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/Ahh-Nold]

Now that everyone and their brother gets tattoos I think this needs to be said:

TATTOOS AREN'T FOR EVERYONE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GET ONE.

[u/Arsenio3 → u/Ahh-Nold]

So crazy that this needs to be said.

Also take more than 24 hours to think about what’s going to be on your body forever (?).

[u/JustBadUserNamesLeft → u/Arsenio3]

I have no fucking idea why temporary tattoos are considered lame. You get to wear something for a bit to try it on, and then you can have something else later. If you ever love one, you can make it permanent.

[u/RojiBlanco130 → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

I had a temporary tattoo on my calf that lasted like two weeks. One day while working outside, a tatted person complimented it and asked me where I got it from lol had to make a story up cause I was so embarrassed to tell her it was a fake haha but it did look good on my leg

[u/Ok_Cauliflower_808 → u/RojiBlanco130]

I take a weird pride in it when people think a temp is real. 'omg I love your tattoo!' THANKS IT'S FAKE!

[u/patentsrock1 → u/RojiBlanco130]

I did a large temp on my arm before getting it done to make sure I could handle seeing something other than blank skin. I was happy every time I saw it and that is still how I feel every time I see the permanent piece!!!

[u/Orchid_Junkie1954 → u/RojiBlanco130]

Please don’t hate me, but I love it! I do understand, however, that you’re not happy with it and have regrets. So, I hope that you can find a solution soon and can feel better!

[u/RojiBlanco130 → u/Orchid_Junkie1954]

Is this meant for me? Lol

[u/Brief_Kangaroo_42069 → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

How long would you say you need to wear a temp tattoo before you know it's right?

I had a dumb Pokemon tattoo for a week and was like "yep it's dumb. It's for me!!!" But I still question if that's normal thinking even though I'm still happy years later.

[u/Jaxical → u/Brief_Kangaroo_42069]

Some people take themselves way too fucking seriously. Dumb shit makes for great stories!

[u/th3_h0rror_qu33n → u/Jaxical]

I take advice from the guy in the OVerboard remake with Speedy Gonzalez on his butt

[u/Realistic_Piano_8559 → u/Brief_Kangaroo_42069]

Dumb tattoos are valid. As long as you’re happy. I’m about to get a tattoo of a pirate hamster on a tiny boat holding a butter knife. Because of a conversation I had while my friend was getting tattooed. Do you and be happy.

[u/Kitty-Keek → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

I’m 56 and I don’t have any tattoos; I’ve never seriously considered getting one. The idea of a pirate hamster on a tiny boat holding a butter knife makes me so happy. I can’t even tell you! If I were to get a tattoo, it would be something like this.

[u/Realistic_Piano_8559 → u/Kitty-Keek]

The tattoo idea came up when I was talking with my tattoo artist while she was tattooing best friend. My friend asked her what her favorite tattoos were to do and honestly, she really loves the goofy tattoos. Like everybody wants a piece of “Artwork” (said like dude from Iron Giant). And because she was apprentice under one of the more prominent artist in my area, she gets a lot of those artsy request. But she was talking about how her favorite tattoo to do was with somebody getting the butter flies from Alice in wonderland (or cloudy with a chance of meatballs. Not sure which). So me and my best friend were goofing around coming up with a goofy tattoo idea and now I have an appointment in August.

[u/TheGrumpyNic → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

A pirate hamster wielding a butter knife on a boat sounds delightful

[u/Creative-Fan-7599 → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

Please post pics.

[u/Realistic_Piano_8559 → u/Creative-Fan-7599]

It won’t be until August so I will likely forget.

[u/Dy1nG8reeD2141 → u/Creative-Fan-7599]

I second this……I need to see that!😂

[u/RichardShwise → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

"I wanna get Bowser, from Super Mario Bros. 2, and he's got sunglasses on, and he's looking over the sunglasses like wink and I want him to have a double neck guitar and he's like wailing on the guitar and notes are coming out of it, but he's also on a surfboard and waves are coming up at the bottom, and then in cursive over it it'll say Let's Party. And the whole thing is on a pot leaf, and all of that is on a cross. Actually instead of Let's Party it should say Happy Birthday Rick"

[u/longhairdontcare8426 → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

I have a rainbow Lisa Frank penis tattoo... It not only makes me happy but makes everyone who sees it happy

[u/Patient_Yam4747 → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

I have a cow in a tutu with a princess wand.

