‘That’s It, I’m Inkshaming’: 40 Times People Got Hilariously Bad Tattoos And Didn’t Even Realize It (New Pics)
It can be hard to commit to a specific dinner plan at times, so most of us would probably balk at the idea of getting an impulse tattoo. And if we did finally decide to get inked, I suspect that we would put at least some thought into what exactly the artist would put on our skin. But this is not an article about good decision-making.
This Facebook group is dedicated to the most bizarre choices made by artists and recipients alike. So scroll down and upvote your favorite terrible tattoo. And if your eyeballs can withstand it, here and here are some other collections of Bored Panda’s articles on horrible, horrible tattoo designs.
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This is 100% someone who doesn't know how to take a screenshot, taking a photograph of a monitor, hence the moire.
It looks to me like someone had their child's artwork tattooed on them.
Does this person have a skin condition? Maybe this holds some importance to them.
Well, I can read on his neck the word Casper, but I am not seeing any friendly smiling ghosts...
I think that word might be Carpe, as in Carpe Diem and we can’t see the rest of the tattoo.
Load More Replies...its like one of those images of a stroke and you cant fully make out whats happening.
What lunatic wanted this in the first place? And as someone who's hometown is Milwaukee....WHY!!!? WTF is wrong with you AND the "artist"
The artist just took the money and doodled the s**t, worried about the person who paid and had this slapped on their body thoug. Also glad they didn’t do him any justice visually as a portrait, he deserves to look like a twat in a bad tattoo
Load More Replies...Whoever got that tattoo deserved it for wanting a Dahmer tattoo in the first place.
Too many people have a romantic view of Dahmer. Yes he was mentally ill and that's not his fault but he never tryed to get help and that IS his fault. Also he molested children.
The women with romantic feelings towards Dahmer are as mentally ill as he was.
Load More Replies...Why would someone put a man who viciously murdered raped and eaten all his victims!! That's sick
You wanna know what else is sick? This tattoo artist actually accepted this woman's request for a Dahmer tattoo on her back.
Load More Replies...Why on earth would you want this person tattooed on your skin, like what would be the meaning of this tattoo?
Agreed. Know several women with face tattoos and it all started with abuse. Several from trafficking and gangs.
Load More Replies...A lost cause. Was gonna say lost soul, but if there was a soul, it's not lodi - it escaped
How unkind. None of us know if she was trafficked, tattooed by gang, or got first one as result of traumatic abuse.
Load More Replies...The origin of the word tattoo seems to actually come from Samoan culture, which features intricate and detailed designs that are both a right of passage and a cultural artifact. Outside of Polynesia, before the 18th century, people would describe the tattooing process as painting or even scaring. Some forms of ‘tattoos’ are actually unintentional. When coal dust, carbon, or even gunpowder would get into a wound, it would leave some permanent pigmentation in the skin.
It’s somewhat shocking how bad these designs are, as the art of tattooing is older than a lot of other skills humans have developed. Mummified human remains have multiple tattoos, showing at least some interest in the artistic expression on one’s skin. Ancient Egyptians also had more figurative tattoos around five thousand years ago, cementing it as a pretty old art form. Despite all this time, it seems some artists still can’t draw their way out of a wet paper bag.
This is actually cool. The way it fades off at the end illustrates how things fade with the passage of time.
That's what I was thinking! It looks intentional and really cool
Load More Replies...No, guys, you got it all wrong, they're saying the word 'nothing' is permanent and unfortunately to them, it is
I have the opposite problem. An "Entropy" tattoo that looks as fresh as the day I got it
This might actually be one of those "temporary" tattoos. They're actually tattooed on you the same way as normal tattoos. But it's a special ink that's SUPPOSED to leave your skin in the near-ish future... sometimes they don't actually fade for years.. but it's a semi new thing. Judging by how much this tattoo is fading.. Im almost positive it's not a permanent tattoo.
Don't mind the sentiment, but the execution is...woof.
Yes. It also looks like the mother creature in ST2TWOK that was on Ceti Alpha V
Load More Replies...Worked with a guy once who had a big biohazard symbol tattooed on his throat like this. He changed shirts one day and I figured he would be covered in tats. Nope. That was the only one. He chose to get that throat tattoo and stopped there. Odd choice.
