Your Complete Guide to Zoë Kravitz's Tattoos

It's no secret that Zoë Kravitz has built quite an impressive résumé over the years. The forever cool girl has collaborated with Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, revived yet another hairstyle trend in pop culture (hello, micro braids), and starred as the one and only Catwoman. Despite her busy work and social schedule — not to mention her recent engagement to Channing Tatum — Kravitz has always made time to add to her tattoo collection.

According to Inked, Kravitz got her first tattoo, a small outline of a heart with umlauts above it on her wrist, at 18 as a symbol of self-love. Since then, Kravitz's tattoo collection has grown to an impressive 56 known designs both big and small. It includes styles ranging from fine line and illustration to geometric designs — she even has a matching tattoo with Jason Momoa.

Most recently, she got a detailed snake coiled around an anatomical human heart completed on her right forearm by celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo (who once told POPSUGAR Kravitz is "one of my oldest clients and friends because she used to come in with her dad [Lenny]"). The two have been frequent collaborators for years, with the artist also contributing a flying eagle, a palm tree, and a dragonfly coverup, just to name a few designs.

In an interview with GQ in 2022, the actor shared she will be removing some of her ink. Still, many remain. Keep reading for a complete guide of Kravitz's tattoos — past and present — as well as their meanings.

Zoë Kravitz's Cassette Tape, Heart, and "OM" Tattoos
Getty | Taylor Hill

Zoë Kravitz's Cassette Tape, Heart, and "OM" Tattoos

Tiny yet visible, Kravitz's very first tattoo is on the inner area of her right wrist. The design is a heart with umlauts above it, which she got at 18 to symbolize self-love. While she is keeping these exact designs, she told GQ she would be removing the fading star on her middle finger she got that same year.

The actor also has a realistic cassette-tape design on her right forearm, which fans speculate is a symbol of her love and connection to music, and the word "OM" written in Sanskrit on her right hand to symbolize the sound of the universe.

Zoë Kravitz's "Mama" and Decorative Handprint Tattoos
Getty | Monica Schipper

Zoë Kravitz's "Mama" and Decorative Handprint Tattoos

Kravitz and her mother, Lisa Bonet, are famously close, so it's no surprise that she has a "Mama" tattoo. Hers is featured just above her right elbow along with an outline of a heart.

Kravitz also has what appears to be two handprints surrounded by decorative dots and designs.

Zoë Kravitz's Dragonfly and Lower Spine Tattoos
Getty | Taylor Hill

Zoë Kravitz's Dragonfly and Lower Spine Tattoos

On the upper left corner of her back shoulder is a detailed dragonfly. After learning that her previous Arabic script tattoo was grammatically incorrect (it was supposed to read, "Let love rule"), Kravitz completed laser removal then had Dr. Woo cover up the area with the whimsical piece.

Kravitz also has two lines of script on her spine in black ink, however it is difficult to see in photos and she has not disclosed the tattoo's meaning.

Zoë Kravitz's Dragon and Upper Spine Tattoos
Getty | Gareth Cattermole

Zoë Kravitz's Dragon and Upper Spine Tattoos

More recently, Kravitz revealed what appears to be a stick-and-poke tattoo running down her upper spine. On her right shoulder is a traditional Chinese dragon design, which is often a symbol of strength and protection.

Zoë Kravitz's Palm-Tree Tattoo

Kravitz has a palm-tree design with the word "Bahamas" written in all caps as a nod to her family's roots. In an interview with Vogue Australia, she explained, "When I was a kid, [the Bahamas] was like this magical place that my dad talked about a lot with so much love and passion."

Zoë Kravitz's "Free At Last" and Feather Tattoos
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Zoë Kravitz's "Free At Last" and Feather Tattoos

Zoë and her father, Lenny Kravitz, got this matching script tattoo back in 2014 from artist Tye Harris. The quote comes from Martin Luther King Jr.'s history-making "I Have a Dream" speech.

Kravitz also has a decorative feather on her wrist.

Zoë Kravitz's "Mississippi *@!!?*@!" Tattoo
Getty | Frazer Harrison

Zoë Kravitz's "Mississippi *@!!?*@!" Tattoo

According to Body Art Guru, this tattoo is a tribute to Nina Simone's song "Mississippi Goddam," which was released in 1964 and details the struggles of the Black experience during the civil rights movement. Kravitz expressed that she was a fan of the singer in a 2015 interview with Harper's Bazaar, stating, "When I'm going to bed, I'll put on Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, or Joni Mitchell's "Blue" album to fall asleep."

Zoë Kravitz's Swallows and "Yes" Tattoos
Getty | Taylor Hill

Zoë Kravitz's Swallows and "Yes" Tattoos

Kravitz has two swallows on the back of her neck with the word "yes" between them. In tattoo culture, swallows have often represented themes of exploration, transformation, freedom, and care and affection.

Zoë Kravitz's Right Hand Tattoos
Getty | Mike Marsland

Zoë Kravitz's Right Hand Tattoos

As you can see, Kravitz is a big fan of dainty tattoos, which makes her hands the perfect canvas. On both hands she has singular leaves done by Dr. Woo in 2016. On her right middle finger, she has an outline of a crown. On both middle fingers, she has crescent moons with decorative dots. Across her fingertips, she has "Lola Wolf" written with dots above each letter. This is yet another symbol in honor of her two half-siblings.