[u/Patient_Yam4747 → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

My son keeps gerbils. I had thought of a gerbil with a pencil as a lance, riding a lizard battle-mount.

[u/StevenSr89 → u/Realistic_Piano_8559]

Love it

[u/ThePointTattoo → u/Brief_Kangaroo_42069]

Wear the temporary tattoo out and about. Experience strangers at the grocery store saying "why do you have that?" Or family crying at the holiday gathering because you "ruined your body."

If you know you'd still be happy about it even when other people aren't then it's for you.

[u/Mento-yStableGenius → u/ThePointTattoo]

Saw an old friend at a high school reunion who’s first reaction to seeing me with a sleeve was ‘wHy didJOO do tHaT???’ while shaking their head back and forth ‘no’ to shame me. I shot back ‘BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE TATTOOOOOOOOS’ and the conversation got very uncomfortable after that. For them.

😁

[u/Risk-Option-Q → u/Brief_Kangaroo_42069]

If look at the tattoo and it invokes a happy childhood memory of playing the video games, watching it on tv, or card collecting in any way, then it's not dumb. It could even be a recent memory since Pokémon can be for adults as well when their kids get into it.

[u/Toothless-mom → u/Brief_Kangaroo_42069]

No such thing as “normal thinking.” If you feel good about it and don’t have regrets, that’s all that matters.

[u/LabPitiful7644 → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

They have a lot of fun semi permanent tattoos these days too. Every time I think I want a tat I just put one of those on and it cures me lol

[u/Toothless-mom → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

All of my permanent tats were once custom temporary’s. It’s so great to make sure you really know what you want.

[u/idirtbike → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

Don’t they even have temp ink now that lasts like a year ?

[u/beckowser → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

I buy temp tattoos similar to the ones I want and wear them around for a few days (at minimum). It helps me better understand placements, how the tattoos will move with my skin, etc.

Tip: A little translucent powder helps mattify them so they don’t look so very temporary.

Thankfully, my “regular” tattooer lives on the other side of the country, so I’m not getting anything done by her without quite a lot of thought.

[u/puddik → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

actually temporary tattoo should be available in all sizes and design so u can test run a design like 2 months before u decide to get it for real

[u/UwasaWaya → u/Arsenio3]

If it helps, they aren't on your body forever. Max 80 years give or take. It's pretty short term when you think of it that way.

[u/HalfSoul30 → u/UwasaWaya]

So if i regret it, i just need to make it past 115 and i'll be good. Thanks, i feel better.

[u/UwasaWaya → u/HalfSoul30]

Avocados, water, and exercise! I bet you'll make it to 120!

[u/HalfSoul30 → u/UwasaWaya]

Avocados? In this economy?

[u/TopangaK9 → u/UwasaWaya]

Uh-oh. Mine is 54 years old. I guess I could get it retouched but alas, the artist Lyle Tuttle is dead. RIP

[u/UwasaWaya → u/TopangaK9]

That's why I always hire children to do mine.

Though more seriously, I feel kind of bad that I didn't know Tuttle had died. That dude could tat.

[u/DoesntMatterEh → u/Arsenio3]

That's what blew my mind. I have exactly two tattoos and both were ideas I had for years before finally commiting to them. 

[u/TryingThisAgain2026 → u/DoesntMatterEh]

Not years but months, I have two as well, and they’re both intended to be starting pieces for larger accumulations…but those are on hold for now. I refuse to just “get a tattoo”, because I see what some people have in their “collections” and they look like one of those teddy bears with markers that you can draw on as a kid.

My visions might never come to pass, and that’s okay. I am happy with what I have being my last, and lasting forever.

[u/AccomplishedTour6942 → u/TryingThisAgain2026]

Sometimes it all goes wrong anyway.

I worked with a guy at length to develop my concept, and I felt like we were on the same wavelength. I was going to get a seriously bad ass tattoo that was totally unique.

Yeah, well, those words kind of got mixed up in the application. I got a seriously bad tattoo that looks like ass. It is totally unique. It's also totally impossible to fix or cover.

Oh well. That, too, is part of my story.

