Tattoo Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Temporary and Permanent), By Category (Cosmetic, Medical, and Professional), By Application (Skin, Corneal, Mouth, and Others), By End-user (Women and Men), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global tattoo market size was valued at USD 2.03 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 2.22 billion in 2024 to USD 4.83 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.20% during the forecast period.

Tattoos (also called body art) are a form of body modification performed using inks, pigments, and dyes. In this respect, tattooing is an artistic endeavor mainly used to beautify the skin. The rising demand for natural and vegan services/products (vegan ink) fuels market growth at a macro level. Rising consumer concerns regarding the harmful effects of chemical-based inks trigger the demand for their natural/ counterparts. Spiritual body modifications such as mandalas, a line from a sacred text, and crosses, which express an individual's faith, are emerging as key industry trends, especially in Asian countries such as India and Thailand. Furthermore, a rise in technological advancements, such as improved tattoo pigments, machines, and aftercare products, will further contribute to the market growth. The rise in social media users, along with growing promotion on social media platforms by tattoo artists, has further attracted a large number of consumers. The rise in awareness regarding eco-friendly and vegan tattoos among individuals will further propel the market growth.

With studios shut for almost a year in 2020 across countries, artists had to face the loss of revenue and experienced heavy loss in footfall caused by the novel COVID-19 pandemic. As the activity needs to have direct hand-to-body contact and cannot be performed without physical contact or by keeping a distance, regulations on studios prevailed across countries in 2020. Tattooing, which is considered a sub-segment of the fashion and lifestyle industry, wasn't considered an essential activity; hence, studios and shops were shut for around 4-6 months worldwide due to strict lockdown measures, varying with each country.

Tattoo Market Trends

Evolving Trend of 3D Patterns to Bolster Industry Expansion

The demand for 3D patterns is growing significantly among men and women alike. Moreover, adopting 3D services by celebrities, athletes, and other personages encourage individuals to adopt 3D printing. The rise in the fashion and entertainment industry has further propelled the popularity of various shapes and designs. While 3D services are gaining widespread adoption worldwide, they are more prevalent in the European and North American markets. 3D patterns are mainly preferred by youth as they tend to make extra efforts to enhance their appearance and maintain their body. Furthermore, 3D pattern art uses diversified techniques, such as scribing, cross-hatching, and others. This technique helps in providing a unique look to tattoos. The 3D tattoo is long-lasting compared to traditional ones, and it contains more than one dimension, which helps make the appearance of tattoos more attractive and unique. However, a 3D service can cost USD 200 per hour of work and can only be done by well-experienced artists. It also requires extra work with light shading, which further increases costs.  

Tattoo Market Growth Factors

Rising Number of Studios and Spa Clinics to Propel Market Growth

The rising number of studios and spa clinics offering body piercing services drives the global demand for body art. In addition, the increasing number of body art & piercing-related educational institutions and the growing number of tattooing professionals with expertise in delivering high-fashioned services, including body piercing and body art removal services, is increasing body decoration popularity worldwide. Recent years have witnessed major developments in the studios & spa category. For instance, according to the International Spa Association (ISPA), a global association of spa industry stakeholders, as of 2020, there were 21,560 spa clinics in the U.S. In July 2021, Ephemeral Tattoo, a New York, U.S.-based salon, invested USD 20 million to open its new store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, U.S.

Rising Preference for Laser Services to Accelerate Market Growth

Rising parlors' adoption of laser treatment technology for effectively removing permanent body art  will likely build users' confidence in availing of such body art removal services, favoring the services' revenues. Medical spas and dermatologists are mainly involved in performing body art removal operations. Rising users' spending on medical spa services will likely increase the services' revenues. According to the data presented by the International Spa Association (ISPA), globally, the average revenue per spa client visit reached USD 97.5 by December 2020. Hence, growing awareness regarding the safeness and effectiveness of laser technology-based body art removal techniques among users is accelerating the global service demand.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Rising Prevalence of Skin Infections and Allergies to Impede Market Growth

The rising prevalence of skin reactions and allergies due to piercing treatments negatively influences the demand for services globally. The process is known to cause inflammatory tumors or keloids among customers due to repetitive ink injecting procedures. In addition, individuals are also prone to be exposed to infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and tetanus due to using unhygienic equipment by professionals at parlors. These factors discourage a sizable number of individuals from opting for a service, thereby hampering the global service demand.

