Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anyone got any Adult DC with no tattoos

345 replies

flexandimpress · 02/09/2021 16:38

Has anyone got any young adult children who don't have tattoos and don't like them. My DS who is 21 said that he's never getting a tattoo as he doesn't like them. It made wonder how common are tattoos nowadays?

OP posts:
Pallisers · 02/09/2021 18:29

3 out of 3 without tattoos. DS's best friend has several and thinks ds should get one but he seems to have little interest. Dd (21) may get one in the future - maybe

None of my adult nephews and nieces have tattoos either.

toconclude · 02/09/2021 18:29

Two DS, 32 and 30. They don't like needles...

IsAnybodyListening · 02/09/2021 18:30

DD21 hates them. Although no issue with a ring in her nostril.

onlychildhamster · 02/09/2021 18:32

I am 28, no tattoos. DH has no tattoos either. Neither do his 3 sisters (all in their 20s).

But we are Jewish. DH's cousins who grew up in Luton do have lots of tattoos!

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 02/09/2021 18:34

I was at an event with lots of late teens/very early 20s last weekend and noticed that fewer of them had tattoos than I would have expected. I wonder whether the tide has turned? (not meant critically- I like most tattoos). I know not everyone can afford them at that age but, 5 years ago, I think a larger percentage would have been inked.

I don't think tattoos are going to drop out of fashion, but the assumption that everyone young has one may recede. And it's probably no bad thing if people wait - almost everyone I know who regrets a tattoo had it very young.

esloquehay · 02/09/2021 18:34

I'm 42, covered in tattoos. My adult nephew has none, but would getting one. My daughters are very young, but if they get them? It's neither here nor there to me. Just because I love them doesn't mean I care whether or not other people do. A chaçun son destin.

lyntheyresexpeople · 02/09/2021 18:36

@seaandsandcastles

It does unfortunately seem to be coming more common. Awful, permanent things that they will one day regret no matter how stubborn they are that they won’t 😂
Please don't give me the "you'll regret them when you're old and they look awful". I think when I'm elderly I'll be more concerned about pissing myself every five mins, and making it to my next birthday rather than give a shit about my tattoos. Which will all be covered, because the second you get old you seem to be cold constantly and wrapped in 32 layers even in the middle of a heatwave.
PattyPan · 02/09/2021 18:36

I’m 26 and none of my friends have tattoos. SIL (22) does but DSis (also 22) doesn’t. It depends on the crowd/fashion sense of the person but I think they are more common overall now than they used to be. I think they look dreadful, especially sleeves.

danadas · 02/09/2021 18:38

My 18yo has seven tattoos, she will end up covered in them.

I don't mind them but don't have any myself - I've never seen any designs that I'd like to have.

FlumpsAreShit · 02/09/2021 18:38

I'm 30, my sister is 26. Neither of us have them.

icedcoffees · 02/09/2021 18:44

@Musicaltheatremum

Neither of mine have (26&28) daughter was an actress so was frowned upon and son hasn't bothered. Too keen on keeping fit!
What's the correlation between tattoos and keeping fit, exactly?
TheFairyCaravan · 02/09/2021 18:48

DS1(26) has 5 or 6. I don’t care, it’s his body not mine. He goes to a man who has a long waiting list and charges a lot of money so they don’t look bad.

DS2 (24) doesn’t have any. He wanted one but was going to wait until he finished uni and got his first nursing job. Now his girlfriend doesn’t like them so I can’t see him getting any now.

Lulu1919 · 02/09/2021 18:49

One has a tiny heart outline in her hip, one has none ..both female

TheFairyCaravan · 02/09/2021 18:50

@Musicaltheatremum

Neither of mine have (26&28) daughter was an actress so was frowned upon and son hasn't bothered. Too keen on keeping fit!
That’s funny! DS1 is in the gym twice a day, swims 3 times a week and runs every other day. His tattoos don’t hold him back at all.
YouJustDoYou · 02/09/2021 18:51

None of my whole family have them bar two skater cousins. Husband's side don't have them due to cultural issues.

Peaseblossum22 · 02/09/2021 18:53

Ds1 28 none as far as I am aware, his gf does though. He’s not keen on needles and careful with his money which would probably explain it . Ds2 25 none and probably unlikely , ds3 19 not at the moment but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did in the future

RiversideAnne · 02/09/2021 18:54

They’re less common with young adults now than they were when I was 20 (nearly 15 years ago!). They’re going out of fashion ime.

WhatsTheBFD · 02/09/2021 18:58

Yes, the 3 hours a month I spend getting tattooed has really impacted my work out regime and I’m getting terrible fat.

2et2font5 · 02/09/2021 18:59

@Grapewrath

Lol at tattoos looking dated I’m in my 40s and have 5. I still love them all although hsve had one recoloured Teen dd has two. Ds isn’t keen
Isn't that kind of the point? You, as an older person love them, your kids are 50/50, they are becoming dated looking to many, precisely because they are something many older people have. Like Facebook and brass light fixtures.
GrandTheftWalrus · 02/09/2021 19:00

Don't understand the link between tattoos and keeping fit.

Olympic athletes have tattoos, I imagine they are all pretty fit.

LST · 02/09/2021 19:02

@RiversideAnne

They’re less common with young adults now than they were when I was 20 (nearly 15 years ago!). They’re going out of fashion ime.
The waiting lists at existing and all the new tattooist opening up beg to differ..
SunshineCake · 02/09/2021 19:03

Two adult kids, neither have a tattoo. Eldest doesn't like or want one. I wouldn't be surprised with dc2 gets one. That's the one out of all my kids who will do the crazy stuff.

IamMaz · 02/09/2021 19:05

I have a 29 year old son with no tattoos or body piercings.

Cecillie · 02/09/2021 19:05

3 between 27 and 22 and no tattoos.
Dd doesn’t even have pierced ears as scared will be too painful though so …

AlrightThereSkippy · 02/09/2021 19:05

I'm the only one in my family who has a tattoo and it's small and inconspicuous. A few of my friends have them. Generally, I like tattoos. Not so keen on them all over limbs, but they aren't my limbs, so not my business. And some of them are nice.

I was another one with a mum who said ridiculous, snobby things about tattoos. I'm sure that's part of the reason I got one at 22!