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.
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Ten Years Aged. Fresh From April 2012 To May 2022
My Granddads 65 Years Old Tattoo Done When He Was 15 For 50 Pence. Heart With Mum And Dad
My Palm Tattoo, Aged Two Weeks
This was the big problem when finger tattoos became all the rage a in the '10s and why many artists will warn or refuse
Exactly One Year Today For My Jiji
Fresh In Studio Vs. Over 2 Years Healed
I almost like this one faded more than the fresh even though it's brilliant either way
February 2020 And February 2022
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.
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."
Fresh Vs. Aged 8 Years
February 2017 Vs. February 2021
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!"
Top Fresh 2016 - Bottom 2020
My Favorite Little Pug, About Ten Years Aged. I Think It Help Up Pretty Well!
Jiji From Kiki's Delivery Service, Nearly Two Years Old! Done By Donna Marshall At Rude Studios, Leeds
Calcifer Tattoo, Aged 2 Years
2013 Vs. 2022
30 Years Old And Re-Work This Month
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
You wear tube tops all the time or get the middle reworked? I'm very confused lol
Fine Line Pet Portrait Tattoos 1.5 Years Healed
Queen Bee Tattoo, Aged 12.5 Years
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!
Miminalist Solar System Tattoo. Fresh And 2 Years Later
Cello Tattoo Incorporating A 30 Year Old Scar. Done By Melody Grace At Anchored Ink In Eugene Oregon
White Ink Tattoo Fresh And 4 Years Later
This may have just tipped the scales in favor of me getting a white ink tattoo!
Fine Line Tattoo Fresh Vs. Healed 1.5 Years
5 Years Healed Palm Tattoo By Walkerx
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
Complete Overhaul Of My 8 Year Old Flowers. Saga Maria At Valkyrie Tattoo In Dallas
Aged 9 Years
The Flash Family And Batman Done By Crispy Lennox - Fresh In 2010 Vs. 2022 (Proof That Colours Hold Up When Cared For)
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!"
Fresh Vs. 10 Months Later. My First And Only Tattoo For Now
Wowsers!! What a great way to get started!! I am surprised this one doesn't have more votes!!
3 Years Difference - Fresh In 2019 Vs. Now In 2022
That is actually a decently-arted wolf tattoo. And I’ve seen a LOT of wolf tattoos XD
10 Year Aged Vs. Fresh Touch Up And Improvement (Different Artists, Fresh By Ali @ Serpents Ink, Gold Coast Australia)
3 Years Healed Over Scars
3.5 Years. Handpoked Tattoo, No Machine Used
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
Fresh Vs. Just Over A Year Healed
Fresh 2017 Vs. 2022. One Of My Favorite Tattoos
Fresh Vs. 1 Year
Bold Will Hold About 2 Years
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)
Fresh Vs. 6 Years Old
6 Year Old Blackberries, Fresh In Shop 2017 Vs. 2022, It's Seen Some Sun For Sure
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."
The healed version is way better and the line inconsistencies don't pop nearly as bad!! It's very cute!!
Toasted Marshmallow Tattoo, Just Over A Year Old Now
10 Years Old, 2012 To 2022. This Is A Really Cool Sub, I Love Seeing How All The Different Artwork Ages!
Fine Line Mircorealism Chest Piece, 1 Year
Left Fresh, Right After 5 And A Half Years
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."
Fresh And 10 Year, Old Traditional Tattoo
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."
Bamboo Tattoo Done In Thailand. I Still Love It But This Is What Happens To Fine Line Tattoos!
2 Years Ago Vs. Now. What Do You Think, Do I Need A Touchup?
2016 And 2020
June 2020 To August 2022: 2 Years And 170 Pounds Of Weight Loss
Fresh Vs. 2 Years Later (With 3 More Added Fresh Underneath)
Where are you finding an eye that looks like the 4th one down with the overlapping eyelids? Or are these fantasy eyes?
4 Years Old - 2018 Vs. 2022
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!
Patch Tattoo Aged 3 Years
the embroidery effect has completely disappeared :/ the beaver get acne with age
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."
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.
5 Years Healed!
Buffy tattoo! Love it, planning on getting a Buffy related one myself
First Tattoo- 4 Years Ago Today And Now
Coming Up On 6 Years
This Is A Fact Of Our Ever Changing Bodies And Skin
Iris Fresh, At 5 Years, And At 6 1/2 Years. Butterfly Fresh And At 1 1/2 Years
Iris isn't the same tat as the placement is different on the 2 backs. One is way higher than the other.
June 2019 Vs. June 2020
Fresh - 3 Years Healed
I've done my hands fingers knuckles more than a dozen times to get the ink to stay in. You did this once?
Our Friend Tattoo From 1966
How A Thin Line Tattoo Ages - 10 Years. Probably My Least Favorite Tattoo
6 Years Old Now. I'm Interested In Hearing From A Trained Eye How They Think It Healed And Aged
What Do You Think? Fresh, Healed, And 14 Months Later. Will I Have A Blob Or A Tattoo In 5 Years?
7 Years Old
so with the number there I read 847 years old. Yep that's definitely not right
Youtuber Alana Arbucci's Micro Tattoo After One Year
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
33 Years Old, Sorry No Camera Phones Back Then. No Original Pic, But I Used To Be Able To See Teeth And Ribs
After School We All Hit The Tattoo Shop. 44 Years Later My Old School Tat Is Still Holding Up, Well Sort Of
A rat head and a crooked dagger?? This needed fixing a longgggg time ago lol
Fresh vs. 7 Years Healed
7th Tattoo John Lennon, Done On August 30, 2012
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 😭
Fresh Nov 2002 Vs. Now March 2022
Aged Finger Tattoo, Approximately 10 Years Difference
I know it's very subjective, but there are some lovely tats in there... and some shockers!
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...
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!
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.
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.
I know it's very subjective, but there are some lovely tats in there... and some shockers!
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... 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!
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.
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.
