Taboo to trendy? Gen Z Aussies are reviving a controversial tattoo trend that has millennials divided
Millennials around the world will either rejoice or recoil at the news of a tattoo trend that is having its renaissance.
Once the ultimate ‘naughty-girl’ tattoo of the late naughties and early 2000s, tramp stamps (as they are colloquially named) were proudly flaunted by pop princesses and actresses like Britney, Christina Aguilera, Drew Barrymore, Lindsay Lohan.
However, after years in the fashion sin bin, the lower-back tattoo is making a comeback, but this time by Gen Z.
Although they’re now synonymous with a somewhat trashier lifestyle, it wasn’t always the case for the copious millennials that flocked to ink themselves exactly like their pop idols.
As one TikToker explained: ‘The second women getting tattoos started becoming more mainstream in the late 90s and early 2000s, men had to go ahead and suck the fun out of it by branding lower back tattoos “tramp stamps”. There’s never been a male equivalent. It’s not based on anything. It’s just pure misogyny.’
Because of this, many of the aforementioned celebs had their lower back tattoos removed, and Kim Kardashian once famously declared the trend officially over when she quipped: ‘Would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?’
‘My old studio had laser [tattoo] removal, and there were so many people coming in to get them lasered off – especially the old, cool ones from the 90s,’ celebrity tattoo artist Lauren Winzer told FEMAIL.
‘But now people are coming in to get new ones. I feel like tribal is back. I actually got mine in January, finally.’
Once the ultimate ‘naughty-girl’ tattoo of the late naughts early 2000s, tramp stamps (as they are colloquially named) were proudly flaunted by pop princesses and actresses like Britney, Christina Aguilera, Drew Barrymore , Lindsay Lohan .
Now, thanks to the Y2K aesthetic explosion (think butterfly clips, thinner eyebrows and low-rise jeans), TikTok’s obsession with nostalgic beauty has boomed. Pictured: Miley Cyrus
Now, thanks to the Y2K aesthetic explosion (think butterfly clips, thinner eyebrows and low-rise jeans), TikTok’s obsession with nostalgic beauty has boomed.
‘I feel like the people of my [millennial] generation are still a bit iffy about it, but the younger generation [are] just really not caring about how they express themselves,’ Lauren said, who has seen a big spike in lower back ink requests in the last year alone.
Thanks to this, the general cultural shift towards embracing what was once ridiculed, has meant that the term ‘tramp stamp’ has gone from punchline to power player.
For those still thinking the name revival of ‘tramp stamp’ is problematic? Apparently not. For many, reclaiming the term is the whole point.
‘The reputation that it used to have, that’s another generational thing,’ according to Lauren.
‘People living alternative lifestyles, like sex workers and things like that, I guess that they kind of are grouped in with tramp stamps, whereas now anyone can have one.’
During a recent TikTok, a popular Sydney tattoo page, @markdtattoo, also listed tramp stamps as one of the key tattoo trends.
‘I swear they’re coming back,’ one tattoo artist said. ‘I’ve had people ask me for some, I’ve seen a few on TikTok, I really think they’re coming back.’
Gen Z’s are taking to social media to share their new tramp stamps with pride. Pictured: Callie Wilson (@okcallie)
Celebrity tattoo artist Lauren Winzer (pictured) has noticed a significant rise in lower back tattoo requests, noting: ‘tribal is back’
Instead of tribal flames, Chinese symbols or cursive heartbreakers however, Lauren said today’s versions are more about delicate florals, tribal fine-line symbols, and tongue-in-cheek phrases
Instead of tribal flames, Chinese symbols or cursive heartbreakers however, today’s versions are more about delicate florals, tribal fine-line symbols, and tongue-in-cheek phrases.
‘The original 80s and 90s style of tribal butterflies, that’s getting asked to be done now, but in a more modern style,’ Lauren said.
‘I did one the other day that was tribal with a fairy theme, so it had little flowers and things with it.’
Instagram and TikTok are awash with creators flaunting their fresh lower back ink proudly, as well as celebrities like Miley Cyrus revealing hers in low-cut, backless dresses on the red carpet.
Instead of tribal flames, Chinese symbols or cursive heartbreakers however, today’s versions are more about delicate florals, tribal fine-line symbols, and tongue-in-cheek phrases. Lauren (left) has a tramp stamp herself
Chrissy Teigen discovered, a tad too late, that the ‘temporary’ tattoo of the White Castle logo she affixed to her lower back during gourmet chain food festival ChainFEST last Saturday, was actually semi-permanent
Chrissy’s husband John Legend wisecracked: ‘It’s not a tramp stamp. It’s a chain stain’
Even Chissy Teigen showed off her ink to her 55million social media followers recently – however it was a bit more tongue-in-cheek.
The 39-year-old Cravings founder discovered, a tad too late, that the ‘temporary’ tattoo of the White Castle logo she affixed to her lower back during gourmet chain food festival ChainFEST, was actually semi-permanent.
‘I have a White Castle lower back tattoo that lasts for eight days! Oh my god,’ she said.
Pop singer Chappell Roan also has ‘Princess’ tattooed on her tailbone.
For those still thinking the name revival of ‘tramp stamp’ is problematic? Apparently not. For many, reclaiming the term is the whole point.
As for what’s trending across the board when it comes to skin ink, Lauren said the current cost of living might be the reason behind the the size of tattoos being requested.
‘Tiny script, little charms or trinket looking tattoos are definitely trending at the moment.’
‘I don’t know if that’s because of the financial situation, but I’m really noticing, a lot of smaller tattoos. That’s definitely had a big impact on everything at the moment.’
