Taylor Swift’s influence spans every corner of pop culture, making it no surprise that if she ever got a tattoo, her fans would likely flood tattoo parlors to replicate it. However, Swift’s followers may need to set aside their tattoo dreams, as the singer has made it clear she doesn’t plan on getting inked.
The reluctance comes from Swift’s hesitation toward permanent decisions. In a 2012 interview with Taste of Country, she explained that she prefers fleeting expressions, such as writing different song lyrics or quotes on her arm during each show of the Speak Now Tour.
Taylor Swift’s influence is undeniable, but she remains committed to staying ink-free despite her fans’ enthusiasm for tattoos
Sometimes, the quotes came from suggestions around her, and even she hadn’t heard some of the referenced songs. Swift acknowledged the frequent questions she receives about tattoos, saying, “People always ask, ‘Would you get a tattoo?’” She admitted, however, that the idea of permanence makes her uneasy.
“I don’t think I could ever commit to something permanent,” she shared, though she had briefly entertained the thought. If she ever did get inked, Swift mused it would likely be her signature number, 13, though she added with a sigh, “I just, ugh — I don’t want to get a tattoo.”
While Swift has no plans for real tattoos, she has embraced fake ones for her creative projects. The cover art for her single “You Need to Calm Down” from the Lover album features a large snake-and-butterfly design inked on her back.
This design, also seen in the song’s music video, symbolizes her transition from the Reputation to Lover era. In a playful moment, the video even includes Ellen DeGeneres receiving a temporary tattoo of the words “Cruel Summer,” referencing another track from Lover.
In the music video for “Fortnight,” the debut single from The Tortured Poets Department album, Swift added even more temporary ink. In a collaboration with Post Malone, she recreated his famous facial tattoos for a particular scene at the beginning of the video. Fans were quick to speculate about the deeper meaning behind this shot, offering theories that tied it to themes of relationships and emotional growth.
Despite the possibility of more elaborate temporary tattoos appearing in future projects, Swift remains firm about her stance on permanent ink. It seems likely that her only tattoos will continue to be those that wash off when the cameras stop rolling.
