to think that people with facial tattoos are bound to regret it one day?

[Get0rf]

Young girl in Tesco, had what looked like a treble clef tattooed on her temple and the side of her forehead.

Call me a judgmental wanker, but surely it makes no sense to have your face tattooed?

I would never have a tottoo, just don't like them but I have enough friends who do, interestingly none of my family do, even the younger more daring ones?
but I wouldn't judge on them, as I am well aware sometimes it just seemed a good idea at the time. but you can't go back as easily.

it is indeed cultural, in the US, I am trying to think of a single US citizen friend who didn't have a tattoo over the age of 18 and the only one that comes readily to mind is our realtor, and she may have had one?, even Grannies did, we lived in a well off area, and everybody had a tattoo and visable in most cases, I found it boring, if everybody does it whats the point?

yourcallisimportant..slightly prejudiced no? (and innacurate)

It's not inaccurate. I have seen plenty of teeth (previously unmarked) damaged within months of having a tongue piercing (former dental nurse)

It can also cause something called Ludwig's Angina.

sheepgomeep Sorry, I thought you were responding to a different poster.

Hmm, well personally, I do not like facial tattoos. I do love piercings and tattoos though, my Father is a body piercer, and I have many of each. The tattooist he works with will not tattoo hands, faces or necks. I do know an extremely attractive bloke with tattoos all over his arms (full sleeves), chest, legs, back, and head, with a few on his face (oh, and implants on his head). It really suits him, as he has a beautiful face, though he may well regret the facial tattoos in the future. The bloke in question is a piercer, so I suppose it depends on whether he can continue to find work in his field.

I have six tattoos, and although many people infer that they will limit one's professional opportunities, I have worked in a rather formal office, and never felt that my tattoos and piercings held me back. I may have been lucky though, in that my last employer (am now a student again) took me on, even though I showed up to the interview in a short sleeved shirt (which showed the tattoos on both my arms), skinny jeans, and with cropped white blonde hair. This was a very formal office, where most employees wore shirts and trousers, but I got away with wearing skirts and casual tops. On 'Casual Fridays', when most staff wore jeans and t-shirts, I wore knee high Docs, skirts and tank tops, yet I was still always the staff member sent to meetings (even on casual Fri!). I was bloody good at my job, so they did not give a shit what I wore, as I generated more revenue than any other staff member.

Next week, I have a second interview with a very very prestigious University, in spite of my tattoos and piercings. When I was younger, I worried that my tats/piercings would limit my employment opportunities, but thankfully, my employment experience has, at interview, outweighed my bodily appearance. Apologies, complete tangent there, I do just object to the 'you have a tattoo, thus you are unemployable/unemployed' stereotype. Not that you even touched on that in your OP, GetOrf. It has been touched upon later in the thread. I still dislike facial tattoos though! Okay, have had a wee bit of wine, so excuse me for being slightly unsure as to what point I am trying to make .

Personally I am not a fan of tattoos, unless they are on Angelina Jolie. I think hers are gorgeous.

Does anyone know how mainstream tattoos really are though? I have nothing at all and am wondering if I am in a minority now.

Good luck with your second interview Shadows! :)

(Wish I was on wine... about to go to work.)

In my experience, redstorm, they are quite mainstream. The only people I know without tattoos are DP (he really wants one, but is waiting until he designs the perfect tat, which is the best way to do it), my (80+) Grandparents, a couple of Aunts/Uncles, and DP's parents. Oh, and any of DP's nieces/nephews under the age of 18. This is probably not the norm though, and is likely down to the circles I move in.

Thanks so much, redstorm! Am shitting it, it is as close as I can get currently to my dream job, aaand the wage is excellent, plus DP is now out of a job (redundancy, from my Folk's company, which has now gone tits up), and there are no jobs going where we live! Shall be swotting up big time until Fri 13th Jan - which is when the next interview is .

Some are very pretty, I admit. My niece (she is absolutely physically gorgeous) has a lovely one of a rose/leaves trailing across her wrist. Because she is physically so delicate it kind of complements her.

Really going to work now.... am procrastinating....

Very good luck indeed then! remind yourself before going in that you are best candidate and they will be lucky to have you. :) And tell us how you go!

Not so long ago this discussion was being had about tattoos on women full stop.
Look at where we are now?
Having a tattoo on your face can make your face interesting if it's tastefully done and discrimination in the job market because of a tattoo is just plain wrong.

Ah, thank you so much, redstorm. That is my current mantra. Plus, am currently memorising all of their information. Will definitely let you know how it goes (please, please, send out lots of positive thoughts). It has to go well, else we will end up living with my folks, which will be a nightmare!

See, your lovely niece probably looks amazing with a wrist tat. They do look stunning on delicate wee wrists, an 'adopted sister' of mine has one, and she is young, tiny and fragile looking, so it looks fab. Although, my actual sister is a bit less delicate, and her wrist tat still looks lovely. My wrists and hands are far too big and manly for delicate wee tattoos .

A man in an expensive suit and a mike tyson style facial tattoo asked me on a date. I couldn't envisage one single positive reason for him looking the way he did. Although had I played my cards right I reckon I'd not have had to work for a living. ;)

I have a wrist tattoo and when meeting new people in the corporate world or needing to interact with clients I usually wear a longer sleeve and jewellry to disguise it.

I agree with what zombi said earlier in the thread that perceptions aren't always what they seem.

