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Tattoos are all the rage right now – even your grandma might have one. Some ink can be gorgeous: you might see the intricate details, the craftsmanship, or simply an idea behind a tattoo and instantly want to ask its owner all about it.
Other tattoos, however, give you the opposite reaction. 29% of Americans without tattoos do, after all, say that tattoos give them a negative impression of a person. Whether it's the rendering or the idea itself, we all probably have tattoos we don't like.
One person on the Internet had the same idea when they asked other netizens: "What tattoo is a turnoff?" Folks had a lot to get off their chests as they shared their tattoo icks; from misspellings to evil clowns, from tramp stamps to face tattoos – many tattoos would make these people run, not walk from the other person.
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#1
Anything pro white supremacy.
RELATED:
#2
99% of face tattoos.
Allie Herz 10 months ago
For me at least an exception is if face tattoos are traditional in someone’s culture.
Lady Eowyn 10 months ago
For me, that's the only time facial tattoos are acceptable.
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Melissa Girvan Grant 10 months ago
Facial tattoos are nostly beautiful where I'm from in NZ. Otherwise, nope!
Hannah N 10 months ago
I live in NZ too and I love seeing moko on Maori peoples faces its beautiful.
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#3
MAGA
Racism.
Glen Ellyn 10 months ago
We're lucky that we are warned before making any kind of contact with this cretin.
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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
TBH any tattoo related to any political movement is going to be hella cringe but MAGA is especially gross.
StumblingThroughLife 10 months ago
Throat tatts in general are as bad as facial ones - unless they're part of the person's culture.
#4
I saw a picture in Pinterest of a guy who has a tattoo in the moustache area with the words "p**sy eater".
If I see some tattoo like this I stop all and leave.
StumblingThroughLife 10 months ago
This tattoo also tells me he's a moron
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Raymond Core 10 months ago
The tattooed tears are like notches in a gunslinger's gun. Each one is for someone they killed.
#5
Misspelled words.
Robert Beveridge 10 months ago
I learned a valuable lesson in 1991: never, EVER point out the misspelling in an ex-Marine's "born too loose" tattoo. You should ESPECIALLY not do this in a way that can be taken as a proposition.
#6
#B***R GARAGE.
Weasel Wise 10 months ago (edited)
This specific tattoo ia from the movie We're The Millers, not a real tattoo. It's a HILARIOUS movie that y'all need to check out.
Sally Moen 10 months ago
When I was a child, there was this expression of sarcasm, to indicate something is the exact opposite of humorous. It fits this tattoo: It's so funny, that I forgot to laugh!
#7
Except for the obvious exampls, for me it's something sexually explicit, something that is unpleasant and too much. I mean like genitalia, detailed sexual scenes or some disgusting phrase.
#8
Any of them that make one’s belly button look like an animal’s a*****e.
#9
Stuff that looks like it was inked in some guy's kitchen after too many drinks.
Highfalutin Heron 10 months ago
(tattoo artist creates detailed image of an Etch- A- sketch.)
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Eric Brown 10 months ago
I have seen ones like this that were wholesome though. Like, when a parent loses a child and they take one of the childs drawings and get it tattooed on themselves.
Courtney Christelle 10 months ago
The exception being if it’s a kid’s drawing. A guy got his kid’s handwriting tattooed after his child unfortunately passed.
#10
Ones done in a foreign language when you dont know the language or have any cultural identity with it.
Del Chao 10 months ago
I have a Chinese writing on my arm. I know what it says and got it confirmed. I don't really feel like I'm doing something wrong because that tattoo is just for me.
CinderFallenAngel 10 months ago
You cared enough to actually respect the language you were having tattooed on your arm by making sure it was correct. Unfortunately not everyone goes that far.
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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
I remember an Asian-American artist who got sick of doing Kanji on white frat-bros so he started tattooing things like "small p***s" or "I have herpes". Cultural appropriation is NEVER cool. That said, I have a tattoo in Latin but the Roman Empire is long gone these days so nobody to offend.
Rachel Reynolds 10 months ago
I have a Mandalorian phrase, in Mando'a under a tattoo of Boba Fett. Don't know if that counts, I am not actually Mandalorian.
