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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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

exWifebeginsat40 · 29/01/2019 22:18

@MrsAriadneOliver calling women ‘slags’ sort of gets my back up, you know? sorry if that offends you.

god, it’s just a big, neverending spiral of offence, isn’t it? what a time to be alive.

Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 29/01/2019 22:21

I have loads of tattoos but I would never in a million years get one on my face. I love tattoos but I would judge anyone who had one on their face.

Thehop · 29/01/2019 22:23

Can she find someone who does semi permanent make up who would put one on with semi permanent tattooing so around a 3 year commitment?

No idea of this is ridiculous by the way just a thought

MondeoFan · 29/01/2019 22:25

Tattoos on faces and hands are a def no.
Anywhere else is fine.

Original poster

Shikah · 29/01/2019 22:25

I've text her and offered to pay for a semi permanent make up artist or henna artist to do it.

OP posts:

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 29/01/2019 22:29

I have a decent number of tattoos that I really love but a face tattoo would be too much. The kind of tattoos she's interested in remind me of mug shots. I'm sure the guy that was the "hot felon" had something similar? People will judge her. I only know 2 people with face tattoos, my beautician and my tattoo artist. Both self employed so she'd need to be very sure of her future.

Magenta46 · 29/01/2019 22:29

Tattoos age just like skin. Have you ever seen an old person with a crisp tattoo that they had done in their youth?
Tattoos are just a fad for many, a few well chosen discreet ones are great when they are well thought out , but it seems all the rage to get a full sleeve, stretch ear lobes and facial piercings; things most people will bitterly regret in a few years to come.
I say to my DC; wear the most outrageous clothes, make up and hair colours, but please don't get a tattoo until you are absolutely certain you will still love it when you are 70.

StrawberryBlondeRed · 29/01/2019 22:30

YANBU
People regret semi-permanent brows let alone 'face tattoos' Face tattoos are a stupid idea and will never become a 'thing'
Maybe she should get a face tattoed on her arse instead?

Vicky1990 · 29/01/2019 22:30

To be disfigured by a tattoo on your face is going to be judged by people who you may want to think we'll of you.
A lot of people will look at a facial tattoo and think that looks awful , and think you are a moron who hasn't the common sense to have realised this.
I would not employ any one who thought so little of themselves as to do this, don't do it.

tinyme77 · 29/01/2019 22:30

Does she want the cross as a religious symbol?

Notcontent · 29/01/2019 22:31

I think our faces are quite different to other parts or our body. They are our identity and part of how we communicate with others. For this reason it’s a really, really bad idea to get a face tattoo. I think it would be very career limiting even in an industry such as hair dressing.

toddle · 29/01/2019 22:33

Just read your latest message to her. You seem so lovely and caring I'm sure she will be grateful whatever the outcome

Sparklesocks · 29/01/2019 22:33

I’m pretty sure that Harry styles tat was faked to gain attention for her single which is called ‘harry’. Weirdly enough it dropped the day after her tattoo went viral..

Hugless · 29/01/2019 22:34

Oh dear. Face is probably the last place I'd even remotely consider as a canvas for a tattoo. If she's a "grown up" she'll do whatever she wants anyway- and pay the price for the rest of her life.

I wouldn't want my kids to have tattoos that are always visible, wouldn't mind something that isn't.
But i also remember when I was 20 and really wanted one, not on my face though and in the end it never happened...

Have an honest and emotionless chat with your child.. good luck.

Nayeds · 29/01/2019 22:35

Well she's going to have it forever so couldn't she put it off for a year or two and then see how she feels? What's the rush ?

Maelstrop · 29/01/2019 22:39

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

Will he ever work? If so, maybe that’s the way to tell him he simply won’t be employed with facial tattoos.

mysteryfairy · 29/01/2019 22:45

If you’re her godmother presumably you are also a friend or relative of her parents. I’ve got a DS this age and actually would really struggle to ever forgive any friend or relative who funded such a stupid undertaking - just in case you need any more reasons to try and dissuade her!

MazDazzle · 29/01/2019 23:33

Justin Biedermeier has a cross tattoo next to his eye. Is she a fan?

MazDazzle · 29/01/2019 23:34

Bieber!

RagingWhoreBag · 30/01/2019 00:12

@Maelstrop - he works already - he’s had jobs in outdoorsy places and cool clothes shops, where he fits in quite well. He likes the idea of working in a tattoo shop or starting his own skate shop, so I can see why he’s not worried about the tattoos putting prospective bosses off, but I do think the face tattoo will take it to another level.

INeedToGetHealthy · 30/01/2019 00:33

I am quite heavily tattooed and no longer seek employment but I would never have a tattoo on my face. All of my tattoos can be easily covered with long sleeves, trousers or tights.

Patroclus · 30/01/2019 03:17

All I can think of with this is the local crack addict who walks up and down the road in her dressing gown with some writing in horrible 90s tattoo style script straight across her face, big letters. Never cool, good looking or classy and people getting prison and murderer tattoos are treated as a joke.

PeakTransedAgain · 30/01/2019 04:41

What was her response?

Pixiedust2017 · 30/01/2019 07:03

This entire thread just reminds me of a customer I had in one of my old jobs who had "Fuck the Police" tattooed across their face..
I agree with others. Ask her to wait a few years and see if she still wants it then.

Original poster

Shikah · 30/01/2019 08:18

She replied with 🤔 emoji and a lot of kisses.

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