Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 12 13

Original poster

To want a sleeve tattoo done on my arm?

310 replies

JellyDiamonds · 12/10/2014 13:00

Ive been looking at getting another tattoo done for a while now but have been unsure on what to get done and where. Whilst looking online for inspiration I've seen some amazing sleeve tattoos and have decided that I want one of them, the designs and artistry are amazing. I think that if they are done properly by decent tattoo artists then they are like works of art.

The thing is that everyone I've told about it has looked at me like I'm going mad. My mum was absolutely horrified, said that they are "revolting" and that I'll look like a sailor. But I don't think I will, I saw a photo on Facebook of a friend of a friend and she had a floral sleeve on her arm and yet still managed to look feminine. Not that I'm particularly feminine and girly anyway, but the point I'm trying to make is that not all sleeve designs are for blokes who start fights in pubs which what my mum was clearly trying to get at.

Should I just bite the bullet and go for it?

OP posts:

daisychain01 · 12/10/2014 14:46

Do what you want it's your arm.

If you care about having career choices in future, then you wouldn't be contemplating it.

You're an adult and quite able to make your own choices without the opinions of strangers telling you, not for something that drastic!

AimlesslyPurposeful · 12/10/2014 15:08

If it's not a fashion then what is it?

Ten years ago (Apart from on old sailors ) how often did you see sleeve tattoos? Especially on women? Now it's quite commonplace.

It is a fashion. If not the OP would have had this done years and years ago but at 18 she probably wouldn't have wanted one (You can come back and correct me OP). It's seeing it on other people that inspires and that's fashion.

Original poster

JellyDiamonds · 12/10/2014 15:08

I've seen teachers, doctors and nurses with large tattoos of their arms. I don't really think it hinders career choices that much these days. However it is a big decision to make and not one I'm going to take lightly.

OP posts:

TiggyD · 12/10/2014 15:14

What will it look like when you're 60?

I don't really like fashion tattoos.

Roussette · 12/10/2014 15:25

I think sleeves look ghastly, like a dirty arm all smudged and black, can't see the attraction meself. I would never have the guts to have something done that I had to live with for the rest of my life. I like change and just seeing it there day in day out would bore me rigid. I get bored easily with clothes, handbags, jewellery, anything really...
(and I like wearing strappy dresses and that would look ridiculous with a sleeve).
However, it's your arm (obviously!) so your choice!

clam · 12/10/2014 15:26

Would you be happy wearing the same clothes/hairstyle you had 10/15/20 years ago? I suppose it's arguable whether tattoos are a trend in the same way as something so transient as a hairstyle, which can be easily altered, but I wouldn't feel comfortable about making a decision about my appearance that I was going to be stuck with for the next 50 years.

Re: covering up, it's actually quite limiting if you can only ever wear long sleeved tops in certain situations. What about really hot weather?

Numanoid · 12/10/2014 15:32

I don't really think it hinders career choices that much these days.

It doesn't, as long as you don't get any you can't easily cover up. I know of many professional people with sleeves, half sleeves, or arm tattoos. With a long shirt (if your workplace doesn't allow visible tattoos) you'll be fine.
All of mine can be easily covered if needed, although tattoos are fine in my workplace.

Polonium · 12/10/2014 15:36

U2TheEdge - Why did you have the tattoos then? Can you explain the reasons?

Polonium · 12/10/2014 15:45

There's a girl at my local hair salon and she has tattoos up her arms. She looks a complete mess and I wonder what went so wrong in her life that she wanted to do that to herself. We all make these value judgments about each other all the time. Even when we try not to.

And if your argument is that the tattoos can be covered up, what's the point of having art on your skin that you then need to cover up?

LumpenproletariatAndProud · 12/10/2014 15:45

I was in A and E recently and there was a male nurse (he appeared to be the big boss nurse... Matron?) and he was covered in tattoos (he was HOT) which really surprised me.

I LOVE sleeve tattoos on women, which is odd since I actually don't generally like tattoos on women.

But Ive seen some stunning, stunning sleeve tattoos on women.