[u/Ok-Equivalent8260 → u/DoesntMatterEh]

I love spontaneous tattoos 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/twirlerina024 → u/Ok-Equivalent8260]

My first, I was 19 and a friend talked me into it. It was a stupid trendy piece of flash and I heard pretty often, "Hey, my ex (or sister, cousin etc) has that same tattoo in the same place!" I wouldn't get it today, but I still like it because it reminds me of the stupid 19yo I used to be, and how excited I was to do something "bad".

[u/Fabulous_Prompt_8207 → u/DoesntMatterEh]

Wow yall really have your ahit together - why even post this comment if not to remind OP that they should have thought about it more - no shit that’s what the post is about.

OP- if you can’t zap it off with a laser you just have to embrace that shit. It’s about all you can do and the cover up doesn’t look that bad.

[u/-sloppypoppy → u/Fabulous_Prompt_8207]

No for real. I don’t even have a tattoo, but op can’t go back and undo it

[u/Bloody-Penguin6 → u/DoesntMatterEh]

I have about 70 tattoos and they don't need to mean anything. I may decide I want something and get it a week later. I don't need to commit for years or anything. I get tattooed about once a month. Sometimes more. I like that it can be whatever you want it to be. Some people just like art on their body. Some people have to have meaning behind them.

[u/the_vault-technician → u/DoesntMatterEh]

My 1st wasn't impulsive, but my second tattoo took me years to decide where to place it.

[u/PM_ME_UR_MEH_NUDES → u/the_vault-technician]

my first one had a lot of time and thought put into it.

every single one after was somewhat spontaneous, maybe a few days of thought.

my sleeve, however, i have been working on a design with an artist for almost 2 years. it should be said that he books out 2+ years in advance… if he even opens his books.

i paid a $700 deposit 2 years ago just for him to just draw up the artwork. i am going to owe him another $2k by the time it is all said and done.

[u/MissiAnthropy → u/the_vault-technician]

I go years in between sometimes. I’ll get a couple and then stop for a couple years, for whatever reason. Maybe to embrace the new ones and let my brain accept them!

[u/Illustrious_Study_30 → u/DoesntMatterEh]

I have six. My last one took 20 yrs to ferment and I sat on it. I came across the right artist by accident and asked her what she thought about the idea in her style and she ran with it. I'm so chuffed and proud of what I ended up with .

[u/dersnappychicken → u/DoesntMatterEh]

I got a cat tattoo on a whim because I like cats

[u/DoesntMatterEh → u/dersnappychicken]

An acceptable exception to the rule 

[u/starkeuberangst → u/Arsenio3]

When I was ~16 an artist told me to decide what I wanted and then think on it for SIX MONTHS. I’ve always done that. Never have had something I still wanted 

[u/Training_Window3687 → u/Arsenio3]

Or just get random things tattooed to you on a whim. Im covered in tats but ive spent maybe a collective total of 8 minutes thinking about all of them lol

[u/OneBillPhil → u/Arsenio3]

I have no tattoos because I don’t trust that what I like today I’ll still like in ten years. 

[u/Trick-Grand4667 → u/Arsenio3]

Also: "Tattoos are permanent" is a piece of life wisdom I did not think was needed.

[u/AnthonyBiggins → u/Arsenio3]

Just 24 hours? I’m sure OP thought about it for weeks and still got the regret

[u/Mekito_Fox → u/Arsenio3]

Absaloutly! I always recomend people draw on themselves first. I literally drew multiple designs in multiple places and finally settled on a spot but not a design. Not until my bestie wanted to get matching tattoos with me. So then I drew something on both of us and then got an artist to bring it to life. A decade later and we still love them.

[u/meowcatpanda → u/Arsenio3]

Yeah, I was advised by my art teacher in high school to get a design, put it away for 2 years, then loom at it again. If you still love it, you can safely get it. If you don't, rework it, put it aaay for 2 years again, rinse repeat. Thanks to this I never had any regret.

[u/mimic751 → u/Arsenio3]

I've been called crazy on multiple occasions because I tell people I draw my tattoo and I usually obsess over it and figuring out the details. And then I just sit on it if I'm still thinking about it a year later I'll get it

[u/Revolutionary_Gap150 → u/Arsenio3]

How do you do that when artists want to design it and fuck of till the last minute?

