Tattoos are perhaps one of the only things in our lives that last a lifetime. Friendships fade, lovers come and go, but tattoos will always be a memory to look back on. Because of the permanence of a tattoo, it is extremely important to think through your design and it’s placement, but don’t let the fear of regret keep you from getting a tattoo! Tattoos may be more popular than ever, but that doesn’t mean that a tattoo can’t be timeless.
I believe that the ‘tattoo and age’ debate is extremely silly. People ask all the time, ‘what are you going to think of your tattoos when you’re older’ or ‘won’t you regret them when you’re seventy?’ Of course no one can say for sure what the world will be like when we are middle-aged, yet it’s doubtful that we’ll be worrying too much about having tattoos. Everyone’s skin in going to sag whether you have tattoos or not, and most people are going to care more about having wrinkles or a mortgage payment, rather than having a tattoo. But here are a few tips on how to make your tattoos last for a lifetime.
Avoid clichés and trends. Living in an age of constant social media, we are able to use Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter to connect with people from around the globe. And with this virtual media, we are able to see a pattern in the tattoo trends that dominate websites like Tumblr or Pintrest. Everyone has seen these tattooed copied time and time again, from infinity signs, to feathers breaking into birds, to anchors, to dream catchers, to arrows, you get the idea of the kinds of tattoos that have been very popular on the internet. Now while I don’t agree with shunning people for getting a tattoo that a lot of people have, I believe that it is important to get something personal that means something to you. In a few years, infinity symbols will most likely become the new butterfly tramp stamp and the next generation will be on to yet another fad. It is important to get a tattoo that really speaks to who you are and something that you know you’ll want on your body regardless of whether or not it is a popular design.
Another important consideration in getting a tattoo is getting one in a place that you’ll want to have over time. If you’re still unsure about whether or not you want your tattoo to be visible to the public, I would suggest that you keep it hidden as you may change your mind later on. It is easier to cover up tattoos on the torso, legs, and back, so if you were hesitant, I would recommend getting a tattoo in these locations first. That way you can always add on to your tattoo collection as time goes on or keep it minimal with a tattoo that you can easily hide.
Many not only wonder if they will want a tattoo when they are older, but how the tattoo will age over time. It is true that a tattoo will age as you do, but there are ways to preserve a tattoo. While getting a tattoo, make sure that your artist uses the right amount of black or ‘packs’ colors in your tattoo. By having a strong black outline, a tattoo will fade at a slower rate and bold colors keep the tattoo vibrant over time. But it’s not just the artist who is responsible for making sure a tattoo lasts over time. It is vital to take care of your tattoos during healing and treat tattooed skin with care. This means not picking at healing tattoos, because you can literally pick the pigment out when a tattoo is still peeling. It is also important to be extra careful in the sun, as the sun speeds up tattoo aging. By literally coating a tattoo in a thick layer of sunblock or avoiding tanning, you are protecting your tattoo from harm. Yet it is really hard to determine what the tattoos of today will look like when we’re older, as the techniques of tattooing have evolved so much over time. Tattoo artists have learned how to develop skills and styles of tattooing that make a tattoo stay fresh, but you need to do your part as well.
So if you are worried about tattoos and who you are going to be years down the line, give it time. There is no rush to get inked up right away and tattooing will always be a part of our society. Think that a tattoo will limit you? That all really depends. Tattooed people have come such a long way as our society has adapted to the lifestyle. Tattoos are no longer just for misfits and rebels, and I believe that by the time we have kids, getting a tattoo won’t be as drastic of a change in one’s appearance. But if you’re still skeptical, check out these beautiful and very tattooed people celebrating their ink as they age.