When I got my first and only tattoo (a tiny exclamation point on my wrist) the first thing everyone asked is, "How's that going to look when you get old?!"
I promptly shrugged my shoulders and moved on with my life. Truthfully, I have no idea what my tattoo will look like when I am older; I don't know what I'm going to look like in later years.
However, when I look at the tattooed and bold bodies of older folk, I find myself increasingly inspired by the thought of aging with tattoos.
Take one look at the photos below and tell me you don't see beautiful and interesting people!
Tattoos tend to tell the stories of the people who get them, and when I look at these wise and esteemed folk, I see people I'd like to get to know, not people who had poor judgment.
I mean, who isn't dying to meet Baddie Winkle or these retirees who fancy themselves hipsters?!
While aging skin comes with the territory, it's essential for tattoo-bearers to treat their skin properly as they get older and to care for our beloved body art.
Here are 10 things to consider when caring for tattoos as you age.
SHARE if you have a tat!
1. Avoid the sun.
Reducing sun exposure will benefit anyone's skin, regardless if they have tattoos or not. Sun actually accelerates the process of aging by causing wrinkles and age spots.
2. Accept that your skin is going to age.
Even if we can reduce the process of aging, it's eventually going to happen. It's better to accept that your tattoos, and you, aren't going to appear the same as they did in your twenties. Heck, that doesn't mean you can't feel the same though!
3. Be prepared for your tats to fade
Yes, tattoos will appear less vivid and robust as time goes on. Think of it as your tattoos getting a patina — sure, it's a sign they are older, but that doesn't mean they're any less beautiful.
4. Retouching old tats is ineffective
You can insist on getting retouched every few years, but because tattoo ink isn't opaque, they'll eventually begin to appear muddy and discolored. It's better to know when to give up.
5. Take good care of all of your skin
The healthier your skin looks, the healthier your tats will look. That means good hygiene, moisturizing, and always wearing sunscreen outdoors.
6. Get tattoos in the right places
Tattoos on the forearm, lower back, and back of the neck tend to hold up better because they don't age as much!
7. Don't believe the stigma, tattoos still look awesome on older folk!
Some people are so afraid of aging they believe that getting older is a bad thing. Aging is a part of life and if a person is happy and healthy, then there's nothing ugly about that.
8. Be bold, be simple
Aging skin is a bit more delicate, if you're getting inked later in life, be bold and simple to avoid irritating the skin with a bigger, more intricate, and more time-consuming piece.
9. With time, ink starts to move
Ink moves and expands over time. Images can become distorted and the most complex designs can look like blobs.
10. There's no point in judging!
To each their own. Everyone relates to their body and tats differently. There's no sense in judging other people's choices and certainly not their appearance. Embrace the roller coaster of life and all of the changes that come with it!
