Tattoos all over

I have a tiny butterfly settling on a rose on my shoulder blade. Naturally I've never seen it up close except in the mirror and I forget it's there. Not long after I had it done my then 16-year old DD had both her eyebrow and her tongue pierced without telling me. I went absolutely ape** but all she said was that she could remove hers at any time but my tattoo was permanent and there was nothing i could say about it. That was nearly 25 years ago. Her piercings are long gone and healed over but, of course, I still have my tattoo!

Calendargirl

I also think they look dirty, and maintain that what looks acceptable on a young, trim person does not look anything like that on an old, wrinkled, overweight pensioner.

I saw a cartoon of two old wrinklies playing "Guess the tattoo"
Hilarious.
The only use I can see of having a tattoo is if you have a serious allergy, diabetes or a rare blood group

I had my first tattoo done at the ripe old age of 60. I’m now 67, I have tattoos on my inner forearm, my upper arms and both outer calves. Each one has a particular meaning attached to it. In 2 weeks time I am having more added to my calves. I do them for me, no one else. If someone doesn’t like my tattoos that’s their issue not mine, in fact I have had more compliments about them than negative comments. Until I retired last year I worked in Crematoriums and as a Funeral Director. No one ever complained, nor did they complain about my young female colleague who had lots of very visible tattoos and piercings, in fact she was regularly praised for her empathy and caring manner when dealing with bereaved families.

What is the difference between tatooes and plastic surgery?

Just don't get it. The people I know who have lots and lots of tatooes all over are artists- and constantly complain they have no money. But those tatooes cost 1000s.

MissInterpreted I'm tattooed and judgemental!

I don't understand tattoos unless for the radiologist to direct radiotherapy or to cover a scar. What will happen in years to come when fashion changes ?
Whilst I don't understand piercing ( I recently saw a lady with 15 gold earrings in each ear), the jewellery can at least be sold or traded in the future. You can't remove skin to trade .
I have no idea of what a tattoo actually costs but my question is in the current economic climate - should people pay for the tattoos
and how much does it cost to remove a tattoo?
I suppose the plus side is that the tattoo industry has created employment for several people

Judge not just predictive text (angry)

What a lot of judgemental people on here. Tattoos are a personal choice but no one should be judged because they have them. I would draw the line on facial tattoos personally. I am 72 and proudly have 8 tattoos and skin sags with age tattoos or no tattoos. Not all tattoos are stencils either, mine were designed for me personally. As the old saying goes don't just books by their covers. Tattoos have no bearing on how a person is in their heart.

My daughter announced she was going to get “sleeves”. (Tattoos that cover the arms) I was horrified but so long as her husband and children don’t mind who am I to object. The first time I saw them I was surprised at how nice they looked. The design is beautiful and the colours are pretty. Still wouldn’t have one myself!

Does anyone think their skin is going to look wonderful at an advanced age, because they're not tattooed?
If so, they're in for a big surprise. .
Tattoos or not, skin ages and looks old and saggy, as a rule.

Aveline

That's a massive leap of faith MissInterpreted!

Well, I've found that those I know who have tattoos and/or piercings already tend to be less judgemental about what other people look like, so I don't see why that should change as they get older.

That's a massive leap of faith MissInterpreted!

Absolutely, LaCrepescule - and I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of 'old, wrinkly tattooed people' will be a lot less judgemental about what others look like too.

Colours can be vibrant and beautiful grannybuy (I know because I have some.) A good tattooist is an artist and the one who did mine was very grateful that I’d chosen artistic, tasteful designs.
As for ageing skin and tatts - if the individual with the tatts doesn’t see it as an issue, then it isn’t an issue.

I just think how gross they will be when they get old and wrinkly

I agree with ordinary girl in that it could be masking a problem if there is one. Absolutely right that we should be allowed to like or dislike them. I am one who dislikes I’m afraid. For me the worst time is when you see a beautiful girl wearing her wedding dress, but it’s off the shoulder and she has tattoos. The 2 things just don’t work together for me.

When the manager of my local M & S food store is crouching down to complete a task, his jeans and boxers slip down displaying a tattoo across the top of his buttocks. Not something I want to see. Each to their own though. I think that they look quite drab. Even the colours on tattoos are dismal.

Lots of employers don't allow visible tatoos but some employees have them and have to keep them covered. At my DiL's hen party I applied a temporary tatoo of a butterfly to my upper arm. It looked quite pretty, though I don't generally like them. I deliberately didn't wash it off before my work in a school. One of my students said "Like your tatoo Miss. Did it hurt?" I told him it wasn't real and would wash off. He then asked "Why don't you get a real one?" "Because it would hurt!" was my response!
I do think small discreet ones can be ok. I knew someone who had her children's names on her ankle but I don't like the all over ones.

I had a tattoo when I was 73. Just a small one on my inner arm. I'm very fond of it.

Horrible things! Will never understand why anyone would want to deface their body in that way. I threatened to disinherit my son if he had any. Needless to say I've relented and he has many by now but I still hate them

All 3 of my offspring have tattoos. Even though the oldest is nearly 40, they still respect my wishes of no neck or face. My youngest, 30, is getting married next year to a tattoo artist. She is the most sweetest, polite girl I have ever met. It is all personal choice, but I do draw the line at necks and faces. I am designing a very simple tattoo for myself in memory of my late husband.

MillieBoris

Expensive, painful and ugly. A few years ago in Italy I sat beside an attractive young girl on a boat wearing shorts - she had a full length naked female tattooed down her complete leg…. perhaps displaying her sexuality. As an artist I have never seen a tasteful tattoo - aren’t most of them taken from stencils?

I totally disagree, they are not that expensive, some tatt artists are exactly that, artists, I’ve seen some absolutely beautiful tattoos. They are also not that painful.

Go to a decent, experienced tattooist and they’re clean, completely hygienic, and can be beautifully designed and executed.

I have a tattoo on my upper right arm, I had it done in memory of my DM and it’s a sherry schooner!

I would have another, but something small and pretty this time.

Four of our five children have tattoos, all different, none on hands, neck or face.

I really don’t mind tatts.

SueDonim

TerriBull

I would also mention I was in Israel nearly 40 years ago now, and having lunch on the beach on a hot day, I noticed some older people on an adjacent table with bare arms and wrists, I noticed their numbers that were tattooed. That's always stayed with me.

Yes, I cannot rid myself of that connotation with tattoos.

I think it’s quite sad to see beautiful young women with lovely skin all covered in wonky tattoos. I recall walking behind one who had identical tattoos that resembled totem poles running up the backs of her calves. Unfortunately, they hadn’t been sited correctly and were at two different levels, which just looked weird! Though I guess she didn’t often see the backs of her legs, and so she’s never know. 🤔

When you get old, and skin becomes wrinkled, do they not look pretty awful? The worst I have ever seen was a young woman in front of me in a queue; she bent her head, and across the back of her neck was an amateurish tattoo declaring 'L'il Miss Scumbag'. That said, David Beckham's tattoos are works of art, but he too is getting older - let's hope they age gracefully.