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50 People Who Wanted A Cool Tattoo But Ended Up With A Permanent Mistake
Interview With Expert
Getting a tattoo can be exciting, especially if it's your first one. Yet for some people, it can also be a source of regret. In fact, 24% of Americans say they have a tattoo that they now regret getting. Sometimes, those regrettable tattoos can be tragic. Other times, they're plain hilarious.
This Instagram page shares the latter, bringing you the best of the worst tattoos. The self-proclaimed "original failed tattoo page" is all about the times people regretted getting inked or got a badly done tattoo and didn't even know it until others pointed it out.
To know more about bad tattoos and how one can get rid of them, Bored Panda reached out to Lacey Cormier, a medical laser technician and tattoo artist. She kindly agreed to tell us more about the most common reasons why people get their tattoos removed and what the removal process is like. Read our conversation with Lacey below!
More info: Lacey Cormier | Lacey Tattoos | Ethereal Tattoos
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Danielle 1 year ago
Reading through the comments my brain has now settled on 'Britney in the style of Selma Hayek in From Dusk Till Dawn'.
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RELATED:
#2
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
This is awful but at least you can tell what it is trying to portray.
Broadredpanda 1 year ago
Yep! That to stay away from this particular tattoo artist!
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Broadredpanda 1 year ago
Absolutely! They'll have to endear this for life!
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Nonna_SoF 1 year ago
Yah, the alpha is always full on bugs. Not ready for public release.
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There are a lot of things to consider when getting a tattoo. The design, the placement, the style, the artist – it's not an easy decision for most people. But some tattoos can be, like Bob Ross would say, happy little accidents: you get them at 2 a.m. during a trip with your friends and later have to live with the consequences.
According to one survey, people most often get tribal tattoos, hearts, roses, stars, crosses, and skulls. The size matters too: 63% of the tattooed people the pollers surveyed said they regret getting a tattoo smaller than the palm of their hand.
#4
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Tyranamar Suess 1 year ago
The fact that he can smile like that, with this tattoo, is disturbing.
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#6
Kalikima 1 year ago
Perfectly captured the look on my face when I saw the tattoo, confused and disgusted.. lol
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The medical laser technician and tattoo artist with whom we got in touch, Lacey Cormier, has been tattooing people for many years, and recently also got into tattoo removal. You might think that removing tattoos is unethical for a tattoo artist, but, on the contrary – she's familiar with the ins and outs of tattoos better than other removal technicians.
Lacey says that most of the ink she removes are impulse tattoos. "Tattoos when away on vacation and if someone passes away," she adds. "I have removed quite a few memorial tattoos. These tattoos are often not well planned out and impede on potentially larger tattoos in the future on that body part."
#7
Remi (He/Him) 1 year ago
Unless it's a zit between two normal moles, heck yes
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Cynthia Lee 1 year ago
Took me a minute to ute to view the angle this pic was taken...lack of crack made me wonder
Christopher Crockett 1 year ago
This is the funnier version of a tramp stamp. I'm kind of on board here.
#8
Broadredpanda 1 year ago
Many never think of this! Well he could make a blind man see, so I guess he could see what was coming!
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#9
Woundwort42 1 year ago
At least he can grow his hair and cover it if he changes his mind, for a few years at least
Joshua David 1 year ago (edited)
It's Jason Voorhees! Imagine him being in a pool and him jumping out with his back toward you?
Christopher Crockett 1 year ago
All he has to do is grow his hair back out and no one will ever know.
Not all tattoos are made equal: some can be far harder to remove than others. "There are lots of factors that play into a successful removal," Lacey admits. The most obvious criterion is the color, of course. Black and grey tattoos will probably be easier to remove than colorful ones.
#11
Joshua David 1 year ago
Just remove the L and the E and have it redone. Actually, probably just remove the whole thing and tell your mom you love her if you're able.
ॐBoyGanesh 1 year ago
Every time I ask my constantly scheming mate, “what’s your angle?” he always replies with, “yer mom,” To which I always follow up with, “No! YOUR mom!!!!” Which is why he finally got the tattoo you see above. (True story. I swear on the holy babel)
Jane Alexander 11 months ago
'♫Some people write to the old folks for coin...♪ ('Ace in the hole')
Novlette Williams 1 year ago
She must be real proud of this tattoo. Show it to all her friends! She'll love that.
