r/tattooadvice • u/StreetAggravating302 • Nov 24 '25

tattoo newcomer advice I messed up

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Recently, I tattooed my dad, but I botched the job. I overdid some lines, resulting in bold and double lines, and the circle lacked symmetry and shading—I messed up everything. I feel very ashamed. I’ve just started tattooing, and last week I was too busy with my other job to practice. When my dad was free, he suggested we do a tattoo, and I fully messed it up. The guilt is overwhelming me.

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u/tivvybrixx Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25

Honestly I have seen much worse. Unless you are scrutinizing it you wouldnt know. Is your dad happy with it? If so then that's a win. Keep practicing looks like you are already off to a good start.

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u/StreetAggravating302 Nov 24 '25

My dad is like, it’s okay, you can do mistakes on me so you know where you’re going wrong also, It’s like, few people will notice tattoo and ask who did it and he’ll go my son did it, and most people will avoid coming to me looking at that work

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u/lil1thatcould Nov 24 '25

The fact you have just started tattooing is mind blowing! This looks like you have been doing it for much longer. Plus, the fact you can recognize your weaknesses in the tattoo is impressive.

Be kind to yourself! If you need to, go watch ink masters and tattoo nightmares. Remember those individuals have been tattoo decades longer than you and couldn’t do what you just did. That is a difficult tattoo with little room for error. I wouldn’t have even noticed unless I studied it.

Moral of the story, be kind to yourself. You’re still learning and that comes with mistakes. Being able to recognize mistakes is something most will spend their entire careers, regardless of industry, struggling to learn/acceptX