Over the years, tattoo artists worldwide have encountered significant challenges threatening their profession. These include stricter regulations, market saturation, changing consumer preferences, and rising economic pressures. These factors have forced many to reconsider how they can sustain their craft while remaining true to their values. Since the COVID-19 shutdowns, artists have reported income losses of 25–50%, with some choosing to close their businesses entirely.
This situation prompts the question: can the tattoo industry rely on its traditional methods, or are there underlying factors contributing to this “recession” that remain unaddressed?
A key issue is the rising cost of living, which has led consumers to cut back on discretionary spending. With an oversaturated market and countless talented artists promoting their work online, customers now have more options than ever before. This has shifted power to the consumers, who can afford to be highly selective when choosing an artist.
A Business Insider article by Lindsay Dodgson, “The Tattoo Industry is Facing a Reckoning” (June 5, 2024), highlights that while economic pressures afect the industry, consumer expectations play an even greater role. Many clients now plan their tattoos months in advance to manage their budgets and demand clear communication and professional service from artists. Poor communication or negative experiences during consultations can quickly lead to public criticism on social media platforms like TikTok, which amplifies customer dissatisfaction.
Similarly, Stacey Ritzen’s article, “Tattoo Artists Weigh in on the So-Called ‘Tattoo Recession’” (June 8, 2024), points out that consumers are increasingly unwilling to tolerate dismissive or unprofessional behavior from artists. Many clients prioritize being treated respectfully, with some actively seeking female tattoo artists due to previous positive experiences with women in the industry.
However, consumer behavior is only part of the problem. Tattoo artists also face challenges such as rising costs of materials, stricter safety regulations, and intense competition. Over the past three decades, the number of tattoo artists have grown significantly, leading to market saturation. This has resulted in many artists lowering their prices to remain competitive, sometimes at the expense of undervaluing their work and overextending themselves.
Additionally, the corporatization of the tattoo industry has added further strain, particularly in Europe and the United States. Larger chain studios have emerged, offering lower prices to attract customers, which has placed further pressure on independent artists and small studios. These chains have been criticized for exploitative practices, such as social dumping and neglecting the mental health of their employees. The stress caused by these working conditions has left some tattoo artists unable to meet the growing demands of their clients, resulting in burnout and long-term health issues.
In addition to these economic and professional challenges, social media also plays a pivotal role in this evolving industry. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook provide tattoo artists with significant exposure, but they also create an environment of intense competition. At the same time, online communities for tattoo artists and apprenticeships have become valuable spaces for sharing advice, discussing challenges, and finding solutions.
Similarly, customers use these platforms to exchange recommendations and warn others about unprofessional artists, which further heightens the pressure on tattooists to maintain high standards of communication and professionalism.
Let's discuss this.
Despite the incredible resilience over the years, the industry needs to adapt to the shift the changes have brought to light. The journalists have helped the artists in the interviews to break the ice in order to shed light on the mystery of the industry. Whether or not the statements from the articles hit the nail right on the head - I am sure several other factors contribute to the issues in the industry such as social dumping, inappropriate behaviour from shop owners, tattoo artists, and clients, and many more.
I have observed tattoo artists - both males and females - being sexually harassed by other artists, shop owners, and customers, whereas female artists meet a more supportive community than males do.
These issues arise in multiple countries around the world and are not unique to one country alone. Of course, there are cultural diferences, legislations, and many more segments that difer from country to country - and this is something we need to take into account when we wish to alter the quality of the industry on multiple levels.
By exploring further into the challenges within the industry and bringing them to light, only then will we be able to bring value to the industry with proper solutions.
So what can we conclude from this?
Despite these challenges, many tattoo artists view this as an opportunity for growth rather than decline. By focusing on delivering high-quality, customized designs and fostering strong relationships with clients, artists can stand out in a crowded market.
Building trust, communicating clearly, and prioritizing client satisfaction have become essential tools for maintaining demand in today’s competitive industry. How we can evolve as professional tattoo artists and shop owners is still a broad topic that will never end since change is unavoidable. To succeed in this shifting landscape, tattoo artists must adapt to changing expectations while staying true to their craft. By emphasizing professionalism, transparency, and respect for their clients, they can navigate these challenges and position themselves for long-term success.
Therefore I’d like to emphasize to my fellow professional tattoo artists:
“Ask not what the industry can do for you - but what you can do for the industry.“
References:
Molenaar, N. (2022b, March 21). "The 5 biggest threats to the tattoo industry in 2022 - Tattooing 101." Tattooing 101.
Dodgson, L. (2024, June 5). "The tattoo industry is facing a reckoning, with customers fed up with bad artists, overpricing, and sexism." Business Insider.
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