Regret — we all experience it at one point or another, and nothing stirs up remorse quite like a bad tattoo. An estimated 32% of people in the United States have a tattoo, and about one-quarter of them may end up regretting their funny tattoos or wanting them removed.
Before getting a tattoo, most of us spend a long time picking the design, consulting with the tattoo artist, and choosing the perfect spot for our body art. The lesser part of the people get drunk, find a guitar string, some fountain pen ink, and presto — they now have a truly regrettable tattoo.
As far as we can tell there will never be a lack of tattoo fails nor a shortage of people willing to share their ugly tattoos. Bored Panda has added a new list of bad tattoos that either didn’t go as planned or will make you question what goes through people’s minds.
From bad artists who didn’t quite nail it to bizarre artistic choices, scroll down below to see these cautionary tales of the worst tattoos ever!
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Some Guy Tried To Copy My Tattoo Artist's Work - Tattooed A Nipple On His Arm
Nice Tattoo, Dave
This Guy's Haircut
When Do Tattoos Go Wrong?
It usually starts with a bad design or a spur-of-the-moment decision. Imagine someone picking a tattoo on the fly, not thinking about how it’ll look years down the road or if it really suits them.
Then, there’s the actual tattooing part. Things can go south if the artist isn’t… qualified, to say the least. You know, shaky lines, words spelled wrong, colors that blend into a muddy mess — basically, a great idea getting lost in the process.
And let’s not forget aftercare. Tattoos need TLC to heal right. Skipping out on the care tips can lead to all sorts of trouble, like infections or a faded, sad-looking tattoo.
And while you’re checking out these hilariously stupid tattoos, think about where it all went wrong. Was it a quirky idea that didn’t work, an artist’s slip, or maybe just bad luck in the healing process?
Today I Learned That My Friend's Chinese Tattoo Literally Means "Turkey Sandwich"
For Real, Man?
El Señor Nippleriño
How Common is Tattoo Regret?
It turns out that tattoo regret is a real thing for quite a few people. In a Pew Research Center survey involving 8,480 adults, they found that about 24% of tattooed Americans have some regret about their ink. This isn't a tiny number, considering 32% of US adults have at least one tattoo.
Interestingly, the level of regret varies among different groups. For instance, 30% of tattooed Hispanic adults reported some regret, compared to 23% of White and 21% of Black adults.
There also appears to be a slight variation in tattoo regret based on education levels. Those with some college or less education are more likely to regret their tattoos (25%) compared to those with higher educational levels (19%).
This info helps put things into perspective, doesn't it? As you’re scrolling through these bad tattoo choices, it’s interesting to think that a good number of these people might be part of the 24% who regret their decision.
"It's Is My Life" - Jon Bovi
Roar
This Tiger Though
What to Do When You Get a Bad Tattoo?
So, you’ve got a tattoo that didn’t turn out as awesome as you thought it would. Don’t sweat it! First off, give it some time — what seems like a disaster at first can grow on you. If not, you’ve got options.
Cover-up tattoos are a popular choice. A skilled artist can work wonders, turning your regret into a piece you’re proud of. Laser tattoo removal is another route, though it’s pricier and takes several sessions. And hey, if it’s a small or simple mistake, sometimes a little touch-up is all you need.
But remember, the best fix is prevention. Think long and hard about your design and artist choice before getting inked. And if you end up with a tattoo fail, don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes — yours just happens to be a bit more permanent!
Definitely Fits Here
It's Supposed To Be A Galaxy
I'm Speechless
Oh My God
I Don't Even Have The Words To Explain This
This Tattoo Was Apparently Supposed To Be Of “Stars”
Maximum Facepalm
Third Into Fourth Always Gives Me Trouble
Eminem Or M&M?
Back Of The Head Tattoo
Close, But Not Close Enough
Dog Tits
Turtle Head
The Bananas Threw Me For A Loop
Incredible Angelina's Jolie Portrait
A Facebook Friend Wanted A Very Specific Tattoo, I Think The Artist Really Nailed It
So My Buddy's Step Sister Got A Tattoo Of Her Mother
This Guy Got A Sunglasses Tattoo On His Face
Money Talks
The Girl With The Vegan Tattoo
Guy From High School Got The Same Tattoo As His Dog
My Poor Drunken Choice
I Don't Even
A Girl I Went To High School With Has This On Her Upper Thigh
Getting A Tattoo Of Your Newborn
My Uncle's New Tattoo. Christmas Will Be Awkward This Year
This Guy's Argyle Sock Tattoo
Oh My
Not Sure If It's Genius Or Just Horrible
Found This Gem Browsing Facebook
Impressive Dot Work, But Why?
