“Tattoos are permanent. What are you going to do with them when you’re older?” Probably every tattooed person has heard this question at some point in their inked life. Or maybe you’re the person usually asking this question, and you’re here out of curiosity about how aged tattoos actually look. It’s a legitimate question, just slightly annoying because we tattooed people know perfectly well that our designs will stay with us forever — tattoo laser removal excluded.
Let’s start by saying that seniors with tattoos totally rock, and it’s never too late to get one. My own grandma got her first ink at the age of 84 in 2016, and she has loved it dearly ever since. Of course, there’s the one-million-dollar question: How do old tattoos look, considering how much skin changes throughout a lifetime?
When you think of tattoos, you probably picture fresh, bold designs that scream with youthful energy — but I’m not going to sugarcoat this. Tattoos can change a lot after many years, some to the point of being barely recognizable, due to exposure to the elements and natural aging. This is even more true for those tattoos that haven’t seen an ounce of sunscreen or proper hydration since being imprinted on the skin. And trust me when I say that adequate aftercare, which lasts forever, makes an insane difference. Let’s add that some body parts, like fingers, are not too fond of ink and will make your design prematurely fade like cotton candy in water.
That said, you’ll be happy to know that most people don’t regret getting inked in the least and sport their faded tattoos with pride! If you’re now even more curious about the appearance of tattoos after years, say no more. Here’s a picture collection of healed tattoos that show the before and after of both colorful and totally black tattoos so you can see the difference yourself. They may change in color, texture, and shape, but rest assured, they will always hold a special place in their owners’ hearts!
#1 January 2020 Vs. June 2022
Image source: kmp128
#2 Then And Now. How My Colorful Tattoo Held Up Over 26 Years. By Dave Fox In ’96, Philadelphia, Pa
Image source: ElReydelTacos
#3 A Little Over 5 Years And About A 20 Lb Weight Gain Apart
Image source: melllis
#4 What Aging And 20 Years Can Do To A Tattoo. I Watched My Father Get This Tattoo When I Was A Kid. The Second Picture Was Taking Just Before He Passed
Image source: kbrown36
#5 15 Year Old Work
Image source: Still_Injury632
#6 A Sailor Jerry Tattoo Aged 53 Years, Really Cool To See
Image source: michaelcerasnipple
#7 Day 0 Vs. 10 Years Later (Tattoo By Kerry Irvine Of Skunx)
Image source: ShiNo_Usagi
#8 1 Year Old Tattoo
Image source: SectionEht
#9 Fine Line Tattoo By Greg Howell In Fredericksburg Va. Healed 4.5 Years
Image source: lescori
#10 My 83 Year Old Dad’s Tattoos
Image source: geoffbroccoli
#11 Fresh Vs. 1 Year Healed, On My Right Hip
Image source: Shayla25
#12 24 Year Old Mark Mahoney Fine Line Tattoo
Image source: hashtaghypebeast
#13 14 Years
Image source: usernameblurb
#14 Almost 2 Years Aged, Happy So Far!
Image source: -balogna-pony
#15 12 Year Old Roland Topor Illustration
Image source: ersatzbaronness
#16 Fresh Vs. 5.5 Years Later. Lost Some Weight Since Then And Am Really Happy With How It Aged Considering I Have Eczema
Image source: ThrowRAantimony
#17 Fresh Vs. 4 Years Old
Image source: TargetVisual
#18 White Lettering Tattoo Fresh And 1.5 Years Healed
Image source: notemytattoo
#19 Fresh Vs. 2 Years Later
Image source: MedicenNani
#20 A Little Hard To Take A Photo Of This One. Fresh Vs. 3 Years Healed!
Image source: tofuttis
#21 Delicate Floral Half Sleeve 2018 And Now (About 2.5 Years Aged) – Done By Kelsey Havel At Greenlion In Grand Rapids, MI
Image source: GregariousUnicorn
#22 Six Year Old Watercolor Tattoo By Royal Jafarov, NYC
Image source: MrsRichardSmoker
#23 Fresh Vs. 3 Years Healed. Possible Filter Used By Tattoo Artist On The Fresh Picture
Image source: norumJR
#24 Almost 9 Year Old Tattoo On My Ribs
Image source: automillie
#25 Coming Up On Ten Years. Still Looks Great
Image source: kristolius
#26 5.5 Years Healed
Image source: Sea-Tie2305
#27 Fresh, And 8 Years Old
Image source: likeguitarsolo
#28 15 Years Old Vs. Refreshed Last Year
Image source: RatNestHairKid
#29 7 Years Apart
Image source: Hiimdtan
#30 2 Weeks Vs. 5 Years
Image source: slaptogs
#31 Fresh December 2018, Now February 2022
Image source: mittensquish
#32 7 Years Of My Linework Rose
Image source: artgardens
#33 Dragon Tattoo, 20 Years Later
Image source: Powerful_Amoeba7848
#34 2.5 Year Old Single Needle Skeleton
Image source: chadhuh
#35 Plague Doctor. May 2020 Vs. Jan 2023
Image source: lxzgxz
#36 Just Wanted To Show How Better The Big Pieces Hold In Comparison To The Smaller More Detailed Ones
Image source: Darth_lil
#37 Traditional Thigh Piece – 1.5 Years Later. Artist Is Jimmy Snaz
Image source: junebugg_
#38 6 Year Old Realism Of My Cat
Image source: PMYOURCATTATS
#39 My 4 Years Old Anchor Tattoo
Image source: moshy_
#40 1 Year Healed! Done By Kelly Doty At Hellheim Gallery In Salem, MA
Image source: Normal-Cantaloupe778
#41 Eagle Coverup Is 47 Years Old And The Flower Behind Is Older Than That
Image source: MeatAnimal
#42 My First Tattoo Aged 21 Years. First Time I’ve Looked At It Close Up In Years. I’m Impressed With How Good It Looks Still
Image source: Dependent-Touch8063
#43 My Friend’s Tattoo. Thought Ya’ll Would Be Interested In Seeing This Baby Aged
Image source: RADIOACTIVE_BACON
#44 Watercolor – Fresh Vs. 5 Years Healed
Image source: thewaffleirn
#45 First Color Tattoo Is 10 Years Old Today
Image source: shoshasta
#46 Happy Halloween! Fresh Vs. 5 Years
Image source: psychohollic
#47 Two Years Ago And Now – What Do You Think?
