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Black traditional lady head tattoo with three small mice nestled in her hair

Lady Head With Mice Tattoo

Set a traditional lady head with sweeping black hair, with three small mice tucked into the curls: one above her head and two on either side of her face. I followed a classic gypsy lady head template, but the mice push it toward something more personal and a touch playful.

I carried the hair with soft black shading and left the face open, with the eyes doing the lift. A generous canvas gives me plenty of room for big hair and supporting elements like this without cramping the layout. Restraint inside the face is what keeps the figure readable as the surrounding hair carries the weight.

If you want a custom spin on a traditional motif, I'm at the Wellington studio, email me.

Book Similar PieceSee All Traditional

By Rhys Thomas at Whitetail Tattoo, Level 3, 41–47 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand

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Common Questions About Traditional in Wellington

What's the difference between traditional and neo-traditional?
Traditional keeps to a small, classical colour palette (reds, yellows, greens, blues) with chunky outlines and limited shading. Neo-traditional opens that up with more colours, finer detail, and more painterly shading. Same bones, more flexibility.
Do traditional tattoos cost less because they look simpler?
No. Traditional tattoos look deceptively simple. Clean bold lines and solid colour packs are hard to execute well, and they're priced on time and skill required, not visual complexity.
Can a traditional design be personal rather than generic?
Yes. Most of my traditional pieces are custom subjects rendered in the traditional language. Bring your own meaning and I'll handle the visual grammar.