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While taste is subjective, and what one person might think looks amazing for another is a disaster, we, as humanity, can agree that some things are just not too pleasant to look at. Whether it's due to poor craftsmanship, bad ideas, or being bad on purpose, the tattoos shared on a Facebook page called 'Ink Shaming — All Bad Tattoos' are really tough to look at.

So no matter if you are an expert in tattooing or wondering if you should get your first ink yet, we are sure you will have some opinions about the artwork done by the artists down below. These bad tattoos are a great reminder that even though we celebrate the freedom of self-expression, it is always worthwhile to strive for mastery. A tattoo, after all, is more than just ink on the skin; it is a symbol or a statement, so why not have it done in a way that makes you proud?

Bored Panda reached out to Removery, a laser tattoo removal service located in the United States, Canada, and Australia, to learn about the process of removing unwanted tattoos and what you should know beforehand. Read the full interview with Carmen Vanderheiden Brodie, VP of Clinical Operations at Removery, below.

More info: removery.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

#3

Creepy

Creepy

Steven Lowe Report

No matter what was the cause of these unfortunate tattoo jobs for the people within this list, there is no necessity to live with them forever. With the help of laser tattoo removal, these disasters can be completely erased or at least lightened enough to be barely visible.

But it's not only when the tattoo is "bad" that people seek to remove their tattoos. Therefore, we asked Removery to share some insights into the common reasons people seek tattoo removal service.

“We see a wide range of clients who come to us to remove their tattoos. The demographic profile of our customers continues to expand, reflecting a broader interest in tattoo removal. We see people of all ages, professions, and backgrounds choosing to remove tattoos.

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The top reasons we see include lost meaning, making room for new art, tattoo quality, or life and career changes.

As tattooing becomes more advanced with better equipment and technology, older tattoos sometimes do not have the same quality as what can be achieved now.

Tattoo trends have changed over the years and Removery’s goal is to support its clients to move on from the ones that may have not stood the test of time.”

Removing a tattoo can be a complex process, especially when dealing with tattoos that were poorly executed. We asked Carmen to explain the different factors that contribute to a tattoo being considered “bad” and how these factors might impact the removal procedure. She shared: “Tattoos don’t come off the same way they go on, and there’s no standard way to apply a tattoo. The tattooer's technique determines the overall quality of the tattoo as well as how easy or difficult it is to remove a tattoo. Every mistake made while tattooing becomes evident as the tattoo is removed. An uneven hand, a pause in a corner, or a heavy hand resulting in scarring are all things that can impact the tattoo removal process.”

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#7

Nailed It

Nailed It

Michelle Riordan Report

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

In this behind the scenes special we show you how our fantastic makeup department changes pretty young actresses into horrifying zombies for the filming of It Came From the Crypt 3. /S (artist even made her straight teeth crooked)

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#8

That’s Wild

That’s Wild

Kassidy Bond Report

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

wow, sharon! nice tat. that’s temporary right? night? RIGHT?

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

She’s white though. She obviously did ‘went back’

Kobe (she)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in the day, you could hear black guys say that. They were talking s*x. Meaning that if you had s*x with a black guy, it would be so much better than with a white guy, you would not go back to having s*x with a white one. Pretty weird .... but coming from a white girl, even more weird. And especially in combination with the outline of Africa, which has nothing to do with the quote at all .... Maybe she had a lot of it in Africa ??

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Tattoo removal also comes with some challenges. Carmen shared the difficulties that come with removing poorly done tattoos, such as those with uneven lines, shading problems, or color issues, and how their approach differs when compared to removing tattoos with more typical designs.

“As the world’s tattoo removal experts, we tailor each treatment plan to the individual client. The best part about tattoo removal is we can customize the treatment to each client’s needs, whether that’s fixing blowout, removing just one part of a tattoo, fading a tattoo for more cover-up options, or complete removal. Regardless of the factors surrounding a particular tattoo, our commitment to ensuring the best results is the same.

