ADVERTISEMENT

Are you thinking of getting a tattoo? Your new tattoo might look pretty awesome now, but have you ever wondered what it’d look like when you’re older? There are many reasons and factors why this happens, and many answers to the question of how tattoos age. 

One way to keep your tattoo looking fresh and prevent it from aging is to ensure that you follow the proper healing procedures, as even the best tattoos can be affected by not taking proper care. Most parlors will advise you about care and tattoo aging, so make sure you pay attention!

As tempting as it might be, don't spend too much time touching your new tattoo idea that came to life, as this can lead to discoloration and infection. If your tattoo is new, then try to keep it out of the sunlight, even when it’s fully healed. Make sure you always moisturize your skin with the highest SPF sunscreen on any exposed tattoos whenever you’re out and about - this is a huge reminder for male tattoo owners :D

Finally, never forget to search for a highly skilled and qualified tattoo artist, as he is the one who will execute the work, making sure you won't regret it. Now scroll down below to find how some of the old tattoos look today—not all of them stood the test of time.

What Happens to Tattoos Over Time?

Image credits: Life-Of-Pix

When it comes to aging, the type of tattoo ink can make a big difference; for example, cheaper ink often fades much quicker than higher-quality alternatives. 

The color of the ink makes a big difference, too, as the lighter the ink, the faster it fades (remember that next time you’re thinking about getting one of those white ink tattoos!). Another thing to consider is your tattoo's placement, as this can also influence the speed of fading. 

Tattoos on areas that see a lot of activity, such as your feet and fingers, are much more likely to fade than tattoos on your back or chest, for example. Also, the design comes into play—the smaller and more intricate the tattoo’s detailing is, the more likely it is to get blurred years later. 

If body art fades with time, what do tattoos look like when you get old? Well, check out this tattoo aging time-lapse compiled by Bored Panda to see for yourself how aged tattoos look now.

#5

Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later

Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later

Report

Add photo comments
POST
J.E.C.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, it is small print very close together. You know it is going to bleed a little so this was a bad call, the tattoo artist should have told them this would happen. Maybe they did..

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Aged Finger Tattoo

Aged Finger Tattoo

When I had decided to get the tattoo done, I knew that the area was not ideal and that the tattoo would fade at some point. I made a point to follow the aftercare instructions "to a T". My expectation was that I would have this tattoo for longer than a week.

tiramisu_motor Report

Add photo comments
POST
Martha Liebenberg
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's called a blowout. Happens when the needle goes too deep into the skin. Fingers are very hard to do, the skin is flimsy. It could happen the most skilled artists. It's just a poor choice in placement. That's all.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

Back Tattoo After Healing

Back Tattoo After Healing

tattoodo.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Dalie Pohankova
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just to make it clear - difference between those pictures is 3 years, 5 times change of hair color and some photoshop in both pictures. In real, my tattoo still looks good and almost the same. Good shot but not even close to reality.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Aged Wrist Tattoo

Aged Wrist Tattoo

Aimeelinn Report

Add photo comments
POST
Michel M. Prins
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting tribal design. A quick touch up should do the trick, that's the nice part about a tribal tattoo

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Small Tattoo After 7 Years

Small Tattoo After 7 Years

ghoooooooooost Report

#12

Celtic Tattoo 15 Years Later

Celtic Tattoo 15 Years Later

Ink Regret Report

Add photo comments
POST
Michel M. Prins
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The dark tone of the current one actually compliments the fact that it should represent an ancient Celtic symbol. Giving it a touch-up would be nice, but won't be all that necessary

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Aged Neck Tattoo

Aged Neck Tattoo

criticalerrorka Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Tiny Aged Tattoo

Tiny Aged Tattoo

rebeccalize Report

Add photo comments
POST
Luc Mailloux
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where on the body is this? Context would be great... Looks like the foot to me, which would make this fading make perfect sense.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Aged Shark Tattoo

Aged Shark Tattoo

Kalvinaissance Report

#18

Aged Mouth Tattoo

Aged Mouth Tattoo

critink.tumblr.com Report

#19

Finger Tattoos Months Later

Finger Tattoos Months Later

Report

#20

Aged Palm Tattoo

Aged Palm Tattoo

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jenna-Leigh Dyck
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anything on your hand fades especially the inside of your hand and I can almost bet on the artist telling this person.

Silent Skeleton
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

super thin lines on their palm seems like it would definitely fade

David
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well at least those action movies palm scanners would go, "whaaat".

Stacey Campbell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Palms aren't the best place for a tattoo though lots of people have them. We use our hands so often that the ink fades very easily.

