Gen Z has turned on tattoos — here’s why they’re forgoing pricey ink

Tattoo artists are staying afloat by the skin of their teeth, reporting a “downturn” in demand for ink.

The primary culprit for the “tattoo recession,” body mod enthusiasts believe, is debt-burdened clients who cannot afford to splurge on costly art, namely Gen Z and Millennials.

“Over the past year, I have observed a decrease in the number of individuals seeking tattoos, largely attributed to the rising inflation rates in the United States,” Brooklyn-based tattooist Barry Hua told Business Insider.

“As a result, clients are now more discerning in their decision-making processes, opting to schedule appointments months in advance to financially plan for their desired tattoos.”

Despite Gen Z and Millennials being the most-tattooed generations, they are also the groups facing the most debt, and as the cost of living climbs, getting inked may not be a priority for most people.

However, some tattoo enthusiasts and artists are placing blame on a culmination of factors: the proliferation of shops, aesthetics for job interviews, negative tattooing experiences, cost, sexism and more.

The “recession” isn’t, however, because people don’t want to get tattoos anymore, noted Dominque, a creator in Austin, Texas.

“Tattoos are obviously expensive, but I do think they’ve gotten even more expensive,” she said in a recent TikTok video.

Elaine, a tattoo artist based in Denver, also noted that “clients are choosing artists very carefully because they really have to prioritize getting tattooed when everything has been going up in price.”

Clients, she added in the TikTok video, should feel respected, not like an “inconvenience” to their artist — typically, she quipped, a “rude white guy who thinks he knows it all” — a common gripe among people who seek out tattoos.

“We, as a society, are in a certain climate right now where women would rather choose a bear in the woods than a man in the woods — that is heavily weighing on what is happening in the tattoo industry right now,” said another creator and artist, who goes by @tattooredflags, explained in a clip.

The TikToker has seen videos of female tattoo artists insisting they are booked out for a year with clients, suggesting that the so-called “recession” is seemingly only impacting male artists.

“Maybe it’s because they’re treating people like shit,” she said of the “male-dominated” industry. “Or half of their clients are female, and they’re just not making the space comfortable enough.”

Dominque, who only sees artists who are women, said they, in her opinion, “tend to be more empathetic to their customers.” According to Dominque, they are “less heavy-handed” when inking, offering a more comfortable experience overall with snacks and ample breaks.

“In short, I don’t think there’s a tattoo recession,” Dominque said. “To me, this is survival of the fittest.”