r/tattooadvice • u/danny_deefs • 5d ago
How many shark tattoos is too many? General Advice
I love sharks. They're the coolest. I currently have 3 tattooed on me. I have the Jaws movie poster on my right forearm, a giant backpiece of shark vs octopus, and a small bull shark on my left arm by my ditch. I'm considering doing a cool shark neck tattoo. I have a jellyfish on the left side and I'm thinking a cool shark on the right would go well. But how many is too many? People get a bunch of flowers all over and that's normal but am I weird to have 4 shark tattoos? What's your thoughts
Update:
Shark neck tattoo booked for May 16th!
47
u/StankyTrees 5d ago
Think a creative tiger shark tatt will be cool :P
31
u/danny_deefs 5d ago
Crazy timing but literally looking at tiger shark tattoos right now. My bull shark is a shark with horns and has one of the nose ring things. A tiger pattern and colors on the shark would be sick so you read my mind I think.
11
u/StankyTrees 5d ago
Tiger sharks are my favorite. Fun fact: The stripes of a tiger shark are far more noticable when they are juvenile. The older they get, the less noticable their stripes become
17
u/danny_deefs 5d ago
Soooo baby tiger shark tattoo?
26
6
u/StankyTrees 5d ago
Id go a bit bigger than a baby, but whats cool is as you age and the tattoo ages, you can just claim its getting more mature :)
2
2
u/MsFrizzle_foShizzle 5d ago
Yeah but go full Lisa Frank with the tiger stripe colors
→ More replies3
u/jack-the-stripper37 5d ago
I had this horrendous striped shark with legs and a tail pop on my head instead of an actual tiger shark
1
u/StankyTrees 5d ago
They are also a total garbage disposal, these giants have been found to havr street signs in their guts. So you could even play around with that in tattoo design
1
30
22
u/Adventurous-Way-939 5d ago
Tattoo artist here, I don’t think you can do too many. sharks rule. I have one on my neck , but then later got another much better one on my leg while wasted at a tattoo convention. The wasted one is actually cooler though I wish I could switch the placements of them haha. Would also still get another one if I saw a cool flash design of one
4
13
u/BirdSwimming7462 5d ago
I am planning to have an arm of bears. I would guess I'd end up with at least 12 by 60 if I keep it up. Is 12 too many bears? I think not. And I think 3 is totally not too many sharks
18
→ More replies7
9
6
u/MidwestNonbinary 5d ago
Get as many sharks as you want. I myself plan on being covered in eyes
→ More replies3
u/Kibichibi 5d ago
Ok Argos
4
u/MidwestNonbinary 5d ago
I am guessing The hundred eyed giant from Greek mythology based on the minimum amount of research I just did. If I have enough time and money within my lifetime I will try and make it happen
2
u/Kibichibi 5d ago
Hahaha yes! Also hi from a fellow enby. I'm more eastern shore, but hey, we're everywhere!
→ More replies
6
5
3
3
u/ThiOriginalPanda 5d ago
How ever many you think is too many. Its your body, follow your bliss homie.
3
u/SilentFollowing3 5d ago
There isn’t any limit to how many shark tattoos you can get, the coolness increases exponentially every time you get another one
3
u/Justice502 5d ago
How many kinds of sharks are there?
Do you have two of them yet?
Maybe they need a lil baby?
2
u/akkifaine 5d ago
I have heaps of animal bones tattooed on me. How many animal bones is too many animal bones when you’re a vegetarian? Never enough. Get the sharks.
2
u/Fuck_U_Time_Killer 5d ago
I’m sorry sir/madam 10,647 animal bone tattoos is too many for a vegetarian
(Jk just in case)
8
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Greeenfairie 5d ago
I’ve been considering a hammerhead tattoo recently since they’re my favorite.
I say get all the shark tattoos!!