Image source: yetanothercatlady1
#48 Fine Line Tattoo 3 Years
Image source: cloris97
#49 My 25 Year Old Line Work (Done In 1996)
Image source: pop-hon_ula
#50 Fresh, 5 Years Healed And The 50+ Year Old Tattoo It Was Based On
Image source: Poopynooper
#51 For Anyone Wondering How Finger Tattoos Age When You Work In A Kitchen. August 2020 Vs. April 2021. 9 Months
Image source: baines_uk
#52 2 Years And 1 Month Old! Some Of The Line Work In The Tail Is Missing Now Because Of Eczema
Image source: BunnyintheBenz
#53 One Year Old Vs. New
Image source: ferralsol
#54 Minutes After Vs. A Year And A Half
Image source: roomonfire321
#55 5 Years Of My Lion
Image source: papigoreng
#56 Footsteps On The Beach With A Modern Twist July 2017 (Fresh) And July 2022 (Today)
Image source: FeedMeEthereum
#57 Wondering How Watercolour Holds Up? This Baby Is 10 Years Old
Image source: reddit.com
#58 Touch Up And Recolour On This Cute Fairy
Image source: tatsbyrosie
#59 Fresh And Aged (4 Years) Artist In Finland. Cost 400€
Image source: reddit.com
#60 Single Needle, Fresh Vs. 4 Years
Image source: ms_nezbit_
#61 Fine Line After 2 Years
Image source: Numba1idiot
#62 3.5 Year Old Fineline Tattoo
Image source: angy3pan
#63 First Tattoo, Fresh And About 1,5 Years Later
Image source: Timmietim
#64 7 Year Old Finger Tattoo. My Tattoo, Done By Myrhwan At Giahi, Switzerland
Image source: kendropin
#65 Reworking A 22 Year Old Tattoo With Old English Font
Image source: trated.t
#66 Aged Rose
Image source: sorrymyhandsarecold
#67 2018 Vs. 2021 (Tattoo By Caesar Bacchvs)
Image source: pale_emo_princess
#68 New Vs. 3 Year Old Fine Line Tatttoo
Image source: mydaddiexo
#69 My First Tattoo – 6 Years Aged
Image source: yellowdiplodocus
#70 Coconut Crab
Image source: haroldjiii
#71 One Year Apart – Traditional Crying Heart
Image source: HileyExplosive
#72 8 Years Old – No More Colour
Image source: Water_Lily_05
#73 21st Tattoo Hitmontop, Done On February 26, 2015
Image source: saiclops_plus
#74 Fresh Vs. Aged 8 Years. Could Use A Touch Up, But Still Love It Scars And All
Image source: ftmgremlin
#75 March 2018 Vs. Now
Image source: SomethingAwkward777
#76 2 Years
Image source: Brilliant_Raise_4899
#77 43rd Respect Swords, Done On April 20, 2019
Image source: saiclops_plus
#78 Mermaid
Image source: Fast-Knee9139
#79 4 Year Old Thigh Pieces! Fresh (Jan 2018) Vs. Now (Jan 2022) Lost A Fair Amount Of Detail But I Still Love It!
Image source: pepperplantpots
#80 Fresh Nov 2014 Vs. Now Nov 2019. 5 Years Old
Image source: mischiefkitty
#81 2.5 Years Aged Fine Line Rib Piece
Image source: srslytho96
#82 I Think It’s Healed Beautifully
Image source: 420gucciqueen
#83 What Do You Think? 3 Years Ago Vs. Now
Image source: Selena_____
#84 2018 Vs. 2022. Really Unhappy With How This Is Looking Now. Does Anyone Think There Is Still Something To Save?
Image source: Holly_Caulfield
#85 Oct 2018 To Today January 2023
Image source: SilverVulpine
#86 5 Years Old This October!
Image source: blankboards
#87 Palm Tattoo Healed/Fresh. 7 Years Old
Image source: stuckinbis
#88 October 2017 Vs. Today
Image source: Fruitpuffsour
#89 Death Card Jan 2019 – Aug 2021
Image source: phoriaa
#90 Fine Line Tattoo- 1 Year Old
Image source: TheWondercub
#91 Fresh Vs. 3 Years. Never Got A Touch Up Since The Artist Moved To Another State Shortly After I Got This
Image source: Little-ferret
#92 3 Years Ago Vs. Now
Image source: kfoertsch
#93 Fresh And Healed
Image source: slowelevator
#94 6 Months Bold Will Hold Skelly
Image source: Jcbrew92
#95 Day Zero Vs. Now
Image source: Psychological_Ad4504
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