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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!

#1

Some Guy Tried To Copy My Tattoo Artist's Work - Tattooed A Nipple On His Arm

Bad tattoo fails depicting superhero villains with distorted faces, highlighted by red arrows.

samusxmetroid Report

#2

Nice Tattoo, Dave

Funny tattoo fail with nonsensical poem text, "Roses are red, my name's Dave, this poem makes no sense, microwave."

Hairy_Cheeks Report

#3

This Guy's Haircut

A humorous tattoo fail on a man's bald head, featuring a face with wide eyes and a mustache, viewed on an airplane.

youdontknowimadog Report

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?

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#4

Today I Learned That My Friend's Chinese Tattoo Literally Means "Turkey Sandwich"

Arm tattoo fail with incorrect translation, showing "turkey sandwich" in Chinese characters and smartphone translation.

rebeccalmighty Report

#5

For Real, Man?

Man with a tattoo of a jumping figure on his neck, featuring a creative use of a bump. Tattoo fail.

Report

#6

El Señor Nippleriño

Funny bad tattoo fail with a hat design around a nipple.

Report

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%).

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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.

#7

"It's Is My Life" - Jon Bovi

Bad tattoo fail with misspelled quote "it's is my life" attributed to "Jon Bovi."

Lolololokokok Report

#8

Roar

Tiger tattoo fail with awkward lines on a man's chest.

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#9

This Tiger Though

Bad tattoo fail of a poorly drawn tiger on a person's back.

snake___pit Report

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.

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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!

#10

Definitely Fits Here

Man with a humorous chest tattoo featuring a muscular figure appearing to burst through his skin, showcasing tattoo fail.

Richard Batey Report

#11

It's Supposed To Be A Galaxy

Close-up of a colorful tattoo mishap on a person's chest, resembling abstract art, surrounded by red fabric.

blahblahblahokay Report

#12

I'm Speechless

Bad tattoo fail of a smiling woman, contrasting with her original photo.

johnnyhumanseeds Report

#13

Oh My God

Leg tattoo designed with colorful scales resembling a snake, showcasing a unique tattoo fail.

kryzjewell Report

#14

I Don't Even Have The Words To Explain This

Cartoon-inspired bad tattoo fail with humorous yin-yang design.

anyeus Report

#15

This Tattoo Was Apparently Supposed To Be Of “Stars”

Close-up of a tattoo fail with scattered dots on chest, wearing a scorpion pendant necklace and red lace top.

macsimilian Report

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#16

Maximum Facepalm

Tattoo fail with misspelled phrase "Believe in Youself and Never Lose Hoop" on arm.

EDJE666 Report

#17

Third Into Fourth Always Gives Me Trouble

Bad tattoo fail showing a gear shift pattern on a wrist.

_TheArtOfWars_ Report

#18

Eminem Or M&M?

Bad tattoo fail depicting a blue cartoon character with a realistic face on a person's skin.

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#19

Back Of The Head Tattoo

Tattoo fail depicting a roaring gorilla face on the back of a person's head in a bathroom.

LicketySplitz Report

#20

Close, But Not Close Enough

Back tattoo fail with compass design and misaligned letters N, S, E, W.

PM-ME-YOUR-TITS-GIRL Report

#21

Dog Tits

Man with humorous bad tattoos on his torso, featuring text and small circle designs.

Yzre Report

#22

Turtle Head

Back of a head with a turtle tattoo covering the scalp, showcasing a funny bad tattoo fail.

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#23

The Bananas Threw Me For A Loop

Tattoo fail of kittens in a womb design on a person's stomach, highlighting bad tattoo decisions.

Big_Miss_Steak_ Report

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#24

Incredible Angelina's Jolie Portrait

Bad tattoo fail of a woman, side-by-side with the original photo for comparison.

Zahedi Firooz , Missmachineee Report

#25

A Facebook Friend Wanted A Very Specific Tattoo, I Think The Artist Really Nailed It

Tattoo fail featuring uneven forest design with trees and birds on arm.

u/SK2P1 Report

#26

So My Buddy's Step Sister Got A Tattoo Of Her Mother

Bad tattoo fail with a portrait that poorly resembles the original photo held next to it.

Sirflow Report

#27

This Guy Got A Sunglasses Tattoo On His Face

Man laughing with a tattoo fail of glasses on his face, highlighting humorous and cringe-worthy tattoo choices.

Matthew G Report

#28

Money Talks

Tattoo fail of Benjamin Franklin with "Money Talks" caption compared to $100 bill.

