Tattoos aren’t cool anymore …

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I watched this video and found it really interesting. The first minute or two with the girl are a bit annoying, but once you get into it, there’s a lot being said.

Also, this video (which is a bit sadder), of people who definitely regret their tattoos

Personally, I am not anti-tattoo (though I used to be). Sometimes I think they can look good. However I think both videos really bring out the problems with them, particularly of course their permanence, as well as identifying fashions.

I just thought it would be interesting to share ….

People are so arrogant when it comes to tattoos and piercings - they seem to assume that their opinion actually matters and that those of us with them are suddenly going to go "oh, you're right, I look hideous!".

Baffling, really.

They never were as far as I’m concerned. They look common

People get really defensive about tattoos. When I was online dating I asked for no tattoos to get a higher standard of professional man and of course it works. Not many high court judges, actuaries, lawyers have them and even if they did it would put me off. I see some women ask for men with degrees to filter, in my mind it’s no different. I realise there’s exceptions but it’s something I associate with the less wealthy. I do understand many love them and that’s their choice and I respect that.

Young people cautioning against making permanent changes to your body? Or discussing the implications of making an irreversible decision at 18 that you may view differently at 25...or 35?

LOL - young people in my life have vilified me as transphobic for such reservations.

Just as an example of where they really don't look good no matter how professionally done, is where I see a bride with the most absolutely gorgeous dress and hair and make up etc.. And tattoos on her arms and sometimes on the neck. Ruins it IMO.

Just my opinion folks, and I think it's ok to have one!

My brother in law has several tattoos, one being my sister's face on his upper arm. His choice but it looks weird to me.

Gosh didn’t know ever were..

unless your a Maori or similar

I have tattoos. I never thought they were "cool". I also have scars. They're as permanent as my tattoos (and also self-inflicted). I don't think they're cool either, but their permanence doesn't make them a huge source of regret to me. My body is changing all the time, irreversibly & I'm ok with that. The tattoos mean something to me, and especially in the context of the scars - like a positive mirror image of all the violence I did to myself, like my body can be something to decorate and enjoy instead of something to hate and damage. "Cool" , or what a tictokker or a mumsnetter or a "higher standard of professional" man on dating apps thinks of them, just isn't on the radar.

To me they never were cool anyway.

Depends on the person and the tattoo.
The faded “whimsical” tattoos of Winnie the Pooh or Tinkerbell I have seen on older women never were or will be cool.

I do find it interesting the 20 years ago, a full sleeve/neck/hand tattoo said you were a hardcore underground type who eschewed the mainstream. These days someone with them is just as likely to be an estate agent who likes Taylor Swift and watching Love Island. And there's nothing wrong with that, but it's interesting how what it signifies has changed.

My oldest wants tattoos as soon as he hits 18 next year and we're OK with that but we have said to talk over plans with us as we will be able to advise if we think it'll be something he might regret or that will date badly. Thus far his ideas seem pretty good and meaningful - my nephew also had a few tats since turning 18 a few years ago and thus far they're all pretty good ones I think he'll be able to stand by having.

I find good tattoos pretty sexy - but only if they're well done and ideally a bit original. The best tattoos I know are ones that are well rendered and have some non-obvious personal meaning/significance. I don't have any myself, I went through a phase of wanting one a lot when I was in my early 20s but decided against it given the way they look less good over time - and it's as well as I kind of mostly wanted it as a 'subculture signifier' which they haven't been for some time.

It’s always the way in fashion- it goes back and forward. One year skinny jeans are in the next it’s wide legged jeans. Then back to skinny.

No different with tattoos. If they’re out now, you best be sure they’ll be back again!

I absolutely love this, and hope you're doing better now.

Mine are for me and nobody else. They can't even be seen unless I specifically choose clothes that reveal them. But I also have lots of piercings which I'm sure would have many clutching their pearls too

When were they ever cool?

Read most of the posts, and they’ve been interesting. Thankfully, no serious bunfights have broken out. But the fat lady hasn’t sung yet, I guess.

The first video I posted was very good at outlining “changing fashions“ into tattoos, something I’ve never really considered. That is to say you can often tell when a person has had a tattoo, because that was the fashion at the time. The fashion now, is, apparently, a clean look ie. no tattoos.

Most of us are subject to fashion, to one degree or another, with hair, clothes, etc. One issue that I see is that even if you like your tattoo at the time, fashions inevitably change. I once liked skinny stretch jeans, and in fact I have a few photos of me in them; I was happily dedicated to them for a phase of my life, maybe late 20s ! Now I think, just why?! But with tattoos, you can’t change them because – of course – they’re permanent 🤷‍♀️

That makes sense to me, as having a different relationship with tattoos and your body in the first place.

I didn't get mine because they were cool, I got them because I liked them. I've never been bothered about what's in fashion. I designed them myself, they're small, unobtrusive and I like them.

Well, it depends whether you pick your tattoo because it’s in fashion and the “in” thing or it’s something that has meaning and it’s been done specifically for you. None of mine come from a book/portfolio. Only one could probably have been fashionable at some point, but again it’s not someone else’s design , it’s my own. Even if 416262728939392 million people have the same one though , and it dates to a specific year/decade , it’s still irrelevant though, as it has meaning to me. Fashions changing have 0 impact on my love (and I do love them ) for them.

I think when Fern Britton and David Dimbleby started to get tattoos, they stopped being alternative! Each to their own. They're no longer anything radical, most of my colleagues have them (teachers).
I have read that laser removal is getting more popular, but maybe that's just to get rid of old ones.

I've never considered them 'cool', but each to their own.

I don't have tattoos but I love them on other people. I do think the trend to have hands, neck etc done when you aren't heavily tattooed already is a bit odd. I also think the current thin line ones are going to age really badly, as much as people hate on the 90s tribal style, they have aged pretty well.

I know loads of solicitors with tattoos (I'm a solicitor...with tattoos). They just tend to be in places you can choose to show them or not!

I didn't get them due to a perception of them being cool, just because I wanted them. I'm debating a half sleeve to cover an older one along with a big scar I have on the same arm due to an accidental wounding in surgery. I haven't chosen a design yet though.

I'm not sure, as others have said, that tattoos were ever 'cool'. Where I live, they are very very mainstream, so hardly a 'cool' vibe there. And yes, people in all walks of life have them. As for me, I hate needles of any sort so it's a no go!!

I don't see the problem with this though, you're talking about tattoos ageing a person as if it's otherwise avoidable to appear one's age. But most of us do look our age - you can dress more modernly, change your hair but you won't magically look ten years younger, so what's the issue with a tattoo betraying it? I don't have a problem with someone looking at me and thinking - wow, she must be in her forties with a tattoo like that! Because that's exactly what I am.

One issue that I see is that even if you like your tattoo at the time, fashions inevitably change.

I didn't get my tattoos to be "fashionable".