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

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Boyfriend wants to get a tattoo!

44 replies

mummytobemaybe · 17/03/2017 21:58

Hey sorry if this is the wrong place for this I'm new here but my boyfriend (age 21) wants to get a half sleeve tattoo covering his whole upper arm.
I don't know what to think of this because it's his body but I don't want him to look unprofessional.
What do you think/what would you do?

OP posts:

PenelopeParmesan · 17/03/2017 22:01

Does he wear sleeveless tops to work?? If so, he's probably not in one of the professions tbh. His body to decorate /mutilate as he wishes...

Avioleta · 17/03/2017 22:03

If he works in a professional environment he'd be wearing a long sleeve shirt to work most of the time anyway.

Original poster

mummytobemaybe · 17/03/2017 22:04

He's currently working in graphic design and so normally wears either a suit or normal jeans etc to work depending on who he's seeing that day

OP posts:

GirlElephant · 17/03/2017 22:30

It's likely to show through pale coloured shirts like white so he may be restricted to darker colours if he wants to/has to hide it for work. Alternatively he could wear a t-shirt under his shirt.

His body his choice. Personally I wouldn't have a tattoo but some look good on other people. It's a big commitment so hopefully he won't have regrets

MinnieMinchkin · 17/03/2017 23:03

He wants a tattoo on his own arm? Does he need your permission? I'm very pleased that I have chosen a non-controlling life partner and wish your BF luck in his future decisions.

piddleypower · 18/03/2017 00:02

Big tattoos are very fashionable at the moment. But if it was my boyfriend I'd try and persuade him to have a smaller one. They often look more distinctive and he might be less likely to come to regret it when fashion changes.

ZaraW · 18/03/2017 04:06

I just got back from Thailand it seems every other Western tourist under 30 has one. He can do what he likes it's his body. Some tattoos are beautiful most are mediocre.

showmeislands · 18/03/2017 04:09

In a professional job he would likely be wearing a shirt anyway, so it would be covered. It's his body, let him do what he wants! My husband got a half-sleeve tattoo on the lower half of his arm a couple of years back. He works in a professional job. It's not an issue. I think it looks beautiful.

milpool · 18/03/2017 04:51

What would I do? Respect his right to do what he wants with his own body I imagine.

Graphista · 18/03/2017 05:02

Plenty of professionals also have tattoos not a problem. I have none yet but have been thinking about it.

I have friends/family with none/some/loads some in creative jobs where nobody would bat an eye (of which graphic design is definitely one) and some in highly professional ones (one tattooed friend is a barrister, she also has spiky blue hair )

None of your business, not even an employers business unless it contravenes contracts which is incredibly rare

Even the military simply stipulate they must not be offensive. Indeed the 'modern' fashion for tattooing came to uk largely through serving military getting them overseas, but it's been around for possibly 1000's of years.

It's not up to you.

TheDowagerCuntess · 18/03/2017 06:59

His body, his choice, but in your position I'd be strongly voicing my opinion.

Sleeves are deeply unoriginal and faddy, and will date badly. And then he'll be left with a big ol' inked arm that's an even worse look than a set of arse antlers.

What can you aultimately do though - his choice.

ittooshallpass · 18/03/2017 07:06

If you think tattoos are unattractive and will make him unattractive to you, just tell him.

evensmilingmakesmyfacehurt · 18/03/2017 07:06

Sorry, why does he need your permission to get a tattoo?

As long as it's covered at work and it's not anything horribly offensive then it shouldn't make any difference to you ( fwiw most graphic design companies I know are very relaxed about these things)

kiwipie · 18/03/2017 07:23

Does he need a permission slip off you?

I would let him get on with it as it's not your body. How would this go if a man were writing this about a woman? We would all be up in arms and calling him controlling.

thisagain · 18/03/2017 07:30

I would hate my husband to get a tattoo. Unfortunately you can't do anything about it other than say you don't like them . Let's hope he doesn't regret his decision. I work with a heavily tattooed lady who stays covered from neck down (excepting hands) at work all year round which doesn't look lke a lot of fun.

TheDowagerCuntess · 18/03/2017 07:35

She can't stop him from getting one, but she can certainly voice an opinion! This is 2017.

It's then up to him to go ahead or not.

KateDaniels2 · 18/03/2017 07:41

I work in a professional environment. Both me, my boss and his boss have tattoos.

I have one on my ribs that no one ever sees, on on my forearm/wrist thats always on show and one on my neck and shoulders that you can often see the top of.

My boss has some in his arms that you can see when he wears a white shirt or t-shirt on dress down fridays. His boss has loads and the wrist part of his full sleeves are usually on show.

A few other senior staff have them too.

No one cares. The days of judging someones ability or professionalism on tattoos is long gone.

Its his body. I don't even get why you would be concerned/worried about this.

MrsMozart · 18/03/2017 07:42

I work in quite possibly one of the most professional environments going, and many people have tattoos, both visible and 'not'.

KateDaniels2 · 18/03/2017 07:44

And actually me and dh had a massive blow up about my tattoos. He felt it was his right to tell me what i could do with my body. He isnt under that illusion anymore.

Commenting on what i choose to do to my own body, when it doesn't impact him would have been a deal breaker. Thankfully he realised how ridiculous he was being.

Rebeccajane14 · 18/03/2017 07:57

I love tattoos and it's up to your partner if he wants one. I have them and my partner doesn't but he wouldn't stop me from having any done AND I'm in a professional job and often don't cover them it's so common now and probably more likely for someone to have them than not.

Itsnothingoriginal · 18/03/2017 08:00

I think you're currently in the minority under 30 if you don't have a tattoo I work at a uni and sleeve tattoos are everywhere when arms and legs are on show over the summer!

I agree with TheDowager though, you should absolutely voice your opinion if you're not keen. If he's dead set on it then work with him on finding something he'll still love when he's 80

EverythingEverywhere1234 · 18/03/2017 08:07

If your only concern is genuinely that you're worried about career repercussions, then don't worry. It's upper arm which you rarely show anyway and it's getting more and more acceptable as time goes on. My manager is covered in tattoos; hands and fingers, arms, chest, stomach, legs... his feet and neck/face are the only clear parts. No one judges him.
I've a couple myself, one on my ribs which is hardly ever seen and one on my forearm which is seen 90% of the time. I've worked as a sales rep, a finance officer in a school and a trainee accountant since getting it done. Again, no issues.

EverythingEverywhere1234 · 18/03/2017 08:08

If it's for any other reason that you want to speak to him about it, don't. You're not the keeper of his body, it's up to him. Id find it VERY controlling if my DP tried to tell me he didn't want me to get a tattoo.

CantChoose · 18/03/2017 09:03

I dislike most tattoos and wouldn't be impressed at all if DH said he wanted one. I wouldn't stop him doing so but he knows I wouldn't like it and I'd tell him so if he asked. But I often ask his opinion about a new outfit or haircut, sometimes I follow his advice and other times I don't. I don't see how it's any different really.

TheDowagerCuntess · 18/03/2017 09:10

Exactly Cant - I think that's the way most relationships work.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread