One notable quality about tattoos — OK, let's go with their most notable quality — is that they're permanent, meaning they're there for life. Basically scarred onto your skin, tattoos can generally only be removed through laser tattoo removal, which is a painful and expensive process in which light energy breaks apart and then absorbs the ink, or they can be covered up with a different piece. That being said, the permanence of tattoos of adds to their mystique. When someone chooses to get a tattoo, they're making a life commitment to that design — what a statement!
At first, this tattoo idea seems totally and utterly perfect … but as life goes on and things change, that mentality can, too.
People get tattoos for all kinds of reasons — for major life milestones, remembering a lost loved one or pet, or paying tribute to their heritage. Whatever the reason, many people want their tattoos to be meaningful. But sometimes broken relationships or bad memories can taint that tattoo's meaning and it can become an eyesore. All good things come to an end, right?
On the other hand, sometimes there are just plain old bad tattoos. We mean misspelled words, wrongly translated foreign languages, the list can go on. Maybe our intentions were good at the time but we rushed into getting the piece. Or maybe we were just young and foolish and dating a budding (keyword: budding) tattoo artist at the time.
Whatever the reason is, tattoo regret is real and here are 20 women who have it.
The Blobby Coverup
"I have a coverup. The original was a shared tattoo I had with my ex-husband. The coverup also sucks. Just looks like a bunch of lines and a blob. I regret not getting it covered up better, but also regret getting the original one that my ex designed. But then again, I have a lot of stupid tattoos so it doesn’t really bother me on a daily basis." — Liora Y.
Clovers to Lettuce Leaves
"I have three clovers on my hip that I got when I was 17. Then I had kids. They’re lettuce leaves now." — Kelly A.
The Tramp Stamp
"I have a tramp stamp I got when I was 18 that I wish I never got. It's a flower and some tribal. Should have listened to my parents." — Heather H.
The Forgettable Arrow
"I got an arrow on my middle finger I’ve had to get it touched up two times because of fading and I’m at the point where it’s just so ridiculous and I don’t even remember why I got it." — Alyssa S.
The Horribly Done Butterfly
"I got a butterfly flying onto a flower around my hip bone that I absolutely hate but don't even notice it anymore. I got it when I was 19 laying on a kitchen table at a tattoo party. Young and stupid…YIKES!! The drawing was soooo much nicer than the tattoo. The tattoo has a meaning but horribly done. I'd love to cover it up but I don't want to waste time and money on something else that I'll regret." — Tiffany R.
The Jailhouse-Style Tattoo
"I have a coverup (thank god). When I was 16, an ex of mine talked me into doing 'jailhouse style' tattoos … It started out good, I wanted a peace sign on the outside of my ankle…. but halfway through, it was very apparently uneven. I stopped it, and it was literally a 'D' on the side of my ankle. Years later I got a beautiful lily tattooed over it at the Philly tattoo convention!" — Megan Y.
The Meaningless Chinese Symbol
"It is two Chinese symbols on my hip. I got it when I first moved into college … come to find out it doesn’t mean what it is supposed to. It was supposed to mean 'brave girl.' A Chinese friend of mine later confirmed that this doesn’t really mean anything." — Tiffany S.
The Differently Imagined Flowers
"I guess I don't like the word 'regret' about my tattoos because they are something that I wanted. But I had a picture of what I wanted (custom design with hummingbirds and cute small flowers) and the tattoo artist drew something completely different. But me being the jump-the-gun kind of person I am, I said 'OK, sure.' So I'm definitely not happy with what I received, it is pretty still." — Taylor M.
The Guinea Pig Tattoo
"My friend got a tattoo gun and he needed someone to practice on. Me being 18 and under the influence told him, 'Go for it, 'I'll be your first tattoo EVER — ON THE TOP OF MY ARM WHERE EVERYONE SEES IT.' While sitting at my kitchen table, two stars took him 1.5 hours. Never again." — Becky V.
The Friday the 13th Deal
"$13 Friday the 13th tattoo. Peer pressure sucks." — Rachel S.
The Name Mistake
"'Daniel' right-side up and 'Sabrina' upside down. Daniel is my ex." — Sabrina W.
The Matching Tats
"I guess I wouldn't say I regret it because it's my first child's name but I wish I would have waited to get it done and by someone else. Me and my friends knew the tattoo guy, it was my 21st so we went to the bar next door, got drunk and I got a tattoo from the drunk tattoo artist. It looks bad but it's not horrible, a lot bigger then I wanted." — Ashtan L.
The Typo Tat
"Misspelled word in my scripture tattoo. Ugh." — Darci S.
The Cliche Line
"I was so ready to get a tattoo when I turned 18 that I kind of just latched onto any design that was 'meaningful.' I ended up choosing a cheesy line from a poem I was obsessed with. It's not a terrible quote but I cringe every time someone reads it." — Marie W.
The Musician's Touch
"Oh God, so much regret…When I was 25, I was really into this musician. I'd seen him in concert a few times, had his autograph, etc. So one time after a show, I got to talk to him, and since I already had his autograph, I asked him to draw a chicken on me…And he did. And it was awful. But in my 25-year-old mind, it was awesome, and I got the chicken tattooed." — Roxanne W.
The Ladybug Tattoo
"I got a tattoo when I was 18 and I kid you NOT, I regretted it as soon as he was finished! Shortly after, I attempted to get it removed but the physician told me that there was not a tattoo removal process for African Americans at the time that would not leave scarring. I would rather have the tattoo than scarring, so I kept it and figured I would try again to see if technology advanced. My tattoo is a ladybug with 'Lady Sarah' underneath. I got it because I love ladybugs and a little bit of peer pressure too. My friend at the time was like 'let's do it!' and I gave in. I regret it because I believe my body is a temple." — Sarah J.
The Super Tramp Stamp
"My tattoo is the Supergirl symbol (just like Superman but is pink and yellow) and it is right above my badonkadonk (aka the tramp stamp). It is my first and only tattoo that I had done as a birthday gift for myself on my 35th birthday. At the time, I was enduring a neverending custody battle with my son's father. I was a single mom that held down a job, paid my rent and fed my son all on my own. It symbolized "S" for my first name and the strength of Supergirl…I regret it because of the location…Especially when I am wearing a bikini, or worse, at work bending down low to pick up something." — Stefanie L.
No More Amore
"I have 'amore' above my ginny area. I regret it because I think it’s super trashy and I got it 10 years ago. Thankfully my tattoo artist is awesome and has been doing some laser removal!" — Shannon F.
Outgrew This Tat
"I have a tramp stamp I got almost 20 years ago that is just not me. I'm not the kid I was then anymore. I tried to make it into something else twice and now it's so large I could never do a coverup. Luckily, I forget it's there." — Lindsey M.
The Giant Flowers
"My uncle had just started learning how to tattoo when I turned 18 and I was one of the first people he practiced on. I got giant flowers on my ribs and they aren't the most well done … but I'll never get them covered up because getting my ribs tattooed hurt more than childbirth (all my other tattoos barely hurt). LOL. So now I just live with it." — Mikaela S.
