The popularity of this tattoo placement has been fuelled by the current fashion for low cut jeans and short tops, which provide the perfect setting to display these designs.

So if you're thinking about getting a lower back tattoo, here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages to bear in mind.

The Advantages Of Lower Back Tattoos

In general, the placement of most tattoos means that they're either permanently on show or hidden by clothing. But due to modern clothing trends including low cut jeans and crop tops, the lower back is the perfect place for a tattoo if you want to achieve a "now you see it, now you don't" effect. This subtle approach to tattoo placement is similar to the growing trend among men for tattoos on the underside of the forearm. Unlike a front forearm tattoo which is highly visible, an inside design will be hidden for much of the time. But once you've seen the design, it will be more visible.

Another reason for the popularity of lower back tattoos is the sensuality of the placement. Some people find the "should I have seen that" glimpse of an exposed lower back tattoo extremely alluring. This is a major advantage if you want to project a sexy, adventurous image.

Placing a tattoo on your lower back also means that you won't be able to see it under normal conditions. In fact, you'll only see it if you're extremely flexible or when you catch a glimpse of it in a mirror. So if you want a tattoo, but don't want to see it all the time, a lower back placement might be the answer.

The Disadvantages Of Lower Back Tattoos

Lower back tattoos carry one major disadvantage - they're extremely unoriginal. The trend has lasted for so long that millions of women all over the world have tattoos placed on their lower back. In fact, it has become almost impossible to find a new way to place a tattoo design on your lower back.

But beyond that, certain unflattering slang terms have developed to describe lower back tattoos and the women who have them, including "tramp stamp", and "gramp stamp", which refers to the idea that in 40 to 50 years, the world will be full of elderly women with lower back tattoos.

So if you're looking for something a bit more original, it's best to avoid lower back tattoos.

Another major disadvantage of tattoos placed on the lower back is the fact that you won't be able to see your tattoo unless you look in a mirror. This may be an advantage if you want a tattoo but don't want to look at it all the time. But if you want to see your new design on a regular basis, avoid getting a tattoo anywhere in your back.

An Original Alternative To Consider

If you like the idea of a lower back tattoo, but want to retain an element of originality, try placing your tattoo design further round your torso, so that it sits on the sound of the body above one or both of your hips. At present, tattoos placed in this location are relatively rare, so if you're looking for something original, it might be worth considering.

In future years this could become a popular new trend, who knows. But for now, it's ripe for early trendsetters to exploit.