Can someone please explain the fashion for tattoos?

[speakout]

I don't get it.
I am an older mum, with two young adult kids. They both have tattoos.
Doesn't float my boat, and they know I am not keen, but they also know I support their choices- their bodies, not my place- so noconflict there at all.
Truthfully I don't understand the appeal, the motivation.

Can anyone explain why tats are appealing?

I also hate tattoos and think they look really ugly. I hate the way they go blurry with age.

Everyone seems to have them now. I'll be gutted if my children get them. But they probably will.

I do hate my own snobbery about tattoos. But I also know that I will never regret not having any badly executed images of something that used to mean something to me on my body.

I have one tattoo & it's a memorial for my late dp, it's still not finished, I have the actual flower (a rose) but I still haven't had his names & dates on it.

I've seen beautiful tattoos and I've seen unpleasant tattoos. I have none because I'm far too fickle and would change my mind the minute it was finished.

From the outside, tattoos often seem another way of making connections with others. This very human thing of being an individual whilst also being part of a group.

I do enjoy hearing why people have chosen their tattoos and love to look at photos on here. Unless it's a celebrity's face, that I do struggle to understand!

Surely this wins most random quote of the thread.

The fashion for them will die out as young people see them more on old skin. When I was a child I only ever saw the occasional saggy anchor on an ex-sailor’s arm or something. They never looked attractive and even though the skills of the tattoo artists has improved they still age horribly and look ridiculous and trashy in time.

People have been saying that for years but it’s not true - tattoos aren’t niche any more, nobody cares what they’ll look like on old skin. There’s plenty of older people with tattoos.

I used to think tattoos were great, but that was when they were alternative. So many people have them now that I don’t see them as a transgression, so they’ve lost appeal to me. I see clothes as a much better way of stating my ever-changing identity. Jewellery, shoes, hair, also good ways. Taken out all my piercings since I’m not after that look any more. I’m after architectural, monochromatic.

The tattoos I wanted when younger, I’m so so so SO glad I didn’t do. These OMG include facial tattoos. I’m mid 50s now and it’s bad enough having wrinkly skin let alone shitty tattoos on it. And believe me, all the tattoos I wanted would today be deemed shit. I was into alt sub cultures, and I still like all the music, but Christ, thank fuck I didn’t get tattoos. @speakout i know where you’re coming from!

Having said all that, I completely get this. Sorry for your loss. This is different. 💐

I hate tattoos. Some actually make me feel physically sick. Leg tattoos are vile for me as are ones on the chest.

Also why on earth would someone have a tattoo where they can't even see it like on their back or back or their neck?

I can only speak for myself but I love them. Not head to toe covered but a few well done tattoos are very sexy to me on a man. There is no deep and mystical reason which it seems like you are searching for- people simply like them. Which is fine. I am sure you style yourself, or may physically present yourself in ways that I personally dont find appealing and wouldnt choose for myself, it doesnt make either of us wrong, its simply personal preference.

You could also ask why typically women get pierced earrings in each ear (which even years ago was quite the norm)- why? because they liked the way they looked. Same with tattoos. I do find posts like this a bit baffling because there have always been fashions which push boundaries of the time or are seen as "alternative" by those who choose to follow a more conservative look. There are many body modification things that I dont particularly like but I'm not surprised by it because we are all different, and wouldnt the world be incredibly boring if everyone was the same?

No it wasn't King George V. I was a kid in the 70s and it was unusual for people to have tattoos. The odd one or two here and there. The OP is just wondering what changed. I've noticed myself when I go into town that around 2 out of 3 people have visible tattoos.

It's not a criticism, just a question.

You are right, my partner says not having tattoos is the new tattoo as so many people have them.

I don't regret mine but I have no interest in them either now.

@speakout you talk about being shackled to modern fashion.

But then talk about how people didn’t have them when you were young. Because they were acceptable. Every generation could be described as to fashion.

I have just had my 6th. I am pagan and they are all related. I like having it etched on my body.

I bet I could AS you and name loads of things that I, or other, people just don’t get. We don’t need to. It’s not for us. It’s for you.

it’s the same with tattoos. I have them for me. Because they mean something to me. They are for me.

I know you didn’t say this, but I don’t care if someone does like how they look. Or if they ruin the lines of clothes to them. But they aren’t for anyone else.

People like how they look. People have a million different reasons to get them. It’s ok that you don’t get it.

I think they look.shit when your skin gets wrinkly or when they fade and some designs really date you, I.e the tribal ones are all men in their late 40s, the lion on the back of the hand tells me you're 2@0s

Do you have pierced ears? If so.
Answer your own question.

Why did you do that?
Why did you poke holes in your body & shove bits of metal or plastic through those holes.

Why are you a slave to fashion?

Some people like tattoos, some don't.

What one person deems to be a good tattoo is completely subjective based on individual taste and life experience and influences.

Social media and Internet has normalised tattoos and sites such as Instagram make it easier to research and seek inspiration / be influenced on styles of tattoos that might appeal to an individual.

I think tattooing will continue to be popular as the artform continues to evolve and different styles develop that may appeal to different people.

This is beautifully expressed, I love it

I was wondering if they have become less painful to do over the years - newer techniques maybe? There's definitely a big % increase and people say of sleeve/large area tatts "oh it's not that painful".

I wanted one in my 20s and people with tiny butterflies said "oh, it's really painful". So I just wondered.

@Dissuadepersuade

"I think they look.shit when your skin gets wrinkly or when they fade and some designs really date you"

+++

So to be fair a lot of things from swimwear to summer dresses look a better on a 21 year old than a 60 year.

Alternatively you can view tattoos (IMO done in moderation) done when younger as a permanent happy reminder in later years of a more care free youthful existence that brings a nostalgic inner smile on a cold crappy day at work combined with looking after the family.

But that's just my opinion and each to their own without judgement.

It's such a shame that the more intricate ones fade and go blurry with age, and end up looking a bit crap.

I have never understood the "what happens when you are old" thing about tattoos! Everyone will get old and wrinkly eventually if we are lucky to live long enough. Its not as if aged, wrinkled, saggy skin looks amazing and beautiful if only it wasnt for the tattoo lol. The older people get the more likely they also might be to have scars from operations or procedures yet you wouldnt say scars on old wrinkled skin will make it look horrid- ew! When people with tattoos get old, they will merely be wrinkled and old with tattoos, its not like if they didnt have the tattoo they would look 27 at age 90. In fact, sunbathing is far more likely to give you aged, leathery skin than a tattoo ever would so its a bit silly in my opinion.

I had tattoos 20 years ago and more recently last year.
Tattoo guns are noticeably quieter now. When I queried this, I was told technology has developed and modern Tattoo guns are quieter and less painful.
I couldn't compare the pain from now and then because they were in different areas and I can't really remember the pain from 20 years ago 😀

@1dayatatime

You're right most things look better on you when younger however I mean thr fact that as the skin wrinkles the design dissapears or changes but again each to their o

No idea why that was bold sorry

The sheep comments don't make sense. I have never seen any tattoos I have on others. They were drawn up for me and me alone.

I don't see someones tattoo and think I'm going to get that one on me