Who Is Maleficent?
Maleficent is a fictional character from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. She is a female villain on a quest for revenge after she faced her own betrayal and heartbreak from King Stefan as a child.
She curses his daughter, Princess Aurora, to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die before turning 16 years old. Instead, three fairies put Aurora into a deep sleep until true love’s kiss saves her.
Despite originating from a children’s fairytale, Maleficent has gained traction as a well-known and, in many cases, well-loved Disney villain. Numerous people have even sought out Maleficent tattoos based on their symbolism. Learn more about Maleficent tattoo meanings, designs, placement, pros and cons, and more.
Maleficent Tattoo Meaning
What does a Maleficent tattoo mean? Maleficent tattoos represent betrayal and loss due to her backstory, strength, and resilience like the character, embracing feminine power as seen in Disney’s female villains, and symbolizing courage in facing life’s challenges with determination.
1. Betrayal and Loss
Maleficent was betrayed by her childhood friend and sweetheart, Stefan. She trusted him and he ultimately tricked her and injured her, severing her wings for his own selfish desires. This twisted Maleficent into a villain. As a result, you may get a Maleficent tattoo if you’ve gone through your own betrayal and loss.
2. Strength and Resilience
Despite what Maleficent went through, she was a powerful and tenacious being. So you may get this tattoo if you feel like you embody a similar sense of strength and resilience. Or, you may get this tattoo if that’s something you’re striving for.
3. Feminine Power
Many Disney fans are drawn to its female villains because they are powerful with meaningful and relatable backstories. Often seen alongside Cruella and Ursula, Maleficent embodies feminine strength as she rises into a position of power and control within her kingdom.
You might get a Maleficent tattoo to showcase your own desire for such formidable influence.
4. Courage Through Struggle
While it can be easy to lose hope after going through something traumatic, some people, like Maleficent, maintain courage as they push forward with their lives. A Maleficent tattoo can symbolize the ability to use courage as a tool to overcome life-changing challenges.
Maleficent Tattoo Ideas
There are many different ways you can design a Maleficent tattoo. You can go with a popular depiction of the villain or make something completely your own. Explore popular design options below for inspiration.
1. Silhouette Maleficent Tattoo
Source: Georindia Tattoo.
Common colors associated with Maleficent are black, purple, and green. If you want something in black and white or grayscale, you might consider a silhouette Maleficent tattoo. This is a bit more mysterious, hinting at the personal attributes of Maleficent.
2. Maleficent Portrait Tattoo
Source: Old Lines Tattoo.
Maleficent portrait tattoos are a direct callout to the villain and her characteristics. They show her from the shoulders up, giving a full display of her facial expression. You may get this tattoo simply because you are a huge Maleficent fan or because you appreciate her dark side.
3. Maleficent and Aurora Tattoo
Maleficent and Aurora are two vastly different characters. While Maleficent is dark, evil, and isolated, Aurora is bright, kind, and friendly with everyone and everything she meets. Showing the juxtaposition of the two characters in a tattoo can showcase two sides of your personality or a personal transformation.
4. Maleficent and Persephone Tattoo
Another Maleficent tattoo design to consider is Persephone with Maleficent’s horns.
Persephone was a sweet, loving goddess captured and tricked by Hades in Greek mythology. She later built a connection with him and spent a portion of each year by his side as Queen of the Underworld, assuming some of the dark attributes of Maleficent, who was supposedly one of Hades’ lovers.
This tattoo can show your unpredictability and ability to be either persona.
5. Angelina Jolie Maleficent Tattoo
Source: Brunander.
Angelina Jolie played Maleficent in the recent fantasy film Maleficent. It focused on Maleficent’s story instead of Aurora’s and received rave reviews based on Jolie’s performance. You may get a tattoo of Angelina Jolie as Maleficent if you were obsessed with the movie or if you connect with the attributes of villainous Angelina.
6. Raven Companion Maleficent Tattoo
Source: Luiza Boechat Tattoo.
Maleficent saved a raven that had been caught and sentenced to death by a farmer. She gave him the ability to shift into a human, and in turn, he swore his loyalty to Maleficent and served beside her as her “wings” after they were cut off. A Maleficent and raven tattoo can symbolize companionship, compassion, camaraderie, and inner strength.
7. Maleficent Magical Staff Tattoo
Source: NYU Tattoo.