FWIW, I don't have any tattoos because a) my DH isn't keen on them, b) I can't think of any pattern I love enough to have tattooed on me. But my hair is pink on one side, green on the other, I have a nose ring, lots of ear piercings and an ear stretcher. My attire is usually something between steam punk and gothy - I'm a SAHM so usually tone things down for my daily life!

At this the when the perception thing comes into play - despite how I look I am quite a traditionally minded Christian and have had people tell me I "don't look like a Christian" which made me go So my religious and moral stance can sit perfectly well with my style and what I think is attractive in clothes and accessories.

Not sure if I went way off the track there, but hopefully it makes sense that you can't judge a book by a cover. Just because you might not like the marks someone puts on the their face or other bodyparts doesn't matter. It's their body and to them it might be covered in pieces of art.

I think a lot of places now are very open about tattoos and body piercings.Im still on the fence about facial tattoos as some
ive seen are great,some not so great.
I think unless heavily tattooed no way should your face or hands be done.
What i cant understand and to me its plain stupid is when people get their neck tattooed and they get their name there,Why it doesnt make sense.
But i love my tattoos and im gonna get my sleeve finished soon so all is well.

56 star girl - why 56?

My issue with visible tattoos is that it's about wearing your heart on your sleeve: the idea that you somehow need to advertise some aspect of your individuality or identity to everyone who sees you.....

I suspect most people have them done as an expression of somehow being a bit ... edgy, and unconventional. I know that's what was in my heart when I had my tattoo done in my teens. It was an expression of my free spiritedness.

Facial tattoos say - in spades - 'I'm a rebel'. Which is why I always think when I see them on people who are entirely conventional in every other aspect of their lives.

I'm 45 now and frankly prefer people to draw conclusions about my values and my personality from the things I say and do, not from the way I present myself.

They may....they may not, but they only have themselves to blame.

I certainly wouldn't do it.

I am completely for tattoos provided people realize what they are doing to themselves

For example: I have a friend. She's a beautiful person both inside and out, very girly, loves her heels and floral dresses, always impeccable makeup and yet for some completely inexplicable reason decided she was going to get a tattoo. She walked into a tattooist, ummed and ahhed about which one she would have, and then decided to play "eenie meenie miney mo".

She now has a flaming devil on a motorbike forever etched above her right breast. And she hates it with a passion, but can't afford to remove it. Silly cow.

Tattoos should be a balanced decision that will not impede your career or day-to-day way of life. They should also be something relating to your personality and something that means a lot to you as a person.

If you're just picking something because "it looks cool" or because "it's a gang symbol and it makes me look 'ard" then you deserve every inch of the shame you will inevitably feel in ten years' time.

I disagree that perceptions aren't what they seem.
Perceptions ARE what they seem.
You DO Present what you are. We all do.
Just because Needles is a gothy punk, she can still be a christian, can't she. Infact most goths are very gentile and often artistic aqnd spiritual. And I know, because i was a tiny bit gothy when I fist started nightclubbing.
If you are very conservartive, then you probably dress conservatively.
If you have a bit of a mad side, but subtley extrovert, you might wear something mad, only just showing, because it shows off your personality and makes you feel good.
Facial tattos are not 'mainstream' are they? And no one actually wants them to become mainstream, because that would make them boring and oridinary, and the whole point is that they are supposed to show off that different side to your personality.

Maybe is should be like buying a gun in the US. You book and appointment and choose what you want, then have a 'cooling' off period.

I cant think of anything that I would like to have permanently etched on my skin. I change my mind too much. And it looks like it would hurt.

By the way I love and hate tattos. My brother had one done, by Darren Stares, who is one of the most talented tatooists, and i loved it. But I've only ever seen about 5 or 6 others that I really liked.
And then there is someone like David Beckham, who is now covered in them, that I really just don't like. Infact I love football and most footballers seem plastered in them, makes them a bit cheap and common to me now.
Many of my husbands friends regret having theirs done.
I kind of regret not having had one done. But I did have my tummy pierced, and was pleased with that, although I stupidly took it out for my first pregannacy, so now do not have it. And I have 4 in each ear, and one at the very top. But i don't wear the 4, I only have one at the very top of one ear now.
Even then , people thought I was a bit 'edgey' when I was training to be an accountant. God help their conservatism !!

Oblomov - I don't think tattoos tell people you're a bit edgy. I think they tell people you want to be SEEN as a bit edgy and different. Which IMO is a bit pathetic.

Your opinions, relationships and what you do with your life make are an expression of who you are. Being entirely conventional in every way except having a visible tattoo means you are a conventional person who wants to be seen as being a bit 'alternative'. Which is a bit ... sad... IMO.

I just get tattoos because I like them. I don't really care whether they tell people I'm "edgy" or whatever, they are for me, no-one else. I don't dye my hair or choose my clothes with other peoples opinions in mind, so I don't do it with my tattoos either.

WRT the cooling off period someone else mentioned, this sort of does happen when you have bigger pieces done, you have a consultation and the tattooist draws up the design before you finally decide to have it done.

Bit sad? Oh I see. Actually I don't have a tatoo. I had a few ear piercings , hardly extremist, thats all. And it wasn't me who thought they were a bit .... 'edgey', I was told thats how they were seen, which I thought was a bit ott, even from a conservative point of view.
And 'Freud' actually , you clearly don't know me at all. Because if anything I am more alternatrive, than i care to admit. Its just I force myself to be more conventional, in oder to try and fit in. And even then, I am totally round hole, square peg.
But thanks for your insights.