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Laser tattoo removal is a fusion of art and science that takes time to master. Uneven or cover-up tattoos can require multiple settings need to be used within one treatment. Ink color also impacts the tattoo removal process. As the tattoo industry has evolved, there are more tattoo ink colors available than ever before. Artists will mix different colors together, so when it comes to tattoo removal, our laser specialists utilize specific wavelengths to target each hue. That’s where some color theory comes into play, for example, if you had a purple tattoo, our laser specialist would use separate wavelengths to target both red and blue pigments within the tattoo.”

#10

Yikes

Yikes

Lily Hall Report

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

Why do the arms on the "glasses" not reach his ears? Surely they will just fall off. ;-)

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#11

Hi Y’all. I Wanted To Join So I Could Show Off, What I Think Is The Worst Tattoo Ever. I Have Tons That I’m Proud Of But This One Isn’t It. I Lost A Dumb Bet A Few Years Ago And Got This Sucker Without Seeing It Until It Was Permanent

Hi Y’all. I Wanted To Join So I Could Show Off, What I Think Is The Worst Tattoo Ever. I Have Tons That I’m Proud Of But This One Isn’t It. I Lost A Dumb Bet A Few Years Ago And Got This Sucker Without Seeing It Until It Was Permanent

Jack Brown Report

#12

Saw On Another Page

Saw On Another Page

Casey Turner Report

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

Oh boy…I wonder if a bad tattoo of JC sends you to the bad place automatically?

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Often, people with bad tattoos might be concerned about scarring or skin discoloration during the removal process. We asked Carmen to share how they address these concerns and ensure the best possible outcome for their clients.

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“The overwhelming majority of our clients achieve excellent results with fantastic skin integrity and no scarring or discoloration. The combination of our state-of-the-art technology, globally led training programs, results-oriented research, and professional teams means that Removery can achieve clinically safe, effective, and optimal results for our clients.

Removing a tattoo is now easier than ever before. Advancements in technology have made the process of removing a tattoo faster, safer, and more effective. The debut of picosecond technology in 2012 revolutionized treatment outcomes that were possible. At Removery, we consider the gold standard of picosecond laser devices to be the PicoWay by Candela, after extensive clinical testing. Using this technology, our laser specialists can treat every skin tone and nearly every ink color. To this day, laser tattoo removal remains the most effective method for removing a tattoo.

Most of the time, scarring is a result of tattoo application and not laser removal, thanks to advancements in laser tattoo removal technology. However, it is possible for a client to experience scarring when removing a tattoo when working with old technology or using improper settings. Skin discoloration, while rare, is typically caused by improper aftercare. Lasered skin is sensitive to the sun so it’s important to follow proper aftercare instructions to minimize the risk of hyper or hypopigmentation.

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#13

This Rose Looks A Bit Diseased

This Rose Looks A Bit Diseased

Electra Scott Report

#14

I'm New So Hopefully You Don't See This Constantly

I'm New So Hopefully You Don't See This Constantly

Matthew Wagner Report

We also asked Carmen to provide examples of particularly challenging bad tattoo removal cases they worked on.

“The majority of tattoos can be completely removed, we have over one million successful treatments to prove it! As with any medical procedure, we have encountered cases where the tattoo application was not as conducive to successful removal. For instance, tattoos applied too deeply or with excessive ink can present challenges. The best results are achieved when both the client and our technician are committed to the process. Clients who maintain a healthy lifestyle, including drinking lots of water and avoiding smoking, often experience more successful outcomes.

Some of the most challenging tattoos to remove are cover-ups or blackout tattoos. In these cases, the fading may be slower due to the increased ink density of having two tattoos (or more) stacked on top of each other. Tribal tattoos can often be more difficult to remove because of this, but not impossible,” shared Carmen Vanderheiden Brodie, VP of Clinical Operations at Removery.

