8 Inspiring Broken Heart Tattoo Ideas & Symbolic Meanings

Explore popular artistic body art that can inspire you to heal from a broken heart.

Reviewed by Rodrigo Casco, Professional Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist Rodrigo Casco Rodrigo CascoProfessional Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist facebook_iconyoutube_iconinsta_icon
Written by Sangita Goel, MA Sangita Goel MA linkedin_icon Experience: 2 years
Edited by Eshna Das, BA, MSc Eshna Das BA, MSc linkedin_icon Experience: 3 years
Fact-checked by Aparna Harry, MA (English Literature) Aparna Harry MA (English Literature) linkedin_icon Experience: 3 years
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Being in love is a feeling that words cannot describe, it only makes you happy and giddy. However, love comes with the pain of heartbreak when things go wrong. Some seek solace in the company of their loved ones, while others give their pain some shape through words or tattoos. Broken heart tattoos symbolize the physical and emotional agony of love and serve as a reminder to let go of the past and move ahead in life. So, if you are looking for some creative ideas to express your heartache, check out this article for some gorgeous broken heart designs you can look through. Keep reading!

Meaning Of A Broken Heart Tattoo

A broken heart tattoo represents a love lost to death or destroyed with time. It represents a heart once full of love and happiness and is now suffering from sadness and deep longing. Unlike a full heart which is associated with a sense of compassion and love, the broken heart symbolizes emotions of finality. It conveys the meaning that something beautiful has been broken beyond repair and it is time to move on to better things.

Broken heart tattoos can be customized using different tattooing styles and colors to make them personal to you. Check out the next section for some uber-cool designs that you can experiment with.

8 Unique Broken Heart Tattoo Ideas

A broken heart tattoo can take on different meanings and emotions for different people. So, if you do not know how to give shape to your grief and need some ideas, here are some beautiful designs you can look through.

1. Broken Heart Face Tattoo

A woman with a broken heart tattoo on her face
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

This tattoo shows a colorful representation of a broken heart with a visible crack running through the middle of it. The leaves on the heart signify the importance of self-growth and the need to loosen one’s hold on the past. Consider adding another layer of meaning to the tattoo by adding in your favorite flowers to symbolize growth and new beginnings. While the tattoo itself may convey intense heartache, the placement shows that the wearer is proud to wear her scars and heartache confidently.

2. Black Broken Heart Tattoo

A woman with a black broken heart tattoo on her left shoulder blade
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Black hearts are typically seen as a representation of tragedy and devastation. This black heart tattoo may represent the pain of losing a loved one forever. It can also signify the pain of losing a lover due to love fading over time. On the other hand, the wearer sporting the black tattoo on her shoulder can also represent her resilience and her ability to overcome her heartache.

3. Small Broken Heart Tattoo

A woman with a small broken heart tattoo on her ring finger
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

The dainty broken heart tattoo on the finger serves as a constant reminder of the wearer’s intense emotions of grief and the journey that they are on. The red color surrounded by the black outlines creates a beautiful tattoo perfect for those looking for something simple yet deep.

4. Broken Heart Neck Tattoo

A woman with a broken heart tattoo on her neck
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

This modern tattoo features a heart shattering like glass, destroyed beyond repair. The black layer around the heart represents the loss of trust in love. The placement of the tattoo on the neck conveys that the person does not want to experience either love or the intense pain of heartbreak again.

5. Broken Heart Hand Tattoo

A broken heart hand tattoo

Broken heart tattoos on hand serve as a constant reminder of the pain one has experienced and the strength they have gained from it. This tribal design with bold outlines represents the wearer’s passion for love and its presence deep in their heart. You can also customize the tattoo by adding in a vibrant color to represent the profound depth of love. Any color you choose will make the tattoo visually stunning and turn heads wherever you go!

6. Broken Heart Tattoo For Females

A woman with a broken heart tattoo
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

This metaphorical tattoo features a black broken heart surrounded by a red full heart. It shows the birth of a new loving heart after suffering through intense heartbreak. The broken heart slowly falls away to give way to a heart full of happiness and hope, conveying the message of not losing hope, letting go of the past, and learning to love again.

7. Broken Heart Tattoo For Guys

A man with a broken heart tattoo on his shoulder
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Heartbreak is painful and transcends all genders. This upper back tattoo represents the intense turmoil, agony, and emotions he must have felt. The slashes around the heart represent the death of passionate love and the scars that remain after we move on. This design is the definition of an impactful sad tattoo!

8. Realistic Broken Heart Tattoo

A woman with a realistic broken heart tattoo on her upper arm
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

This tattoo features a red and gray heart with black broken outlines surrounding it and gets the message across quite clearly. You can add even more depth to this tattoo by adding dates, names, or quotes that resonate with your life. The deep thick cracks on the gray side of the heart represent the intense power of heartbreak. However, the thinner, less apparent cracks on the colored side may convey that with time, all wounds, no matter how deep, heal.

Broken heart tattoos are a great way to pay an ode to the intense emotions of pain one experiences after a heartbreak. They depict an individual’s journey of moving on from the past and starting their life anew. You can go for small, minimalist designs or big, intricate ones that show the world your strength in bearing your scars and heartache with pride. Remember, a tattoo is more than just aesthetic body art! It’s a bold statement of self-expression and personal style. Once you get the tattoo, it is important to care for it so it looks fresh and heals properly without any infection. You should follow the aftercare instructions recommended by your tattooist, such as keeping your tattoo clean and moisturized, applying ointment, and protecting the skin from sun exposure.

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Rodrigo Casco
Rodrigo CascoProfessional Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist
Rodrigo Casco is an Argentine tattoo artist. He has 21 years of experience designing tattoos. He has done tattooing by hand as well as created his own tattoo machines. He has won multiple awards and stood first in national and international tattoo conventions, is a judge at events, and also gives many seminars.

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Sangita Goel
Sangita GoelBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Sangita is a content writer with a passion for exploring diverse genres. She has written 100+ blogs on an array of topics, including relationships, travel, beauty, and fashion. Armed with a master’s degree in history from Indira Gandhi National Open University, she has leveraged her curiosity to write captivating, engaging, and informative articles.

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Eshna Das
Eshna DasAssociate Editor
Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.

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Aparna Harry
Aparna HarryBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Aparna Harry is a beauty and lifestyle content writer with over three years of experience in writing for different genres. She has a master’s degree in English Literature from The English And Foreign Languages University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Mysore.

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