Over recent generations, there has been exponential growth in the popularity of tattoos in a fashionable light. While yes, tattoos have been around for millenniums, the world has been rather unforgiving to tattoos cosmetically in recent history. That is until the past few decades where tattoos have become nearly synonymous with aesthetics.
The arise of tattoos in the twenty first century can be traced through so many different roots ranging from music to biker, to sailor, to counterculture groups, each influencing their respective subcultures tattoos styles in various ways. Mentioning sailors is important as they were one of the earliest groups known for their tattoos. Often their tattoos fit less within a specific art style and rather served the purpose of telling the sailors' story however they wished to express it. Also touching specifically on music subcultures as I believe they were some of the most influential on modern tattoo cultures, nearly all classic and alternative rock stars that inspired the next generations of musicians had numerous tattoos like for example Slash, Travis Barker, and others. Some influential celebrities that pioneered tattoo cultures include soccer player David Beckham with his now well known arm sleeves and actress Angelina Jolie with her expressive back tattoo. In recent years, Pete Davidson (Pre-Tattoo Removal) has been recognized as an icon in the world of popular tattoo fashion while already being one of the biggest comedic and movie personalities.
Tattoos have even found their way into the high fashion scene. Elite models with tattoos became associated with individuality and personal branding. For example British awarded Model of the Year, Cara Delevingne, has multiple prominent and visible tattoos across her body and arms yet remains one of the stars in the business. The desensitization of tattoos in pop culture has been a slow but sure process reaching nearly all webs of modern aesthetic curators.
When synthesizing your own individual style and conglomerate of different tattoos, it is above all else, important to channel your own style. I’m not saying if you want to get a tattoo it needs to have a meaning or needs to represent something super meaningful. No, I am rather warning of fashion fads that will turn into cheugie and regrettable pieces later. When deciding how to express yourself through bodily art find a style that is more than a just short-lived aesthetic. Whether that is a superman tattoo on your ankle like my dad or a Lebron James arm tattoo like drake, express yourself.
Modern Guide to Tattoos:
(a comprehensive guide to some of the popular styles dominating tattoo subcultures)
Traditional tattoos: Traditional tattoos are usually categorized by their thicker lines and limited yet bold colors. This style has been around for a long time and remains relevant with its expressive nature. These styles typically encapsulate specific and recognizable themes and I have layed out the three prominent styles of traditionalism.
American Traditional: Simpler and usually more recognizable designs.
Image from Cailyn Cox
Neo – Traditional: Very similar to American yet typically more intricate with thinner lines.
Image from Shutterstock
Japanese Traditional: Extremely expressive style with more a more blended look. One of the oldest styles of tattoos.
Image from Brian Cornwell
Realism: Realism is the general name for tattoos that fit the description of in fact looking realistic. Of course, under this umbrella there are certainly multiple different classifications and ways to depict realistic tattoos. Two modern popular forms of this include Black and White Realism and Engraved style Tattoos.
Black and White Realism: Black and white realism offers unique details and a timeless pallet using just white and black. This style of realism can easily be mixed and used in other styles like for example trash polka which I will go over soon.
Image from TT: donebyself
Engraved Style Realism: Engraving style tattoos are typically characterized by a lot of fine line hatch marks. It offers a very refined and finished look to a tattoo and has grown alot in popularity in recent years.
Image from TT: Zanereti
Cyber Sigilism: Debatably one of if not the most popular styles in the underground scene right now. Most Seemingly a style that has a very strong grip on the alternative subcultures today. This style incorporates futuristic and cybernetic design elements usually resulti in sharp lined aesthetically pleasing finished designs. This style allows for personalization of symbols within the aesthetic but is in my opinion fairly limited which is why you normally see cyber sigilism included on more diverse body pieces that include multiple styles.
Picture form IG: fullcigspliffs
Trash Polka: Another lesser-known style that has been emerging in the past couple years is the Trash Polka style. This Style is one that I am personally fond of but it consists of mixing abstract ideas with realistic elements. It can be described as confusingly beautiful with calligraphic elements strictly in red and black.
Patchwork Tattoos: Patchwork tattoos is another very broad category of popular tattoos that has existed for a long time. The premise surrounding patchwork tattoos is do diversify the tattoos you have to be done at different times by different artists however even that is a loose characterization. Some people choose to get patchwork done of one singular style while other mix it up. This style has a large breadth of possibilities and is much less bound by specific design customs than say Trash Polka.
Sticker Sleave/Patches: Sticker sleaves are another kind of patchwork sleave but they have grown stupendously in popularity in recent years and so I sought them fit to be mentioned separately. These patterns are typically made with a series of small thin lined tattoos that give the impression of stickers being placed on your body. These tattoos have grown in popularity primarily due to their smaller and concealable sizes in this age of increased tattoo affinity. I would also attribute the availability of little stick and poke ink tattoo kits to this as these are primarily the only designs simple enough to be done.
Are tattoos taboo, I explain my view point in my podcast here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/soberchristiangentlemanpodcast/p/taboo-tattoo-pt3-i-share-my-thoughts?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=31s3eo