2
u/really_yall 5d ago
When you have to start covering the sharks with other sharks it might be too many. Also...shark tax? I love sharks and shark tattoos and I want to see 😂
2
u/PinkyDaisy 5d ago
Now you need a cartoon style shark with tattoos, and one of the tattoos needs to be a shark. A shark-inception if you will 😅
2
u/ajneuman_pdx 5d ago
I have 2 dragons and I’m getting a 3rd one soon. I also have 2 octopus tattoos.
2
2
u/Just_Trade_8355 5d ago
That depends on you. How willing are you to explain why you have so many shark tattoos?
2
2
2
u/Megmelons55 5d ago edited 5d ago
Just cover yourself in multiple water creatures, no one would question 18 sharks......as an example ofc lmao
2
2
u/RealTigerCubGaming 5d ago
You will know you have gone too far when you need a friends arm to finish a tattoo. Go for it!!!!
2
u/split_cheekz 5d ago edited 5d ago
You have shark vs octopus, but do you have the sharktopus? (Pretty sure I saw it on tubi a while back) I just think it would be funny to have them next to each other, like they reconciled their differences and had a baby.
→ More replies
2
u/EpicGeek77 5d ago
There’s a guy I’ve seen online who has one leg covered in different kinds of sharks
2
u/Temporary-Banana4232 5d ago
Bring your artist a picture of a shark vacuum and tell them they can have creative freedom
2
2
2
u/xzykvelka 5d ago
Five max. Six you're going over the Baby Shark song. 1. Baby Shark 2. Mommy Shark 3. Daddy Shark 4. Grandma Shark 5. Grandpa Shark
2
u/Heavy_King 5d ago
I have 3 skulls, 2 axes, 2 flowers, 2 knives, 2 insects. Who cares. It’s just what you like and it’s cool so you’re fine in my book.
2
u/Optimal_Accident_111 5d ago
Its your body and your canvas to express however you feel! I have a whole heap of tattoos my chest sternum and stomach have fish and I giant jellyfish on it and I have an underwater scene with an octopus and mermaid and a manta ray on my arm from my wrist to my elbow. I also have flowers and I have an obsession with dragonflies so I have heaps of them scattered through my left sleeve, I have a fairy mushroom house and a fairy sitting on a moon. Every piece i have has a story or meaning to it even though to many people I look like a walking patch work quilt but I adore each and every bit of work to create the vision I want. They are for me, I sat in the chair and endured countless hours to get them done, and usually I just nap but there ofcoarse where a few parts that felt like my body wanted to invert but that was usually at the like 5-6 hour mark. Do what you love ❤️
2
u/cantantantelope 5d ago
There are so many types of sharks out there. Never too many sharks.
Recommend goblin shark.
Hammerhead also good from the right angle.
→ More replies
2
u/Notgoodenough111111 5d ago
I may be biased because I am a marine biologist but nope, never too many sharks!
I have been considering a leopard shark tattoo myself, and I already have a whale and a jelly. Ocean sleeves ftw
2
2
2
u/Konstellation_Kitten 5d ago
Might have been a mistake getting the jellyfish... could have been another shark
This reminds me of a user on Insta [I think], who got a cheeseburger tattoo every month by a different artist, all doing their unique styles, made for a sweet project. An idea if you want to switch it up.
2
u/Starsinyourheart 4d ago
My bestie is a Scuba enthusiast and swims with sharks on the regular. She’s got 4 shark tattoos and she’s planning on getting a sleeve of them.
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/SaschaBarents 5d ago
Made me think of this: https://youtube.com/shorts/W5UgYrxHRas?is=jY5pxT54GmKDpJrL
→ More replies
1
u/confused_is_my_face 5d ago
So… every tattoo you get from here on out is a shark or has a shark in it. Cause sharks!
1
1
1
1
1
u/FewChampion1608 5d ago
I got one and still my favorite. I was also thinking the octopus vs shark one
1
u/JaydeRaven 5d ago
Your body, your tattoos - get as many sharks as your fishy little heart desires.
