Tattoos have become commonplace amongst today’s younger generations. It is not uncommon to see someone in their 40s, 30s, or 20s with one, maybe two, maybe even a dozen tattoos. Teachers, doctors, lawyers, and people of all professions have them. The only place where tattoos are rare is the older generations. We’ve put together a list of some of the best tattoos seniors have gotten. There may not be a large number of seniors with tattoos, but those that have them aren't afraid to show them. Kick back and get ready to scroll through a list of some badass seniors.
Wife Tattoo
This senior has the name of his wife tattoo across his shoulder in clean cursive. The story behind this tattoo is that he was in the Navy Reserve as a young man, and everyone else was getting tattoos done after a night of fun and partying. He wanted to get one then, but his wife said no. Nearly 60 years later, he finally went and got the tattoo that he always wanted.
This is both a heartfelt and badass story. Imagine loving someone so much that you get their name tattooed on your skin forever? We love how’s he flexing to show it off!
Intimidating and Nicest Person
Some tattoos are better left unspoken for. This older gentleman’s tattoos look intense and meaningful. You must be a pretty brave person to get your chin and face tattooed. The tattoos make his whole look. He’s a sharply dressed man and the tattoos on his face just add to that. The suit, the rings and bracelets, the braids, and even the mustache. This is a man who is proud of who he is.
This man manages to look intimidating and like the nicest person in the world at the same time. We can’t imagine the pain of getting a tattoo on your chin!
The Grass
This tattoo proves that getting older doesn’t have to be a bad thing. This older gentleman in his 60s who was losing his hair decided to make it into a funny thing. The tattoo of the man walking on his scape and pretending to cut his hair as if it is the grass is hilarious. It’s the perfect way to accept the changes that our bodies go through. It’s perfect!
We’re sure if this gentleman has grandchildren, they probably love this silly tattoo. Imagine being a child and getting to tell all your friends about the tattoo your grandfather has. We love this!
The Shirt
Here’s an older gentleman who could rival some people half his age with the number of tattoos he has. There’s no way that any of the tattoos on his arm were spur of the moment. Chance is he’s had them most of his life. And look at how he’s sitting. He looks proud of every one of them. The shirt he’s wearing does a good job getting his message across!
To have this many tattoos must mean that this man loves the way he looks. He’s not hiding them with a long shirt. We would love to know the stories behind each tattoo of his!
Canvas
This 69-year-old woman has turned her body into a canvas. And each one of her tattoos looks incredibly detailed and beautiful. She looks like a living work of art. And the way she is displaying them shows that she is proud of each tattoo she has on her skin. To sit through this many tattoos would take some extreme dedication and patience. The peacock surrounded by flowers on her back is stunning.
It doesn’t much more badass than this woman. We bet she gets all sorts of looks and stares when she goes out in public. We would probably stare too if we saw some this awesome.
Just a Number
Age is just a number when it comes to getting tattoos. This 92-year-old woman named Lilo is working on getting her upper arm tattooed. And while we may think that getting a tattoo may be too much for a woman of her age, you should know that she survived a concentration camp, the Holocaust, and a battle with Cancer. She’s the definition of strong and brave. She’s a real hero!
We can’t lie, this woman looks pretty cool. The glasses, the relaxed demeanor, it’s like the needle isn’t even bothering her. But if you’ve seen what she’s seen, a little needle is nothing.
Badass
This cool-looking tattooed lady is Whang-od. She’s a Filipina tattoo artist and is 104 years old! That’s insane. She has been tattooing since she was a 15-year-old girl and is now a respected village elder. What a life! The tattoos on her chest and arms are incredibly detailed. And her steely look shows that she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of them. That’s the definition of being a badass.
Imagine all the tattoos she’s done in her 104 years of life. It’s incredible that she has been dedicated to her craft for such a long time. We wish we could meet her!
First Time
This excited lady is in a good mood after receiving her 1st tattoo! After five years of battling cancer, 90-year-old Heather Brook decided to get a pink Cancer Research ribbon on her forearm to celebrate the achievement. It’s a simple tattoo, but it carries a lot of meaning. Just look at how excited she is to show it off to the camera. She’s going to love that tattoo for the rest of her days.
How cool is this woman? This is what tattoos are all about. They can be silly, intimidating, but they can also be incredibly meaningful. We love Helen and her excitement about her new tattoo!
