Older people with tattoos got them long before tattoos were popular. They didn’t do it because it was trendy; they got inked as a bold way to express themselves.
Today, tattoos are common, but years ago, they were mostly associated with sailors and criminals. Before the 2000s, if you had tattoos—especially as a woman—people thought you were tough or unusual.
In a world that often focuses on young people, older adults can feel overlooked. But when you see a senior with lots of tattoos, they definitely stand out!
The 17 pictures below show how tattoos change as we age. Tattoos can fade, stretch, or blur over time due to things like skin losing elasticity, sun exposure, weight changes, and aging. How much they change depends on your diet, hydration, ink quality, and where the tattoos are on your body.
Some people think tattoos will look bad on older, wrinkled skin, but actually, older people with tattoos look amazing. Their tattoos still tell the stories of their lives, even if their memories start to fade.
1. An inked older couple
2. Punk rock dad with a Social Distortion tattoo on his upper arm
3. Older woman with an arm tattoo
4. Man with a face full of tats
5. Happy older woman with a full sleeve tattoo
6. Tattooed old boxer
7. Older man with arm tattoos
8. Tattooed older BFFs
9. Beautiful older woman with arm and chest tattoos
10. Fading hand tattoo on an older man
11. Older man’s wrist with TMI tattoo
12. Tattooed senior surfer
13. Grandpa with a “Mum” tattoo
14. Tattooed older rocker
15. Arm tattoo on an older man with his loving wife
16. Older woman with star tattoos on her shoulder
17. Senior woman with beautiful flower tattoo on her hand