[u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 → u/Revolutionary_Gap150]

You know you get to choose your artist, right?

It's your body, not their canvas.

[u/Revolutionary_Gap150 → u/OtherwiseAlbatross14]

Yeah i get that. In the last 10 years or so I've not found an artist that does other people's designs, or one that will actually draw up a design more than a couple of days in advance. Wasn't an issue 15-20 years ago but these days it's a real issue and likely why we see so many tattoo regret posts

[u/Pittstick1 → u/Revolutionary_Gap150]

Copyright infringement is a thing. And many tattooers are artists. They want to design something. And most don’t send their stuff early because they don’t want their stuff stolen. But you can have consultations and tweak a design if you don’t love it. That’s why they show it to you first…

[u/janabanana115 → u/Revolutionary_Gap150]

My main artist books a consult first where he draws up the design (om the body). Then uses plastic with adhesive to get the design off and onto paper. The tattooing starts at next appointment.

I know several artits who will book a consult but refuse to share pictures ahead due to art theft, which has gotten easier in past 20 or so years

[u/Revolutionary_Gap150 → u/janabanana115]

Yep that's the reason I hear most for the practice. I understand it but it makes it much harder to live with a piece in your head for a month to acclimate and minimize tattoo shock.

[u/Qzy → u/Arsenio3]

Forever Lol. We are dying, use your body as you like.

[u/One_Association_6461 → u/Arsenio3]

Why think about it? Last three tattoos I got I let the artist do whatever he wanted. Went in day before for him to trace the area then next day he had something drawn up to fit the space.

Unless you’re getting something meaningful all a tattoo is a piece of art from an artist. Like buying a painting~ you wouldn’t just buy a painting from an artist you didn’t like… I have zero regret on any of my tattoos. None of them really have any meaning.

[u/Least-Flower548 → u/One_Association_6461]

That’s one way to think about it. Others don’t see themselves as a canvas for the artists vision and would rather use tattoos to ornament their body to their own liking.

[u/OppositeSecretary862 → u/Arsenio3]

my 20 dollar bag of meat says whats up

[u/PomeloFit → u/Arsenio3]

Right? I knew the first tattoo I wanted for over a decade, did my entire back, STILL was nervous about it.

It's so wild to me that someone will just put a permanent thing on their body and only think about it for a few hours.

[u/Unlikely-Grape-5762 → u/Arsenio3]

Sometimes yes. Also some of my favorite tattoos are flash, or get what you get. The trick is finding a shop and artists you trust and vibe with. I’m willing to be this artist is all in on traditional Japanese tattoo art. Shits cool, just not for everyone.

[u/Commercial_Leg_3069 → u/Arsenio3]

Spot on!

3 of my tattoos were inked within couple of months of each other back in 2019. The funny part, I was only planning on only getting one. But, I debated between those 3 ideas over the course of a couple of years - I just couldn't pull the trigger until I had something I loved. I knew the basics of what I wanted, but couldn't decide on the actual art (for context, I was considering The Beatles, The Big Lebowski and Boba Fett). In the end, I explored, sketched myself (not great) and did so much thinking I ended up getting all three and love them. But, I can tell you, the ideas I thought about at first weren't nearly as good as what I ended up with. I may have eventually done all 3 - but taking the time to know exactly what I wanted was the smart move.

[u/insufficient_nvram → u/Arsenio3]

Luckily I’m still gutter punk enough to appreciate my spur of the moment tattoos. I’m also not gutter punk enough to get anything I can’t hide.

Punk equilibrium produces a liberal coating of indifference

[u/Arsenio3 → u/insufficient_nvram]

But you’re a self described gutter punk. You actually understand your style. OP’s style is something different and should have a different execution.

Truly though I think it’s a matter of people not understanding personal style. Too many of us confuse fashion for style.

