May birth flower tattoo

Lily of the valley and Hawthorn

Returning happiness and sweetness for lily of the valley; hope for the hawthorn.

How lily of the valley works as a tattoo

Lily of the valley is a vertical chain of small bells — one of the best-suited flowers for a spine, a finger or the side of a forearm.

Where to put it

A single bloom suits a wrist, ankle or shoulder. Several flowers together — a family bouquet, for instance — need the space of a forearm, thigh or back. Check how much each placement hurts on the pain chart before deciding.

Styles that suit it

Floral work sits naturally in minimalist and fine-line, in blackwork where the silhouette carries the design, in watercolor when you want the colour to bleed, and in old school where bold outlines keep it readable for decades.

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