Some seniors embrace the whole “rebel” look, but others are perfectly themselves with enough flair to make you do a double take in the grocery store. This granny has a pretty intense set of sleeves on her, and we're absolutely loving it. She looks like she'll show you how to survive your first rock concert or how to ride a Harley.
Some ladies have to get ready to go out, but not this one! Her tattoos have her looking great 24/7, and they don't even look like "older people tattoos." Those colors really suit her! Clearly, she has been working on a skin routine because those colors and lines are just as beautiful as when they were done in the first place. Who did these masterpieces?!
Lonni of @grayhairandtattoos on Instagram is a glowing advocate for self-expression and workplace acceptance of body mods. She proves to everyone that an old person with tattoos (and gray hair) can be just as successful as their uninked counterparts. Her ink is a beautiful mix of colorwork and black and white pieces, which creates a great visual variety.
That's the great thing about going gray—it looks great with all sorts of hues! We love that the colors are still very vibrant, and some of them look pretty fresh. Is she still regularly visiting the tattoo parlor to get a new piece of art? We're betting the answer is yes.
Sandy is another Instagrammer who proudly shows off her strength with the tattoos and muscles to prove it! A decade ago, it might have been strange to see a senior woman with a full-sleeve tattoo, but the times are changing, and she's just one of many older ladies that are now rocking ink.
On the other arm, she has a half sleeve on her forearm with some pretty impeccable work. It also looks like she's rocking some guns. Look out for her at the gym. She'll show you how to lift those heavy weights! Sandy is clearly not messing around, and we love it.
This 103-year-old Filipino tattoo artist Whang-od Oggay looks as cool as she is. She doesn’t tattoo just anything, instead focusing on traditional tribal and teaching young girls the art of stick-and-poke to support the village. “When you die, a tattoo is the only thing that will remain on your body, so it is a treasure, a treasure that lasts,” she says.
Who knew tattoos on old people could be so meaningful? A low-tech, traditional tattoo sounds pretty painful, but you can't deny that the results are absolutely beautiful. This is one case where the pain was definitely worth it! Oggay is keeping her cultural traditions alive by teaching the young ones what's up. Maybe that's the secret to a long life?
A good rule of thumb is to never get matching ink with your significant other, but if you’ve already been married for multiple decades (and you're still getting along and in love like the first day you met), we doubt you have much to worry about in that department. What's a tattoo after 15 years?
When it comes to couples' tattoos, it can be a real risk, but they were smart about it. When they're side by side, you can tell that the tattoos go together, but they also look great alone, in case things ever go south in the relationship! These two are clearly inspired by classical art, and they look absolutely stunning together or apart. Especially if you're an old person with tattoos, there's nobody else to impress except your equally-inked life partner.
Hand tattoos are notorious for aging terribly due to the daily wear-and-tear on your hands and frequent skin shedding. But there are ways to keep tattoos looking fresh for decades, as seen with these blinged-up hands .We imagine that those finger tattoos were probably pretty painful, but there's no better way to get blinged up without a ring! Plus, who can say no to Hello Kitty?
We're inspired by the fact that these tattoos still look so great on an old person. She must have visited a very good tattoo artist because usually, finger tattoos turn into blobs of ink if they stay at all. What really catches our eyes are the sparrows — that's some delicate linework!
Pin-up aesthetics and traditional-style tattoos have always gone hand-in-hand, as each is a specific means of self-expression originating around the 1940’s. We can't imagine the many hours it took to end up inked from head to toe, but these were well worth the time spent in the tattoo chair.
Every tattoo tells a story, and this woman is basically an entire novel! Part of us wonders which ones hurt the most, although we're sure she'd never change her mind. She clearly knows who she is, and she's very comfortable with it. Rock it, Granny! We love the vibe.
Jacci Gresham, a New Orleans artist, has tattooed since 1976 at her own shop Aart Accent Tattoos & Body Piercing, Louisiana’s oldest tattoo business. While she primarily gives other people the chance to rock some awesome art, she sports some classy linework herself! We love the style of this one!
No one is pickier about their own ink than tattoo artists, so it's no wonder that hers look so beautiful and well done. Louisiana is lucky to have such a talented lady! If you're in the area, certainly stop by the shop for a visit. Who knows...maybe you'll walk out with a tattoo of your own.
Tattooed couples are at the peak of compatibility — why? Getting a tattoo already displays a lifelong commitment, so together, it makes sense that they’re the epitome of dedication and style! Plus, it shows that you can sit through pretty much anything if you can get through needles going through your skin for hours on end.
If we hadn't seen them for ourselves, we would never believe that these two had ink. But sometimes people surprise you in the best way possible! These two clearly had a lot of fun together when they were young. Actually, they probably still know where all the best places in town are.
