Getting a tattoo can be a sort of leap of faith. As wonderful and clear as the drawing may be, it ultimately comes down to the tattoo artist’s ability to use their machines. Unfortunately, that means that some folks out there have ink that serves as a warning to always do your research beforehand.
This Instagram page is dedicated to some of the most questionable, bizarre and downright terrible tattoos out there. So get comfortable as you read through, prepare to be deeply confused by how someone could want that, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts below.
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Mind-Bending Ink
No Shame Zone
Muscle Goals, Kinda Reached
Tattoos are evidence that no matter how long something has been around, ultimately it comes down to human artistic skill to make it look good. We have evidence that people had some sorts of tattoos over 5000 years ago, for example, “Ötzi” whose mummified remains were found in the Alps, had a number of simple, line tattoos on his corpse.
We have more evidence from the ancient Egyptians, who put in more work to preserve their bodies after they died. One example had multiple animals, a bull and sheep, showing that the ancients weren’t that different from us and liked modifying the way they looked.
Blue Collar Rapper Vibes
Built-In Excavator Skills
Waves of Irony
This means that humans have been developing this skill for thousands of years, yet there are still tattoos being made in 2024 that are absolutely terrible. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but, importantly, the person requesting the tattoo is almost never the person making it, so there is always the question of if this was what they really wanted.
The Half-Hearted Haircut
Hidden Art Confusion
Regrets in Ink
This underscores just how important it is to do one’s research. Good tattoo artists tend to charge a lot of money, but it’s best to think twice before entrusting someone’s roommate who happens to have a tattoo machine. This list stands as a warning as to what can happen. Remember, getting it removed is not at all fun either.
When Ink Goes Wrong
Tentacle Trouble
Permanent Eyebrow Goals
On the flip side, doing your research might take time and cost a bit more, but you can discover actually awesome artists who you maybe never would have known existed. Unless you have a very, very particular idea of what you want, it can be beneficial to explore some other art styles and see what a creative professional can suggest.
Artistic Oops Moment
Belly Button Takes Center Stage
Birds of a Forehead
Birds of a feather tattoo together
Tangled Thoughts Only
Quirky Ink Surprise
Face Swap with Ink
Hidden Faces Revealed
Bandana, But Make It Permanent
Quirky Confidence Unleashed
Modern Art or Brave Choice?
Expectation vs Reality Ink
Chicken Wings, But Make It Literal
Permanent April Showers
Checkmate or Just Checking In
Tattoo Oops Moment
Six-Pack Goals
Leg Day, Every Day
Silent But Spiky
Burger Brain Energy
Another example of really neat idea if this was done for a Halloween party or something with makeup, but as a permanent tattoo? Perhaps not the best choice
Permanent Ice Cream Rant
Unlikely Crew Goals
Blink and You’ll Miss It
If this was done with eyeliner pencil for a party or something, cool. Permanent tattoo? Oh my god.
List of Exes, Meet the Marker
Such a good taste/s. And just to add, as this is Italian, where there's the name Daniela written, there's also written slût (troia). Disgusting
And as I continue, you know they gettin' sweeter
Load More Replies...Shoot, I thought this was Freek-A-Leek by Petey Pablo!
Load More Replies...Can't look at this without hearing "Mambo Number 5" playing in the background.
This was clearly all done at the same time, and it's relatively fresh. No idea what it means, but it's not something done over the course of several relationships
At least he comes with a warning label now
Load More Replies...This would be even funnier if all the names began with the same letter and were in alphabetical order with an ellipsis ("...") at the beginning and end of the list.
ONE name would be enough to put me off. The whole phone book should be enough to put him off the dating pool
Ink Dreams vs Reality
Abstract Art Gone Wrong
Sunburn with a Statement
Sunshine With a Twist
Tattoo or Optical Illusion?
Ink Meets Stubble Drama
Sketchbook Came to Life
Palm Party Starfish
Sketchy Celebrity Mix-Up
When Tears Don’t Come Easy
When Art Goes Off Script
Permanent Prescription Problem
Bold Statements, Bald Canvas
That's an old school skinhead. Not necessarily the racist kind. The Oil! and ska gives it away.