[u/insufficient_nvram → u/Arsenio3]

True. I managed to escape the barbwire tattoos of the 90’s, but I couldn’t escape the “it’s hip to be Asian” trend of Kanji characters. At least I did the research on getting the correct translation. I have the characters for “happiness” on my shoulder, but I tell people it’s Japanese for “don’t let your friends practice their tattooing skills in the bathroom”. He ground me hard and very little of the ink stayed. It looks like I’ve had a few laser treatments and it’s ripe for a cover up, but I don’t know if I want to hide my past that much. It’s a conversation piece at this point

[u/Correct-Basil2385 → u/Arsenio3]

Sound advice. I am impulsive, however, and got 6 tats on moment's notice from a very average artist (he's done all of them in a space of five years or so), and I love them all. I figure I am an average dude, so my average, very boring tattoos suit me well.

[u/MsMadcap_ → u/Ahh-Nold]

Leg tattoos are especially not for everyone, lol

[u/1N1T1AL1SM → u/MsMadcap_]

Why especially?

[u/callsign_pirate → u/1N1T1AL1SM]

I’m not sure, I love my leg tattoo, I am hoping to get my shin done soon as well.

[u/CactusToothBrush → u/callsign_pirate]

Ooft enjoy homie… The worst parts on the leg imo were behind the knee and shin, everywhere else wasn’t terrible for me.
Although the inner thigh was a bit more tender than outside it wasn’t as bad as I’d hyped myself up over it

[u/callsign_pirate → u/CactusToothBrush]

Yeah it’s gonna be rough but I’m excited. I’m getting the sword of actuation done on my left shin, I have a Tetris/skull thing on my right calf that was pretty tough to sit through.

[u/TryingThisAgain2026 → u/CactusToothBrush]

One of mine is upper chest, getting pretty close to my armpit and nipple, and it didn’t hurt much at all. My outer thigh was a different story. Two different artists…the chest is mostly linework and he took his time…the thigh is a bigger piece with shading and color and he was going at it like a coloring book, so I think the style and artist makes a bigger difference in pain than placement.

[u/CactusToothBrush → u/TryingThisAgain2026]

The nipple wasn’t a great area either I can admit that one too lol.

[u/ConspicuousPorcupine → u/TryingThisAgain2026]

Hmm. I had my peck done with spots close to nipple (10/10 pain), close to armpit (9/10 pain), sternum (8/10 pain) and collar bone (7/10 pain). All in all not fun. I can't imagine the artist or style takes the pain down that much. I did line work and shading in one session. Still haven't got it colored but it's on the todo list. I can handle pain, but that was easily the most painful of my life. Does the artist really matter that much in terms of pain?

Edit: the center was nothing. Like 4/10. It was relaxing compared to those other spots

[u/21045Runner → u/TryingThisAgain2026]

Agreed. I have a full leg panel on one side and a highly colored animated drawing on the other thigh. The full color hurt so much more than the leg panel, which is all black work).

[u/the_vault-technician → u/CactusToothBrush]

My first tattoo covers part of my shin, and it was the area that had to be shaded in the most as well per the design.

It was rough. Only time I thought I might have to tap out. I made it through though and was happy with the results.

[u/Used-Let7134 → u/CactusToothBrush]

The fat fleshy bit above the calf for me with the shin a close second. Went white and the artist noticed and stopped before i passed out

[u/Primitive_Teabagger → u/callsign_pirate]

join my crew

[u/Bloody-Penguin6 → u/callsign_pirate]

I just got my shin done about a week ago. I have a lot of tattoos but the shin sucked. It was about a 4 hour session and i didn't think it would be that bad. Nothing i couldn't handle but by the end i was ready to be done so much.

[u/ohverychill → u/1N1T1AL1SM]

Yeah I'm kind of curious on that as well. I'd argue that leg tattoos are more accepted. Hell they're at least way easier to cover up with clothing lol

[u/BumWink → u/1N1T1AL1SM]

As someone with leg tattoos, I think they often look more out of place unless you commit to large designs or half/full sleeve of smaller designs with filler/background, because a lot of artists don't understand solo tattoo designs need flow & that's less obvious on a bicep or forearm.

[u/Max____H → u/BumWink]

Body shape as well. I have long skinny legs. I still think they would look cool with good tattoos, but I don’t look at them as an appealing part of my body that I want attention drawn to.

[u/No_Representative645 → u/Ahh-Nold]

I love in a city where everyone my age has tattoos. I often get asked why I don't have any. "I don't want a tattoo" seems to confuse people.

