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Forget about choosing a career path, getting married, buying a home, having children or deciding which city to settle down in. The most important decision you’ll ever make is whether or not to get that terrible tattoo you thought of in a drunken stupor. And if you haven’t yet gone through with it, allow this article to be a warning sign…

Below, you’ll find photos of painfully bad body art that have been shared on this subreddit dedicated to unfortunate tattoos, as well as a conversation with one of the group's moderators. Try not to get too much secondhand embarrassment while scrolling through, pandas, and if you’re planning on getting a piece of ink soon, please remember that it’s permanent. Maybe consider opting for a bad haircut instead?

#1

My Wife Doesn't Draw. She Drew Me A Camel. So I Got It Tattooed. (Tattoo Is Good, Drawing Is Debatable But I Love Her)

My Wife Doesn't Draw. She Drew Me A Camel. So I Got It Tattooed. (Tattoo Is Good, Drawing Is Debatable But I Love Her)

ClearAboveVis10SM Report

#2

Why Get A Haircut When You Can Get This?

Why Get A Haircut When You Can Get This?

Andvin_Valmaar Report

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gemmelltastic avatar
Yer maw 󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a guy who has completely bald and self conscious about it and he got a tattoo that made it look like he had super short hair/stubble on his head - that looked completely real and I'd have never known it was a tattoo if he hadn't told me.

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#3

Found In A Fb Group

Found In A Fb Group

wandpapierkritiker Report

According to the Pew Research Center, one third of adults in the United States have a tattoo, and 22% have more than one. Getting body art can be a great way for individuals to express themselves and improve their self-image, but unfortunately, they can also go wrong. One UK study found that a whopping 78% of people with multiple tattoos regret at least one of them, and 31% have even considered having one removed. And that’s why online communities sharing photos of bad tattoos are so popular…

The [Terrible] Tattoos subreddit, whose name we’ve had to censor, makes it very clear that there is no shortage of unfortunate tattoos in this world. But apparently, there’s also no shortage of people who enjoy judging tattoos either, as the community has amassed 577k members over the last 11 years. We reached out to the group's moderator team to learn even more about the group, and lucky for us, u/ReverseLazarus was happy to have a chat with Bored Panda.

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#4

Tattooed By My Girlfriend. I Love It, But Wouldn’t Disagree That It Belongs Here

Tattooed By My Girlfriend. I Love It, But Wouldn’t Disagree That It Belongs Here

firefisch Report

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isabel312001 avatar
Isa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that its hilarious...not perfect but so cute...the expression of regret lol...I would

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#6

Say What…?

Say What…?

Ain't a woman alive that wants Mama's place.

Pepper-Tea Report

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mycroft1967 avatar
Mycroft1967
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like alive got edited. Also, all caps until the L in place- so I'm read P-I-A-C-E.

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ReverseLazarus shared that she just recently joined the group's mod team, as the subreddit had a significant increase in subscribers a few months ago and was in need of some help moderating. "I mod several other large subreddits, so I volunteered," she explained. "I've been subscribed to this sub for years because I love seeing tattoos of all sorts, especially the ones that give me a good chuckle!"

When it comes to why there are so many unfortunate tattoos out there, the moderator says it can come down to plenty of reasons. "Some people don't want to spend a lot of money, so they turn to scratchers. Others are scratchers themselves and tattoo themselves and their friends for the hell of it," ReverseLazarus shared.

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#7

My Own S****y Tattoo By My Brother. Everyone Was Sober. I've Thought About A Cover Up But Everyone Seems To Love Him

My Own S****y Tattoo By My Brother. Everyone Was Sober. I've Thought About A Cover Up But Everyone Seems To Love Him

watrdog Report

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#9

I Can’t Be The Only One That Sees It

I Can’t Be The Only One That Sees It

Mint_Perspective , joaxperry Report

"Then you have those who did not expect their artist to be as bad as they were, and they're mortified with the final product," the moderator continued. "For me, those are always the most painful posts we get! I have quite a few tattoos myself, and while I know most of them do not fit the [crappy] label we give to the posts here at [this subreddit], I do have several that are 15+ years old and have aged rougher than I would have liked. I still love all of them though and would never consider them to be [bad] because they have so much meaning to me, but I cannot control the opinions of others," she added with a smile.

