Should I Date a Girl With Tattoos? (15 Must-Know Facts)

If you meet a girl with tattoos, you may want to know what science, statistics, and relationship coaches say about dating her.

You might even ask yourself, should I date a girl with tattoos?

You should date a girl with 1-5 small, discreet tattoos. Millions of women around the world get tattoos to express their culture, personality, and artistic side. Women with many visible tattoos might take more risks and think less about future consequences. Do not date girls with offensive tattoos.

In this article, you’ll learn:

  • 5 good reasons that you SHOULD date a girl with tattoos
  • 5 must-read reasons that you SHOULDN’T date a girl with tattoos
  • Updated and fascinating tattoo statistics

Let’s get started.

5 Reasons That You Should Date a Girl With Tattoos

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Girl with tattoos—Should I Date a Girl With Tattoos
Image by the author via Canva—Should I Date a Girl With Tattoos?

First, let’s look at five reasons that you should date a girl who has tattoos.

I’m starting here because many so-called “dating experts” will say to never date girls with tattoos. Those experts provide a ton of value but they might be missing some important nuances when it comes to tattoos.

As a man with tattoos that dates a woman with tattoos, I’ll add my personal take, along with important facts and statistics.

Here are five reasons you shouldn’t hesitate to date women with tattoos.

1) Millions of Women Have Tattoos

There are a lot of reasons to date girls with tattoos. For one, millions of women have them.

In fact, according to recent statistics, nearly 56% percent of American women have at least one tattoo. And that number is only going to rise as more and more people get inked.

If you rule out over half the dating market, you’re going to face a tougher time finding someone special.

Here are some other interesting tattoo facts and statistics:

  • Close to 35% get one tattoo
  • Almost 20% get two tattoos
  • Only about 9% get 6 or more tattoos

Based on this data, most girls you meet will have less than 6 tattoos. Most will only have one or two.

All other things being equal, one or two tattoos is no big deal to me.

2) Discreet Tattoos Mean Virtually Nothing

While some people might think that tattoos are a sign of rebellion, the truth is that many girls with tattoos are actually quite discreet.

In fact, approximately 72% of people get tattoos on an inconspicuous part of their body easily covered by clothing.

You might even say that they’re virtually invisible.

The truth is that you might go on several dates with a girl before you even know she has any tattoos.

Discreet tattoos are usually small, hidden, and meaningful to the woman.

A girl might get a sunflower on her ankle, her child’s initials on her upper arm or back, or a religious symbol (like a cross) on the nape of her neck.

Discreet tattoos usually mean the girl, herself, is discreet.

It is a sign that she thinks long-term, predicts future consequences, and cares about her reputation and career.

A girl with discreet tattoos is likely to be a good partner because she takes commitments seriously and isn’t afraid of planning for the future.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.

3) Artful Tattoos Are Expressive Outlets

Another reason you should date girls with tattoos is that artful tattoos are expressive outlets.

A lot of people use tattoos as a way to express themselves, and it’s a great way to get to know someone on a deeper level.

In some cultures, tattoos serve as extensions of culture and spirituality.

If you’re interested in dating someone who has a lot of tattoos, you should ask them about the meaning behind their ink. It’s a great way to learn more about them and their interests.

4) Tattoos Don’t Define a Person

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I date a girl with tattoos?” you may be unintentionally honing in on a single, insignificant part of a person.

In short, tattoos don’t define an entire individual.

Tattoos are just one part of a woman’s overall story, character, values, and appearance.

No single or cluster of tattoos completely defines her. Most tattoos possess a special meaning that the person wants to remember for the rest of their lives.

However, don’t dismiss dating a woman solely because of a small piece of herself.

5) Tattooed Girls Are Fun

Finally, you should date girls with tattoos because tattooed girls are often more fun, spontaneous, and adventurous than non-tattooed women.

Tattooed girls tend to be more open-minded and less judgmental.

They’re also usually more tolerant of other people’s quirks and idiosyncrasies (and it’s not like guys are perfect).

Tatted-up girls are not afraid to show their true colors and often live with a rebellious streak.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that all girls with tattoos are automatically wild childs. Just as there are girls with tattoos who are demure and shy, there are also girls with tattoos who are completely down-to-earth.

But even the most conservative girl with a tattoo is likely to be more open-minded and adventurous than her non-tattooed counterparts.

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Date a Girl With Tattoos

There are also reasons to not date a girl with tattoos.

When it comes to dating tattooed girls, the number, type, and placement of tattoos may matter most.

1) Tattoos Can Symbolize a Woman’s Emotional State

Tattoos can also be a powerful way to express emotions and symbolize a person’s inner state.

For example, research has shown that women with tattoos are more likely to be emotionally volatile and aggressive than those without them.

Women with bold or brash tattoos might have aggressive personalities that make dating difficult and unpleasant.

Conversely, women with small and delicate tattoos might be more fragile and vulnerable.

Tattoos can also send mixed signals.

A woman with a tattoo of a heart might be open and loving, but a woman with a tattoo of a dagger might be more dangerous and untrustworthy.

2) Tattoos Suggest a Risk-Taking Attitude

Tattoos have always been a sign of rebellion.

From sailors to punk rockers, people who have ink are often seen as those who are willing to break the rules. According to recent studies, it might suggest that they are more likely to take risks.

Women with tattoos tend to “have higher levels of need for uniqueness, sensation seeking, and thrill and adventure-seeking.”

