What Do All of Julia Michaels's Tattoos Mean?

Julia Michaels's Piano Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Amy Sussman

In 2012, Michaels got a pink piano tattooed on her left inner forearm to represent her music career.

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Julia Michaels's Microphone Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / John Lamparski

In 2012, she got a vintage microphone tattooed on her outer forearm with a rose below it.

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Julia Michaels's Typewriter Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Amy Sussman/BBMA2020

In 2014, Michaels got a vintage typewriter tattooed on her upper right arm.

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Julia Michaels's "Colorful Artichoke" Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Amy Sussman

Michaels's funniest tattoo story has to do with the ink she calls the "colorful artichoke" on her arm. "I got this lotus flower after a breakup, but I didn't do my research and I just went and did it," Michaels told POPSUGAR. "When I left, it came out looking like a very colorful artichoke, and then I went to my other tattoo artist and I had him put a big X on it and around it, it says 'bad idea' because he was and it was." She got it in 2015.

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Julia Michaels's Rose Hand Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Alberto E. Rodriguez

Also in 2015, Michaels got a geomatic rose tattoo on the back of her right hand.

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Julia Michaels's Anatomical Heart Arm Tattoo

Julia Michaels has an anatomical heart tattoo with an eye crying in the middle of it to represent wearing her heart on her sleeve. She got it in November 2016.

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Julia Michaels's "I Love You" Hand Tattoo

The inside of Michaels's palm says "I love you," tattooed in her handwriting. She got it in December 2016 as a reminder to love herself. "I have a lot of little reminders on my body because I don't tell myself that I love myself," she told Music Choice in an interview. "And sometimes I forget, too."

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Julia Michaels's Perception and Light Bulb Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

On Michaels's right arm, a design that looks like two triangles and three circles can be seen right above her rose hand tattoo. It's the symbol for perception. She told POPSUGAR, "It looks fully formed, but it isn't, and I've always found it really interesting how the brain can perceive something as whole, even though it's not."

Above her perception symbol is a light bulb with a solar system in it. She told 92.3 AMP Radio in an interview it represents thoughts and the subconscious mind. She got both of the tattoos in March 2017.

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Julia Michaels's "Speak Up" Neck Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz

Below Michaels's neck are the words "speak up" tattooed and a long line that runs down her chest. "My favorite one is the one on my throat that says 'speak up,' because I don't very often and I need reminders sometimes to be bold and be brave," she told POPSUGAR. She got it in 2017.

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Julia Michaels's Hand Holding and "Free Hugs" Tattoo

In May 2017, Michaels added five tattoos to her collection at once: two finger tattoos, one of a tiny red heart and one of a bee; an arm tattoo of a sweater with the words "free hugs" on it; and another arm tat of two hands interlocking fingers, as well as her "speak up" tattoo.

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Julia Michaels's "Kiss Here" Back Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / John Shearer

In the middle of Michaels's back are the words "Kiss here." She got the tattoo in August 2017 — right around the time she released her debut song, "Issues."

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Julia Michaels's Golden Snitch Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

As a self-proclaimed Harry Potter fan, Michaels got a golden snitch tattooed on her right arm with her dad in December 2017.

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Julia Michaels's Scorpion Wrist Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Amy Sussman

On the inside of Michaels's right wrist is a small scorpion tattoo. She got it in February 2018 to represent her zodiac sign.

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Julia Michaels's Gemstone Arm Tattoos

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Scattered throughout Michaels's arms are four gemstone tattoos, with the most visible one being the heart-shaped pink stone on her right shoulder. They are for her fans, whom she calls her "little gems." She got them in July 2018.

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Julia Michaels's Snake Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz

In July 2018, Michaels got a small snake tattooed on the inside of her right arm. She showed off the ink on her Instagram Story and said "a baby pink snake for this slytherin," to celebrate her love for Harry Potter.

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Julia Michaels's Bird Arm Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz

During that same summer month in 2018, Michaels added this bird in flight on her left arm, just above her elbow. She's never talked about its exact meaning.

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Julia Michaels's Arrow Hand Tattoo

In November 2019, Michaels went with her pal Selena Gomez to get matching tattoos on their hands of tiny, fine-line arrows pointing toward each other.

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Julia Michaels's Butterfly Arm Tattoo

On Michaels's upper arms is an assortment of tattoos that aren't easy to spot. One is of a blue butterfly, one is a woman in a green minidress, and the other is a portrait of a woman with long black hair and no face. It's unknown when she got them.

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