One advantage we have over our ancient relatives is the ease with which we can get rid of unwanted tattoos. Ease here is relative, it can still be a painful and costly process. But no doubt a laser is better than what humans had to deal with before. Women tend to regret their tattoos slightly more often than men, though this may be due to the fact that men have better coping mechanisms for bad tattoos. About half of the respondents in this study who wanted to get their ink taken off had higher education, including at least a university degree.
Now I want a zoidberg tattoo on my hand in a similar fashion, I'd be zoidberg waving to everyone
I can't either.. it kind of looks like a bandana but I don't know!
Load More Replies...So, this is bad for a few reasons. 1: The lines are very scratchy/not clean. 2: The actual web is not connected anywhere (just look at most spider web tattoos, there's usually a point in the middle that connects the piece together). 3: Elbows and knees are very painful to get inked, on top of the skin usually being tougher there due to the callouses. This guy's couldn't even be bothered to get a proper one.
and also webs on your elbow mean that's you've been in jail..so there's another reason haha
Load More Replies...I think I heard this is a common prison tatoo. The number of lines in the web stands for number of years served
Tattoo regret isn’t always limited to terrible designs. Research shows that often enough, people who seek laser tattoo removal got their ink done as adolescents. Often this is proceeded by bouts of emotional pain, as the person regrets the pain and getting tattooed and the monetary cost of paying for it in the first place. In general, most study participants indicated that both the regret of a tattoo and its removal are very personal topics.
I think this one is considered bad because they did just a generic paw— not his actual pet’s paw print— because they’re different in shape.
Load More Replies...What the heck does the one below his neck say? Devils(sic) first something?
Sweet memorial. I have a small dog paw print on my forearm
Either they just ate a powdered donut or are in dire need of some Chapstick.
Load More Replies...Bad placement,poor saturation.Why wouldnt you go to a reputable artist if you was getting a tatt thats gonna always be on show.
Similar studies indicate that the earlier an adolescent gets a tattoo, the more often they express regret for their decision. The research suggests that people who get tattoos relatively early tend to do it from peer pressure and a lack of impulse control. As they age, they will often regret these specific tattoos, but not the process of tattooing in general. Older tattoos might reflect bands and fandoms the person was obsessed with but no longer cares about.
😄 🤣 😂 😆 😄 🤣 😂 😂 I'm sorry, *wipes tears from my eyes and stumbles out*
Is the gray around the armpit and under the ink bruising or extra ink?!
Used to know a guy that got dead drunk and ended up with the cutest deer and Bambi written under it.
Load More Replies...Imagine you find out you're pregnant after years of trying. You go through the extreme emotions, grow a person inside you, give your body and soul to bring them into the world and have it cost you a fortune to raise them while sacrificing your own happiness for theirs. And this is what you get.
No, sorry. That type of parent would not end up with this...I feel like this was a neglected/abused kid.
Load More Replies...I heard someone say 90% of people who get a face tattoo, are having regrets later on.
While some end up removing tattoos due to health reasons, like the pigmentation causing allergic reactions, in the majority of cases removal was driven by psychological regret. Overall, most people who get a tattoo do not end up regretting it and only a minority actually gets the piece lasered off. This could be partially due to better tattoo artists being able to take a ‘bad’ tattoo and convert it into something more aesthetic.
Is this the confederate flag or English flag? I can’t tell it’s so bad
The English flag is a red cross on white background, I think you mean a UK flag which is red, white and blue
Load More Replies...The butterfly looks fine, it's the British flag design that needs more work.
I’m not sure what they are, but I think they want me dead.
The right cat looks like a shrunk cougar that dislocated its shoulder
I will personally rip to shreds the misguided soft can-opener that created this mockery! Just after my pre-nap nap.
Don't you remember the incredible Ting Miracles of 2074???
Load More Replies...F**k I just noticed that. The longer you look the more awful it becomes.
Load More Replies...Good frickin grief I think it is. Thanks for figuring that out. I was mystified.
Load More Replies...It took me way too long to figure out "ting" is supposed to say "tiny"
Yet the “y” in “Riley” is clearly the letter “y”.
Load More Replies.......Sometimes you will never? I'm not usually a grammar nazi but come on....