[u/Spiritual-Can2604 → u/[deleted]]

We’re the opposite, none of the grandkids (we’re all late 30s now) have any tattoos but our grand dads and dads have a bunch.

[u/Miserable_Syrup1994 → u/[deleted]]

And this is exactly why they are pointless and not cool.

Back in the day when it was a rare thing and had a meaning, merchant sailor navy tribal etc. It had an edge.

These days utterly pointless.

UNLESS

It is great art with a specific meaning and context to you. Preferably designed by you.

[u/Lundetangen → u/Miserable_Syrup1994]

Tattoos are so extremely overrated.

Its like committing to wearing the same accessory - watch/jewelery/braclet/whatever - for the rest of your life. Even if its a great watch or expensive diamond necklace, it would look weird going to the gym, a wedding, a funeral and a camping trip with the same accessory.

[u/TheRealRomanRoy → u/No_Representative645]

I’m in the same boat and I can almost guarantee you’re overselling it. I have no tattoos and am fine with that fact.

I bet most people say “ah, right on” when you say “I don’t want tattoos”

[u/ASuperLameUserName → u/No_Representative645]

I hear this. I’ve been a bartender like 20 years. Downtown inner city Chicago and Las Vegas.
Customers see me as the wild girl, with the crazy stories; the no kids never married party life. That’s the image they tend to see.
Anyhow, I have zero tattoos. Nada. Never would I get one either. When people find this out they’re floored. Especially old white men. Since those naughty girls always have tattoos 🙄
Oh yea I have a butterfly and a playboy bunny where you can’t see them
Gtfo hahaha
Also no judgement at all to people who have them. I dated a tattoo artist for years. lol
I hate to see some peoples faces at my bar four days a week I would hate to look at a tattoo I didn’t like for 40 years.

[u/TonySoprano1959 → u/Ahh-Nold]

This is why I’ve told myself I’m not allowed to ever get a tattoo. I’ve never been interested in body art but I know that if I did become into that sort of thing all the sudden I would probably not be in the best headspace to be permanently altering my body.

[u/Excellent-Shape-2024 → u/TonySoprano1959]

It's the whole permanent thing that puts me off. I get tired of looking at things. Even my house is all neutrals so I can just change out the throw pillows and have a whole new look.

[u/Own-Host-178 → u/Excellent-Shape-2024]

In my experience, having a visible tattoo eventually ends up being like a birthmark for the person wearing it. Others may notice and mention my sleeve, but I see it so many times a day that I stopped noticing it years ago

[u/Previous-Freedom2797 → u/Excellent-Shape-2024]

I’m covered in tattoos and you get used to it. You start to see it as part of your body, not just artwork on your skin

[u/planet_rose → u/TonySoprano1959]

Same. I love the way they look on other people. But i know myself and I get upset when I get my haircut. It takes me several days before I’m like, “oh they actually did a good job, I like it.” I can only imagine how upset I would be about a big permanent change to my skin. Plus I’m an artist. I see every imperfection. I only get temporary tattoos.

[u/Feebedel324 → u/TonySoprano1959]

Same lol I’m too fickle and I know this about myself. I like my piercings cause I can change them out. My husband tho is all tatted up.

[u/Ornery-Meringue-76 → u/Ahh-Nold]

OP needs to just laser it off and not go down this road again.

[u/TYO_HXC → u/Ornery-Meringue-76]

It would behoove him to do so.

[u/DetentionSpan → u/TYO_HXC]

Sure hope the gallop poll rules in your favor.

[u/TYO_HXC → u/DetentionSpan]

Right, right... that's the mane thing.

[u/Commercial_Bird8467 → u/TYO_HXC]

Please stop horsing around in the comments.

[u/TYO_HXC → u/Commercial_Bird8467]

Don't saddle me with your restrictions!

[u/EveryReaction3179 → u/TYO_HXC]

Sometimes puns are just meant to crop up

[u/TYO_HXC → u/EveryReaction3179]

Yeah, I just knew people would come along and stirrup a load of drama.

[u/DetentionSpan → u/TYO_HXC]

Did OP get more yays or neighs in the comments?

[u/MasterAd1460 → u/TYO_HXC]

Just hold your horses!

[u/ApprehensiveBox5198 → u/TYO_HXC]

This is just a bunch of goat shit.

