Body modifications have become increasingly normal, with tattoos and piercings visible in many professional settings and even more personal ones. For the best results, tattoos and piercings require a certain level of aftercare–a reality that may not be uniform for every consumer. 

Recent CivicScience data show that 45% of Americans with body modifications, such as tattoos or piercings, follow aftercare instructions very closely. Thirty-seven percent follow these instructions ‘somewhat’ closely, while 18% do not follow them closely at all. 

Women are nine percentage points more likely than men to say that they follow aftercare instructions ‘very closely’ (49% vs 40%). Perhaps not surprisingly, older adults and those who make $100K or more annually are also the most likely to abide by the rules with the most strictness. Gen Z (ages 18-29) is the least likely to follow aftercare instructions. 

However, this demographic data is just the start of what sets those who follow tattoo aftercare instructions closely apart from those who do not. Here’s what the data show: 

Tattoo Regret: Those who follow tattoo and piercing aftercare instructions very closely are more than twice as likely to say they’ve gotten multiple tattoos they later regretted as those who do not follow the instructions closely at all (21% vs 10%). 

Bank Switching: While 16% of those who follow tattoo and piercing aftercare instructions ‘very’ closely say they are ‘very likely’ to switch banks in the next three months, just 8% of those who do not follow those instructions closely at all say the same. 

Taco Shell Preference: Those who follow tattoo and piercing aftercare instructions very closely are 23 points more likely to say they prefer tacos with a soft shell rather than a hard shell than those who do not follow these instructions at all (64% vs 41%; among those with an opinion). 

Beauty Spend: Despite following tattoo and piercing aftercare instructions ‘very closely,’ just 16% of these rule followers say they would spend a gifted $100 on beauty. By contrast, 24% of those who do not follow the aftercare instructions at all say the same. 

The Importance of Quality in Shaping Brand Loyalty: Among those who are loyal to brands, 55% of those who follow their tattoo and piercing aftercare instructions ‘very closely’ say they are loyal to brands for quality. Just 13% of those who do not follow the aftercare instructions say the same. 

Where do you stand? Take this poll now and see how you compare with others who share your habit: 

Clearly, adherence to tattoo and piercing aftercare instructions is more than just a cosmetic quirk. This choice is linked to a larger web of consumer intentions that reveal unique priorities in all aspects of life.

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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.