More recently, she also got tiny dots at in various places on her fingers and upper hand, including two stacked dots near her cuticles.

Zoë Kravitz's Left Hand Tattoos
Getty | Dia Dipasupil

Zoë Kravitz's Left Hand Tattoos

Starting in 2016, Kravitz added a few more pieces to her left hand, including her father's birthday, "5.26.64"; the outline of a star on her middle finger; a red heart on the inside of her middle finger; and the word "up" on the inside of her thumb.

Zoë Kravitz's "Sweet Kid" Tattoo
Getty | Neilson Barnard

Zoë Kravitz's "Sweet Kid" Tattoo

Kravitz had her childhood nickname "Sweet Kid" inked below her left elbow.

Zoë Kravitz's Flock of Birds Tattoos
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Zoë Kravitz's Flock of Birds Tattoos

Kravitz has not revealed the meaning behind the tiny flock of birds on her shoulder, but it's possible the design is a nod to her work in the "Divergent" series, as the main character, Tris, has a similar tattoo in the movie.

Zoë Kravitz's Tiny Foot Tattoos
Getty | Taylor Hill

Zoë Kravitz's Tiny Foot Tattoos

Kravitz has arrow tattoos on both of her feet, with one headed toward the north and the other toward south. She also has a skull and crossbones symbol on her left ankle.

Zoë Kravitz's "Baby" and Ampersand Tattoos

Dr. Woo inked the word "baby" for Kravitz in 2019. She also has a decorative ampersand sign behind her ear.

Zoë Kravitz's Anchor, Hamsa, and "Lola" Tattoos
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Zoë Kravitz's Anchor, Hamsa, and "Lola" Tattoos

The nautical fine-line piece is another Dr. Woo design, while "Lola" serves as a tribute to her half-sister, Lola Iolani Momoa. The hamsa is a symbol for protection.

Zoë Kravitz's Calf Tattoos
Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

Zoë Kravitz's Calf Tattoos

Kravitz has the phrase "Chica Bandita" on her left calf and a skull and crossbones on her right. "Bandito" is an Italian word for "bandit," which Americans erroneously adopted as a word for a Mexican outlaw.

Zoë Kravitz's Protective Eye Tattoos
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Zoë Kravitz's Protective Eye Tattoos

Dr. Woo revamped an older circle piece on her inner forearm to give Kravitz this intricate twist on a traditional evil-eye tattoo.

Zoë Kravitz's Rib Tattoo
Getty | George Pimentel

Zoë Kravitz's Rib Tattoo

Though it's hidden in many photos, a small script tattoo can be seen on Kravitz's ribs. She has not revealed its meaning.

Zoë Kravitz's Mermaid Tattoo
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Zoë Kravitz's Mermaid Tattoo

Kravitz hasn't shared the inspiration behind her topless mermaid tattoo, but it certainly is a popular choice — just ask Harry Styles and Adam Levine.

Zoë Kravitz's Stars and Coiled-Snake Tattoos

Just below the mermaid ink, Kravitz has three star tattoos and a coiled snake, all of which were completed by Dr. Woo. An identical set of stars can be found on her right arm.

Zoë Kravitz's "Stolen Land" and Indigenous-Headdress Tattoos
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Zoë Kravitz's "Stolen Land" and Indigenous-Headdress Tattoos

On the inner portion of her upper right arm, Kravitz initially had a design of the traditional headdress before adding the words "stolen land" in all caps to the piece.

Zoë Kravitz's Crescent Moon, Star, and "Être Toujours Ivre" Tattoos
Getty | Mike Marsland

Zoë Kravitz's Crescent Moon, Star, and "Être Toujours Ivre" Tattoos

On her upper right arm, Kravitz has a crescent moon and star design.

Along her forearm, she has the words "être toujours ivre," meaning "to always be drunk" in French. The phrase comes from a poem by Charles Baudelaire that states, "One must always be drunk."

Zoë Kravitz's Flying-Eagle Tattoos

Dr. Woo worked his magic again with this incredibly detailed flying eagle with geometric designs. Kravitz also has three small dots near her elbow and the initials AY, though it is unclear what they stand for.

Zoë Kravitz's Right-Forearm Tattoos

Kravitz has a mini arsenal of tiny tattoos on her right forearm, including her most recent tattoo, which is a snake wrapped around an anatomical human heart. Next is a small geometric piece consisting of a triangle with two dots on each side. The initials R.A. can be seen on the left side of her wrist. It is widely believed that this tattoo represents her grandmothers, Roxie Roker and Arlene Litman. On her palm, Kravitz has a cross with two dots on either side.

Zoë Kravitz's Tiny Wrist Tattoos
Getty | Lester Cohen

Zoë Kravitz's Tiny Wrist Tattoos

On Kravitz's right wrist, you'll find a singular arrow along with a cross and the number five. On her left, she has the word "wolf" written in cursive as a tribute to her half-brother, Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa. On both wrists she has intricate stick-and-poke designs done by Talia Migliaccio in 2015.