Tattoos have long been a form of self-expression, but they also carry deep social and cultural significance. Some see them as symbols of confidence and individuality, while others associate them with regret or professional limitations.
Ahead of World Tattoo Day, BonusFinder—North America’s leading casino bonus and online casino review site—surveyed 1,967 people about their views on tattoos.
This study sheds light on the reasons people get tattoos, the most common designs they later wish they hadn’t chosen, and how ink influences perception in different settings. Whether you’re tattooed, considering your first piece, or just curious about the trends, this analysis reveals fascinating insights into the world of body art.
Who Has the Most Tattoos?
Tattoos have become increasingly popular across different demographics, but some age groups and genders are more likely to be heavily inked than others. So, who is getting tattooed the most?
Women dominate the top three most tattooed age groups, with nearly three in four (72.5%) of women aged 25-34 having tattoos, followed by 68.4% of women aged 35-44 and 66.7% of women aged 45-54.
The next three most tattooed groups are men aged 25-34 (61.8%), men aged 35-44 (60.9%), and men aged 45-54 (59.7%).
When it comes to those over 54, the number of people with tattoos begins to decline. Among those aged 55-64, around half have tattoos—53.0% of women and 50.0% of men—marking the first noticeable drop compared to the younger generations. The trend continues in the 65+ group, though tattoos remain fairly common, with nearly one in three still sporting ink (36.2% of men and 32.7% of women).
Nearly half of respondents (48%) with tattoos reported that they have at some point felt judged for their tattoos. This was more common among women, with female respondents aged 45-54 most likely to feel this way, with more than half (53.7%) agreeing with the statement.
Do Tattoos Make You More Attractive or Less Employable?
Tattoos have long been a symbol of self-expression, but do they enhance a person’s attractiveness or hinder their professional prospects? While some view body art as a confidence booster and a sign of individuality, others believe visible tattoos can impact career opportunities.
Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder
The survey reveals that four in ten respondents (40.1%) believe tattoos enhance attractiveness, while just over one in five (22.9%) disagree.
Women were slightly more likely than men to find tattoos attractive, with 42.7% saying they enhance a person’s appearance. Meanwhile, 38.4% remained neutral, and 18.8% disagreed.
Finding tattoos attractive was most common among younger women, with nearly two in three of 18-24-year-olds (63.6%) and 25-34-year-olds (55.8%) saying they find tattoos appealing. However, the figures dropped significantly with age, dropping to 34.2% among women aged 55-64 and just 14.3% among those 65 and older.
Over one in three male respondents (37.1%) said that they find people with tattoos more attractive, while 27.4% disagreed and 35.3% remained neutral.
Again, the perception of tattoo attractiveness varied significantly by age, with the lowest agreement among men aged 65 and over (14.9%) and highest among men aged 25-34 (49.5%).
Tattoos in the Workplace: How Do People Feel About Them?
Tattoos have become increasingly common, but opinions on their impact in the workplace remain mixed.
When asked whether visible tattoos can affect a person’s job prospects, more than eight in ten (81.7%) of respondents agreed. This suggests that a significant portion of people still believe tattoos can influence hiring decisions and career progression.
Men were slightly more likely to hold this belief, with 82.7% agreeing, compared to 80.5% of women. Agreement was even higher among older generations, yet even in the group with the most positive outlook—women aged 18 to 24— three in four (74.6%) still believed tattoos could impact job prospects.
When it comes to workplace acceptance, more than seven in ten (71.8%) said that visible tattoos should be allowed in the workplace, while 9.7% disagreed and nearly one in five (18.3%) took a neutral stance.
Women were slightly more open to having visible tattoos in the workplace with 74.4% agreeing that they should be allowed, compared to 68.9% of men. The older generations were more wary of showing off tattoos at work, with around half of people aged 65 and over—49% of women and 53.2% of men—accepting it, compared to the younger generations with percentages varying between 70 and 85.
Tattoo Regret: What Designs Do People Wish They Hadn’t Gotten?
Not all tattoos stand the test of time. While many cherish their ink for life, others find themselves regretting certain designs, symbols, or names etched onto their skin. But what are the most regretted tattoos?
While nearly half of respondents (49.8%) stated that they don’t regret any of their tattoos, others reported experiencing regret for specific designs or reasons.
The most commonly regretted tattoos were symbols such as hearts, flowers and skulls (8.9%), with both men and women ranking them at the top. Tattoos commemorating a loved one were the second most regretted, with 4.6% of respondents wishing they had chosen differently. Name tattoos—often considered the ultimate regret—followed closely behind, with 4.5% regretting getting a partner’s name inked.
Most regretted tattoos among women:
1. Symbols such as hearts, flowers, or skulls – 11.1%
2. Romantic partners name – 4.9%
3. Tattoos commemorating a loved one – 4%
4. Inspirational words – 3.6%
5. Animals such as birds, butterflies, or dragons – 3%
Most regretted tattoos among men were:
1. Symbols such as hearts, flowers, or skulls – 6.4%
2. Tattoos commemorating a loved one – 5.6%
3. Inspirational words – 5.4%
4. Romantic partners name – 4.1%
5. Tribal tattoos – 3.8%
Why People Get Tattoos
From personal milestones to spontaneous decisions, the reasons behind getting a tattoo are as diverse as the designs themselves. For some, ink serves as a tribute to loved ones or a symbol of emotional healing, while others see it as a form of artistic self-expression.
Nearly half of the respondents (46.9%) said that they wanted to express their personality through tattoos, while more than one in four (28%) said they took one to honor or someone or something.
The third and fourth most common reasons were to make a statement about a belief (7%) and emotional healing and personal growth (6.9%). Improving one’s appearance came fifth (5.6%), while only 2.1 percent said they took a tattoo to express group identity, 1.8 percent to cover scars or skin discoloration, and 1.74 percent for cultural or religious reasons.
Expressing one’s personality (49.6%) and honoring someone (28.4%) were slightly more common reasons for taking a tattoo among female respondents than their male counterparts, among whom the percentages stood at 43.7% and 27.7%.
Female respondents ranked emotional healing and personal growth as their third most common reason for getting a tattoo (7.9%), while making a statement about a belief came fourth (5.2%).
Among male respondents, making a statement about a belief was the third most common reason (9.1%) and improving one’s appearance was the fourth (7.2%).
Male respondents were twice as likely to get a tattoo to express group identity than their female counterparts, with 3% of males and 1.3% of females stating this as a reason.
Methodology
BonusFinder Canada surveyed 1,967 US and CA residents to learn more about their experiences with tattoos, including their reasons for getting inked, how their tattoos are perceived by others, whether they have any regrets, and how visible body art affects social and professional interactions.
