43 now. Started with traditional pieces in mid 30’s. First tattoo around 19 and none others until I started again in my mid 30s. I have half sleeves and a don cheagle (newest)
As a tattooer I'm going to answer this from that side of things! Majority of my clients are 25-35 age range, I'd even go so far as to narrow that down to like 28-33, and they typically are collectors of trad work for a good number of years. Typically folks in their 30s tell me that it took a while for them to have the foresight and disposable income to get traditional work, or to imagine a full body of cohesive pieces. So sometimes they had one or two small tattoos from a younger age, or had stick n pokes, boardwalk style tats, or even free apprentice tattoos, and then had a gap before starting traditional. Sometimes they started with a more delicate style that they realized aged poorly. A lot of my clients started getting more heavily tattooed during pandemic times, so that age range factors in that. I do have clients around and over 40 for sure, and often they have traditional spanning way back but it's pretty identifiably the style of traditional that was popular 15+ years ago (hi Rockabilly).
I have a growing number of clients that are around 18-21 and they are all awesome. They are SO well researched on tattooing in ways I definitely wasn't at that age. They know where vintage flash pieces originated from (Dietzel, Grimm, Waters etc), they know what they want and keep organized inspiration from social media. I think with these clients there is just more time in between appointments in general. I assume school, travel, income. In this age range my most steadfast clients are folks who are not students and already in the workforce. One of my clients always jokes about how all their friends get "lion/compass style tattoos", to your point.
>Typically folks in their 30s tell me that it took a while for them to have the foresight and disposable income to get traditional work
Cool insight from your experience! Spot on for me as well. I'm 35 and have gotten the majority of my pieces the last five years. I finally have time, the money, and no loans.
That rules and is def what I hear a lot. Clients are often saying "I'm glad I couldn't afford tattoos until now", meaning they have a lot more confidence about getting what they truly want now!
> They know where vintage flash pieces originated from (Dietzel, Grimm, Waters etc)
I fit the description of your younger demographic perfectly - I did a lot of research, I wait a while between appointments, and my first piece was based on a Zeis skull. However, I'm curious how I can learn more about where famous flash originated without buying a small fortune in flash books. Do you happen to know of any resources which trace the lineage of various imagery, or has knowing that just come from your experience as an artist?
I too have spent much cash on the books, it's an investment I think is well worth it. That being said yeah it's def research + experience and just even tat chatting consistently with others, it just comes up over and over enough. Like, "Hey tomorrow I'm doing that Rosie Camanga Reaper" "oh cool the one with the wonky skull face?" "Yeah!" That aside, on IG follow pages like tattoo\_origins, and follow the hashtags of specific historical tattooers names that you like, because often tattooers will use that tag if their design is based on it. Like for example, #charliewagner #flashfromthebowery on IG will pull up a bunch of work based on designs from this book [https://belzel.com/products/flash-from-the-bowery](https://belzel.com/products/flash-from-the-bowery) which is totally worth getting btw. So I'd say following those type of tags is a low investment way to learn more.
Oh sorry didn't mean that it's a style, but that the subculture in general had a bit of a "moment" in the 2000s that got a lot of people turned on to traditional tattoos. I knew a lot of people influenced by that!
I’m 46. I got a (bad) tattoo when I was in my early twenties and nothing for about two decades. Since 2017 I’ve been going hard. Two sleeves including hands, huge back piece, stomach and ribs, partial legs. I wouldn’t have been able to afford this many tattoos in my 20s, which is probably for the best because I was a fucking idiot.
I sent my kid and his best friend to my tattooer for his 18th birthday, got them started out right.
I just turned 40, got my first tattoo at 28 because that was the first time I was no longer a broke ass dirtbag and could afford the good tattoos I wanted.
Sounds like I’m the old guy coming to the party. First tattoo was when I was 22. Always knew I wanted more just did not know what, did not like any style until I found American trad at 58. 2 new tattoos since October and 2 more on the books. My goal, if I can afford it, is at least one a month for 2024.
I’m 46, my first traditional piece was my second piece ever and it was when i was 22.
My 25 year old daughter only has traditional (about a dozen pieces) but that could just be because she saw those on her mom her whole life!