Immortal Jellyfish 10 months ago (edited)
On of my mates got a large Chinese character on his upper arm. To make It even more cringe It was done in tiger stripes. The tattoo was supposed to mean strength or something similar, what it actually said was beast, not only that but this meaning/translation was used as predator! He promptly got it covered with a big black tribal thing.
Weasel Wise 10 months ago
I have Vietnamese written on my shoulder. I'm not Vietnamese but I know that Ho Chi Minh was a super hero and I will absolutely slap one of his most famous quotes on my skin "Không có gì quý hơn độc lập, tự do". I also have some Latin across my ribs.
#11
Almost all facial tattoos. There's already eyes, nose, and lips that the tattoo has to compete with for attention. They just look weird and out of place.
Auntriarch 10 months ago
I like a person's face to just look like their face. Even excessive make up makes me slightly uneasy, and at least you can change your mind about that.
Lilli Belisle 10 months ago
I think what she has is fine for her with the exception of the scorpion, bent nail and barb wire on her arm too big and ugly. Why not get something esthetically pleasing if you're going to do this?????
Bored Retsuko 10 months ago
Not that I like face tattoos at all but this reason doesn’t make much sense imho.
#12
Having an ex's name inked on your skin! That's like having a constant reminder of a chapter you'd rather forget. It's tough when tattoos carry emotional baggage.
Gingersnap In Iowa 10 months ago
I had an ex boyfriend tattoo my name on his arm. I begged him not to do it.
MJisME 10 months ago
NEVER EVER do a name of someone you're dating, married to, partnered with it just never works out. 💯 Even the people who have been together forever have broken up, divorced, etc.
XenoMurph 10 months ago
After 15 years of marriage after my daughter was born, I'd have happily had both their names tattoed on me. We split after 20 years.
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MalayDragon 10 months ago
I have two names tattooed on my chest, the names of my two daughters. My wife asked me when I was going to get her name tattooed, and got upset when I immediately and with zero hesitation replied "Never".
#13
F**k off tattooed across the forehead can be a bit unwelcoming.
Shaun Coleman 10 months ago
Or unnecessary as someone who would have such a tattoo is not someone you want to go near anyway,
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Skullface VonHornhelm 10 months ago
It's a warning label so you know that person is a total f**k off.
Romy Rösli 10 months ago
An indicator this person is unemployed and not pleasant to be around.
#14
Oh god i can’t believe i have to say it but Logos.
Seen the Gucci logo tattooed on someone and i have seen an LV logo tattooed online somewhere.
And it’s clear the brands are definitely not sponsoring these people.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
Car brands are pretty common among certain subcultures. Imagine being so into Tesla ten years ago you actually got that tattoo.
Panda McPandaface 10 months ago
I think sports teams and band logos are acceptable, brands no. I'm planning my first and only tattoo as part of my bucket list (I'm 62 so you never know), it will be the logo of the German metal band Rammstein. I'm looking forward to it!
#15
Political s**t.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
For real, it will never age well. Political movements come and go but tattoos last a lifetime. Imagine having a 9-11 truther tattoo now in 2025. You'd look like an idiot.
Scott Rackley 10 months ago
Or, "I like Ike" tatooed on your a*s. Who? Turner or Eisenhower?
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#16
No Ragrets.
#17
Lip print on the neck.
Peeka_Mimi 10 months ago
I'm getting a black lipped vampire on my neck. I don't care if I get jadged for it.
Depressy spaghetti 10 months ago (edited)
I want to petition to make jadge a word.
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Panda McPandaface 10 months ago
A friend of mine has one on the back of his left shoulder. It is very delicately done and he constantly has women trying to wipe it off for him LOL, it looks pretty good I think. This one on the neck is not so cool and nowhere near as well executed.
Mike F 10 months ago
I hope the size is exaggerated for the photo, if not, it looks like it was put there by a hippo wearing lipstick.
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Pittsburgh rare 10 months ago
I've seen these more than once and I always wonder if they have any luck with women because that's an instant no from me. The guys I've seen wearing them usually have yellow stained fingers, questionable smiles and a noticeable lack of hygiene, so that doesn't help.