Can you look into the eyes of this man and say he’s not cooler than you ever were? Yeah, we’d like to see you try. Forehead tattoos are definitely a bold choice, but when you're already so inked, they don't look out of place. That must have caused one major headache to get, though!
Thanks to modern-day rappers and music artists, a lot of younger generations are getting face tattoos in a way we've never seen before. We have guys like this to thank for paving the way for those who make it famous today! Gotta look good 24/7!
Head-to-toe ink still manages to bar people from their dream jobs, but that hasn’t stopped this senior from loving herself! Do people get sad when they run out of real estate for tattoos? This lady looks like she couldn't take another square inch of ink! That's extremely impressive, to say the least.
We're betting she's broken some sort of record for the most tattooed woman in the world. It certainly looks better than that tiger guy that has tattoos everywhere. The art is like a kaleidoscope of beauty without needing something to see! With a head tattoo like that, she probably never grows out her hair. Tattoos on old people are already rare... why not embrace the stigma and be the old person with tattoos all over?
The best part of tattooing is the people, with their passion for the craft and the unique inspiration they provide for each piece. This guy looks like his tattoos have been close friends to him for a very long time! You can tell a lot of it is older based on the style. It's just not something you see anymore.
While some people might call it crude, others would be amazed by it. The fine line work in his chest likely took hours to do, so we're not surprised he's showing it off. After that much time and effort, we would do the same.
Tattoo placement is actually a crucial skill in tattooing because if a piece doesn’t flow with the body’s natural curves, then it looks awkward and distracts from the image. Getting a tattoo's position just right is almost like you're sewing a garment—it has to fall just so or everything looks wrong and ugly!
Whoever put these tattoos on his body did a fantastic job. Sure, it's water and dragons, but it flows beautifully. Then there's the pink lotus that pops with the background of yellow? Absolutely amazing. We're taking notes! It's delicately beautiful yet masculine at the same time.
Couples who get head tattoos together, stay together. That has to be the best example of sticking beside your partner through the good times and the super painful times! These two look like quite happy couples, but we must admit those head tattoos look painful! At least they have someone to commiserate about the pain with.
They look incredibly happy, and why shouldn't they be? The two clearly found something that they're both passionate about. We're betting you they have at least one couples tattoo on their bodies, if not multiple. No one ever said 100% of the people who get couples tattoos regret it.
Kids these days are begging for tattoos at the same age we were concerned with our high school exams. But tattoos aren’t just for the young, and it’s better late than never to get your dream design. This young soul started getting tattooed at the ripe young age of 65!
She's proof that it's never too late to start getting inked, but not everyone is brave enough to go under the needle like her! And her tattoos look absolutely stunning! Shout out to the person that did this flower, because it clearly took some skill and technique that the average person doesn't have.
Obviously, any body modification is a matter of personal taste, and not everyone has to like it. But that doesn’t mean those who love their permanent art can’t bask in their own glory! This tattoo mimics lace or one of those old saloon dress bodices. With the pink hair, it fits like a puzzle.
This grandma clearly has style that kids today can only envy. This is how you mix elegance with punk in one person. She's like a librarian that'll tell you where the best books are, or maybe the cool granny everyone on the block wants in their family.
You’re never too old to add on to your sleeve of ink. Plus, the older you are, the more likely you’ll enjoy the prime of those linework tatts for longer. We're not sure why she went with such a terrifying cardinal, but it looks great even if it is creepy! It's definitely not an overdone tattoo you see every day!
The skull in the cardinal is adds just a little flair to a bird we're all used to seeing in tattoos. Cardinals are just as popular as sparrows at this point. Then, there's the lady with the flowing hair. Even her crown isn't flowers — it's pinecones and fir! Love the twists on some old favorites. She proves that there's no difference between "good" tattoos and "old people tattoos."
This pic from the late ‘70s showcases Elizabeth Weinzirl who claimed that her husband wanted her to have tattoos “and I didn’t want to move out” as the reason for her love of ink. Whatever the reason, her tattoos look absolutely beautiful. Not everyone gets to be a work of art, but this lady does!
Elizabeth is often billed as the "Tattooed Grandmother." She started getting her tattoos in 1947 in Portland and decided not to stop. By the '70s, she was entrenched in tattoo conventions and became a great ambassador! That sounds like a dream life if we've ever heard one.
Someone with a full sleeve tattoo isn’t your average granny! And Granny is always watching, as you can tell by her magnificent ink. Her designs are pretty out there, but they're also just plain pretty too! We aren't sure where she got her inspiration, but it all works together.
The colors are very vibrant, especially the yellow! The orange and yellow just below the eye are so well blended that you'd almost think it was watercolor. It just goes to prove that if you're getting a tattoo done, pay good money to see a good artist.
Despite his sideburns toeing the line of mutton chops that most people should never dare to wear, his tattoos tie the whole look together. You know that you've got a winning hairstyle when it draws more attention than your tattoos do! You notice those luscious chops before you even glimpse his head tattoo!
