Why Women Prefer Men With Tattoos, According To Research (2024)

It turns out that while women may be attracted on a personality level to “good boys,” on an exterior level, they at least want their good boys to look... a little bad.

Just how can the good guys get this image? Well, according to a 2017study, ladies might just be more attracted to and more likely to consider guys with tattoos as moreaggressive and dominant. That’s a lot of supposition to get from just a little ink.

Advertisem*nt

RELATED:How Having Tattoos Affect Your Job Opportunities, According To Research

The study consisted of 2,500 heterosexual men and women gauging their reactions to photos, as researchers are pretty good at making people judge others in the name of science.

Advertisem*nt

The researchers asked them to stare at and rate shirtless men who sported various types of tattoos on their persons. Some of the photos even added digital tattoos to the people in the pictures, like small pieces of ink on their otherwise non-tattooed arms.

It turns out that the tatted studs were more likely to be considered by the women in the study as more aggressive, dominant, and masculine. They also considered that these men had better health than non-tattooed people.

One good thing for those guys who haven’t undergone ink, though? Women didn’t rate the inked men as more attractive overall. The bad news for pink-skinned guys is that the ladies considered them morein charge, however, and both men and women believed that the guys with tattoos were going to be better in bed than non-inked dudes.

RELATED:Your Tattoo May Be Poisoning You, According To Research

Advertisem*nt

According to the researchers, this indicates that the presence of tattoos changes other peoples’ perceptions of the men who sport them.

“Tattoos not only influence female preference,” said the research team, “but they may be even more important in male-male competition.”

This basically means that men considered guys with tattoos to be more competition for casualencounters — and they weren’t wrong, given a woman’s proclivity for bedding a man with ink.

RELATED:Single Mom Says Men Get The Wrong Idea About Her Personality On Online Dating Apps Due To Her Tattoos

There was, however, some additional bad news for men showing off their art, and that is that men who appear to be more aggressive and have the projection of having more testosterone (because of their tattoos) don’t appeal to women looking for relationships.

Advertisem*nt

This is because high testosterone is often linked to violence or infidelity. And, to add insult to injury, women don’t think that men with tattoos are likely to make good partners or fathers for children.

As for us women sporting our own tattoos? In 2015, researchers discovered that people considered women with ink to be “more open to intimacywithout commitment, less selective, and having a higher drive when shown with the tattoo.”

So while men with tattoos appear to be more virile and better in bed, women with tattoos appear desperate, less willing to screen their partners, and more open to one-night stands. Thanks, double standards.

Advertisem*nt

RELATED:I Found Out How Men Really Feel About Tattoos On Women

Merethe Najjar is a professional writer, editor,and award-winning fiction author. Her articles have been featured inThe Aviator Magazine, Infinite Press, Yahoo, BRIDES, and more.

Why Women Prefer Men With Tattoos, According To Research (2024)

FAQs

Why Women Prefer Men With Tattoos, According To Research? ›

It turns out that the tatted studs were more likely to be considered by the women in the study as more aggressive, dominant, and masculine. They also considered that these men had better health than non-tattooed people. One good thing for those guys who haven't undergone ink, though?

Why do women like guys with tattoos? ›

Girls and tattoos — the science

According to one study, women do perceive men with tattoos differently to men without ink. The research found although women didn't necessarily find the men with tattoos to be more attractive than their peers — they did see them as more masculine, healthy, and dominant.

Do women find tattoos on men attractive? ›

Results summarized. Women, on average, find men with tattoos equally attractive and smart as men without tattoos. However, they perceive men with tattoos as slightly less trustworthy.

What percentage of women prefer men with tattoos? ›

A majority of women, 76 percent to be exact, have nothing but a positive reaction, saying they see you as trendy, kind, and down-to-earth. When it comes to your ink, it really just depends on location. Almost 52 percent of women dig your sleeve, 25 percent don't really care either way, and 23 percent aren't huge fans.

Why are people attracted to people with tattoos? ›

Over thousands of years of tattooing and sexual mating, humans may have evolved to prefer mates with tattoos due to the fact that body modification signals biological quality.

Are men with tattoos sexier? ›

In a study, women rated tattooed men as healthier but not more attractive than men without tattoos. Men viewed tattooed men as more attractive but not healthier than men without tattoos. Women judged men with tattoos as worse potential parents and partners than men without tattoos.

Why you should date a guy with tattoos? ›

They're warm and fuzzy inside

Often, guys with tattoos can look pretty hardcore on the outside but may have a much more sensitive side underneath. They might love rock and roll or metal music, but they can also be tender and sweet, ready to cuddle up with you on the sofa or hold your hand on a summer's day.

Are tattoos masculine? ›

Tattoos are personal to someone's identity and personality. It should not matter if they are “feminine” or “masculine.” In the 19th century, tattoos were popular for wealthy socialites, including women. This trend then died down in the 20th century when body ink emerged as a symbol of masculinity.

What does a sleeve tattoo say about you? ›

A person with a full sleeve clearly doesn't care what the world thinks about their art. They tend to live as they choose and don't worry too much about consequences. Confidence is their game. In either case, people with arm tattoos usually like to show them off.

Why do people think tattoos are attractive? ›

Tattoos can be powerful expressions of identity, conveying strength, artistry, or personal narratives. Some find them irresistibly attractive, while others may not share the sentiment. Ultimately, attractiveness transcends the ink; it's about confidence, authenticity, and individuality.

Do men or women have a higher pain tolerance for tattoos? ›

However, there are certain areas where tattoo pain is more intense for females than males and vice versa. Tattoo pain for females is often more intense in the breast and stomach regions than it is for males. However, tattoos done on the back, hip or groin area rank higher on the pain scale for males than for females.

What gender gets the most tattoos? ›

The likelihood of having a tattoo varies by several demographic factors. Gender: 38% of women have at least one tattoo, compared with 27% of men. This includes 56% of women ages 18 to 29 and 53% of women ages 30 to 49.

What does psychology say about tattoos? ›

Emotions and thoughts are embodied on the skin and also in the tattoos. In addition, what happens inside is expressed through the exterior. This is why the tattoo expresses the individual world of each person, and it is a way of talking about oneself and sharing it with the rest.

Why do girls like boys with tattoos? ›

Tattooed men were seen as dominant and masculine.

It turns out that while women may be attracted on a personality level to “good boys,” on an exterior level, they at least want their good boys to look... a little bad. Just how can the good guys get this image?

Why are millenials obsessed with tattoos? ›

Even when everything else about the world is in constant flux - right down to the body changes - tattoos are something that never change. This helps make tattoos more of an identity meter for millennials and so we see them a lot more than in years past.

Where is the most attractive place for a tattoo on a guy? ›

For those interested in men, prime real estate for a tattoo was the upper arm at a 3.8. The upper back and shoulder were not far behind, receiving 3.5 and 3.4 ratings, respectively. Those attracted to women saw a three-way tie between the upper back, shoulder and hips (with a 3.3 rating).

Why do people get obsessed with tattoos? ›

Tattoos are often deeply meaningful to people who get them. They can commemorate important events like the loss of a loved one or the birth of a child. Some Christians get tattoos to express their faith. But despite their prevalence, studies show they're often linked to negative conditions.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tish Haag

Last Updated:

Views: 5672

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tish Haag

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

Phone: +4215847628708

Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.