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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

She wants a tattoo on her face AIBU

165 replies

Shikah · 29/01/2019 20:11

Are facial tattoos socially acceptable now?

I asked my god daughter (23) what she wanted for her birthday and she has asked for money towards a new tattoo, on her face (she has a few elsewhere). I have told her I won't contribute and that I think it's not a good idea. She thinks I'm old fashioned and out of touch and she may be right. I spoke to a highly skilled tattoo artist I know and she said she would not tattoo faces or hands unless she knows them very well and that it was a terrible idea for a young woman who had her first tattoo a year ago.

I don't have any objections to tattoos and think they can be very beautiful, I also wouldn't necessary judge someone I met for having a facial tattoo (depending on what it was) but I think having one will negatively effect your life, especially employment opportunities.

So are facial tattoos still a barrier to employment or am I am old fogey?
If anyone has a facial tattoo I'd love your opinion on this :)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Returnofthesmileybar · 29/01/2019 20:29

A cross and a lightening bolt near her eye, Jesus wept, she'll look like she's just out of prison

BabyDubsEverywhere · 29/01/2019 20:29

I have a butterfly on my left temple. No real reason for it, I just fancied it. I've only had positive comments, so I assume those that don't like it just keep their mouth shut.

I'll likely only work for myself (health reasons) so I wasn't worried about the employment angle. I imagine there are many employers who wouldn't hire someone with a face tattoo so realistic careers, fall back careers, and fall back, fall back careers should be considered.

Original poster
Shikah · 29/01/2019 20:35

@WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat that's an interesting point. She is from Birmingham but has lived in Australia for the last year and is currently living in Darwin. She has lots of Aboriginal friends and customers.

OP posts:
MashedSpud · 29/01/2019 20:40

Behind her ear, sure. But not on her cheeks, chin or forehead.

FamilyOfAliens · 29/01/2019 20:41

That is a tattoo of Harry Styles face on the cheek of singer Kelsy Karter

Harry Styles? Looks more like Jack Wilde playing the Artful Dodger.

SaucyJack · 29/01/2019 20:42

I think a cross under her eye sounds great.... if she wants to look like a Mexican cocaine trafficker.

She will seriously regret it ten years down the line when all the other mums in the school playground give her a wide berth because she looks rough as arseholes.

WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat · 29/01/2019 20:42

She could be picking up on that then, OP. You'll probably find that a lot of her aboriginal customers have facial tattoos, and they're not judged for that (bizarrely it's one thing they aren't judged for).

Living in Australia, I work alongside many facially tattooed people (ambulance), and there are police with facial tattoos, but they're all aboriginal or Torres Strait islander.

As a non aboriginal or islander person, all my tattoos, per my contract have to be coverable by standard cuffs and collar, although as long as they're not offensive my regular ones can be on show.

madcatladyforever · 29/01/2019 20:43

No employer I've ever had would employ someone with facial tattoos no matter how subtle.

RagingWhoreBag · 29/01/2019 20:43

@BabyDubsEverywhere that sounds interesting - can you post a pic if it's not too outing (I presume by mentioning it, you've pretty much outed yourself already!)

@Shikah YANBU for being against this idea. My DS has a full sleeve and has started his second. He plans to get totally covered, including hands and face, despite me explaining about the possible repercussions. He says that he wouldn't want to work anywhere that would discriminate on the basis of having tattoos anyway, so no loss!

He already has a 'prison tattoo' apparently - he didn't realise the symbolism when he got it, but seems quite chuffed with it. He wants teardrops under his eye - just the most awful prison style tattoo, short of tattooing the names of people you've killed!!! I despair sometimes, but he has Aspergers so once he gets an idea in his head, you can't talk him out of it. I'm just thankful that there's such a thing as laser removal, although his plan is that if he goes off any of them he'll just black them out, which he thinks looks nice Confused

SirGawain · 29/01/2019 20:44

Anyone who gets a tattoo on their face is a fucking idiot and I don't care how judgey that makes me

^^ This writ large>

viques · 29/01/2019 20:45

I would judge people with facial tattoos, and not favourably. I associate them with the sort of crude tattoos that prisoners do on each other. I think you ought to suggest that she tries temporary tattoos on her face for a week or so and see how people respond.

SirGawain · 29/01/2019 20:46

He says that he wouldn't want to work anywhere that would discriminate on the basis of having tattoos anyway, so no loss!

He in for a harsh introduction to the world of work then!

SirGawain · 29/01/2019 20:47

He's In

Dieu · 29/01/2019 20:48

YANBU

Fatasfook · 29/01/2019 20:49

I think tattoos in general are awful, these days almost everyone is has one, common as muck

Maryjoyce · 29/01/2019 20:51

Idthink thé pic is a temporary tattoo unless she’s lost her brains

Original poster
Shikah · 29/01/2019 20:51

@NicoleNoPants this is exactly what I think - she is living abroad and will never be younger and more beautiful that she is now. Why? I suggested she waited and I would pay if she still wanted it for her 40th Grin

OP posts:
Betty777 · 29/01/2019 20:52

very very bad idea, and I'm pretty openminded. She may not see herself working in a conservative office, but she doesn't know now what she may want to be doing in 15-20 years time (e.g.. teaching kids hairdressing, counselling people, working in a charity.....)

If she wants to express herself can't she just mess her hair up like most hairdressers do?

NB a friend i know runs a cool hair salon, has many tattoos but all of them hidden - and they are horrified at the younger staff all having visible tatts everywhere. it narrows your options to do anything else

Ngaio2 · 29/01/2019 20:53

But who wants to wear the same piece of jewellery, clothing, or makeup forever? Things I loved when I was young are mostly now not to my taste. And you don’t see your tattoos on other parts of your body constantly as you do something on your face.
For what it’s worth, anyone considering facial tattoos ought also to consider that if they ever transgress any law they will be immediately identifiable.

Iloveautumnleaves · 29/01/2019 20:55

What work does she do?

I don’t think it’s old fashioned and fuddy duddy to think getting a facial tat at 23 is utterly ridiculous. Stupid, stupid girl. What the hell is she thinking?

Cross by one eye, lb by the other...I agree with the pp who said she’ll look like she’s just be released from prison.

She needs to look at it like this, no DECENT tattoo artist would do it, does she really want some second rate TA messing with her face?

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 29/01/2019 20:55

She's an idiot. Buy her some temporary tattoo transfers off Amazon and tell her that's as far as you'll go.

OutPinked · 29/01/2019 20:56

I know tattooists who won’t tattoo their own faces. They literally have everywhere else done including their head (where hair can grow back) but will not touch their faces. It looks stupid being the main reason...

Pk37 · 29/01/2019 20:56

WTAF is she thinking .
She’ll look like an ex-con

Iflyaway · 29/01/2019 20:59

The only beautiful face tattoos on a face are Maoris.

Cookit · 29/01/2019 21:00

Harry Styles? Looks more like Jack Wilde playing the Artful Dodger.
Haha, I knew it reminded me of someone (and not Harry Styles)!