14 Behind the Ear Tattoo Ideas That Are Creative and Cool

behind the ear moon tattoo — @little.tattoos / instagram

A behind-the-ear tattoo is an increasingly popular placement for ink. Why is that? Well, for starters, it's such an unexpected and cool spot. Your tattoo can easily be hidden when your hair is down, but if you have short hair or constantly wear updos, a tattoo behind the ear instantly becomes the star of the show. If you're thinking about getting one but aren't sure what to get, you're in luck. Ahead, we've rounded up 14 behind-the-ear tattoos worthy of recreating.

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Rose

Roses are known to symbolize love, and whether you have a zest for life or want it to represent someone you care about, you can't go wrong with a beautiful rose like this. With small lines and detailed petals, this would look stunning behind anyone's ear.

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Scorpion

A scorpion might not be the first arachnid you'd think to tattoo on your body, but hear us out. They symbolize the seasonal nature of life, and if that sounds like something you'd like to show off to the world, we can't suggest it enough. We especially love how the tail wraps around the curve of the ear.

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Moon

If you want to embody a moon, look at this stunner of an ear tat. Moon tattoos are all about feminine energy, cyclical change, and mystery; we can't think of a reason not to get one. This tattoo is dainty and small and would work perfectly in the area behind the ear.

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Red Rink

zoomed-in photo of person with red ink broken heart tattoo behind the ear — @itsonlytori

Black is the most popular ink choice for tattoos, but have you ever considered getting a colored tattoo? If you're unsure where to start, we suggest looking into red ink. It's pretty and looks great on just about anyone. We adore how this red heart and initial look behind the ear. Just be aware that red ink tattoos can be prone to itchiness.

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Butterfly

zoomed-in photo of person with two butterflies tattoo behind the ear — @little.tattoos

Are you going through a season of change? Then, you should definitely think about getting a butterfly tattooed on your body. They're known for symbolizing transformation and change. The placement behind the ear of two small butterflies in flight is perfect.

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Blue Butterflies

Queen Latifah's butterfly ear tattoos — Getty Images

Queen Latifah's ink showcases a more elaborate take on butterfly body art. Her behind-the-ear tattoo features two blue butterflies outlined in thick black lining. It's truly an eye-catching work of art.

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Astrological Sign

For those who are majorly into astrology and the zodiac, we're sure you've already considered getting your sign tattooed. Just take a look at Rihanna's behind-the-ear Pisces ink. It's perfectly designed to follow the curve of her ear, and we think it looks powerful yet feminine all at once.

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Snake

If you find yourself enchanted by snakes, consider getting an image of the slithering creature behind your ear. They're typically known to symbolize fertility or transformation, making them a powerful body art choice. We particularly love this example because the ombrè snake looks ultra-cool. It's almost like the snake is whispering into the ear.

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Initial

Rita Ora has a single cursive initial tattoo behind her ear, and it's such a simple yet elegant example of a behind-the-ear tattoo. Whether you go for your initial or opt for a loved one's, you truly can't go wrong with this style of ink.

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Airplane

If you want to show off your love for adventure, nothing captures that more than an airplane. This specific tattoo is super dainty and made with fine-line detailing. When placed behind the ear, it looks perfect.

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Star

Stars symbolize direction and protection, but on an aesthetic level, they also look incredibly cool. Behind the ear, this simple outline of a star is chic and oh-so-dainty.

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Script

Zoe Kravitz has a couple of tattoos behind her ear, but we especially love her "baby" tattoo. Whether you want to copy her directly or just take inspiration from the star, any word written in script font looks beautiful behind the ear. Just make sure to choose a word that's not too long.

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Flower

Flowers always make for stunning tattoos, especially when placed behind the ear. The best part? You can completely customize your tattooed floral arrangement with your favorite flowers.

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Musical Heart

Jessie J music note behind the ear tattoo — Getty Images

Jessie J is a powerhouse singer, so it's no surprise her behind-the-ear ink draws inspiration from music. She used music notes to create a unique heart design at the base of her ear.

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