Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
When content creator Ash Puttam made a TikTok highlighting her rejection at retail store TJ Maxx due to her excessive tattoos, a debate arose regarding whether this was fair — and how views of tattoos have changed in recent years.
Tattoos are all the rage nowadays and with Gen Z coming in hot to introduce new trends such as patchwork and fine line designs, the culture is shifting and rapidly changing. So much so that some people are even asking the question: are tattoos becoming uncool?
Highlights
- Tattoo culture is shifting with Gen Z, as they favor patchwork and fine line designs, which reflect changing self-expression trends.
- Tattoos aren't becoming uncool but evolving — their meaning varies individually and they continue to hold appeal for many.
- Social media heavily influences tattoo trends, encouraging smaller, aesthetic tattoos without deep personal stories.
As an artist in 2023 asked, “Is it the tattoo apocalypse or do I just suck now?”
RELATED:
Are tattoos seeing a decline?
Image credits: Serhii/Adobe Stock
One article by The Guardian states the buzzing of electric needles is slowly falling silent and tattoo shops are gradually emptying out. Momentum has been lost, and there are a few reasons why this may be happening.
The most glaring of them all falls to the economy. The cost of living is so high, while inflation-adjusted wages are declining or stubbornly the same, and tattoos, unsurprisingly, come after rent in terms of priority.
Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels
@ashxobrien I want to know who is also having a hard time finding a job right now! #jobs#jobmarket♬ original sound – Ash Putnam🖤
It was reported that even a short delay in getting one’s first tattoo sets them on a path to no tattoos at all.
But in an interview with Bored Panda, tattoo artist Lucy from Vancouver, Canada has shared some insight on how tattoos aren’t becoming “uncool” — they’re merely transforming.
“I personally think what is ‘cool/uncool’ is subjective to each individual and although it may be a factor in some individual’s choice in getting tattooed, I believe the audience will always be there,” she explained.
Tattoo trends are shifting and some artists believe they are becoming “uncool”
“Every individual has their own complex decision making process for their tattoo so even if deemed uncool by many in society, tattoos will always remain ‘cool’ in others’ eyes.”
For a while, tattoos always had a negative connotation surrounding it, as they may be a factor in influencing one’s ability to get a job or other important fields, especially very graphic designs in visible areas. Artists have warned that this choice means facing consequences, even if potentially unfair.
One artist said tattoos will always have at least one particular audience
Image credits: dudalozanotattoo
Image credits: tribal_baby_ink
“I do believe one day most professions will no longer discriminate against those with visible tattoos, but I do not expect that to be a quick change,” Lucy advised. “Certain niche occupations will likely hire those without tattoos over those with visible tattoos and it is the unfortunate reality.”
This isn’t “completely unfair” if we put things into perspective, especially if we look at occupations such as modeling or acting, where appearance matters most.
But in a way, tattoos have lost their “rebellious title” as stated by Lucy due to “the silver-lining of more acceptance” in our society. And what ranks higher than all should be “the desire of self-expression.”
View this post on Instagram
How has this form of self-expression changed? In recent years, trends such as angel numbers and fine line have been on the rise. Many are also sizing down their designs in order to make room for patchwork, which refers to a collection of individual and smaller tattoos that are placed together, but not necessarily belonging to one theme.
“If I had a dollar for every angel tattoo number request I’ve gotten, I think I’d be able to retire by now,” Lucy joked.
Over the years, trends such as fine line and tramp stamps have come into existence
Image credits: tattooist_uci
@justinvtattoos Hailey Bieber inspred tiny hand tattoos #finelinetattoo#tattooreveal#tattooideas#latattooartist#haileybieber#tinytattoo♬ 888 – 𝐶𝐴𝑆𝐻 ﾒ𝟶
But what’s obvious is the effect of social media. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have played a huge part in influencing the designs that people tend to gravitate towards, whether that be by celebrities or other people sharing their everyday inspirations.
“There’s been the trend of TikTok inspired tattoos that uses red or brown ink, fine line pieces that are not the most unique but definitely a fun vibe,” she said, noticing that tramp stamps — a tattoo situated around a woman’s lower back — “are also in again.”
Nowadays, these designs can simply be viewed as a light-hearted form of self-expression. Not every tattoo needs to have a deeper meaning, although this is still a popular motivator for many.
Image credits: tattooist_uci
As Lucy said, this form of art is all about chasing happiness.
She explained, “If someone wants it and it fits with their aesthetic, reasoning, and makes them feel good about it, I would say go for it. Not all tattoos need to be large-scale, life-time long decisions where you pour every aspect of your life into a backstory for a design.”
Of course it is more than okay for some people to stew on their designs for months or even years in hopes that it does show an important part of their lives, but nowadays, young audiences — especially Gen Z — have tattoos just for the sake of having them.
Image credits: tattooist_uci
On TikTok, content creators give brief tours of the ink on their arms, midsection, and legs and one of the most common reasons heard for having a specific tattoo is simple: because “it looked good.”