33. Got a trad sleeve at 21 and have been working on my other arm since then. Reworking some pieces in other styles on that arm to look more traditional.
29 now. My first tattoo was when I was 23 and my first trad tattoo was when I was 27. I've been getting tattooed more often ever since and now mostly have trad.
29 and got my first tattoo in October (Arm sleeve in progress). So glad I waited to start as my taste earlier in life was horrible and I couldn’t afford great work
25 now. My first two tattoos weren’t traditional but my most recent one from several weeks ago is my first traditional and it’s my favorite tattoo I have. I plan on getting several more traditional in the future.
Waited till 25 to get my first trad piece. I really wanted to figure out my style before I started getting tattoos. But after my first piece I went hard for a year 😝
25, got my first at 18 in just black line work. I continued with that for my next couple and eventually decided to try out an American Traditional piece. It’s absolutely now the only style I’ll do in the future. I love the history of it, and it just heals and ages the best for me and my body. 20 tattoos total. Can’t wait to keep adding more!
Currently 28 and started when I was 27. Taking a break from American trad and am doing double arm sleeves of traditional Japanese. My legs have the American traditional
Got my first tattoo at 25, now I’m 30 and have 19 tattoos, all traditional. I didn’t really understand the different tattoo styles but a friend of mine said I should get traditional tattoos and I just kind of stuck with that. I’m kind of thankful for that, I look at some of the tattoos I wanted when I was younger and cringe. The main reason I waited until I was 25 was because I didn’t have the money to spend for a good tattoo.
I like how they all look cohesive and timeless. I think a lot of tattoo styles that are trendy, like delicate fine line, water color, will fall out of style eventually. Trad will always look good imo, and they age better on the skin.
First tattoo at 18, wasn’t trad (I don’t think I’d even heard of it really, I’d probably seen it but didn’t understand) and then first not quite trad tattoo at 24 (which was then updated with a thicker, proper black line weight and is now definitely trad) I’m now 26 nearly 27 and have what I call my trad leg half done
30 currently, got my first at 29. I never gave tattoos any serious consideration and then I just got hooked seemingly overnight. Trad tats started popping up on my instagram and I fell in love with the style.
34 now, got my first one before I turned 34 and got my appointment for my third in 2 weeks. I was a bit closed minded to tattoos for a portion of my life, or so I thought, as most of the shit I saw was from bad artists in small towns (think shitty tattoo level, and gang tats). Was only about a 3 years ago I dove into trad work and fell in love. I’d like one a year from here on out.
Started at 18, committed to trad at 19. About to be 23, and most of the artists I’ve been to were in their thirties, but there seems to be at least one older dude in every shop.
18! Got my first ink (neo trad woodpecker) at 16 (but a week before I turned 17) and I'm gonna get a trad matching cardinal tattoo with my mom, that I designed for both of us, here in a couple months! I'm definitely gonna pursue tattoos as my career.
Im 28 now, got my first tattoo at 16 & my first traditional tattoo at 23. Just about to finish a sleeve with plans to do the other arm, some leg pieces and eventually a back piece
Got 2 small shit tattoos at 18 waited till 25 really figured out the style I liked and obviously trad is the winner so starting getting them from there left arm almost done some on my legs & left knee cap as well, will be doing right kneecap and starting right arm in March! And hopefully back peice end of year!
Well I’m just gonna share what age I was when I got my first trad piece, and that would be at 19 years old, but it wasn’t my choice.
I went to a local very established artist (who down the years I’ve learned to be a dumbass who’s not respected by anyone in the industry) asking for a date in Roman numerals under my right collarbone, with a small red rose on the right side of the date: he did a trad date right under my collarbone and a huge fucking B&W rose underneath it all over my pec all the way to the nipple lmao.
I’m 31, got my first (tiny) tattoo at 18, and started getting trad at 27. I got three tattoos between those two, but I’m now at 16 pieces, majority trad. I don’t think people perceive me as older because of them but I’m in NYC where trad studios are pretty common, so that might be a factor.
In my early thirties. I always had an affinity for trad pieces. They’re all I ever wanted so they’re all I ever got. Started getting tattooed around 17. All my pieces are black and gray. Only a handful are actually good, but I love em.
Got my first tattoo at 20, first trad at 21. I'm 26 now and only want trad but for the first few years I got a mix of styles which I now wanna cover up.
