Tattoo on the Face

[Hollytruelove]

I'm considering getting a very small tattoo on my face. Q1: What are your thoughts on facial tattoos generally?
I'm considering getting a small star tattoo beside and below the eye at the top of the cheek bone. Q2: What are your opinions on this? If my partner had an identical tattoo on his face, in exactly the same place as I have one what would your views be on this?

When your an old lady it will look horrible

I have quite a few tattoos but facial tattoos are a big no from me. Also isn't it a teardrop under the eye for every person you have killed? Not exactly a great connotation is it.
People will notice and judge. I would also imagine you would find it hard to get a tattoo artist to do it, I know for a fact they wont do it at the tattoo parlour that I use.

Star on the face and I think 1970s glam rocker.

A look best achieved with make up or sharpie, not for permanent inking. For practical reasons (colour appearance, becoming fuzzy etc) and because facial tattoos screech prison (even when they shouldn't)

And there is a level of couple's matchiness that will say 'Howard and Hilda' rather than 'that's good'

Didnt that serial killer joanne denehey have one on her face?

Yes, you're right: she totally did! Don't do it OP.

The thing is OP, that people in our society are highly influenced by appearance and highly socialised to favour homogeneity. As you can see by the responses on here, anyone who alters their appearance to be even slightly different to the norm can expect very negative responses. People are extremely shallow.

But in a way it's good that you got these responses, because at least you can make your decision with your eyes wide open. And it is a big decision. Breaking out of that social homogeny requires bravery because you will face a lot of backlash for it.

So think about whether you can face that for the rest of your life. Think about not only your job now, but how your job options will be limited for your whole life. If you run your own business, think about how clients may react, etc.

Finally, think about whether you might one day regret stars next to your eye, since that's kind of a bang-on-trend and very of-the-now tattoo.

Personally I think face tattoos can be very cool. I wouldn't choose the design you did, but that's true of 99% of other peoples tattoos regardless of where they are! Luckily tattoos are a personal choice.

Don't do it.

I’m a huge ink fan, got enough of my own, but would be really cautious about this. If you really want to do it, fine, up to you, but have you ever seen the look of sheer horror that the majority of people will have when looking at a facial tattoo or even nose piercing (the latter I’ve experienced when I had a nose ring, shopkeepers basically assumed on sight that I was a thief)? I have a couple of mates with facial tatts, neither works. One of them has a tribal design on his chin, he calls it his bullshit filter. If people don’t like it – and he can see that, just like I could with the nose ring – he knows they are full of bullshit! But he’s a tough old boot and basically retired. Matching couple ones? No way, hate the idea. You talk about going forward in life, but if that path is hampered by people who can’t cope with your ink, it’s not helping to go forward is it? It’s a shame that people judge so quickly, I agree, but that’s the way it is. Even if successfully self employed (which is really hard and usually takes years to be in a good position), would suppliers and customers see the ink and turn away?

On the subject of prison ink, many might be interested in the books on Russian criminal tattoos, there’s 3 volumes, pictures collected by a prison officer, Danzig Baldaev, over his life time of working in the system. It’s a whole other language!

Wow NunoGoncalves, what a well balanced, thoughtful reply!

Really interesting how many people take people for face value rather than evidence of their personality.

What you choose to put on your face is an indication of your personality, isn't it? Why else would you do it?

I like some face tattoos - especially small simple ones, like just lines or dots. I think they can look beautiful. Less enamoured with your star idea but then it's not my face.

I'm assuming you're not thinking it will be a problem work wise? That would be my main concern. Lots of people still have issues with facial tattoos, as this thread amply demonstrates.

Don't do it.

My tattoo artist had hald a mandala on her cheek...she looks awesome. However on the whole if you are not a tattoo artist just don't!

Half

I'd think you looked a bit rough and had possibly been in prison. I'd think your partner definitely had. I'd also think you were very attention seeking and possibly had some MH / self harm issues.

But if you don't mind people making those connections and having the job market narrowed down massively for the pair of you then knock yourselves out.

And don't whinge when you start to hate it in 10 years time.

A look best achieved with make up or sharpie, not for permanent inking.

Yes, absolutely. Given that it's perfectly possible and very easy to draw a tiny star with a sharpie, why even bother making it permanent? Such an unnecessary risk.

Tats on someone's ass are usually frowned upon too by most people and to some people they are called Tramp Stamps yet that tattoo has a specific purpose and sentimental, personal value to the person who gets them so it's no different on someone's face it's down to preference as to where they want body art to be.
Tramp stamps are not on the ass, they’re on the lower back. They are very easy to conceal if you choose to conceal them, and yet there are many people desperately trying to get these tattoos covered or removed. Why? Because it was trendy for a while and now it’s dated and a bit of a joke, so people don’t want them. They also don’t look great as they fade, bleed, are affected by the middle aged spread and stretch marks that hit many of us. But at least it’s easily hidden under clothes, unlike a tattoo on your face.