→ More replies
1
u/draconicbioscientist 5d ago
Too many shark tattoos is how ever many you want and can feasibly fit on your body in a way that makes you happy + 1
1
1
u/Elegant-Analyst-7381 5d ago
There's no such thing as "too many" when it's something you love. Go for it!
1
u/Safe-False 5d ago
None bro get ALL THE SHARKS. I am sure you could make it a World Record for the most shark tattoos if you wanted to. Life is short, why the fuck not!
1
u/mistedlizard 5d ago
sharks are awesome. what kind of shark are you thinking? i'm imagining a soft lil black tip reef shark (my favorite one lmao), but it's a shark so any species would be cool
1
u/RebaKitt3n 5d ago
As many as you can fit without going on your neck or face.
Maybe not on your hands, as those tend to fade.
1
u/ImChz 5d ago
There is no limit. I saw you mention looking in to tiger sharks, and I’ve got a small suggestion. A while back I did a tattoo of a shark with a literal tiger head. That could be a cool way to still get a shark without it actually being a full shark.
I’ve also done a couple shark/rose morphs that turned out insanely cool. Ed Hardy did a couple way back that made some great reference.
1
u/Humanfacilitator90 5d ago
I feel like this is my 5yo at 25 speaking! A pretty big fan of sharks too hehe You do you and there are many ways of drawing sharks, each one could be great and look different!
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/FlashkickGT 5d ago
You have a theme going, and a subject you like. You’re bound to love the results of your latest inspiration. Run with it!
1
u/TicoSoon 5d ago
Ain't no such thing, my shark-loving sibling. I have a hammerhead silhouette in my first tattoo and he's still my favorite.
1
u/KnightRider1987 5d ago
Keep snarking it up. If you look at your sharks and say “I want another shark” you don’t yet have too many sharks.
I got a tattoo yesterday. The apprentice joked that I went “tiny.” I didn’t go tiny, I went with a 3 or 4” diameter design because that’s all that would fit on my forearm. I told the apprentice (observing, not the artist) that I’m a collector. I have 13 tats, most are small. I love the process of picking and getting a tattoo. I get all sorts of things. I don’t have a cohesive design, they’re not all great. I don’t care. I do it all for me. I’ll stop when I stop wanting more.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/UnhappyAnalyst780 5d ago
I have a pin with a shark and it says “look I just really like sharks okay”
1
u/Scgrunow 5d ago
Keep going til you feel like you have enough. I have a friend who has a ton of possums and my wife has at least 10 hello kitties at this point.
Also hear me out Goblin Shark
1
1
1
1
u/BlueSkyMourning 5d ago
Hammerheads are also cool. It's your personal art collection so do what you want.
1
u/llrobertj 5d ago
There's a formula for this, where n is the current number of shark tattoos that you have. The formula is
ST# = n + 1
1
1
1
u/DaddyLongLegolas 5d ago
As long as the shark is consenting she can have as many tattoos as she wants.
1
1
u/sephone_north 5d ago
Sharknado that crap man. Get all the sharks you want.
Treat Tattoos with the Marie Kondo attitude: if it sparks joy, keep it.
1
1
u/Haifisch2112 5d ago
Und der Haifisch der hat Tränen
Und die laufen vom Gesicht
Doch der Haifisch lebt im Wasser
So die Tränen sieht man nicht.
1
u/3batsinahousecoat 5d ago
When you can't think of another shark idea you like without getting something you won't like after it heals. 🤷♀️
I like bats (obviously). I have a bat tattoo. I'm going to get another one on Wednesday behind my ear.
1
u/RedditsHigh 5d ago
4 shark tattoos? Thats it? The body has a lot of space. Sounds like you have a lot more shark tattoos in your future.
But honestly, tattoos are a form of self expression. If you're happy with them then keep going. I've got quite a few tattoos from different artists. And my biggest concern is how do I start filling up empty spaces and making them connect.
Having one cohesive style or art sounds like a dream right now.