“I don’t believe tattoos need requirements to be deemed a worthy piece to get, I feel like that’s a gate-keepy, outdated way of thinking,” Lucy said. “Tattoos and all other body mods are your choice and everyone is entitled to that choice.”
Designs on social media are gaining traction
Poll Question
Total votes ·
Thanks! Check out the results:
Total votes ·
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Kit Black 6 months ago
Of course tattoos are going to become uncool. Anything that becomes cool enough for the majority of an entire generation to move it mainstream is inevitably going to become uncool when their kids become teenagers...
CG 6 months ago (edited)
That's just the nature of things. Tattoos might not be unpopular right now with people from Gen Z and Alpha (I'm either a very late millennial or very early Gen Z, as sources are telling me different things for people born in 1995), but might become cool again with the next generation. Then again, Gen Alpha's are too young now to be legally tattooed, but when some become legal adults, who knows?
Load More Replies...
Emilu 6 months ago (edited)
Tattoos are for people lacking in IQ?? I don't particularly like tatts myself but some of the smartest people I know have tattoos. Of course they'll go in and out of fashion; everything does. Live and let live. For the record, my workplace (law, edit: but a casual law environment) has many people that have tatts; both visible and not. So tatts are not automatically a career-ender, no matter how much overprotective parents might like to say they are. Edit: I do love my workplace so I might be bias, but tatts, piercings etc; they don't care as long as you can do the job for which you were hired. I think more workplaces need to be like this.
CG 6 months ago (edited)
My boss does it best, in my opinion. One of our previous guys had two small tattoos on his hands, and he was fine with it. Before I got 3 out of 4 of the tattoos on my arms, I asked my boss if he'd be cool with it, and he had no issues with it when I explained what they are and what they're from. The last one was a spur of the moment tattoo at Comic Con, but it was an inoffensive Deadpool tattoo (just his symbol). The others are the Venom Spider-Man symbol, a Gundam's head, and Thorfinn's dagger from Vinland Saga, though broken and "bloodied". And I was never reprimanded for any of them. Hell, the 60 to 70 year old company president praised my tattoos, and if my boss and the company president are okay with it, I think I'll be fine.
Load More Replies...
Severus S 6 months ago
Tattoo's are fine but putting them on your face to that extreme and having the devil on your chest is going to make it more difficult to get a job.
CG 6 months ago (edited)
It's not a matter of having tattoos, but rather what you have, and where you get it that's the question. If they're inoffensive designs on your shoulders, you'll be fine. If you have a certain... symbol that was prominent in Germany from 1939 to 1945 on your forehead, that's a career ender.
Load More Replies...
Kit Black 6 months ago
Of course tattoos are going to become uncool. Anything that becomes cool enough for the majority of an entire generation to move it mainstream is inevitably going to become uncool when their kids become teenagers...
CG 6 months ago (edited)
That's just the nature of things. Tattoos might not be unpopular right now with people from Gen Z and Alpha (I'm either a very late millennial or very early Gen Z, as sources are telling me different things for people born in 1995), but might become cool again with the next generation. Then again, Gen Alpha's are too young now to be legally tattooed, but when some become legal adults, who knows?
Load More Replies... Emilu 6 months ago (edited)
Tattoos are for people lacking in IQ?? I don't particularly like tatts myself but some of the smartest people I know have tattoos. Of course they'll go in and out of fashion; everything does. Live and let live. For the record, my workplace (law, edit: but a casual law environment) has many people that have tatts; both visible and not. So tatts are not automatically a career-ender, no matter how much overprotective parents might like to say they are. Edit: I do love my workplace so I might be bias, but tatts, piercings etc; they don't care as long as you can do the job for which you were hired. I think more workplaces need to be like this.
CG 6 months ago (edited)
My boss does it best, in my opinion. One of our previous guys had two small tattoos on his hands, and he was fine with it. Before I got 3 out of 4 of the tattoos on my arms, I asked my boss if he'd be cool with it, and he had no issues with it when I explained what they are and what they're from. The last one was a spur of the moment tattoo at Comic Con, but it was an inoffensive Deadpool tattoo (just his symbol). The others are the Venom Spider-Man symbol, a Gundam's head, and Thorfinn's dagger from Vinland Saga, though broken and "bloodied". And I was never reprimanded for any of them. Hell, the 60 to 70 year old company president praised my tattoos, and if my boss and the company president are okay with it, I think I'll be fine.
Load More Replies... Severus S 6 months ago
Tattoo's are fine but putting them on your face to that extreme and having the devil on your chest is going to make it more difficult to get a job.
CG 6 months ago (edited)
It's not a matter of having tattoos, but rather what you have, and where you get it that's the question. If they're inoffensive designs on your shoulders, you'll be fine. If you have a certain... symbol that was prominent in Germany from 1939 to 1945 on your forehead, that's a career ender.
Load More Replies... You May Like 45 Fun Earth Day Activities To Keep The Family Buzzing All Day Campbell's Employee Fired After Denouncing Boss' Behavior, Leaks Compromising Audio
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Karina Babenok
Related on Bored Panda
-11
83