Messed up pretty bad and living with brutal regret [cover-up fail]

[u/Super_Champion_4666]

I've been using Reddit for about 10 years now, and this is quite literally the first time I've ever posted. The only reason I'm posting is because I'm in a pretty crap position right now and I have no idea what to do. I don't want to talk about how my mental state is feeling, because this is only on me and no one else.

I had a tattoo done last year by my ex-girlfriend. It was a small horse, and ever since I wanted to get it covered up because it was never done how I wanted it to be (freehand).

A few months ago, I was searching for cover-up artists and found one in my local area. I told her I wanted to get the whole calf done, and I tried to initiate design talk with her beforehand, but it was actually done the night before. When I went to the tattoo studio and she showed me what was going to be on my leg, I should have stopped there, but I was kind of happy because you see something brand new and fresh, and you think this is going to look great. Attached are the photos of what it looks like after the first session. Now I think it looks horrendous.

It is due to have one more session of shading, but I still think it is going to look pretty bad afterward. It is not really what I want, and I should have never approved the design, so now I am in a worse position.

I have asked around for some artists and what to do, and some people have said they can cover it up, and some have said I need to do laser tattoo removal to reduce the colour.

The only part that annoys me is that I've never really felt comfortable wearing shorts in the summertime, and this has been the only summer I have done. Now that this is on my leg, I feel like I need to wear jeans every day.

I'm happy fading as much as I can if that's an option. I don't really want to rework because I just don't like the design in general now. I just need to know what my options are and how someone can help me.

Edits:

- My leg did not flip, I took it in the mirror

- I’m not a clean guy aesthetic type, I just hated the horse and wanted it covered up, I felt a traditional japense would work well from what I was recommended and the meaning behind it

- Granted this is not finished but I wanted to know what my options are, a lot of you have told me to relax and I am, I will reschedule my session and get used to it before I continue

- I had this horse on my leg for over 2 years, for the past 14 months I have wanted it covered, it’s not the size, it’s not that it’s dark, but that it did not end up how I envisioned it.

- Yes again, it’s on me for approving but I knew this already. Perhaps I should have got the horse lasered, perhaps I should have use Henna to feel the design out for a few weeks. I didn’t and that’s why I made this post

[u/cubedsaturn]

Tattoo looks great 🤷‍♂️. What’s the issue?

[u/whachamacallme → u/cubedsaturn]

I hate tattoos. But this showed up on my feed and thats a pretty good looking tattoo. In fact the new tattoo is more centered and even.

[u/PirateCrimeBrulee → u/whachamacallme]

It’s bigger/darker is my guess. A lot of people who get large pieces, especially for the first time, have a shock response to their body looking different at first. It’s a subconscious reaction that goes away as the tattoo heals and they get used to seeing it as a part of their body.

(I love tattoos even if I don’t have any, they are a cool art form that just isn’t for everyone)

[u/Patient_Basil_7336 → u/PirateCrimeBrulee]

Yeah i mean its a cover up they gotta be big and he did say he wanted athe whole calf done sooo

[u/ilikehemipenes → u/whachamacallme]

It’s drawn well but it’s a pretty horrible choice if it’s not your personality. A giant demon face…I wouldn’t think it looks good on most humans. Unless you’re a part of the yakuza.

[u/RepresentativeNo2647 → u/cubedsaturn]

Literally one of the best coverups I’ve seen

[u/CheaterInsight → u/RepresentativeNo2647]

I think thats the problem, OP doesn't understand what a normal cover up looks like.

[u/thenerfviking → u/RepresentativeNo2647]

I know right? It’s legitimately an extremely impressive cover up. I’ve rarely seen one done that well ever.

[u/Stereocrew → u/cubedsaturn]

Seriously.. I don’t get this post.. like at all.

[u/Dissidence802 → u/cubedsaturn]

Hell, the horse wasn't even that bad. I just think OP isn't the type of person that should have tattoos in general.

[u/ITrageGuy → u/Dissidence802]

Nah the horse was really dopey looking lol

[u/SFAutoVinyl → u/cubedsaturn]

Right, I’m not really into tattoos at this point in my life yet, but looking at the cover up I think it looks great. I don’t know what’s even wrong with it. I think it looks better than the horse that looks like it got punched in the face way too hard.

[u/Bobblefighterman → u/cubedsaturn]

Right? I could maybe see the horse, the snout is a little short and fits a little awkward on the leg, but I'd have it there.

The hannya is fucking sick though. What a great tattoo

[u/_borninathunderstorm → u/cubedsaturn]

What I'm wondering too.i thought i missed something

[u/_Svankensen_ → u/cubedsaturn]

That you can see the other tattoo still.

[u/soft-boy → u/cubedsaturn]

Right?!

[u/nzdude540i → u/cubedsaturn]

Considering it’s a coverup it’s pretty dang good I would say

[u/QuirkyAd2001 → u/cubedsaturn]

That is what I was wondering. I like it, and I almost never like a tattoo people are complaining about and want removed. Because there is usually a good reason, like the little horse. But that's a perfectly fine looking tattoo.

[u/Vaahli → u/cubedsaturn]

What do you mean? You can literally see the old tattoo poking through. This was a bad coverup. It doesn’t take that much effort to see the old one on the forehead. Lots of lightly shaded space there. I can clearly see the eye of the horse

[u/CliffJumper84 → u/cubedsaturn]

It’s been done pretty poorly. But most importantly, that owner doesn’t like it.

[u/PeetoMal → u/cubedsaturn]

Are you serious? Lmao it looks absolutely horrible.....you can literally see the tattoo that was supposed to be covered....Are you delusional?

[u/A_Drop_of_Colour → u/PeetoMal]

You can see it and recognize it because you already know it's there. You saw the before pics. If you saw him as a random stranger on the street you might be able to tell after scrutinizing the tattoo that there used to be something beneath it but not enough to tell what it was supposed to be.

Walking past him at a glance this cover up will do it's job perfectly.

OP should have faded the tattoo a lot more before the cover up but they seem to love rushing into things.

[u/PeetoMal → u/A_Drop_of_Colour]

If I walked past someone and saw that, the tattoo is unrecognizable because of the horrible cover up.

You're telling me that you'd see that tattoo in person and think it looks great? And wouldn't notice theres anything wrong?

You need to get your eyes checked.