#18
“Only god can judge me”.
Kitty Smith 10 months ago
Or "If you can't handle me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best" these tattoos are always on the same types of people.
Pittsburgh rare 10 months ago
I thought they only used it on online dating profiles 🤣 good grief
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Huddo's sister 10 months ago
This just makes me think this person is already doing things God would not approve of and yet they don't care, so why bother with the tat? Obviously believe in God in name only.
Vinnie 10 months ago
Script all caps. A good way to repel graphic designers.
Load More Replies... #19
Playboy Bunny. Imagine having that on you as a 90 year old. (Lookin at you Felicia).
CG 10 months ago
Palms are also one of the hardest areas to tattoo, mostly because there are millions of pain receptors in your palm. Don't go deep enough, and the tattoo won't stay. Go too deep, and the pain will be excruciating. Plus, hands get used on the daily, so designs will fade, or become a blurry mess.
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#20
Basically anything on the face.
Panda McPandaface 10 months ago
This is true - unfortunately outside of those with cutural significance, facial tats are pretty much universally ugly.
Load More Replies... #21
Bible verses.
therian-wolf(mutogen-demigen) 10 months ago
yesssssss these all suck. does not matter if done well.
#22
Really bad artwork and misspelled words.
#23
Guy I knew seemed totally normal until I got his shirt off and there's an evil clown tattooed on his shoulder. Should've left right then and there. Wish I would've.
Curbz81 10 months ago
I got matched with a guy on fb dating and it said we had a mutual friend. So i found his fb profile through hers, thought he was cute, until I saw a post with his giant Captain Spaulding (house of a 1000 corpses) tattoo. thank god i saw his profile first. If i was getting hot and heavy with someone and as they undressed I saw that I’d be running away so fast!
RiotGirl 10 months ago
"What's the matter kid, don't you like clowns? Why? Don't we make ya laugh? Aren't we f*ckin' funny?"
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#24
A name, any designer brand or anything on the face.
Rick Seiden 10 months ago
I think the exception to the tattoos on the face would be cultural tattoos like the Māori.
Mari 10 months ago
There are old people in Morocco with face tattoos, it was to indicate to wich family/tribe they belonged.
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Andrew Bridge 10 months ago
It's almost like this is one of many answers to the question
Load More Replies... Lilli Belisle 10 months ago
Prison tatts obviously. On an old man!!! The creases don't help! 😫!
#25
A life-size tattoo of Krang on your belly that makes it look like he's living inside you.
#26
Praying hands.
Becca not Becky 10 months ago
I've seen that design used to represent grieving a lost loved one. Not my first choice but I can understand it.
#27
Any one that clearly wasn't done by an actual artist.
#28
This guy i used to date had his moms eye tattooed on his chest..that was the thing that always made me feel awkward ,weird and basically a turn off every time we were to do anything tgt.
Panda McPandaface 10 months ago
Get your dad's eyes on each breast - that'll put him off his stroke.
#29
A guy with a tribal sun around his belly button.
Combfish McComish 10 months ago
More cringe was seeing a guy with this kind of tattoo and having a bellybutton piercing
my sox are in flux 2 months ago
I had to run that pic through Google Lens and have it translate that script to "Benevolence"...in English. 😬
#30
Luckily most heavily tattooed individuals don’t care about what the mass majority of people think of them. do what makes you happy. unless it’s a black and grey realism lion with blue eyes. please don’t do that.
PFD 10 months ago
Lol it's the clock/rose/lion combo! Tbh I pretty much dislike all these trend-driven ones, from the 90s tribals to skulls and wolves and on and on. Not that I hate them like I hate white supremacist or nationalist tats. They're just kinda like... the Live, Laugh, Love of tattoos.
Bob Brooce 10 months ago
If it's a "realism lion" at least make the lion's eyes look like they're a lion's eyes
Lilli Belisle 10 months ago
The right eye is a blue human eye....human morphed into lion I'm thinking.
#31
Female lower back tat stating “I Love A**l”.
