ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Old People With Tattoos: How Will You Look in 40 Years?

Ever wondered what ageing does to tattoos? - by April Glover
  • 16 Apr 2019

Walking down the street, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone without a tattoo.

According to a study done by Pew Research Centre, a staggering 26 per cent of young people aged 18-19 in America have at least one tattoo.

Old People With Tattoos: How Will You Look in 40 Years?
Getty Images

Inking human skin began as a religious or tribal tradition, which has since seeped into Western culture and become a fashion trend. 

As so many people have tattoos, it makes you wonder what they'll look like in 40 years. 

Inked skin tends to sag, age and wrinkle just like normal skin. So what do old people look like with tattoos?

inked.oldies View Profile
153 likes - View Post on Instagram
#old #inked #ink #tattoo #oldies #skin #oldpeople #traditional #art #badass #oldpeopletattos #oldpeoplewithtattoos #topclasstattoos #topclasstattooing #onlygoodtattoos #onlygoodtattooing #woman #tattoophotography #istatattoo #ig #instagood #ig_daily #ig_love #instamood #happy #love #pictureoftheday #picoftheday #photooftheday #photographyoftheday
inked.oldies View Profile
162 likes - View Post on Instagram
#old #inked #ink #tattoo #oldies #skin #oldpeople #traditional #art #badass #oldpeopletattos #oldpeoplewithtattoos #topclasstattoos #topclasstattooing #onlygoodtattoos #onlygoodtattooing #woman #tattoophotography #istatattoo #ig #instagood #ig_daily #ig_love #instamood #happy #love #pictureoftheday #picoftheday #photooftheday #photographyoftheday

As your skin grows and sags, the tattoo shape will most certainly change too.

As for the colour, it won't surprise you to learn that the ink will fade as the years go by - no matter how much you take care of it.

When people age, their skin tends to get drier too. Tattoos (and skin) normally require hydration to stay in tip-top shape, so age can affect how fresh and clean it looks. 

inked.oldies View Profile
116 likes - View Post on Instagram
#old #inked #ink #tattoo #oldies #skin #oldpeople #traditional #art #badass #oldpeopletattos #oldpeoplewithtattoos #topclasstattoos #topclasstattooing #onlygoodtattoos #onlygoodtattooing #man #tattoophotography #istatattoo #ig #instagood #ig_daily #ig_love #instamood #happy #love #pictureoftheday #picoftheday #photooftheday #photographyoftheday
inked.oldies View Profile
190 likes - View Post on Instagram
#old #inked #ink #tattoo #oldies #skin #oldpeople #traditional #art #badass #oldpeopletattos #oldpeoplewithtattoos #topclasstattoos #topclasstattooing #onlygoodtattoos #onlygoodtattooing #woman man #tattoophotography #istatattoo #ig #instagood #ig_daily #ig_love #instamood #happy #love #pictureoftheday #picoftheday #photooftheday #photographyoftheday
inked.oldies View Profile
56 likes - View Post on Instagram
#old #inked #ink #tattoo #oldies #skin #oldpeople #traditional #art #badass #oldpeopletattos #oldpeoplewithtattoos #topclasstattoos #topclasstattooing #onlygoodtattoos #onlygoodtattooing #man #tattoophotography #istatattoo #ig #instagood #ig_daily #ig_love #instamood #happy #love #pictureoftheday #picoftheday #photooftheday #photographyoftheday

According to tattoo artists, the bigger tattoos are the ones which survive the test of time.

'The smaller the tattoo, the more likely the tattoo will become an illegible smudge of it's former self,' Alex Passapera, a tattoo artist from Rising Dragon Tattoos, told Romper. 

'Tiny loops and curls will eventually bleed together, creating a mush that is not only impossible to read but not too pretty to look at.'

inked.oldies View Profile
616 likes - View Post on Instagram
#old #inked #ink #tattoo #oldies #skin #oldpeople #traditional #art #badass #oldpeopletattos #oldpeoplewithtattoos #topclasstattoos #topclasstattooing #onlygoodtattoos #onlygoodtattooing #tats #tattoophotography #istatattoo #ig #instagood #ig_daily #ig_love #instamood #happy #love #pictureoftheday #picoftheday #photooftheday #photographyoftheday
idoiacantolla View Profile
75 likes - View Post on Instagram
¡DEJAD DE PREGUNTARMELO, PLEASE! ¿Qué pasará con tus tatuajes cuando seas mayor? ¿Estarán todos borrosos? Pues sí. Es muy probable. Y se me caerán las tetas, y el culo y el pelo cuando sea vieja (*dramatización). Y las manos se volverán huesudas y no reconoceré en el espejo a la niña de 18 que fui, sino a la niña de 18 que aun seré por dentro. Tenemos el cuerpo lleno de cicatrices, igual que el alma. Cosas que no quieres recordar, pero que están ahí. Los tatuajes son cicatrices voluntarias que te hacen recordar cosas bonitas, gente que te quiere, momentos especiales, lugares, horas, personas... así que si, probablemente me haré más. Y en lugar de mirarme y preguntarte ¿por qué?, cuando los veas podrías preguntar qué me recuerdan y al menos te llevarás una bonita historia, por que son eso: historias de tinta que han elegido piel en lugar de papel para perdurar el tiempo que les sea posible. Hay dos tipos de personas en el mundo: los que viven preocupados de asegurarse un futuro que no saben cuándo llegará o disimulando como si no fuera a llegar nunca y los que viven sabiendo que llegará y que no te llevas nada, ni tu propio envoltorio, en el viaje. La vejez es una parte del camino, de ese futuro que tanto te preocupa y cuando llegue, tendrás que aceptar que estarás "borroso/a". Depende de ti a quién ves en el espejo. Yo tengo un plan :) #tattoo #oldwomantattoo #whytattoo #inkgirl #inked #ink
April Glover

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Burnt at the salon!

Burnt at the salon!

Why this mum loves her daughters new ‘lizard’ tongue

Why this mum loves her daughters new ‘lizard’ tongue

I turn people into art!

I turn people into art!

Holly the heart hero

Holly the heart hero

{headline}

{headline}

30-year heartbreak  - who killed Kerry Turner?

30-year heartbreak - who killed Kerry Turner?

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

I was paralysed at the beach

I was paralysed at the beach

{headline}

{headline}

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!