Traditional Tattoos

Old School Cool: Traditional Temporary Tattoos

Bold lines. Limited color palette. Iconic imagery.
You want the classic look. You want the ink that started it all. You want the Sailor Jerry aesthetic without the lifetime commitment.
You are looking for traditional temporary tattoos.

This is the foundation of tattoo history.
We call it “American Traditional.” Or Sailor Jerry style.
You want old school tattoos of swallows, anchors, and panthers? We have them.
You want american traditional daggers piercing hearts? We have those too.

We are Australia’s local experts. We ship from Brisbane.
We don’t drop-ship from overseas. The stock is here.
Express takes 1-4 days. Standard takes 3-7 days.
Spend $50? I pay the shipping.

The Reality Check.

Traditional tattoos rely on bold lines and primary colors.
Real traditional tattoos blur over 40 years. Ours look crisp immediately.
Visual Technique:
The heavy black outlines of this style work perfectly with Standard Ink technology.
Because the lines are thick, the “sticker” effect is minimized.
It looks solid. It looks punched in.
It is the most “readable” style of tattoo existence.

The History: Why This Style Survives

Trends fade. Tribal came and went. Watercolor is fading.
Traditional stays. Why?
It started in the 1900s. Sailors. Soldiers. Outlaws.
They needed tattoos that could be done fast and would last a lifetime in the sun and salt.

Sailor Jerry Style
Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins revolutionized ink.
He introduced the primary colors (Red, Green, Yellow) and the heavy shading.
Our collection honors this history.
We don’t use weak, thin lines. We use the heavy, bold outlines that define the genre.
When you wear these, you are wearing a piece of classic history.
You are wearing the same vintage designs that sailors wore in WWII.

The Aesthetic: Vintage & Timeless

Why does this style never die? Because it is readable.
You can see a traditional temporary tattoo from across the street.
There is no confusion about what it is.

The Color Palette
Historically, artists only had red, green, yellow, and black inks.
We replicate this vintage look in our printing.
Bright fire-engine red roses. Deep mustard yellow sunsets. Emerald green snakes.
Our printing tech ensures these colors pop on skin, even on darker skin tones.
The contrast is high. The impact is heavy.

Classic Motifs & Meanings

• The Swallow: Historically, this meant a sailor had traveled 5,000 nautical miles. It symbolizes returning home.
• The Anchor: Stability. Keeping you grounded in a storm.
• The Panther: Strength and ferocity. Usually crawling up the arm.
• The Dagger: Betrayal or sacrifice.
• These are classic symbols. They work anywhere. They tell a story without words.

Visual Psychology: Why It Works

Your brain loves high contrast.
American Traditional is built on contrast.
Black against skin. Red against green.
It grabs attention.

The 10-Foot Rule
A good traditional tattoo looks like a tattoo from 10 feet away.
If you buy a hyper-realistic micro-tattoo, it looks like a smudge from a distance.
If you buy a bold lines traditional panther, it looks like a panther from a distance.
This makes it the perfect style for temporary wear.
It photographs incredibly well for Instagram because the lines are distinct.

Sticker vs. Semi-Permanent (Trad Edition)

You have two choices here. Both work, but for different reasons.

Option 1: Standard Ink (The Accurate Choice)
Pros: Captures the primary colors essential to the style.
You get the bright reds and yellows.
Cons: It sits on top of the skin.
Best for: The true “Old School” colorful look.
If you want the Sailor Jerry vibe, you need the color. Standard Ink is the only way to get it.

Option 2: Semi-Permanent (The Black Trad Choice)
Pros: Sinks into the skin. No texture.
Cons: You lose the color. It is strictly blue/black.
Best for: “Black Traditional” (Black-trad).
This is a modern spin on the style where artists use only black ink but keep the bold lines.
It looks gritty. It looks tough.

Placement: Stack Them Up

Traditional tattoos look best when they are “stacked.”
This is a specific look.
Unlike a Japanese sleeve which is one big image, a Traditional sleeve is made of 20 separate images.

The “Patchwork” Sleeve
You don’t need to plan the whole arm.
Start with a forearm piece (maybe a dagger).
Add a bicep piece (maybe a ship).
Fill the gaps later.
This is the beauty of traditional temporary tattoos.
You can build your American Traditional sleeve one sticker at a time.
Change it up every week.

The Gap Filler
In real tattooing, we use “stars and dots” to fill the empty skin between designs.
We sell sheets of “Gap Fillers.”
Use small traditional stars, dots, or flower buds to fill the white space.
It creates that dense, collected look.
It makes the sleeve look finished.

Application: The “Bold” Rules

Applying bold ink requires care.
Large solid blocks of color can trap air bubbles.
If you trap air, the tattoo crinkles.

The Protocol:

1. Shave: Always. Hair lifts the heavy lines.
2. Wet Thoroughly: Use a sponge. Soak the backing paper until it slides off on its own.
3. Slide, Don’t Peel: Slide the paper off to the side. This prevents lifting the edges.
4. Powder: Traditional tattoos have a lot of ink coverage. They can be shiny.
   • Wait 10 minutes.
   • Dust with translucent powder.
   • This kills the plastic shine and makes the black look like matte ink.

Which Ink is Right For You?

Colorful Roses?
Need the red and green pop? Stay here. Go to [Temporary Tattoos] for the full color range.

Black Panthers?
Want a dark, shadowed beast without color? Go to [Semi-Permanent Tattoos].

Your Own Art?
Drew your own flash sheet? Go to [Custom Tattoos]. We can print your specific design.

Safety & Hygiene

Old school tattoos used lead ink. We don’t.
The 1940s were a wild time for hygiene. 2025 is different.
We use cosmetic grade materials.
You are putting this on your largest organ. It needs to be safe.

Here is the compliance list:
Supplier documentation includes CE, ASTM, MSDS, RoHS, REACH/SVHC, CPSIA/EN71, CPNP/SCNP, ISO9001 and FDA-related compliance information.

Safe for skin. Non-toxic. Plant-based.

FAQ: Traditional Style

Q: Will the colors fade?
Standard Ink: The colors stay bright for about 5-7 days.
Red is usually the first to fade in UV light, but our UV coating helps.
Friction is the real enemy.
If you wear a wool jumper over a traditional eagle, the friction will rub the color off.

Q: Can I mix styles?
You can, but Traditional looks best with other Traditional pieces.
Mixing a photorealistic portrait with a flat 2D anchor looks jarring.
The visual languages fight each other.
Stick to the bold lines aesthetic for a cohesive look.

Q: Do you have full sleeves in this style?
Yes.
We have pre-designed “Patchwork” sleeves.
It looks like you spent 5 years collecting tattoos, but you apply it in 10 minutes.

Q: Is it disrespectful to wear these?
No.
Tattoo culture is for everyone now.
These designs honor the history of the art form.
They allow you to appreciate the vintage aesthetic without the needle.

Look below. Find your classic vibe.
Old school tattoos that look tough. Bold lines. Primary colors.
Get the traditional temporary tattoos that fit your history.