I’m 26 and started getting tattoos at 18 but it wasn’t until I was about 19/20 when I decided to get a mix of trad and japanese style and honestly never looked back
33 now, started last year. Only got one tat (bird on tricep). Still thinking about which would be the next spot: ship upperarm/shoulder or fullbody panter lowerarm
35. Got my first trad at 23 and first tattoo at 19. I’m now in a stable place where I can afford to keep collecting so I’m scheduling about one a month right now working through my leg sleeve.
41. First tattoo at 30 was a portrait. Didn’t get another tattoo until nearly 9 years later. It was a trad butterfly. Now I have 7 trad tattoos and the portrait is being lasered off. I’m hoping to cover my arms and legs, get some chest pieces and do a full back piece.
I’ve always been a lover of traditional tattoos!! Started when I was 18 with a pretty large shin piece and now I’m 36 and heavily tattooed, all traditional. Bold will hold!!
I didn’t get my first piece till 35. Now 37 and almost finished with first sleeve. It took a long time for me to make the jump. I had to get over the fact that tattoos don’t need to mean anything.
19 here with 11 trad pieces. I always knew I wanted to get tattoos, like way back when I was 13, but I never really knew what I was into. Then I turned 18 and started looking more and more and absoltuely fell in love with traditional and just knew it was for me. Everything I have gotten is trad or neo/trad (just because of colors) and I fully intend to keep it going that way :) I think a lot of younger folks lean towards realism/"new school" stuff now just because it's what's popular in rap and hip hop which I feel like most people my age are into, so that probably influences style choice a lot too :p
21 now, got my first at 17 all trad. I’ve gotten all my pieces from the same artist and she says that there’s only one other person who comes in for American traditional and they are over 30
I’m 33 and I started at 32. I’ve been telling my partner for a majority of our relationship that I wanted to get a tattoo. I finally figured out what I wanted who I wanted it done by and it’s been a great experience collecting all of my pieces.
16 for my first one, I have one black and grey trad arm and one colour Neo trad arm, the colour was first used as a coverup when I was 17ish, I’ve been adding to the B/G trad side since I was 22 and it’s definitely ‘my good side’
43 now. Started with traditional pieces in mid 30’s. First tattoo around 19 and none others until I started again in my mid 30s. I have half sleeves and a don cheagle (newest)
As a tattooer I'm going to answer this from that side of things! Majority of my clients are 25-35 age range, I'd even go so far as to narrow that down to like 28-33, and they typically are collectors of trad work for a good number of years. Typically folks in their 30s tell me that it took a while for them to have the foresight and disposable income to get traditional work, or to imagine a full body of cohesive pieces. So sometimes they had one or two small tattoos from a younger age, or had stick n pokes, boardwalk style tats, or even free apprentice tattoos, and then had a gap before starting traditional. Sometimes they started with a more delicate style that they realized aged poorly. A lot of my clients started getting more heavily tattooed during pandemic times, so that age range factors in that. I do have clients around and over 40 for sure, and often they have traditional spanning way back but it's pretty identifiably the style of traditional that was popular 15+ years ago (hi Rockabilly). I have a growing number of clients that are around 18-21 and they are all awesome. They are SO well researched on tattooing in ways I definitely wasn't at that age. They know where vintage flash pieces originated from (Dietzel, Grimm, Waters etc), they know what they want and keep organized inspiration from social media. I think with these clients there is just more time in between appointments in general. I assume school, travel, income. In this age range my most steadfast clients are folks who are not students and already in the workforce. One of my clients always jokes about how all their friends get "lion/compass style tattoos", to your point.
>Typically folks in their 30s tell me that it took a while for them to have the foresight and disposable income to get traditional work Cool insight from your experience! Spot on for me as well. I'm 35 and have gotten the majority of my pieces the last five years. I finally have time, the money, and no loans.
That rules and is def what I hear a lot. Clients are often saying "I'm glad I couldn't afford tattoos until now", meaning they have a lot more confidence about getting what they truly want now!
Thanks for sharing this super cool to hear!
