"Gen Z Gets Pinterest Tattoos": These Tattoo Artists Are Revealing The Tattoos That Each Generation Gets Allllll The Time

BuzzFeed
·2 min read
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I've never gotten a tattoo, mainly because I suffer from terrible indecision about what tattoo I should get. What if I pick something too ~trendy~ and it's the same tattoo everyone else has? Or — god forbid — what if I pick something CRINGE?

Close-up of tattoo procedure on skin
Pedro Arquero / Getty Images

Luckily, the tattoo artists at Axiom Tattoo in San Diego are helping us all out. In a series of TikToks, the artists reveal the most common tattoo designs and trends for each generation.

Tattoo artist working on client's arm, both have multiple tattoos. Text:
Tattoo artist working on client's arm, both have multiple tattoos. Text:
Person getting tattooed with text
Person getting tattooed with text

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

For millennials, apparently dreamcatcher tattoos are very common, especially on the hip.

A tattoo artist naming dreamcatchers as a common millennial tattoo
A tattoo artist naming dreamcatchers as a common millennial tattoo
Person with a dreamcatcher back tattoo looking at a beach with kitesurfers in the distance
Person with a dreamcatcher back tattoo looking at a beach with kitesurfers in the distance

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com, Dragonvanish / Getty Images/iStockphoto

And when millennials get a ribcage tattoo, they tend to get it on the side of the ribcage, under the arm (while Gen Z tends to get it more on the front, under the pecs/breasts).

Person's ribs with a tattoo featuring Chinese characters
Giulia Fiori Photography / Getty Images

Another popular millennial choice: watercolor tattoos, with splotches of color that blend together.

A tattoo artist saying that millennials get watercolor tattoos
A tattoo artist saying that millennials get watercolor tattoos
A tattoo artist inks a smiling woman with colorful sleeve tattoos
A tattoo artist inks a smiling woman with colorful sleeve tattoos

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com, Davit85 / Getty Images

Commenters (rightfully) noted that Harry Potter tattoos — especially the Deathly Hallows symbol — are very much a millennial tattoo trend.

Screenshot of a social media comment by Kate Robertson stating "Harry Potter tattoos gotta be a millennial thing."
Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

And the tattoo parlor agrees that infinity symbols are also suuuuuuper millennial.

Comment about infinity symbols being popular with millennials, with a tattoo studio agreeing
Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

For Gen X, apparently owl tattoos are very popular.

Smiling person with tattoos, text:
Smiling person with tattoos, text:
The same woman laughs and says 'OWLS'
The same woman laughs and says 'OWLS'

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

A feather tattoo might also be a giveaway that you're Gen X.

Person smiling, holding a microphone labeled
Person smiling, holding a microphone labeled
Man with a feather tattoo on the neck against a yellow background
Man with a feather tattoo on the neck against a yellow background

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com, Maskot / Getty Images/Maskot

Gen X'ers also supposedly get a lot of tribal tattoos, or Chinese character tattoos.

Man in a graphic tee smiling, with text asking about a common Gen X tattoo
Man in a graphic tee smiling, with text asking about a common Gen X tattoo
Man with mustache interviewed, wearing graphic tee, indoors with blurred background
Man with mustache interviewed, wearing graphic tee, indoors with blurred background

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

Commenters jumped in and added their own observations, including lots of cartoon characters...

Reply to a post listing a mix of cartoon characters and animals, includes a laughing emoji
Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

...And of course dolphins, specifically on the ankle.

Comment by Lauren about OG Gen X'ers having dolphins on their ankle
Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

As for Gen Z, the current trends are sparkles, kinda like the ones on the right below:

Tattoo artists saying that sparkles are a Gen Z tattoo
Tattoo artists saying that sparkles are a Gen Z tattoo
Various star-like symbols and shapes arranged in a grid pattern
Various star-like symbols and shapes arranged in a grid pattern

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com, Tetiana Musiyaka / Getty Images/iStockphoto

And apparently "angel numbers" are a big thing right now.

Person with glasses and earring, holding a microphone, with text
Person with glasses and earring, holding a microphone, with text
Person with a
Person with a

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

Gen Z also loves bows and lockets.

Two tattoo artists saying that bows are a common Gen Z tattoo
Two tattoo artists saying that bows are a common Gen Z tattoo
Illustration of eight different simple bow designs for tattoos
Illustration of eight different simple bow designs for tattoos

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com, M-e-l / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Other Gen Z tattoo trends mentioned by the artists include postage stamps, heart-shaped cybersigilism designs, and — very specifically — Haku, the dragon from Spirited Away. And according to the comments, they nailed it:

Screenshot of social media comments sharing images of personal tattoos with emoji reactions
Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

Now, you might be in a different generation and have one of these tattoos, but remember these wise words from one of the Axiom Tattoo artists:

Bearded man in sunglasses interviewed, text overlay
Bearded man in sunglasses interviewed, text overlay
The same man continues
The same man continues

Axiom Tattoo / Via tiktok.com

So, are you feeling called out right now? Are there any trends that they missed? Let us know in the comments!