# Are tattoos a deal-breaker for you in a relationship? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777 "2015-09-28T00:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/21 "2015-09-28T11:26:25Z")
For me, more than likely it is a deal breaker. As an artist and designer, I find most are poorly executed. If it was one, well drawn and placed design, I could be ok with it. If the guy had randomly placed tattoos, no. That style is completely unattractive to me. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/22 "2015-09-28T11:29:39Z")
Tatoos are not a deal-breaker BUT I really dislike them. Other popular things that are huge turn offs for me: the shaved look down there and fake boobs. ---
**Author:** ![brovolone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@brovolone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brovolone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/23 "2015-09-28T11:33:47Z")
I have quite a few-- a half-sleeve, and a couple other reasonably large pieces. But I prefer men without tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/24 "2015-09-28T11:41:47Z")
šŸ˜• It depends on what the deal is and what the tattoos taste like šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/25 "2015-09-28T11:48:26Z")
Damn, we are old around here. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/26 "2015-09-28T11:50:16Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I love an inked up girl. šŸ™‚ I love women, some of whom happen to be inked up. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/27 "2015-09-28T11:51:39Z")
I guess Iā€™m kind of a hypocrite because the well-done tattoos on some girls are pretty erotic sometimes especially if they accentuate her body in a nice way, and Iā€™d say it definitely is a turn-on for a one night stand or casual dating. But when it comes to the prospect of marriage or something its prob a bit of a deal-breaker for me depending how many tattoos we are talking. Its prob going to look shitty later and I donā€™t want to explain want to explain to our imaginary son what the amorphous, faded black blob is above Mommyā€™s ass every time we go to the beach. ā€œWell Timmy we used to call those tramp stamps, its how I knew your Mother was DTF as soon as we met at the bar.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/28 "2015-09-28T12:17:05Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Yes: she should _have_ tattoos, [unless itā€™s like this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8JeeDsBUv4). I was going to say fine, unless they are the Chinese symbols that translate to ā€œDumb Assā€. ( ē¬Ø蛋 ) ā€¦please tell me that there is no one out there suddenly checking their back in a mirrorā€¦ I like yours better though. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/29 "2015-09-28T12:21:37Z")
Tattoos are ugly. So Iā€™m far, far less likely to be interested in a girl covered in ugly tattoos. If we happen to click amazingly in others ways I might be able to look past them, but if they are big tattoos like sleeves or on her chest then the likelihood is that Iā€™m simply not going to find the girl attractive, and so a relationship wouldnā€™t last. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/30 "2015-09-28T12:54:27Z")
If someone has decided to wear their favorite shirt from freshman year of college 24x7 for the rest of their life, is that a relationship dealbreaker? Maybe not, but that shirt had better be punker than fuck. Note that ā€œrelationshipā€ is (or should be) a very high bar to clear. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/31 "2015-09-28T13:13:49Z")
I donā€™t talk to people with tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/32 "2015-09-28T13:18:13Z")
> [@pool](#): > > I guess Iā€™m kind of a hypocrite because the well-done tattoos on some girls are pretty erotic sometimes especially if they accentuate her body in a nice way, and Iā€™d say it definitely is a turn-on for a one night stand or casual dating. But when it comes to the prospect of marriage or something its prob a bit of a deal-breaker for me depending how many tattoos we are talking. Its prob going to look shitty later and I donā€™t want to explain want to explain to our imaginary son what the amorphous, faded black blob is above Mommyā€™s ass every time we go to the beach. ā€œWell Timmy we used to call those tramp stamps, its how I knew your Mother was DTF as soon as we met at the bar.ā€ Is this how relationships work for you? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/33 "2015-09-28T13:22:03Z")
Tattoos are a sign of bad character. I wouldnā€™t marry a female with tattoos or excessive piercings ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/34 "2015-09-28T13:44:41Z")
It totally depends on the type and location of the tats. Me, I love those thick ā€œtribalā€ tats, all in black. Those look really good on a muscular bicep. But anything colored generally looks bad, especially that terrible bluish color thatā€™s in so many tattoos. No face or neck tattoos. And I met a wonderful gentleman once who had ā€˜F-U-C-K-Y-O-Uā€™ tattooed across his knuckles, so when he made fists, you could read it. He was a nice guy but Iā€™d never date him. I donā€™t care, though, about how theyā€™re going to look when theyā€™re old. At all. We are all going to look like shit one day. When I am 90, I am not going to look at my single tat and say, ā€œOh, man, Iā€™m sorry I put this on.ā€ I am going to say, ā€œDamn, girl, I was brave enough to go against my culture and face the pain and get this done!ā€ Itā€™s a good memory to have. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/35 "2015-09-28T13:47:43Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Personally, I would prefer no tattoos. The human body is great as is; I donā€™t see a need to draw on it. Agreed. It is a total deal-breaker for me. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/36 "2015-09-28T14:01:55Z")
> [@brovolone](#): > > I have quite a few-- a half-sleeve, and a couple other reasonably large pieces. But I prefer men without tattoos. Opposite here! I have no tattoos, but would not mind at all if my wife got a few. Ainā€™t gonna happen, she has no desire for one but if she ever changed her mind Iā€™d be OK with it. Two of my three kids and my son-in-law have tattoos, it has no impact on my opinion of them. The only exceptions are tattoos above the shoulder. More often than not, neck/face/head tattoos are a turn off. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/37 "2015-09-28T14:03:41Z")
Married to a woman who thinks ink is as stupid as I do, so no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/38 "2015-09-28T14:14:26Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The tattoo thing is so ubiquitous that I wonder if itā€™s gotten to the point where _not_ having tattoos is a turn-off. > > As I mentioned in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=644105) thread, we recently hired a young engineer in our lab, and he mentioned he had a tattoo on his back and on his right arm. I asked him why so many young people have tattoos, and he said (my paraphrasing), ā€œWomen find tattoos attractive. Itā€™s hard to get laid without them.ā€ > > I understand this is simply his opinion. But it makes ya wonder if thereā€™s not a grain of truth to thisā€¦ Thatā€™s bizarre, I know plenty of women who like tattoos, who might find good tattoos a turn-on, but not to the extent where not having a tattoo would be a turn-off. Either he runs in an unusual crowd, or the women were blowing him off for other reasons and he blamed it on the lack of tattoos. > [@Anaamika](#): > > I donā€™t care, though, about how theyā€™re going to look when theyā€™re old. At all. We are all going to look like shit one day. When I am 90, I am not going to look at my single tat and say, ā€œOh, man, Iā€™m sorry I put this on.ā€ I am going to say, ā€œDamn, girl, I was brave enough to go against my culture and face the pain and get this done!ā€ I donā€™t have any tattoos, but I think the same way. Itā€™s not like my 90-year-old untattooed skin will look a hell of a lot better than someone elseā€™s 90-year-old tattooed skin, other than it will be somewhat differently colored. And it wonā€™t look weird or bad to have an tattoo when weā€™re old, because so many other old people will have tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/39 "2015-09-28T14:49:09Z")
Iā€™ve never come up with a statement I want to make for the rest of my life. Well, I did consider a heart with _ **Mom** _ in but Mom said _Think again_. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777/40 "2015-09-28T14:52:28Z")
Among our other various pieces, my wife and I have matching tattoos that she designed. šŸ†’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tattoos-a-deal-breaker-for-you-in-a-relationship/732777.md?page=3)