A Senior's Guide to Tattoos: Tattoos for Older People (2024)

FAQs

A Senior's Guide to Tattoos: Tattoos for Older People? ›

Having bolder lines and less detail will give your skin a better chance to heal. Intricate, fine-line designs can be more difficult for older adults because of thinning skin. Of course, if you're interested in a more complex design, you just need to be prepared for multiple sessions.

Choose a place with more cushion, less bone and more fat or muscle. Examples of these places include the outer arm, outer thigh and calf muscle. Avoid areas that are seldom exposed and areas with thin skin, like your hands and feet, in order to help bypass any extra pain.

(And no, a tattoo isn't going to hide the crepiness.) If you're thinking about tattooing an area of skin that's crepey, consider treating the crepiness first—talk to your dermatologist about topical retinoids and procedures like ultrasound therapy—before tattooing so that the skin is as smooth as possible.

“I've seen quite a range—but many of our older clientele tend to gravitate towards symbolic and sentimental work: floral arrangements for loved ones, scenery from a fond vacation, a childhood keepsake, etc,” she says.

Trendy tattoos, like tiny tattoos or pieces done in minimalist tattoo styles, tend not to age well. With these designs, every detail is magnified and highlights design imperfections that naturally occur – even with following all of the best tattoo after-care instructions ​to a T.

As you age, your skin becomes thinner and less elastic, making the healing process take longer. You can certainly still get a tattoo, but you'll need to consider the best spot for your tattoo. Typically, bony areas of the body where there's not a lot of fat are the most painful places to get a tattoo.

If you're scouting for tattoos for older people, consider a tattoo placement that ages like fine wine. The upper arm, back, and chest are prime real estate. These areas usually face less environmental wear and tear. And if you're ever thinking of cover-up tattoos, these are the spots to consider.

The longest-lasting tattoo ink color is black. Not only will this saturated tone stand out, but black ink molecules are also larger than colored ones. As a result, there is less chance that the ink will break down over time. However, if you prefer bright-colored artwork, go for vibrant and heavily saturated ink.

If you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, you shouldn't tattoo over it. A tattoo can make flare-ups or breakouts much worse. A flare-up of a skin condition can prevent a tattoo from healing correctly or prevent ink from depositing into the skin.

How tattoos look in old age? ›

The main signs of tattoo aging include the ink's pigment breaking down, causing your tattoo to appear blurry, stretched, wrinkled or less vibrant than it once was.

Black ink lasts the longest and is least likely to blur, making it the best choice of ink color for long-lasting tattoos. Black ink is so reliable it is usually used to help hold in color molecules. Artists will create a border around color details with black linework to prevent ink migration and color blurring.

Inner Forearm.

This is proven to be the best area to get a tattoo when it comes to aging. This area does not frequently change in size, so the tattoo never stretches. Tattoos in this area practically never look aged.

Tattoo blowouts occur when a tattoo artist presses too hard when applying ink to the skin. The ink is sent below the top layers of skin where tattoos belong. Below the skin's surface, the ink spreads out in a layer of fat. This creates the blurring associated with a tattoo blowout.

Tattoo artists inject white ink deeper into the skin than black or colored ink. Unfortunately, white ink molecules do not hold in place well and require extreme stretching of the skin and heavy applications to be visible. As a result, white ink tattoos over ten years will become distorted and faded.

Least painful place to get a tattoo for a woman

The least painful places for a woman to get a tattoo are areas with less nerve endings and thicker skin like the outside of your shoulders or the outside of your upper thighs.

The most painful places for women will be areas with more nerve endings like your nipples or breasts including between your breasts. If you're planning a sternum tattoo this can also be a painful spot, same as your ribs.

Therefore, if you are a more mature adult getting a tattoo, choose an area of the body that is less susceptible to aging. Popular placement choices for tattoos on older skin include the shoulders, back, and ankles.

Anywhere on your body that has a little more muscle would be the best spot for the first tattoo. Generally speaking, an area will feel less uncomfortable the more body fat there is in that location. Therefore, some good spots to target are your calf, bum, bicep, and thigh.