#12
Heir of Durin 1 year ago
The amount of time this would take only to turn out so terrible is sad.
But what some people might not know is that the location of the tattoo also plays a big part in whether it'll be hard to remove. And it's not about how even the surface of the body part is. "Tattoos closer to your heart will remove faster because of the blood circulation," Lacey explains.
#13
Cynthia Lee 1 year ago
The entire world went through COVID 19........we didn't all get stupid tattoos
Emma London 1 year ago
I like it, for what it is. Could benefit from some reworked lines, though.
#14
Stefaan De Clerck 1 year ago
I don't think Disney can go to court for this. It's not really copyright infringement.
Amelia Jade 1 year ago
Pretty sure this is someone's kids picture tattooed. This is the only good one here.
#15
zims 1 year ago
"Look, every dude has an ugly tattoo of their kid, if you want to stand out they need to be doing something stupid, too."
Abel 1 year ago
It is not a baby. It is the Sockeater goblin, responsible of all your missing socks!
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Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
"Sock it to me!" Judy Carne on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. (This is where my mind went.) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
The longer I look, the worse it gets. From the crooked eyes, to the out of proportion eyebrows and mishaped ears, ect. But why is this young child/toddler/baby eating a sock?
BookFanatic 1 year ago
Can't decide if that's the baby's tongue...or if they're eating a sock.
Joplin van der Schans 7 months ago
Well….So many questions… and now with al the interpretations in the comments my brain can’t cope! I call this one ‘the ultimate conversation piece’ applicable in many, many, maaaaany situations!
She goes into more detail about the technical side of the removal process. "The laser breaks the ink into microscopic granules and your white blood cells then carry the ink away. So, where there's more blood circulation, the quicker the white blood cells will take the particles away compared to an arm or leg tattoo," the tattoo removal technician explains.
#16
Montanavanna 1 year ago
"I think people are going to see these as just extra human nipples, can you add something else to them?" Artist: "say no more".
Upstaged75 1 year ago
Artist?? Or cousin Jed with a tattoo gun he bought on Amazon?
Load More Replies... Novlette Williams 1 year ago
The body on its own is hard enough to look at. Did not need to add the canine boobs. You boob!
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#18
BewilderedBanana 1 year ago
The fact that it's so bad but still recognisable means that it could actually be worse :)
When people decide they no longer want their tattoos, removal is not the only way to go. Many talented artists can cover up an old, unwanted tattoo and create something stunning. Lacey says it depends on the person and what result they're looking for. Those who want a blank slate usually go for removal, and tattoo lovers might choose to cover them up.
#19
Tyranamar Suess 1 year ago
He was actually kind of attractive. This is too bad. Although maybe it's good bc the warning is now loud and clear.
Novlette Williams 1 year ago
Poor thing, so young to have completely given up on life already.
#20
A Strike 1 year ago
You made me snort-laugh so hard I just woke up my sleeping husband next to me. :D
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Kayci Styles 1 year ago
So this guy just watched this atrocious tattoo happen on his leg and the thought, "damn, I love where this is going and I can't wait to continue!"
Emma London 1 year ago
I had this same picture as a poster in my wall when I was a kid. It could have been easily traceable, or even free-handed three tiems better than this!
Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 year ago
Was it just me that tried to turn their head upside to look at this?
#21
Gerhard Geiger 1 year ago
That's the already known Charmander in Tim Burton Style cdf14c0b20...7bf866.jpg 
ॐBoyGanesh 1 year ago (edited)
Everyone knows Pokémon are derived from early Huichol rock art. Pikachu , in particular. /s
"I do recommend people invest in [themselves], whether that is complete removal of their tattoo or to have a few sessions to lighten the tattoo to make it easier to cover with another," Lacey says. "Tattoos and tattoo removal are expensive but I wouldn't cheap out on it. This is your body and we only get one, so invest in what makes sense for you."
#22
SweetCheesySpaghetti 1 year ago
All i can hear is this tiger screaming "IT'S A DOUBLE RAINBOW! WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!"
Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 year ago
I’m not sure wether it was the owner of the tattoo or the lion that were on d***s for this one.
#23
#24
Hoi-Polloi 1 year ago
The guy who asks for this tattoo is probably the kind of guy who hears a lot of sirens in his life.
Lacey also emphasizes that tattoo removal requires patience. "The removal of a tattoo take can take months or even years to achieve the desired result," she says. "You need to allow the skin to fully heal in between laser sessions and or getting tattooed over the old tattoo. Unfortunately, there is no fast track or shortcuts when it comes to removing your unwanted tattoos."
#25
Lsai Aeon 1 year ago
Alpha male tattoo done RIGHT. This is exactly what I see when some douche says he's an "Alpha"
Kael jones 1 year ago
I like how they say alpha means good and beta means bad even though beta is a more refined version of an alpha
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Tobias Reaper 1 year ago
there is an obvious reason that it looks like the baby works in a coal mine its because she is a minor
#27
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
Is this tattoo supposed to be of someone famous/recognizable? If so, could someone please inform me? Of all places on your entire body, why get someone else's face tattooed on your face? 🤦🏻♀️
In the end, who's to decide whether a tattoo is a fail or not? If the owner likes it, then that's that! In a previous interview for Bored Panda, the editor of Things & Ink magazine Alice Snape said that the only kind of failed tattoos should be spelling mistakes. "Surely, a tattoo can only really be a fail if the person who has the tattoo on their skin hates it," she told us. But other than that, it's really a matter of preference.
#28
ABC no seven FCK CENSORING 1 year ago
Only Good Can Me, isn't that obvious?
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#29
Maisey Myles 1 year ago
I love my wife, I love my cat. I can’t decide which one I want on my body for the rest of my life
Joplin van der Schans 7 months ago
Complements the warm bright red of the ‘huff and puff’ lips. Thinking of getting this exact same tattoo. Sack and hairy chinny chin chin included.
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Christopher Crockett 1 year ago
This is Emperor Palpatine. This is Emperor Palpatine on ac!d. This is Emperor Palpatine on ac!d on a later Beatles album cover. Any questions?
Good tattoos, bad tattoos – beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. So, Pandas, you decide: how many real tattoo fails did you see in this list? Upvote the best of the worst to the top and let us know in the comments which ones stuck in your mind. And, if you have a story about an unfortunate tattoo yourself, share it with us in the comments!
#31
Kathrin Pukowsky 1 year ago
For some reason this made me think of John Silver from Treasure Planet. https://www.deviantart.com/kaliyakarnage/art/Disney-Poster-John-Silver-778748239
Christopher Crockett 1 year ago
He kinda looks like he has a metal arm, like the Winter Soldier.
#32
ABC no seven FCK CENSORING 1 year ago
Kitty looks as if they got a (reverse) lockjaw and hasn't closed their jaw in two days, let alone eaten some food =/
Load More Replies... Joplin van der Schans 7 months ago
That’s for sure a Carolina reaper in his mouth, so that pretty accurate!
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#33
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#36
cerinamroth 1 year ago
I hope the RIP is for him! That would be some good news.
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#37
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#39
Catharina Geerts 1 year ago
If it's any consolation, 'hoop' is the Dutch word for 'hope' and is pronounced the same way
Heather Menard 1 year ago
Believe it or not I'm on top of the world. Song just went through my head
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#42
Kathrin Pukowsky 1 year ago (edited)
I'm sorry for being awfully dark, but the tattoo as a whole, with the baby's face in the sky above what looks to be a mountain range, and the unusual appearance of the baby in the source photo (and yes, I know newborns can look squished-up and downright weird) makes me think this was meant to memorialise a premature stillbirth. I kinda feel bad now.
Jocelyn Webster 1 year ago
Going out a limb here... but I believe that is an awful photo of their baby.
Montanavanna 1 year ago
Well the reference photo was questionable source material but that artist has no idea how to draw a face. I bet a good artist could fix that.
#43
Rick Seiden 1 year ago
If the quality of this wasn't so bad I'd say that it could be intentional. Getting, "No Regets" tattooed on you could mean that the person has made mistakes and doesn't regret them.