I can picture what you’re picturing - a delicate fine line black star gracing the cheekbone of a beautiful young woman. I’d urge you to think about how it will look in a decade or more, when the ink has bled and it’s all fuzzy, faded, and trends have moved on to something else.

To be honest, matching tattoos freak me out a bit, mainly because anecdotally IME couples who get them seem far more likely to quit. Still, if you want couple tattoos, a benign shape like this is the way to go - just not on your face. What happens after you’ve broken up, you’ve met someone new, they like your cute little face star until you run into your ex together and he realises it was actually a couple tattoo. Eek.

Really interesting how many people take people for face value rather than evidence of their personality. I've never done that for a day in my life. Wow!

You can’t pull that argument I’m afraid. I don’t judge people for their skin colour, hair colour, eye colour, scars, visible disabilities, sex etc. These are things you don’t choose and have no connection to your personality. Choosing to get a. tattoo on your face or your body is entirely your choice and if absolutely does say something about your personality or why have them?

I love tattoos. IMO they can be amazing pieces of art, but you can’t choose to have them and then complain about how others perceive you - you are literally choosing to change how others perceive you, but you can’t control their reaction.

I know a beautiful woman who had many many tattoos during a difficult period of her life, including several face tattoos - she’s now going through the agonising experience of having them lasered.

If you want a little matching star tattoo, why your face? Most small businesses fail within the first few years. Unless you’re on the brink of retirement then there’s a good chance you may have to work for someone else at some point. You know now that this could be a hindrance so you have to make your decision on that basis.

Right im a bit late.But here goes,

I really think it depends on how heavily tattooed you are.If its your first tattoo,the face is not the way to go.
If you are covered,its not going to make much difference.

And all the ones saying i have dainty tattoos that can be hidden.Good for you,but not everyone wants their tattoos hidden.

And most places wont tattoo your face anyway.They are called jobstoppers for a reason.

I think a facial tattoo would look awful,and can never see the point of them. But in general I don't like any tattoos, so I am probably in the minority here. I have to smile,or grimace,when you see beautiful brides,in fantastic dresses and all the wedding finery,and you see the huge tattoos on the bare shoulders,backs and chest. Just me I suppose, and it's par for course these days.

I’d just wonder why?
Does it have a significance?
Is it in memory of some one?
Is it dreams to come or dreams gone?
Or is a fashion thing that hopefully you won’t regret.
I’d also wonder how long it will stay crisp before it bleeds in such thin skin, and how it will look as the skin naturally ages, if the sun will affect it,
I wouldn’t really care about you as a person unless you were to have an affect on my life.

You do realise this thread is 8 months old
Its probably safe to say the OP has made her decision by now

How on earth do people even find these zombie threads 🙄

I'd assume you were a bit volatile and I'd probably avoid you.

There are a large number of reasons why face tattoos are not a good idea:

• I was quite out there when I was younger. Happily not with tattoos since tastes change so much in life. What I thought was the best outfit and look when I was 18 or 25 or 35 would look fucking daft now. Your tastes change, fashions change. Give yourself space to grow and change - that's the adventure of life. Don't pigeon-hole yourself for life. Leave room for re-invention.
• I'm very into art and design and there are very few tattoos that are actually beautiful or good design. My DD has a few - only one is truly lovely.
• Matching tattoos - worst idea ever - you will hate it if you split up. Really hate it. I have a divorced friend who is now having laser treatment to try and rinse that man right out of her skin. Its agony. It makes her feel even more failed and raw.
• People who over commit to tattoos on their face or bodies want to look different and claim to be so in the face of social norms and then hate it when other people say yuck its ugly and horrible. Mostly because they are ugly and horrible. Not because everyone else is square. But because the soft subtle hues and glow of skin is not enhanced by harsh black lines and inky colours. It detracts from natural beauty and subtle moods. Its a mucky stamp that leads you away from the facial expressions and joy of being human. The lines bleed and smudge.
• The fact that the majority of people dislike face tattoos is not a measure of how fascinatingly different you are. Its say nothing about your intelligence, talent or creativity. Quite the opposite. Most people will think you're a fool. They will label you as you can see from this thread. That's because you've labelled yourself.
• Personality - being edgy and cool is not how you dress or what you've permanently inked on your skin - its what's inside. You need to be a bit mature to get this. Some of the most cool, unique and fascinating people I know are some of the most boring looking. You'd miss that if you think face art or edgy clothing is a mark of character.

I see quite a lot of people where I live with facial tattoos, but that's because they are tribal Maori markings. They look pretty intimidating, which I assume is the intention. Apart from that, I think they're pretty hideous, and yes I would judge you. The idea of matching facial tattoos just sounds tacky as fuck to me, and you certainly wouldn't get past interview stage anywhere I 've worked. Its your face, but people will judge. And if that makes me boring or vanilla in anyone's opinion, I don't really care.

That you have very bad judgement.