Mary Murphy/AP
Over the years, tattoos have moved from being a fringe practice to becoming a commonplace.
Tattoo designs have gone through all sorts of trends — from simplistic black-and-white drawings to body art and sleeves to micro tattoos.
According to a 2019 Ipsos pollAn estimated 30% of Americans own a tattoo.
Here are some examples of how tattoos have changed over the years, from the traditional sailor’s tattoo to the tribal tattoos popularized in 1990.
New York City is where modern tattoos were born. Martin Hildebrandt started tattooing soldiers in the mid-19th century to identify them in case of death.
Sources: Time, Grey Journal
In circuses and other freak shows of the late 19th or early 20th century, tattoos were common. Many performers had tattoos.
Source: Grey Journal
Black tattoos were a popular trend in the early 20th-century. These tattoos were boldly adorned with graphic images and lining.
Source: Inked Mag
Some people decided that having the number tattooed on the body was more convenient than trying to remember it when the US introduced social insurance numbers in the 1930s.
Source: Custom Tattoo Design
The butterfly tattoo was popularized in the 1990s, but they were used in England as early as the 1930s.
These were the years when tattoos became popular among women. Because of its subtlety, people didn’t realize it at first. The majority of tattoos were cosmetic, and they were used to duplicate makeup.
These tattoos can include permanent eyebrows and beauty spots, as well as skin-tinted areas.
Source: Grey Journal
Sailors are among the most well-known early tattoo converts. They used tattoos to tell their stories, or to show where they were.
Source: Refinery29
Different symbols could be used to signify different things. A turtle meant that the sailor had crossed over the Equator. A swallow signified that they had sailed more than 5,000 miles.
Source: Refinery29
After World War II, British and American tattooists created a new art form. Their travels to Asia and how tattoos were done there influenced their decision.
Sources: Inked Mag, Refinery29
Sailor Jerry (formerly Norman Collins), was one of the most prominent tattooists of that era. His most loved designs were the anchor and ships. He liked American patriotism symbol like the American Flag or bald Eagles.
His tattoo designs remain popular today.
Sources: Inked Mag, Refinery29
They became more popular in the 1950s due to Sailor Jerry’s tattoo popularity.
Source: Inked Mag
Tattoos were linked to masculinity in 1950s. Marlboro men, WWII vets and Marlboro veterans had tattoos. Due to veterans being often honored for their sacrifices, tattoos became more common.
Sources: Grey Journal, Custom Tattoo Design
At that time, tattoos were outside the mainstream.
Sources: Grey Journal, Custom Tattoo Design
The 1960s saw tattoos becoming more popular. Janis Joplin was the singer who popularized tattoos by having a Florentine bracelet tattooed on her wrist. This tattoo made it onto the Rolling Stone front cover.
Sources: Inked Mag, Refinery29
Although they are not acceptable for everyone, they were an option for many who joined counterculture movements to express their rebellion and individuality. The best part about tattoos was their permanence.
Sources: Inked Mag, Refinery29, Grey Journal
In the 1970s, more mystical tattoos began to appear — images of castles and fairies, alongside classic biker tattoos like skeletons and flames.
Sources: Inked Mag, Refinery29
In the 1980s, tattoos became popular in punk culture. Many punks had tattoos to match their piercings and spiked hair.
Source: Inked Mag
Thanks to technological advances, tattoos also became more sophisticated. Tinier and easier-to-use inks were made. People started to treat their bodies as canvases.
Sources: Refinery29, Custom Tattoo Design
This is when tattoo sleeves and bodysuits became very popular.
Sources: Refinery29, Custom Tattoo Design
Tattoos have seen a huge boom worldwide in the 1990s. There were 10,000 tattoo artists working in the United States in 1995. In tattoo art, there were only 500 artists thirty-five year ago.
Source: Refinery29
First tattoos were being done by women. This led to an increase in feminine tattoos like the butterfly tattoo.
Sources: Inked Mag, Grey Journal
Celebrities greatly influenced the tattoo industry. Pamela Anderson made tattoos such as the barbed-wire armbands very popular.
Sources: Inked Mag, Grey Journal
Celebrities such as 50 Cent, Eminem, Tupac Shakur and Eminem promoted the trend.
Source: BBC
Cultural appropriation was popularized in this decade as more people began to love tattoos made from Chinese letters and tribal tribes.
Source: Custom Tattoo Design
New School was a popular fashion trend in 2000s. These cartoony tattoos combined neon colors with more conventional forms.
Source: Refinery29
It wasn’t only the type of tattoo that was important in the 2000s; it was also about the location. Lower back tattoos were more popular in this time.
Source: Allure
The most popular tattoo design is the famous butterfly.
Source: Custom Tattoo Design
It was a period where some tattoos would probably be regretted later — especially given their permanent nature.
FDA approved Picosure Laser in 2012. It made it easy to get rid of tattoos.
Source: Allure
Throughout the 2010s, celebrity culture — with the help of social media — made tattoos even more popular. Celebrities like Lady Gaga or Rihanna have helped tattoos appeal to their millions of followers.
In 2012, 21% of Americans were tattooed.
Source: Ipsos
The tattoo artist Dr. Woo.
Source: Vice
Ink Mag identifies micro tattoos as one of the most important trends.
Source: Inked Mag
Popular were tattoos on the fingers with quirky designs, such as hearts, smiley faces, and mustaches.
Source: Custom Tattoo Design
Geometrical shapes are another hot trend. This tattoo depicts a soldier’s three Middle East trips.
Source: Allure
Stick-and-poke tattoos — a form of non-electric tattooing — were also on trend. By 2019, tattoos will be in use by 30% of Americans.
Sources: Refinery29, Ipsos
Insider received information from tattooists telling it that the most in-demand tattoo designs are micro tattoos, bold subtle line tattoos and full-color tattoos.
Pre-drawn, white-ink, and tribal tattoos are less common.
Source: Insider
Technology will make it much easier to get and take off tattoos.
Source: WKYC
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