Tattoo Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact 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, 2022-2029

The global tattoo market size was valued at USD 1.75 billion in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 1.89 billion in 2022 to USD 3.55 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.43% during the forecast period. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with tattoo experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the global tattoo market exhibited a decline of 8.27% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

Tattoos 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 tattoo 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 a key new trend, especially in Asian countries such as India and Thailand.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Strict Lockdown Measures across Countries to Hamper Product Demand

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 tattooing 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.

Recent years have witnessed significant developments aimed at supporting artists amid the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, in April 2021, Inkinn Tattoo Studio, an Indian studio, launched an academy to support struggling and aspiring artists amid the ongoing pandemic. Such efforts not only assist prospective artists in facing financial struggles caused by the unprecedented pandemic but also cater to the evolving user tastes and preferences. Tattoo studios will likely focus on hygiene to build consumer confidence in tattooing amid and post-COVID-19 crisis, employing protective plastic covers, disinfectants, and disposable equipment components in their studios.

LATEST TRENDS

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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. 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.

DRIVING 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, are increasing body decoration popularity worldwide. Recent years have witnessed major developments in the tattoo 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 Tattooing Services to Accelerate Market Growth

Rising parlors' adoption of laser treatment technology for effectively removing permanent body art is likely to build users' confidence in availing 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 tattoo piercing treatments negatively influences the demand for services globally. The tattooing 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 tattooing equipment by professionals at parlors. These factors discourage a sizable number of individuals from opting for a service, thereby hampering the global service demand.

SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

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

On the basis of type, the global market is segmented into temporary and permanent. The temporary segment holds the major 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, 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 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 tattooing 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 tattooed makeup 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 rapid evolution of the fashion & beauty industry, where skin patterns are widely adopted. Furthermore, the rising availability of colorful and pictorial design 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 this body art to cover a discolored tooth or to cover a tooth that has a root canal. Other trending tattoo 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's segment is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period. Women are more inclined toward personal grooming and beautification and prefer to use premium quality 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' tattoos 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 tattoo applications among men. While women usually opt for designs on their shoulder blades, ankles, and bust, men typically opt for tattoos on their shoulders, biceps, and forearms. Religious beliefs also influence the application of tattoos in men in many regions. However, many cultures have considered body art illegal and associated with criminals. Although tattoos are 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

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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 2021, with 33.62% 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 tattoos 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 tattoos across the region has spurred the 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 design and tattoos 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 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.

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The South American and Middle East & African markets are expected to witness robust product demand over the forecast timeframe, given the increasing trend of tattoo culture among young individuals. In the Gulf countries, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, tattoos are 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.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Opening New Studios to Help Companies Achieve Competitive Advantage

Intense competitive rivalry characterizes the global market, 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:

• 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) tattoo brand, for USD 65 million. This acquisition highlights Société Bic S.A.'s intent to enhance its DTC capabilities within the tattoo category.


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


• January 2018- Vivid Ink, a U.K.-based studio, announced opening its new studio in Lichfield, U.K, with two professional artists specializing in various styles. The new studio also offers piercing and laser tattoo removal services.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of Tattoo Market

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The research report analyzes the market in-depth and highlights crucial aspects such as prominent companies, type, category, application, and end-users. Besides this, the report provides insights into the tattoo industry trends and highlights significant industry developments. In addition to the aspects mentioned earlier, the report encompasses several factors contributing to the market's growth.

Report Scope & Segmentation