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112 Bad Tattoo Fails That’ll Make You Laugh And Cringe

112 Bad Tattoo Fails That’ll Make You Laugh And Cringe

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Regret — we all experience it at one point or another, and nothing stirs up remorse quite like a bad tattoo. An estimated 32% of people in the United States have a tattoo, and about one-quarter of them may end up regretting their funny tattoos or wanting them removed.
Before getting a tattoo, most of us spend a long time picking the design, consulting with the tattoo artist, and choosing the perfect spot for our body art. The lesser part of the people get drunk, find a guitar string, some fountain pen ink, and presto — they now have a truly regrettable tattoo.
As far as we can tell there will never be a lack of tattoo fails nor a shortage of people willing to share their ugly tattoos. Bored Panda has added a new list of bad tattoos that either didn’t go as planned or will make you question what goes through people’s minds. 
From bad artists who didn’t quite nail it to bizarre artistic choices, scroll down below to see these cautionary tales of the worst tattoos ever!

#1 Some Guy Tried To Copy My Tattoo Artist's Work - Tattooed A Nipple On His Arm

Bad tattoo fails depicting superhero villains with distorted faces, highlighted by red arrows.
462points

#2 Nice Tattoo, Dave

Funny tattoo fail with nonsensical poem text, "Roses are red, my name's Dave, this poem makes no sense, microwave."
462points

#3 This Guy's Haircut

A humorous tattoo fail on a man's bald head, featuring a face with wide eyes and a mustache, viewed on an airplane.
418points

When Do Tattoos Go Wrong?

It usually starts with a bad design or a spur-of-the-moment decision. Imagine someone picking a tattoo on the fly, not thinking about how it’ll look years down the road or if it really suits them.

Then, there’s the actual tattooing part. Things can go south if the artist isn’t… qualified, to say the least. You know, shaky lines, words spelled wrong, colors that blend into a muddy mess — basically, a great idea getting lost in the process.

And let’s not forget aftercare. Tattoos need TLC to heal right. Skipping out on the care tips can lead to all sorts of trouble, like infections or a faded, sad-looking tattoo.

And while you’re checking out these hilariously stupid tattoos, think about where it all went wrong. Was it a quirky idea that didn’t work, an artist’s slip, or maybe just bad luck in the healing process?

#4 Today I Learned That My Friend's Chinese Tattoo Literally Means "Turkey Sandwich"

Arm tattoo fail with incorrect translation, showing "turkey sandwich" in Chinese characters and smartphone translation.
361points

#5 For Real, Man?

Man with a tattoo of a jumping figure on his neck, featuring a creative use of a bump. Tattoo fail.
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358points

#6 El Señor Nippleriño

Funny bad tattoo fail with a hat design around a nipple.
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314points

How Common is Tattoo Regret?

It turns out that tattoo regret is a real thing for quite a few people. In a Pew Research Center survey involving 8,480 adults, they found that about 24% of tattooed Americans have some regret about their ink. This isn't a tiny number, considering 32% of US adults have at least one tattoo.

Interestingly, the level of regret varies among different groups. For instance, 30% of tattooed Hispanic adults reported some regret, compared to 23% of White and 21% of Black adults. 

There also appears to be a slight variation in tattoo regret based on education levels. Those with some college or less education are more likely to regret their tattoos (25%) compared to those with higher educational levels (19%).

This info helps put things into perspective, doesn't it? As you’re scrolling through these bad tattoo choices, it’s interesting to think that a good number of these people might be part of the 24% who regret their decision.

#7 "It's Is My Life" - Jon Bovi

Bad tattoo fail with misspelled quote "it's is my life" attributed to "Jon Bovi."
311points

#8 Roar

Tiger tattoo fail with awkward lines on a man's chest.
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296points

#9 This Tiger Though

Bad tattoo fail of a poorly drawn tiger on a person's back.
290points

What to Do When You Get a Bad Tattoo?

So, you’ve got a tattoo that didn’t turn out as awesome as you thought it would. Don’t sweat it! First off, give it some time — what seems like a disaster at first can grow on you. If not, you’ve got options.

Cover-up tattoos are a popular choice. A skilled artist can work wonders, turning your regret into a piece you’re proud of. Laser tattoo removal is another route, though it’s pricier and takes several sessions. And hey, if it’s a small or simple mistake, sometimes a little touch-up is all you need.

But remember, the best fix is prevention. Think long and hard about your design and artist choice before getting inked. And if you end up with a tattoo fail, don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes — yours just happens to be a bit more permanent!

#10 Definitely Fits Here

Man with a humorous chest tattoo featuring a muscular figure appearing to burst through his skin, showcasing tattoo fail.
272points

#11 It's Supposed To Be A Galaxy

Close-up of a colorful tattoo mishap on a person's chest, resembling abstract art, surrounded by red fabric.
261points

#12 I'm Speechless

Bad tattoo fail of a smiling woman, contrasting with her original photo.
248points

#13 Oh My God

Leg tattoo designed with colorful scales resembling a snake, showcasing a unique tattoo fail.
248points

#14 I Don't Even Have The Words To Explain This

Cartoon-inspired bad tattoo fail with humorous yin-yang design.
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237points

#15 This Tattoo Was Apparently Supposed To Be Of “Stars”

Close-up of a tattoo fail with scattered dots on chest, wearing a scorpion pendant necklace and red lace top.
228points

#16 Maximum Facepalm

Tattoo fail with misspelled phrase "Believe in Youself and Never Lose Hoop" on arm.
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221points

#17 Third Into Fourth Always Gives Me Trouble

Bad tattoo fail showing a gear shift pattern on a wrist.
217points

#18 Eminem Or M&M?

Bad tattoo fail depicting a blue cartoon character with a realistic face on a person's skin.
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215points

Love quirky ink? Explore our full collection of creative and unusual tattoo ideas for every taste and style.

#19 Back Of The Head Tattoo

Tattoo fail depicting a roaring gorilla face on the back of a person's head in a bathroom.
212points

#20 Close, But Not Close Enough

Back tattoo fail with compass design and misaligned letters N, S, E, W.
200points
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