Tattoo Market Segmentation Analysis

By Type Analysis

Rapidly Evolving & Changing Consumer Preferences to Trigger Demand for Temporary Body Art

On the basis of type, the market is segmented into temporary and permanent. The temporary segment holds a major global tattoo market share and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Temporary body art is usually a decorative image applied to the skin for a shorter time. A large number of temporary designs are novelty items that are made with a particular type of decal. Temporary designs are trending as they allow customers to use various designs and shapes.

Furthermore, these body modifications can be airbrushed, printed, or drawn on the skin. In addition, temporary body modifications are used for identification, advertising, and self-expression, ideal for music events, sports events, and also for raising any social issue. At a broad level, they are rapidly evolving & changing consumer preferences to trigger demand for temporary designs.

Professional artists typically apply permanent body art. These modifications stay on the body forever unless they are removed by laser treatment. Prominent industry participants also focus on providing a wide variety of designs and styles within the permanent category amid the increasingly competitive landscape. Recently, numerous key players have focused on expanding their service portfolio to include permanent designs. For instance, in August 2019, Inkbox, a Toronto-based startup offering temporary designs, launched its new retail space at Queen Street West, Toronto, Canada, unveiling a new brand and expanding its product portfolio to include permanent body art. The new space combines its temporary patterns with an area for permanent modifications.

By Category Analysis

Proliferation of Artists to Accelerate Adoption of Professional Body Modifications

By category, the market is segmented into cosmetic, medical, and professional. The professional segment holds the most significant share, followed by the cosmetic and medical segments. Professional body art consists of diversified colors applied to the dermis, the layer beneath the skin. Professional designs are developed by skilled and experienced artists using sterile inks and machines. The increasing number of professional artist’s favors industry expansion. Furthermore, key players focus on developing a wide variety of professional patterns such as Japanese, blackwork, realism, traditional, watercolor, tribal, new school, and neo-traditional to stay competitive.

The cosmetic segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Cosmetic tattooing is a semi-permanent procedure that involves the application of patterns into the upper layer of the skin. This procedure is typically preferred to increase the appearance of the eyes, scalp, lips, and eyebrows. Technological advancements in application techniques across countries will likely encourage innovations, most notably in the cosmetic category, in the forthcoming years. In this respect, the emerging concept of 'lip blushing,' a semi-permanent body art intended to improve the color or shape of the users' lips, will gain significant traction worldwide throughout the forecast timeframe.

By Application Analysis

Rising Popularity of Pictorial Patterns to Boost Tattooing Trend on Skin

The market is segmented by application into skin, corneal, mouth, and others. The skin segment dominates the global market, owing to the rapid evolution of the fashion & beauty industry, where skin patterns are widely adopted. Furthermore, the rising availability of colorful and pictorial designs in diversified shapes and designs makes tattooing on the skin more popular across countries. Depending on the customer's preference, skin body art can be permanent or temporary. They can be inked to body parts such as arms, back, outer collarbone, hairline, upper thighs, upper ribcage, shoulder, and calves.

The mouth segment is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Mouth tattoos are body art applied to the inside of the mouth or on the lips. Lip liner tattoos, a permanent makeup type, are increasingly popular worldwide. These patterns usually make the user's lips appear fuller and can minimize or eliminate the need for applying regular lipstick. Tooth tattoos are a growing trend in dentistry, with an increasing number of individuals worldwide preferring these body arts to cover a discolored tooth or to cover a tooth that has a root canal. Other trending body art applications are scalp and fingernails.

By End-user Analysis

Rising Trend of Beautification to Fuel Product Demand among Women

By end-user, the market is divided into women and men. The women segment is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period. Women are more inclined toward personal grooming and beautification and prefer premium tattooing services. This factor has increased the demand for cosmetic patterns among female customers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Switzerland-based international organization responsible for public health, in 2020, approximately 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer globally, with 685,000 deaths. Given the rising global awareness regarding breast cancer, 'Breast Cancer Awareness' body art will likely become increasingly popular worldwide in the near term, most notably in October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month).

