Tattoos on older women

My Dad had a tattoo ‘Edith’ on his arm. I never knew who Edith was as my Mum’s name was Dorothy!

I dislike them intensely. My DD has some. One on her leg and two on her back, fortunately usually hidden. She had them done in her twenties strongly influenced I’m sure by her half brother and his wife who are covered in the horrible things. I have never once mentioned them but I’m sure she knows my disapproval from my silence. She’s now in her forties and in a very senior and responsible job and I’m sure she regrets them as she always keeps them hidden.

Not for me, but each to their own . Why are some people so judgemental - ?

My DD worked for a trade association overseeing the safety of paints and inks.
Tattoo ink was the only ink unregulated and was potentially carcinogenic.
My GD, not my DD's child, got a tattoo when she went to university, I was very upset and sent her mother a copy of the findings from research ar Durham university.
I think tattoos make you look common whatever sex or age you are.

A couple of my grandchildren have them but at least they are discreet and not splurged all over their legs or arms. One of them has her 3 children’s names so I asked her if she thought she might forget them. That went down like a lead balloon! Seriously, she couldn’t really say why so I guess she is just proud of them.
A lot of young women round here have them plastered all up their legs. Fine if you are a Māori or part of tradition.

Don't like tattoos on anyone but it's a personal choice so be it. Our friends turned up at the pub sporting tattoos and piercings we thought it was bizarre being in their late 60s. It's up to them I don't know why they did it but it's their bodies but I'm glad it's not mine.

I personally don't have tattoos. I never had the desire. My wife has a few dotted here and there. They still look good on her.

But these full sleeves, legs, chest, neck and everywhere else... Each to their own. Not my business. But I think they kind of look cool on a younger body.

I know a guy who had full sleeves. Had them lasered off after he became a dad as he felt people regarded him as looking like a thug.

Bit of a thorny subject, tattoos. But they don't cause harm to others so I don't really care what people do.

It is hard when our children go for tattoos as we nursed and cared for that perfect little body! It is difficult to see it violated.

Our daughter had a small tattoo on her back whilst at university, I was very upset.
Her perfect body permanently marked.

I asked her how much it was and the next month her allowance (she didn’t have a student loan) was minus that amount.

She was soon on the phone ranting, my husband said we pay for you to smoke and drink etc, we will not pay for you to have tattoos.

She gets it now.

The only tattoos that alarm me are those that cover an individual's face - completely.

Especially if said individual has had their eyeballs 'inked' plus nostrils enlarged or tongue 'carved' into a point. And metal studs and rings hanging of various parts of the face.

I shouldn't judge - I do though, but quietly to myself. Because I cannot understand why someone would completely alter their facial appearance to such an extent.

I think it's mostly quite young people who do this, could be wrong of course.

Anyway, that particular look spooks me.

There was a young woman I read about - every inch of her face was covered in tattoos - she was mentioning that she found it difficult to gain employment. Unfortunately, the tattoos were not even artistic - looked like some children had raided the marker-pen drawer and gone to town on her whilst she was asleep.

Judgmental or not, I could not help wondering - why? I felt sorry for her - she seemed puzzled and troubled.

I think all bodies are beautiful and to spoil the perfectness of a body with a tattoo is almost criminal.

I can't say I specially like them. For a start the blue that is used on most is a colour I do not like.

Also I struggle with the idea of doing something permanent, especially when young, as we all change so much over the years and our tastes in what looks good changes - what we loved at 18 we might hate at 38 and then you are stuck with it.

My DD has a tattoo that was supposed to be temporary but 30 years later there it still is!

And tattoos are not on a rigid canvas but on skin that sags and wrinkles as time passes and what started life as a heart might finish up as a concertina!

One of my GC is studying to become a tattoo artist and some of their creations are very clever. Needless to say they have quite a few of their own - the first few were impressive but for my money the tone has been drifting downwards - but hey, they are happy. ...

More creative and often deep thinkers
Huh!
“Body art” is no indication of creativity or deep thinking.
This is a totally spurious connection.

I hate seeing tattoos but accept that on other people they are nobody’s business but their own.
However nothing will ever convince me that they add to a persons beauty, in particular a young woman in an evening or a wedding dress. Only my opinion, but just ugly.

Still hideous and common.

Elder son has two which he had done in Thailand. They are beautiful, one on his back the other on his shoulder. They are both of angels, each slightly different.

When my son was a teenager, and lots of his friends were having tattoos. my main comments to him were about safety and commonsense. I told him that if he considered having a tattoo, most importantly to go to a qualified person, using safe and proper equipment. The other was a suggestion that he might think where on his body he might have one, and as he did not know at that time where or what kind of work he might do in the future, that whatever he had, to have it where it would be covered by a long sleeved shirt, in the beginning. He did eventually have a tattoo but had thought about what I said, which made sense to him then. In later years he has had more tattoos , and fortunately hasnt had any bad reaction to them.

Personally as a needle phobic , it is not something I would ever choose to do. Each to their own, I feel, but have advised people to avoid putting names on, as who knows what may change in life. Then there is also the ones that are supposed to be funny, which I really think are stupid, such as the line round the neck and cut here written on them. That joke will only be funny for a very short time and then they will have to cope with it or cover it for years. But in the end , as adults we are responsible for our own choices, and we may like or dislike what people wear or what colour they have their hair, or different styles of beards . We are entitled to our opinions , but do not feel it is up to us to make any comments on other peoples choices unless they ask for them. Live and let live on such things is my view.

Tattoos look hideous on everyone, young and old, male and female. Have the lovely illustration on a canvas instead. And no they don't make you an individual because most people have them now. It is so refreshing but increasingly rare to see skin without them.

I know lovely people with tattoo’s -
Tattoos do not pick people out to be ‘common’ or ‘dirty’.
More creative and often deep thinkers.

It's a very personal choice. I was going to have one a few years ago but my DH wasn't keen. It was to be a small butterfly.

I read today that Katie Price was having another tattoo today. She has a lot already.

Cossy, your sherry port schooner, is a lovely memory for you of your parents 😊

nanny2507

I love the "sleeves" for those not in the know they are the ones that cover the whole arm, leg, or half an arm or leg with no skin showing. These can quite often tell a story and if done by a great artist they look amazing. My husband has 12, my son has 2, my daughter has 5.

My youngest daughter has a sleeve. All in black, with lots of shading, it’s three woman, one is Lilith, one is evil Aphrodite and offhand, I cannot remember who woman three is, but her arm is stunning!

Son 2, our youngest child, 24, has his band logo and various other musical reference tattoos.

I don’t mind them on others, but don’t have a yearning for a tattoo.
I think in years to come people without them will be in the minority.

I love the "sleeves" for those not in the know they are the ones that cover the whole arm, leg, or half an arm or leg with no skin showing. These can quite often tell a story and if done by a great artist they look amazing. My husband has 12, my son has 2, my daughter has 5.

I am 58 and I have 15 tattoos in various places. I love all but 1. The 1 i am not bothered about is tiny and I quite often forget I have it.

I can assure you all I’m neither common nor stupid. Four out of five of our children have tattoos, and as I stated earlier I have one.

Would I have another, yep, do I regret it, no! Do I hate them, no. Some tattoo artists are amazing and I simply consider them body art.

None of our dear children have them on their faces, necks or hands and they can so easily be covered up either by clothes or very good, light make up.

Incidentally it’s very rude to refer to any woman, gay or not, as “butch”.

If I posted photos of my 2 gay daughters or their wife/partner, I very much doubt if you could tell they were gay! I won’t obvs be posting any photos!