Met76 Report

#29

The Girl With The Vegan Tattoo

Face with "vegan" tattoo fail prominently displayed on the forehead in a humorous context.

pharmaninja Report

#30

Guy From High School Got The Same Tattoo As His Dog

Funny tattoo fail where a person mistakenly copies a pet's neuter symbol, sparking humorous comments on social media.

Chris Mendiola Report

#31

My Poor Drunken Choice

Bad tattoo fail featuring a rough sketch of a Pikachu character on a person's thigh.

SaggyBeaver Report

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#32

I Don't Even

Bad tattoo fail featuring a tiger face with purple flower petals.

iamdopers Report

#33

A Girl I Went To High School With Has This On Her Upper Thigh

Tiger tattoo with distorted face and roses on thigh, showcasing a tattoo fail.

jennnnner Report

#34

Getting A Tattoo Of Your Newborn

Bad tattoo fail of a baby's face next to the original photo, highlighting the humorous mismatch in the art.

Petkevic29 Report

#35

My Uncle's New Tattoo. Christmas Will Be Awkward This Year

Man with an eagle tattoo on his forehead inside a tattoo parlor; a humorous and cringe-worthy tattoo fail.

InfidelCB Report

#36

This Guy's Argyle Sock Tattoo

Man with diamond-patterned leg tattoos resembling socks, wearing sneakers and shorts in a store setting.

lovegoldengirls Report

#37

Oh My

Woman with a bad tattoo of an onion on her armpit, smiling in a tattoo studio.

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#38

Not Sure If It's Genius Or Just Horrible

Hairy troll tattoo fail on arm, with real hair used as its top.

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#39

Found This Gem Browsing Facebook

Back tattoo fail with a distorted face design, making it a cringe-worthy and laughable tattoo moment.

IntheDarkoftheNight Report

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#40

Impressive Dot Work, But Why?

Tattoo fails: a dot-work tattoo attempts to mimic a six-pack on a person's stomach.

lid-vicious Report

#41

I Think Thom Yorke Will Love It

I Think Thom Yorke Will Love It

reddit.com Report

#42

Expectations VS. Reality

Crab tattoo design compared to a poorly executed tattoo on a person's back.

coatedgreenpea Report

#43

Happy Meal

Clown tattoo fail with fries in underwear, highlighting humorous tattoo mistakes.

Axayaron Report

#44

Dude Sure Loves His Turtle

Bad tattoo fail featuring a shadowy figure and text on a forearm.

Clever_mudblood Report

#45

Interested In The Story Behind It

Bad tattoo fail of a baby face with a distorted design on an arm.

snake___pit Report

#46

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

Woman smiling next to a tattoo fail depicting a distorted face with a crown.

kdbk11 Report

#47

Unfortunate Tattoo Placement In An Engagement Photo

Couple embracing, woman's hand shows tattoo fail, with fading black ink on wrist, adding a humorous element.

Firedyke89 Report

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#48

Zipper Tattoo

Back tattoo of a large zipper, a humorous tattoo fail under the sun.

snake___pit Report

#49

"Angel Wings"

Back tattoo fail with a poorly drawn heart, knife, and angel wings.

Spiffyfunpants Report

#50

“My Own Design”

Bad tattoo fail featuring a poorly designed spiral tattoo with an accompanying humorous advertisement.

mact3n Report

#51

Please Kill Me

Bad tattoo fail showing two portraits on the skin that look distorted compared to the photo references.

samusxmetroid Report

#52

Tiger Anatomy Continues To Baffle Artists, Survey Says

Tiger tattoo fail with awkward design placement on arm and chest, causing laughter and cringe.

ArtistStallion Report

#53

The Concept Looked So Promising

Bad tattoo fail showing a map concept next to a lion tattoo with cross design.

ibboRftw Report

#54

Six-Pack

Man with a tattoo of soda can tops on his stomach, holding a beer, wearing a "Dale Jr. Pit Crew" shirt. Bad tattoo fail.

Report

#55

Yeah, Let’s Just Get A Spider Tattoo

Spider tattoo fail on man's cheek near ear with gauged earring.

fluffybigmac Report

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#56

Instagram Find. I Never Laughed So Hard At A Tattoo

Bad tattoo fail on forearm featuring a creative design gone wrong with unusual placement and perspective.

