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When you’re looking at tattoos on old people, and they are all faded and oddly shaped (the tattoos, not the people), you tend to instantly think about your own ink and - oh lordy! - whether they will look just as bad as the images you see in front of you. Well, we come bearing good news!
Usually, the old people with tattoos you meet had theirs done decades ago, in times of poorer tattooing hygiene, not as good inks, and usually by a not-so-professional artist. So, chances are, your own healed tattoos won’t look anything like that if you choose to get them done by a professional and stick to an aftercare routine.
But, you know, words are words, and it is completely understandable that you might need visual proof of these old tattoos that kept plenty well. That’s why we’ve made this nifty little list of tattoos after years of being done and still looking just as good as they did right after inking.
Sure, aged tattoos do change a bit as they settle into your skin or get affected by outside forces (nope, I won’t make a Star Wars joke here).
However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll be left with a badly faded tattoo where the dolphin that you got inked in the Bahamas over the 2012 spring break will look more like a grayish banana than the majestical sea mammal. Not at all!
This article is definitely living proof that a professionally done tattoo that has been taken care of is just as pretty after decades as when it was done.
But seeing is believing, right? So why don’t you scroll down below and check out the awesomely aged tattoos that we’ve rounded up in this list? You might be pleasantly surprised by just how good they look!
As usual, don’t be shy to upvote the tattoos that you liked the most and share this article with anyone who wants to get some ink done but is afraid they won’t keep looking awesome after years.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Ten Years Aged. Fresh From April 2012 To May 2022
RELATED:
#2
My Granddads 65 Years Old Tattoo Done When He Was 15 For 50 Pence. Heart With Mum And Dad
#3
My Palm Tattoo, Aged Two Weeks
Madame Ringard 2 years ago
This was the big problem when finger tattoos became all the rage a in the '10s and why many artists will warn or refuse
Bec 2 years ago
Our wedding rings are tattoos but just in the back of our fingers for this reason, they have held up surprisingly well at 18 years and counting.
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Seb Benson 2 years ago
I'm no expert, but that seems a little extreme for fading over only 2 weeks. Not saying there's anything amiss with the post, just questioning if they did something wrong?
Min 2 years ago
Palms of hands and bottoms of feet just don't hold tattoos.
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Weasel Wise 2 years ago
Palm tattoos are never recommended. You use your hands all the time and lose layers as they get worn off. It can't expect a tattoo that has constant stress to last. 🙄
BeepBoop the Single Pringle 2 years ago
Read Misty Tree's comment. It's straight from the reddit post
Load More Replies... #4
Fresh Vs. Aged 8 Years
#5
Fresh In Studio Vs. Over 2 Years Healed
Judi Michelle 2 years ago
I almost like this one faded more than the fresh even though it's brilliant either way
#6
February 2020 And February 2022
Weasel Wise 2 years ago
He didn't take care of it if that's after only two years. I'm covered in tattoos, my 20yo tattoos have hardly changed.
Christine Buteau 2 years ago
I feel like cheap ink. Bad self care . I have no issues with mine and some are almost 20 yrs old
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 2 years ago
To be fair, the photo on the left is clearly when it's brand new; all the bright red fresh trauma is clear. Which means it looks brighter than when it's fully healed. And the right photo is taken under bad lighting; way too much yellow light to clearly see the tattoo. I bet the one on the right would look a lot brighter in better light.
#7
Waited A Long Time For This
"So I was 25 when I originally had it done. Didn't have any instructions on how to take care of it when I did. So I treated it like crap. I finally got it redone on my 50th birthday. Both pictures are from the same day. The first time it was done in a small town in Saskatchewan and now I got it done here in Kelowna."
ColdSteelRonin 2 years ago
Have to add this, I'm calling BS on this one. For a 25 year old tattoo the lines are too clean and sharp. Also if you look at the nose and areas around it where parts are touching in the before they are separated with uninked skin in between in the after
Ireland Fyre 2 years ago (edited)
If you zoom in and look closely, there's shadowing everywhere you say it's clean skin. I think it's very possible it is legitimately a well done rework, however; I don't believe it just faded. I'm willing to bet he tried to get it lasered off and, when that didn't work, came in to at least get a decent looking tattoo out of the whole mess
Load More Replies... ColdSteelRonin 2 years ago
I've got tattoos that are more than 30 years old that I didn't take proper care of and by no means have they faded that much. They either don't have good skin or bled like a stuck pig and flushed the ink out.
#8
Exactly One Year Today For My Jiji
#9
February 2017 Vs. February 2021
#10
Beaver Tattoo: Fresh vs. A Little Over 1 Year
"My arm hair adds a little uh, extra texture. I was afraid to get such a detailed piece at first but now I'm happy to see it age along with me. I regret not getting a good "just healed" photo!"
