Minimalistic styles continue to be popular.
Tattoo artist Lorena Lorenzo of Indigo ArTattoos expects to continue seeing minimalistic designs.
“It’s quite amusing because these tattoos can range from large-scale pieces to ones as small as a toonie,” she said, referring to the Canadian $2 coin. “It all depends on the ideas that the clients bring in.”
Floral designs are here to stay.
According to Jesse Smith, celebrity tattoo artist and owner of Loose Screw Tattoo, floral designs have been and will continue to be a staple.
“Floral designs have been around since the beginning and seem to be gaining popularity with the more recent stipple style that has emerged,” he told BI.
Stipple style refers to using tiny dots to shade tattoos, giving a similar effect as pointillism in painting.
People continue to opt for infinity signs.
Anastasia Gatsko, tattoo artist and owner of G Tattoo & Piercing, said the infinity symbol won’t go anywhere. She called it “the most popular design of all time.”
“I don’t see anything bad in using the infinity sign, even though some artists refuse to use it because it’s overdone,” she told BI.
Despite its frequent use, the symbol can hold special meaning, which is why the artist thinks so many people still choose it.
AI-generated tattoos may soar in popularity.
With the rising buzz around artificial intelligence and its many potential uses, Smith expects to see AI break into the tattoo world next year.
“Now that people can curate and design their tattoos via an AI art app and a few prompts, I suspect this will become more common moving forward,” he told BI.
Realistic tattoos continue to be hot choices in both color and gray ink
Brandon David, CEO and founder of Tattoo Space, expects color and gray styles to continue to be famous for realistic designs.
“These styles have been popular for years and show no signs of slowing down,” he said. “Their ability to capture lifelike images and scenes makes them a constant choice for many.”
On the other hand, people aren’t requesting as many anime-inspired tattoos
According to Smith, anime tattoos aren’t as popular as they used to be, which might result from generational shifts.
“Although the fandom around them is strong, the generation that is into them is getting older, and I suspect that will affect the number of people who are getting them,” he told BI.
Appropriating tribal designs isn’t coming back in fashion
Tribal tattoos are known for their bold and intricate designs; in some cultures, they have ceremonial significance. But Lorenzo told BI that the style is falling out of favor for people outside of those cultures.
Instead, the tattoo artist said a new style called cyber sigilism — more veiny and futuristic — is gaining popularity.
Ignorant designs aren’t cutting next year.
Ignorant tattoos are part of a controversial style that uses linework and cartoon-quality images to comment on society through satire.
But Gatsko told BI that many tattoo artists are no longer engaging in this trend.
“Ignorant design refers to using smudged and crooked lines to depict any topic in the world,” she said. “While it can be used humorously, it is not commonly requested for sleeve designs.”
She added that most veteran artists no longer offer the style, and now even newbies are turning away.
Feathers and dandelions are overdone.
Feather and dandelion designs have been popular for many years. But David expects to see less of these designs next year.
“The imagery of feathers with birds flying off and dandelions turning into flying seeds is losing its charm,” he said. “These designs, once symbols of freedom and transformation, are now seen as overdone.”