Recent years have witnessed a significant demand for body art applications among men. While women usually opt for designs on their shoulder blades, ankles, and bust, men typically opt for body art on their shoulders, biceps, and forearms. Religious beliefs also influence the application of body art in men in many regions. However, many cultures have considered body art illegal and associated with criminals. Although body art is seen to be a highly positive means of self-expression in many regions, they are banned in a few countries across the globe. Such factors will impede industry expansion in the coming years.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Based on geography, the global market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Europe emerged as the most prominent market in 2022, with a 33.50% share. While the Permanent Make-Up (PMU) inks used are produced mainly in Europe, most inks used for body art are imported from the U.S. The rising popularity of body art across regions to meet different customers' needs and growing celebrity endorsement propel the market.

North America is the second most prominent market for body art globally. The increasing popularity of body art across the region has spurred market growth. Furthermore, the North American market's growth is attributable to the rising consumer awareness about the availability of various cosmetic and medical body art beyond the conventional variants. Furthermore, growing consumer inclination toward body art as a symbol of lifestyle and fashion statement has propelled the market's growth.

Asia Pacific is one of the fastest-growing regions and can act as a lucrative market for industry participants to exploit in the coming years. The growing inclination among the young population toward body art fuels the global tattoo market growth. The proliferating body art training institutes across regions is another factor that escalates tattoo demand. According to industry experts, numerous young individuals in India chose creative careers, such as tattooists, by quitting their corporate jobs in search of rewarding employment opportunities.

The South American and Middle East & African markets are expected to witness robust product demand over the forecast timeframe, given the increasing trend of body art culture among young individuals. In the Gulf countries, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, body art is not popular owing to the religious beliefs of the Islamic population. The Sunni group of Islam believes that having a design on the body is a sin, as it involves changing the natural creation of God and inflicting unnecessary pain in the process. Such factors will impede the growth of the Middle Eastern markets over the forecast period.

List of Key Companies in Tattoo Market

Opening New Studios to Help Companies Achieve Competitive Advantage

The intense competitive rivalry will distinguish the global market in the near term, with domestic and internationally reputed players sharing the market space. The leading industry players focus on implementing two primary strategies, expanding their global footprint by opening new studios and investing in marketing and promotion activities. Prominent industry participants, such as Celebrity INK, benefit from a strong consumer base worldwide. Such companies operate a sizable number of studios across the globe, which discourages new players' entry into the industry.

List of Key Companies Profiled

• Celebrity INK (Thailand)


• Aliens Tattoo (India)


• Fulham Tattoo (U.K.)


• Cloak and Dagger London (U.K.)


• Vivid Ink (U.K.)


• Radical Ink (Romania)


• BodyCanvas (India)


• Devil'z Tattoo (India)


• Rock n'Roll Tattoo and Piercing (U.K.)


• Three Kings Tattoo (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• March 2023- Ishan Rana, an Indian tattoo artist from Vadodara, India, set the Guinness World Record by spending 91 consecutive hours giving out 74 tattoos 64 individuals. The artist started the inking marathon on 3rd March and completed it on 7th March.


• February 2023- Oleander Tattoo, a Ravenswood, Chicago, U.S.-based studio, announced expansion plans to appoint more artists and arrange fundraisers for nonprofits.


• February 2022- Mad Rabbit, a U.S.-based natural and clean tattoo skincare brand, received USD 4 million in fresh funding. According to the brand, this funding will help expand its retail footprint and product portfolio.


• January 2022- Ephemeral, Société Bic S.A., a French manufacturer of writing instruments, acquired Inkbox Ink Inc., a Canadian semi-permanent and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) body art brand, for USD 65 million. This acquisition highlights Société Bic S.A.'s intent to enhance its DTC capabilities within the body art category.


• July 2021- Ephemeral, a U.S.-based brand, raised, four months after its launch, approximately USD 20 million in funding. Rising investments suggest that tattoos are a rapidly evolving beauty category worldwide.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed tattoo market analysis and focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, types, categories, applications, and end-users. Besides, the report offers insights into the tattoo industry trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors above, the report encompasses several factors that contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation