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Original poster

Tattoos on hands - trashy or ok?

210 replies

CatsArePeopleToo · 11/09/2020 19:29

So long story short. I broke my wrist and will be needing a surgery. Will end up with a visible scar. I started contemplating getting a tattoo to cover it up. Please tell me - good idea or a bad idea?

OP posts:
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6
SD1978 · 12/09/2020 05:46

Your choice, your body. But as you can see- yes there would be probably a fair amount of judgment. Ultimately though if it's what you want to do, it's always your choice.

ReefTeeth · 12/09/2020 06:12

I don't like them and I do judge people with obviously poor judgement tattoos, like on the neck etc.

I'm early 40s and a few of my friends with tattoos now try to mostly cover them up.

noodlezoodle · 12/09/2020 06:40

I can't tell you if this is a good idea or not, but I wouldn't recommend making a decision about tattoos in haste.

Whatever you decide, you'll have to wait quite a while for your skin to heal before a reputable artist would even think about tattooing you. While you're healing, think about whether you want to see the tattoo you're planning every time you look at your hand for the rest of your life.

I don't say that as someone who's judgemental about tattoos, I think they can be beautiful and meaningful. I say it as someone who is spending a lot of time and money (and pain) to have a tattoo removed that I was completely sure I would love forever.

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Beauty
KatherineJaneway · 12/09/2020 06:41

Bad

FenellaMaxwell · 12/09/2020 06:46

If you do decide to do it, just be aware that due to the uneven surface, tattooing over scars is extremely difficult so make sure you get someone who has experience to do it.

yescheese · 12/09/2020 07:41

I've not RTFT so apologies if repeating advice but unless you're particularly after a hand tattoo anyway which it doesn't sound like you are, I'd wait and see how well the scar fades, using bio oil as soon as you're able. You might find it isn't that noticeable.

Reason being that scar tissue needs to be completely healed anyway before you can tattoo it and is a bit harder to tattoo than normal skin. You'd have to bear that in mind with the design- very fine or geometric lines probably wouldn't work.

Also, with a lot of jobs or individual employers, the tattoo may cause a negative initial reaction(I'm speaking as someone with tattoos so not someone who feels that way but there is still a stigma) and if it's on your hand you can't cover it easily. You probably won't have chance in an interview to explain that it's to cover a scar. Nobody would react to a scar that way.

I would give the scar a year and reassess how you feel then, personally.

Alicorngirl · 12/09/2020 07:51

Confusing break up signals - hi can anyone tell me what on earth is going on with mr ex? We agreed to call it quits eight weeks ago. I reached out via txt to ask if he wanted to keep in touch as friends. He said yes and then hasn’t replied to my last Txt (2 weeks ago).

Now I’m the type to take a hint so I’m not going to txt him again - the ball is very much in his court - I opened the door.

But
He has a couple of Spotify playlists he made for me. He has been adding songs to them every few days - every single song is loaded with lyrics about how I am the one and his heart is breaking without me.

What?? Anyone have any idea - just...what??

Conflicting signals - ignoring me yet doing the playlist thing?

Neither of us wanted to break up - we just had to for our kids - long story for another day!! Thanks

Chemenger · 12/09/2020 08:01

@mineofuselessinformation

And just to add, when dc1 was very ill, we used to ask for the 'nurse with the tattoos' to come and put the needle in their very shit veins when she needed bloods drawn (up to 27 different samples in one sitting). We knew she would do it first time, so we loved her and her tattoos!
You loved her so much you couldn’t be bothered to learn her name? This just shows that visible tattoos can reduce you to that marker in the eyes of others.
Persipan · 12/09/2020 08:06

On a technical level, hand tattoos are unlikely to look as good in the long term as when they're done because a) you move your hands around a lot more than other parts of your skin and b) they're exposed to the light all the time. So, leaving aside all questions of what people will think of you generally, if you're considering doing this then I'd pick the design very, very carefully and go for something that will still look nice even if it's much less crisp over time. (A good way to check this is literally to squint at the design so your eyes go fuzzy - if it still looks good, great; if it becomes a blob, be cautious.)