Yzre Report

#57

Friend On Facebook Seems Proud Of This Gem

Bad tattoo fail of a woman with mismatched legs and arms, humorous and cringe-worthy design.

coreyjuliette Report

#58

When You Get A Tattoo At Age 11

Man with a poorly done tattoo in a store aisle, wearing a white tank top and cap.

lolthrash Report

#59

Friend Bought A Tattoo Gun On Amazon For £100. Tattooed Darth Vader On Himself

Crude leg tattoo fail resembling a thin outline of a cloaked character on a hairy leg, creating a humorous cringe-worthy moment.

reddit.com Report

#60

Erm... A Lion?

Bad tattoo fail depicting an unrecognizable lion face on a person's arm.

samuelhunt Report

#61

Struck Gold On Facebook Today

Funny tattoo fail with a distorted bunny outline on skin wrapped in plastic.

rachenso Report

#62

Ryan Gosling

Tattoo fail featuring a portrait of a man with spider legs, labeled "Ryan Gosling," on someone's arm.

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#63

Leopard Print Or Little Hamburgers?

Woman's shoulder with a leopard print tattoo and green design, exemplifying bad tattoo fails.

Lisasartbeat Report

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#64

If Only Their Familey Had Warned Them

Bad tattoo fail with misspelled 'family' in a list of priorities on skin.

gablerr Report

#65

This "Artist's" Work Comes Across My Facebook Feed Daily, Quite The Treasure Trove

Fairy tattoo fail with awkward expression and uneven lines on forearm.

unicorn_for_lunch Report

#66

The Best Photo He Could Find Of Him

A man's face next to a poorly executed tattoo of himself, wearing a red cap.

Nicolasrvmoraes Report

#67

This Just Popped Up On Facebook

A portrait tattoo fail depicting a child's face with a distorted smile.

reddit.com Report

#68

Is It Just The Angle Or Does She Have A Pinocchio Arm?

Tattoo fail of a pin-up style woman saluting with a sailor hat on an arm.

cellared Report

#69

Found On Tinder, Solid Left Swipe

Bad tattoo fail of an angel with muscular arms, misspelled text, and uneven wings.

AndGiraffes Report

#70

What A Cute Lil Sword

Bad tattoo fail of a geisha outline over a man's chest, awkwardly positioned around his nipple.

suckytattoos Report

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#71

Sadly I'm Related To This Kid

Man with unusual tattoo fails, featuring devil horn designs on his forehead, creating a humorous and cringeworthy look.

IMNOTASLAG Report

#72

ICP Face Make-Up Tattoo. 100% Real

Man with bad tattoo fails, featuring facial designs in four different photos, showcasing humorous and cringeworthy tattoo work.

potter_in_hobbiton Report

#73

Spotted On The Chicago Subway. A Paw And Bow Tie, Or...

Poorly drawn tattoo of a cartoon cat on a person's shoulder, showcasing a humorous and cringe-worthy tattoo fail.

lizanyah Report

#74

Will It Look Good When It's Done? And Yes, It's Real

Yin yang tattoo fail with uneven colors, captioned "Gonna look good when it is done."

MorganMonsterBear Report

#75

I've Got A Hunch That He Isn't, "Wrongfully Convicted." Call Me Crazy, But

Man with "Wrongfully Convicted" tattooed above eyebrows in orange shirt, illustrating tattoo fail.

IHeartCokeAndHookers Report

#76

Spotted On The Beach. Go Bulls!

Man with a comical bull tattoo on shoulder at the beach, showcasing a tattoo fail.

Burulambie Report

#77

Blurring The Line Between Art And Reality

Lion tattoo fail progression on a man's side, showcasing a cringe-worthy design evolution.

Spoog_McDuck Report

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#78

When Fashion Is Life

Person with unusual head tattoos sitting on a train, showcasing a bad tattoo fail that’s both laughable and cringe-worthy.

omg_Enrico_Palazzo Report

#79

Thus Beauty On Facebook Marketplace

A poorly executed tattoo of a snarling dog on an arm, showcasing a tattoo fail.

Real_Clever_Username Report

#80

But Why?

Back tattoo fail depicting a large, detailed rooster covering the entire back.

Nicolasrvmoraes Report

#81

Okay, Buddy, Okay

Misspelled "Veni Vidi Vici" tattoo on an arm, showcasing a tattoo fail.

paperrchain Report

#82

It Looks Like A Lawsuit

Back tattoo fail featuring a tiger with a distorted tail and grass-like hair, highlighting bad tattoo choices.

FoxFreeze Report

#83

Not-So-Magic Mike

Tattoo fails: uneven sketch of a man on upper arm, with visible tattoo details and shading.

