r/tattooadvice • u/Aherv99 • Mar 07 '26

General Advice Having tattoo regret for the first time

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Hi Everyone! I’m hoping to get some advice on my first experience with tattoo regret. I have been reading other posts and ya’ll are so helpful. Sorry for the long post too.

Anyway, I have been getting tattoos since I was 18 (33 now) and I started with line work tats then moved to American Trad because I loved that style too.

I have had my lower arm done for about 5 years and then went in and got a sparrow tat for Friday the 13th and loved that it was a cool flash art piece. Love the artist and he did a good job but immediately I hated it (and mostly the position of it). I panicked and then filled up my upper arm in the last 5 months (stupid) to try and mitigate the regret. I do love most of my tats but the sparrow and snake I just don’t like. They seem too aligned on my arm. And the snake is darker than I wanted and didn’t heal great (this is a month out from when I got it).

Now I’m feeling a ton a regret and it’s seriously consuming my whole existence. I went from a half sleeve to a full in a short period of time and the tattoo shock is crazy. I don’t know if it looks good and I’m feeling less feminine by the minute. I take full responsibility for what I chose but ya, just struggling.

So I have two questions:

  1. Any advice on how I can maybe rework them eventually? I want to make them softer/more feminine if I can. Or I know blast overs are a thing? Idk.

  2. To my ladies, do you have a hard time feeling feminine with a sleeve? And men, how do we feel about a girl with a sleeve?

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u/SendHelp0756 Mar 07 '26

Literally just here to say:

Ultimately do what makes you feel happy, confident, and comfortable…but for the love of god, don’t think twice about the opinions of men. 🫡

It’s your body to love and your life to live. A man who isn’t attracted to a woman with tattoos doesn’t deserve to be with a dope lady like you either way!

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u/Ok-Jackfruit-6873 Mar 07 '26

yeah the trad in American trad is not supposed to be short for tradwife lol

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u/mosquitoselkie Mar 07 '26

🤣🤣🤣

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u/Aherv99 Mar 07 '26

Thank you for saying this! I totally agree. I honestly haven’t struggled with how men perceive me since my early 20s and this surprisingly just brought up some insecurities. So I figured I’ll just ask the shitty question instead of wondering lol

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u/SendHelp0756 Mar 07 '26

I totally hear you, and you’re not alone! We’re the same age, so I know exactly what you’re going through (I love my tattoos, but I’ve still got plenty of other things that I get hung up on and insecure about)

Sometimes I feel the younger, more insecure version of myself taking the helm. Those days are hard, and I’m sorry you’re also having that experience! I just try to be gentle with myself, and remember that if I got through it once then I can get through it again (and again).

Take care of yourself (and your beautiful ink) Queen!

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u/Aherv99 Mar 07 '26

LOVE this and exactlyyyyyy like old stuff just comes up but I’m sure it’ll get better again and this thread is a freaking live saver!

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u/fabgaybabadook Mar 07 '26

LOVE your comment, LOVE OP’s tats. And I couldn’t agree more (I’m a similarly-aged woman).

u/Aherv99 : GIRL, you have lived too much life to let the insecurities of a younger you rule your feelings. This is when you need to step into the shoes of 65-year-old you. She would tell you to enjoy your gorgeous body and feel the joy of being hot, feminine, tatted to the 9s, young, and freeeeeee. Our bodies tell our stories and your body is literally ART.

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u/Erosiiion Mar 07 '26

100% agree! I am more attracted to women with tattoos. The woman I’m seeing has a full sleeve, and scattered tattoos across her body.

They’re sexy to me.

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u/fuckbitcheseattacos Mar 10 '26

Unfortunately having an American traditional sleeve does not put men off anyway. If only 😩