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.

Heck. I’ve got 6 piercings in my ears (2 in each lobe and 2 in one upper ear) and a tattoo. You would hate me. I’m also nearly 60, quite boringly respectable and a respected semi retired teacher…

With all due respect, if you were suffering from a medical emergency, you would take the help you were given. Be that from a tattooed health care professional or not. It's our skill you need, not the way we look.

People like you are the reason why professional are leaving in droves. What we do with our bodies is nothing to do with you and to judge us, it utterly ridiculous.

Same. Very heavy fake lashes, long Cardi B nails, big filled lips, lots of tan and lots of tattoos and the blokes have fake teeth usually associated with Turkey, wear extra tights trousers and tattoos up to the neck. Quite TOWIE Love Islandy.

People following celebrities who have more money than sense

You've no idea how stupid you sound, do you.

There's your answer OP 😂 blame David Beckham and reality TV.

Nope. Just normal skin, like all my friends my age. Sagging skin in late 50s is really not normal.

In what industry? And how would they know about tattoos under formal attire?

Tattoos are the same as ear piercings are they not? People have modified their bodies for a millennia, it's just the modifications change as humans do.

The Māoris have used tattoos as part of their culture for as long as they've been in existence, Ultimately, modern use of tattoos in general culture can be a show of art, in memorial of someone/something or just because the owner wants to decorate their body. It is exactly the same as wearing dangly bits of jewelry from holes in your ears...

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

Those sailor tattoos all have meanings. The swallow one I think represents a certain number of miles sailed. ( Grandpa was a sailor, had several tattoos… and gold teeth!)

I was neither. Am a very stable adult, never suffered with mental health issues, never been on any medication, work full time.

I didn't know my question would start all of this. I am sorry. I will hunt down David Beckham and give him a piece of my mind about these dreadful tattoo trends in England. I'll make sure to have a chaise in the room when we meet - I wouldn't want him to swoon from the fire of my loins cutting criticisms.

Heavily tattooed here and I do not have fake lashes, nails, lip fillers or tan.

Nonsense.

I had my first tattoo at 52 with dh's ashes in them. So basically my dh dying is why I've got tattoos.

I have a few. I got them because they are of things I like, not because I am psychotic or to copy others! 😂

People trot out the same lines about tattooed folk being uneducated, nothing else interesting about them so they have to compensate, blah blah blah. I have two degrees and a patient-facing role in the NHS, I’m well-read, well-travelled and have a happy and full life. My tattoos are probably the least interesting thing about me. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve also never seen anyone else with my tattoos and if I did, I’d be pleased to meet them! The main difference between tattooed people and people who are anti-tattoo are that one of those groups couldn’t care less what someone else does with their own body. 🙂

And the anti tattoo brigade look down on the tattooed ones and think they're somehow better people, not realising it actually makes them shit people!

😂😂😂😂😂

I was neither bullied at school nor abused at home. However, if having a Moomins tattoo makes me look tough and scary, so be it! 🤪

And just be honest, you wouldn’t say it in real life because you know people would simply laugh at you.

We all get old and wrinkly! If we want those wrinkles to be full of colour, why the hell not 😁

Of course. Anecdotes are not universal truths. Likewise, just because you don't align with those characteristics it does not negate the validity of my own observations.

Neither do I!

Famous personalities and media before the tattoo was covered and rarely seen.

One of my friend's daughters, a lovely girl both in looks and personality, had the whole of her upper leg tattooed when she was 20. The tattoo was of some really lengthy inscription about "walking with my sisters" or something meant to sound very philosophical and a random picture of a beech with palm trees. It was ginormous. The inscription had nothing to do with her lifestyle, she wasn't off beat or artistic in any way and she mixed with a pretty conventional crowd. I thought it was a shame to see such lovely youthful skin be used in that way. I was partially disfigured at that age, so I suppose it struck a particular note of sadness with me.

I love the moomins! The stories have got me through some dark times, I imagine having some portable artwork is quite lifting rather than intimidating!

Yeah that was a weird leap. I'm a total nut job but I don't have any tattoos

Why would there be any relation 🤣