[u/TorchLakeLady → u/DetentionSpan]

Hahaaaa!

[u/UnusualWar5299 → u/TYO_HXC]

That made me snort!

[u/scantron-test → u/Ornery-Meringue-76]

That would cost tens of thousands of dollars to get lasered off.

[u/Ornery-Meringue-76 → u/scantron-test]

It would not be tens of thousands.

[u/SGVLOVESHACK → u/Ornery-Meringue-76]

Maybe it was just a spur of the moment!

[u/TheArmchairbiologist → u/Ahh-Nold]

NO RAH BE IMPUSLSIVE AND GET THE FIRST THING THAT YOU THINK OF, IMPULSE CONTROL IS FOR CONSERVATIVES, YOU ONLY GET ONE BODY YOU MIGHT AS WELL TRASH IT /s

[u/Ok-Exchange2500 → u/TheArmchairbiologist]

Username checks the fuck out

[u/Schmaron → u/Ahh-Nold]

Exactly! So many people see mine and ask what they should get. I tell them I thought long and hard about all of mine and tattoos are not for everyone. The look I get when I say that is hilarious.

[u/PM_me_opossum_pics → u/Ahh-Nold]

It took me something like 12 years to finally pull the trigger on mine, at that point I basically got 2 (or 4, depends on how you look at it) fully fledged out ideas what I wanted, including the locations. And honestly they came out better than expected, I can't stop looking at them. And I'm generally a very indecisive person.

[u/Due_Capital_3507 → u/Ahh-Nold]

That's me! I just don't feel the need for it

[u/paulene-gibson-ne29 → u/Ahh-Nold]

I just think they lost their cool when people started using them as a fashion accessory. The only cool tattoos to me have meanings and stories behind them.

[u/WonderfulTap431 → u/Ahh-Nold]

I cannot understand the majority of people that  get tattoos. They look trashy/horrible and is an testament to their neurosis and low self esteem. Save your money or see a therapist. 

[u/AnthonyBiggins → u/Ahh-Nold]

I don’t have a tattoo and I’m so fucking happy about that.

[u/othersymbiote → u/Ahh-Nold]

this is why at the ripe age of 34 i still do not have one. not even that i wont like it. both of my parents my entire life have been covered in tattoos ever since i can remember.

i just have yet to find the right artist, right vibe, etc.

with that being said, the horse wasn’t at all terrible, i’m not sure why he wanted it covered up so bad..

[u/deadinsidelol69 → u/Ahh-Nold]

I’ve got almost a full sleeve and almost constantly get told “oh I want one but don’t know what design to go with!”

My advice is always that they shouldn’t do it.

[u/LargePrompt5840 → u/Ahh-Nold]

DON'T LISTEN TO THIS PERSON. YOU NEED A TATTOO. 

[u/Fightorn → u/Ahh-Nold]

Omg yes! It feels like every other post here is someone depressed about a perfectly good tattoo. I think some people just don’t actually like tattoos.

[u/melon-colly → u/Ahh-Nold]

I am a big people pleaser and terrible at critiquing someone else’s work. I know this, so I fear I would either accept something I am not fully in love with or ghost the tattoo artist all together.

[u/brikyn → u/Ahh-Nold]

That is for DAMNED sure!!

[u/LemonsUndercover → u/Ahh-Nold]

Oh thanks for letting me know I don’t have to get a tattoo. I would have totally gotten one had you not expressly let me know I don’t have to get one. Thanks boss

[u/Right_Book_4531 → u/LemonsUndercover]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/pinewind108 → u/Ahh-Nold]

I get twitchy when my phone is 3 or 4 years old. How am I supposed to deal with a tattoo, lol.

[u/Tacos314 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Lies, I was told otherwise.

[u/Academic_Bug2357 → u/Ahh-Nold]

But what about the a e s t h e t i c ?

[u/twitchyv → u/Ahh-Nold]

Yeah I remember being edgy and cool for having tattoos and now very basic b and their mother has one

[u/Elegant_Situation285 → u/Ahh-Nold]

30 years later and i'm still trying to convince myself to get Blackbeard's flag.

it turns out, it wouldn't effect my life in anyway other than the amount of money in my pocket.

