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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there should be a higher minimum age for face tattoos

213 replies

salutsandy · 15/03/2023 13:19

I think a face tattoo is such a huge decision that there should be a higher minimum age, say 25 or 30, for this. AIBU?

OP posts:
AndTheSurveySays · 15/03/2023 13:33

Don't be daft.

IAmMeThisIsI · 15/03/2023 13:36

It's a tough one. But then again, at least if they deeply regret it they can have it removed. The NHS remove face tattoos all the time because they impact lives etc. Not saying taxpayers should be footing the bill for mistakes, just saying that it's not as permanent as it was years ago.

Sarvanga38 · 15/03/2023 13:37

IAmMeThisIsI · 15/03/2023 13:36

It's a tough one. But then again, at least if they deeply regret it they can have it removed. The NHS remove face tattoos all the time because they impact lives etc. Not saying taxpayers should be footing the bill for mistakes, just saying that it's not as permanent as it was years ago.

The NHS remove face tattoos all the time because they impact lives etc. Not saying taxpayers should be footing the bill for mistakes, just saying that it's not as permanent as it was years ago.

Blimey, do they really? I would have a lot more sympathy for 'cosmetic' (no, I don't think it's cosmetic personally, just that some do) operations like breast reduction where it's causing back pain than for daft decisions someone made themselves.

GoodChat · 15/03/2023 13:38

They should be illegal. I don't see a benefit of a face tattoo.

LivesinLondon2000 · 15/03/2023 13:38

I think they should be illegal too.

lovedive · 15/03/2023 13:43

I definitely didn't make any sensible decisions before my mid twenties lol. I think there should be a higher age limit of 25. After all it's now known that the rational thinking part of a brain isn't fully developed until around that age.

roarfeckingroarr · 15/03/2023 13:43

Yes. 90.

drpet49 · 15/03/2023 13:45

Where I live a lot of the reputable tattoo artists won’t do face tattoos.

catinboooots · 15/03/2023 13:46

IAmMeThisIsI · 15/03/2023 13:36

It's a tough one. But then again, at least if they deeply regret it they can have it removed. The NHS remove face tattoos all the time because they impact lives etc. Not saying taxpayers should be footing the bill for mistakes, just saying that it's not as permanent as it was years ago.

They really don't

Sweetladyjane · 15/03/2023 13:48

I have a face tattoo but was already visibly tattooed (hands, neck) and secure in my career before I had it done. I don't think legislation to change the age will help but tattooist should be turning down young people who want to get them as it can have a big impact. When I went from being tattooed to 'heavily tattooed' I did notice people looking at me more and you need to be quite secure in yourself to deal with that.

BarrelOfOtters · 15/03/2023 13:51

IAmMeThisIsI · 15/03/2023 13:36

It's a tough one. But then again, at least if they deeply regret it they can have it removed. The NHS remove face tattoos all the time because they impact lives etc. Not saying taxpayers should be footing the bill for mistakes, just saying that it's not as permanent as it was years ago.

They do…but long wait and not guaranteed www.healthcentre.org.uk/tattoo-removal/tattoo-removal-on-the-nhs.html

I personally think if you have a face tattoo you are mad…and should be at least 25.

Whatwouldscullydo · 15/03/2023 13:52

I'm.unsure about this really. I mean q8 is a legal cut off. We do know that brain isn't fully developed until your 20s but currently the age cut off is 18.

I do find it interesting that if you search through MN the consensus seems to be that no one can really evee make a responsibile decision..I mean really we infantilise people in their 20s even though at 18 you can work, join the army, vote, drive, own a house get married have a family etc

Then from the age of say 45 onwards its early onset dementia/autism/alzeimers etc

Theres a brief period between say 27 amd 45 where you can be held accountable for poor decisions/poor behaviour etc the rest if the time theres an excuse and society should stop following what is actually law and the current procedures that are in place and staff at various establishments should be able to make calls that either the person in question friends or family are unable to have any influence on or be enough to not go ahead with, or that drs teachers akd social workers etc have failed to DX for 30 years but expect said workers to figure it out in short interactions with no experience in the issues.

I dont know what the answer is but we do at some stage need to introduce more personal responsibility akd less offloading onto the general working population

User478 · 15/03/2023 13:58

Maybe you can only have a tattoo if you can prove you also have the funds to have it removed. Or pay into a group "tattoo insurance" pot?
Seems a bit unworkable!

Our neighbour's tattoo artist wouldn't do his facial tattoos so he bought a tattoo gun on Facebook market place and did them himself. (They look about as good as you're thinking)

People will make bad decisions no matter their age.

MistressoftheDarkSide · 15/03/2023 14:05

Face tattoos can be covered by make up.

I honestly don't understand the still visceral response to body art in general. It's seen as an indicator of so many negative stereotypes still, yet given the number of people in responsible careers - medicine and law included, who sport them, it's clear it doesn't necessarily indicate any moral failing or incapacity on the part of the person with the tattoo.

Stereotyping and othering is an absolute no no for most people, yet the heavily tattooed are considered fair game.

It's ink on the skin. It hurts no-one, nor do piercings, Botox, fake tans and hair extensions.

And honestly, considering some things that people being encouraged to do for self affirmation these days, a facial tattoo is the least thing to be concerned about, IMHO.

Neves7 · 15/03/2023 14:08

Tattoo removal is often a long, painful and expensive process unless the tattoo was very small. Not all tattoos can be removed cleanly and completely. Tattoos should still be regarded as permanent.

JarByTheDoor · 15/03/2023 14:13

Whatwouldscullydo · 15/03/2023 13:52

I'm.unsure about this really. I mean q8 is a legal cut off. We do know that brain isn't fully developed until your 20s but currently the age cut off is 18.

