Psychedelic music was first introduced in the 1960s. The aim of the music was to induce a trance-like state of euphoria. Inspired by the trippy sounds, artists began to paint what they heard, creating psychedelic art. Although psychedelic tattoos are not all that popular, they do make very interesting body art pieces, especially for those with psychedelic personalities.

A Thomas Hooper tattoo of a nautilus shell. Even in black ink, the trippy nature of the nautilus is apparent. See more psychedelic mandala and illusion tattoos in Thomas Hooper’s Sacred Geometry Tattoos [source]

Trippy Tattoos tell Tall Tales

Psychedelic paintings and designs are often referred to as being trippy, because they were mostly enjoyed by hippies who were tripping on LSD, also known as acid. LSD is an hallucinogenic drug that causes a person to hallucinate; seeing things that aren’t there, and seeing reality distort and take on new forms. Under the influence of the drug, psychedelic designs transform and change right before the person’s eyes. This is why trippy tattoos are mostly favored by those who spent time around people who use this psychedelic drug.

A trippy tattoo of a psychedelic drawing of a cat by famous schizophrenic artist Louis Wain. As Louis Wain descended into madness, his designs became more and more intricate, revealing the hallucinations that he was suffering from. Ironically, during Wain’s lifetime, LSD was used as a treatment for schizophrenic hallucinations. See how the changing nature of Wain’s mind affected his art, filling his paintings with color and patterns: The Schizophrenic Psychedelic Art of Louis Wain [source]

Fractal designs are sometimes chosen for psychedelic tattoos as they often have flowing lines of movement in the design. These aren’t actual lines, but are instead hidden in the shape of the design, drawing the eye from one section of the art work to another. Tattoos of fractals work well on the human form, shifting shape as the person moves, adding psychedelic value to the design.

A trippy tattoo of psychedelic fractal designs in bright hallucinogenic colors. The colorful, animated nature of fractal tattoos appeal to the eye. [source]

Trippy tattoos are also known as LSD tattoos, acid tattoos, trance tattoos and psychedelic tattoos. The modern version of 1960s psychedelic music is known as trance, dance music that is made electronically. The repetitive rhythms and unusual sounds in trance music can induce a trance-like state, a sensation that some people heighten with mind-altering drugs like acid or magic mushrooms.

A trippy tattoo design of a spiralling vortex of circles, seen at an outdoor trance party. The repetitive nature of this tattoo design is inspired by the repetitive nature of trance music. [source]

Psychedelic Tattoos are Hallucinations on Skin

Hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms alters the mind so that the person is attracted to bright colors. Because of this, a lot of psychedelic tattoo art is inked into the skin in bright, vivid colors. UV art, also known as glow art, neon art or black light art, is popular at trance music festivals, adding bright colors to an otherwise dark dance floor. This art form is reflected in tattoo designs in the fast-growing art form of black light tattoos. Read more about UV tattoos on Art-Sci in Tattoos that are Invisible in Daylight.

These trippy UV tattoos feature feminine designs of flowers. The tattoo uses invisible ink that will glow under black light, meaning that during the day, the tattoo won’t be visible, but at night on a dance floor lit with black lights the tattoo will glow in a psychedelic manner. [source]

The flowing perspective lines in trippy tattoos combines perfectly with creatures that twist and curve, such as fish and dragons. Fractal tattoos are often quite floral in nature, so flowers can be included in the design to make it appear as though the flowers are emerging from the fractal tattoo. For people who have grown bored of a linear tribal tattoo, the addition of trippy fractal designs can add life and perspective to a previously 2-dimensional design.

Flowers emerge from this fractal tattoo, adding to the psychedelic nature of the design. Fractal designs like this one are often created on a computer before being printed out for the tattoo artist to use as reference. [source]

Trippy tattoos can include symbols in the design to add more meaning to the tattoo, but for most people, the hallucinogenic nature of the tattoo design is meaningful enough, reflecting lifestyle choices and the person’s psychedelic personality. Whether in color or black ink, trance-inducing tattoos are appealing to the eye, drawing even sober observers to take a closer look.

A trippy tattoo design of a tribal dragon with bells on its tongues. The bright colors, flowing lines and repetitive patterns all contribute to the psychedelic nature of this tattoo design. Dragons are a symbol of strength, wisdom, and monetary gain. Bells on the end of the tongue could be a symbol of a sweet talker or a beautiful song. [source]

Before settling on a specific fractal, vortex or mandala design, speak to your tattoo artist about psychedelic tattoos. Because of the shape of the body, you may find that your chosen design will need to be placed somewhere other than where you initially wanted it. You may have to sacrifice some detail in the design if the ink is likely to merge under the skin and blur the tattoo over time. Trippy tattoos work best in large formats, so the waist, chest or the entire back are often chosen for psychedelic tattoos.

A bio organic tattoo design by Phil Robertson sports a mandala flower at its heart. [source] Learn more about Mandala tattoos in The Spiritual Magic of Mandala Tattoos