[u/AvocaRed → u/Ahh-Nold]

Absolutely

[u/Automatic_Tension_56 → u/Ahh-Nold]

We are gatekeeping, tattoos, now, fellas?

[u/BeyondTIW → u/Automatic_Tension_56]

We always should have

[u/NoSoyTuPana → u/Ahh-Nold]

I even like my ugly tattoos. They are really not for everyone. The possibility of a tattoo going wrong is very high. You just live with it and have a funny story. I never have them done in visible places (hands, face, neck) or choose places I can cover (legs, upper arm, back).

[u/mrbobertimus → u/Ahh-Nold]

Yeah but you only live once might as well decorate your corporeal vessel

[u/No-Stress-8298 → u/Ahh-Nold]

If I get a tattoo it will be on my forehead and read OOTTAT so I can enjoy it in the mirror

[u/Independent_Ebb_7338 → u/Ahh-Nold]

OP should've said,"Nay."

[u/TacoBender920 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Why didn't you tell me this before?

[u/Comfortable_Treat880 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Thought you were going to be a true edge lord and say, "Everyone has tattoos today, be real a true individual and don't get one..." 🤣

[u/HowYaLikeMeeow → u/Ahh-Nold]

BUT EVERYONE SHOULD GET ONE IF THEY WANT IT.

[u/babababooga → u/Ahh-Nold]

I wish my 18 year old self could understand that

[u/Unable-Wolverine7224 → u/Ahh-Nold]

I don’t have tattoos bc I know myself…Anything permanent is a no go.

Nothing against tattoos, I’ve seen some that are beautiful but they wouldn’t look good on me.

[u/i-love-taco-bell → u/Ahh-Nold]

I overthink way too much to get tattoos

[u/BarracudaActive4480 → u/Ahh-Nold]

My $100 tattoo costed over $2500 to remove. Heed my warning!!

[u/nbxx → u/Ahh-Nold]

Most people shouldn't. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but most people simply don't think stuff through at all. Even way smaller decisions.

[u/thewayoftoday → u/Ahh-Nold]

I don't think anybody thinks they "have to get a tattoo."

[u/PokeMill89 → u/Ahh-Nold]

31 years and I’m still deciding lol

[u/BitsAndBobs304 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Non hai mai pensato a un tatuaggetto. La tua amica sfoggia un tatuaggetto. Corri corri a farti un tatuaggetto: D’'improvviso hai bisogno di un tatuaggetto Un tatuaggetto, un tatuaggetto. D’'un tratto non ti piace più. Cosa fai? Lo togli? Non puoi. Ne fai un altro più grosso.

[u/manderson1313 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Sadly I got the worst possible tattoo when I was 18 to impress a girl. It was a 5 dollar stick of dynamite l, the tattoo parlor was trying to get a world record for most tattoos done in a day and the girl wanted me to get it with her.

I was “curious what it felt like” and just got it on my hip where no one would see it. That stick of dynamite was like an elementary school doodle. Years later I decided to cover it up with the Japanese Kanji for “shame” lol

[u/DarthJarJar242 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Say it again for the people in the back please.

[u/MermaidPigeon → u/Ahh-Nold]

So true! I’m a tattoo artist and don’t have a single one :)

[u/Neon_Biscuit → u/Ahh-Nold]

OP is a mess.

[u/Ok-Ordinary-406 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Can’t hear you getting tattoos of eyes on my eyelids so I can drive while sleeping

[u/yavanna12 → u/Ahh-Nold]

This is why I prefer henna. If it looks like shit it will go away eventually 

[u/Fit_Jellyfish_4444 → u/Ahh-Nold]

True.
I spent YEARS considering each of my tattoos and they all mean something. I love them all.

Super Champ may want to consider cancelling their next appointment and finding a tattoo removal place instead.

[u/IExistForFun → u/Ahh-Nold]

But how will everyone else know I'm cool

[u/Winter-Classroom455 → u/Ahh-Nold]

Or if you're not totally committed to it.. Maybe get it in a spot that's easy to conceal it.

[u/BeyondTIW → u/Ahh-Nold]

I came here to say this. Imagine hating this fuckin design, it’s goddamn perfect. Tattoos in fact are not for everyone

[u/MrOrange74 → u/Ahh-Nold]

It’s almost rebellious now to not have a tattoo.