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#16

Found This On My Timeline

Found This On My Timeline

Thomas Goulet Report

And lastly, Carmen added: “Tattoo removal is a highly individualized process, and the well-being and satisfaction of our clients comes first. Our goal is to provide a safe, effective, optimal, and judgment-free tattoo removal experience, regardless of the reasons behind the decision. We continually invest in the latest technology and training to ensure that our clients receive the best possible care to achieve the results our clients desire.

As a relatively new industry, tattoo removal as a category was behind in qualified clinical studies to prove the safest and most effective tattoo removal protocols and practices. That is where Removery comes in and we host several of the only IRB-approved clinical studies around tattoo removal, conducted by our world’s first Clinical Advisory Board, who are committed to developing the tattoo removal industry through evidence-based conclusions and studies.”

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#19

Idk Where To Start

Idk Where To Start

Jackson Bredläu Report

#22

Y’all…

Y’all…

Anonymous participant Report

#23

Rough One

Rough One

Anonymous participant Report

#24

Listens To Five Finger Death Punch Once

Listens To Five Finger Death Punch Once

Chris Rodas Report

#25

It Says Sorry About Last Night I Got It Becuase I Always Used To Drink Way Too Much Alcohol And Do Some Dumb F**ked Up Sh*t And Got Tired Of Always Having To Tell People Sorry About Last Night So I Got It Tatted So I’m The Morning I Could Just Pull My Sleeve Up And Show It To Them. Made Sense To Me To Get It At The Time

It Says Sorry About Last Night I Got It Becuase I Always Used To Drink Way Too Much Alcohol And Do Some Dumb F**ked Up Sh*t And Got Tired Of Always Having To Tell People Sorry About Last Night So I Got It Tatted So I’m The Morning I Could Just Pull My Sleeve Up And Show It To Them. Made Sense To Me To Get It At The Time

Matthew Plowman Report

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

let me guess, you were drunk when you had the idea, and drunk when you approved the design?

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#26

Spotted On My Timeline. Cant Make This Up. The Beer Can In The Back Explains Everything!

Spotted On My Timeline. Cant Make This Up. The Beer Can In The Back Explains Everything!

Brandon Lee Report

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

Lots of people have a can of beer and don't make horrible, permanent decisions.

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#27

So So So Much To Dissect Here

So So So Much To Dissect Here

Beth Stokes Report

#29

Didn’t Have To Find In The Wild Cause It Lives With Me Everyday

Didn’t Have To Find In The Wild Cause It Lives With Me Everyday

Jason Carroll Report

#32

Let's Go Ahead And Rip This Band-Aid Off

Let's Go Ahead And Rip This Band-Aid Off

Wyatt Ruark Report

#34

They Try To Say They Are A Certified Piercer And Tattoo Artist With No Apprenticeship Or Classes For It

They Try To Say They Are A Certified Piercer And Tattoo Artist With No Apprenticeship Or Classes For It

Rin Kelly Report

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#36

Oh My Goodness!!! What In The World Happened To Buzz?? I Think He Needs Some Milk!!

Oh My Goodness!!! What In The World Happened To Buzz?? I Think He Needs Some Milk!!

Electra Scott Report

#37

This Is From An "Artist" At A Shop I Used To Work At. Used To. Once I Saw That This Is What The Boss Man Was Gonna Allow To Walk Out Of The Shop, I Walked As Well. I Follow Him On Ig Still Just To See The Abominations This Guy Produces

This Is From An "Artist" At A Shop I Used To Work At. Used To. Once I Saw That This Is What The Boss Man Was Gonna Allow To Walk Out Of The Shop, I Walked As Well. I Follow Him On Ig Still Just To See The Abominations This Guy Produces

Anonymous participant Report

#39

The Girl Who Will Tattoo Me On Her Face Like This Na Be The One I Go Marry

The Girl Who Will Tattoo Me On Her Face Like This Na Be The One I Go Marry

Bob Hatzimanolis Report

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

Technically it's a pretty decent tattoo, it's done well and looks very like the photo. The location is another matter...