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#10

First Tattoo! I Wanted Something Super Meaningful And Detailed That Really Highlights My Personality. Success!

First Tattoo! I Wanted Something Super Meaningful And Detailed That Really Highlights My Personality. Success!

Tabemaju Report

#11

Holy S**t…this Is Terrible, Jesus Christ

Holy S**t…this Is Terrible, Jesus Christ

LordMinivan Report

ReverseLazarus also told Bored Panda that her favorite posts in the subreddit almost always involve really cool panthers. "My favorite part of this subreddit are those who post their [bad] tattoos while proudly stating how much they love it because it has so much meaning to them," she added. "[Crappy] tattoos may not always be as [unfortunate] as you think!"

#13

Is My “Horse” S****y?

Is My “Horse” S****y?

lapeyrouse1029 Report

#14

Just In Case He Forgot The Recipe

Just In Case He Forgot The Recipe

Ryanbo84 Report

#15

Found On Instagram. Atleast It's Nicely Done. But Why

Found On Instagram. Atleast It's Nicely Done. But Why

illumehnaughty Report

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perdyr2167 avatar
Somebodys grandmother
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because for most children it is true. They don't get a choice.... and the complications are higher than we know.

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"There are two paths for someone with a [crappy] tattoo to take," the moderator says. "Embrace the suck and learn to love it, or find a way to erase it from your body (with either a skilled cover-up artist or expensive tattoo removal). No matter what you decide, we'd love to see your [bad] tattoo!"

#16

S****y Bird Tattoo That I Did In Fact Have Covered With A Sick A** Panther

S****y Bird Tattoo That I Did In Fact Have Covered With A Sick A** Panther

bribotronic Report

#18

Finally Got My S****y Tattoo Covered Up. Must Say, Kinda Miss The Old Bone Boi

Finally Got My S****y Tattoo Covered Up. Must Say, Kinda Miss The Old Bone Boi

Kerrigor1404 Report

For a previous Bored Panda article featuring unfortunate tattoos, we got in touch with Richard Fullam from Tattoo Removal Experts to learn more about what it takes to eliminate a particularly bad tattoo. “To remove a tattoo, you need a course of laser treatments spaced at least 6 weeks apart,” Richard shared. “The pulses of light from the laser shatter the ink into tiny particles, enabling the body’s white blood cells to pick them up and take them to the liver where they are flushed away.”

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“The tattoo will gradually fade until, in most instances, it cannot be seen,” the expert explained. “An average tattoo takes around 6-8 treatments to remove. The process is safe, and with the best technology there should be no damage to the skin. It is a bit painful, however, if you can tolerate being tattooed, then the removal process normally is not a problem.”

#19

Oh My God

Oh My God

ExtensionMedium859 Report

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Rigor Moreno
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is the product of a tattoo artist laughing while doing this tattoo. :D

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#21

Yes, It Goes All The Way Around Like A Beard…

Yes, It Goes All The Way Around Like A Beard…

HerpesOnMyButthole Report

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jjdubsw avatar
jjdubs W
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's actually a decent tattoo. (Maybe not the world's greatest idea, but decent job.,)

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Richard also previously shared with Bored Panda that his clinic has received an increasing number of calls recently from people who regret their tattoos on the same day they get them. “Sometimes, they watch the tattoo being inked, know they hate it, but don’t have the confidence to question the tattooist,” he shared.

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#22

A Couple I Know Got Each Others Name Tattooed. A Few Months Later Their Relationship Ended

A Couple I Know Got Each Others Name Tattooed. A Few Months Later Their Relationship Ended

Snostorm90 Report

“There is always a reason for someone wanting a tattoo to be removed, whether it’s the design, size, position etc.,” Richard explained. “Some are just really bad ideas, like a recent client who had his ex wife’s name tattooed on his penis. If you are getting a tattoo, do your research, find a good tattooist, agree on a design, then think long and hard about whether you're going to be happy with it for the long term. Also remember, just in case, that black/gray tattoos are a lot easier to remove than multicolored tattoos.”

