You would hope someone takes time to research the artwork they are about to put on their body forever. Still, plenty of people choose a design because it looks clean, bold, or personal without checking every possible meaning behind it.
That has led to a few awkward surprises online, as people have started digging into the possible meaning of the simple black band design. And let’s just say it is not the kind of topic you would bring up over dinner with your family.
That is because, according to some online claims, the design can be linked to a very hands-on sexual act. It is also said to be known in parts of the LGBTQ+ community, though not everyone with the tattoo uses it in that way.
Of course, tattoos can mean very different things to different people. A simple black band might be about grief, strength, style, or a personal memory, but the internet has been focused on the much more adult interpretation.
‘It changed the way I look at everyone that has one’
Social media users have been debating the meaning of the design on X after one person shared how shocked they were when they learned about the tattoo’s more explicit connotations.
“When I learnt the meaning of this tattoo, it changed the way I look at everyone that has one,” they wrote. “The higher [it gets], the wilder it gets.”
The post was seen by nearly four million people, and a lot of users were left confused. Many had no idea that such a simple-looking tattoo could carry an X-rated meaning for some people.
Another person admitted they were “really curious,” while a third joked: “How far you can reach into the Pringles can.”
For anyone not following the joke, that line is being used as a euphemism. It is a hint at the sexual meaning some people now connect with the black band tattoo.
What does a ‘black band’ tattoo mean?
According to the Solong Tattoo Company, a two-band arm tattoo can have “profound meanings that appeal to many.” These can include grief, mourning, strength, and luck.
The company explains that the design is also popular because it is minimal and easy to wear. For some people, the two bands may represent different stages of life or major transitions they have gone through.
Others may choose the design as a way to reflect their cultural roots. Solong Tattoo Company also notes that because the design is so simple, it leaves a lot of room for personal interpretation.
The bands are said by some to act as a “depth marker,” linked to how far a person can reach during a sexual act. That is why people online have been joking about the design and warning others to check what their tattoos might suggest.
If the rumors are true, gay adult actor Brent Everett helped popularize the design among some members of the LGBTQ+ community. Still, that does not mean every person with the tattoo chose it for that reason.
In the video, which was first shared in 2023, he explained: “I have a double arm band tattoo and I often get asked by gay men what it means… they assume that it has something to do with f**ting.”
“The origins of these tattoos allegedly do come from f**ting and apparently, it’s how far you can go. For me, that is not the case though.”
He then made a fair point about how people read tattoos, adding: “I often say to people, if you see people with an anchor tattoo, do you automatically assume that they are a sailor? Or just that they like anchors?”
So, while you cannot assume someone’s sex life based on two black bands tattooed around their arm, the rumor has clearly changed how some people see the design. For some, it may be nothing more than a clean tattoo; for others, it may carry a very different message.
