One Direction's Harry Styles shows off his new tattoo

PUBLISHED: 07:07 EST, 28 September 2012 | UPDATED: 07:07 EST, 28 September 2012

He's only been legally allowed to get tattoos for seven months, but it seems Harry Styles is getting quite a large collection of body ink already.

The One Direction heart-throb's new tattoos on his left arm are the beginning of a 'sleeve' of etchings he is said to be planning.

In a photo posted on a One Direction Twitter fansite, the 18-year-old is spotted with his eyes closed, holding up his left arm with his latest designs on show.

Among them are a black star, an Iced Gem, comedy and tragedy drama masks, a birdcage and the words SMCL.

Yet more tattoos: One Direction singer Harry Styles shows off his extensive collection

The words SMCL have led some fans to speculate it means 'smile more, cry later' or 'Simon Cowell' - who famously put the band together on X Factor two years ago.

Although it is not clear when exactly he received these new tattoos, he did pay a visit to the Shamrock Social Club tattoo parlour in West Hollywood on September 9.

While there, tattoo artist Isaiah Negrete etched Harry's older sister Gemma's name in hebrew on his upper left arm.

Joining Harry for his tattoo session were new Hollywood friends, Glee stars Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz from Glee and Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szohr, who appeared in a Twitter photo with the singer.

Sneak peek: Harry's birdcage tattoo can be briefly seen in the new One Direction video Live While We're Young, which was filmed one month ago

Kevin, who plays Artie in Glee, tweeted: 'Tattoo crew! @jennaushkowitz @itsmejessicaszohr @harry_styles @lpthree.'

When home in England, Harry frequently visits celebrity tattooist Kevin Paul, who is in the process of creating a sleeve of etchings for the singer.

Kevin told Sugarscape last month: 'I did a couple of bits on him last night. They're really personal to him - the reasons he had them done and stuff, so he doesn't really want to announce what they are.

'I'm doing him a half sleeve which he doesn't mind people knowing about. We're doing that now, so over the next week or two I'm gonna draw that up, send him the pictures over and then I'll go back down and start it up. One was something from his childhood, and another one was something really important in his life.

Celebrity tattooist: Ed Sheeran gave Harry an etching of a padlock last month

'It's at the top of the arm to begin the sleeve. I tattooed Ed Sheeran as well - who did a little locket on Harry's hand, like a little padlock thing.

'They didn't really have to stop because of the pain, it was all pretty small things really so didn't take too long.'

However, Kevin revealed on Twitter earlier this week that Harry had decided to hold off on getting the sleeve of etchings.

He wrote on September 23: 'Last time I spoke to Harry he said he is going to hold off on the sleeve for now but will be getting new bits soon.'

Harry also has '17 black' tattooed on his collar bone, a padlock that Ed Sheeran did, an A in the crook of his elbow for his mother Anne, another star on his arm and Temper Trap song lyrics 'won't stop 'till we surrender' underneath it.