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 hilarious isn’t it. I don’t see any of the tattooed or pierced people trying to tell anyone they have to go and get modified, yet the naysayers are pontificating all over and trying to dictate how many we can have 😂

Congrats!

What’s your industry? And how would they know if you had them. Presumably your dress code is also very formal…

Gold star for you then ⭐️ you no doubt have perfect gravity defying skin.

I really don't care one way or the other about someone else's tattoos but obviously I do notice the large visible ones.
Isn't that a major reason why people have them?

Urgh, people with hair just all look the same.

People who wear clothes all look the same.

People...basically are all just humans.

🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes formal professional role.

I look like everyone else with a tattoo and piercings. I don't do it to 'look' anything. I do it because I want to.

They're not for me, but other people - their skin, their bodies, their lives, their business. End of.

As what? A professional sneerer?

When I was young mostly men had them. It got me thinking if the same thing driving some women to getting lots of tattoos is linked to the pressure for young women to avoid "catching feelings" during sex aka Mirroring male behaviour. But that might be a bit of a stretch. Times change!

Snap. And yet I have tattoos. Shock horror

A big one probably costs hundreds of pounds if not over a grand.

Damn right I want them seen!

That's the whole point to me - I love them and only get them in places I can see them.

Those tattoos look amazing. Tattoos for scars are cleverly done man.

Some really strange people on this thread.

Your role clearly doesn’t extend to comedy…

Yeah that's a stretch too far I think.

The facial and neck ones are the worst, truly hideous. Always seemed to terrify children too. Maybe that is the point?! 😂

Vanity I.E the birth of social media

Women having tattoos is an ancient custom, in any case. The cod psychoanalysis is daft.

I say this as someone who's not a big fan of them generally, although I do have a hole in each ear to hang sparkly things in, but tattooing just seems to be a thing lots of humans are drawn to.

@LadybirdsTakingTurds I half wondered if some women get them to ward off men.

This really made me laugh. From some of the women I know who have tattoos, this is definitely the case 🤣

My dad had the anchor one. Swallows was another common one with men.

I imagine somehow the very tattooed people were bullied at school or abused at home - or both. To me it signifies a need to protect themselves from something. To scare off others. Let them know you are tough. It feels connected to pain. I would never say any of this in real life because I sense a vulnerability in them. Despite the aggressive nature of tattoos (to me)

I can only speak for my assessment of my area which isn't anywhere you'd call salubrious.

Heavily tattooed women tend to also have lip fillers, fake eyelashes etc.

I think its just the new generation's take on 'wearing your wealth' when I was a kid these type of women would be dripping in gold jewellery.

Times change. Neck tattoos/sleeves are the new clown necklace/sovereign ring

I think they did become ‘fashionable’ in the sense of popular, and there are definitely fashions in designs. Absolutely no link to IQ, I agree.

A friend who was fairly out there in his youth in the 70s had large traditional ones done on his forearms and the backs of his hands -- think crown and anchor type designs. (He wasn't in the navy)
Come the 90s and he was an investment banker at a conservative City establishment and was quietly told to get rid of them. It wasn't cheap and initially left extensive scarring. He needed further treatment to minimise it.