Best Grandpa
This grandpa’s grandson wears a cochlear implant which helps aid his hearing. To make sure that his grandson didn’t feel alone in having to wear the implant, this grandfather got a tattoo of the same implant behind his right ear. This is something that he and his grandson will laugh and talk about for years to come. How awesome is that? We’re sure this young kid will love showing his grandpa’s tattoo to his friends.
This is so cool. Tattoos have the power to bring us together and this is proof! This is the ultimate way of showing someone that you love and care about them.
ER Nurse
This cool older lady Tanya is an ER nurse. She has alopecia, an ailment that causes those who have it to lose their hair. To claim back some of her identity, she went to her tattoo artist and asked to have a beautiful rose tattooed on her head. This highly detailed tattoo is as awesome as it is insane. She must have an incredible amount of patience to sit through all of this.
This one is crazy! She looks awesome, but we can’t stop thinking about how much pain she must have gone through! She has to be the coolest woman working at whichever hospital she’s a nurse.
Colorful
Here’s a cool-looking granddad hanging out with his granddaughter. His arms are covered in colorful tattoos, and he’s showing them off with pride. He even has a large one on his hand, and a few small ones on his fingers. They go perfectly with his cool beard. He’s showing everyone that tattoos are just as much for older people as they are for younger people. Looks like his granddaughter doesn’t seem to mind them.
Is this guy cool or what? The tattoos, the beard, the earring, and even the cast on his arm. We think he looks like a badass. We’d like to see the tattoos under the cast.
David
This woman takes being a fan to a whole new level. This badass woman named Jane has a tattoo of the rockstar David Bowie in the middle of her back. How cool is that? Getting someone’s face tattooed on your skin is an extremely brave thing to do. That shows some serious dedication and love for that person. We want to know she ever had the chance to show it to David Bowie?
This is an awesome tattoo. David Bowie has a huge fanbase that spreads all over the world. But to get a tattoo of him is taking being a fan to a new level!
Plant Tattoos
This 88-year-old woman with her colorful plant tattoos on her legs is also showing that getting some fresh ink is for everyone. She looks so calm and unbothered in the photos, and the tattoos look great on her. We’re sure there is some significant meaning to the tattoo, but we’re just admiring how badass she looks with them. Maybe this will be the first of many tattoos for her! We’ll have to wait and see.
This woman seems pretty cool. Those tattooing needles can cause a lot of pain, and she looks like she’s done it hundreds of times before. What an absolute legend of a lady!
The Cat
This cat probably means a lot to this man, but this tattoo is both well done and hilarious. Imagine loving an animal so much that you go out and get them tattooed on your skin. It’s a shame they won’t be able to understand what a tattoo is, but it doesn’t make it any less badass. But once again, this guy is showing that age is only a number when it comes to getting tattooed.
We all have animals that we love and adore. But would we all go as far as getting them tattooed on our skin to show our love? Who knows! This guy is awesome.
Whale
Here’s an older woman with an extremely detailed tattoo of a blue whale on her upper arm. Look at how happy she is! She thought of getting this tattoo for some time, and now that she has it, she is so proud of it. She’ll probably never wear a shirt with sleeves again! This is what tattoos are all about: creating memories and giving people something to cherish. We love this photo!
She looks so pleased with her tattoo. Maybe the blue whale is her favorite animal. Whatever the reason behind the tattoo, she looks good with it! Maybe she get more animal tattoos someday!
Stories
Now here’s a man that looks like he has a couple of stories to tell. He’s covered in tattoos from his waist up to his neck. We’re sure each one comes with an insane story. What makes this photo even better is that he’s dancing and enjoying himself while surrounded by people so much younger than him. This is how we all hope to look and act as we age. He’s an inspiration!
This man looks like he knows how to party. And those tattoos look pretty cool as well. We can understand why he doesn’t wear a shirt! He has those tattoos to show off.
No Newcomer
This older gentleman is no newcomer when it comes to getting tattooed. This fresh one on his bicep looks as though it’s joining many others on his arm. His face seems to be saying, “Yeah, this is nothing to me.” The knife through the skull is intense. He doesn’t seem like the type of guy you’d want to mess with. We’re sure he has all sorts of stories to tell about his tattoos.
We can only hope that we look this cool as we get older. This guy looks like the definition of relaxed. We’re sure this new ink is just the start of many more tattoos.
