For the average guy, trying to understand female beauty trends is like trying to decipher some kind of ancient prophecy.
Women jump experiment with everything from crazy bright hair colours and black lipstick to painted-on eyebrows to grab our attention and express themselves.
That means that even if you’re in a room with fifty women, no two of them are going to look alike.
Unfortunately, for us fellas, it’s not nearly as easy to stand out.
Other than updating your hairstyle, shaping your beard, or spritzing on some new fragrance, it’s pretty hard to define yourself as the number one sexual prospect in any encounter.
If you want to make yourself look unique, the best option tends to be going under a tattoo gun.
The question is, will getting inked actually improve your luck with the ladies?
Or, are you more likely to end up with nothing but a wonky bicep anchor and the bitter taste of regret?
Let’s find out.
Do women like tattoos? The perception of ink
There was a time when guys with tattoos used to be seen as dangerous vagabonds.
However, these days, most people see tattoos as just another accessory – like a great hat or a reliable belt.
Around 20 million people in the UK alone have at least one tattoo.
That might not be too much of a surprise when you consider the fact that the word “Britain” comes from the Celtic for “Tattooed folk.” Turns out we have a history with ink.
Still, the opinion towards tattooed dudes is pretty similar in America too. Around 40% of millennials in the States have a tattoo, and the number is constantly creeping higher.
Deciding whether to get a tattoo is a personal thing.
We probably don’t need to tell you that they are permanent – so you need to be pretty sure about what you want scribbling onto your skin.
However, one of the things that can determine whether a guy chooses to get a tattoo or not, is whether he thinks it’s going to help him get laid.
I mean – that’s the reason that many of us do a lot of things, right?
So, do girls like guys with tattoos?
To answer that question, we need to turn to our old friend: science.
Do tattoos make you hotter? Kind of…
According to a study taken from the Jagiellonian University Medical College, there is a difference in how women perceive men with tattoos, compared to how they see you if you don’t have any ink.
The study took 2369 women and 215 men and showed them pictures of non-tattooed and tattooed men.
The participants were asked to rate the guys with tattoos on a bunch of things, like:
- How attractive they were
- Whether they seemed dominant, or aggressive
- How masculine they appeared to be
- Whether they seemed to be a good partner or father
- How healthy they looked
The basics.
The research revealed that women didn’t necessarily find men with tattoos to be more attractive, but they were more drawn to them for other reasons. Notably, the girls in the study thought that guys with tattoos were healthier, more masculine, and more dominant.
In other words, if you’re wondering “do tattoos make you hotter?” then the answer is no, but they do make you more appealing to the opposite sex if that person is looking for a more aggressive and “healthy” partner. So that’s something.
Interestingly, the dudes in the study saw the guys with tattoos as a greater source of competition.
Maybe us non-tatted guys assume that tattooed guys are going to be harder to fight off if we’re both going for the same girl. Who knows?
Why do girls like guys with tattoos: Strength is sexy
Although the study above didn’t indicate that women found men with tattoos to be more attractive – the results were pretty telling.
For instance, did you notice that the women said that guys with tattoos were more “dominant”.
Evolutionary biologists have a theory that tattoos are a way for us dudes to signal how tough we are to both women, and other men.
After all, getting a tattoo hurts.
Proving that you’re willing to sit and have someone stab at your skin for several hours in a row just to look cool is impressive.
In the animal kingdom, then, guys getting tattoos are a lot like male peacocks showing off their colourful tails.
It’s a drain on our bodily resources, and it exposes us to dangers (like infection), but it showcases to potential mates and partners that you’re tough enough to take the pain.
The researchers in the tattoo survey concluded that ink on a man does two things.
The first thing it does is attract ladies by showing off your masculinity and good health.
The next thing it does, is intimidate other men, making it less likely that you’re going to have to compete with other alpha males.
Combined, those two things do increase your chances of getting laid.
The downside?
The woman in the above study might have seen men with tattoos as more dominant, but they also ranked them as less likely to be a viable candidate for either fatherhood, or a long-term relationship.
In other words, chicks dig the bad-boy vibe, but they’re not going to bring you home to mom and dad.
Unless you find a woman that happens to have a tattoo fetish, then there’s a good chance that tattoos will make you more attractive for one-night stands.
However, they might not be the look you want to go for if you’re planning on settling down for a long-term partner.
Do women like tattoos? And should you get one…
So, do women like men with tattoos, and more importantly, should you get one?
Well, answering the first question is pretty tough.
We can see from scientific study that most women consider guys with tattoos to be more aggressive, dominant, and healthy.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the receptionist you like at work will pick you over your non-tatted pal, just because you get some ink.
Women are complex creatures, just like men.
Some of them will be attracted to tattoos and what they represent, and some of them won’t.
Ultimately, it all depends on the girl.
When it comes to the second question – only you have the answer.
Most serious tattoo collectors and ink lovers don’t give a flying F*@k what people think about the pictures on their body.
They might have spent some time worrying about “do girls like tattoos” in their teenage years.
However, more often than not, they got the ink that they have today for another important reason that has nothing to do with getting laid.
If you’re getting a tattoo just because you think that it will help you get with a hot lady – you’re probably getting it for the wrong reasons.
Are tattoos sexy? You tell us…
For some girls, tattoos will be a total panty dropper.
There are some women out there who will love any opportunity to check out all the different pictures that you have scrawled all over your body.
However, there are also plenty of women who will walk in the other direction when they see someone with a tattoo.
Because of that, it’s probably a good idea to think carefully about why you want your tattoo – besides using it as a chick magnet.
If you are thinking of getting a tattoo, and you want to make it attractive to women, then it’s usually a good idea to go with something that has a story.
Most girls like ink that has some kind of emotion behind it – like a tale about you and your best friend going on some crazy fishing trip.
Pointless tattoos of foreign languages that translate to “Egg Foo Young” aren’t going to impress anyone.
Another thing to keep in mind, if you are getting tattoos to make yourself hotter – it will only work to a certain extent.
Tattoos can lower your apparent potential of being seen as a good father or partner. So, if you do ever decide to settle down – your ink might make that a little tougher.
Just some food for thought…
In the meantime, what do you think? Are tattoos sexy? Are they worth the pain?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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