Statistically speaking, 40% of the population under the age of 39 has at least one tattoo. Though this permanent form of self-expression is becoming more prevalent with each passing year, they’re still frowned upon by most childcare-industry employers. If you’re a nanny with ink, here are nine ways to keep your artwork hidden from your charges.
- Specially Formulated Makeup – There are several different brands of makeup commercially available that are designed specifically to cover tattoos. Most are water resistant and come in a wide array of shades, making it easier to match your skintone.
- Strategically Placed Jewelry – For small tattoos, carefully selected jewelry or accessories can block them from view.
- Long Sleeves – Art lovers with arm tattoos can make a habit of wearing long sleeves on work days to keep them out of their charges’ sight. During the summer months, look for lightweight but opaque fabrics to avoid overheating.
- Tucked-In Shirts – Those ubiquitous lower-back tattoos can be easily covered by wearing shirts long enough to tuck in, and doing so. When testing out a new shirt, squat as if you were getting down to eye level with a small child; if the shirt stays tucked in, you’re good to go.
- Socks and Closed Shoes – Sandals aren’t an option for nannies with foot tattoos. Closed footwear and socks can keep them covered, though this might present a problem for outings to a pool or beach.
- Bandages – Many people with tattoos opt for bandages as covering, though this will create the need to repeatedly explain that you’re not actually injured. Adhesive bandages come in a variety of sizes, while athletic-style bandages are ideal for covering wrist and ankle tattoos.
- High Collars – Tattoos on the neck can be covered with high collars and carefully styled hair; a low ponytail paired with a collar will do a great job of covering ink on the back of the neck or base of the skull.
- Opaque Tights – Another option for covering leg and ankle tattoos are opaque tights. These once-conservative choices are enjoying a trendy spike at the moment, making them a great way to cover skin art without being obvious.
- Cuffs or Wristbands – Leather wristbands and cuffs are also a hot fashion choice that can offer subtle coverage of a small wrist tattoo. Choosing a style that has at least an inch of clearance on either side of your tattoo will prevent visibility when the cuff shifts with regular movement.
When accepting a nanny position, it’s a good idea to have an open conversation about the placement of your tattoos and how your employers would prefer that you handle the subject. Some parents may not require you to cover them, while others will expect you to keep them hidden at all times. In the event that a tattoo is inadvertently exposed to one of your charges, you should have an agreed-upon answer prepared in advance.
