Prediction: Tattoos will fall out of fashion, and being tattoo-free will be the standard
Solanos, Think Piece, August 2, 2026- Perhaps a common theme you will see me discuss is the rise and fall of beauty standards. It is an interesting thing, really, how quickly a trait is desired then swiftly avoided. This is common in many aspects of culture, humans rebel against what they grew up in, and then their kids rebel against them. We end up in a cycle. Anyways, tattoos may be the next thing to be dropped.
Why do I say this? Well, one glance at Gen-Z and younger Millennials will tell you that tattoos are extremely popular. Growing up, they were told tattoos were for criminals. But your uncle had tattoos, he wasn’t a criminal, he was just cool like that. So what was taboo became cool. It was exhilarating to tell society “I don’t care what you say! I wanna be cool!” And it was cool, and it still is cool. But my prediction is that the children of Gen-Z and younger Millennials will grow up looking at their parents and have all sorts of thoughts. They are going to wonder what mommy would look like without a sleeve of roses, or what daddy would look like without his calves and thighs covered in what he thought was cool when he was 22 and fit. They may hear the faint whispers of their grandparents scoffing at their tattoos.
Again, can we blame our current generations? Black people couldn’t wear their preferred hair styles; you had to dress to the nines to work in a cubicle where no one would see you. No tattoos, ever. Men were considered flaming homosexual for grooming. The current young adults were annoyed with what was proper. Now a Gen-Z office in Los Angeles will have employees in flip flops, tattoo sleeves, several piercings, being themselves. It is quite refreshing. But can we blame their parents? They were raised by hippies most likely, who were raised by war veterans. Now today’s children will grow to find a balance from the total disregard to public/workplace dress code to clean-cut appearances. We as people feel the need to counter the current culture.
Why tattoos in particular? Well, for work, you can take out a septum piercing and put it in after your shift. You can wear your hair down with your friends. But you can never take your tattoos off. A hand tattoo of a deck of cards will be there morning, afternoon and evening, whether or not you work at a hardware store or the CFO of an oil and gas company. It requires too much commitment that today’s young adults have not considered. Your tattoo of Dragon Ball Z on your triceps is really nice. I wonder if you will still find it as cool when you’re 62. It is an age-old argument. Yet I have met dozens of tattooed people who have regrets and dozens who have not. It is natural to like things and move on from your interest, and to replace interests with others. Another reason is the sheer popularity of tattoos. I am not saying this about something that is mildly popular, this is a widespread phenomena. It is easier to swing the pendulum when it is high above the ground.
To those of you who have always been tattoo-truthers and will defend your decision to be tatted until the day you die, good for you! You stayed true to your tastes regardless of if it was trendy or not. We do have to face the fact, however, that a large portion of tatted people today have joined the moment as a result of wanting to be part of something bigger than themselves. I will check back in 10 years to see where we stand.
