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Tattoos on older women

(288 Posts)
MT62 Thu 16-Jul-26 19:37:36

I know tattoos are a thing now, & I’ll probably be slated, but whilst on holiday, & walking round the seaside today, I noticed a lot of woman in their 60s/70s have tattoos.
I think they probably had them in the 90s as the tattoos looked blue & faded.
I know friends of mine had them done, especially around the belly button, shoulder & lower back.
Some regret getting them done, two have had them removed.

Now all the younger people seem to have full sleeves & full thighs, & lower legs, is this trend persuading the older generation to get one?
I know, each to their own, but personally I don’t care for tattoos.
Just wondering what other grans think of tattoos?
Do some grans have them & regret getting them done?

Narnia Fri 17-Jul-26 13:40:37

I had my first tattoo at 60, i researched what i wanted and who i wanted to do it for 12 months. It's my star constellation on my inner forearm. A lot of people were shocked but it's something i personally wanted!
There is a lady local to me that has "fu** society' across her forehead.
She's in her late 60s so assume it was done in the punk era

HobbyCat Fri 17-Jul-26 13:37:31

All of which are horrible. It’s funny how people think they are being individuals but they all end up looking the same.

WinnieLily Fri 17-Jul-26 13:37:12

I had my first tattoo done in 2018 as a tribute to my parents & brother. I was 59, and have since had 3 more!
I was never going to have tattoos ever 🤣

sodapop Fri 17-Jul-26 13:35:41

I don't like tattoos either particularly facial ones. That's just me and it's up to others whether or not they have one.
The sleeve tattoos seem to be much more popular now than they ever were..

butterandjam Fri 17-Jul-26 13:24:08

Cossy

Gran22boys

Still hideous and common. smile

In your opinion!

You may be jesting, but really who do you think you are calling things like this “Common and hideous”, is your inference that people who have them are also hideous and common?

I daresay people here might use make-up, wear clothes, dye their hair hair and decorate their homes in things I might consider both “common and hideous”, would I be so “rude, hideous and common” to tell them so? I doubt it as I have better manners!

You're being ridiculous.

The OP asked the question " Just wondering what other grans think of tattoos?"

It invites personal opinions.

MissAdventure Fri 17-Jul-26 13:21:50

I think egytian mummies have been found with tattoos.

Calendargirl Fri 17-Jul-26 13:08:24

I suppose years ago, when it was mostly sailors who had them, they acquired them abroad, when the ships docked.

I picture them in a ‘Casablanca’ type of place, not too much emphasis on hygiene and clean needles.

Just my personal thoughts, have no knowledge of it at all.

rafichagran Fri 17-Jul-26 12:55:31

Bukkie

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.

Please state that this is your opinion. Others feel different. I have one. It means alot to me. Its lovely. I am not dirty and I am always clean. The tat is on the small of my back.

People are really judgemental of other people's choices. It just makes you look narrow minded.

I have a very bad skin condition, its not curable and I have to see a consultant. I shower 3 times a day sometimes to put medicated cream on clean skin. The one person who mentioned it to me was dirty and smelt very badly. The person who saud tattoo's they look dirty need to look at your own personal freshness and stop commenting on people's personal choices

Primrose53 Fri 17-Jul-26 12:40:07

About a decade ago there was a craze for young Mums to have their kids names tattooed on their lower backs just above their backside. They got nicknamed “tramp stamps”.

MT62 Fri 17-Jul-26 12:16:36

My niece has one of a huge rose on her upper arm as a tribute to her mum. I wasn’t too happy as she has beautiful pale skin. I would never dream of telling her I don’t like it.

MT62 Fri 17-Jul-26 12:13:37

Cossy

Small children or not so small children have had those temporary “tattoos” for decades, though we called them “transfers” back in the day!

Yes transfer, I couldn’t think of the name.
I remember getting them free with a certain brand of chewing gum.

Cossy Fri 17-Jul-26 12:04:19

TerriBull

I remember candy fags, my mates and I got a detention for being reported smoking in town in our school uniform, therefore dragging the school into disrepute shock No amount of trying to explain, what was hanging out of our mouths was actually a cigarette in disguise, just a sweet!

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Chardy Fri 17-Jul-26 11:27:53

GrannyGravy13

Cossy

Goodness, the judgement here is rampant!

Common, loathsome, horrible!

😱😱😱

We have five AC, they all have a tattoo, some more than others, their bodies, their choice.

