In 2025, a People Readers’ Choice poll named Dylan Efron its sexiest tattooed man. People records his brief account of getting ink, while Cosmopolitan’s portraits show designs across both arms.
The forearm design Efron calls his most memorable tattoo
Efron identified a forearm tattoo he got in Costa Rica as the piece he remembers most. People doesn’t name the design’s subject or connect it to a specific symbol.
The Costa Rica story marks the beginning of a permanent collection
He told People he had wanted tattoos for a long time but hadn’t acted on that interest before Costa Rica. The report places the session at the start of his collection, but gives no exact date or artist name.
Geometric blackwork dominates the left forearm photographs
A standing Cosmopolitan portrait shows both arms lowered and crossed at Efron’s waist. On the viewer’s left, geometric blackwork runs from an angular upper-arm shape down the forearm toward the wrist, with repeated diamonds, points and interlocking lines.
Open skin separates clusters, the outlines vary in weight, and the pattern tightens near the wrist. Some sections resemble star points or linked panels; that describes their appearance, not a confirmed meaning.
Floral tattoos cover the opposite forearm
A red-background portrait shows large flower heads and leaves from the lower forearm toward the elbow. Fine outlines and shaded interiors leave more skin visible than on the geometric arm.
The coverage doesn’t report Efron giving the flowers a specific personal meaning. The photographs show their placement and appearance, but don’t explain why he chose them.
Angular upper-arm shapes connect the sleeve sections
On the geometric arm, a larger angular design begins above the elbow. Bold points and borders frame finer shapes below, shifting in scale as the tattoo continues down the arm.
Small details at the edges
Both designs end in smaller details near the wrists. Dark lines gather on the geometric side; petals, leaves and compact marks appear on the floral side.
Hands or the camera angle obscure some of the marks. The coverage doesn’t identify every small symbol or assign each one a separate meaning.
The portrait session shows two different tattoo languages
The Cosmopolitan session includes standing, seated and red-background portraits at different distances. Wider views show both arms together; closer images separate the geometry, flowers and marks near the wrists.
When Efron turns his arm, the bold black shapes keep their outline, while the floral work depends on fine lines and open skin. The photos show two different styles, without establishing one theme for the whole collection.
Efron’s explanation of the first piece
Efron described the artist as kind and said the session made him comfortable. He recalled that he “finally did something for me.” People also reported his praise for the tattoo artists who worked on him; the article doesn’t name them or explain the later designs.
What the photographs establish
People records Efron’s personal story about the Costa Rica forearm tattoo. Cosmopolitan’s portraits show geometric and floral work across both arms, but neither source provides a full list of the designs or their meanings.