#32
I'm honestly sad about some of these replies in here "women shouldn't get tattoos cuz they'll look ugly at an old age" "I've never seen dumb people without tattoos or smart people with them" are y'all 50 year old mormons living in a small village in kazachstan?
To answer the question tho, anything that's visibly poorly made, politics or just all around patriotism related, or is trendy on social media even though it doesn't have a meaning or looks particularly good (that being subjective tho, it may not be for me but if you like it good for you)
Don't really care too much about position either I think face tats can look really good too as long as you don't have entire sentences or faces on there lol. And don't really understand the hatred towards Neck/back/throat/feet tattoos either tbf, what matters to me is that it looks good in context.
Sally Moen 10 months ago
I'm really confused by this eagle 'carrying' a fire hose over a fire below an American flag. It could symbolize anything.
Bored Retsuko 10 months ago
Yeah, "women shouldn't get tattoos cuz they'll look ugly at an old age" - by that logic, no one should get their ears pierced either.
Romy Rösli 10 months ago
I don’t mind a bit of patriotism as long as it’s not about superiority and doesn’t degrade other countries/peoples/ethnicities. I don’t think patriotism is bad or racist in itself.
Shaun Coleman 10 months ago
As soon as you say "tats" or "tat" instead of tattoo I'm judging you...
#33
Ex's name.
Heather Menard 10 months ago
Yes but it's almost a garentee that they will be a ex
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Dragon mama 10 months ago
My partner has his previous partner's name, but it is a memorial and therefore exempt from this rule imo
#34
90’s “tribal” and a lower back tattoo. Your dead grandma or your child. Imagine being in the moment and seeing some guy’s dead sister on his chest. 90’s bear paw prints in current year. A giant homemade tattoo on your chest of you and your karate teacher from 8th grade.
Robert Beveridge 10 months ago
Okay that last sentence is oddly specific (and sounds kinda cool tbh)
#35
the clock/rose/lion combos.
Sven Grammersdorf 10 months ago
I think it's like some Beauty and the Beast reference?
Load More Replies... my sox are in flux 2 months ago
Genuine question: What does this particular trio of things symbolize, if anything?
#36
Can’t lie…I still like a tramp stamp.
Auntriarch 10 months ago
A friend had one, very nice delicate tracery, she said it's a part of the body that changes least
#37
A woman I know has her name tattooed next to her pubic bone...
WonderWoman 10 months ago
Perhaps the people visiting her pelvic area need reminding of her name
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Talis 10 months ago
So that the partner definitely does remember her name at an important point in time?
Colleen Glim 10 months ago
It just kills the mood when your partner shouts the wrong name
Load More Replies... Sally Moen 10 months ago
Gotta wonder how that will read when she has belly folds later in life
Auntriarch 10 months ago
Reminds me of the joke about the girl who said "why have you got Ludo tattooed on your winkle" and he replied "it's Llandudno, just wait a bit"
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#38
Motivational phrases
Trash polka
Tacky or poorly done skulls.
B 10 months ago
The tattoo in the image is traditional American and is very well done. It's supposed to look like that
CG 10 months ago
It's not my thing personally, but the artwork is solid. Maybe minor issues with the teeth, but if it's staying within traditional American, then I have no bones (pun intended) about it.
Load More Replies... Lily Langtry 10 months ago
After looking up trash polka I'm confused, the style is pretty impressive!
#39
I don't like cursive writing, the 90s style tribal tattoos, barbwire chain, clouds, or anything done poorly.
Lyoness 10 months ago
The thing about 90s tribal is how hard it is to change. The patterns are so big and black that the removal or coverups are stupid expensive.
CG 10 months ago
The only possible coverup is a "blackout" tattoo. But that makes it more obvious something is being covered up.
Load More Replies... Bored Retsuko 10 months ago
Barbwire chain is kinda cool but I might be biased because of nostalgia :-)
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Lyoness 10 months ago
I figure if the person wearing it likes it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Personally if people don't like mine they can kick rocks. My body, my choice.
Lez Be Honest 8 months ago
LOL I have this tattooed on my upper chest in rainbow bubble letters
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April Pickett 10 months ago
I would love to get a tattoo. I went to a tattoo parlor, and the lady who did my little tattoo had the most beautiful flower tattoo on her shoulder. It was done in beautiful (pastel) ink. I want that tattoo, but I have to wait. My money is all committed to other things.