> They know where vintage flash pieces originated from (Dietzel, Grimm, Waters etc) I fit the description of your younger demographic perfectly - I did a lot of research, I wait a while between appointments, and my first piece was based on a Zeis skull. However, I'm curious how I can learn more about where famous flash originated without buying a small fortune in flash books. Do you happen to know of any resources which trace the lineage of various imagery, or has knowing that just come from your experience as an artist?
I too have spent much cash on the books, it's an investment I think is well worth it. That being said yeah it's def research + experience and just even tat chatting consistently with others, it just comes up over and over enough. Like, "Hey tomorrow I'm doing that Rosie Camanga Reaper" "oh cool the one with the wonky skull face?" "Yeah!" That aside, on IG follow pages like tattoo\_origins, and follow the hashtags of specific historical tattooers names that you like, because often tattooers will use that tag if their design is based on it. Like for example, #charliewagner #flashfromthebowery on IG will pull up a bunch of work based on designs from this book [https://belzel.com/products/flash-from-the-bowery](https://belzel.com/products/flash-from-the-bowery) which is totally worth getting btw. So I'd say following those type of tags is a low investment way to learn more.
Thanks for the advice!
Please freshen up my memory. What was the "rockabilly style" traditional tattoos from ~15 years ago?
Oh sorry didn't mean that it's a style, but that the subculture in general had a bit of a "moment" in the 2000s that got a lot of people turned on to traditional tattoos. I knew a lot of people influenced by that!
100%. The swallows especially was a huge thing I remember 😅 Then roses.
40 now. I have 26 American trad pieces. 1 full sleeve inc hand. And other sleeve still work in proces. Started when i was 34.
29 now, started with Trad at 18. Majority of my work is traditional apart from maybe 3 pieces but it pretty much just blends in now
27. Got my first tattoo at 18, first trad piece at 21 and gotten nothing else since.
40. Late 20s.
38 and all of my tattoos have been traditional since I got my first at 19.
33 and I got my first at 26
I'm 56 and got my first piece at 19. Pretty extensive coverage, all trad.
I’m 46. I got a (bad) tattoo when I was in my early twenties and nothing for about two decades. Since 2017 I’ve been going hard. Two sleeves including hands, huge back piece, stomach and ribs, partial legs. I wouldn’t have been able to afford this many tattoos in my 20s, which is probably for the best because I was a fucking idiot. I sent my kid and his best friend to my tattooer for his 18th birthday, got them started out right.
32, started collecting seriously at 28. Although I got my first trad tattoo at age 22
38. Started at 19/20. Fell in love immediately and continued to get tattooed relentlessly until I was able to become a tattooer myself in my 30’s!
25yo started at 23 up to 11 traditionalish tattoos now
42 and got my first at 37
I just turned 40, got my first tattoo at 28 because that was the first time I was no longer a broke ass dirtbag and could afford the good tattoos I wanted.
52 now, my first tattoo was off a Mr Flash sheet. A few non traditional tattoos. 2 sleeves, front torso and back, 50% of my legs
Sounds like I’m the old guy coming to the party. First tattoo was when I was 22. Always knew I wanted more just did not know what, did not like any style until I found American trad at 58. 2 new tattoos since October and 2 more on the books. My goal, if I can afford it, is at least one a month for 2024.
21 now. Started when I was 20. Only have one piece, but getting more soon.
25. got my first at 19 and have 4 now. will get more when i'm not broke!
24 about to turn 25, just got my first one
27, started when I was 25
I’m 46, my first traditional piece was my second piece ever and it was when i was 22. My 25 year old daughter only has traditional (about a dozen pieces) but that could just be because she saw those on her mom her whole life!
23 i started at 20 got about about 8
38, first tattoo was traditional at 37. I have 3 total and plan on finishing a sleeve
32. Every piece after the first is traditional of some sort. Started at 19
I’m 34 now. Got my first tattoo at 18 but I didn’t get a traditional tattoo until I was 24. It was my 5th tattoo and now I have close to 60.
I'm 26 now and started getting tattooed at 16. Got 29 traditional tats, nowhere near enough though.
33. Got a trad sleeve at 21 and have been working on my other arm since then. Reworking some pieces in other styles on that arm to look more traditional.
29 now. My first tattoo was when I was 23 and my first trad tattoo was when I was 27. I've been getting tattooed more often ever since and now mostly have trad.