I do find it interesting that if you search through MN the consensus seems to be that no one can really evee make a responsibile decision..I mean really we infantilise people in their 20s even though at 18 you can work, join the army, vote, drive, own a house get married have a family etc

Then from the age of say 45 onwards its early onset dementia/autism/alzeimers etc

Theres a brief period between say 27 amd 45 where you can be held accountable for poor decisions/poor behaviour etc the rest if the time theres an excuse and society should stop following what is actually law and the current procedures that are in place and staff at various establishments should be able to make calls that either the person in question friends or family are unable to have any influence on or be enough to not go ahead with, or that drs teachers akd social workers etc have failed to DX for 30 years but expect said workers to figure it out in short interactions with no experience in the issues.

I dont know what the answer is but we do at some stage need to introduce more personal responsibility akd less offloading onto the general working population

Autism kicks in at 45? Damn, so what's this I'm dealing with now?

TBH I've never seen this broad-brush excusing of responsibility in middle-aged+ adults thing you're talking about.

I've seen an acknowledgement that young brains are still developing; many of us know instinctively that someone who made terrible decisions at 22 may be a wonderful person by 32, whereas someone who made terrible decisions at 32 is likely to still make terrible decisions at 42, regardless of any brain scan studies we might or might not have read.

I've also seen acknowledgement that a not insignificant percentage of older adults have dementia — one in five people by their late eighties, and many of the rest will have some changes to their cognition and flexibility which may or may not be offset by extra experience.

I don't believe that acknowledging these differences means that people are advocating for everyone except you personally to be allowed to get away with whatever they want, all paid for by you, the put-on hard-done-by person in the middle.

Original poster
salutsandy · 15/03/2023 14:15

I honestly don't understand the still visceral response to body art in general. It's seen as an indicator of so many negative stereotypes still, yet given the number of people in responsible careers - medicine and law included, who sport them, it's clear it doesn't necessarily indicate any moral failing or incapacity on the part of the person with the tattoo.

Fair point and not trying to judge tattoos themselves- but I saw a person about 18 with very prominent face tattoos yesterday and it did make me think they could regret that later and it will impact them a lot more than body tattoos. People can make more rash decisions at that age and might think differently by say late 20s.

Our neighbour's tattoo artist wouldn't do his facial tattoos so he bought a tattoo gun on Facebook market place and did them himself. (They look about as good as you're thinking)

Shock
OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 15/03/2023 14:15

GoodChat · 15/03/2023 13:38

They should be illegal. I don't see a benefit of a face tattoo.

Took the words out of my mouth. They should be illegal. I can’t see any benefit from any tattoo.

DemonSpawn · 15/03/2023 14:15

Face and hand tattoos used to be so rare because it was very hard to get a tattooist that would do them - there used to be an etiquette and unwritten rules.

In the 70s/80s the only face or hand tattoos you would see would be home-made prison tattoos.

Usually one had to have most of the rest of their body tattooed before a professional tattooist would consider it.

Since the explosion in popularity of tattoos there’s been an explosion in tattooists (not surprising given the prices they can charge) and no regard for the historical etiquette and unwritten rules.

Similarly there also used to be an etiquette where your tattooist would re-colour your tattoos for no cost when they faded - bet that no longer exists.

U2HasTheEdge · 15/03/2023 14:16

Neves7 · 15/03/2023 14:08

Tattoo removal is often a long, painful and expensive process unless the tattoo was very small. Not all tattoos can be removed cleanly and completely. Tattoos should still be regarded as permanent.

Yep.

I have one on my arm that I want to get removed, but I was told they can fade it, but due to the size and colour, it's unlikely to go completely. So, due to the pain and money, it is staying.

I'm not sure about a higher minimum age, but I would expect any artist worth their salt to turn down tattooing an 18-year-old's face.

catinboooots · 15/03/2023 14:17

I thought face tattoos were illegal? Can't remember where I got that from

Architectahoy · 15/03/2023 14:17

I love tattoos. I really do.

But I do see your point OP. I have only met 2 people with face tattoos and both opted for removal as they were impacting employability and they were often targeted for fights etc.

Interesting thread!

unclebuck · 15/03/2023 14:18

My tattoo artist friend calls them Everlasting Job Stoppers
I was called a bigot for not employing someone with one, but they upset/scare children and would be a problem for my business so no, I won't, ever.

Dartmoorcheffy · 15/03/2023 14:19

They should be illegal. I've never seen anyone yet that doesn't look ridiculous with one.

JarByTheDoor · 15/03/2023 14:19

Sarvanga38 · 15/03/2023 13:37

The NHS remove face tattoos all the time because they impact lives etc. Not saying taxpayers should be footing the bill for mistakes, just saying that it's not as permanent as it was years ago.

Blimey, do they really? I would have a lot more sympathy for 'cosmetic' (no, I don't think it's cosmetic personally, just that some do) operations like breast reduction where it's causing back pain than for daft decisions someone made themselves.

Show quote history

Pragmatically, if removing a facial tattoo means that someone will be more socially successful and happier with themselves, leading to improved mental health and less need for NHS services on that front, and also more likely to be able to get and keep a job and pay taxes, then it makes sense financially for the state to pay for that removal.

I've met people with some… particularly ill -advised facial tattoos, obtained during periods of their lives when general public acceptability and employability were not at the top of their personal priority lists, but people change. If you can't get a job with a swastika tattooed on your forehead or (symbolic) teardrops tattooed on your cheeks, how are you going to pay to get it removed so you can get a job?