81 People Who Clearly Didn’t Think Their Tattoo Through Before Making It Permanent (New Pics)

You can also stop the process at any point if something doesn’t feel right. That’s entirely within your rights, and any good artist will want their client to feel comfortable and happy with the outcome.

As Garcia puts it, “the majority of tattoo regret comes from having a bad experience versus a bad image.” Knowing what you want and standing by it makes the whole experience better and reduces the chances of looking back with regret.

Aftercare matters too, and it’s worth taking seriously. Moisturizing regularly and applying sunscreen before spending time outdoors will help your tattoo age well. Sun exposure is one of the main culprits behind fading and distortion over time, so protecting your skin is a simple habit that pays off in the long run.

And if regret does creep in eventually? It’s probably not the end of the world. Tastes change, and that’s just part of life. What matters most is that you got it done safely, with an artist you trusted. Even a tattoo you’ve grown out of has a story—and that, in its own way, is worth something.