GlennBanks Report

#84

Was On A Dating Site And This Popped Up

Back tattoo fail with two snakes and a biohazard symbol, highlighting bad tattoo design.

DualSF Report

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#85

Got This When I Was 16

Bad tattoo fail depicting a simple corn dog design on a leg, with an actual corn dog held nearby.

mystical_bastard Report

#86

Flaming Nips

Man with a tattoo fail featuring small flame designs above his nipples, showcasing a humorous and cringeworthy tattoo choice.

DJrybo Report

#87

But Why

Face tattoo fail on woman's cheek, unusual concept and execution make it a funny and cringeworthy moment.

Report

#88

"Yeah, I Want A Full Sized Wrestling Championship Belt Tattooed Across My Stomach In Extreme Detail. Don't Worry About My Belly Button"

A bad tattoo fail depicting a championship belt design on a man's torso, with humorous Star Wars boxers visible.

areckewey Report

#89

I See A Lot Of These On My Feed

Bad tattoo fail showing an unfinished jellyfish design on the side of a person's torso.

Defrostmode Report

#90

Found This Butterface On A Local Shop's Instagram

Bad tattoo fail of a colorful character in a red suit with a creepy grin and a crescent moon on an arm.

Shock-Horror Report

#91

"I Hate Being Barefoot"

Bad tattoo fail depicting sneakers illustrated on feet, combining humor and cringe-worthy design.

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#92

It Happened

Bad tattoo fail of a Croc shoe inked on a leg.

snake___pit Report

#93

You Guys Remember The Movie Spirit, Right?

Bad tattoo of a horse with mismatched features on a person's leg.

Keeblahbeth Report

#94

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?

Bad tattoo fail of a woman's face on a person's leg, with the reference photo beside it.

Shesterikova Report

#95

This Is An Abomination

Tattoo fail combining woman's face with dog's snout, creating a humorous and cringeworthy image.

schwiftybass Report

#96

All Eyes On You

Bald head with poorly tattooed eyes, humorous tattoo fail.

snake___pit Report

#97

Eye See U

Man with eyes tattooed on the back of his neck, wearing a white shirt in a crowd. Tattoo fails humor.

shhphoenix Report

#98

When All You Want Is Long Hair

Tattoo fail of a braided hair design on a man's neck, attempting humorously realistic detail.

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#99

I Told Him Not To Do It, My Friend Got A Centipede Tattoo On The Face

Centipede tattoo on a man's face, showcasing an example of bad tattoo fails.

saltus Report

#100

Another Gem

Tattoo fail of a syringe with the word "Diabetic" on a forearm, showcasing a humorous design error.

unicorn_for_lunch Report

#101

Want To Play?

Chest tattoo fail featuring a game controller design around a nipple.

snake___pit Report

#102

This Dope Tiger Face Tatt

Face tattoo fail with a tiger design covering the cheek, highlighting a humorous and cringe-worthy tattoo choice.

CrayolaCat Report

#103

Rocky Dennis Tattoo

Bad tattoo fail showing a distorted face with curly hair, creating an unusual and humorous appearance.

Report

#104

Once You Go Black

Back tattoo fail with African map and humorous text.

Pitboss2k Report

#105

While We're Doing Teen Mom Tattoos. Here's Amber's Tattoo Of Her Daughter

Cringe-worthy tattoo of a child and roses on a person's torso, showcasing a bad tattoo fail with awkward proportions.

birdinspace Report

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#106

Don't People Know These Things Are Permanent?

Hand tattoo with text errors highlighted, showcasing a tattoo fail with smudges in a humorous way.

RhoosterDiesel Report

#107

Wow Those Lines And 'Birds' Are Awful

Bad tattoo fail with feather design and text on a person’s side, showcasing humorous and cringeworthy artwork.

reddit.com Report

#108

This Is Just Amazing

Chest tattoo fail featuring a large, detailed eagle design that looks awkward and humorous.

snake___pit Report

#109

Found This Nightmare On Instagram

Bad tattoo fail of a face with the word "damaged" and a hand covering the mouth.

EaFree Report

#110

From A Legit Shop

Bad tattoo fail with a diamond on a German flag wristband.

akcowboi Report

#111

Fancy Dinner, Anyone?

Bad tattoo fail featuring a large lobster design on a man's chest.

Anthony Report

#112

Placement Fail

Hand with a poorly drawn tattoo resembling brass knuckles, showcasing a tattoo fail.

tattoogurken Report

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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!