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#40

This Is Supposed To Be The Final Product???

This Is Supposed To Be The Final Product???

Aye Chrysalis Report

#41

🫣

🫣

Parker Shearer Report

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

The idea is pretty cool, the execution on the other hand is definitely not.

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#42

Not On Me, But My Cousin

Not On Me, But My Cousin

Anonymous participant Report

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

That's well done, bad location and dream catchers are so yawn but not a badly done tattoo

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#44

Spotted In Berlin ^^

Spotted In Berlin ^^

Janine Kasapoglu Report

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

What's the, um, "receptacle"(?) below the wildly skewed out-of-perspective die?

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#45

Someone I Know. Yes It’s Real. Yes She Likes It. There Are Markers Because We Where Coloring Jt

Someone I Know. Yes It’s Real. Yes She Likes It. There Are Markers Because We Where Coloring Jt

Anonymous participant Report

#46

My Neighbor, Maybe Neighbor’s Girlfriend…. Not Clear. Either Way, Not An Awesome Tattoo. Can We Just Recognize The Fact That The Perspective From The Top Is Different Than The One At The Bottom Of The Container?

My Neighbor, Maybe Neighbor’s Girlfriend…. Not Clear. Either Way, Not An Awesome Tattoo. Can We Just Recognize The Fact That The Perspective From The Top Is Different Than The One At The Bottom Of The Container?

Be Ko Report

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

Really? The fact someone tattooed a plastic container of sliced green peppers doesn't bother you at all?

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#47

A Tattoo I Did On Myself N F**ked Up Bad, Plan On Getting A Coverup 😅 Shame All Y’all Want

A Tattoo I Did On Myself N F**ked Up Bad, Plan On Getting A Coverup 😅 Shame All Y’all Want

Saturn Caron Report

#48

Cmon.. I Love Juice But Why You Do Him So Dirty!?

Cmon.. I Love Juice But Why You Do Him So Dirty!?

Anonymous participant Report

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#49

Horrible Stick N Poke Idk What I Was Thinking

Horrible Stick N Poke Idk What I Was Thinking

Anonymous participant Report

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Zoe Vokes
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are ways to make it less bad if you wake up with something like this. It’s faint already. Any moisturiser with petroleum or paraffin in, such as Vaseline or Vitamin E cream will make the tattoo fade. The tattoo artist usually tells you to avoid using them during the healing process.

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#50

Big Yikes

Big Yikes

Micalah Jones Report

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

Like the tattoo, it's well executed. What I don't get, is why military wives in the US make such a fuss about them being service personnel too.

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#51

Bad Tattoo

Bad Tattoo

Justin Sallee Report

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

I've never actually seen a jet engine using a hula hoop but I imagine it would look something like that.

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#54

Drunk Stuff

Drunk Stuff

Michael Arneson Report

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I heart Boo-BI-es
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's kinda funny when people say they were drunk and got this horribly drawn tattoo but was the tattoo artist drunk as well?? I understand we tend to make poor choices when under the influence but the quality of work shouldn't come out like the artist was drunk as well

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#55

This Guy On A Horror Group I Follow Posted This And Everyone Said It Looked Good Your Thoughts???? They Were Being Nice Lol But Let's Tear Him A New One

This Guy On A Horror Group I Follow Posted This And Everyone Said It Looked Good Your Thoughts???? They Were Being Nice Lol But Let's Tear Him A New One

Anthony Alvarez Report

#56

The Body Is Thy Temple Thou Shall Not Desicrate-Tattaloniuns 3:16

The Body Is Thy Temple Thou Shall Not Desicrate-Tattaloniuns 3:16

Regan Denholm Report

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Kobe (she)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His body is a temple and decorated as one - no problem with it....

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#57

Check Out This Bad Boy I Found. Ultra Janky

Check Out This Bad Boy I Found. Ultra Janky

Matt Taylor Report

#58

Found In Another Group

Found In Another Group

Leyla Elizondo Report

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

I doubt that this is an actual tattoo. And if, maybe it's of a kids drawing?