#44
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
I would never want a partner to tattoo my name, let alone my face, on themselves. This to me just screams insecurity, possessiveness and jealousy, among other things. Only names that I personally find acceptable to be tattooed are of your parents, grandparents and children because they are always going to be those people/titles to you. I feel when people get their partners name tattooed on them, that is somewhat of a curse and they will not be together forever.
Tyranamar Suess 1 year ago
Especially bc that tattoo of her face looks like c**p.
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Tiger 1 year ago
“Melissa” is a very normal spelling of the name. I know 3 and none of them add a second L.
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#47
Amelia Jade 1 year ago
Do they not look at artist's portfolio before they sit? If you want a portrait, you can ask to see their previous portrait work.
Tiger 1 year ago
Right, or make sure you see what the tattoo is going to look like drawn before you agree to have it put on your body.
Load More Replies... Joplin van der Schans 7 months ago
Nailed it! Kinda….when you squint your eyes till fully closed
#49
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
They definitely are 'ting miracles' considering they were born in the year 2074. Time travelling babies?
weatherwitch 1 year ago
Given it's 2074 you would have thought tattoos would have improved by then .... 😉🤣🤣🤣
Cristian A. 1 year ago
It depends... maybe they went back to stone age and this was what their best with what they had.
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#50
🇺🇦 PrincessPatton 🇺🇦 1 year ago
Probably a non-English speaker(s). In my mother language, the double negative is commonly used.
#51
MC C 1 year ago
actually, the artists for spongebob gave squidward this tiger's nose, little known fact
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#53
Mike F 1 year ago
Spoiler: that's not his dad, that's another guy who lives at the "facility".
Load More Replies... FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
Talk about a Stage 5 clinger! I hope Miley has a permanent restraining order in place and or ready to be filed for when this obsessed stalker crosses the line.
#54
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#56
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#60
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
Looks like the tattoo Michael has tattoos on his forehead, instead of strands of hair.
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#62
weatherwitch 1 year ago
Poor Buddy, no wonder the poor furry pal passed if this is image is anything to go by.... 😮
#64
#65
weatherwitch 1 year ago
I literally burst out laughing at this one 🤣🤣🤣 I haven't the faintest idea what this is meant to be 🤷🏻♀️
#66
#67
weatherwitch 1 year ago
That looks like a tattoo of that bloke who's had his entire face tattooed 😮
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#70
Liz Lovecraft 1 year ago
The woman who ruined the painting of Jesus now works as a tattoo artist
#72
#73
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
It sorta resembles Chris Farley but with a bad eye infection.
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Montanavanna 1 year ago
Not the worst, sure some liberties were taken but it has a certain appeal to it. Makes me miss Chris Farley. Is the red actual blood or ink color?
weatherwitch 1 year ago
It just makes me want to apply ointment to it to calm that faces skin condition down 😮🤣🤣
#74
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#76
zims 1 year ago
The artist tried to get too fancy with the J and accidentally made a cursive F.
Montanavanna 1 year ago
He was on auto pilot and put that dash there without thinking. The script itself isn't bad but oh boy does that one letter make a world of difference.
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#77
#78
Tobias Reaper 1 year ago
the age of man is over the age of the orc is here oh sorry that should be Urakai
#79
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
If I ever decided I wanted to get someone's portrait/face tattooed on myself, best believe I would be doing thorough research into the tattoo artist and their skills/abilities to do so.
funkybluegirl (she/her) 1 year ago
Yeah. You need to find someone who specializes in portrait work.
Load More Replies... Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 year ago
Was that a photograph of her in life and a representation of her several years into death?
#80
#81
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
Pretty sure those are piercings with body jewelry that does look like screws. I'm hoping it's just from the lighting or reflection when the picture was taken.
Load More Replies... FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
It's rather good, when compared to most others in this thread, yes.
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FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
That looks more like the logo/symbol for Newport cigarettes than it does Nike.
#84
Allison Hayre 1 year ago
Of course he is making that face! You would too, if your hind end was on fire!
#85
#86
antoinette maldari 1 year ago
I think they are supposed to be closed, like a hug?
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Rayne OfSalt 1 year ago
i love how that movie is a giant troll and an f-you to all the idiots who saw the first one and started idolising the joker.