This guy looks like he stepped straight out of a '70s Irish mobster movie. Is his name Jimmy or something like that? He used to be threatening, but then he retired to spend some more time with the family. Sorry, Jimmy! There's no rest for the wicked.
It only takes one tattoo to be considered a tattooed person — no need for the full-body thing! This adventurous 79-year-old made a grand escape from her care home to get her very first tattoo. There's no shame in starting small when it comes to tattoos. Most people don't realize just how much that little needle actually hurts!
Then, you have to sit there for hours if you're getting something big! We don't blame her for starting with something small. Honestly, micro tattoos are incredibly popular nowadays so she's right on trend. We also find it amusing she has her heart on her sleeve now, though.
Some people are put off by tattooing simply because permanent skin inking isn’t part of their culture. But for many countries, like Croatia, there exists a long tradition of getting tattooed, usually for religious reasons. These beautiful designs might not be as attention-catching as some ink, but understated can be gorgeous when it comes to tattoos.
This beautiful, cultural work makes it obvious that bigger doesn't always equal better. It doesn't take a full sleeve to show your passion and love for who you are. She's elegantly displaying what makes her unique, and that's something we all want to strive for.
On the other hand, tattoos don’t require any special meaning to get one. Because it’s a lifelong commitment, the tattoo virgin usually thinks long and hard about their ink. For the rest, if the design looks cool, that’s enough for us! You don't need to justify your life choices to anyone.
It's clear that this lady has been in the tattoo chair more than a few times in her life. We all wish we were as cool as her, but there's just no way to top this awesome ink. Even her choice of drink is unique and cool. Don't mind us while we get jealous...
Other tattoos are surrounded by a thick mysterious veil, concealing what could be the secrets of the universe! If you know, you know. Okay, it’s not that deep, but people can get a little too invested in their body mods. Apparently, this inked lady was in a Croatian tattoo cult?!
We're not sure what's going on with the grannies in Croatia, but they're definitely going wild! It's always the ones you least suspect. We hope she's living a happy and full life now. Women like this have a history that we all want to hear about!
Helen Lambin got her first tattoo at 75, citing that her decision to shake things up in her life quickly spiraled into over 50 tattoos! She more than made up for lost time with a collection of beautiful and colorful tattoos. It's never a bad time to get ink, and this lady proves it!
People always say that you're going to regret the permanent tattoos you get, but Helen? She states her only regret is that she didn't start sooner! Old people with tattoos rock! Instead of letting the naysayers rule your life, it's time to do what makes you happy. We should live our lives like Helen.
Imagine how much time, money, and love went into her tattoos! How can anyone hate someone with so much beauty? When you look at ink like this, there's no denying that tattooing is absolutely an art form. There are plenty of painters in the world who would kill for the skill to do things like this!
After getting something like this done, we would also wear a shirt that showed it all off. It's finally time for the stigma to be removed from tattoos. Lets embrace them because they can be professional and beautiful all in one.
This is one grandma who's gotten a little cheeky! When you're that age, you have no time for etiquette. Despite being on her backside, you can't deny that these tattoos look great. Your ink has to go somewhere, so why not put your buns to work? It might hurt less than some other places too.
This grandma is taking Pretty Hot And Tempting to another level. She's one to visit all the tattoo conventions near her. In fact, if you look closely, she's probably at one in this very picture! Maybe that's a tattoo she just had done?
Before and after pictures are the hardest evidence we have for the longevity of tattoos. Look at those pharaoh’s horses... still amazing decades later! Who needs plastic surgery when you can just get covered in ink? You'll look a lot less weird at 80 covered in tattoos than you will with no wrinkles!
We're a little surprised he managed not to add anything else, but we don't see what's going on with his lower half. The colors may have faded a little on this tattoo but it's still looking as flawless as ever. This is one for the "old people with tattoos" history books!
Gray hair, full beard, and traditional tattoos = automatic bragging rights. We're not even going to mention his meticulously gelled and styled moutashe. He's one guy we definitely wouldn't want to mess with — do you see the muscles underneath that ink?! Yeah, we'll be staying on his good side.
Guys like this are what hipsters tried their best to mimic, but they could never get that style and that...je ne sais quoi. He clearly has something that everyone else doesn't have. We're betting he still has tons of women fawning over him, and ya know...we don't blame them one bit.
Tattoos crop up on the people you least expect! That’s why it’s important to form your opinions on people based on more than first impressions! We have nothing but respect for people with tattoos on their necks. A needle hanging out around my jugular? No, thank you!
What we love most about this tattoo is that it's showing off where she's from and how she grew up. It's a cultural tattoo that shows off her wisdom! This is one grandma that has been through some stuff, and we're ready to read her story! Where's the book?