OP my friend had a large tattoo done recently. She browsed pinterest etc gathered loads of ideas together and inspirations and took them to her tattooist who went away and drew something for her. She didnt like the first version but loved the second.

That way its totally unique, what you want and you don't have to draw anything.

Only1scoop · 12/10/2014 15:48

Where I work they have to be totally covered with cam cream. Even tiny ones....

clam · 12/10/2014 15:53

One of my new colleagues has a trailing leaf design all down one side of her foot. It's only a matter of time before the SMT tell her to cover it up (it's against policy). That's all very well during winter, when she can wear boots or thick tights, but she'll struggle in summer.

goodasitgets · 12/10/2014 16:00

I'm with the "I didn't get them to be fashionable"
Have had two big thigh pieces done (outside of each thigh), and I adore them.
Why? Because I wanted them. But for me this quote sums up why I have them
Sometimes body modification is just a way of telling yourself “this is still my house, I paint the walls and and I hang the art because I’m the one who owns it”

Polonium · 12/10/2014 16:02

clam - why do they say they should be covered up? I dislike tattoos but are employers allowed to insist tattoos are covered?

Polonium · 12/10/2014 16:03

just interested in how they explain it.

ImperialBlether · 12/10/2014 16:09

I think it's the way everyone on Jeremy Kyle has one that kills it for me. You never ever see a really rough woman on TV who doesn't have a tattoo.

googoodolly · 12/10/2014 16:10

*"And if your argument is that the tattoos can be covered up, what's the point of having art on your skin that you then need to cover up?"

Um, because not all jobs allow you to have (visible) tattoos?

My workplace is fine with them, although mine is on my upper back and covered with my shirt.

Downamongtherednecks · 12/10/2014 16:10

jelly it might not hinder career choices in the UK, where it is much more accepted. The rest of the world, really not so acceptable. Depends if you ever intend to have an international job or not -- I've heard of people being refused entry into Japanese bathhouses (which can be where company outings are) because their tattoos made people uncomfortable. A tattooist on MN taught me the term "job stoppers" to describe tattoos on "public" skin. Do you really want to wear long sleeves forever in case people misjudge you?

Alisvolatpropiis · 12/10/2014 16:16

Yanbu.

If you want one, get one.

A friend of mine is a tattoo artist and has done a number of beautiful, feminine sleeves.

Alisvolatpropiis · 12/10/2014 16:19

Aim

10 years ago lots of women had tattoos.

I believe that Samantha Cameron has had her dolphin tattoo for rather longer than 10 years, by way of example.

avocadotoast · 12/10/2014 16:21

If you want it, do it. But for the love of glob do your research and don't go into it half arsed.

I always find the "what will you look like when you're 60/80/100" argument a bit weak, because well, everyone's gonna be old and wrinkled at 80, it's not like not having a tattoo will keep you young and beautiful

Another way to approach it though could be getting different pieces that tie together rather than going full pelt into a sleeve. You could still get the same person to do it all, but at least then you can start/stop as needed without it looking unfinished.

clam · 12/10/2014 16:29

"it's not like not having a tattoo will keep you young and beautiful"

Er no, but it will look even worse once it's faded, wrinkled and sagging.

Polonium many people are reporting (on here and elsewhere) that many organisations have such policies, although I believe there might be an exception for religious markings.

Polonium · 12/10/2014 16:38

clam I see.

I've looked it up and it does seem perfectly legal for an employee to discriminate against someone because of her tattoos. I think perfectly fair enough. I wouldn't want my business represented by someone with tattoos.

The quote above about owning the house is the silliest thing I've read on Mumsnet for a while.

Numanoid · 12/10/2014 16:39

Do you really want to wear long sleeves forever in case people misjudge you?

I think in this case it's the people who are judging on something so silly that have the problem, not the tattooed person.

clam · 12/10/2014 16:59

Samantha Cameron's dolphin looks hideous. It's smudged and faded. I'd lay money on the fact she secretly regrets it. Although if that's the case, she could surely afford to get it removed.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 12 13