Tattoo Trends That Refuse to Die (And We Secretly Still Love)

At Southernmost Tattoo in Key West, we’ve seen it all—and some of it we’re still into.

Let’s just say it: some tattoo trends are like sunburned tourists… they show up every year, no matter what. While the internet loves to drag “basic” designs, we’ve got a soft spot for the classics—especially when they’re personal, well done, and hold meaning (or at least a good story).

Here at Southernmost Tattoo, we don’t turn our noses up at trends—we just make sure they’re done with style. And when we say some of these won’t die… we mean it in the best way possible.

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Infinity Symbols

Yes, it’s everywhere. Yes, you’ve seen it wrapped around a name, feather, or heartbeat. But the infinity symbol keeps coming back because it works. It’s clean, timeless, and easy to customize. You want your kids’ names in there? Done. You want it on your wrist, ankle, or ribs? Still solid.

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Birds Flying Off Into the Distance

Still flocking in. A favorite for years, this one usually starts as a feather that turns into tiny birds or just a few silhouettes in flight. It’s tied to freedom, grief, personal change—and for some people, it just looks damn cool. This design still gets requested weekly, and we’re happy to oblige.

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Matching Couple Tattoos

Whether it’s your spouse or your vacation fling, matching tattoos are not going anywhere. Lock and key? Done it. Coordinates of where you met? Yep. Tiny matching sharks? Kind of adorable. We’ve seen couples laugh, cry, and one pair argue mid-tattoo. Spoiler: she won. Still, when it’s right, we love being part of it.

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Wrist Quotes

Simple, script-style words or short quotes are still the go-to for many first-timers. “Breathe,” “Let it be,” “This too shall pass.” It’s a meaningful spot, easy to see, and subtle enough to wear daily. We double-check spelling, make sure it’s straight, and try not to judge if you want it in your ex’s handwriting. (Kidding. Kind of.)

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Palm Trees & Ocean Waves

If you leave Key West without a tan line or a palm tree tattoo… were you really here? These designs might scream “tourist,” but they’re also peaceful, beautiful, and full of personal meaning. Whether it’s your first time in the Keys or your tenth, there’s no shame in memorializing your trip with a little tropical ink.

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The Semicolon

A symbol of strength, survival, and mental health awareness. This one isn’t a trend—it’s a movement. We’ve tattooed semicolons on wrists, fingers, behind the ear, and blended them into larger pieces. No matter how small, this one always matters.

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Roses

Roses still reign. Classic, colorful, black and grey, neo-traditional, linework—you name it. A rose is one of those designs that’s always in style and easy to make your own. It can represent love, loss, growth, or just be there to look pretty. We never get sick of doing them.

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Hei Hei & the Rooster Gang

Look, you can’t swing a conch shell in Key West without hitting a rooster—and we are here for it. From full-on realistic rooster heads to Hei Hei from Moana (yes, the weird chicken), the poultry requests are STRONG.

We’ve tattooed:

• Roosters in pirate hats

• Hei Hei popping out of a pineapple

• Chickens mid-scream

• And one that, honestly, looked like your ex after a rum punch

Whether you want silly or sacred, chickens and roosters are peak Key West energy—and we’re not saying we have a flash sheet… but we should.

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Trends Stay for a Reason

Southernmost Tattoo isn’t here to shame your Pinterest board. Whether you’ve been dreaming about a palm tree on your ankle or a quote on your collarbone since 2009, we’re not rolling our eyes—we’re rolling out the stencil.

Trendy or timeless, meaningful or just for fun, every tattoo deserves to be done well.

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Ready to Bring That “Basic” Idea to Life?

We don’t care how many times we’ve seen the design—if it matters to you, it matters to us. Bring in your trend, your Pinterest printout, or your emotional support rooster, and we’ll give you a tattoo you’ll still love in ten years.

Book now with Southernmost Tattoo in Key West—because we take tattoos seriously… just not too seriously.