Courtney Christelle 10 months ago
I have a rule: sit on a tattoo idea for a year. It’s saved me from getting a lot of tattoos I would’ve grown to hate.
Romy Rösli 10 months ago
I don’t get the „I don’t like face tattoos unless they are another culture‘s tradition“ answers. If I don’t like tattooed faces it doesn’t matter whether the tattoos are cultural, I just don’t like tattooed faces. I find this patronizing, as if other cultures needed your approval.
sturmwesen 10 months ago (edited)
I think it has more to do with non culture based face tattoos often (not always) being associated with lacking impulse controll ... most people I "knew" with face tattoos were not very stable ... less so now than say in the 00-years.
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A completely normal chair. 10 months ago
I'm really starting to dislike bored panda. Next it will be, 50 t-shirts that instantly make a person unattractive. 27 makeup products that instantly make a person unattractive. 89 jewelry products that instantly make a person unattractive. 14 bone structures that instantly make a person unattractive.
Just Another Karen 10 months ago
i have most of my body tattooed, including my face. a lot of people think they're awful, but what matters to me is that i like all of them - even the ugly ones. they meant something for me once. they tell my story. i didn't get 'em for people to like. obs: racist, homophobic, sexist, or anything criminal are the exception for obvious reasons.
C. S. M 7 months ago
It's not what I'd do, while I've seen some great examples and garbage examples. But the ones that shout are the neck/face/hand inks that advertize hatred. Don't b***h about not getting hired if you're a living billboard of hatred and intolerance; that was your choice, not the public's. Society doesn't have to agree with you, and you knew it before the needles went to your skin.
Audrey Malone 10 months ago
There are several of these that are just "Facial Tattoos". We don't need that on the board 5 times.
Lyoness 10 months ago
I figure if the person wearing it likes it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Personally if people don't like mine they can kick rocks. My body, my choice.
Lez Be Honest 8 months ago
LOL I have this tattooed on my upper chest in rainbow bubble letters
Load More Replies... April Pickett 10 months ago
I would love to get a tattoo. I went to a tattoo parlor, and the lady who did my little tattoo had the most beautiful flower tattoo on her shoulder. It was done in beautiful (pastel) ink. I want that tattoo, but I have to wait. My money is all committed to other things.
Courtney Christelle 10 months ago
I have a rule: sit on a tattoo idea for a year. It’s saved me from getting a lot of tattoos I would’ve grown to hate.
Romy Rösli 10 months ago
I don’t get the „I don’t like face tattoos unless they are another culture‘s tradition“ answers. If I don’t like tattooed faces it doesn’t matter whether the tattoos are cultural, I just don’t like tattooed faces. I find this patronizing, as if other cultures needed your approval.
sturmwesen 10 months ago (edited)
I think it has more to do with non culture based face tattoos often (not always) being associated with lacking impulse controll ... most people I "knew" with face tattoos were not very stable ... less so now than say in the 00-years.
Load More Replies... A completely normal chair. 10 months ago
I'm really starting to dislike bored panda. Next it will be, 50 t-shirts that instantly make a person unattractive. 27 makeup products that instantly make a person unattractive. 89 jewelry products that instantly make a person unattractive. 14 bone structures that instantly make a person unattractive.
Just Another Karen 10 months ago
i have most of my body tattooed, including my face. a lot of people think they're awful, but what matters to me is that i like all of them - even the ugly ones. they meant something for me once. they tell my story. i didn't get 'em for people to like. obs: racist, homophobic, sexist, or anything criminal are the exception for obvious reasons.
C. S. M 7 months ago
It's not what I'd do, while I've seen some great examples and garbage examples. But the ones that shout are the neck/face/hand inks that advertize hatred. Don't b***h about not getting hired if you're a living billboard of hatred and intolerance; that was your choice, not the public's. Society doesn't have to agree with you, and you knew it before the needles went to your skin.
Audrey Malone 10 months ago
There are several of these that are just "Facial Tattoos". We don't need that on the board 5 times.
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