- Business Insider asked tattoo artists which popular trends they want to stop inking this year.
- The experts said tiny fine-line tattoos, large hand tattoos, and quotes are all overdone.
- Symbols like infinity signs and anchors have been popular, but they can be tricky to get right.
Business Insider spoke with tattoo artists to learn which trends they hope to see less of this year.
Here’s what they said.
Tribal Polynesian designs should come with a personal connection
Tattoo artist and model Sini Ariell of Anarchy Ink Australia hopes to see fewer tribal, Polynesian-inspired tattoos this year.
“In my experience, most people get these tattoos because the designs are solid and have intricate geometric patterns, which look attractive,” she told Business Insider. “But they don’t understand the symbolism and meaning behind them.”
According to Ariell, tattoos with cultural meaning should carry a personal connection.
Horror tattoos have become a little overrated
Ariell told BI that horror tattoos have risen in popularity — largely inspired by popular shows like Netflix’s “Wednesday.” But she hopes this is a passing trend.
“Think of witches; nuns with sharp, pointed teeth; and ghosts with blood,” the artist said. “You might be a horror fan, but it’s not something you get inked on your skin.”
Stars are a tad overdone
Brandon David, tattoo artist and the CEO and founder of Tattoo Space, thinks the star trend is fading.
He saw them in various designs this year, from gap fillers to stand-alone pieces.
“Their overuse has made them somewhat cringy, a relic of past trends that no longer shine as bright,” he told BI.
Starting an arm sleeve with a big hand tattoo isn’t the best choice
Tattoo artist Dika O’Real of Tattoo Studio 58 told BI that hand designs have become popular recently, but she hopes to see less of them this year.
“When I say a hand design, I mean any substantial size of a design that person ‘starts their sleeve’ with,” she said. “It’s a new trend where people cannot wait to show off their tattoo sleeve (that does not exist yet), so they are starting it upside down.”
The artist told BI she prefers starting sleeves on the upper arm and moving down.
Wait before getting a Nordic-inspired tattoo inspired by a trending show
Like horror tattoos, Ariell told BI that Nordic-inspired tattoos — often involving intricate patterns — have become a frequent request following popular TV shows like “Vikings.”
But she’s not a fan of the trend when people only get them because of pop-culture influence.
“The TV series has influenced normal people getting these tattoos, and soon enough, their interest dries up, and they want to get them removed,” the tattoo artist said.
Phrases and quotes can lose their meaning over time
Phrases and quotes will likely always be a part of tattoo designs, but David hopes to see fewer requests for these this year. They can bring unique challenges for both the artist and the client.
“The fonts often don’t age well — with letters blurring over time — transforming meaningful words into indistinct smudges,” he told BI.
The artist also said that since people’s values and preferences evolve, some quotes become less relevant later in life.
Cultural symbols should be inked carefully and thoughtfully
David expects to see fewer cultural symbols in cases where they could be deemed insensitive.
“Feathers, dream catchers, kanji characters, and geisha faces are among the culturally significant designs that have been popular in the tattoo world,” he told BI. “While opinions on their usage vary, it’s evident that there’s a move toward more culturally sensitive and authentic representations.”
The tiny, fine-line tattoo trend will pass
Many opt for small, fine-line tattoos because they can be less painful and look more polished. But O’Real is over the trend.
“Inexperienced clients do not realize that any tattoo, with time, will spread and get much thicker,” she told BI.
Plus, fine-line tattoos can disappear or look less dainty with time.
Infinity symbols are overdone and tricky for some artists
Infinity signs can symbolize commitment and togetherness, and they’re a popular tattoo choice for small spaces on the body, like fingers or behind the ears.
Although David said the designs were once novel, they’re ubiquitous today. And many people don’t realize they can pose a significant challenge for artists.
“Many tattoo artists struggle with the symmetrical loop, especially on tricky areas like the wrist,” he told BI.
Nautical designs are becoming outdated
Nautical tattoos, like anchors, crossed cannons, rope knots, and seagulls, were some of the most popular tattoos in the early 19th century.
But David told BI that he hopes they stay a thing of the past.
“A lack of originality and technical difficulty plagues these designs,” he said. “The intricate details of clocks, compasses, and anchors often don’t translate well in the hands of an inexperienced tattoo artist.”
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