Snake and Rose Tattoo
A snake coiled around a rose stem: one of the oldest pairings in tattooing, and still one of the most asked for.
- Style
- Neo-traditional
- Joined
- Wrap
- Placement
- Forearm
Opens Tattoo Fusion with these choices. Change the style, placement or what it means to you; every design is new.
What a snake and rose tattoo means
The rose stands for love and beauty, the snake for temptation, danger and renewal, since it sheds its skin. Together they say that beauty and danger grow from the same stem: a love worth having is guarded, or a hard chapter has turned into something new. Many people wear it after a break-up or a big change, as a sign of having come through it.
- SnakeRebirth and transformation
- RoseLove, and beauty that has thorns
Where to put it
The coil wants length, so a forearm, calf or the outside of the upper arm suits it best. Let the snake's body follow the curve of the limb and keep the rose head near the wrist or elbow, where it reads first.
Tips for the design
- Ask for the coil to pass behind and in front of the stem so it looks wrapped, not stacked.
- Thorns give the snake something to grip and stop the stem looking bare.
- A small piece needs a simple snake: scales read as grey mush below about 8 cm.
Try it in another style
Questions
What does a snake wrapped around a rose mean?
Usually that love and danger, or beauty and pain, come together. The snake also stands for rebirth, so many people read it as growth after a hard time.
Is a snake and rose tattoo good for a first tattoo?
Yes, if it is sized for the detail. A forearm piece around 15 cm long keeps the scales and petals clear for years.