Pascale Pierloot 2 years ago
I like the 2nd one much better...somehow the beaver looks like he's tot some wear and tear as does any animal living in the wild.
#11
Over 4 Years Healed
#12
My Favorite Little Pug, About Ten Years Aged. I Think It Help Up Pretty Well!
Pascale Pierloot 2 years ago
Pugs, real or other ..always cheer me up. If you ever owned one.. 'artsy fartsy' definitly describes them. 😉
#13
30 Years Old And Re-Work This Month
Ireland Fyre 2 years ago
I need to see the rework healed a couple years. Prove it's not gonna have a ghost image of the original showing through
#14
Calcifer Tattoo, Aged 2 Years
#15
Top Fresh 2016 - Bottom 2020
#16
Jiji From Kiki's Delivery Service, Nearly Two Years Old! Done By Donna Marshall At Rude Studios, Leeds
#17
Cello Tattoo Incorporating A 30 Year Old Scar. Done By Melody Grace At Anchored Ink In Eugene Oregon
Shadozfire 2 years ago
One of the most creative scar tattoos I have seen, and the most beautiful!
#18
Tattoo Done In 1995 While I Was Working At Philadelphia Eddie's. Can't Seem To Find The Fresh Pics But Either Way This Is 27 Years Old In This New Photo
Ireland Fyre 2 years ago
You wear tube tops all the time or get the middle reworked? I'm very confused lol
#19
2013 Vs. 2022
Genericist 2 years ago
mini Totoro and soot sprite. Studio Ghibli characters
Load More Replies... #20
Fine Line Pet Portrait Tattoos 1.5 Years Healed
#21
Queen Bee Tattoo, Aged 12.5 Years
Weasel Wise 2 years ago
That looks good for an aged forearm tattoo. If it wasn't constantly exposed to sun and it was lotioned daily, it would look even better. Tattoo care is a lifetime project, kids, not just when it's healing!
#22
Miminalist Solar System Tattoo. Fresh And 2 Years Later
BeepBoop the Single Pringle 2 years ago
that's the only bad part of looking at these lists 😭
Load More Replies... #23
The Flash Family And Batman Done By Crispy Lennox - Fresh In 2010 Vs. 2022 (Proof That Colours Hold Up When Cared For)
Christine Buteau 2 years ago
Ink is very important but also self care. Sunscreen and lotion go a long way
#24
White Ink Tattoo Fresh And 4 Years Later
Shadozfire 2 years ago
This may have just tipped the scales in favor of me getting a white ink tattoo!
#25
Fine Line Tattoo Fresh Vs. Healed 1.5 Years
#27
My Father Passed Away. Today Is His Birthday And He Always Wanted Us To Have Matching Tattoos. Done By Chip At Olde Tyme In GA
#28
Complete Overhaul Of My 8 Year Old Flowers. Saga Maria At Valkyrie Tattoo In Dallas
#29
Neotrad Floral Stag Thigh, 9 Years And Fresh
"Fresh photo was taken after the second session, sadly don't seem to have any of just after it was freshly finished! There are some blowouts and a little stretching as my weight has changed, but I'm still thrilled with how well it's held up after close to a decade!"
#30
Aged 9 Years
Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent 2 years ago
This is the first one that actually looks better after the time....
#31
5 Years Healed Palm Tattoo By Walkerx
#33
Fresh Vs. 10 Months Later. My First And Only Tattoo For Now
Shadozfire 2 years ago
Wowsers!! What a great way to get started!! I am surprised this one doesn't have more votes!!
Ireland Fyre 2 years ago
Are you jaundiced? You seem to have gotten quite yellow... Tattoo looks great though!
#34
3 Years Difference - Fresh In 2019 Vs. Now In 2022
Lakota Wolf 2 years ago
That is actually a decently-arted wolf tattoo. And I’ve seen a LOT of wolf tattoos XD
Shadozfire 2 years ago
I love the healed one better. This wolf is by far one of the best wolves we have ever had!
#36
10 Year Aged Vs. Fresh Touch Up And Improvement (Different Artists, Fresh By Ali @ Serpents Ink, Gold Coast Australia)
Barbara Hill 1 month ago
The one with the yellow is the redo, why they are holding the cell phone picture next to it.
