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Tattoos are cool, at least in my opinion. In fact, I think they're so cool that I'm currently considering getting my fifth one. The downside is that there's always the risk that they might not turn out the way you wanted. About 24% of Americans say they regret getting one or more tattoos.

The people from this list would probably feel the same. We've compiled a collection of tattoos of questionable quality courtesy of this subreddit about bad tattoos. So, let their bad decisions be warnings to all of us tattoo enthusiasts about what not to do.

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    #3

    Oh Dear God

    Man with a hyper-realistic denim overalls tattoo across his chest and stomach, showcasing unique tattoo art.

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    Carla Pereira Chagas
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I asume it keeps on going under that classy underwear... Otherwise it wouldn't make any sense? Anyways... I hope is bodypainting

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    Tattoos are no longer something we associate with subcultures or deviance. More and more people (especially young people) are getting tattoos, so much so that the number of folks with at least one tattoo has almost doubled in the last five years. 

    Although statistics vary, with some sources claiming that 40% of Americans have ink on their skin and other surveys showing it's only 32%, the trend is still there. Tattoos are experiencing an unprecedented boom in popularity since the number of inked Americans in 2019 was only 21%.


    #4

    15 Year Old Me Should’ve Never Had A Tattoo Machine

    Poorly done tattoos covering a person's legs with random scribbles and names.

    Let all my friends tattoo their names years ago and am really regretting it not to mention I wouldn’t consider most these people to be a friend these days.

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    Susical
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A 15 year old with a tattoo machine? Someone needed a little more guidance & attention.

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    #6

    Someone I Went To College With Got Another $40 For A Chest Piece

    Person with a bad tattoo of snakes on their chest, showcasing poor design and execution.

    i just don’t know what this even is. they’re all this bad. it’s impressively bad ngl.

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    We might think that tattoos are a fairly new development in our society, but non-Western cultures have been inking their skin for thousands of years. Dr. David Lane, the author of The Other End of the Needle: Continuity and Change among Tattoo Workers, told Byrdie that the oldest human remains we have recovered have tattoos on them.

    For the longest time, we thought Egyptians were the earliest tattoo artists. But, in 1991, archaeologists recovered a 5,300-year-old mummy near the Austrian-Italian border that had many tattoos. Most Egyptian female mummies with ink on their skin were from around 4,000 years ago, making the Italian-Austrian Otzi the Iceman, the oldest inked person that we know of.


    #7

    Spotted In A Simpsons Facebook Group

    Neck tattoo with misspelled names from The Simpsons TV show.

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    Jihana
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bert Sipson and Maggot Sinspon are also my favourite characters from The Simpson.

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    #9

    S**ty Or Brilliant?

    A tattoo scanned as an Oreo cookie price, showcasing humorous and bad tattoo design choices.

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    Traveling Lady Railfan
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean if you really really really really really really really really really really love Oreo cookies, I guess this isn't the world's worst tattoo (for this guy)

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    The word "tattoo" comes from the Polynesian culture. When Europeans arrived there in the 18th century, they mispronounced the Samoan word "Tatau" and wrote it down as "tattoo." "Tatau" actually means "to strike" because the traditional method of tattooing there is hand-tapping.

    #12

    It's Not Me, It's You

    Bad tattoos featuring a list of crossed-out names on a person's arm.

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    Debbie
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So he likes girls which name ends with a vowel, especiallly an A. What if he dates someone with a name he has already crossed?

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    The most tattooed living person in the world is from New Zealand. It's the performance artist and street performer Gregory Paul McLaren. He had his first tattoo when he was 16, his second one at 18, and after that, he got tattooed regularly "as much as he could." As Lucky (that's his stage name) jokes, he has one tattoo, the biggest in the world. But in some places on his body, he actually has three or four layers of ink.

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    #13

    Girl I Went To High School With Made A Horrible Decision

    Person with face tattoo, red hair, covering face with hand, showing a questionable tattoo choice.

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    Na Schi
    Community Member
    4 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The caption mentions A horrible decision. I see at least TWO. (Three if you consider the terrible hair dye job -> look at the ear). Or do they approve of her new boyfriend Dalton, so that his name doesn't count?

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    #15

    I Saw This Monstrosity On Snapchat

    Back view of a person with a regrettable moon phase tattoo along the spine.

