Zayn Malik Breaks the Internet with Unexpected New Head and Neck Tattoos

Zayn Malik has been working real hard to let us all know that he’s done with One Direction and a successful solo artist in his own right, and the 23-year-old has pretty much cemented that sentiment by debuting three new tattoos this week, including one pretty controversial piece on the side of his head. Zayn Malik’s new head tattoo features an image of a phoenix with a banner reading “M.O.M.,” and his neck tattoos include a single sparrow on the right side of his neck and an unknown design on the left side.

We first caught a glimpse of Zayn’s new tattoos when the singer uploaded a black and white photo to Instagram on March 11, in which he is looking to the side and putting his new ink clearly on display. In the photo, there is a never-before-seen tattoo of a sparrow inked on the side of Zayn’s neck, but what really got people talking is the piece located on the side of his face. Inked just in front of his right ear and (sort of) blending into his hairline, Zayn’s head tattoo features a phoenix and floral design with a “M.O.M.” banner in front it.

A lot of people assumed right off the bat that Zayn’s head tattoo was a tribute to his mother Trisha, which is understandable given the fact that it says “MOM,” but the ink is more likely a reference to his debut solo album Mind of Mine, which is set to be released on March 25. The phoenix in Zayn’s head tattoo is also a significant image, given that phoenix tattoos typically stand for new beginnings or rebirth, which may be the way Zayn Malik sees his promising career as a solo artist, post-One Direction.

Similar to his phoenix head tattoo, Zayn’s neck tattoo of the sparrow could also be a nod to his solo career, as modern sparrow tattoos typically represent either a victory, overcoming a significant challenge, or returning home safely. As for his other new tattoo, Zayn has yet to reveal the design of the piece inked on the left side of his neck, but we’re sure we’ll get a peek at the tattoo before too long.

Zayn has been working on his bad-boy image for quite some time, even when he was still with One Direction, but he has always maintained his heart-throb status throughout it all. He gets a couple of neck tattoos and a big piece on his head though, and just like that, Zayn Malik has joined the ranks of Mike Tyson, Gucci Mane and Lil’ Wayne, and there are plenty of fans out there who aren’t too happy about it. We wonder how Zayn’s controversial new tattoos will affect his music career?