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#37
3 Years Healed Over Scars
#38
3.5 Years. Handpoked Tattoo, No Machine Used
BeepBoop the Single Pringle 2 years ago
that's nuts. I don't think I could sit through a hand poked tattoo. I'm having my doubts that I could sit through a machine tattoo lol
#39
Fresh Vs. Just Over A Year Healed
#41
Fresh Vs. 1 Year
Giuditta Jones 2 years ago
I'm.. not... Sure... What to think of this. It is beautifully done, but it creeps me out 🙈
#42
Bold Will Hold About 2 Years
BeepBoop the Single Pringle 2 years ago
that is beautiful! I feel like I saw a very similar tattoo in an old season of ink master last week (now streaming on Paramount Plus, highly recommend)
#43
Fresh 2017 Vs. 2022. One Of My Favorite Tattoos
Barbara Hill 1 month ago
Aren't those on both arms ? fishes head is facing differently. and seems both shots are from the front of her body.
#44
6 Year Old Blackberries, Fresh In Shop 2017 Vs. 2022, It's Seen Some Sun For Sure
Fia Schwall 1 year ago
Clearly, that someone is you. 2017-2022 is five years. If they got the tattoo in January 2017, and took the other picture in December 2022, the pictures would be, roughly, 6 years apart.
Load More Replies... #45
First Tattoo At 18. Fresh (September 2018) And Now (January 2022), Aged 3 Years 4 Months
"I didn't go to the best artist, but I think it held up well despite the inconsistencies in the line work. I plan to get it reworked eventually."
Shadozfire 2 years ago
The healed version is way better and the line inconsistencies don't pop nearly as bad!! It's very cute!!
#46
Fresh Vs. 6 Years Old
Phoenix(or nix)they/them 2 years ago
And as gandalf says "it is in that of the language of Mordor"
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#48
Toasted Marshmallow Tattoo, Just Over A Year Old Now
Shadozfire 2 years ago
Poor Marshmello hasn't been cared for properly and looks older than his stated age. Good luck Marshmallow!!
#49
10 Years Old, 2012 To 2022. This Is A Really Cool Sub, I Love Seeing How All The Different Artwork Ages!
#52
Left Fresh, Right After 5 And A Half Years
#53
Fresh And 10 Year, Old Traditional Tattoo
#54
My Mom Has Had This Rose For 46 Years
"It got sun constantly and she did not wear sunscreen when she was young! It was originally red with green leaves."
#56
Fine Line Mircorealism Chest Piece, 1 Year
Mackenzie Sodwind 1 year ago
But would you get something like this done, now that you’ve seen how it holds up? And that’s just after one year. Add another 5 years and you’ll be left with a blue squiggle and a pink blob.
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#57
12 Year Brian Froud Tattoo Rework Before And After
"12 years old and faded. If I could go back I would have gotten him a bit bigger so those small details would have held."
#58
Bamboo Tattoo Done In Thailand. I Still Love It But This Is What Happens To Fine Line Tattoos!
#59
2 Years Ago Vs. Now. What Do You Think, Do I Need A Touchup?
#60
2016 And 2020
BeepBoop the Single Pringle 2 years ago
it could be weight loss, the angle of the camera, the type of camera (ie wide lens and stuff)
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#63
June 2020 To August 2022: 2 Years And 170 Pounds Of Weight Loss
#65
4 Years Old - 2018 Vs. 2022
#69
Fresh Vs. 2 Years Later (With 3 More Added Fresh Underneath)
Shadozfire 2 years ago
Where are you finding an eye that looks like the 4th one down with the overlapping eyelids? Or are these fantasy eyes?
Lemon Beans 2 years ago
That's what my right eye looks like lol, it's called a triple eye lid. Mine is caused from having weak eyelid muscles, but honestly I think it looks prettier than my normal, double eyelid 😝
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#70
5 Years Healed!
#72
My Dad Has Had This Snake On His Arm Since I Was Born. I’m Now 32, And I Have A Snake Of My Own. It Lives On!
#73
First Tattoo- 4 Years Ago Today And Now
#75
Patch Tattoo Aged 3 Years
Mimi La Souris 2 years ago (edited)
the embroidery effect has completely disappeared :/ the beaver get acne with age
#76
My Wolf Tattoo, Left Is 2017, Right Is 2020
"3 years later and I’m disappointed, but I should’ve mentioned, that this was a piece started by an apprentice. Just never finished because she left my city."
Shawn Northern 2 years ago
Lines don't bleed that quickly. My guess is you found the left pic online and wanted it and it turned out bad so you posted both and made it seem like you just didn't get a cheap tattoo.
#79
Coming Up On 6 Years
#84
This Is A Fact Of Our Ever Changing Bodies And Skin
#85
Dec 2014 (Left) And Sept 2019 (Right). Five Years Healed
#86
Iris Fresh, At 5 Years, And At 6 1/2 Years. Butterfly Fresh And At 1 1/2 Years
Shadozfire 2 years ago
Iris isn't the same tat as the placement is different on the 2 backs. One is way higher than the other.
Kimberleia 2 years ago
I think that's just because of the different angles.
