Are you surprised if someone has no tattoos?

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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.

Exactly what I was going to say!

Unless you mean that there is a higher proportion of people on council estates with them @Luckydip1 ? If so, I'd be interested to see the stats on that, could you please share them?

On the average council estate you will find tattoos on at least 50% of the people living there, it's part of the lifestyle.

I don’t have any and no intention of getting any. DH and grown up DC’s don’t have any nor does anyone in the wider family.

Stop digging. You just sound like a nasty snob.

It's Mumsnetm what do you expect?

😂 fuck off!

I’m a nurse in my 50s.
Non of my non nursing friends have them.
On the other hand most of my female nursing colleagues of whatever age have them, from tiny stars on a wrist to huge fuck off ones on their thigh. As far as I know none of the male nurses have them.

Weird that. I’m also in my 50s, work with loads of female nurses, and have friends family members who are nurses - very few of them have (visible) tattoos. Maybe they’re covered in them under their scrubs?!

Friends and family

Most of Edinburgh has one
Every August up at the Castle Esplanade

only one of my offspring has tattoos, they're lovely colourful things

My sibling , middle class, proffessonal has a couple which are of sentimental significance to them

My late MIL got some to guide radiotherapy treatment, just little dots.

Ive considered getting some to cover scars but that might draw more attention than the pale skin that shows up when I get a tan
Personally the only tattoos I find offensive are swastikas , racists and paramilitary ones

I haven't got any tattoos - nor has my husband, our 2 AC, their partners, my brother, DH's sister, and my own sister

I know several people you wouldn’t think have a tattoo who have them. They just have them in discrete places. If they hadn’t told me I’d be very surprised that they had one.

it’s not for me though. Still hate them.

Most of Edinburgh has one

No we don’t!

So not true. My dear, very landed friend has a bucket load.

No I wouldn't be surprised at all

I know loads of people without any, including me and DH. Just never appealed to me, I got a few piercings when I was younger but I couldn't think of anything I'd want permanently drawn on my body.

ive never been fussed as after a while ill get tired of them and want new designs

They’re not my bag. I find them messy but I never question if someone has one. Really dislike big ones that can’t be covered by clothing.

66 yrs old first tattoo was 1977
10 on me

I have a little tattoo on my back that very few people know about and are often shocked when they find out. I am almost 50, senior leader in the NHS. As far as I am aware, I am the only one of my friends with one. But when I am out and about certainly notice that they are far more common in general than when I was younger.

I used to nurse older people and remember old merchant seamen with very blurry tattoos on their forearms. They don't age very well. I do wonder how some of the very intricate tattoos I see will look on older, less toned, more flaccid skin. Not that it matters. Life is for living etc...

Most people I know / see don't have tattoos