They probably got the idea from the rubbish that people post on Instagram.
Load More Replies...When that "moment" concerns getting a tattoo, you really should be paying attention to whether you are getting value for money. Otherwise you end up with this. A cheap tattoo, a saying that contradicts itself, tattooed by someone who can't do script, but knows "just" enough that sadly most of the ink looks like it will hold; a permanent "rash"; and a rose that from the appropriate angle contains a surprisingly realistic representation of the female genitalia at it's centre.
But why tho. Don’t you see it for a make any sense. Sometimes you’ll never realize? But, sometimes you’ll always realize? As long as you see the value of the moment? How about, don’t wait to see the value of a moment until it’s turned into a memory? Or how about if the moment is valuable, it will become a memory.
Load More Replies...I get why everyone is bashing on this tattoo but one thing I will say, it's possible that the bad writing is because the person wanted their own handwriting or the handwriting of a loved one used. If that's the case, the only truly bad thing about it is the red outlining.
If it is something that originated from a loved one, tattooed in their hand, then it's obviously an entirely different situation with the script. Most have only commented about the contradictory nature of the phrase itself. So far I think I'm the only one who has criticised the script itself. Without more information on the origins, we can only use the information that we have. It still doesn't excuse the rest of the tattoo.
Load More Replies...Ohana means family and family means…oh sweet baby Jesus take a flame-thrower to that eldritch monstrosity!!!
I have insomnia tonight, and this guarantees I’ll have it again tomorrow night, too.
Is it, really? I appreciate the up-front douche-baggery.
Load More Replies...That is a matter of long sleeves - that is not the problem here
Load More Replies...Oh good, I'm not the only one that doesn't get it. Can it really be part of a legitimate DC comic villain? My first thought was it was bragging about incest but I'm not into the DC or Marvel world so.... maybe someone will enlighten us.
Load More Replies...I wonder why they thought Europe looks like a bear sitting on Africa.
Load More Replies...I'm just gonna say it, why does Atlas have a s*****m face? Edit# why is s*****m (ball sack) censored
Because BoredPanda is absolutely idiotic when it comes to censorship. They have also censored a*s, w***y, and d**k like we are freaking children.
Load More Replies...I'm sorry, is that black scribble supposed to stop people from recognizing him?
There are lots of good tattoos but people need to go to a good tattoo parlour with good word of mouth and reviews. They often go to the cheapest artist they can find.
Load More Replies...The lioness one is actually really nice! That’s all I have to say about this overall🙂
ok, never mind commenting on the tattoos. What in the name of F*ck does the overlay of sparkles, or star field, or whatever that is supposed to be, add to this photo?
What if it's a wedding photo? The couple got together and the woman got a lioness tattoo to match his lion one, to show their undying love? The sparkle layer in the pic indicates the pure magic of their relationship. Their bond will never end. (I hate it.)
Load More Replies...This is Hades (God of the underworld), and Zeus (God of the upper world).
How does the lioness look amazing as balls but the lion looks like s**t?
🤫 No one tell him that it's actually the lioness who does all the hunting & protecting...
They’re tired of the Lion pretending he does s**t.
Load More Replies...It's a shame this guy has a decent looking lion at the top, but the rest are terrible. I like the geometrical look, but it looks like the other lions were drawn by an apprentice, or the artist's child. Now, if this was a drawing of the cubs were from the recipient's kids, that would be a different story.
It merely demonstrates that he is willing to spend some extra money when it comes to himself (perhaps still not enough). Everyone else in his life comes second, but only if it doesn't cost him too much.
Load More Replies...I'm not sure if it only looks good by comparison though. If you cover the lioness and cubs, the lion itself has its own issues. The overall slant for a start.
Load More Replies...Wow. I love it when matriarchal societies lure men in by letting them think they are in charge.
This reminds me of adolescents drawing all over themselves and each other. I hope that is what this is, because it needs to be scrubbed off
I’m going for…what the pile of rubbish looks like just before I sweep it into the bin
Prison tats are 1,000 times better than this pitiful excuse of a tattoo.
Load More Replies...because they want to be turned on ? 🤷🏼♂️🤢
Load More Replies...Panic switch? That’s a switch from Panic Button. Hardy har har…
Cause I speak of the pompatus of love ... you probably get that often, that was my first and last time. 🤙😜
Load More Replies...Important for what it represents. A good cover-up artist could make it amazing.
The lettering is far too big and placed badly. It’s a shame as otherwise this could be a good tattoo as the art skills are there.
I would put the letters in the opposite side of the butterfly's to fill in that entry space.
Load More Replies...Is this sarcasm? That shading is absolutely horrible! The outline is sketchy & uneven. The color on the butterfly wings isn't terrible. But as a tattoo artist (I don't work in a shop full time anymore. I only do it as a side gig) & someone covered in tattoos... that's not a very good tattoo. It's better than most of these on here. Sure. But this artist definitely needs to go back to smaller pieces & learn how to shade better. You couldn't pay me to have this person tattoo me. But I think they could be good if they wanted to be.
Load More Replies...“Time heals what lessons cannot”? Since when are lessons capable of healing? Time also heals what concrete cannot, if we’re going down that road.
Exactly! As far as cliches go, this is a particularly bad one.
Load More Replies...I dont like this but I think having a puzzle tattoo where you add a piece every year would be really cool!
I wonder if people do this to make other people stay away from them.
I'm very tempted to make a joke about this guy being a piece of s**t, since flys are attracted to him.
Norma: Glad you gave in to temptation because ..... you are spot on.
Load More Replies...The original artist is Jasmine Becket Griffith and this is not a good rendition of her art.
It’s a Bratz doll…why does she have a monkey crawling out of her dress where her arm should be?
that mangled hand is far beyond weird proportions tho
Load More Replies...Bloody post code gangs. Very small minded if you ask me, what happens when you take over your entire post code? Now where do you branch out? They're not thinking big enough
@Stevie: excellent point... I almost missed the worse ones..... 🤣
Load More Replies...Am I the only one that read “trust a fart?” Yes? Okay then, moving on…
“love all, trurt a few, do wrong to none” (Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none”). They should’ve got a refund or refused to pay.
Pick a font with serifs, then another one without serifs, and another one that is nothing like either of them; alternate fonts randomly.
it literally looks like someone stuck googly eyes on him
Load More Replies...At least this tattoo artist knows how to draw horses. What the hell happened to Woody's and Buzz's faces, though?
This feels like one of those inkblot tests that tells what you’re like as a person. I see 2 people whose skin has been melted off f*****g
Load More Replies...Judging by what I can see in the background, this is exactly what I would expect their tattoo to look like.
I think it was supposed to be a half face half skull type of thing, but then they tried to add hair?
I think I see underboob? Should've gone up a size to a Sea cup.
The mustache is bad but the disembodied hand is just so strange, like there’s an arm right there
The fish part’s not too bad, and the hair is actually pretty good. The hands, boobs, and lips are pretty horrible, though. The scepter is bent, her upper hand is detached, as her eyes are definitely googly. I give it 3/1,000,000,000 stars.
Okay, it’s not the *worst* necessarily, but it *is* upside down😅
There is no upside down, personal preference, your body your choice
Load More Replies...Eminem? Uma Thurman? Gypsy Eminem Uma Thurman?? Make me headache..
As a Roma I’m dying over this comment 😆 funniest sh!t I’ve read all week, he so does look like a tea reading rapper
Load More Replies...My first thought was "why would you have a cancer patient inked on your arm? That's so mean."
It's supposed to be Eminem, but clearly is a rather poor rendition of him lol
Oh, god. That's supposed to be Eminem? He looks like a middle-aged woman with cancer who's a full-time rapper.
Eminem, you dipshit. You know, THE F*****G RAPPER?!
Load More Replies...Oh wow! That’s a great business idea! Wu Tang Clam Chowder!
Load More Replies...I'm surprised the BoredPanda censorship mafia didn't censor this.
Why don’t the legs separate before the knees? Also … you know what, no.
"As wicked as you are you're beautiful to". The missing 'o' isn't surprising, really.
“As wicked as you are you’re beautiful to me”
Load More Replies...I was able to read what it said, but the quote should be on a different part of her body where it would be easier for everyone to read it.
Or just give the kid a Sharpie and let them go to town. It will last as long as their attention span, but not be embarrassingly permanent.