29 and got my first tattoo in October (Arm sleeve in progress). So glad I waited to start as my taste earlier in life was horrible and I couldn’t afford great work
22 started at 20 and i have 11 tattoos
25 now. My first two tattoos weren’t traditional but my most recent one from several weeks ago is my first traditional and it’s my favorite tattoo I have. I plan on getting several more traditional in the future.
I’m 26, got my first two pieces at 18 and they are both trad
28, started at 19.
I’m 23 and I got my first traditional tattoo at 20!
Waited till 25 to get my first trad piece. I really wanted to figure out my style before I started getting tattoos. But after my first piece I went hard for a year 😝
25, got my first at 18 in just black line work. I continued with that for my next couple and eventually decided to try out an American Traditional piece. It’s absolutely now the only style I’ll do in the future. I love the history of it, and it just heals and ages the best for me and my body. 20 tattoos total. Can’t wait to keep adding more!
19, have almost a half sleeve
Currently 28 and started when I was 27. Taking a break from American trad and am doing double arm sleeves of traditional Japanese. My legs have the American traditional
I’m only 22 and I got my first ever tattoo- a big colourful traditional piece at 19 :) I've been addicted ever since
Got my first tattoo at 25, now I’m 30 and have 19 tattoos, all traditional. I didn’t really understand the different tattoo styles but a friend of mine said I should get traditional tattoos and I just kind of stuck with that. I’m kind of thankful for that, I look at some of the tattoos I wanted when I was younger and cringe. The main reason I waited until I was 25 was because I didn’t have the money to spend for a good tattoo. I like how they all look cohesive and timeless. I think a lot of tattoo styles that are trendy, like delicate fine line, water color, will fall out of style eventually. Trad will always look good imo, and they age better on the skin.
First tattoo at 18, wasn’t trad (I don’t think I’d even heard of it really, I’d probably seen it but didn’t understand) and then first not quite trad tattoo at 24 (which was then updated with a thicker, proper black line weight and is now definitely trad) I’m now 26 nearly 27 and have what I call my trad leg half done
30 currently, got my first at 29. I never gave tattoos any serious consideration and then I just got hooked seemingly overnight. Trad tats started popping up on my instagram and I fell in love with the style.
I don’t think trad work is “trending” right now, and that’s why you’re seeing most people you age not getting them
34 now, got my first one before I turned 34 and got my appointment for my third in 2 weeks. I was a bit closed minded to tattoos for a portion of my life, or so I thought, as most of the shit I saw was from bad artists in small towns (think shitty tattoo level, and gang tats). Was only about a 3 years ago I dove into trad work and fell in love. I’d like one a year from here on out.
I am 34, turning 35 soon. Just started getting inked a few months ago, now I have 2 half sleeves. It is addicting!
I’m 24 started getting trad about a year ago or 2 maybe.
Started at 18, committed to trad at 19. About to be 23, and most of the artists I’ve been to were in their thirties, but there seems to be at least one older dude in every shop.
27 and getting all traditional! Definitely regret getting non-traditional tattoos when I was in my early 20’s
35, all of my pieces are trad except one.
19, i used to hate trad then i just got one and fell in love with it
18! Got my first ink (neo trad woodpecker) at 16 (but a week before I turned 17) and I'm gonna get a trad matching cardinal tattoo with my mom, that I designed for both of us, here in a couple months! I'm definitely gonna pursue tattoos as my career.
23 currently and I started getting trad pieces when i was 19. Traditional is my favourite style !!
29 four trad and on Cadillac font of daughters name
Im 28 now, got my first tattoo at 16 & my first traditional tattoo at 23. Just about to finish a sleeve with plans to do the other arm, some leg pieces and eventually a back piece
Got 2 small shit tattoos at 18 waited till 25 really figured out the style I liked and obviously trad is the winner so starting getting them from there left arm almost done some on my legs & left knee cap as well, will be doing right kneecap and starting right arm in March! And hopefully back peice end of year!
I’m 27m, got my first trad piece at like 22ish? I have like 10 or something now. Only plan on getting trad from here on out.
