Earrings and Tattoos!

[Pippa]

I look at young girls who have large tattoos and often they look fantastic but I often think what are they going to look like when they are sixty.   My brother's wife has a couple of small tattoos.   At least they are small and could be easily removed.   I feel they distract from her personality.   Large tattoos are difficult to remove and often require skin grafts.   Laser hair removal is bad enough.   Imagine that for months and months.

As for ear piercing, go for it.   It is part of my femininity and I feel naked without earrings.   I got my ears pierced twenty years ago.   It was a statement of my true self and a message to the rest of the world of my intent to change gender.    I intended to transition shortly after university but the twists and turns of life delayed my goal.  Earrings were a constant reminder of where I want to go with my life.

Now, thank god, I am strong enough and stable enough to transition.   

[Nicky]

Tatoos just become more a part of you with time, they home themselves in your skin, soften and meld. If you look after them then they should still look good for a long time to come, and you can always get a touch up.

I'm not worried about being 70ish with saggy tattoed skin, they will be badges of honor, kind of like stretch marks from being pregnant. Also when I am 60 I really don't think I will care, I don't plan on being a conservative granny. If you choose wisely there really should be no reason to ever remove them.

Intricate little designs are the ones that will look bad as they age, nice big tribal pieces should look great for a lifetime.

[Steph]

Tatoos just become more a part of you with time, they home themselves in your skin, soften and meld. If you look after them then they should still look good for a long time to come, and you can always get a touch up.

I'm not worried about being 70ish with saggy tattoed skin, they will be badges of honor, kind of like stretch marks from being pregnant. Also when I am 60 I really don't think I will care, I don't plan on being a conservative granny. If you choose wisely there really should be no reason to ever remove them.

Intricate little designs are the ones that will look bad as they age, nice big tribal pieces should look great for a lifetime.

I agree Nicky.

I'm close to 60 and have 3 tattoos that cover my body.  All mystic oriental creatures all custom work with approximately 2 months designing and 4 fitting sessions for each; One covers my left side, one covers my right side and the third covers my back.  The inking was finally finished about 15 years ago and believe me I take care of them as each approached $2,000 apiece.

They are never exposed to the sun without there being something like SPF 40 covering them.  As we get older our skin changes and along with it so do our tats, they will fade some,  and to say that my body has changed over the years would be an understatement but with TLC tats can look as good as the day they were inked.

-={LR}=-

[Miniar]

My first tattoo I ever got is 11 years old and still has a perfect black colour.

[Inphyy]

I'm not saying this to promote it or get fame, but I am thinking about when I am older that I may get face lifts, botox, Etc. Etc. (Obviously professional as this stuff is dangerous!)

But even though I use moisturizers a lot, If for some reason my skin sags and everything fades; It won't bug me...'Cause about the time you're in your 60's, you're shunned from everyone else as someone who is weak and old and that you're just eating up money and hospital bills.

Basically saying, that a majority of old folks are cast aside just like the LGBT community in a way and people don't pay attention to them...When I am 60, a faded tattoo?! Ahah...Unless I can be like Madonna or Cher, I don't think I have a hot chance of even caring.

[Cindy]

The closer I get to 60 the younger it seems

Now when I was a teen I was pretty sure anyone over 30 was really old.

Cindy, old and demented though I may be

[Miniar]

One of these days, I plan to become a tattoo artist.

One day...

*stares off into the void*

[Inphyy]

One of these days, I plan to become a tattoo artist.

One day...

*stares off into the void*

Then maybe...I'll get my tattoos from you! 

[Alyssa M.]

But even though I use moisturizers a lot, If for some reason my skin sags and everything fades; It won't bug me...'Cause about the time you're in your 60's, you're shunned from everyone else as someone who is weak and old and that you're just eating up money and hospital bills.

I don't know about that. I think of 60-year-olds as the ones who are much more likely to have advanced far enough in their careers to be driving their Porsche Boxsters to their beach houses in the Hamptons, or taking ski vacations staying in their slopeside condos at Telluride or their chalets in Aaaah$$$pen. Or at least saving enough to take a week-long vacation in Kauai now that the kids have graduated from college. In other words, the people that service industries really care about, unlike the aimless single 20- and early 30-somethings I tend to hang around with. Since you'll probably end up a DINK (unless you are desperate to adopt kids) you have a good chance for a sweet early retirement. You've got plenty of good living ahead of you.

[Cindy]

One of these days, I plan to become a tattoo artist.

One day...

*stares off into the void*

Do you think an artist would tell the first person they tattoo that they are the first?

[Miniar]

Then maybe...I'll get my tattoos from you! 

Maybe..
Already have a line of friends who want to get my work when I'm ready to give it.

Do you think an artist would tell the first person they tattoo that they are the first?

I would!
It's only fair...

[Cindy]

{just for fun}

What's Icelandic (?) for "Ooops slipped"

[Lachlann]

I look at young girls who have large tattoos and often they look fantastic but I often think what are they going to look like when they are sixty.

You're going to get old and wrinkly either way, tattoo or not. I always found the, "it'll look horrible when you're old!" a bit funny because the rest of you is going to age anyway, and it's not going to be pleasant.

[Miniar]

{just for fun}

What's Icelandic (?) for "Ooops slipped"

úbs, rann til

[Alyssa M.]

You're going to get old and wrinkly either way, tattoo or not. I always found the, "it'll look horrible when you're old!" a bit funny because the rest of you is going to age anyway, and it's not going to be pleasant.

Is 30 old? Do you know a lot of terribly wrinkly 30-year-olds? Because I know a 30-year-old with a tattoo she got as a teenager, and it's pretty faded and weird-looking. It looks like a permanent bruise, more or less -- it started as a butterfly, I think. Luckily, it's small and quite discreet.

[Inphyy]

Is 30 old? Do you know a lot of terribly wrinkly 30-year-olds? Because I know a 30-year-old with a tattoo she got as a teenager, and it's pretty faded and weird-looking. It looks like a permanent bruise, more or less -- it started as a butterfly, I think. Luckily, it's small and quite discreet.

It depends on how you take care of your tattoo! If I get a tattoo, obviously for me; Personally, I'll take care of it! Getting lots of water is the best shot as it keeps your skin hydrated and helps tackling wrinkles.

[Lachlann]

Is 30 old? Do you know a lot of terribly wrinkly 30-year-olds? Because I know a 30-year-old with a tattoo she got as a teenager, and it's pretty faded and weird-looking. It looks like a permanent bruise, more or less -- it started as a butterfly, I think. Luckily, it's small and quite discreet.

There are several ways to touch up tattoos and prevent the colours from fading, as well as many products to keep it looking fresh. It's also not uncommon to get touch ups either.

[BrandiOK]

When I got my first, only, tattoo the artist was quite the comedian.  After a few minutes of tattooing me he said "Is this your first tattoo?" and I replied "yes".  He then said "Cool, mine too!".  Of course I almost flipped but he laughed and assured me he was kidding.  Later during the process he suddenly said "Whoops!" and, again, I flipped.  He laughed and said "Don't worry about 'whoops' whoops we can deal with, worry about SH*T!".  There were no mistakes and the tattoo looked amazing when he was done.  He just made it a little fun, I guess I looked nervous. 

Of course now I have to have it removed, a little too masculine.  I have a very femmy one in mind to replace it though