I would say the baseline for multiple for the purposes of this post will be over 3 to 4. What kept you from getting any tattoos before 30 and how many do you have (and what are they)? Also, huge bonus points for gentlemen over 40 who waited until after 40 to get tattoos. I’ve only met one person who waited until a bit later (29) to get any but it seems to be an activity that begins in one’s teens and 20s. But curious to be proven wrong.
21 comments
I got my first tattoo with 32,now with 35 I have 4 different. I waited because I wasn’t sure what to get and confident in my choice and my body.
My motives are: A ring necked parakeet, Anubis, à memento-mori-slogan and an psychedelic ant
I’m 53 and I would consider a tattoo if I found a design I liked. I’ve told myself that if I picked a design and still liked it one year later, I’d get it. And yet, still nothing.
Kudos to those who can just get one on a whim. I have to carefully plan something that is so permanent.
Got my first tattoo at 21, my second at 33, and several more since. I’m taking a break, because my last one took 5 sessions and was pretty excruciating (lots of color). I’m planning several more though. Also had zero piercings until I was 31. Got my ears done, then my septum a couple years later.
Got my first one in my 40s. It’s on my right calf. About to get another at 48.
I started my sleeves at 39, finished at almost 42.
Got 5. 3 smallish, 2 big. 4 in my 30s. First mid 20s. I’d be covered in them if I had the spare money. I’m getting another biggish one done next month.
Not 3 yet, but… I became fascinated with tattoo art in my teens, but family “values” were along the lines of “ nice people don’t do that…” so never made a move. Then, in my late 50s, laid off from a 23 year job, struggled thru multiple lame jobs, laid off from all. Then, at 62, retirement wasn’t an option as savings had been depleted, went back to school and got a decent job in a slightly related field at 63. Then, on a whim, back to school again and got a Masters in the new field at 68 y/o. Along the way, recalled the legend of the Phoenix, and decided I had the “credentials” for a piece. Took me a bit to decide on size/placement, find an artist, etc. So got my first at 70 y/o. I also have a second, tribute to the western US mountains I’ve come to explore and love. I’m about to turn 77, still hoping to get at least one more.
Lol I have one tattoo that I got last year at 38, a full sleeve 🤣. But it was more a combination of being at a point where I don’t care about my perception anymore, at a stage in my career where it doesn’t matter, and alcohol
I got 4 smaller tattoos before the age of 30. I just turned 35 and just added a large pieces of 3 animals that goes from the left side of my chest, left arm, and left upper back. It’s an idea I’ve had since my 20’s but now I have income to actually go to a decent artist.
Yep!
Around 2 years ago wife and I both started getting tattoos. I have one forearm, upper arm, and a half sleeve… Have two more big tats scheduled for next year.
Wife has gotten like 8.
We plan way more.
I always said I’d love to get some tattoos but in my 20s I didn’t have the money to justify spending on them.
Now that I’m in my 30s I still have countless other things I’d rather spend my money on.
I have 2, planning a third. I’d wanted one since I was maybe 19-20 but figured during those earlier years that the only guaranteed constant in my life that would never change was the football team I support, didn’t want to get a football tattoo for obvious reasons.
That was the only constant until my kids came along. So one of my tats is dedicated to my eldest child. The 3rd tat I’m planning will be dedicated to my youngest…….struggling with ideas at the moment though.
My husband got his first tattoo at 35.
An owl with a monocle and bowler hat.
I’m 60, and I’m planning one to celebrate my divorce. It’ll be my first.
I’m pretty sure my sister was around 40 when she got her first tattoo.
I have five big ones. Started at 34
Got my first around 32 (2014). A fairly large back piece with some viking runes and my favorite quote.
Then it was a Rebel Alliance symbol on me calf(2018).
Then a memorial to my dad cat. (2019)
Then a Nightmare Before Christmas one in my other calf in memory of my late wife. (2020)
New wife and I are going to get Star Trek ones soon I think. Then it’s going to be some FF6 sprites for me.
Then two chest/shoulder pieces in mammon style viking art to compliment the back piece.
I’ve thought about a forearm sleeve for a few years, potentially space-themed, but also needed some personal meaning.
I think I found that meaning in a recent health scare. I love the movie Interstellar, so I’m thinking something around the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” tattooed in Morse.
First was @ 43. Woulda done it at 42 but 42 was a hella lousy year for me. https://www.instagram.com/p/5oNU8DEEVa
I’m 33 and have 0 tattoos. They’re such a permanent thing so I find myself overthinking. It needs to be something with meaning, and no risk of becoming a hate symbol in the future haha. But I’ve been considering getting tattoos more recently, and actually thought about sleeves or big tattoos. Maybe soon I’ll get started, but yeah, waited because I just wasn’t sure.
I’m a woman. I got my first at 18 and my second at 48. I did this with my daughter in honor of my mum. Mum loved it so much she’s going to get one too. It’ll be her first she’s 70… Never too late… I’ll probably get more I love mine.
At age 30, as a birthday gift, got myself half sleeve, Japanese style. Took a few months to finish. Combined to about 24 hours of work. Didn’t have the money to do it younger. I remember one of my friend commented that I was a bit late to the tattoo party (shrug). Fuck that. I do what I want, and I like what I got.