Is it... feeding a lolly to it's eye-tongue whilst climbing out of a cabbage?
looks like something we did with black sharpie to the guy who passed out at a party
When you buy a tattoo gun and no one will let you practice on them so you gotta use yourself
To try and disguise the fact that the 'tattooist' can't draw? The girl's hand is.... interesting....
Load More Replies...This looks like something I would have drawn in my notebook as an edgy teen.
Looks like a colouring page that was coloured in by a kindergartener.
as someone from virginia, i would laugh at this person. virginia sucks and i feel no pride in it
Country rooooooooads take me hoooooooooooooooome to the plaaaaaaaaaace I beloooooooooooooooooong
I didnt know The Headless Roach had a sister you guys are everywhere lmao
Load More Replies...I keep thinking of Nightmare Before Christmas each time I look at this and it gets more and more awkward by the minute
People with no brains can't think... isn't that obvious?
Load More Replies...Ok, so wait, what is this supposed to be? El Diablo? Cursed Sans? Halloween masks?? WHAT IS IT?! I CAN'T UNDERSTAND
I think he meant he made a lot of tattoos that are in need of being covered up. Yikes!
that takes planning and skill to cover one. This one is not so good. I can still see the skull. maybe meant to but? oh well
Load More Replies...Are there tattoo shops that offer a hugely discounted price when you allow a student to do it? Like hair schools but for tattoos? Well they shouldn’t.
I really like the idea.... just the execution of it is not great.
The meaning is fine, it's just terrible execution and a generally tacky idea.
Load More Replies...Maybe if they were shown, you could Google the dates, find an obituary of a father, find the names of his daughters, stalk them online, find the one with this pic on her Facebook, dox her, knock on her door, and tell her, "I personally don't care for your tattoo."
Load More Replies...Seriously BoredPanda, do you even review your listicles that you copy and paste? This shouldn't be on here. Yes, it may not be the best executed tattoo, but it is likely extremely sentimental to the person who lost their parent.
You do know that is permanent? For the rest of your life that will be on your face. Do not get upset when people stare and point. It, after all, was your decision..
This is a cultural thing right? I think it might be maori? This is when the women of the maori tribe have to get these chin, neck, cheek and nose tattoos done to be accepted into the tribe? I don't know if I'm correct. I someone knows about this culture, pls let me know!!
The symbols look like Celtic knots to me. Not Maori.
Load More Replies...I think that's cute. Unless cute wasn't going for then it's horrible.
Concept is cute, execution is horrendous. Like someone's felt-tip pens were running out and what's with the weird hand?
It looks like Freddie Mercury eschewing his last shreds of heterosexuality
I thought it looked like him too. 🤣 Poor Freddie deserves so much better than this.
Load More Replies...Grim reaper I believe, but my Japanese is rusty. The top kanji looks kind of garbage but is death I think
Load More Replies...This is garbage. it shouldn't look like it is outlined in pen. shaky as hell.
Load More Replies...The picture itself is messed up but they've done some good lines and solid colour packing as well as some dot work. Credit where credit due
The fingers are weird, otherwise it's a decent tattoo.
Load More Replies...This is good though? I feel like a lot of these shouldn’t be on here. I mean none of these are amazing but there are some that are just fine.
A COUPLE shouldn't be on here. Like this one and the last Medusa only.
Load More Replies...I’ve got whoseits and whatsits galore, you want thingamabobs? I’ve got plenty, but who cares, no big deal, I want moooore. I actually hate that I know that.
Some of these were actually okay, and others would look really good with better shading!
I'm lost. So many of the top ones (I suspect ranking will still have MAJOR changes) aren't bad at all. Some of the others are ameteurish, but hardly shameful. Yes, SOME are terrible, but I don't see why the "shaming" in so many.
I shame every tattoo I see - silently, unobtrusively, in my head. I just don't particularly care to see graffiti on the human body.
Some of these were actually okay, and others would look really good with better shading!
I'm lost. So many of the top ones (I suspect ranking will still have MAJOR changes) aren't bad at all. Some of the others are ameteurish, but hardly shameful. Yes, SOME are terrible, but I don't see why the "shaming" in so many.
I shame every tattoo I see - silently, unobtrusively, in my head. I just don't particularly care to see graffiti on the human body.
