Thanks to the rise of inked-up Instagram celebs, and real ones like David Beckham and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, tattoos are more popular than ever.

It’s estimated that about one in five in the UK currently has one, and that number is predicted to grow steadily until ‘peak tattoo’ kicks in around 2025. But remember what they said about beards?

Of course, a tattoo is more permanent than an Insta-post (or a beard, for that matter). So if you’re itching to go under the needle, it’s worth picking something deserving of permanent residency on your body.

(Related: How To Get A Tattoo You Won’t Regret Forever)

To push the boundaries beyond the average anchor motif, we spoke to body-art expert and the author of the upcoming London Tattoo Guide, Tom Angell, to round up some of the biggest trends for 2017.

Hand Poked

“This style of tattooing is exactly as it sounds. Instead of using a machine, the tattooist pokes the ink into the skin using a needle bound to a stick. The resulting aesthetic looks and feels more organic and handmade, with hand poke artists often favouring small, beautiful and intricate designs.

“Grace Neutral and LA-based Tati Compton are two of the highest profile hand poke artists in the world right now, but Kat Blackstone at The Circle in Soho is another one to watch.”

A post shared by @taticompton on Apr 12, 2017 at 10:04am PDT

Signature Stamps

“Instagram has been so important in promoting tattoo artists and their work to a global fan base. In some cases, artists become famous for a certain design […] it becomes like a calling card or a souvenir that people want to acquire.

“Two of my favourite collector’s items are Emily Malice’s pucker lips and Matty D’Arienzo’s palm tree, but going for something that’s an artist’s signature means you’re not getting something truly exclusive – a factor that’s becoming increasingly more important as people get more and more tattoos.”