Elegant
This woman looks so elegant and poised. The beautiful purple flower on her arm looks so clean and well done. We like how proudly she’s showing it off. It’s gorgeous! There’s nothing to hide. She, too, is doing her part to show that age doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to having tattoos. They are just an expression of who we are as individuals. Her tattoo looks so stunning!
This is one of the more subtle tattoos, but it still sticks out. It matches perfectly with the demeanor she is displaying in the photo. It makes you want to know more about her!
Confidence
We’re not sure a cooler photo exists on the internet. This man, who is covered in tattoos all down both arms, is proudly and happily, carrying his grandchild in their car seat. What a photo! Not only do his tattoos stand out, but so do his silver shoes! This man knows how to grab attention. It takes some confidence to go out in public and show off your tattoos like this!
Now, this is badass. He has his shirt tucked in the front to show off his buckle, the tattoos, silver shoes, and he’s carrying his grandchild with no problem. What a legend!
Never Too Old
Here’s a man who looks like he lives life fearlessly. The grey hair, the tattoos up and down his body, and he’s sitting outside having a drink. He’s a perfect example that you’re never too old for tattoos. And if he’s walking around shirtless, he must be proud of each one. We would love to get the chance to hear from him to learn when he first started getting tattooed.
We’re a little envious of how cool this man looks. He’s not letting his tattoos or age hold him back. We can only hope that we gain that amount of confidence as we age.
Lifesaver
Tattoos aren’t always happy and joyful. The woman in this photo was part of a tribe whose members would be forced into slavery. To keep themselves from being selected, they often tattooed their skin to make them appear less desirable to those wishing to enslave them. These tattoos are incredibly detailed and eerily beautiful. They were also a lifesaver for this woman. We couldn’t imagine having to go through that situation.
Wow! The story behind these tattoos is insane. We can only hope that this woman was able to live a joyous and full life after that dark period! We wish her the best.
Head to Toe
This badass man is genuinely covered from head to toe in tattoos. They are bright, detailed, and he looks so proud of each tattoo that he has. We imagine that someone like this has probably been cool all their life, so getting attention brought to him by his tattoos is probably nothing at all. He even has massive nipple rings. This guy is nuts! There doesn’t look like there’s space for more ink on him.
We want to meet this man. This is the type of person that you would meet and never forget the experience. There need to be more people like him in the world!
Beavis
This guy clearly has a sense of humor. He’s 75-years-old with a tattoo of Beavis from the famed animated series Beavis and Butt-Head. We’re sure that this man is just full of jokes. We can only hope that our sense of humor doesn’t fade as we age. The best thing about this photo is the guy’s face. Look how proud he is to have a cartoon character tattooed on his shoulder.
We absolutely adore this guy. He looks like the type of person you meet in the store, and he ends up making your day. We’re sure his family laughs when they see his tattoo.
Party
This lady looks like she’s the life of the party. Look at that smile! She seems so excited. Her tattoos are interesting as well. And her shirt tells you what she’s all about. We’re sure that she’s been to some crazy places and seen some crazy things. The pink hair, big glasses, tattoos, and the shirt warning you not to judge her tells us that she may be a little different. We love that!
She seems so proud to be who is she. That’s awesome. And those tattoos on her arm look badass paired with the shirt and everything else she’s wearing. What a unique lady!
Maori
This woman is part of the Maori. They are the indigenous people of New Zealand. The tattoo on her chin is called a TaMoko and is not done by modern tattoo methods. Instead, there is a painstaking process where a needle is tapped instead of used by a motor to create the tattoo. It sounds painful but look at how proud she is. She knows her TaMoko looks sick. We love the hat as well.
We’re not sure that we have the guts to sit through the process she went through so more power to her. She looks awesome. We’d be lucky to meet a cool lady like this.
A Grandmother's Love
Here’s a heartfelt story. This older woman got a tattoo that her granddaughter thought of. It’s a gorgeous tattoo, and it just shows how anyone at any age is capable of getting a tattoo. It also shows the love between these two people. Hopefully, there will be more shared tattoos between this young woman and her grandmother. The one on her forearm looks great. It really suits her. They will remember this forever.
This is a great idea for any pairing of family members that want to share something special. They can have a constant reminder of their loved one on their skin!