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#60

Self Explanatory Look Horrible 15 Years Old And Didn’t Want To Wait I’m 25 Now And Remember The Experience Of A Basement Tattoo

Self Explanatory Look Horrible 15 Years Old And Didn’t Want To Wait I’m 25 Now And Remember The Experience Of A Basement Tattoo

John Natoli Report

#62

A Girl I Know Got This… It Was Free Because “He Loves Taylor Swift”

A Girl I Know Got This… It Was Free Because “He Loves Taylor Swift”

Anonymous participant Report

#63

I-😭

I-😭

Lawren Ferreira Report

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

Is the supposed to be the joker and Harley Quin? Why does he have horse hooves

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#64

Got Another Tattoo Y'all What You Think Of This One Be Honest I Wanna Hear Your Opinion

Got Another Tattoo Y'all What You Think Of This One Be Honest I Wanna Hear Your Opinion

Sky Stark Report

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

Is it meant to represent "I want to rip my head off because I was so drunk last night and now I have a hang-over?"

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#65

Seen Posted By A Friend Of A Friend. Posting Anon Just In Case The Og Is In Here, Don't Need Their Wrath Lol

Seen Posted By A Friend Of A Friend. Posting Anon Just In Case The Og Is In Here, Don't Need Their Wrath Lol

Anonymous participant Report

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

At least not everyone who wants a fariy tale character goes for Jesus.

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#66

This Was In A Star Wars Group Im In

This Was In A Star Wars Group Im In

Brendan Dunn Report

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#67

I Am Trying To Convince Myself That That This Tattoo Is Not That Bad But Still Fell So Insecure About It Because It Doesent Look Right. I Need Honest Opinions

I Am Trying To Convince Myself That That This Tattoo Is Not That Bad But Still Fell So Insecure About It Because It Doesent Look Right. I Need Honest Opinions

Solveig Sofi Hauge Report

#68

The Longer I Look At It, The Worse It Gets

The Longer I Look At It, The Worse It Gets

Brit Keyes Report

#70

My First Tattoo, Looks Like Hot Garbage Lol. I Think I Was Only 14-15 Years Old

My First Tattoo, Looks Like Hot Garbage Lol. I Think I Was Only 14-15 Years Old

Aaron Zerfoss Report

#72

Saw This In The Wild And Thought It Deserved A Home In This Group

Saw This In The Wild And Thought It Deserved A Home In This Group

Shassy Neilsen Report

#73

Too Lazy To Finish Squirtle, Roast Me

Too Lazy To Finish Squirtle, Roast Me

Jacob Mercer Report

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

Simple, Don't start the tattoo if your too lazy to finish it. I'm convinced people forget that this stuff is permanent.

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#75

Friendship Exaltation Moment. It's Supposed To Be The Extinction Rebellion Logo

Friendship Exaltation Moment. It's Supposed To Be The Extinction Rebellion Logo

Anxo Alvariño Report

#76

Terrible Tattoos I've Done Whilst During Mental Health Episodes

Terrible Tattoos I've Done Whilst During Mental Health Episodes

Anonymous participant Report

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

I kinda like these ones. Don't know why, but I could imagine a sleeve with scribbles like that. Sorry you had to go through hard times. I hope you are better now!

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#77

They Try To Say They Are A Certified Piercer And Tattoo Artist With No Apprenticeship Or Classes For It

They Try To Say They Are A Certified Piercer And Tattoo Artist With No Apprenticeship Or Classes For It

Rin Kelly Report

#80

Wham Not Mine My Nates

Wham Not Mine My Nates

Carl Pritchard Report

#81

😬😬

😬😬

Anonymous participant Report

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

I like this, actually. You could get this fixed by a better artist, and it could be cute.

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#82

What’s Y’all Think Of It ?

What’s Y’all Think Of It ?

Will Plourde Report

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