Teardrop tattoos are a popular choice among many. Not only do they symbolize sadness, but they can also signify other things. No matter your design choice, a teardrop tattoo has a significant meaning that should be noticed. Before getting one, research the significance behind this famous symbol and learn as much as possible about its history.
Meaning
This tiny artwork can symbolize many things – from violence to grief to friendship – depending on who you ask and geography and personal experience.
Teardrop tattoos usually feature blue or green ink, representing the actual tear. This color symbolizes strength and courage, indicating that someone can persevere through hardships to reach their objectives.
The design of a teardrop tattoo can have significant symbolic meaning. Outlines of the teardrop may symbolize a murder attempt, while filled-in shapes or solid ink indicate that someone has completed their act of violence.
Another factor influencing the interpretation of a teardrop tattoo is its location on the face. Teardrops placed to one side tend to be linked with murders, while those on the right often signify someone’s loss of a loved one.
In some instances, teardrop tattoos can be inked to show support for a loved one serving time in prison. Rapper Lil Wayne has a teardrop tattoo on his right side which he has said symbolizes the loss of a friend.
Teardrop tattoos are an effective way for someone to show their friends and family that they are facing tragedy or a pressing issue.
Origins
The exact origins of the teardrop tattoo remain a mystery. However, there have been some historical mentions in magazines like The New Yorker in 1970, which featured a Mexican gang member wearing one.
Teardrop tattoos are often indicative of grief or mourning. They may also signify a head wound, such as a gunshot or combat injury.
Though these are some of the most commonly understood meanings associated with a teardrop tattoo, there is much more potential. For some individuals, it may even symbolize regret or remorse – depending on who gets it inked.
A teardrop can symbolize memory and mourning for a beloved who has passed away or been murdered and signifying one has served time in prison. It could also represent vengeance against someone who has hurt them.
In prisons, it symbolized that someone else’s sexual slave had been employed on them. Furthermore, concealing such tattoos in an open prison cell with everyone knowing about them proved difficult due to its symbolic meaning.
In Australia, detainees imprisoned on sexual crimes or kidnapping charges were punished with tear tattoos. This meant they had broken the law and could not leave prison without facing the consequences.
Tattoo Styles
Teardrop tattoos have many meanings, they are typically used to honor someone close to us in our memories.
Tattoos often resemble tears and can be placed under the eye or cheekbone. They’re easy to do and come in a range of different designs.
Some people get them as a symbol of honoring someone special who passed away while in prison or to show their affection and remember them.
Other times, they can be made out of red. This color represents life and looks stunning when inked on.
Another motivation for getting a teardrop tattoo is to express solidarity with those who have served time in prison or had difficulty with drugs and gang affiliations. For many people, this symbolism can be an uplifting and robust experience.
A tear can also symbolize someone’s struggle and desire for healing. It communicates that they are working hard on themselves to make things better for themselves. It serves as a reminder that they may have experienced significant loss yet remain determined to move forward and find happiness again.
Variations
A teardrop tattoo can signify many things to different people, depending on who wears it. It could symbolize violence against women or gang members commemorating someone close to them in death. Women also often opt for this design when confronting their inner demons.
A teardrop tattoo can be filled in with a solid color or left empty to signify that the crime was only attempted.
In gang culture, a teardrop tattoo may signify someone killed someone or served prison time. It could also symbolize retribution for an act of violence.
Some people choose to get a teardrop tattoo to distinguish themselves from gang affiliations or drug addictions. This is especially true for women, as gangs often attempt to target those with similar histories or who are incarcerated in their community.
In prison, people sometimes get teardrop tattoos to express sympathy for a loved one. Singer Amy Winehouse is one example; she called this design to honor her then-incarcerated boyfriend.
Another popular design is a multi-tear drop tattoo. These designs focus on the area surrounding one eye and feature many individual teardrops in light blue or pink colors with white highlighting for added visual impact.
Tattoos of this type are more prevalent among women and can be an expressive way to show your emotions. Some designs even incorporate patterns or favorite colors for an added personal touch.
Some tattoos can be filled with liquid or blood, signifying grief for a lost loved one. Other variations may feature a watch with no hands or an hourglass as a reminder of time’s passage.
