“Once My Shirt Was Off, Things Got Weird Quickly”: Woman Appalled At The Way Her Tattoo Artist Treated Her, Leaves Mid-Session
Interview
Getting tattoos can be nerve-wracking. When it’s your first time, the needle is scary because you have no idea how much it will hurt. The next time, the pain can be scary because you do know how much it hurts. The biggest concern, however, is how permanent the art is. When a client commits to having something on their body for the rest of their life, it’s important they feel comfortable and confident in their decision.
Most artists have a gift for making clients feel at ease, but unfortunately, there are exceptions. Last month, a woman named Dalina posted a TikTok detailing a horrible encounter she had with an unprofessional tattoo artist. Below you can hear Dalina’s upsetting story, along with an interview between her and Bored Panda, and read some of the responses that her video received.
Last month, Dalina agreed to get a tattoo from an artist who approached her at the gym
Image credits: daliestella
Image credits: senoracabrona
The appointment quickly took a turn when the artist began making inappropriate comments and body shaming Dalina
Image credits: senoracabrona
Dalina mentioned later that when the artist began getting the stencil ready, he told her, “just take off your shirt”. And “once [her] shirt was off, things got weird quickly”. Apparently she had to sit there waiting for 20-30 minutes shirtless before the artist even started putting the stencil on her skin.
Below you can hear Dalina tell the story herself
@senoracabrona I just had a panic attack in my car #fyp #tattoo #foryou #foryoupage #tattooartist #horrorstory ♬ original sound – Dalina
We reached out to Dalina on Instagram to hear about some of her favorite tattoo experiences, considering this one was so negative. She told us, “When I lived on the East Coast I got most of the tattoos I have now from a woman named Desiree. She was the sweetest and always made sure I was comfortable. We spent so much time together and she never made me feel weird for having new ideas or setting boundaries. She really showed me what it was like to be tattooed in a great environment. The neck tattoo was amazing because it was like this huge milestone for the both of us. We just laughed and when we were done it was like omg we did it.”
As far as the tattoo Dalina was trying to get done the day she posted this video, it’s currently a work in progress. “I’ve started finishing it with a female artist in my area- Paula. She actually contacted me before the video went viral and asked to finish it because she knows how weird men in the industry can be. I’m excited to see how it finishes, but overall I’m happy I stopped him when I did so I could get it completed by someone who respected me.”
Dalina is now in the process of having the tattoo finished by a female artist she trusts
Image credits: senoracabrona
Image credits: senoracabrona
Image credits: daliestella
We also asked Dalina if she had any advice for women who have felt uncomfortable in situations like this before. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- trust your gut. You shouldn’t feel unsafe or uncomfortable with anybody whose modifying your body. All bodies deserve the art their owners want without fear of being shamed or ridiculed.” Lastly, she wanted to add that “body mods are supposed to be a fun experience for everybody”. “It is a privilege to have someone work on you as a canvas.”
While no artist should ever act as inappropriate and unprofessional as the man described in the video, it’s wonderful to hear that Dalina will finally be able to get the tattoo she imagined and turn it into a positive memory. Be sure to follow her on TikTok if you’d like to keep up with her fresh new artwork, then let us know in the comments: do you have any tattoos? We’d love to hear about your experiences with the artists!
Responses from viewers are unanimously in support of Dalina, with many reassuring her that she was not being dramatic
I can talk about my tits being tits. You can talk about tits in general. You can NOT talk about my tits being tits. Disgusting.
Report him to the bbb and the health dept that govern artist and their lic. If he was saying those things to you, then I'd also mention to the gym how he's luring people in by being nice then shaming them for how they look. And I'd also make sure to go to his shops fb or insta pages and also leave your story under other peoples comments so it's harder for him to delete. No artist should say those things to any customer. You can't say that to someone at Walmart. You dont say that when someone is entrusting you to do a pc of work on them. F**k that douche nozzle of a human. Pc ur perfect as you are. Your SOUL is shining.
I just wonder why anyone believes someone like this person. Don't people use their own judgment anymore? Doesn't anyone question such a bizarre article? Knowing that the vast majority of tattoo artists are ethical, and don't speak to their customers in such a manner---they simply cannot afford to do so because they can lose their license quickly if they commit such violations---I can't understand why anyone would instantly and automatically believe this person without finding out the truth first.
Load More Replies... I feel so bad for her. I've had plenty of tattoos done but I think being talked to like this would be enough to make me quit. There's literally no reason for someone to talk c**p about another person's body. I'm so glad she was able to find a female artist who can finish the work!