Touching
This is a touching photo. This grandfather who is tattooed on his neck, arms, and just above his ear, is looking into this grandchild’s face. The child has no clue what tattoos are, but as they grow older, they will realize just how cool they make their grandfather look. The older gentleman is clearly in love with his new grandchild. This is a great photo. Maybe they’ll get matching tattoos someday.
Tattoos or not, this photo shows that a grandparent is always going to be obsessed with their grandchild. We hope they have many happy years together. Maybe he’ll get a tattoo of his grandchild!
Beauty
This woman has a pretty badass tattoo of a vine of plants and flowers that cover her upper neck, arm, and part of her chest. Looking closely you can see that she has a scar under her breast and is a survivor of breast cancer. Imbracing her beauty and story she go this tattoo instead of having cosmetic surgery. This is just beautiful. We'd love to ask her how long the entire thing took.
It's truly inspiring to see people like her showing that beauty has many different sides and should be embraced and shown to the whole world. She truly is a brave one.
Claw
We love this bearded old guy’s tattoo. It’s a bear claw with a really interesting and detailed design inside of it. It looks like it's brand new! Look at that smile. This guy is so cool. He’s got the awesome beard, cool glasses, and that fresh tattoo. He clearly has not let his age stop him from going out and getting the tattoo that he wanted. It looks great on him!
This man seems like he would be a great guy to meet. We would love to hear all about the idea behind his new bear claw tattoo. We’re sure it’s interesting!.
Showing off
Here’s an 87-year-old woman showing off her ink and letting everyone that sees it know that tattoos look great at any age. Bettie Boop riding on a motorcycle is pretty badass, and it looks like this lady realizes it. Look at how proud she looks to be showing it off for the camera. We’re sure that she has probably always been a cool lady, but this tattoo turns her coolness up a notch.
This is a really good photo and a really nice tattoo. The woman looks so happy about it. This is just more proof that tattoos are for everyone! We hope she gets more.
Collecting
We already share our parent's DNA, why not share similar tattoos? That is what this young man and his father have. We have to go with dad having the better tattoos out of the two. The chest tattoo is on another level. He looks like he’s been collecting his tattoos for decades. This is a pretty cool thing to share with your child. Maybe they’ll get matching tattoos one day!
Would you get a matching tattoo with your child or parent someday? We think it would be a cool way to bond and become closer with one another. It seems like fun!
Sweet
This older gentleman’s colorful tattoos are hard to miss. They look so detailed and nice. We are curious about the stories behind them. This guy also seems like a pretty decent human. He’s spending time with his granddaughter and helping her with her hair. That young girl will remember moments like this for the rest of her life. Her grandfather and his awesome tattoos will have a special place in her heart!
This is a really sweet photo. A tattooed, badass grandpa taking time to help his granddaughter with her hair. We’re sure she loves his tattoos as much as he does!
Unfazed
This tattooed grandpa looks completely unfazed by his crying grandchild. He’s definitely dealt with babies before. And look at how nice his tattoos on his arm are! His grandchild probably has no clue what the tattoos are, but as they get older, they will definitely come to love how awesome their tattooed grandpa looks. He’ll stick out from all the other grandpas! Someday he’ll probably tell them what each tattoo means to him.
We love photos like these! Tattooed people doing kind and sweet things. It helps to stop the idea that tattooed people are harsh and mean. Not this guy. He’s a lover!
Be Yourself
This older woman named Eva looks incredible with her tattoos. The blue flowers on her right arm and the purple ones on her left are incredible. We love the detail that’s been added to the vine connected the flowers. Our favorite part is definitely the butterfly though. She looks incredible with these tattoos. We hope she keeps showing them off for many years to come! She is a perfect example of how to be yourself.
This woman looks so cool and unbothered. We’re sure she gets stares all the time, but something tells us that she’s not worried about what others think. What a badass!
Record Holder
This is Charllote Guttenberg. She is 69-years-old and holds the record for being the most tattooed person in the world! Her entire body is nearly covered in ink. That’s insane! But each one of her tattoos looks so good! And she looks incredibly confident in these photos. We doubt there’s anything a person could say to make her regret getting these tattoos. She is like a living work of art!
It doesn’t get much more badass than Charlotte. She is an example of incredible determination! With so many tattoos on her body, we can’t help but wonder if she has a favorite one!