Did you know that a butterfly has symbolic meanings? It's also interesting to find out that countries and cultures have their own symbolic meanings, and there is really not one universal symbolic meaning for a butterfly.
As a matter of trivia, the Japanese believe that the butterfly is a symbol of marital bliss. The ancient Greeks considered butterflies to represent souls who have gone on to the afterlife. In the case of the Chinese, the butterflies are a symbol of long life, and if you study ancient mythology, you will learn that the butterfly represents knowledge and wisdom.
Symbolism is one reason why butterflies are a very popular choice for a tattoo. Of course, the other most popular reason is because many people, mostly women, find butterflies to be extremely attractive and a safe choice for a tattoo.
In choosing a butterfly tattoo, you'd be astounded by the multitude choices you have. Of course, the reason for this is because there are about 15,00 to 28,000 species of butterflies in the world. The exact number will depend on who your source is. At any rate, even basing it on 15,000, that is a lot of butterflies to choose from. Of these species, the most commonly picked for a tattoo are the Celtic butterfly, the Tribal, and the Monarch butterflies.
Most butterfly tattoos are chosen based on their color, size, and shape. On the other hand, the most popular areas in the body where you may see a butterfly tattoo is at the lower back, upper arm, nape, or the waist. The reason these areas are chosen is because it's a peek-a-boo area and one can decide to show or hide it, depending on their mood for the day.
The advice most tattoo experts would give is to select a design that has strong colors and will blend well with your skin tone. This is because if you have a dark skin tone, using red or brown might not show as well than if you used a more contrasting color.
Before you get your butterfly tattoo, make sure that you have seen as many styles and designs as possible. This way, no regrets on your choice. You should also make it a point to listen to the tattoo artist because his wealth of knowledge and his extensive experience is not something you will come across everyday.