103 Photos Of Aged Tattoos That Show How The Ink Changes Over The Years

When you’re looking at tattoos on old people, and they are all faded and oddly shaped (the tattoos, not the people), you tend to instantly think about your own ink and - oh lordy! - whether they will look just as bad as the images you see in front of you. Well, we come bearing good news!

Usually, the old people with tattoos you meet had theirs done decades ago, in times of poorer tattooing hygiene, not as good inks, and usually by a not-so-professional artist. So, chances are, your own healed tattoos won’t look anything like that if you choose to get them done by a professional and stick to an aftercare routine.

But, you know, words are words, and it is completely understandable that you might need visual proof of these old tattoos that kept plenty well. That’s why we’ve made this nifty little list of tattoos after years of being done and still looking just as good as they did right after inking.

Sure, aged tattoos do change a bit as they settle into your skin or get affected by outside forces (nope, I won’t make a Star Wars joke here).

However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll be left with a badly faded tattoo where the dolphin that you got inked in the Bahamas over the 2012 spring break will look more like a grayish banana than the majestical sea mammal. Not at all!

This article is definitely living proof that a professionally done tattoo that has been taken care of is just as pretty after decades as when it was done.

But seeing is believing, right? So why don’t you scroll down below and check out the awesomely aged tattoos that we’ve rounded up in this list? You might be pleasantly surprised by just how good they look!

As usual, don’t be shy to upvote the tattoos that you liked the most and share this article with anyone who wants to get some ink done but is afraid they won’t keep looking awesome after years.

#1 Ten Years Aged. Fresh From April 2012 To May 2022

#2 My Granddads 65 Years Old Tattoo Done When He Was 15 For 50 Pence. Heart With Mum And Dad

#3 My Palm Tattoo, Aged Two Weeks

#4 Fresh Vs. Aged 8 Years

#5 Fresh In Studio Vs. Over 2 Years Healed

#6 February 2020 And February 2022

#7 Waited A Long Time For This

"So I was 25 when I originally had it done. Didn't have any instructions on how to take care of it when I did. So I treated it like crap. I finally got it redone on my 50th birthday. Both pictures are from the same day. The first time it was done in a small town in Saskatchewan and now I got it done here in Kelowna."

#8 Exactly One Year Today For My Jiji

#9 February 2017 Vs. February 2021

#10 Beaver Tattoo: Fresh vs. A Little Over 1 Year

"My arm hair adds a little uh, extra texture. I was afraid to get such a detailed piece at first but now I'm happy to see it age along with me. I regret not getting a good "just healed" photo!"

#11 Over 4 Years Healed

#12 My Favorite Little Pug, About Ten Years Aged. I Think It Help Up Pretty Well!

#13 30 Years Old And Re-Work This Month

#14 Calcifer Tattoo, Aged 2 Years

#15 Top Fresh 2016 - Bottom 2020

#16 Jiji From Kiki's Delivery Service, Nearly Two Years Old! Done By Donna Marshall At Rude Studios, Leeds

#17 Cello Tattoo Incorporating A 30 Year Old Scar. Done By Melody Grace At Anchored Ink In Eugene Oregon

#18 Tattoo Done In 1995 While I Was Working At Philadelphia Eddie's. Can't Seem To Find The Fresh Pics But Either Way This Is 27 Years Old In This New Photo

#19 2013 Vs. 2022

#20 White Ink Tattoo Fresh And 4 Years Later

#21 Fine Line Pet Portrait Tattoos 1.5 Years Healed

#22 Queen Bee Tattoo, Aged 12.5 Years

#23 Miminalist Solar System Tattoo. Fresh And 2 Years Later

#24 The Flash Family And Batman Done By Crispy Lennox - Fresh In 2010 Vs. 2022 (Proof That Colours Hold Up When Cared For)

#25 Fine Line Tattoo Fresh Vs. Healed 1.5 Years

#26 Fresh Vs. 5 Years Old

#27 My Father Passed Away. Today Is His Birthday And He Always Wanted Us To Have Matching Tattoos. Done By Chip At Olde Tyme In GA

#28 Complete Overhaul Of My 8 Year Old Flowers. Saga Maria At Valkyrie Tattoo In Dallas

#29 Neotrad Floral Stag Thigh, 9 Years And Fresh

"Fresh photo was taken after the second session, sadly don't seem to have any of just after it was freshly finished! There are some blowouts and a little stretching as my weight has changed, but I'm still thrilled with how well it's held up after close to a decade!"

