Tattoos are drawing designs that Sims can acquire on their body that stay on throughout changing clothes, tanning, and cleaning, only being removed through a specific process. Tattoos were first introduced in The Urbz: Sims in the City, and then reintroduced with The Sims 3 in Patch 12 released alongside The Sims 3: Ambitions, and reintroduced again in The Sims 4 base game, which got further additions with The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies.
The Urbz: Sims in the City[]
Tattoos were introduced in The Urbz: Sims in the City and have appeared in The Sims 2 for Console. Urbz can buy and wear tattoos in every district except Neon East, Cozmo Street, Diamond Heights, South Side Bridge and The Foundry. Urbz can have tattoos on their legs, arms and torsos and backs.
The Sims 3[]
Tattoos were introduced in a base game update released alongside The Sims 3: Ambitions. Tattoos are in the final section of the looks category when in Create a Sim, from there players can see all the tattoo designs to choose from and also designate which part of the body they will be placed. There are four major sections of the body tattoos can be placed; with more precise placements in a subsection.
- Back
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- Back of Neck
- Upper Back
- Full Back
- Lower Back
- Arm
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- Shoulder
- Bicep
- Forearm
- Wrist
- Chest
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- Chest
- Belly Button
- Ankle
For the sections of Arm and Ankle, the player can also select for the tattoo to be placed on the Sim's left side or right side of their body.
From then on players can also choose from swatches for each tattoo, to Delete the tattoo, share it on The Exchange, Save as Custom, and Remove all tattoos. On the right side players can choose between changing the Tattoo's color in depth using the color wheel, and go into Advanced Mode.
Advanced Mode[]
Advanced mode for tattoos allows for players to layer tattoos onto their Sims as well as change the scale and opacity of the tattoo.[1]
Players can utilise the 5 slots to layer the tattoos to be above or below other tattoos to composite unique designs with the prexisting ones.
The Sims 3: Ambitions[]

A Sim posing with a tattoo
In The Sims 3: Ambitions, Salons were added as a lot venue that can offer tattoo services for Sims. Sims can also become tattoo artists themselves by joining the Stylist profession. Tattooing is also added as a hidden skill that Sims can level.
There are two kinds of tattoo chairs in the game, The Ink-in-Comfort 3000, and The Digital Tattoo Applicator. Placing The Ink-in-Comfort 3000 on a community lot will generate a tattoo artist NPC with tattooed arms and heavy eyeliner. Having either machine at home allows premade Sims to access the tattoo interface of Create a Sim. Sims with very little experience tattooing can sometimes draw stick figures instead of the intended design.
The Sims 4[]

Tattoos were reintroduced in The Sims 4 base game. Tattoos are applied like normal accessories but can be found on the body section within Create a Sim, there players can select from an array of tattoos. Tattoos are restricted to the parts of the body they come with but can be changed in color with swatches.
The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies[]
Tattooing is a skill that Sims can learn in The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies expansion. Sims can learn this skill from practicing on sketch pads, attending classes, or by using the Tattooing Table on other Sims. The more a Sim levels up their tattooing skill, the more stencils, brushes, and other tools.
Players can choose to layer tattoos on top of each other up to 5 times for each secition of the body, as well as choosing different tattoos for each side.
Players can also paint their own custom tattoo designs onto the Sim using the paint mode wherever they choose, these designs can also be uploaded to the Gallery so players can download and upload different designs.
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Trivia[]
- In both The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 players can purchase a poster called Bethany and Miranda which depicts two sisters who opened a tattoo parlor.
- In addition to the salon, the spa in town also has an option for Sims to "Get Tattoo" for §300.
- If a Sim was uploaded to The Exchange with a Tattoo, the website will state that The Sims 3 Ambitions is required even if no items from that game (or Deluxe) is used.
- In The Sims 4, tattoos can be changed by accessing the Create-A-Sim menu, either from a dresser or a mirror.