In fact, 1 in 4 people who made a spontaneous decision to get a tattoo, regretted it within a few days. That said, there was still a small fraction of people (5 percent) who spent years thinking about getting a tattoo and regretted it within days.
Touch-ups, cover-up designs, and laser removal are some possible ways to deal with a tattoo you no longer want.
Either way, if you're no longer in love with a tattoo, then you're not entirely out of luck. Well, you have two options: laser tattoo removal or a brand-new tattoo cover-up. There's hope for dealing with your unwanted tattoo!
Tattoos are gaining popularity, now adorning an estimated 45 million Americans. However, regret often follows, leading many to seek removal. Research from the UK, US, Australia, Canada and surveys by notable organizations report that 78% of tattooed people regret at least one of them. In the US alone, 23% felt regret.
A tattoo is an open wound (we've said it before, and we'll say it again!) That means all the cool biological accompaniments to regular wounds will also make an appearance as your sweet new tat heals up—swelling, scabbing, flaking, etc.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Exfoliation - Exfoliation paired with hydrogen peroxide can do wonders to gradually fade tattoo ink naturally. This is because exfoliation removes dead skin while hydrogen peroxide is a skin lightening agent that has bleaching properties.
If you don't like your tattoo, communicate that with your artist or the shop. As long as you're nice and respectful, any good shop should work with you to find a solution that'll make both parties happy.
DON'T cancel or reschedule last minute.
Your tattoo artist may have spent time drawing and preparing for your appointment and has also likely turned away other clients because their time was reserved for you. Please be respectful and show your commitment to getting tattooed by showing up for your appointment.
I've had to reschedule a few my own tattoo appointments, and the artist was never upset. He just gave my slot to someone else. Now if you cancel on the same day for anything but a bona fide emergency, I'd think that a bit rude, because the artist likely wouldn't be able to fill that time with another customer.
The short answer is yes - a fresh tattoo can be removed. Our experts recommend waiting until your tattoo has completely healed which can take around six to eight weeks after having the tattoo before you start your removal sessions. This will help avoid damage to your skin.
Tattoo flu explained
So while you might be super chill mentally, your immune system might charge in like there's a four alarm fire. When the needle hits your skin, your pain receptors go into overdrive, giving you a nice jolt of adrenaline which then makes your ticker beat a bit faster.
Tattooing requires intense concentration. Some artists love to gab while tattooing but others prefer to be quiet. Let the artist take the lead or ask them what they prefer.
Are tattoos OK for tradespeople but not professionals? That's something I wish we'd asked about. A 2010 study did show that consumers perceived visible tattoos to be inappropriate in white-collar professions but not in blue-collar ones.
One of the most common home tattoo removal methods we see talked about is salabrasion or rubbing the skin away with salt. It's an old method, and it does technically work, provided you rub enough skin off to reach the layer where the ink is held. You could also achieve the same effect with coarse sand or sandpaper.
It will still look great as long as you take care of it and let it heal properly. Your tattoo will naturally fade over time. For some people, it can take only a couple of years for them to start to notice that the ink doesn't look as strong anymore. For others, tattoo fading won't be noticeable for decades.
You can opt for surgical removal if your tattoo is small enough, or you can go for dermabrasion and scrape off the top layer of your skin. Apart from this, you can consult a specialist, and they can prescribe a topical cream that will slowly fade the tattoo away.
A great tattoo should have fully saturated black, color and shading. When it recovers, there should not be gaps or shapes in the tattoo that show it wasn't completed properly. The lines of a tattoo must be crisp, straight, and constant throughout the tattoo. Wonky lines are a big indicator of an unskilled artist.
You may also see redness, swelling, and some mild bleeding. DAYS 3-14 (or until healed): After the first 2-3 days, your tattoo should begin to feel dry and tight.
The survey also found that 1 in 3 people (30%) have considered getting a tattoo removed, while only 1 in 4 (25%) have already removed ink. 31% of men and 24% of women regretted daubing someone's name permanently on their body. For men, 13% regretted their tribal theme, and 13% regretted their Asian characters.
A judgment that harsh might be a little unfair but how much you like or dislike tattoos is obviously a personal decision. As tattoos become more and more popular they also become more and more acceptable. All indicators suggest this trend will continue but remember that social attitudes can shift quickly.