Check Out These Tattoo Trends in Each Decade From the 50's to the 2000's

Tattoos are not a new practice by any means. They have existed ever since ancient history in many forms, often tied to traditional societies and practices imbued with meaning, while some are there to convey information.

The 1950s

In the 1950s, tattoos were not typically seen as mainstream and accessible, but they flourished in motorcycle gangs and among people in prison. Biker men would sometimes tattoo their women to mark them as their possessions. 

The 1960s

A major step back for tattoos came in 1961 when New York City banned them after a hepatitis outbreak, and the ban lasted 36 years. Tattoo art continued to progress, though, with classic designs such as anchors and pin-up girls being upgraded with better coloring and detail. 

The 1970s

With the countercultural movements of the late 60s making a huge impact on popular culture, tattoos had become more acceptable, and as women started to get tattooed more and more, designs such as flowers and peace signs flourished. 

The 1980s

In the 1980s, tattoos saw a range of cultural influences coming into play. Celtic knots became popular, as did Chicano style tattoos. 

The 1990s

In the 90s, young women were getting more tattoos, as was reflected in celebrities including Drew Barrymore and Angelina Jolie. This meant that small tattoos of more feminine symbols, such as hearts and butterflies, were becoming popular, often on shoulders, lower backs, or ankles.

The 2000s

People began to turn to tattoos with Chinese and Japanese letters, often with little knowledge of what they mean. While some people would go for tattoos that had meaning to them, oftentimes they just liked how it looked, and speakers of the language would be perplexed to see pure nonsense tattooed on somebody.