This means they might make risky decisions that impact the relationship, engage in high-risk relationships, and not be content with calm and stable relationships.

And that’s a good reason to consider avoiding dating a girl with tattoos.

Keep in mind that one or two tattoos do not necessarily correlate with a high risk-taking attitude. The higher number of visible tattoos a woman has, the more likely she is to exhibit these negative dating traits.

For example, a girl with a neck or face tattoo is probably more risk-taking than a woman with a small, hidden tattoo on the bottom of her foot.

3) Many Highly Visible Tattoos Might Indicate Deep Psychological Issues

One really good reason not to date girls with tattoos is that tattoos can be a sign of deep psychological issues.

Research shows that girls with tattoos “have lower levels of self-esteem, attend religious services less, and are generally much less educated than those who don’t have tattoos.”

And women with lots of highly visible tattoos may suffer from trauma and other mental health disorders.

This all makes some women with tattoos much harder to successfully date.

4) Bad Tattoos Mean Bad Decisions

If you’re considering dating someone with an offensive tattoo, think twice.

A controversial tattoo is a clear sign of poor decision-making, and that’s not the kind of person you want to be with—trust me.

A girl with a swastika, derogatory term, or other offensive tattoo is usually not worth your time. The fact that she chose to permanently emblazon something offensive on her body says a lot about her character.

Steer clear of anyone (male or female) with such controversial images and symbols imprinted on their body.

You deserve better.

5) Trendy Tattoos Indicate a Lack of Long-Term Perspective

In my opinion, you should probably avoid dating a girl with a fad tattoo.

A fad tattoo is something that is trendy and will eventually go out of style. For example, for a while, some girls were getting tattoos of dreamcatchers or Mikey Mouse.

But a few years later, these tattoos were mostly seen as tacky and immature.

If you’re looking for a serious relationship, you want someone who is mature and has a long-term perspective.

A woman with a trendy tattoo is indicating that she is the opposite of that. She’s more interested in what’s popular right now thinking of the future.

Here is a good video from a female dating coach on why you shouldn’t date women with tattoos:

YouTube video by Your Wingman—Should I Date a Girl With Tattoos?

Should I Date a Girl With a Lot of Tattoos?

For most guys, I would say, “No.”

The biggest reason is that a girl with numerous tattoos is usually a sign of trouble for a committed relationship.

And this is based on more than one article published in peer-reviewed journals.

The science consistently suggests a strong link between tattoos and psychological disorders.

An article published in the American Family Journal states:

Psychiatric disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder, drug or alcohol abuse, and borderline personality disorder, are frequently associated with tattoos. Finding a tattoo on physical examination should alert the physician to the possibility of an underlying psychiatric condition.

The more tattoos, the more concerned I would be about mental health.

With that said, if you are a guy attracted to girls with lots of tats, it might be worth the risk.

Should I Date a Girl With Sleeve Tattoos?

When you’re out on the dating scene, it’s important to be aware of the various warning signs that might indicate that a relationship is not going to be a long-term, compatible match.

One such sign can be sleeve tattoos.

Now, before you write off all women with sleeve tattoos, it’s important to understand that there are many different reasons why people choose to get tattoos, and not all of them are indicative of a difficult personality.

However, some women with sleeve tattoos are more likely to be abrasive, overly opinionated, and nearly impossible to please.

They’re also more likely to have a higher number of previous partners.

So if you’re looking for a lasting relationship, it’s probably best to steer clear of girls with sleeve tattoos.

Should I Date a Girl With Tattoos? (FAQ)

In this section, I’ll answer some frequently asked questions about dating a girl with tattoos.

Use these answers as a resource when deciding whether you want to date a tattooed girl.

Do Tattoos Affect Relationships?

One to three tiny, hidden tattoos usually do not affect relationships. Large, visible tattoos can significantly impact relationships.

Tattoos can reveal a lot about a person’s personality.

For example, people who are impulsive or tend to make rash decisions are more likely to have visible tattoos. These types of personality traits can be difficult for some guys to deal with in a relationship.

Tattoos of exes can also cause drama.

Therefore, tattoos can affect relationships but they don’t always have to derail a good partnership.

Do Guys Like Girls With Tattoos?

Many guys find girls with a few tattoos to be quite attractive.

For a short-term relationship or casual dating, most guys don’t mind a girl with tattoos. However, there is a catch—while guys are generally okay with a few small tattoos, they tend to think that multiple large tattoos are trashy and unclassy.

What Do Tattoos Say About a Woman?

Here are the personality traits associated with women who have tattoos:

  • Rebellious
  • Mischievous
  • Independent
  • Unique
  • Bold
  • Creative
  • Non-conforming
  • Empowerment
  • Impulsive
  • Emotional
  • Expressive

The type, placement, and number of tattoos determine the balance of positive and negative traits.

What Do You Call a Girl With a Lot of Tattoos?

A girl with a lot of tattoos is called a tattoo collector, their name, a storyteller, or a stigmatophile.

Stigmatophile means someone obsessed with tattoos.

There is no common slang term widely used to describe a girl with a lot of tattoos.

Final Thoughts: Should I Date a Girl With Tattoos?

The bottom line is that you should date a girl with tattoos if she has less than six small tattoos easily concealed under clothing.

Anything more than six, larger, or visible is a risk.

That doesn’t mean that women with tattoos are undatable. But it’s good to go into the relationship with a full understanding of the challenges.

Related posts:

Sources

Pew Research
Journal of Young Investigators
American Family Physician