The popularity of tattoos among women is growing at an unprecedented rate. Over the past ten years, the number of women lining up at doors of tattoo studios has rocketed. Tattoos are now a mainstream fashion accessory for women, occupying the same category as shoes and handbags.

However, tattoos haven”t always been popular among women. Fifty years ago, tattoos were almost the exclusive preserve of men. Only ten percent of tattoos belonged to women. And as recently as the 1980”s there was a general belief in society that a women who got tattooed was either a criminal, a lesbian or a whore.

These days, things are completely different. The traditional stereotypes and stigmas that surrounded tattoos have been swept away and women have the confidence to wear their tattoos with pride. Women are now responsible for 65% of all tattoos. In fact the market for female tattoos has grown so rapidly that as many as one in four women in the US have a tattoo.

But apart from the change in the number of women who are getting tattooed, the female tattoo market has undergone a couple of significant changes.

I hope you find these top tips useful when considering the massive selection of women’s tattoo ideas there are, so that you end up getting the tattoo you’ll love for many years to come!

Tip 1: Do lots… and lots… of tattoo design research.

There are women’s tattoo ideas aplenty on the internet these days, so there’s no excuse to rush into getting the first design you see. Make sure you do plenty of research on websites that offer design galleries, get a second opinion, and think of the long-term when choosing which one to go for.

Tip 2: Don’t let anyone else decide for you!

It might be overwhelming when you look at online galleries offering women’s tattoo ideas, and it might seem easier just to follow the advice of a partner or the tattoo artist when it comes down to the final design selection. Don’t listen to them! It’s your body, and it’ll be with you for a long time yet, so don’t let the influence of another person’s opinion sway the decision too strongly.

Tip 3: Remain clear-headed when dealing with tattoos.

My own tattoo artist loves to tell the story of a girl who’d done tonnes of design research on the internet on women’s tattoo ideas, but who showed up to her appointment drunk beyond belief (first time nerve tonic!). She was so angry when he refused to ink her that she threatened to sue him, and he had to call the Police. But if she’d gotten confused about which was the final choice from all the women’s tattoo ideas, or regretted it later, or been unhappy with his work – it’s seriously professionally dangerous to work on someone who’s intoxicated.

I don’t even need to explain why refusing to have work done by a drunk tattoo artist is also a bad idea, I hope!

Tip 4: Choose a great tattoo artist.

Choose a tattoo artist who you’ve met before, who meets all the legal and hygiene requirements for your state, and who makes you feel confident and comfortable. When you turn up to his studio with a sheet of women’s tattoo ideas, you need to have confidence in his skill and professionalism – and when you find him (or her!), you’ll know it.