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#87
June 2019 Vs. June 2020
#88
Fresh - 3 Years Healed
Jason Patrick 2 years ago
I've done my hands fingers knuckles more than a dozen times to get the ink to stay in. You did this once?
#89
Our Friend Tattoo From 1966
#90
How A Thin Line Tattoo Ages - 10 Years. Probably My Least Favorite Tattoo
#92
6 Years Old Now. I'm Interested In Hearing From A Trained Eye How They Think It Healed And Aged
#93
What Do You Think? Fresh, Healed, And 14 Months Later. Will I Have A Blob Or A Tattoo In 5 Years?
#94
7 Years Old
BeepBoop the Single Pringle 2 years ago
so with the number there I read 847 years old. Yep that's definitely not right
USMCFelicia 2 years ago
I understand what you meant lol..it happens to be number 94 in this thread for me so I see 947 haha! 🤣
Load More Replies... Shadozfire 2 years ago
This isn't the same tattoo. The roses are different shapes. There are dots on one and not on the other and vuce versa. The leaves are also different.
#95
Youtuber Alana Arbucci's Micro Tattoo After One Year
Kimberleia 2 years ago
It's still cute and dainty, but I'm beginning to wonder what's the point of doing such fine details if it's gonna be gone in just a few months
#96
33 Years Old, Sorry No Camera Phones Back Then. No Original Pic, But I Used To Be Able To See Teeth And Ribs
#99
After School We All Hit The Tattoo Shop. 44 Years Later My Old School Tat Is Still Holding Up, Well Sort Of
Shadozfire 2 years ago
A rat head and a crooked dagger?? This needed fixing a longgggg time ago lol
#100
Fresh vs. 7 Years Healed
BeepBoop the Single Pringle 2 years ago (edited)
I think it's the one on the left? maybe? it doesn't look immediately fresh because I don't see much redness or swelling on the lines. But that also looks like it could be a tattoo shop in the background (edit I looked at the reddit page and it is the left one that's fresh. Lines get bolder and thicker as it gets older so that makes sense)
Load More Replies... #101
7th Tattoo John Lennon, Done On August 30, 2012
Shadozfire 2 years ago
I wish I could see the reference photo used for this tat. They make it look like Lennon has 2 scars on the left side of his face 😭
#102
Fresh Nov 2002 Vs. Now March 2022
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Seb Benson 2 years ago
I know it's very subjective, but there are some lovely tats in there... and some shockers!
Salty.Hag 2 years ago
I'm bad with care of my tattoos, but my artist is great and I guess uses good ink because they are still looking amazing, after years and many trips to the beach, colors are holding up, and I have tough skin that doesn't take well to color. They are still looking fresh for sure.
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Spellflinger 2 years ago
Does no one use sunscreen???? I have a blue and green dragonfly I got in 2006 - still looks quite new and practically zero fading. Like Lytha Hawkeye said below - Tattoo care is important!
Sergio Bicerra 2 years ago
I had bad luck, got an Iron Giant tattoo and a few days later a bee stung besides it and my forearm swallowed pretty bad, days after it had like stretch marks and ruined it for me.
Jennifer Master 8 months ago
I love when gen Z says "old people" as if they'll never age. It's so cute.
Salty.Hag 2 years ago
I had to cover two tattoos, you'd never know I had something else. The artist I've been using for the past few years is amazing and I'm guessing uses really good ink. They are still bright and looks almost the same as when I first got them. I have a Albert Einstein and he is still looking amazing, he actually got it to look better on my arm than the actual photo.
Seb Benson 2 years ago
I know it's very subjective, but there are some lovely tats in there... and some shockers!
Salty.Hag 2 years ago
I'm bad with care of my tattoos, but my artist is great and I guess uses good ink because they are still looking amazing, after years and many trips to the beach, colors are holding up, and I have tough skin that doesn't take well to color. They are still looking fresh for sure.
Load More Replies... Spellflinger 2 years ago
Does no one use sunscreen???? I have a blue and green dragonfly I got in 2006 - still looks quite new and practically zero fading. Like Lytha Hawkeye said below - Tattoo care is important!
Sergio Bicerra 2 years ago
I had bad luck, got an Iron Giant tattoo and a few days later a bee stung besides it and my forearm swallowed pretty bad, days after it had like stretch marks and ruined it for me.
Jennifer Master 8 months ago
I love when gen Z says "old people" as if they'll never age. It's so cute.
Salty.Hag 2 years ago
I had to cover two tattoos, you'd never know I had something else. The artist I've been using for the past few years is amazing and I'm guessing uses really good ink. They are still bright and looks almost the same as when I first got them. I have a Albert Einstein and he is still looking amazing, he actually got it to look better on my arm than the actual photo.
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