The heart has been thought to be the symbol of love and commitment for thousands ofyears.  The original reason for the wedding ring being put on the forth finger of the left hand as it was believed there was a vein running from it right to the heart.

The heart tattoo is one of the most popular traditional tattoos for men as well as women.  The heart with script around depicting ‘Mother’ or ‘My gorgeous wife Jessica’ is one of those navy tattoos that can be traced back for hundreds of years.  Traditional tattoos have become a lot more popular in the last few years, with artists adding a bit of a twist in either script or style.   

What can also look quite affective is the heart incorporated in another tattoo.  Some people like to have a larger design signifying an important event such as a marriage and then add a heart for every child that is born. 

Hearts with wings and also with angels can make beautiful tattoos that women especially choose.  On the flip side to make a more dramatic tattoo the use of the atomically correct heart can make a real statement. 

The use of the heart symbol to make a love memorial tattoo can make a very effective tattoo.  Not necessarily just a heart with wings or on its own, but for example being held by an angel or as part of a portrait of the one you love. 

The sacred heart is an old Irish tattoo, where a heart is held by two hands.  It is a power symbol of friendship and an eternal bond between two people.  These are also the traditional engagement rings for young couples about to get married. 

The heart is a favorite for women who only want a very small tattoo, as it can be positioned subtly on places like the wrist, hip and ankle.  Small heart can be beautifully extended if the person want sot with wings, swirl patterns and leaves. 

Another traditional heart tattoo is the ‘Trust love’ tattoo, where a dagger pierces the heart.  It represents a strong relationship, where your partner has taken hold of your heart.  Often the ‘True Love’ tattoo will have names on the bottom of the banner so that the name of your beloved is permanently etched on your skin.  The dagger through the heart can also mean a betrayal.  Some like to have the daggered heart to remember that heart ache and know never to repeat the same mistakes again. 

Other similar designs are the broken heart that can be used as a therapeutic tattoo to get over your broken relationship.  It can also be used in a more positive way in a memorial tattoo for someone you lost: mother, brother, son or grandparent you were close to. 

Tribal hearts are another way to depict a heart.  It is made up of different lines in a swirling pattern to make up the outline of a heart.  They are usually are done in black and grey; however, bold colors such as red and dark blue can be added to make it more dramatic.