Ginfordinner · 12/09/2020 08:10

You loved her so much you couldn’t be bothered to learn her name? This just shows that visible tattoos can reduce you to that marker in the eyes of others

Or maybe the poster didn't want to post her name on here?

jellybe · 12/09/2020 08:14

@CatsArePeopleToo

I know it's a thing that middle classes frown upon. I don't have any other tattoos - never felt ready. But I'm shitting myself now before surgery Sad
If you want one who cares what other people think? As long as it won't effect your job go for it. Though some artists won't tattoo over scar tissue - especially when it is fresh so you might have to wait a while.

Have you thought what you want done?

duvetstealer · 12/09/2020 08:14

Oh pull your knickers out of your arse! They probably had other things more important on there mind. Or maybe they did get their name, but her ill child was too ill to care about names and that's how the child referred to the nurse

FairIsleFenella · 12/09/2020 08:17

Trashy and people will make a quick judgement about you unfortunately.

But tbh more and more I’m getting to think fuck it. Do what you want, life’s too short to be worried about what other people think.

EmbarrassedUser · 12/09/2020 08:20

I personally think it looks awful, like you’ve scribbled on yourself. Could you try henna first to see whether you like it and take it from there?

EasilyDeleted · 12/09/2020 08:20

I wouldn't say they are trashy no, so many have them, from all walks of life and in all sorts of styles. I dislike them personally, I've never seen a tattoo that I think looks good, but that's just my personal opinion and I wouldn't judge anyone for it, in the same way I wouldn't judge anyone for wearing a style of clothes or shoes that I don't like. They don't affect anyone's ability to do their job so they shouldn't be a problem.

MitziK · 12/09/2020 08:24

Saying 'the nurse with the tattoos' isn't an insult. Not compared to 'not the one who is so shit at it, she makes it feel like she's stabbing me with a broken chopstick and always does a through and through so I end up with a black arm for three weeks afterwards'. Which was the absolutely accurate description of one phlebotomist at my local hospital. If she had a name badge, it wasn't visible through the tears she elicited from most patients.

Ok, I could have used a more accurate physical description. But as that would have necessitated mentioning her ethnicity, which had no bearing upon her being shit at it, I'd rather stick to preferring 'the big guy with a koi on his arm' or 'the lady with flower tattoos'.

I go to a different hospital now for most tests. They're all great, so I've not remembered their names - another 45 names to remember on top of the 200 new each year at work is too much. And the two at the GP have the same first name - something like Sarah - hair colour can change, weight can change. But only one is Sarah with the tattoos.

amusedtodeath1 · 12/09/2020 08:31

Firstly a Tattoo is for the person getting it, so you do you.Flowers

Secondly whether it's trashy or not depends on so much, personal taste, size, style, etc.

I have a tattoo on my wrist (facing outward to cover a scar) and to be fair it is often judged by people who think they are middle/upper class and admired by those with a less conventional attitude. I also have a second on my thumb but it's tiny and faces me so is rarely seen.

wishywashywoowoo70 · 12/09/2020 08:36

@Hiccupiscal

Not attractive imo, especially on women. However I wouldnt look twice, and would be unlikely to judge someone who did have them, theyre really quite "common"and acceptable now

I'm considering a hair cut that ive been told is "childish" and "chavy"

I dont care, ill be going ahead anyway because its what I want to do.

If you feel the same op, then just go for it. Doesnt matter what others think!

What's the hair cut? Dying to know
Strawberrypancakes · 12/09/2020 08:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 12/09/2020 08:43

Id rather have a scar than a tattoo.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 12/09/2020 08:49

I have a wrist tattoo. MNers are right snobs about tattoos though, I wouldn't care what they think because anyone who judges tattoos as "trashy" isn't someone I'd want to be friends with.

ElizabethMainwaring · 12/09/2020 08:50

It really depends on the design, and the scar.
It may bring attention to the scar.
Also, is it actually safe to tattoo a scar?
I'd concentrate on buying and using stuff to help minimise the scar.
All the best with your op, opWink

Danni290 · 12/09/2020 08:50

Scar is better than tattoo. Don't do it

Poppet1974 · 12/09/2020 08:52

Op get one if you want to, it’s your body etc but aren’t hand tattoos a bit Cheryl Cole c2008..... don’t have any so could just be behind the times with all that but that’s what I think when I see them, could date a bit.
Good luck with the surgery 💐

Waxonwaxoff0 · 12/09/2020 08:54

I do work in an office and my boss told me he doesn't like tattoos but he hired me anyway as I was the best at interview.

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