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    ImaScratMan
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I regret it the most for you as well. A moon shifting to a horn of some sort? Or a fingernail to a horn, to a moon and then back again 🤔

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    Did you know that Winston Churchill was possibly inked as well? Some sources claim that he got a tattoo of an anchor after his military service. But others say it's just an attempt to make him more rebellious and relatable to the masses, much like his mother, who, as an aristocrat, supposedly had an ouroboros tattooed on her wrist. There is no physical evidence of these tattoos, so, historians are skeptical.

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    #16

    Shi**y Execution

    Bad tattoo of misspelled Windows logo with "88" on skin, showcasing a common tattoo fail.

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    ImaScratMan
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Deeply wrong on so, so many levels. Barely thinly veiled white nationalist nonsense. Don't even care about the poor drawing, this person should be ashamed and shamed for so many more reasons beyond the ugly tattoo.

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    #17

    “I Would Like A Well-Shaded Tattoo!” Tattoo Artist: Don’t Say Anything Else!

    Poorly executed tattoo portrait next to the original photo of a smiling elderly woman, highlighting bad tattoo art.

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    Tobias Reaper
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "can you do me a tattoo of my nan but make it look like she just worked a day in a coal mine" "dont worry i gotchu fam"

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    Do you know another unlikely person to have had a tattoo? Thomas Edison! He had a quincunx tattoo: four dots arranged in a square or, in other words, how the number five appears on a dice cube. But Edison didn't invent the tattoo pen; it was Samuel O'Reilly in 1891. Edison did, however, invent the electric pen that later evolved into the tattoo pen.

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    One of the most common concerns for many tattoo owners is how to keep them looking fresh and vibrant for as long as possible. People like to say that tattoos "fade" into the skin, but the reality is a bit more morbid. Our immune cells, called macrophages, gradually eat the ink and disperse it. So slather that SPF and moisturizer on your tattoos as much as you can to prevent them from aging poorly!

    #24

    Isn’t It Supposed To Be “Real Eyes, Realize, Real Lies.”

    Person with head tattoo reading "Real Lies Realise Real Lies" in stylized script.

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    Some 60 years ago, there was a ban on tattoos in New York City. In 1961, lawmakers deemed tattooing unlawful, and it wouldn't be until 36 years later that people could get tattooed in NYC again. The main reasons were health concerns (hepatitis and other infections) and the city trying to improve its reputation, since many associated tattoos with criminality.

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    Yet, back in the day, tattoos weren't always for the criminals and the outcasts. In the late 1800s, there was a tattoo shop for London's elite on Jermyn Street in a high-end fashion district. He supposedly had many celebrity and influential clients, among whom were Queen Victoria's sons and the kings of Norway and Denmark.

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    #29

    Yikes It's Performance Art It Doesn't Have To Be Hygienic

    Unusual tattoo on a woman's stomach featuring child’s hand outline, showcased in a three-step process.

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    #30

    I Normally Really Like This Artist’s Work But This Is Terrible :(

    Poorly designed tattoo with unbalanced swirls on a person's back, demonstrating tattoo fails.

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    But what about you, Pandas? Do you have any tattoos? Did all of them turn out okay? And if some of them weren't what you expected, what did you do? We have more examples of bad tattoos from this subreddit, so if you're interested, head over here and here to either have a chuckle or learn what tattoo never to ask from your artist.

    #34

    Someone I Went To Hs With, I Had To Pause And Take A Breath After Scrolling Into It

    Someone I Went To Hs With, I Had To Pause And Take A Breath After Scrolling Into It

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    Na Schi
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nah, dude. This only looks fūcked up. But don't worry, within some years it will look fūcked up, withered and old.

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    #35

    I Can’t Wrap My Head Around The Shadow Placement

    I Can’t Wrap My Head Around The Shadow Placement

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    #36

    Has This Really Not Been Posted Here?

    Has This Really Not Been Posted Here?

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    Gavin Johnson
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The subject of a legal case. She asked for ‘stars’, 56 stars later she tried to sue the artist claiming he’d carried on tattooing whilst she was asleep and she had only asked for 3. In fact she had agreed the design and only sued once her Dad saw the work. She sued for the laser removal of the work. She lost.

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    #41

    We’ve Seen Sh**ty Trump Tattoos, Why Not Sh**ty Harris Tattoos?

