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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 e*******n 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 2 weeks ago
For me at least an exception is if face tattoos are traditional in someone’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.
#5
Misspelled words.
#6
#B***R GARAGE.
Weasel Wise 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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.
#10
Ones done in a foreign language when you dont know the language or have any cultural identity with it.
#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.
#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 2 weeks ago
I had an ex boyfriend tattoo my name on his arm. I begged him not to do it.
#13
F**k off tattooed across the forehead can be a bit unwelcoming.
#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) 2 weeks ago
Car brands are pretty common among certain subcultures. Imagine being so into Tesla ten years ago you actually got that tattoo.
#15
Political s**t.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 weeks 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.
#17
Lip print on the neck.
Peeka_Mimi 2 weeks ago
I'm getting a black lipped vampire on my neck. I don't care if I get jadged for it.
#18
“Only god can judge me”.
#19
Playboy Bunny. Imagine having that on you as a 90 year old. (Lookin at you Felicia).
#20
Basically anything on the face.
#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 2 weeks 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!
#24
A name, any designer brand or anything on the face.
Rick Seiden 2 weeks ago
I think the exception to the tattoos on the face would be cultural tattoos like the Māori.
#25
A life-size tattoo of Krang on your belly that makes it look like he's living inside you.
#26
Praying hands.
#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 2 weeks 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.
#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 2 weeks 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.
#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 2 weeks ago
I'm really confused by this eagle 'carrying' a fire hose over a fire below an American flag. It could symbolize anything.
#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.
#35
the clock/rose/lion combos.
#36
Can’t lie…I still like a tramp stamp.
#39
I don't like cursive writing, the 90s style tribal tattoos, barbwire chain, clouds, or anything done poorly.
Poll Question
Do tattoos generally give you a negative impression of a person?
Yes
No
Sometimes
Depends on the tattoo
What do you think ?
Lyoness 2 weeks 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.
Ellinor 2 weeks ago
I agree but not with anything offensive like racist, homophobic or sexist sentences.
Apatheist Account2 2 weeks ago
One still has to be aware that certain recruiters may wish to project an image that your tattoo conflicts with, and it may hamper your employment chances. Certainly as a movie actor, getting a modern face tattoo may limit how many costume dramas you get invited to.
CG 2 weeks ago (edited)
You'd be surprised by how far makeup has come, at least when it comes to actors, but you do bring up a good point. While tattoos are getting more acceptable these days, some job recruiters might still be hesitant these days to hire someone with a face tattoo. The only real entertainment industries I see with face tattoos are musicians (mostly rappers, though), and sports (mostly combat sports). The only person I've personally seen work a job with a face tattoo, in my day to day life, is this construction worker who swing by workplace from time to time.
April Pickett 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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.
A completely normal chair. 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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.
Audrey Malone 1 week ago
There are several of these that are just "Facial Tattoos". We don't need that on the board 5 times.
Heras buddy 2 weeks ago
Full all black sleeves are the dumbest. Also ownership tats. These are the only ones that disturb me. Why would you want to advertise that a pimp owns you.
Corbmi 2 weeks ago
I keep toying with getting a tattoo but I can't think of anything I feel that strongly about that I'd want on me forever. Also, I'm really pale (thanks Irish genes) so I think that can make certain types of tattoo look worse. Plus I'm a little worried that getting the 'wrong' type might make me look like a problem (I'm tall and well built with a shaved head - if I'm not smiling I looks super aggressive, even if I'm just wondering if kittens are fluffier than puppies. Fairly sure they are, but that thought takes up a surprisingly large amount of space in my tiny brain).
Charlotte A. 2 weeks ago
I wish BP would at least remove duplicates before copy-pasting these lists. Like, how many times were facial tats mentioned? Several others were mentioned more than once as well, like exes names.
Rafael 2 weeks ago
I am 40 and never had any ink, but I plan 2: * My son was born with a mark on his chest, I'm waiting for it to settle and then I'm getting a matching one * I'll tattoo 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100cm marks on my arm/shoulder so I can use it to measure stuff in a pinch That being said, what other people's tattoo on their bodies is their business. Even my wife, I can have an opinion, but I have no say :-)
WonderWoman 2 weeks ago
Lot of redundancy here, Kornelija, you didn't do a very good job of checking.