I will probably have a small one for my 0 birthday.

Our children are definitely not common or loathsome, mind you over the years they have all been horrible at some time.

I hope all posters who are so judgmental are happy to be judged by others for their choices 🤷‍♀️

Last birthday, I had my first. I booked it on a whim, though I'd thought about it for years - a small traditional design that reflected my kids' lives. Definitely go for it, GrannyGravy

And yes, Cossy, I agree with you

eddiecat78 Fri 17-Jul-26 11:23:25

I could have wept when my children started having tattoos. I felt like I had spent 18 years trying to keep their bodies perfect and they had purposely damaged them.

TerriBull Fri 17-Jul-26 10:41:23

I think the best bit of imparted wisdom about Tattoos I heard was from the late, great Ossie Osbourn. During that fly on the wall programme the Osbourns did in the early noughties. Young teenage Kelly, as she was then, pondering about getting tattooed . Ossie of course covered in them, said something along the lines of "if you want to be different and stand out don't have any!"

Kandinsky Fri 17-Jul-26 10:37:10

I grew up in the punk era ( was 14 in 1977 )
plus I lived in London, so I’m very used to seeing people expressing themselves through fashion. But I still think tattoos are a masculine thing. I agree they can look extremely sexy on a good looking man, but on women, no.
I also think drinking to the point of drunkenness is awful in women.
Women should be better than that & not try and be like men.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 17-Jul-26 10:34:17

Cossy

Small children or not so small children have had those temporary “tattoos” for decades, though we called them “transfers” back in the day!

Our two youngest GC (6) draw tattoos on their arms and hands, interesting designs…

TerriBull Fri 17-Jul-26 10:26:25

I remember candy fags, my mates and I got a detention for being reported smoking in town in our school uniform, therefore dragging the school into disrepute shock No amount of trying to explain, what was hanging out of our mouths was actually a cigarette in disguise, just a sweet!

TerriBull Fri 17-Jul-26 10:22:41

Given this is a thread on a perspective of older women, I wonder how many of us knew anyone from their peer group with a tattoo, or where a tattoo parlour would be sited??? Now they're in every high street, but I can't remember a single one as a late teen or where anyone would go for one. What would parents have said back then if one were to come home with one? Mine would have had ten pink fits shock would it have even been a consideration for any of us in our youth, given it would have been viewed as pretty unorthodox. Ok all has moved on and everyone is of their time, so perhaps like many we've been shaped by an attitude that didn't endorse them.

Trends come and go, how many punks from Johnny Rotten days, now into their 60s, or 70s even are still walking around with hair gelled up into a plumage effect. I know that there are retro looks that some hang on to, Teddy Boys were viewed as people in a bit of a time warp once the 60s got going and a whole new look evolved. I just wonder if the tattoo trend might be viewed as very old school in the future once those who've had them in their youth reach their dotage. I bet there will be some who want to get rid of them

JaneJudge Fri 17-Jul-26 10:16:03

Cossy

Small children or not so small children have had those temporary “tattoos” for decades, though we called them “transfers” back in the day!

and can you remember candy fags? grin
the desired sweet of the common people's children

Grandma70s Fri 17-Jul-26 10:06:07

Gran22boys

Still hideous and common. smile

Agreed!

Cossy Fri 17-Jul-26 10:01:09

Small children or not so small children have had those temporary “tattoos” for decades, though we called them “transfers” back in the day!

Silvershadow Fri 17-Jul-26 09:40:05

I don’t like them and wouldn’t have one. None of the family have them either. Most of the young men we employ to do various jobs in our home do have them, of varying sizes, designs etc. all are lovely lads, polite, friendly etc. not everybody that has them is a thug although some undoubtedly are. A female friend in her 70s has several on her foot and arms. Her son does tattoos. I notice she always wears long floaty skirts that cover most of them up. They are very obvious on her arms.

Astitchintime Fri 17-Jul-26 09:26:38

petra

boheminan

Oh...here we go again

Soon it will be false eyelashes, pumped up lips, false nails 😂

You forgot to mention the butt lifts and boob jobs 🤣🤣🤣

ViceVersa Fri 17-Jul-26 09:26:06

Oh, and I'm just thinking about some of the bands I like - some of the lead singers I absolutely love have loads of tattoos and they are some of the most gorgeous men I've ever seen in my life. I could stare at them all day!