December 12, 2024, 2:07 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Do you have one too? Almost one in four people in Germany has at least one tattoo. While they used to be a sign of cultural, spiritual, or social beliefs, today, they can simply be pretty little pictures. But do tattoos really make us prettier? A study says no.
In recent decades, tattoos have evolved from a sign of rebellion to a widespread fashion phenomenon. But do they really make us more beautiful? Or was Grandma right when she said it “disfigures” our appearance? A recent study by researchers at Helmut Schmidt University shows that Grandma was probably right.
Overview
Do Tattoos Really Make Us More Beautiful?
The study showed that the more a person’s skin was covered with tattoos, the less beautiful the test subjects found people. The ratings were particularly drastic in cases where the face was tattooed. Overall, non-tattooed people were perceived more positively in aesthetic terms than tattooed people. This tendency was independent of the gender or perspective of the models depicted.
Differences Between Experts and Laypeople
Tattoos are rated more positively by experts, i.e., tattooists with at least seven years of experience, than by laypeople. While amateurs often pay attention to simple aesthetic criteria such as symmetry and harmony, experts appreciate the complexity and artistic aspect of tattoos. Nevertheless, the study showed that even experts were more reserved in their assessment of extreme tattoos, especially on the face.
Age Also Plays a Role
Another exciting aspect of the study is the influence of age. Participants under the age of 50 generally rated tattoos more positively than older people – which brings us back to grandma. This discrepancy could be due to different social norms.
Older generations, who have grown up with a different social attitude towards tattoos, tend to view tattoos more critically. Younger participants who grew up in a time when tattoos have become commonplace show greater acceptance.
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Is the Era of Tattoos Over?
Although tattoos are now widespread and socially accepted, their aesthetic appeal seems limited. The authors of the study explain that the prime time of tattoos has passed. The study clearly shows that the natural state of the skin is often perceived as more beautiful. In addition, tattoos are losing their appeal as a fashion statement because they are no longer considered unusual. On the other hand, however, it should not be forgotten that the study was not very representative, with only 487 participants. Furthermore, the group of over 50-year-olds was relatively small, and the study was limited to Germany.
It is, therefore, clear that the evaluation of tattoos simply depends heavily on personal experience, age, expertise, and, ultimately, simply taste. While your tattoo may be an expression of individuality and art for you, others may not find it aesthetically pleasing. But ultimately, your tattoo only has to please one person: You.