#30 Aged 9 Years

#31 5 Years Healed Palm Tattoo By Walkerx

#32 5 And A Bit Years Later And Still Handsome As Ever

#33 Fresh Vs. 10 Months Later. My First And Only Tattoo For Now

#34 3 Years Difference - Fresh In 2019 Vs. Now In 2022

#35 Fresh (2019) And Now (2022)

#36 10 Year Aged Vs. Fresh Touch Up And Improvement (Different Artists, Fresh By

#37 3 Years Healed Over Scars

#38 3.5 Years. Handpoked Tattoo, No Machine Used

#39 Fresh Vs. Just Over A Year Heale

#40 10 Years Apart

#41 Fresh Vs. 1 Year

#42 Bold Will Hold About 2 Years

#43 Fresh 2017 Vs. 2022. One Of My Favorite Tattoos

#44 6 Year Old Blackberries, Fresh In Shop 2017 Vs. 2022, It's Seen Some Sun For Sure

#45 First Tattoo At 18. Fresh (September 2018) And Now (January 2022), Aged 3 Years 4 Months

"I didn't go to the best artist, but I think it held up well despite the inconsistencies in the line work. I plan to get it reworked eventually."

#46 Fresh Vs. 6 Years Old

#47 1 Year Old

#48 Toasted Marshmallow Tattoo, Just Over A Year Old Now

#49 10 Years Old, 2012 To 2022. This Is A Really Cool Sub, I Love Seeing How All The Different Artwork Ages!

#50 Healed 6 Years! Fresh 2016, Now 2022

#51 Fresh Vs. 8 Years Later

#52 Left Fresh, Right After 5 And A Half Years

#53 Fresh And 10 Year, Old Traditional Tattoo

#54 My Mom Has Had This Rose For 46 Years

"It got sun constantly and she did not wear sunscreen when she was young! It was originally red with green leaves."

#55 December 2020 Vs. January 2023

#56 Fine Line Mircorealism Chest Piece, 1 Year

#57 12 Year Brian Froud Tattoo Rework Before And After

"12 years old and faded. If I could go back I would have gotten him a bit bigger so those small details would have held."

#58 Bamboo Tattoo Done In Thailand. I Still Love It But This Is What Happens To Fine Line Tattoos!

#59 2 Years Ago Vs. Now. What Do You Think, Do I Need A Touchup?

#60 2016 And 2020

#61 Fresh/Healed Photos 7 Years Apart (August 2015 And October 2022)

#62 Fresh Vs. 2 Years Aged

#63 June 2020 To August 2022: 2 Years And 170 Pounds Of Weight Loss

#64 10 Years

#65 4 Years Old - 2018 Vs. 2022

#66 My Father's Tattoo, Aged 9 Years. And His First And Only Tattoo

#67 Some Album Art I Got As A First Tattoo After A Little Over 5 Years!

#68 Fine Line 3 Years Healed

#69 Fresh Vs. 2 Years Later (With 3 More Added Fresh Underneath)

#70 5 Years Healed!

#71 Got Sent Some Photos Of A Rose Piece I Did In San Diego In 2018

#72 My Dad Has Had This Snake On His Arm Since I Was Born. I’m Now 32, And I Have A Snake Of My Own. It Lives On!

#73 First Tattoo- 4 Years Ago Today And Now

#74 My Dotwork Tattoo After 4.5 Years

#75 Patch Tattoo Aged 3 Years

#76 My Wolf Tattoo, Left Is 2017, Right Is 2020

"3 years later and I’m disappointed, but I should’ve mentioned, that this was a piece started by an apprentice. Just never finished because she left my city."

#77 A Tale Of Two Arms, 2018/2020