For groomers with tattoos...

[bullylover21]

Spring is on its way and this will be my first warm season being a groomer. I have a few tattoos, 2 small ones (one on each ankle) and a large one on my back. Nothing to crazy. When I wear sleevless tops you can see part of the one on my back, and I like to wear capris so both ankle tattoos will be visible. I'm not sure if I should keep them covered up or not. I work at a pretty laid back place and I don't think my co workers will be offended, but more concerned about the customers. Has anyone out there ever had a problem with their showing tattoos?? I just want some feed back before I decide. Thanks.

[nicshred]

Hi ,
I will say all the clients seem to enjoy looking at my tattoos. I have seven tattoos though only two are seen everyday. Both my wrists are tattooed. Never has anyone said a bad word, many say how nice they are. ... Most all want to see them all. I have a huge wolf on my back and a bouvier on my leg the rest are seen only by me....hehehehe

Trish

[groomergrl]

The shop i last worked at, one girl had a HUGE tattoo on her shoulder. It was very .... not pretty. People , customers, talked about it all the time. That particular one was a detriment to her. I think it was a dragon or something. I have several tattoos. Only 2 of which are visible (ankle and back, coinsidentaly). I don't know.... my initial reaction is who cares, but if i think about it... i guess i might at least not let the one on my back be seen at work (ankle who cares, thats pretty common... plus mine is paw prints). If i happen to see a customer out and they see it , oh well. double oh well if they think differently of me.

[redbird]

depends

Its up to your boss, so ask first.
Beats being sent home to change.

At the daycare I worked at one teacher had tatoos of Winnie the pooh, and Eore (sp?) on her ankes. She actually had to wrap her ankles.
I am as straight laced as they come, and I even thought that was dumb.

[Raggs]

I've never had a problem with mine. My clients usually are interested in it and ask questions. So far I don't know of anyone who's been offended or anything. My clients see it all the time. It's on my upper right arm and I'm always wearing tank tops, even in winter. It sticks out just below my sleeve when I'm not wearing tank tops. I had a customer about 3 weeks ago pick up my sleeve to look at it and he asked me what it stood for. It's just a triton with a halo hanging off one of the spikes. No meaning behind it, just liked it. I'm a little good and a little bad is what I tell people.. LOL

Frankly if a customer is offended by a tattoo that isn't racial or discriminating in any way, then you don't really need that customer.

[rapuzzled]

Well, I don't have a tattoo, but I thought that I would throw my two cents in. I would think that there should be no problem as long as they are somewhat tasteful (maybe that's the wrong word, I'm not trying to imply anything with it, just saying that some tattoos may be offensive, religion, discrimatory, nudes, lol, etc. to some people). I have always enjoyed the fact that in our business we can have a little bit more of casualness (is that even a word?). I can go to work in jeans and bleached out scrubs, and it's ok, lol. A tattoo may not fly in the "professional" world, per se, but in our world I would think that it would be just fine!

[SiotehCat]

I have one tattoo on my back, but you cant see it unless im wearing a muscle shirt. I do have several facial piercings, though. Back when I could wear them, clients consisted mainly of older people. In South Texas, we get Winter Texans. A lot of these people even decide to stay full time. Well, a lot of these people who, from a distance, look conservative were actually freaky at heart. I thought it brought us closer. I work where they have a "dress code" now which means that im not allowed to have a personality or be an individual.

Sio

[kari]

Hi I'm mobile and my own boss.I have some tattoos on my legs and clients seem to ask me if I got a new one if they don't remember seeing it.I often get comments on how they like them but are afraid to get one.At first I was like you scared at what people thought.I have some clients that don't see my tattoos untill summer and are surprised that I have them.I would take a extra change of cloths incase your shop ses anything.I guess people usually judge me on how I treat them and thier pets.I always look proffesional reguardless the case.

[SCISSORHANDS]

Tattoo

I see nothing wrong with it, but probably because I have several on my body. My clients always see them as two are on my wrist and forearm. They love the pawprints. When a local newspaper did an article about my shop the reporter actually noticed my paw prints and in her article said "she loves animals in a permanent way" and went on to descibe my pawprints on my arm. So it works for me.

[Sweetpea]

I have 2 big tattoos on my back and another one nobody sees. As far as covering them up, I am indecisive. Tats are so common now, I expect to see them on people. On one hand, I would think that it's seems more professional and you are presenting yourself in a more mindful way because you are considering those people that might possibly get offended by them ( for whatever reason, to each his own). On the other hand, it shouldn't matter what's on your body, the focus should be on the qaulity of the groom and how you treat the pets. As I am starting my new mobile business, I will probably choose to cover them because first impressions are important. I am seeing this from the aspect of: what will people think of me and I want to be taken seriously and seen as a professional. I'm sure after clients get to know me, they wouldn't mind if I was more laid back but untill then, I want to present myself as professional as possible, I want it to be about the pets, not my tattoos.

[lbboop99]

I have 2. One on my lower back which no one sees and one on my ankle. The one on my ankle is Betty Boop. Most people think it's cute. I've never had anyone say anything negative about it.

[eli]

tatoos

I don't have any, and when I go in somewhere as a customer, It doesn't matter to me that the people who work there have them. Like some one else said seems more and more people have them.

I like to watch the Miami Ink show and have wondered what the bigger ones costs. Like my vet has a common Quarter Horse head on the small of her back. Say the size of my hand. How much does that cost?

I would like to have a memoriam of my son done maybe, but I watched my daughter get a heart (like 2") above her toes and towards the end she was feelin it!! I don't know if I could stand for that.

Erica

[dtailgroomer]

I have one on my ankle and no clients have ever said anything about it. I think you will be just fine!! The clients might show you theirs!!! lol

[Tanya B]

We are currently interviewing potential Manager/ Stylists at an upscale animal hospital here in Houston. We had a groomer come in for an interview with seven years experience. We dismissed her as a potential manager on her appearance alone. She was wearing short sleeves with very ugly tattoos on her upper arms, old blue jeans and she was missing her front teeth. I'm sorry to say that your appearance will getyou nowhere and everywhere in life. You limit your potential with face, arm, and neck tattoos. The more serious you take your appearance and the more business like you remain the more money you will make in the long run.

[pugnacious]

Well, I don't have a tattoo, but I thought that I would throw my two cents in. I would think that there should be no problem as long as they are somewhat tasteful (maybe that's the wrong word, I'm not trying to imply anything with it, just saying that some tattoos may be offensive, religion, discrimatory, nudes, lol, etc. to some people). I have always enjoyed the fact that in our business we can have a little bit more of casualness (is that even a word?). I can go to work in jeans and bleached out scrubs, and it's ok, lol. A tattoo may not fly in the "professional" world, per se, but in our world I would think that it would be just fine!

I agree with this 100%. I don't have a tatoo but I WANT one! lol I've never had one done before because I didn't know what to do. Now I know I want a simple pink paw print over my heart but am afraid of getting one because .. uh .. this is kind of a "bony" area! Anything done in good taste should be acceptable in our grooming world!