Tattoos over 40 opinions/suggestion

ctooch99

No I am not going through a mid life crisis... lost my mom in 2011 and been wanting to get new ink to memorialize it - so it is a significant tattoo, not a fashion statement - but I have some questions - all opinions welcome even nasty ones

1) Is over 40 too old for new ink?

2) I have a crappy old tatt where I want the new one - can I get it done over the old one?

3) How long does it need to heal and can I play sports while it heals (I goaltend in an adult hockey league - lot of equipment)

Thanks!

StrengthIDidntKnow

I don't think it is too old.

I want another one soon but I haven't decided how I am doing it yet. I would like to incorporate the small one I already have.

hbrittingham

1) No, I don't think it's too old

2) I don't think you can ink over the old tattoo. You would need to have it removed and then do a new one.

3) I don't think you'll have to hold off on sports for more than a day or two

I have a tattoo that I got when I was 16. I am getting that recolored and getting another one within the next month. I'm 45. My husband is getting his two tattoos recolored at the same time. He's 52. I'm not worried about what anyone else thinks. This is something my husband and I want to do, so we're going to do it.

SeaChele77

Not too old!!

Yes, you can cover the old one. It can be tricky, but a good tattoo artist can design the new one to incorporate or cover the old!

Healing will depend on the location. Some heal quicker than others. Main thing is to keep the ointment on it and let it breath (after the first day). You may want to get it done to allow yourself 3-5 days before you goaltend again!

skinnybitchbarbie27

I think it is a wonderful idea to get a tattoo to remember your mother. Covering it up can be done as long as you have an amazing artist who really cares about getting it just right. and Age? Shoot My guy tattoos a woman who didn't get her FIRST tattoo until 65 and has 5 more since. as for the sports it really depends on where you get it. My last tattoo was on my shoulder blade on my back and due to the weeping I couldn't obviously use any gym equipment (and I wouldn't want to with the possibility of something getting in there and causing infections) and had to wait 8 days to be able to use it. Even after that I had my healing lotion on it so it got really tricky to use equipment. That would be the only thing I would worry about with your hocky gear is how much rubbing is going on (it can damage the tattoo) and what equipment is touching it. Personally, something this important as a tattoo'ed memory of your mom, take the appropriate 7-10 days away from hockey. I know it sounds crazy and is important to you but so is a fresh open wound on your skin. If you feel like you can't do both, wait until a break in your hockey season

ctooch99

Great feedback folks - thanks -

Also to clarify - not concerned with age as a factor for how others see it - specifically I wanted to know if age causes any issues with the results or healing (I think I still look pretty young, but I know our skin changes...)

maryinnc

I never thought that I would get a tattoo but I did last Oct. at age 62! My sons had gotten then when they were younger, I hated that they did it and gave them a hard time about it. Anyway, I decided that once I turned 60 I would do it as a way of making amends for me being such a pain in the XXX to these wonderful three sons. I got mine five weeks after the sudden death of my oldest son. It is a picture of a small heart with a banner that says MOM on it. He drew that on the envelope of my last birthday card he sent me earlier in June. I put the initials of my three sons around the heart. Anyway, YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD!!! Do what you are comfortable doing and enjoy each day we have.

Marc713

There's no age limit, go nuts....just don't pick something off the wall!

ctooch99

I never thought that I would get a tattoo but I did last Oct. at age 62! My sons had gotten then when they were younger, I hated that they did it and gave them a hard time about it. Anyway, I decided that once I turned 60 I would do it as a way of making amends for me being such a pain in the XXX to these wonderful three sons. I got mine five weeks after the sudden death of my oldest son. It is a picture of a small heart with a banner that says MOM on it. He drew that on the envelope of my last birthday card he sent me earlier in June. I put the initials of my three sons around the heart. Anyway, YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD!!! Do what you are comfortable doing and enjoy each day we have.

^^^^ Awesome!

hellokathy

It's nothing to do with age but just the place for you get it. Body parts that get moved a lot or get wrinkly more quickly will have a higher risk of the ink 'bleeding'. For example I wanted my wrist tattoo closer to the hand but my artist advised against it because the closer it gets to the 'wrinkly' area where you bend your wrist, the more likely would it 'bleed'.

Cover-ups are always possible but it depends on what you have and what you want. Existing ink can only be covered with a darker color or be integrated into the new piece. So if you have something with large black / dark areas, unless you want a huge black blob now, it's gonna be hard to cover up. Just go see a good artist and ask them for ideas.

magj0y

Not too old!!

Yes, you can cover the old one. It can be tricky, but a good tattoo artist can design the new one to incorporate or cover the old!

Healing will depend on the location. Some heal quicker than others. Main thing is to keep the ointment on it and let it breath (after the first day). You may want to get it done to allow yourself 3-5 days before you goaltend again!

^^however, it would look better of you started on blank skin.

grrrlface

No one is too old for new ink! One of my friend's parents got a memorial tattoo for his late wife when he was 70!