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Original poster

Are you surprised if someone has no tattoos?

170 replies

Namechange240 · 06/09/2023 20:39

Is it more common now to have tattoos?
I'm almost verging on surprised if I see a celebrity that doesn't have any tattoos.
I almost expect someone I meet in real life to have at least one tattoo and am taken aback a bit if they don't.
For context, I don't have any at all however it just seems like almost everyone has one.

OP posts:
LubaLuca · 06/09/2023 22:46

I saw a memorable tattoo yesterday on a man's lower leg - a purple T-rex wearing a red hat and bow tie playing the saxophone. I was dying to ask him the story behind it, but it seemed too personal a question to ask a stranger.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 06/09/2023 22:51

I don't have any tattoos, although most of my friends have the odd discreet one.

My son, early 20s, doesn't have any either - despite spending a great deal of time in his mid-teens describing all the designs he was doing to have done. Possibly to wind his dad up ? As he's gone very quiet on the subject since turning 18. I think he's figured it's likely to hurt !

AnythingILike · 06/09/2023 22:53

80% of British people still don't have a tatoo. I'm one of them. I think they're bloody awful

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43ontherocksporfavor · 06/09/2023 22:53

None here. None in my immediate family and I think only one in the wider family.

Maddy70 · 06/09/2023 22:57

Most of my friends dont have them. I do

TheOGCCL · 06/09/2023 22:59

Tattoos are very mainstream now particularly amongst younger people. They don’t really have that edge or distinction anymore. I think that’s why some people end up plastering themselves in them, as they aren’t really notable unless excessive.

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 06/09/2023 23:00

None for me and I have never had my ears pierced either, which seems to he morw unusual than the no tatts.

Unless my stretchmarks count as tattoos?

bluebeardswife7 · 06/09/2023 23:14

I am 50, I have hung out with lots of cool people and I have no tattoos. Partly because I didn't have a body part I wanted to draw attention to, I didn't have an image I wanted to commit to and it felt more rebellious to not have one. (And cheaper)

bluebeardswife7 · 06/09/2023 23:15

Sexisthairdressers · 06/09/2023 21:03

Almost everyone on Naked Attraction has loads!

Do you think there is a correlation?

ThePoshUns · 06/09/2023 23:23

I dint have any but do feel I'm in the minority even in my dotage

MyGardensAMess · 06/09/2023 23:25

I think most people don't have tattoos. I never cared for them but did get a small memorial tattoo. Everyone is shocked when I tell them I have a tattoo as they tell me I don't seem the type. I quite enjoy surprising people and challenging their stereotypes.

Hooplahooping · 06/09/2023 23:25

Of my social circle I’d say about 90% of people don’t have them. Of the ones that do - half really love them + half were drunk lapses of judgement… I think most of my friends are completely ambivalent to them.

Catsmere · 06/09/2023 23:27

Yes, it's more common, no, it doesn't surprise me when someone doesn't have them. I don't even think about it. I have two that nobody sees, and my 90yo mother has one.

diamondpony80 · 06/09/2023 23:27

I know very few people with tattoos & no one in my family has them.

Malarandras · 06/09/2023 23:31

No…
Plenty people have them, plenty people do not. It’s not a big deal these days.

CrackedChina · 06/09/2023 23:39

I've never seen any on the people I know.

Spendysis · 07/09/2023 00:08

Me dh dsis don’t have them neither do most of our family friends but we seem to be in the minority most people I work with and I have moved jobs a few times and just out and about seem to have tattoos- north west
I can appreciate the artwork there are some amazing designs but I hate needles and if I had any of the ones I wanted previously you would know my age Barb wire dolphin etc

i am not going to lie ds 18 has very recently got one he mentioned wanting a tattoo but didn’t discuss designs etc and I am secretly gutted it’s on his forearm so can be covered but it’s a design with song lyrics that apart from liking that song now has no other meaning and he’s stuck with that for life now

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 07/09/2023 05:37

Billyhargrovesmullet · 06/09/2023 22:27

The difference between people who do & don’t have tattoos is those of us who have tattoos don’t judge those who don’t

THIS

Why people care so much is beyond me. I love my tattoos.

WandaWonder · 07/09/2023 06:09

Mine and my husbands family don't have them, I don't know of anyone currently who has them but unless the subject comes up or I see them I would not know if they are under clothes, I don't get why it would be unusual not to have them though

Quisto · 07/09/2023 06:37

DH has a few from a misspent youth, DS recently got two in his twenties ( small, not visible day to day). I used to be surprised at the number of women with tattoos here ( small SW town ) but everyone seems to have the butterflies, dolphins, children's names tattoos. I have no interest in being just another tattooed mum. It's really very common here and quite rare to see people without them.

Celticdawn5 · 07/09/2023 06:44

I really don’t get the tattoo love and I really don’t understand having memorial tattoo’s or children’s names etc.Like you would forget?

ruby1957 · 07/09/2023 06:50

AnythingILike · 06/09/2023 22:53

80% of British people still don't have a tatoo. I'm one of them. I think they're bloody awful

Exactly - it is a generational, personal preference thing - not everyone is of the same mindset.

DinosApple · 07/09/2023 07:03

I know lots with and lots without, probably half and half of my friends. No one in my immediate family though.

Personally I don't have any but have toyed with the idea, but can't settle on anything I'd want permanently.
DH doesn't like them, so has none.

You can get some very convincing full sleeve temporary tattoos from Amazon though. I had a fantastic octopus and ship one for a fancy dress party.

MyGardensAMess · 07/09/2023 07:12

Celticdawn5 · 07/09/2023 06:44

I really don’t get the tattoo love and I really don’t understand having memorial tattoo’s or children’s names etc.Like you would forget?

Of course you don't forget, but clearly you've never lost a child. People grieve how they need to. I have a special reason behind my memorial tattoo and it's the only one I ever plan on. Tattoos are not my style so there's a very good reason it was done and why it had to be a tattoo.

Alycidon · 07/09/2023 07:26

Celticdawn5 · 07/09/2023 06:44

I really don’t get the tattoo love and I really don’t understand having memorial tattoo’s or children’s names etc.Like you would forget?

It's so they can feel the person is still present. My childless sister has one in memory of the baby she miscarried the only time she became pregnant.

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