Lazy Panda
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm guessing if you get the palms of your hand tattooed like this, you probably have a lot of other tattoos and know it will fade out and that's ok. I also think this is pretty cool art.

Jaysin Burgess
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thankfully there are people with open minds still about. Only faded due to it being hand poked and on first strike.

Load More Replies...
Izzy Jaecks
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tattoos on palms fade really easily. I talked to my guy about getting something done, and he said that how much more they hurt, plus how quickly they fade, they aren't worth it.

Claire Copland
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The palm of your hand is obviously going to fade a lot quicker than most, its gets worn off. The artist that dis my arm peice wont do hands for that reason.

Lauren Reuderink
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

PEOPLE!! Dont have tattoo's on much used places! What did you expect???

Kassia Pavlis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It´s like those ppl don't know that the skin on the inside of ur hand is constantly changing. If that's the case it´s only logical that a tattoo in that place is a bad idea. Smh

Melanie Squadroni
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hand and finger tattoos never last and any decent tattoo artist will tell you that. The skin on your hands sheds way more than anywhere else.

Rogue Angel
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obvious really. You wash your hands all the time, immerse them in water and use them daily. Obviously a hand tattoo won't last long.

Jenna-Leigh Dyck
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People are dumber than you'd think eh? If your skin peels off your hands and get rough and all that fun stuff what makes you think a tattoo would last on the inside of your hand

Jaysin Burgess
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahaha sorry to say fool on you my dear it's lasted and still strong after 3 years. Just needed a second hit.

Load More Replies...
Lizzy Gafner
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when you get a tattoo on your hand is a bad idea because the skin on your hand peals and the ink does not last long because you get new skin

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Finger Tattoo 6 Weeks Later

Finger Tattoo 6 Weeks Later

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Crazy Cow Lady
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one almost looks intentional, like the words really disappearing, like they do on the map.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

Aged Tattoo

Aged Tattoo

eb00la Report

Add photo comments
POST
Pe Ka
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How much better cameras they've had 14 years ago!!! Unbelievable :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Faded Tattoo

Faded Tattoo

http://critink.tumblr.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Wanni
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know why artists did tattoos on this parts of a boby. They know that the tatt fades out on feets and fingers

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Faded Palm Tattoo

Faded Palm Tattoo

critink.tumblr.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Cat Meow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure what they expected when they decided to get a tattoo on their palm

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Aging Of A Finger Tattoo

Aging Of A Finger Tattoo

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda

Most Popular Questions About Aging Tattoos

Despite ink changing over the years, this doesn't mean old people with tattoos look bad. We have answered some of the most popular questions about tattoo aging, so you can be more prepared.

Do Tattoos Fade Away When You Get Older?

Many people wonder what will happen to their tattoos as they age. Will they fade away or lose their vibrancy? The answer depends on several factors. Your tattoo may  begin to fade due to aging skin, natural skin cell renewal, ultraviolet rays, ink quality, and poor tattoo aftercare.

Have you ever seen an old person with tattoos? As you probably noticed, they may become blurry, dull, or wrinkled, while others maintain their look longer. Generally, tattoos on old people's skin tend to fade more than on younger ones because the aging skin loses collagen and elasticity, causing it to stretch and sag. 

Additionally, factors such as diet, weight gain, weight loss, and smoking can also affect the appearance of tattoos. Some tattoo styles, such as watercolor or colorful tattoos, may be more prone to fading than black or tribal tattoos.

ADVERTISEMENT

Therefore, before getting tattoos, consider these factors and choose a design that will age well. Prevent tattoo aging by taking good care of it by applying sunscreen, moisturizing, and avoiding infections. By doing so, you can enjoy your tattoo for many years.

What Are the Possible Options to Consider With an Old Tattoo?

Ultimately, a tattoo is a part of your skin and will change as you change. You could find yourself getting a tattoo cover-up, a new tattoo that hides the old one, or a laser removal.

However, both options can be expensive, painful, and risky and may not guarantee a perfect result. A touch-up is a great way to refresh the beauty and brightness of your tattoo. Still, it should be done by a professional and experienced tattoo artist, as a bad touch-up can ruin your tattoo even more. 

How Do Fine Line Tattoos Age?

Fine line tattoos are a popular tattoo style created using a single needle and has  thinner and more delicate lines. This technique is often used for small tattoos or small details in larger tattoos.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, fine line tattoos are more prone to fading, blurring, and distortion over time, leaving you with a design that looks very different from the original. 

#32

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#33

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.