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#91
weatherwitch 1 year ago
This is going to be one of those ones where they've had the saying wrong all their lives 🤣🤣
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
If he just had a pen, he would be able to get Gain laundry detergent.
#92
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
I can't wrap my head around how someone could possibly think there was an extra 'r' thrown in the middle of Rico.
#93
Tobias Reaper 1 year ago (edited)
Freddy looks like he fed up Jason looks like a melted candle Michael Myers has a moustache Pinhead looks more like cactus head and Leatherface looks like burnt bacon face
#94
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#96
grotesqueer 1 year ago
This is really well made though? I mean the tattooing skills are good. The picture isn't, but the tattoo is. It looks like an accurate representation of a poor drawing, which makes me think maybe it's a picture someone important drew.
#97
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
Hey, you forgot to add the 's' after the 't' at the end. Artist- Oh yea, my bad. I'll fix that. As the tattoo recipient goes back to watching something on their phone.
#98
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
I thought Jesus had a couple of sailfish behind him.
#99
Green Machine 1 year ago
The thing that almost always breaks my heart about the tattoos of people, is it's usually an attempt to immortalize someone they love dearly (and has passed), but they end up making them look... just so bad. It's sad all around.
El Cucuy 1 year ago
What's sad is they could get really excellent work done. There are a ton of very talent artists out there. But people would rather be cheap or have a 'friend' do it.
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Tobias Reaper 1 year ago
Michael listening to music Jason crying Freddy shocked at some bad news
Clown fish 1 year ago (edited)
Lol hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil
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#103
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
Someone definitely peaked in high school. Let's hope this wasn't her biggest accomplishment in life.
K. LNU 1 year ago
Probably was... Or she is the queen of a city in central Myanmar (Burma).
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#105
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
So many spelling/grammar errors in one tattoo. 🤦🏻♀️
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Jaaawn 1 year ago
I feel as though this article is published several times a year on this website.
BookFanatic 1 year ago
Did the artists not let folks look at the tat first? Mine draws it out, gets my approval. Transfers it to my skin, gets my approval. Makes me look in the mirror, gets my approval.
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Top of the list for fails is Napoleon's mate, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who got a tattoo of "Death to Kings" during the French Revolution. He was later made King of Sweden and Norway. Fortunately for him, his position allowed him to ban anyone seeing his naked torso. These muppets won't be so lucky.
ZGutr 1 year ago
Well, some "artists" should reconsider the things they do for money. Sometimes customers needs to be protected against themselves. "Otherwise someone else will do the tattoo" isn't a validation..
The Doom Song 1 year ago
Clearly these are idiots who bought tattoo guns online a day clearly have absolutely no artistic skill whatsoever. This is why I pay good money to a professional
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Biofish23 1 year ago
Has anyone ever gotten a portrait tattoo that wasn't a horrible abomination?
Tyranamar Suess 1 year ago
There are some tattoo artists who doing amazing portraits. But you have to review their prior work and be willing to pay.
Load More Replies... Jaaawn 1 year ago
I feel as though this article is published several times a year on this website.
BookFanatic 1 year ago
Did the artists not let folks look at the tat first? Mine draws it out, gets my approval. Transfers it to my skin, gets my approval. Makes me look in the mirror, gets my approval.
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Top of the list for fails is Napoleon's mate, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who got a tattoo of "Death to Kings" during the French Revolution. He was later made King of Sweden and Norway. Fortunately for him, his position allowed him to ban anyone seeing his naked torso. These muppets won't be so lucky.
ZGutr 1 year ago
Well, some "artists" should reconsider the things they do for money. Sometimes customers needs to be protected against themselves. "Otherwise someone else will do the tattoo" isn't a validation..
The Doom Song 1 year ago
Clearly these are idiots who bought tattoo guns online a day clearly have absolutely no artistic skill whatsoever. This is why I pay good money to a professional
Load More Replies... Biofish23 1 year ago
Has anyone ever gotten a portrait tattoo that wasn't a horrible abomination?
Tyranamar Suess 1 year ago
There are some tattoo artists who doing amazing portraits. But you have to review their prior work and be willing to pay.
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