Scott Rackley 2 weeks ago
Here's a tip. If you're going to get calligraphy tatooed on your body, go to an actual calligrapher to have them write it out. Show that to your artist. Most might not notice but I've seen so many mixed up fonts. A popular one is blackletter, but there's more than a few fonts. Like textura majuscule mixed with fraktur miniscule. This goes for fancy corsiva fonts too. /rant
Raymond Core 2 weeks ago
I'm curious why so many tattoos are where the owners can't see them and probably fogot they have them. I was driving a big truck on the Interstate Highway through New Orleans and I looked down at a girl in the car next to me who had half her head shaved and a tattoo of boy and girl mouses holding hands on the side of her head. If she grew her hair out you wouldn't know she had a tattoo. The mice were about 4" high.
Apatheist Account2 2 weeks ago
I would never have one (unless forced to by a regime). Times change, and so do views - the classic being Napoleon's general Bernadotte, who got "Death to Kings", and was later made King of Sweden and thereafter had to keep it hidden. Getting a tattoo of a famous person is distinctly risky when their murky past can come to light; equally, you can simply go off your current favourite partner/person/band/philosophy. Also, I'd never trust anything in a foreign language.
Lyoness 2 weeks 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.
Ellinor 2 weeks ago
I agree but not with anything offensive like racist, homophobic or sexist sentences.
Apatheist Account2 2 weeks ago
One still has to be aware that certain recruiters may wish to project an image that your tattoo conflicts with, and it may hamper your employment chances. Certainly as a movie actor, getting a modern face tattoo may limit how many costume dramas you get invited to.
CG 2 weeks ago (edited)
You'd be surprised by how far makeup has come, at least when it comes to actors, but you do bring up a good point. While tattoos are getting more acceptable these days, some job recruiters might still be hesitant these days to hire someone with a face tattoo. The only real entertainment industries I see with face tattoos are musicians (mostly rappers, though), and sports (mostly combat sports). The only person I've personally seen work a job with a face tattoo, in my day to day life, is this construction worker who swing by workplace from time to time.
April Pickett 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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.
A completely normal chair. 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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.
Audrey Malone 1 week ago
There are several of these that are just "Facial Tattoos". We don't need that on the board 5 times.
Heras buddy 2 weeks ago
Full all black sleeves are the dumbest. Also ownership tats. These are the only ones that disturb me. Why would you want to advertise that a pimp owns you.
Corbmi 2 weeks ago
I keep toying with getting a tattoo but I can't think of anything I feel that strongly about that I'd want on me forever. Also, I'm really pale (thanks Irish genes) so I think that can make certain types of tattoo look worse. Plus I'm a little worried that getting the 'wrong' type might make me look like a problem (I'm tall and well built with a shaved head - if I'm not smiling I looks super aggressive, even if I'm just wondering if kittens are fluffier than puppies. Fairly sure they are, but that thought takes up a surprisingly large amount of space in my tiny brain).
Charlotte A. 2 weeks ago
I wish BP would at least remove duplicates before copy-pasting these lists. Like, how many times were facial tats mentioned? Several others were mentioned more than once as well, like exes names.
Rafael 2 weeks ago
I am 40 and never had any ink, but I plan 2: * My son was born with a mark on his chest, I'm waiting for it to settle and then I'm getting a matching one * I'll tattoo 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100cm marks on my arm/shoulder so I can use it to measure stuff in a pinch That being said, what other people's tattoo on their bodies is their business. Even my wife, I can have an opinion, but I have no say :-)
WonderWoman 2 weeks ago
Lot of redundancy here, Kornelija, you didn't do a very good job of checking.
Scott Rackley 2 weeks ago
Here's a tip. If you're going to get calligraphy tatooed on your body, go to an actual calligrapher to have them write it out. Show that to your artist. Most might not notice but I've seen so many mixed up fonts. A popular one is blackletter, but there's more than a few fonts. Like textura majuscule mixed with fraktur miniscule. This goes for fancy corsiva fonts too. /rant
Raymond Core 2 weeks ago
I'm curious why so many tattoos are where the owners can't see them and probably fogot they have them. I was driving a big truck on the Interstate Highway through New Orleans and I looked down at a girl in the car next to me who had half her head shaved and a tattoo of boy and girl mouses holding hands on the side of her head. If she grew her hair out you wouldn't know she had a tattoo. The mice were about 4" high.
Apatheist Account2 2 weeks ago
I would never have one (unless forced to by a regime). Times change, and so do views - the classic being Napoleon's general Bernadotte, who got "Death to Kings", and was later made King of Sweden and thereafter had to keep it hidden. Getting a tattoo of a famous person is distinctly risky when their murky past can come to light; equally, you can simply go off your current favourite partner/person/band/philosophy. Also, I'd never trust anything in a foreign language.
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