    We’ve Seen Sh**ty Trump Tattoos, Why Not Sh**ty Harris Tattoos?

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    BarfyCat
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tatoos of politicians do not age well. Just ask my host dad, who has a huge tatoo of Vladimir Lenin on his chest. In his defense, he was 13 when he got it.

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    #45

    My Artist Said My Arm Was Starting To Look Like A Restroom Stall

    My Artist Said My Arm Was Starting To Look Like A Restroom Stall

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    Na Schi
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The artist is not wrong, it indeed has a smashing resemblance to a restroom stall.

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    #48

    A Walk-In My Artist Did

    A Walk-In My Artist Did

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    ƒιѕн
    Community Member
    4 days ago

    Krystal Borrego from Baddies, an absolute troll. This is fake.

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    #52

    It’s His Birthday. 😭 Just In Case He Forgets

    It’s His Birthday. 😭 Just In Case He Forgets

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    Traveling Lady Railfan
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He should tattoo his social insurance number and credit card numbers on the side of his face too in case he forgets.

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    #55

    Not Sure If "Shi**y Decisions" Belong In This Group Or Not, But

    Not Sure If "Shi**y Decisions" Belong In This Group Or Not, But

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    #58

    Oh My

    Oh My

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    Traveling Lady Railfan
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like when dads tattoo baby footprints or baby hands somewhere small on their body, but what did he do wait till the kids grew up and entered college? These prints are huge!!

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    #63

    Terrible Tattoo I Found On Instagram

    Terrible Tattoo I Found On Instagram

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    PinkNekoGirl
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I saw e-pathy. Apparently my brain blocks out anything related to monster drinks.

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    #65

    Maybe I’m Just A Hater But…😬

    Maybe I’m Just A Hater But…😬

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    Jihana
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Strangely I don't hate it. It looks purposefull, and not like an accident.

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    #71

    A Friend Of Mine Got This Done Recently, And I Don't Know What To Tell Him

    A Friend Of Mine Got This Done Recently, And I Don't Know What To Tell Him

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    Traveling Lady Railfan
    Community Member
    4 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Meh, this isn't so bad. Although I don't like the shading around the dog and the mystery machine cuz it looks like really bad Burns or bruises

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    #73

    Trump Tattoos Are Just Shi**y

    Trump Tattoos Are Just Shi**y

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    Skogsrået
    Community Member
    4 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People who make their whole personality about their political views and just has to shuff it into everyones face just to turn around and complain about "the gays" and how they "force their lifestyle on others".

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    #75

    Local Artist With 20 Years Of Experience

    Local Artist With 20 Years Of Experience

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    Na Schi
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Impressive how some people can do a job for 20 years without showing a single sign of getting better over time.

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    #80

    I’ve Been Told No One Can Tell What My Tattoo Is, Is It That Bad?

    I’ve Been Told No One Can Tell What My Tattoo Is, Is It That Bad?

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    #81

    I Got This As An Ad. Not Sure If This Is Terrible Or If I'm Just Old Fashioned

    I Got This As An Ad. Not Sure If This Is Terrible Or If I'm Just Old Fashioned

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    #83

    Found On My Ig And He Has 75k Followers 😬 They Are So Bad

    Found On My Ig And He Has 75k Followers 😬 They Are So Bad

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    #85

    Posted By A Pretty Prominent Shop In My City

    Posted By A Pretty Prominent Shop In My City

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    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What the hell is going on with the knees and feet? Aside from that I'd appreciate the idea of this as a cartoon, if not necessarily as permanent body art.

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    #86

    Orange

    Orange

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    Na Schi
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well I see, the giraffe-skin-pattern (aka inflamed scab) is only the latest of many bad decisions.

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    #87

    Please Convince My Wife To Find A New Artist

    Please Convince My Wife To Find A New Artist

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    Skogsrået
    Community Member
    4 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wait, she's actually thinking of getting more tattoos done by this "artist"? Rofl.

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    #88

    Quite The Collab

    Quite The Collab

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    Ozymandias
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Last time I checked, Jesus didn't commit fraud a couple dozen times and get convicted BEFORE GETTING ELECTED

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    #89

    Are These Actually Bad Or Are My Friends Messing With Me

    Are These Actually Bad Or Are My Friends Messing With Me

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