Nailed The Detail
Frankling
The Tattoo Was Placed Perfectly 👍
Cool Guy Alert
Thoughts? He Doesn’t Need A Barbershop Anymore
Eagle 🦅
Why Go To The Gym? If You Can Get A Tattoo Of A Beautiful Body
Although I wouldn't recommend it, this tattoo is not terrible
Lara Croft Tattoo
Always Smile Widely
2.1% Neandertaler
The Dude Loves Lettuce
What Are Your Thoughts On This? 🤔
Sucky Backwards Wolf 🐺
How Much Do You Like Hot Dogs? 🌭
Beautiful Eyebrows By @vidocorp
Slag Tag
Lion, Tiger Or Bear? Oh My
Sucky Reveals
Yeah that's bad, but maybe try wiping the tat properly before taking pictures
Done By @themojaveroom & @hairynscary
Are There Any One Piece Fans Here?
Yin Yang
Is This True Love?
What’s Your Favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Character?
You have THE ENTIRE BODY to ink and you tattoo your forehead? I'm sorry, but a face tat tells me that person is not that mentally stable
Just what I was thinking. I wouldn't employ any of these people for an office or customer-facing job.
Load More Replies...All depends on what the tattoo meant to the person who had it after all can you really blame the customer unless it's a really bad idea of what they want but at the end of it all if it turns out like a bad child's drawing haven't you got to look at the artist the tools and even the ink and never go to a guy called Terry the tattoist who lives on the corner of 66 doughnut street who does it in his kitchen and charges £15 quid an hour and says I've done a few now and I'm getting better but has no photos of his work then RED FLAG!!!!!
Everything else aside, when will people learn that you can't just go to any artist for a face portrait tattoo?? They're not like regular tattoos. They're much harder to do. You HAVE to go to someone who does them often, and has done them recently, and you HAVE to see their portfolio of work first! I LOVE my artist, and wouldn't go anywhere else. But I would NOT go to her for a portrait. Because that's not her specialty. And any decent artist would refuse to do something out of their wheelhouse. Their art on your skin is their advertisement. A good artist wouldn't want bad representation. I wouldn't get a portrait anyway. They're really difficult to do, really hard to get right, and they can just go way too badly, way too quickly. But, just like everything else on here that isn't my cup of tea, it's their skin, and their choice...
whenever i see tats that are something just horrible or appear to have been an intended 'joke' i think about the woman (she has now passed on) who was known as being the most tattooed woman. she had tatted up every inch of her body...and i do mean every inch as i saw a photo exhibit of her. she related that when she got to her skull she had run out of ideas so told the artist it was his choice. what did she end up with? a collage of penises with vines and flowers. she acted like that was fine with her but there was something about her that kind of showed she really didn't like it. what else could she have said at that point.
A few of these look like prison tats. I can't believe a professional artist would create things so awful.
Tatts too often expose a decided lack of IQ points in the wearer.
You have THE ENTIRE BODY to ink and you tattoo your forehead? I'm sorry, but a face tat tells me that person is not that mentally stable
Just what I was thinking. I wouldn't employ any of these people for an office or customer-facing job.
Load More Replies...All depends on what the tattoo meant to the person who had it after all can you really blame the customer unless it's a really bad idea of what they want but at the end of it all if it turns out like a bad child's drawing haven't you got to look at the artist the tools and even the ink and never go to a guy called Terry the tattoist who lives on the corner of 66 doughnut street who does it in his kitchen and charges £15 quid an hour and says I've done a few now and I'm getting better but has no photos of his work then RED FLAG!!!!!
Everything else aside, when will people learn that you can't just go to any artist for a face portrait tattoo?? They're not like regular tattoos. They're much harder to do. You HAVE to go to someone who does them often, and has done them recently, and you HAVE to see their portfolio of work first! I LOVE my artist, and wouldn't go anywhere else. But I would NOT go to her for a portrait. Because that's not her specialty. And any decent artist would refuse to do something out of their wheelhouse. Their art on your skin is their advertisement. A good artist wouldn't want bad representation. I wouldn't get a portrait anyway. They're really difficult to do, really hard to get right, and they can just go way too badly, way too quickly. But, just like everything else on here that isn't my cup of tea, it's their skin, and their choice...
whenever i see tats that are something just horrible or appear to have been an intended 'joke' i think about the woman (she has now passed on) who was known as being the most tattooed woman. she had tatted up every inch of her body...and i do mean every inch as i saw a photo exhibit of her. she related that when she got to her skull she had run out of ideas so told the artist it was his choice. what did she end up with? a collage of penises with vines and flowers. she acted like that was fine with her but there was something about her that kind of showed she really didn't like it. what else could she have said at that point.
A few of these look like prison tats. I can't believe a professional artist would create things so awful.
Tatts too often expose a decided lack of IQ points in the wearer.
