Keep scrolling for 55 stunning crescent moon tattoos that will inspire your new ink.
@tattoovasquez / Instagram
“Most of mine/our clients love delicate and small tattoos; my job is to make them look aesthetically aligned with the body,” explains Vasquez. “The outcome being dainty and beautiful, plus it being a mystical, magical, and enchanting symbol that represents so much, makes it a very appealing tattoo for all.”
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@aeri_tattoo / Instagram
This artist filled in the ends of the slender crescent moon, fading out the black with light dots towards the middle. The precise line work carries in the saffron illustration and constellation laying atop the moon.
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@chelpurin / Instagram
By adding a small hand holding the crescent moon, this tattoo puts extra emphasis on the delicate feel of the symbol. The filled-in moon adds some black art contrast to the line-art hand.
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@vane.tattoo_ / Instagram
The artist uses a watercolor-esque style on this crescent moon tattoo, comprising roses and colorful botanicals. While the symbols invoke a connection to spirituality and nature, the use of color allows the tattoo to be more aesthetically customized.
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@loko_lines / Instagram
“There is a huge subculture of people who love—or at least have an interest in—things like witches, moon phases, the occult, and other alternative styles who also find tattoos to be the perfect way to express their aesthetic and interests,” says Kim.
This crescent moon tattoo features the colors of a sunset, with a black cat sitting on its bottom tip. Adding a cat increases the symbolism, as they tend to be associated with witchcraft or goddesses.
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@ink.dust / Instagram
This mid-size ankle crescent moon has a face, adding a bit of whimsy to the design. The artist also used some dots near the tips of the moon to act as shading, and around the outside to act as stars.
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@tattooist_danha / Instagram
In this moon and flower tattoo, the crescent features thin line art with dots on either tip for shading. The lilies at the bottom emphasize the beauty and divinity of the moon.
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@vane.tattoo_ / Instagram
The beauty is in the simplicity with a simple message after this floral designed crescent moon. Faded shading and crisp lines give this tattoo an inky, illustrated style.
Vasquez says that crescent moons are one of the hardest tattoos to accomplish. “Circles, straight lines, and anything that has to do with perfect geometry is always a challenge and could go easily wrong when not done with proper techniques and experience,” he explains. “I’ve seen many banana-shaped moons, inconsistent lines, and wrongly placed crescent moon tattoos.”
Byrdie Tip
Vasquez recommends doing the research and finding someone who specializes in what you want and can interpret your ideas.
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@hayley.tattoo.art / Instagram
This floral crescent moon is a great way of showing how customizable tattoos like this can be. By adding a unique mix of embellishments like mandala lace or lotus flowers, a tattoo becomes a personalized piece of art.
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@dan_tattooer / Instagram
This crescent moon tattoo looks like what you might see in the night sky. Rather than a hard outline surrounding the entire crescent shape, we see a defined outer edge and a more realistic-looking fade of textured black, white, and gray. The rose stands out with its crisp outlines.
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@tattoo_grain / Instagram
This black moon tattoo takes on a dark and mystical approach. The mermaid completes the ink with an element of fantasy.
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@hayley.tattoo.art / Instagram
The artist used precise dot work to shape the crescent in this tattoo. This moon is particularly unique, as it’s flipped on a side we don’t normally see with crescent moon tattoos.
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@hushclubstudio / Instagram
The size and simple nature of a crescent moon make it ideal for placing in a small, hidden place. “I love doing them behind the ears, ankles, the wrist, and pretty much everywhere,” Vasquez says. “I love adding geometry or sometimes charms and beads to them. Incorporating designs opens a range of ideas and ways to make them flow with the shape of the body.”
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@tattoo_grain / Instagram
Birth flowers are another unique way to personalize your ink. The mix of delicate black ink larkspur with a thin, saturated purple and blue moon has a gorgeous effect. Because the zodiac sign Cancer is ruled by the moon and July’s birth flower is larkspur, we love this idea for Cancers born in July.
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@tattoobychang / Instagram
This tiny piece uses only a few strokes and makes the perfect minimal wrist tattoo. Note the way the artist doubled the moon’s outline as the flower stem.
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@west4tattoo / Instagram
A simple, thin-lined crescent moon tattoo is a great way to experiment with color if you’re afraid of going overboard. The red-ink crescent here is complete with a face on the moon.
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@dan_tattooer / Instagram
A tiny whale tied to an even tinier moon feels like something out of a dream. Careful black and gray shading creates a whimsical but realistic tattoo.
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@nessaaa_ / Instagram
A crescent made entirely of flowers ties in the feminine aspect of the moon while remaining slightly more ambiguous.
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@aeri_tattoo / Instagram
This thigh piece proves there are countless ways to do a flower and crescent moon tattoo. Delicate line shading makes the cherry blossom petals gracefully pop against the crescent.
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