glyph tattoo that depicts the zodiac sign for Libra. Not so coded as others, it is still fun to have.
11. Explore, understand and transcend
Starting from the wrist towards the forearm, the triangles mean explore, understand and transcend.
12. Two erect triangles
An erect triangle symbolizes Male, Solar, Lingam, Shakta, Assertive, Mountain, Up, Father. Therefore, it only makes sense that the landscape contains mountains, the sun and other similar elements.
13. A triangle within a triangle
According to research, this is an old Ku Klux Klan symbol that has been resurrected by modern-day Ku Klux Klan groups. However, it looks to colorful and nice to mean that.
14. A Dr. Woo tattoo on forearm
Dr. Woo is a renowned tattoo artist who inks elegant geometrical tattoos on people with excellent results.
15. Create, connect, express
Starting from her finger to her wrist, the triangles mean create, connect, and express.
16. Explore, connect, challenge and learn
Starting from left to right, this glyph tattoo contains four symbols that mean explore, connect, challenge and learn.
17. The contrast between sketchy and realistic
Striking to look at, this tattoo comprises two roses inked in two different styles, namely sketchy and realistic. The sketch comes in black and white, while the realistic one comes in baby blue.
18. Glyph for the Scorpio zodiac sign
A really cute and small tattoo, this one depicts the zodiac symbol for Scorpio.
19. Geometry in nature
Geometry is found everywhere in nature. The idea of this tattoo is that they merge and their depiction looks amazing!
20. Blue and purple flower in a triangle
Like a little corner of nature on foot, this glyph tattoo is tasteful, colorful and meaningful as well.
21. Aliens abducting a human
A sort of science fiction tattoo, this one impresses thanks to its style and fun idea.
22. Overlay effect of two triangles
One of the triangles is contoured precisely, while the other one is filled with black and gray dots.
23. Triangle tattoo on a woman’s ribs
Feminine when it comes to design and location, this tattoo is inked in simple black and white shades.
24. Letters and lines
A minimalist tattoo, this one is made of four letters and two lines. It is placed on a guy’s forearm and has a nice visual impact as well.
25. Realistic wild flower in a triangle
This tattoo looks like a painting. The colors are dazzling and the design itself is quite unique.
26. A Sci-Fi themed tattoo
The theme of human abduction by alien is quite popular among the glyph tattoos. There must be something that connects them.
27. Male dominance in dotwork and linework
A nice combination of erect triangles, these represent masculinity and they feature multiple tattooing techniques.
28. A triangle with a rainbow side
Gay pride or not, this triangle looks fun and daring. It features a side colored like a rainbow and two that are black.
29. Strategy, prosperity and longevity
A glyph tattoo that contains less popular symbols, this one refers to strategy, prosperity and longevity.
30. A filter of color
If you look at this design for a while, that triangle looks like a filter that shows the flower as it is in nature, all colored and bright.
31. Two arrows and a flower
In the Native American culture, two crossed arrows mean friendship. So, this tattoo could be about the friendship between two girls or the friendship that flourishes.
32. Three peonies and a triangle
The peony is the flower of riches and honor. It embodies romance and prosperity and people consider it brings good fortune and a happy marriage.
33. Explore, express and create on an arrow
A tool for sustaining life, the arrowhead is made of three triangles that mean explore, express and create.
34. A Moon Glyph Tattoo
This girl has chosen a moon glyph tattoo for her nape of the neck.
35. A fierce combo of skull and triangle
36. Overlaying colors and triangles
37. A semicolon on finger
38. Arrowheads pointing down
39. A simplified solar system
40. A minimalist Earth tattoo
41. An Aquarius tattoo on belly
42. Mighty arrow and trajectories
43. An arrow with colored feathers
44. Triangle with Calla flowers
45. Explore, challenge and transcend
46. Transcend glyph on wrist
47. Friendship symbol with arrows
The two crossed arrows are listed as a symbol of friendship.
48. Explore, challenge and learn on an arrow
49. Duality with multiple triangles
50. Transcend, protect and explore
51. Psychedelic cactus in a rhombus
52. An airplane trapped in a circle
53. Transcend, express and create on an arrowhead
54. A simple design with complicated meaning
55. Another type of meaningful arrow
56. An unfamiliar scribble
57. Feminine and masculine transcending
58. Colored and beautiful scenery
59. Learn, create and protect
60. Connect, protect and team on three people
61. Black and white rose tattoo
62. A representation of the Fibonacci number
The Fibonacci number can be represented in numerous ways. In fact, it is found in nature in the most unexpected places like the shell of a snail.
63. Mandala and a compass in one
64. Feminine in a masculine triangle
65. Explore times two
Exploring the world together with your best friend or significant other is a truly inspiring idea!
66. Lighthouse, sea and stars
67. Stargate – Earth’s “point of origin” symbol
68. Sisters with a great idea
First born, second born and third born in a series of triangle tattoos and quite an inspired idea!
69. From the depths of meaningful
70. An inspired arm embellishment
71. Fake triangle tattoos
If you are not convinced that you want a tattoo, you can try some fake ones. The glow around the lines is an indicator that this tattoo is fake.
72. One of Jared Leto’s tattoos
This glyph tattoo belongs to Jared Leto and it is dedicated to his band.
73. The empire of cats
74. Learn and understand
Situated on a girl’s shoulder blades, these symbols refer to learning and understanding.
75. Express, explore and transcend
As you’ve probably noticed by now, this type of glyph tattoo is the most popular one: three triangles in a row.
76. Explore as a triangular symbol
Not part of any glyph series, this tattoo lays evenhandedly on a person’s wrist.
77. Tiny triangle glyph on wrist
78. A multitude of symbols in an arrow
Not the most professional tattoo out there, this one comprises a series of symbols.
79. An universe on its own
80. Tiny triangle glyph inked
Explore, learn and create, hopefully for a better tattooing technique than this one!
81. Deer, wings and arrows
82. A sequence of symbols
83. Triangle glyph on a woman’s thigh
Learn, connect, create and understand, from left to right, are the meanings of the triangle glyph.
84. Twin tattoos on wrists
Explore and transcend are the meaning of the two triangles from this twin tattoo.
85. The sun, the clouds and the water
When three powerful energies come together, it’s simple to make a square float. At least this is what this tattoo depicts.
86. The goat and the dolphins
87. Connection is truly important
A true and sincere connection is hard to obtain these days, especially between two people.
88. A half moon and a mysterious symbol
89. Greek statue with a wing
90. A sign for Virgo and a colored flower
The zodiac sign is really important for some people, so they usually decide to find a symbol for it and get it inked. I like this happy idea!
