When did the popularity of tattoos among British people start increasing, what do you think caused?

[LadybirdsTakingTurds]

Can you tell me when tattoos became very popular in British culture? I recently went to a new gym and noticed a large number of young people, both men and women, with tattoos covering their bodies, even up to their necks and covering limbs. I was aware tattoos are much more common now than they were in previous decades but it was even more noticeable with everyone showing more skin.

It's now perfectly normal in the UK to see a person with a heavily tattooed leg, whereas this would have been considered unconventional just half a century ago. What do you think caused it - was it influenced by pop culture or a trend? Do you think its here to stay?

Some of the designs I've spotted repeatedly include lions, clocks, naked women, prayer beads, eagles, elephants, mandalas, chequered flags, clown faces, flowers, skulls, butterflies, roses, stars, and crying eyes.

It’s fashionable, it’s supposed to make you look like a tough and interesting person.

Better quality maybe. The tattoo that my mum had when she was 20 in the 1980s is awful and she ended up having it removed. Tattoo art is a LOT better now with some stunning designs.

I have over 50 tattoos myself, I just like how they look personally, doesn't go much deeper than that.

I don't know but it's interesting isn't it. I've just got back from Bali and there are definitely not as many tattooed people there! I'm going to hazard a guess that they became more common around early mid 2000s. I distinctly remember a girl at college had a sleeve on one arm and then dotted tattos everywhere of seemingly random things like Pokemon characters and villains from horror movies and that was around 2003 and I seem to remember it still being a bit unusual then. I wonder if there's a correlation between the rise in tattoos and the trend of women getting facial enhancements because they seem to have become popular around the same time. 🤔

Fashion, availability (when I was young there were a few really dodgy looking tattoo places in the parts of town people didn’t want to go to). Artistic development and range of styles rather than an anchor or a heart with “mum”. Higher levels of disposable income. People generally spend more on “image” type purchase in terms of time and money. Social acceptability - not a hindrance to employment any more whereas relatively recently visible tattoos were a no no in lots of professions. More “normal” and so not a big deal anymore.

And tattoo removal being easily available - means many are more willing to have something done knowing that they could have it removed or a cover up done.

I think David Beckham helped popularise them

Sheep copying fashions. The difference being that unlike clothes you can’t take them off.

People seem to be expressing themselves with body modifications of all sorts at the moment. It does seem to be a peculiarly British thing though, it's a distinguishing look. I haven't noticed the extensive tattooing or filled faces on everyday people (as in 'not a celebrity') from elsewhere I don't think.

Its come on so far. The inks are better, the machines are better, as it gets bigger it attracted better artists.
Years ago here you had the choice of three pretty dicey shops, where you could go in and get tattoos in one or two styles. Now you can go on Instagram and design everything with incredible artists.

It’s happened in the last 25 years. I do think David Beckham’s influence was massive. Suddenly every footballer had striking tattoos.

I do think there will be a lot of tattoo regret. Fashions change and generally what happens is once something becomes ubiquitous it becomes unfashionable.

Hadn't considered the improved tattooing artistry aspect, that's interesting.

Little bit of research: 48 per cent of “brummies” have an average of six tattoos and that a quarter (26%) of the British population have tattoos and one in nine (11%) of this group have tattoos that are visible; either on their head, face, neck, forearms, wrists, or hands.

I have noticed a lot of students at our local art uni have them as well, mostly girls, dotted over arms and legs. I half wondered if some women get them to ward off men.

It seems more rebellious now to not get a tattoo!

First comment is the usual basic sneering nonsense you get about tattoos on here.

Yes of course there are fashions with tattoos much like anything else. But it's literally a limitless art form which makes the 'sheep' comments particularly dimwitted.

They are less taboo

Easier to get done

Easier to remove if regretted

Far better quality now

It’s very popular with chefs too. On Great British Menu this week (Wales) there were two contestants who had very weird sleeve things which were basically total colouring in of their forearms, no discernible design at all.
I wondered whether maybe they had something on their arms that the BBC was not allowed to show, so it had somehow been coloured over with make up. But they were in steamy kitchens getting their hands wet so makeup would have come off very easily. Weird.

I don't care if anyone sneers about my tattoos tbh. I think its pretty sweet that they think I actually give a tiny shit about their opinion 😬

Grown adults who call other people "sheep" are really embarrassing.

I've only just said this on yesterday's thread slagging off tattoos.

I have a number; for me it's about making my outside reflect how I feel inside. It makes me feel much closer to the me that I truly am.

That's it. I'm not interested in looking tough or hard or anything. All of my tattoos mean something personal to me, they're not randomly chosen or particularly on trend in the tattooing world.

Maybe it's to out people who like to stare at other people's bodies.

I don't know why people assume that tattooed people are trying to look "tough" or "different". A lot of mumsnetters are so close minded that they think that's the only possible reason someone would get them. Why would it be trying to look "different" when they're so commonplace now anyway!

I think ( from those people I know who have them ) Self mutilation defacement and probably a few psych issues - and lead to very costly lasting regrets 👍☘️

He definitely played a big part in huge numbers of ordinary guys suddenly wanting lots of tattoos.

Oh, yes I remember that - but he was in California at that time and I don’t think Californians are particularly into it.

I love how bent out of shape people get over tattoos. I did not have my narwhal tattoo done to look ‘tough’ ffs 🤣🤣

Tattoos are now a million times better than what they were. You don’t have to just pick any old generic crap off a wall, there are some insanely talented artists and the internet means they can showcase their work far further than the high street.

Imagine giving two fucks what someone else does with their skin?! Unless it’s a swastika on their foreheads I don’t see anything to get wound up over.

No psychological issues with me. No regrets either, got most of them done in my 30s when I actually knew myself a bit better.

You can rest assured that's not the case for many of us, we're not all suffering with awful self-harm/muiliation issues, id imagine the vast majority are like me and just like tattoos and certain designs ☺️