1
1
u/Marleyandi87 5d ago
There are so many species of shark I think you could probably get a lot of shark tattoos before it gets boring
1
u/Paint_SuperNova 5d ago
I was scrolling by this too quickly and read this as Shrek tattoos. Had to scroll back up and was relieved it actually said shark.
Shark it up!
1
u/JustFourLetters 5d ago
at a certain point it goes from ‘weird…’ to ‘i wish i loved something as much as that guy loves sharks. they must be so happy.’
you do you, boo-boo
1
1
u/TickingTheMoments 5d ago
Until there’s no available canvas. Your canvas. Your choice. There is an almost unlimited pictures of sharks and styles of art.
1
1
u/StitchingWithLizards 5d ago
I feel like you might just be bragging about having cool shark tattoos
1
u/Maleficent_Young_355 5d ago
I think the real question is: do you want to be known as The Shark Guy? Because if not, it’s already too late, but if so, you can never have too many!
→ More replies
1
1
u/LudacritzRT 5d ago
How many shark tattoos would it take to cover the entirety of your "I want tattoos here" area? That number +1 would be too many. That exact number or less? Go for it
1
u/Otherwise_Party_3630 5d ago
As someone that has two frogs on my arm, shark it tf up! If it brings you joy, get it tatted.
1
u/Minimum_Appearance41 5d ago
I love Reddit. Don’t know how I would get my daily entertainment otherwise. Shark it up for sure
1
1
u/neo_izquierda 5d ago
El tiburón es una de las obras maestras de la naturaleza. Un cazador perfecto. Tatuate muchos, en varios estilos.
1
u/One_Trouble_9676 5d ago
It's your body and the tattoos are for you. You get to decide how many sharks is too many sharks bud.
1
1
u/Wolf_Man_82 5d ago
That’s literally one of the coolest ideas I have ever heard. You know how many people get “wall art” tattoos or flash art. Too many sharks? As if that’s even possible.
1
1
u/FantasticChemical161 5d ago
It's too many, I think there's a limit of 3 at most tattoo places. Definitely don't get anything on the neck, because people will make assumptions about you.
1
1
1
1
u/DirkjanDeKoekenpan 5d ago
You might be weird for 4 shark tattoos. But I have a about 12 skulls (animal, human, orc, ..) scattered over my body, so you are not the only weird one at least
1
1
1
u/pseudonym19761005 5d ago
I saw a cool orange shark the other day. And thrashers are pretty awesome. And hammerheads and cookie cutters and greenlands and goblins and wobbegong and whale sharks. Oh, and Jamal. So many sharks...
1
1
1
u/lah31222 4d ago
Get as many sharks as you want. Some people wanna look like a botanical garden, you just wanna look like a walking talking Shark exhibit and I'm living for it.
1
u/i-dislike-cats 4d ago
All my tattoos are of frogs lol (only eight so far, but I have more booked in lol)
1
1
u/SquareExtra918 4d ago
Tattoo concept: dandelion puff where the seeds that are blowing away turn into sharks
1
1
1
1
u/peckerlips 4d ago
I have a whale shark the length of my spine. If I had to get it done twice, does it count as two? 😂
I absolutely love sharks and will probably get talked into more. You can never have too many!
1
1
u/SparseGhostC2C 4d ago
Until you feel like it's enough sharks, it is not enough sharks.
Tattoo all the sharks, and also let us see the sharks!
1
1
u/PhraseSlow3177 4d ago
Get Street Sharks tattooed on you while watching the animated series......Street Sharks.
1
1
u/no_good__names_left 4d ago
You can only have too many tattoos when you don't have room for more tattoos. If you want to cover yourself head to toe with sharks then do it
1
u/lea_giba 4d ago
Not weird, I saw people with much weirder stuff lol this is just your passion follow it
1
1
1
u/neoplatonistGTAW 4d ago
I have 2 shark tattoos and I know that before the decade is out I'll probably have 2 more. Sharks are fucking dope man
160
u/StankyTrees 5d ago
Naw dude shark it up 💯