Maleficent used her magical staff to conduct her evil tasks. As a tattoo, the staff can be a visual threat or show of power and protection. It may also call attention to the staff in the Maleficent film where she loses her wings, creates a staff out of a twig to walk, and later uses it as a staff to show her power and command. This type of staff tattoo can show your ability to turn weakness into strength.
8. Maleficent Dragon Tattoo
Source: witchychloeey.
When Prince Phillip comes to kiss and save Aurora, Maleficent turns herself into a giant dragon to battle him. She is black and purple with green eyes and breathes lime-green fire. You may be drawn to a Maleficent dragon tattoo to symbolize protection, strength, and the battles you’ve faced.
9. Small and Simple Maleficent Tattoo
Source: Noran Ink.
Depending on your preferences, you might not want a large, colorful, detailed tattoo of Maleficent. Instead, you could get a small and simple version, such as a tattoo of her horns, her eyes, and her lips. Minimalistic tattoos hinting at Maleficent’s resemblance are very popular and sometimes designed in a line alongside Ursula and Cruella de Vil’s likenesses. They can serve as a simple statement that you have your own villain-like traits or desires.
10. Maleficent Wings Tattoo
Source: Lisa Samhain.
Maleficent’s wings are a huge symbol of her freedom and loss. When Stefan cuts them off, she goes through extreme pain and is no longer able to fly. A tattoo of her wings can showcase your desire to be free, or, they may symbolize what you have lost.
11. Maleficent Phoenix Tattoo
Maleficent was said to be the last descendant of the phoenix, which is a bird that catches fire and is reborn from its own ashes. In some versions of her story, she ends up in a fairy vs. human war and takes an arrow to save Aurora. Aurora cries into her ashes, bringing Maleficent back to life to then save Aurora.
As a tattoo, the Maleficent phoenix shows the ability to love and change despite evil tendencies. You may get this tattoo if you want to show that you have become a new person and were reborn in a way.
Maleficent Tattoo Placements
Maleficent tattoos are most common on large, flat areas of the body where your tattoo artist can capture her full likeness. However, if you get just her silhouette, just her horns, or something else small, you may have more options.
Full versions of Maleficent or depictions of her as a dragon or with other characters are often placed on the black or the upper arm. You may also consider your calf or thigh. If you get a small tattoo, your forearm is a very popular tattoo spot.
Maleficent Tattoo Cost
The cost of a Maleficent tattoo will vary greatly based on the size, detail, and if you want color. As a medium-sized, portrait-like tattoo, you’ll likely pay between $300 and $700. If you plan to get color and add other details like flames or a raven, you’ll likely pay $700 or more.
If you plan to use Maleficent designs to create a full sleeve, you should expect to pay over $1,000. But if you get something small and simple, you may be able to stick within a $100-$300 budget.
Maleficent Tattoo Healing
After you get a Maleficent tattoo, your skin will likely be sensitive and tender. You may also experience redness, areas of raised skin, and then itching, flaking and peeling as it begins to heal. It’s crucial to follow your tattoo artist’s care instructions for aftercare as it takes 2-3 weeks for the top layer of your skin to heal and 8 weeks or longer for complete healing.
Right after you get your tattoo, your tattoo artist will likely cover it with plastic wrap. You can remove it when you get home and carefully wash the tattoo with gentle, fragrance-free soap. You can then pat the tattoo dry but should avoid rubbing it as it can mess with the color. In days after getting your tattoo, you’ll keep it moisturized with a thin layer of Vaseline or other cream suggested by your tattoo artist.
Maleficent Tattoo Pros and Cons
There are different pros and cons associated with getting a Maleficent tattoo. But ultimately, it will depend on the person. Possible advantages include:
- You can get a unique design of a well-known fictional character.
- It’s a way to decorate your body and express yourself.
- The symbolism may be very meaningful to you.
- It could be a therapeutic experience.
- There are various design options with the ability to do color or black and white.
Possible disadvantages include:
- Some may find fictional character tattoos to look unprofessional.
- You may not enjoy the pain and discomfort associated with getting a tattoo.
- Depending on the size and style, the tattoo could be very pricey.
- You have to maintain the right aftercare to ensure proper healing.
- You must look for a safe, clean place to get your tattoo as it presents risk of infection and scarring.
- It’s a permanent mark on your body that can be difficult and painful to remove or cover up.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an intriguing tattoo that has meanings like strength, feminine power, resilience, and overcoming struggle, a Maleficent tattoo could be right for you. If it’s your first tattoo, be sure to think through the tattooing process and the required aftercare. And if you’re a tattoo veteran, focus on what type of design you want, where, and what it will mean to you.
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