20+ Key Tattoo Regret Statistics in 2024
Posts by Colin TanAugust 3, 2024
Tattoos have become more popular in the past few years with an estimated 32% of the United States population having at least one or more tattoos.
Tattoos are a personal and meaningful way to express oneself, but there are also some concerns regarding tattoo regret.
Studies have revealed that 24% of people who have tattoos regret at least one of their tattoos.
This article will dig into the tattoo regret statistics you need to know before getting inked.
Key Statistics
- In the United States, 12% of Americans said they felt tattoo regret in 2021.
- 19% of Baby Boomers in America experienced tattoo regret in 2021.
- Tattoo regret in Canada has resulted in 98,520 tattoo removal or correction searches per year.
- India tattoo regret spurned nearly 120,000 tattoo removal or correction searches.
- In the U.K., 217,200 tattoo removal or correction searches were conducted.
- Brazil ranked second in tattoo regret with 275,040 tattoo removal or correction searches.
- America ranked number one in tattoo regret based on tattoo removal or correction internet searches.
- In the United States, 30% of the Hispanic community experienced tattoo regret.
- 23% of White American adults reported tattoo regret.
- 21% of Black American adults said they had tattoo regrets.
Top Tattoo Regret Statistics in 2024
1. In the United States, 12% of Americans Said They Felt Tattoo Regret in 2021.
In 2021, there wasn’t much tattoo regret happening in the United States according to Statista.
In fact, 12% of Americans with tattoos said they felt tattoo regret while the other 88% had no tattoo regret.
(Statista)
2. 19% of Baby Boomers in America Experienced Tattoo Regret in 2021.
In 2021, 19% of Baby Boomers experienced the most tattoo regret as did Gen Xers.
Millennials experienced tattoo regret at 11% while Gen Zers experience tattoo regret at only 7%.
This tells us that age has a lot to do with tattoo regret.
(Statista²)
3. Tattoo Regret in Canada Has Resulted in 98,520 Tattoo Removal or Correction Searches per Year.
Canada is among the top 5 countries where people experience the most tattoo regret, according to the Toronto Sun.
Based on the 98,250 annual searches about tattoo removal or correction, Canadians made the top 5 among countries with tattoo regret.
(Toronto Sun)
4. India Tattoo Regret Spurned Nearly 120,000 Tattoo Removal or Correction Searches.
Among the tattooed population of India, tattoo regret spurned 119,880 searches for tattoo removal or correction.
This gave India fourth ranking among tattoo regret across countries.
So, India also made the top 5 list.
(Toronto Sun)
5. In the U.K., 217,200 Tattoo Removal or Correction Searches Were Conducted.
Another country that made the top 5 list of countries with tattoo regret is the United Kingdom.
In fact, tattoo regret resulted in 217,200 tattoo removal or correction searches.
We want to show you that tattoo regret isn’t exclusive to any specific country or region.
(Toronto Sun)
6. Brazil Ranked Second in Tattoo Regret with 275,040 Tattoo Removal or Correction Searches.
Brazil was second only to the United States in tattoo regret based on tattoo removal or correction internet searches.
This is how many online searches people with tattoos in Brazil made to seek removal or correction of tattoos.
That shows some serious tattoo regret.
(Toronto Sun)
7. America Ranked Number One in Tattoo Regret Based on Tattoo Removal or Correction Internet Searches.
In the United States among the tattooed population, well over one million internet searches for tattoo removal or correction were performed annually.
Remember, these statistics are in terms of how many internet searches were done regarding tattoo removal or correction.
(Toronto Sun)
8. In the United States, 30% of The Hispanic Community Experienced Tattoo Regret.
According to statistics, the Hispanic community in the United States reported that 30% of this community experienced tattoo regret.
So, this represents three out of ten Hispanic adults in one survey from the Pew Research Center.
(Pew Research Center)
9. 23% of White American Adults Reported Tattoo Regret.
In an effort to show that tattoo regret happens across ethnic groups and isn’t related to race in particular, 23% of White American adults reported experiencing tattoo regret compared to 30% of Hispanic adults and 21% of Black Americans adult.
(Pew Research Center)
10. 21% of Black American Adults Said They Had Tattoo Regrets.
For uniformity, we also found that 21% of Black American adults reported they had tattoo regrets in the survey.
Therefore, we can see that there isn’t a vast difference between races and tattoo regret, though there is a small gap.
(Pew Research Center)
11. 14% of Australian Adults Aged 20 to 29 Said They Had Tattoo Regret.
More data from other parts of the globe reveals that Australian adults aged 20 to 29 account for 25% of the tattooed population.
Of this 25%, 14% said they experienced tattoo regret.
The preferred removal process for tattoos among this group is laser removal.
(Gitnux Blog)
12. 10% of People in France with Tattoo Regret Use Laser Tattoo Removal.
In terms of tattoo regret in France, 10% of those who experience regrets about tattoos opt to have laser tattoo removal treatments.
Therefore, even in a country (France) where tattoos are generally accepted, we still see significant numbers regretting their ink.
(Gitnux Blog)
13. The Global Tattoo Removal Market Was Valued at $314.44 Million in 2022.
Statistics from 2022 revealed that the worldwide tattoo market had a valuation of $314.44 million (USD).
Furthermore, statistics also tell us that by 2031, this market will be worth around 1,550.87 million (USD) based on a CAGR of 19.4% over the forecast period 2023 to 2031.
(Earthweb)
14. Women Are More Apt to Experience Tattoo Regret than Men.
A study by the University of Texas in Austin discovered that 27% of women say they have tattoo regrets while 21% of men said the same.
