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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:

KateDaniels2 · 18/03/2017 09:29

The op hasnt said he has asked her advice on the tattoo or advice on wether it will impact his career.

TheDowagerCuntess · 18/03/2017 10:01

Who cares?! I don't wait for DH to ask for my advice before giving my opinion - the very notion!

HoneyDragon · 18/03/2017 10:03

If you don't know what to think why are asking Mumsnet?

duxb · 18/03/2017 10:21

I have seven, including one on my forearm which is sizeable. When I'm at work you wouldn't know as I'm always covered. People are amazed when/if they see them.

So long as he picks a good artist and respects the environments when it's professional for him to cover up then if it's what he wants, nothing should stop him.

Aderyn2016 · 18/03/2017 10:23

Posters always say 'his body, his choice' and make snippy remarks about permission slips, but tattoos are permanent - it's not like he is getting a hair cut. As someone who loves him, she should speak up if she thinks it will have repercussions that he might not have fully considered.
Personally, I wouldn't do something to my body that my partner thought was really unattractive either, even though it would be my right to do so.

ElspethFlashman · 18/03/2017 10:27

But what repercussions?! I mean, it's not like he's applying for McDonalds with a full face tattoo that reveals his ardent love for the National Front.

You wouldn't believe the amount of nurses with highly visible wrist tattoos. It just doesn't matter anymore!

TheWhiteSheep · 18/03/2017 10:35

One of my brothers has a full sleeve, stops at cuff. He is in a profession, always been in work, it's never been a problem for him.
I hate tattoos. I couldn't be in a relationship with anyone that had a tattoo. It's a personal choice though.
I think that only a certain type of person gets tattooed.
I'm sure it's narrow-minded of me, but i really don't care .

ScoobyDoosTinklyLaugh · 18/03/2017 10:35

Fine for a graphic designer.

TheWhiteSheep · 18/03/2017 10:38

Oh, and if he wants anything like what ed sheeran has- dump him! His tattoos are really terrible.
There are so many truly beautiful designs out there, why he chose those... words fail.

Spam88 · 18/03/2017 10:48

Yes, his body his choice and all that in theory...

Although my DH (back before we were married) went through a phase of wanting a tattoo - his friends were all getting one representative of the career they'd trained and he was thinking of getting one too. I told him no obviously he could have still done it if he'd wanted to but I made it very clear that I thought it would look ridiculous. And now he's over wanting one so it's a good job he listened to me

But yeah, he can do what he wants, but you're perfectly entitled to make your opinion known.

Sallysadlyseescertainty · 18/03/2017 10:53

People who are following the trend for inking the entire body are sheep.

I don't blame, op. However, it's his body to ’decorate’ as he chooses.

SheldonsSpot · 18/03/2017 10:54

Express your opinion, once, then shut up about it and let him do what he wants to his own body.

Ohyesiam · 18/03/2017 11:34

Unless it's a swastika on his forehead it won't have repercussions in his professional life. My best friend is a lawyer and has 7 tattoos.
If you just don't like them, do tell him, but think about love being conditional on the way he looks. If my oh had gone off me a bit because my hair had gone grey, I would question his love in the first place.

Original poster

mummytobemaybe · 18/03/2017 12:09

Thank you so much for all your responses, I just wanted some different views on the topic. I know he will choose a good artist and it will be tasteful but I can't help thinking that he has rushed into it (never mentioned tattoos to me before).
Obviously I know it's his body and I wouldn't like it if he told me what to do with mine. I just hope he gives it more thought :)

OP posts:

Aderyn2016 · 18/03/2017 12:19

I guess for me, repercussions might be not taking the time to fully consider design and regretting it, maybe not thinking about how this will look when he is older and his body changes - will it suit him when he is 60? Obviously, he should find a really good artist if he is having a large tattoo. These are choices he doesn't want to rush.

Wolfiefan · 18/03/2017 12:24

Tattoos are expensive. Can he get a design and a quotation then save for a while before he gets it. Tattoos can be amazing but are obviously permanent. It would be a shame to get something in haste and hate it.

TheDowagerCuntess · 19/03/2017 00:30

Nobody cares about tattoos in a professional setting any more - they can't, as they're tediously ubiquitous these day.

As mentioned upthread, the repercussions are more that sleeves are already naff, in another 5 years they'll be a total cringefest.

milpool · 19/03/2017 06:07

Wolfiefan that's not really how it works. A decent tattooist won't spend their valuable time drawing something up without a booking and a deposit.

thedevilinablackdress · 19/03/2017 10:44

Just because he hasn't spoken about it till now doesn't mean he hasn't been thinking about it. I ponder mine for a looooong time before discussing with anyone else. Nothing wrong with asking some questions supportively, but ultimately, his body, his choice.

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