Anyone labouring under the notion that a tattoo is unique or subversive will find those days numbered.
Not only are tattoos so popular that the number of parlours is increasing to meet demand, but conversely, the number of people regretting that oh-so-spontaneous tat from Malaga or a reminder of their misspent youth is growing.
According to data gathered by beauty retailer, Escentual.com, four out of ten people with tattoos regret getting them done – and just under a quarter of people with tattoos want them surgically removed.
Half of those are concerned they’ll be considered “common, uncultured of a bit of a chav” and a further 34% are worried about how their tats will look when they get saggy and old.
Another stat that made us feel as if we were transported back in time was that 1 in 6 perceive those with tats as more likely to have a one-night stand.
But the good news is that laser removal is getting cheaper, more accessible, and more effective, though you’ll still be left with some scars. As a spokesperson from escentual.com explained in the Daily Mail: “There’s a clear message from this new research. Think before you ink.”
The website conducted the research after sales of make-up concealers for body art shot up 32% in the past year.
Do you have a tattoo you regret? We put the question out to our Twitter users who said:
@HuffPoLifestyle never! pic.twitter.com/urIrJk9xcu
— Ismena Clout (@iswhiz) April 2, 2014
@HuffPostPoorna I regret that it isn't original (Chinese symbol 10 yrs ago), but I'd rather get a cover-up tattoo than have it removed.
— Nervous Explorer (@CFMyk) April 2, 2014
@CFMyk@HuffPostPoorna Me too! Chinese symbol on arm (a la Sporty Spice) but will get something else on top rather than remove it.
— Catherine Mclean (@McleanCat) April 2, 2014