#25

What I Got vs. What I Asked For

What I Got vs. What I Asked For

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#26

Bro 😭😭😭

Bro 😭😭😭

macyliene Report

Has this list convinced you to rethink your next tattoo, pandas? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but if you’re unsure whether that piece you’re considering will be considered beautiful by anyone, it might be wise to hold off. Keep upvoting the pics that give you secondhand embarrassment, and feel free to share in the comments what the worst tattoo you’ve ever witnessed was. Then, if you’re interested in checking out Bored Panda’s last article featuring the same subreddit, look no further than right here!  

#28

Got A Tattoo Gun When I Was 16 😬

Got A Tattoo Gun When I Was 16 😬

Zestyclose-Roll-5384 Report

#30

Would You Call This A Sh**ty Tattoo Or Just A Dumb One?

Would You Call This A Sh**ty Tattoo Or Just A Dumb One?

woopstrafel Report

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#31

My Buddy’s “Wolf” Tattoo He Showed Me Last Night

My Buddy’s “Wolf” Tattoo He Showed Me Last Night

DrilldoBaggins2 Report

#32

Been About A Year, And I Still Love It. But Be Honest, Is This A S****y Tattoo?

Been About A Year, And I Still Love It. But Be Honest, Is This A S****y Tattoo?

DOCoSPADEo Report

#35

13 Year Old Me Was Happy. Thanks Mom

13 Year Old Me Was Happy. Thanks Mom

Idont47 Report

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Verena Heisenberg
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and that's exactly why you ALWAYS should wait with this kind of decisions until you are a little more mature

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#36

Gets Worse The Longer You Look

Gets Worse The Longer You Look

Christinedrink Report

#37

My Husband Made The Mistake Of Letting Our Neighbor Practice On Him

My Husband Made The Mistake Of Letting Our Neighbor Practice On Him

inthedarktheresnolit Report

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namedujour avatar
Name du jour
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My favorite so far! This one needs its own animated series starring these characters. But they need a name...

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#38

Local Shop Posted This On Facebook

Local Shop Posted This On Facebook

KingOP78 Report

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#39

My Girlfriend Absolutely Hates This Tattoo And Calls It Ugly. Is She Wrong?

My Girlfriend Absolutely Hates This Tattoo And Calls It Ugly. Is She Wrong?

CheshirreCat Report

#41

Stolen From A Facebook Group

Stolen From A Facebook Group

LordMinivan Report

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Mr.Li
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Germany we say: "Das ist eine verschlimmbesserung." Translation:" thats a worst upgrade."

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#42

How I Learned How Fast Memes Age

How I Learned How Fast Memes Age

Costertoast Report

#43

Butterfly Elephant Tree

Butterfly Elephant Tree

123nixon Report

#44

What A Way To Remember Your Beloved Pet

What A Way To Remember Your Beloved Pet

TariqWoolenIsElite Report

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alexia_1 avatar
Alexia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, thanks but no thanks, I have alternative ways to remember my beloved pet(s)

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#45

I Really Don’t Understand The Appeal Of These. Is It Just Me?

I Really Don’t Understand The Appeal Of These. Is It Just Me?

Kesxsho Report

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#47

My Coworker Got This, What Do We Think?

My Coworker Got This, What Do We Think?

FestivalGenius Report

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JoNo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First glance the no-colour section stands out, making it look like a deformed emu.

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#48

My First And Only Tattoo. It Seemed Like A Good Idea When I Was 18 (2002)

My First And Only Tattoo. It Seemed Like A Good Idea When I Was 18 (2002)

Demonic-Tooter Report

#49

At Least It's Where She Doesn't Have To Look At It

At Least It's Where She Doesn't Have To Look At It

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#50

My Buddy Got This Today

My Buddy Got This Today

UngaBunga-2 Report

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Heather Resatz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That s**t is going to blur and fade so fast .. on the palm??? No self respecting tattoo artist who stands by his/her work would ever do this

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Note: this post originally had 116 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.