TRENDS IN TATTOOS OFTEN CHANGE OVER THE YEARS
As time changes, so do trends. Tattoo designs and styles come and go, but not forever. Something that was really popular in the 40s may have died out, but often there’s a resurgence of interest. Sort of like the high-waist “mom jeans” of the 80s making a comeback in recent years. So, what should we look out for in 2024 for tattoo trends?
WHAT’S THE BUZZ IN WHAT’S GOING TO BE POPULAR?
There are many designs in the tattoo industry that there’s a certain buzz going on. There are tattoos people are talking about getting done once their holiday spending has subsided and tax refunds start to roll in. Here are some of the more talked about, searched for, and discussed tattoo trends.
FULL SLEEVE TATTOOS
Although always popular, sleeve tattoos seemed to be having an uptick in interest. People that weren’t interested before are not showing signs it’s something they’re looking to get done. A full sleeve tattoo can be of any style and topic. There really is no limitation. It will take your artist more time to conceive, design, and draw out a sleeve tattoo, but the results are worth the wait. This one trends more than any other.
FLORAL TATTOOS
Another staple in the tattoo industry, the trends of floral tattoos continue every year. It doesn’t look like a design that will ever go away, and with good reason. There are so many things you can do with a floral tattoo regarding style and design. A good artist will probably create several hundred unique floral tattoos over their career, and in the thousands for those who specialize in the subject. If you take into consideration of how many tattoo artists there are globally, that’s millions of unique floral designs.
COLORFUL/VIBRANT/WATERCOLOR TATTOOS
Before we get into it, no, black & grey tattoos aren’t going anywhere. They will be popular forever. B&G is well loved internationally and it’s a given to be popular. With that said, there is a bunch of internet chatter and in-studio discussions with clients that makes it appear there are trends happening in the desire for extremely colorful and vibrant pieces. These differ from typical tattoos with color and are more like color tattoos on steroids.
SMALL/MINIMALIST/SIMPLE TATTOOS
People more and more are recognizing the simplistic beauty of a small and/or minimalist tattoo. A tattoo doesn’t have to be grandiose and take 30 hours to be impressive. A very well done small and simple tattoo can also have a degree of impact simply due to its innate beauty. They are the epitome of “less is more” if done perfectly.
FINE LINE/UNSHADED TATTOOS
Fine line tattoos have been popular for a while now, but there seems to be a larger interest as it trends in this coming year. Finely detailed tattoos with little or no shading seem to becoming more popular each year, and it appears to be really focused in the majority with women. Men do enjoy this style as well, but the ratio is much smaller than with the female tattoo crowd. They are also a popular choice for people that are looking at getting their first tattoo, which would indicate it’s also age related to a certain degree.
MEMORIAL TATTOOS
Memorial tattoos have been around for a very long time, and they will always have a place in the tattoo industry. As time goes by, more people seem to be inclined to get a memorial tattoo for someone they loved and lost or for a lost pet. These kinds of tattoos span all age groups, and surprisingly, it’s the older crowd that dominates the request for one of these tattoos. Older people that have never had a tattoo before in their entire life are starting to book memorial tattoos.
WHAT TATTOOS ARE TRENDING ON THE DOWNSWING?
With some trends swinging in the upward direction, that always means others will swing on the downward. It doesn’t mean these tattoos are passé or lame, it just means they aren’t currently as popular as other styles. Sometimes, a particular design or style has its moment in the sun, and then it fades away, perhaps forever. This could be said about the stereotypical “90s tribal”. It did go away for the most part, but it appears to have been given sort of a new life with neotribal as that style trends. So what’s out in 2024?
CLICHE TATTOOS
What is a cliché tattoo? It’s something that’s been done a million times before. Some of these include, but not limited to, infinity symbols, feathers blowing away and turning into birds, lovers name tattoos, “carpe diem” or “memento mori” tattoos, cheesy quotes such as “Live, Laugh, Love”, and so on. People are starting to not only stray away from cliché pieces, but are also looking to get them covered up.
HARRY POTTER TATTOOS
There’s nothing wrong with Harry Potter or enjoying the books/films. However, it’s had its day in the tattoo world, mostly with either “Always” or the Deathly Hollows logo (or sometimes the two designed into one tattoo together). So many of these designs have been done over the years, there are actually some artists that flat out refuse to do any more of them. Fortunately for those artists, the request for HP tattoos have dropped quite a bit, and it looks to continue that way into 2024.
IGNORANT STYLE TATTOOS
There will always be a special place in the hearts of many who enjoy this bizarre trendy tattoo style. If you’re not familiar, they’re cartoonish style tattoos that often have some sort of stance on society usually done in a humorous way. They’re easy to identify because they are generally and purposefully done to look like they were drawn by a child. Some artists absolutely hate that these even exist. It’s a trend that lasted a few years, but it looks like it’s nearing its end in 2024.
AMERICAN TRADITIONAL
Sad as it may seem, it looks like American Traditional style continues its downswing. Once very popular, particularly in America, these classic tattoos just aren’t resonating with the younger crowd like they used to. There will always be people out there getting the traditional style, and most tattoo artists have a certain degree of love, if for nothing more than nostalgia, for American Traditional tattoos. Unfortunately for those that still love it, the style continues to fall further down the line for requested tattoos outside a shop that only does flash.
FOREIGN WORD LETTERING
Let’s face it, quite a few of us have something like this done. A few decades back, it was “cool” to have some Chinese or Japanese characters tattooed on you that meant something like ‘strength’ or ‘power’. Not so much these days. There doesn’t seem to be any upcoming interest in these tattoos by practically anybody. Roman numerals and Norse runes are still trending, but Asian characters have all but died off for tattoo requests.
TRENDS COME AND GO, BUT HERE’S TO 2024!
FAQ – Tattooing Trends Going Into 2024
What are the rising tattoo trends for 2024?
Full sleeve, floral, colorful/vibrant/watercolor, small/minimalist/simple, and fine line/unshaded tattoos are gaining popularity.
Are memorial tattoos becoming more popular?
Yes, memorial tattoos are among the trends seeing an increase in interest.
Which tattoo styles are declining in popularity?
Cliché tattoos, Harry Potter-themed tattoos, ignorant style tattoos, American Traditional tattoos, and foreign word lettering are losing favor.
Why are certain tattoo trends declining?
Changing cultural influences and evolving tastes are contributing to the shift in preferences.
Is there a trend towards more intricate tattoo designs?
The popularity of fine line and unshaded tattoos suggests a move towards more detailed and intricate designs.
How are minimalist tattoos evolving?
Small, minimalist, and simple tattoos are becoming more favored, reflecting a trend towards understated elegance.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you’re ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you’d like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted “The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah” for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.