I Think Thom Yorke Will Love It
Expectations VS. Reality
Happy Meal
Dude Sure Loves His Turtle
Interested In The Story Behind It
My Mom's Ex Got A Tattoo Of Her After She Passed. I Guess I Never Realized My Mom Was An Asian Man, With 5 O'clock Shadow
Unfortunate Tattoo Placement In An Engagement Photo
Zipper Tattoo
"Angel Wings"
“My Own Design”
Please Kill Me
Tiger Anatomy Continues To Baffle Artists, Survey Says
The Concept Looked So Promising
Six-Pack
Yeah, Let’s Just Get A Spider Tattoo
Instagram Find. I Never Laughed So Hard At A Tattoo
Friend On Facebook Seems Proud Of This Gem
When You Get A Tattoo At Age 11
Friend Bought A Tattoo Gun On Amazon For £100. Tattooed Darth Vader On Himself
Erm... A Lion?
Struck Gold On Facebook Today
Ryan Gosling
Leopard Print Or Little Hamburgers?
If Only Their Familey Had Warned Them
This "Artist's" Work Comes Across My Facebook Feed Daily, Quite The Treasure Trove
The Best Photo He Could Find Of Him
This Just Popped Up On Facebook
Is It Just The Angle Or Does She Have A Pinocchio Arm?
Found On Tinder, Solid Left Swipe
What A Cute Lil Sword
Sadly I'm Related To This Kid
ICP Face Make-Up Tattoo. 100% Real
Spotted On The Chicago Subway. A Paw And Bow Tie, Or...
Will It Look Good When It's Done? And Yes, It's Real
I've Got A Hunch That He Isn't, "Wrongfully Convicted." Call Me Crazy, But
Spotted On The Beach. Go Bulls!
Blurring The Line Between Art And Reality
When Fashion Is Life
Thus Beauty On Facebook Marketplace
But Why?
Okay, Buddy, Okay
It Looks Like A Lawsuit
Not-So-Magic Mike
Was On A Dating Site And This Popped Up
Got This When I Was 16
Flaming Nips
But Why
"Yeah, I Want A Full Sized Wrestling Championship Belt Tattooed Across My Stomach In Extreme Detail. Don't Worry About My Belly Button"
I See A Lot Of These On My Feed
Found This Butterface On A Local Shop's Instagram
"I Hate Being Barefoot"
It Happened
You Guys Remember The Movie Spirit, Right?
A Tattoo Artist At A Well Known Store In My City Did This On Herself, And Posted It To Facebook. Everyone Loves It. Am I Crazy For Not Seeing What Everyone Else Sees?
This Is An Abomination
All Eyes On You
Eye See U
When All You Want Is Long Hair
I Told Him Not To Do It, My Friend Got A Centipede Tattoo On The Face
Another Gem
Want To Play?
This Dope Tiger Face Tatt
Rocky Dennis Tattoo
Once You Go Black
While We're Doing Teen Mom Tattoos. Here's Amber's Tattoo Of Her Daughter
Don't People Know These Things Are Permanent?
Wow Those Lines And 'Birds' Are Awful
This Is Just Amazing
Found This Nightmare On Instagram
From A Legit Shop
Fancy Dinner, Anyone?
Placement Fail
And that’s a wrap on our tour of tattoo disasters! We can't help but wonder which ones made you laugh or cringe the hardest. Have a favorite (or should we say, the least favorite) from this list? Go ahead and give it an upvote.
Better yet, drop us a comment and share your thoughts. Maybe you’ve got a tattoo story of your own to tell? We’re all ears!
If there was a mandarory 24h pondering phase between making the decision to get a tattoo and confirming it to be really done, 90%of tattoos probably qould not be made. That is, essentially all tattoos made out of "hey, I am drunk" and of fashion considerations.
Load More Replies...While a lot of these are really poorly done and there's no reasonable explanation why anyone would choose some of these designs, quite a few of these are well executed, even if the ideas are silly to some. Tattoo culture is like that; it doesn't always make sense. For one, most people who are heavily tattooed and/or have a good bit of tattoos do not mind getting "joke tattoos" or just all around questionable ones because it makes us happy. For anyone who isn't part of the culture, you have to consider that most people who get tattooed actually do not give a damn what you think about what they do. The art is for themselves and like-minded people.
If there was a mandarory 24h pondering phase between making the decision to get a tattoo and confirming it to be really done, 90%of tattoos probably qould not be made. That is, essentially all tattoos made out of "hey, I am drunk" and of fashion considerations.
Load More Replies...While a lot of these are really poorly done and there's no reasonable explanation why anyone would choose some of these designs, quite a few of these are well executed, even if the ideas are silly to some. Tattoo culture is like that; it doesn't always make sense. For one, most people who are heavily tattooed and/or have a good bit of tattoos do not mind getting "joke tattoos" or just all around questionable ones because it makes us happy. For anyone who isn't part of the culture, you have to consider that most people who get tattooed actually do not give a damn what you think about what they do. The art is for themselves and like-minded people.