30 Best Joker Hand Tattoo Ideas
Reeva Babbar
Table of Contents
About Joker Hand Tattoos
Whether you’ve loved him as Heath Ledger’s most iconic role, or DC’s most complicated supervillain, Joker is one character that refuses to leave your thoughts without making a mark.
It isn’t surprising, then, that so many people wish to ink their bodies with the famous Joker hand tattoo of a smile.
The Joker hand tattoo is known to be open to interpretation just as both Joker and his story are left to the viewer’s interpretation.
As mentioned, Joker is a complicated character, whose background story changes with different adaptations of DC’s Batman. As Batman’s arch-nemesis, Joker is one of the greatest supervillains in the DC universe.
Joker hand tattoo designs and meanings are endless. So we’ve created a guide for you to consider when you’re thinking of different Joker hand tattoo ideas before your next tattoo appointment.
After reading this guide, you’ll understand:
- What Joker hand tattoos mean and symbolize
- Where to get a Joker tattoo
- Several Joker hand tattoo ideas
- How much these tattoos cost
- The history of the tattoo
What Do Joker Hand Tattoos Mean And Symbolize?
Joker hand tattoos, featuring Joker’s iconic smile, are one of the most popular tattoos that people choose to get—especially since Joker himself carries this wide grin on his left hand.
Most often, he brings this fake, creepy grin up to his mouth to cover any hint of real emotions, so that he may remain as mysterious as he wants, and his opponent remains as confused as he wishes for them to be.
In fact, this sense of confusion is the main meaning behind the Joker hand tattoo. It allows you to incorporate it into your life in any way you deem suitable.
In other words, it could be the smile that reminds you to not take life seriously, or it could be the smile that reminds you of various facades that people wear in order to hide their true selves or their suffering.
Many people also think of the Joker hand tattoo as a reminder of mental health issues, where people learn the importance of raising an encouraging society (so that no one finds themselves as an outcast like Joker).
Or, they use the Joker hand tattoo meaning as a way to cope with depression and think of all the challenges they’ve overcome with a smile on their face.
Where To Get A Joker Hand Tattoo
Although the most appropriate and relevant place to get a Joker hand tattoo is on your hand (with either the creepy Joker grin or the Joker’s face), there are also some other options for you to explore if a hand tattoo isn’t something that you’re looking for:
- Wrist: You can get the Joker hand tattoo on your wrist, especially if you’re going for the trickster look. It gives you the advantage of hiding your tattoo when you don’t wish for it to be seen (i.e. for a job interview) and showcasing it when you want to. Also, it gives your tattoo that ‘having a trick up your sleeve’ meaning—a signature of every Joker.
- Forearm: Again, if you wish to be in control of when your tattoo is visible, then you could get the Joker hand tattoo on your forearm (an area that’s easily hidden under long sleeves).
The Joker smile and the Joker card are the most popular designs on the forearm since they require a surface with less curvature—and a forearm is perfect for that.
- Shoulder: Another area to have the Joker hand tattoo is the place between your collarbone and the tip of your shoulder. This is a great surface for placing the teeth of the Joker’s smile right at the collarbone and stretching the wide grin up to the tip of your shoulder.
This especially looks great for those looking to place a second tattoo of a Joker card on their chest, which could be inked right below the creepy grin.
Other than where to ink your body with a Joker hand tattoo, you must be wondering about how long a tattoo will last once you’ve made up your mind.
Depending on where you’re getting your tattoo, they can last about two weeks (temporary tattoos) to 10 years (permanent tattoos) before they need some touching up.
Of course, it’s important to follow the after-care instructions given to you by your tattoo artist if you want it to last longer.
How Much Do Joker Hand Tattoos Cost?
Along with how long a tattoo will last, pricing is another factor that plays a large role in what type of tattoo you end up going for. Here are some things to consider when you’re trying to evaluate the cost of a Joker hand tattoo:
- Temporary vs. Permanent Tattoo: The price of a tattoo largely depends on whether you’re getting a temporary tattoo or a permanent one.
A temporary tattoo that can be customized according to your preferences from a company like Inkbox can cost you under $100, whereas a permanent one will most certainly be well over that amount. - Tattoo Parlor & Artist: Tattoo prices also depend on the tattoo parlor you’re visiting along with the artist that you’ve chosen. Some artists charge a base hourly rate and then go up from that price point depending on how complicated the design is.
- Tattoo Size: The size of the tattoo also plays a role in how expensive it will be. For instance, if you’re getting it on your hand, it will be less expensive than spreading the image out on the length of your forearm.
Essentially, the price of the tattoo will depend on the artist, how complicated the design is, and the size of the image that you’re getting inked on your body.
30 Best Joker Hand Tattoo Designs
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History Of Joker Hand Tattoos
Although it’s a little difficult to trace the exact year when Joker hand tattoos came to public attention, it would be safe to assume that they became quite popular after the Clown Prince of Crime gained recognition for being a villain with redeemable qualities.
He was both a perpetrator and a victim of society’s wrongdoing. He was an outcast that fell into chaotic evil because the path of righteousness seemed to belong to those who were willing to pay a price (i.e. Batman).
He knew that the good had to suffer for a lifetime, and he had had enough suffering at the mercy of a society that couldn’t care any less for individuals like him.
His tattoos brought comfort to those who felt like outsiders and became a reminder of perseverance to many—just as the Joker continued to persevere in his path against Batman.
Another reason why these tattoos became so popular in the last couple of decades is credited to the increasing awareness of mental health issues.
And people began to recognize the absolutely essential role of society in supporting all members without making anyone feel like they’re left behind—or worse, left out.
The Joker’s smile, in other words, reminded people of the underlying mental health issues that many people suffer from in silence, despite them carrying a false smile on their faces.
In fact, many individuals choose to get Heath Ledger’s face as the Joker tattooed on their hands to remind themselves of his battle with mental health issues that led to his untimely demise six months before the release of The Dark Knight.
And the cause became an unfortunate, intentional overdose of prescription drugs.
As a result, Heath Ledger’s Joker character became both a legend and a painful reminder to people of all the struggles with mental health issues that many face.
And it’s also a reminder that we need to do better as a society and be there for one another.
Which Celebrities Have A Joker Hand Tattoo?
Although there isn’t much evidence of celebrities having a Joker hand tattoo, some celebrities have gotten a Joker tattoo to either pay their respects to Heath Ledger as an actor or to raise awareness about mental health issues (as portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix’s role as Joker).
And there is a celebrity that’s known to have a tattoo displaying a combination of both of these actors. Gervonta Davis is an American professional boxer, and he has a Joker tattoo on his left leg.
His tattoo has Joaquin Phoenix’s face as the Joker and Heath Ledger’s quote, “Why so serious?” right above that.
Through this blend of including the two actors in his tattoo, he’s able to pay homage to the two actors and their respective roles.
Also, his tattoo spreads a message of strength (as a boxer) to take on life’s challenges with a smile, and not worry about taking life too seriously all the time.
Essentially, that’s what a Joker hand tattoo does! It reminds the wearer about tough times and their ability to overcome them in the past, which provides them with the strength to overcome the challenges in their future—all with a smile on their face.
Plus, it’s a symbol of ‘you standing up for you’ and making sure that no one dares to make you feel alone, outcasted, or unloved. And it’s a reminder that you’ll always be there to love and support yourself.
All the while, this tattoo teaches the world about the importance of breaking barriers and the responsibility of reaching out to those that need you the most.
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