While this doesn’t seem much like a gender gap, 6% can represent millions of people with tattoos.
Psychology Today says it has a lot to do with the difference in emotional behaviors.
(NIH, Psychology Today)
15. People Who Have Visible Tattoos Are More Likely to Have Tattoo Regret.
According to 2019 data, people who have visible tattoos often regret their tattoos.
The study included 255 people with tattoos and 781 without, and 68 with visible tattoos even when fully clothed.
The study found that people with visible tattoos are twice as likely to experience tattoo regret.
(New York Post)
16. The Most Common Reason for Tattoo Regret Comes from Impulsive Decisions.
The top three reasons cited for tattoo regret include it was a decision made on impulse (35%), there was a significant meaning behind the tattoo that no longer exists (29%), and the thought that a tattoo would make them look more appealing, but it didn’t (18%).
(Advanced Dermatology)
17. Tattoos on The Upper or Lower Arms Have the Highest Rate for Tattoo Regret.
According to data, tattoos on the upper or lower arms have the highest rate of tattoo regret.
Statistics show that 42% of people with a tattoo on their upper arm felt tattoo regret and 32% regretted getting a tattoo on their lower arm.
(Advanced Dermatology)
18. 31% of People Who Experienced Tattoo Regret Considered Tattoo Removal.
According to recent data, 31% of people with tattoo regret considering tattoo removal.
Of this 31% who considered tattoo removal, only 19% proceeded to have their tattoo removed.
(Gitnux Blog)
19. In the United States, One Tattoo Removal Session Costs $463 on Average.
Keep in mind that “average” is the term used for calculating numbers based on several numbers and dividing by the number of figures.
So, just imagine the cost of tattoo removal if the average per session cost is $463 (USD) in America.
(Gitnux Blog)
20. The Annual Revenue Generated by The Tattoo Removal Industry Accounts for $75 Million.
The tattoo removal industry generates an average yearly revenue of $75 million (USD) as of 2020.
Between 2015 and 2020, this industry experienced a CAGR of 7.7%.
This indicates a rise in people engaging in tattoo removal due to the rise in tattoo regret, especially in America.
(Gitnux Blog)
FAQs
What Is Tattoo Regret?
Have you ever bought something only to regret the purchase?
That’s called buyer’s remorse or buyer’s regret.
The same can happen with getting inked.
Tattoo regret is the sense of feeling dissatisfied with a tattoo for whatever reason that makes you feel remorseful about getting it.
How Common Is Tattoo Regret?
Research shows that nearly one-quarter of those who have tattoos regret at least one tattoo.
This phenomenon is higher among the younger crowd who have the most tattoos.
What Are Some Reasons You Might Experience Tattoo Regret?
There are several reasons one might feel regret over a tattoo.
Here are a few cited by those with tattoo regret:
• Impulse tattoo regret where a person hastily decides to get a tattoo only to regret it later.
• Lifestyle or personal taste changes that make a person regret a tattoo they got as a younger person because it no longer represents their current values.
• Bad tattoos that are poorly executed due to the lack of the artist’s skills or abilities.
• Negative associations from an experience or an event that results in tattoo regret. For instance, a former girlfriend’s name tattoo.
What Are Some Signs of Tattoo Regret?
Here are some signs that you might be experiencing tattoo regret:
• If you feel ashamed or embarrassed by your tattoo which means you might try to hide it or you aren’t happy with it.
• If you’re considering tattoo removal, you are clearly experiencing tattoo regret.
• If you have negative feelings about your tattoo like thinking it’s stupid or ugly, you aren’t happy with it and you are experiencing tattoo regret.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Tattoo Regret?
Here are a few things you can do to avoid tattoo regret:
• Research tattoo artists and designs before you get inked.
• Consider the placement of your tattoo carefully since they are permanent.
• Consider the meaning of the tattoo symbol or saying you choose.
• If you’re really on the fence about getting a tattoo wait until you feel you are truly ready to get inked.
What Can You Do if You Have Tattoo Regret?
If you experience tattoo regret, here are three things you can do about it:
• Have your tattoo removed.
• Have your tattoo covered with another tattoo (edit the tattoo).
• Try to accept the tattoo as-is if you can’t remove it or cover it up.
Conclusion
These statistics have revealed a lot of data concerning tattoo regret and the demographics and growth of the industry.
Some of this data was surprising, while some seemed benign.
We learned that the rise in tattoo regret has also resulted in a rise in tattoo removal which ultimately revealed a rise in revenue generation in this industry.
The United States tends to experience the highest rates in tattoo regret, but other countries and regions like the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Brazil also account for a large percentage of people with tattoo regret.
Age is also a factor in tattoo regret with most of it coming from younger generations like Gen Z.
However, these statistics showed us that Baby Boomers and Millennials experience substantial tattoo regret rates.
We hope you have found these tattoo regret statistics interesting and informative.
Bonus Tattoo Regret Stats
- The more tattoos a person has the more likely they will have tattoo regret for one or more of them.
- People with low self-esteem are more apt to experience tattoo regret.
- Individuals who get inked by an inexperienced or unlicensed tattoo artist are more apt to experience tattoo regret.
- People with offensive or controversial tattoos are more likely to have tattoo regret.
- Tattooed people with tattoos that are too big or small experience higher rates of tattoo regret.
- People working in certain professions experience higher rates of tattoo regret.
- Tattoos of an ex are more likely to be regretted, resulting in removal or correction.
- 36% of tattooed people think their body art makes them look more attractive.
- 95% of people getting tattoos removed choose laser treatments due to the efficacy of this procedure.
- 29% of Canadians with tattoos experience tattoo regret.