I had my shirt off for the tattoo when I got up saw the camera taping the entire thing. Swear we can't just exist
Good for her for leaving. I would not want any work from that a-hole on my body either
I am heavily tattooed, have worked at a tattoo shop and have had many tattoo artists, all male, work on my designs over the years. NEVER in the 2 dozen artists that have inked me has one ever made disparaging remarks about my body or commented on anything besides the work I want done. I would suggest you leave reviews on all their social media especially Yelp and call him out by name. Everyone should feel comfortable getting artwork done in a safe and secure setting. I am sorry this happened to you.
You are beautiful as all hell and I hope you got got your work completed by someone competent! I'd have told him to go to hell!
Miguel justino C: note to self... get a scorpion tat on my neck
That's an absolute embarrassment to the art form and honestly to homo sapien males as a species, fella should be thanking his stars that me or a couple of my people weren't around to witness it, it's real hard to hold a tattoo gun with broken fingers caused by outright pathetic disrespect not only towards woman but an artform I consider my passion
the dude approached her at the gym a stranger unsolicited and said he can do a tattoo for her and she accepted i am amazed at that especially in this day and the guy was well out of order should have kept his opinion to himself not saying its her fault because it isnt i am just surprised she let accepted his offer
Just sock him in the jaw and tell him ' you must have hit a nerve tehre sorry it was reflex' then walk out.
I'd have to take this blather with a huge---HUGE!---grain of salt. I don't believe this person, not more than "I have a ton of tattoos" (which is clearly evident without it saying a word about them). In other words, anyone can send/write anything on BP, including those who prevaricate, and I rather believe it falls into that category. My late son was a tattoo artist, and he said that he was expected to be ethical, honest, never insulting to anyone, truthful without being hurtful (his employer set the rules for the shop). But he also said there were nutso customers who just loved to cause all kinds of stupid drama. Looks like one of them wrote this article.
I can talk about my tits being tits. You can talk about tits in general. You can NOT talk about my tits being tits. Disgusting.
Report him to the bbb and the health dept that govern artist and their lic. If he was saying those things to you, then I'd also mention to the gym how he's luring people in by being nice then shaming them for how they look. And I'd also make sure to go to his shops fb or insta pages and also leave your story under other peoples comments so it's harder for him to delete. No artist should say those things to any customer. You can't say that to someone at Walmart. You dont say that when someone is entrusting you to do a pc of work on them. F**k that douche nozzle of a human. Pc ur perfect as you are. Your SOUL is shining.
I just wonder why anyone believes someone like this person. Don't people use their own judgment anymore? Doesn't anyone question such a bizarre article? Knowing that the vast majority of tattoo artists are ethical, and don't speak to their customers in such a manner---they simply cannot afford to do so because they can lose their license quickly if they commit such violations---I can't understand why anyone would instantly and automatically believe this person without finding out the truth first.
Load More Replies... I feel so bad for her. I've had plenty of tattoos done but I think being talked to like this would be enough to make me quit. There's literally no reason for someone to talk c**p about another person's body. I'm so glad she was able to find a female artist who can finish the work!
I had my shirt off for the tattoo when I got up saw the camera taping the entire thing. Swear we can't just exist
Good for her for leaving. I would not want any work from that a-hole on my body either
I am heavily tattooed, have worked at a tattoo shop and have had many tattoo artists, all male, work on my designs over the years. NEVER in the 2 dozen artists that have inked me has one ever made disparaging remarks about my body or commented on anything besides the work I want done. I would suggest you leave reviews on all their social media especially Yelp and call him out by name. Everyone should feel comfortable getting artwork done in a safe and secure setting. I am sorry this happened to you.
You are beautiful as all hell and I hope you got got your work completed by someone competent! I'd have told him to go to hell!
Miguel justino C: note to self... get a scorpion tat on my neck
That's an absolute embarrassment to the art form and honestly to homo sapien males as a species, fella should be thanking his stars that me or a couple of my people weren't around to witness it, it's real hard to hold a tattoo gun with broken fingers caused by outright pathetic disrespect not only towards woman but an artform I consider my passion
the dude approached her at the gym a stranger unsolicited and said he can do a tattoo for her and she accepted i am amazed at that especially in this day and the guy was well out of order should have kept his opinion to himself not saying its her fault because it isnt i am just surprised she let accepted his offer
Just sock him in the jaw and tell him ' you must have hit a nerve tehre sorry it was reflex' then walk out.
I'd have to take this blather with a huge---HUGE!---grain of salt. I don't believe this person, not more than "I have a ton of tattoos" (which is clearly evident without it saying a word about them). In other words, anyone can send/write anything on BP, including those who prevaricate, and I rather believe it falls into that category. My late son was a tattoo artist, and he said that he was expected to be ethical, honest, never insulting to anyone, truthful without being hurtful (his employer set the rules for the shop). But he also said there were nutso customers who just loved to cause all kinds of stupid drama. Looks like one of them wrote this article.
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