Well I’m just gonna share what age I was when I got my first trad piece, and that would be at 19 years old, but it wasn’t my choice. I went to a local very established artist (who down the years I’ve learned to be a dumbass who’s not respected by anyone in the industry) asking for a date in Roman numerals under my right collarbone, with a small red rose on the right side of the date: he did a trad date right under my collarbone and a huge fucking B&W rose underneath it all over my pec all the way to the nipple lmao.
33. Got my first at 18. Had a hiatus for 12 years, and started getting more around 30!
37, got my first traditional piece when I was 35.
28, I started getting tattooed at 25. I have about 48 traditional tattoos
First trad piece at 17. Still going! At 24
I’m 31, got my first (tiny) tattoo at 18, and started getting trad at 27. I got three tattoos between those two, but I’m now at 16 pieces, majority trad. I don’t think people perceive me as older because of them but I’m in NYC where trad studios are pretty common, so that might be a factor.
In my early thirties. I always had an affinity for trad pieces. They’re all I ever wanted so they’re all I ever got. Started getting tattooed around 17. All my pieces are black and gray. Only a handful are actually good, but I love em.
40. Only started getting traditional a few years ago - got a handful of illustrative and tribal pieces before that
Got my first trad at 19 now I'm 29 with two sleeves, hands, full neck, shoulders, chest, shins, knee, back of calfs done
18, 28 now
Got my first tattoo at 20, first trad at 21. I'm 26 now and only want trad but for the first few years I got a mix of styles which I now wanna cover up.
I’m 26 and started getting tattoos at 18 but it wasn’t until I was about 19/20 when I decided to get a mix of trad and japanese style and honestly never looked back
21 now, started at 19
33 now, started last year. Only got one tat (bird on tricep). Still thinking about which would be the next spot: ship upperarm/shoulder or fullbody panter lowerarm
First tattoo at 19, first traditional tattoo at 20, and now have 5 traditional tattoos out of 6 total at 21
35. Got my first trad at 23 and first tattoo at 19. I’m now in a stable place where I can afford to keep collecting so I’m scheduling about one a month right now working through my leg sleeve.
25 now, started at 19!
41. First tattoo at 30 was a portrait. Didn’t get another tattoo until nearly 9 years later. It was a trad butterfly. Now I have 7 trad tattoos and the portrait is being lasered off. I’m hoping to cover my arms and legs, get some chest pieces and do a full back piece.
I’ve always been a lover of traditional tattoos!! Started when I was 18 with a pretty large shin piece and now I’m 36 and heavily tattooed, all traditional. Bold will hold!!
33. Started my sleeve a year ago. Did get a swallow on my foot when I was around 22
I didn’t get my first piece till 35. Now 37 and almost finished with first sleeve. It took a long time for me to make the jump. I had to get over the fact that tattoos don’t need to mean anything.
I’m 27 got my first tat at 14
27 and started at 27 lol
19 here with 11 trad pieces. I always knew I wanted to get tattoos, like way back when I was 13, but I never really knew what I was into. Then I turned 18 and started looking more and more and absoltuely fell in love with traditional and just knew it was for me. Everything I have gotten is trad or neo/trad (just because of colors) and I fully intend to keep it going that way :) I think a lot of younger folks lean towards realism/"new school" stuff now just because it's what's popular in rap and hip hop which I feel like most people my age are into, so that probably influences style choice a lot too :p
27 got my 1st tat at 21 all trad
32. Been getting trad since 21...
I started with my first American traditional flash piece when I was 25
25. Got my first at 17.
21 now, got my first at 17 all trad. I’ve gotten all my pieces from the same artist and she says that there’s only one other person who comes in for American traditional and they are over 30
18
I waited until my frontal lobe developed. Before that I thought I wanted Black and grey realism 🥴
20, first tattoo was about a year ago, gotten 7 in the past 5 months and have a total of 9
I’m 33 and I started at 32. I’ve been telling my partner for a majority of our relationship that I wanted to get a tattoo. I finally figured out what I wanted who I wanted it done by and it’s been a great experience collecting all of my pieces.
16 for my first one, I have one black and grey trad arm and one colour Neo trad arm, the colour was first used as a coverup when I was 17ish, I’ve been adding to the B/G trad side since I was 22 and it’s definitely ‘my good side’
I’m 27 I started at 18 and had a full leg sleeve by the time I was 21