This Facebook Group Shares Pictures Of Tattoos They Believe Shouldn’t Exist, And Yikes (New Pics)

Your body isn’t just a tool, it’s also a canvas, and tattoos are one of the most personal forms of expression. But if there’s one thing people love to do withart, it’s to critique it.Ink Shaming — All Bad Tattoosis a Facebook group where that becomes especially clear. From terrible designs to bizarre subject matter and questionable placements, nothing escapes the judgment of its 397K members.However, since the group also sees a lot of discussions (mainly over who’s to blame for these pieces), some of them even get acquitted. So continue scrolling, upvote the ones you dislike, downvote those you believe are actually alright, and don’t miss the chat we had with tattoo artist Nat Rita ofRita Tattoo— you’ll find it in between the images.This post may includeaffiliate links.

Your body isn’t just a tool, it’s also a canvas, and tattoos are one of the most personal forms of expression. But if there’s one thing people love to do withart, it’s to critique it.

Ink Shaming — All Bad Tattoosis a Facebook group where that becomes especially clear. From terrible designs to bizarre subject matter and questionable placements, nothing escapes the judgment of its 397K members.

However, since the group also sees a lot of discussions (mainly over who’s to blame for these pieces), some of them even get acquitted. So continue scrolling, upvote the ones you dislike, downvote those you believe are actually alright, and don’t miss the chat we had with tattoo artist Nat Rita ofRita Tattoo— you’ll find it in between the images.

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Tattoos believed shouldn’t exist: cartoon dinosaur and flowers with text “FURAFIC FARK” in colorful ink.

Tattoo of a person’s face wearing a cap and a chain, shared in a Facebook group discussing undesirable tattoos.

To get a better understanding of what we’re seeing here, we contactedNat Rita, a tattoo artist and creative designer from London, United Kingdom.

And when it comes to ideas, well, some concepts simply do not belong on your skin forever.

Tattoo showing a cartoonish face with exaggerated features, shared in a Facebook group.

Unusual tattoo of a child with exaggerated facial features, showcased in a Facebook group for tattoos that shouldn’t exist.

Tattoo of a baby’s face with a top knot, beside a reference photo, shared in a Facebook group discussing unusual tattoos.

However, if for whatever reason you end up with what you believe is a mistake, don’t worry. As you can see from the pictures, you’re not the only one!

According to a 2023surveyof a thousand Americans, 73% of them like tattoos and 39% have at least one themselves.

But the study also revealed that 1 in 4 inked people regret at least one of their designs, with the top types being:

Dude thought he was THE S**T because his shop stayed busy. His shop stayed busy because he was the only place for an hour in either direction…..and those places weren’t great either.

Unusual tattoo of a face with open mouth and eyes on the back of a shaved head, shared in a Facebook group.

“Tattoo of a muscular figure stretches across a man’s chest and arms in a unique design."

Colorful face tattoo on forearm, depicting exaggerated facial features with vibrant lipstick and eye makeup.

Unusual tattoo of a child with dark eyes eating corn, featured in a Facebook group sharing tattoos they believe shouldn’t exist.

The regret for these people usually sank in after 2+ years (51%) or just a few days (18%) after getting the tattoo. Furthermore, 48% of them said they got the tattoo spontaneously.According to Nat Rita, everyone in this situation has a few options, but they depend on a few factors. “If they opted for the cheapest artist in the area, asked a friend to do it at home, or even did it themselves, the best option is to research studios or artists […] who specialize in reworking or cover-ups.““Alternatively, you could go back to the original artist and explain why you’re unhappy,” she said. “If the tattoo only has minor issues, the artist might be willing to fix it. Whatever you decide, it ultimately comes down to doing thorough research on who you’re working with.“Then there’s the laser. But withthe averagecost of $463 per session and around 7-10 sessions needed, it might not be accessible to many.

The regret for these people usually sank in after 2+ years (51%) or just a few days (18%) after getting the tattoo. Furthermore, 48% of them said they got the tattoo spontaneously.

According to Nat Rita, everyone in this situation has a few options, but they depend on a few factors. “If they opted for the cheapest artist in the area, asked a friend to do it at home, or even did it themselves, the best option is to research studios or artists […] who specialize in reworking or cover-ups.”

“Alternatively, you could go back to the original artist and explain why you’re unhappy,” she said. “If the tattoo only has minor issues, the artist might be willing to fix it. Whatever you decide, it ultimately comes down to doing thorough research on who you’re working with.”

Then there’s the laser. But withthe averagecost of $463 per session and around 7-10 sessions needed, it might not be accessible to many.

Tattoo of a young girl with a wide smile and long hair, featured in a Facebook group for unusual tattoos.

Tattoo of an exaggerated doll-like face on an arm, featured in a Facebook group for unusual tattoos.

Tattoos of a cartoonish alien in a car with text “Where am I?” on skin, featured in a Facebook group.

Tattoo of a child’s face with exaggerated features shared in a Facebook group for unusual tattoos.

To lessen your chances of a fiasco in the first place, Nat Rita recommends people do their homework.“Check studio reviews, see if the artist is reputable, look for recommendations, and review their portfolio,” she said. “Be cautious of AI-generated art or Photoshopped images—professional artists won’t oversell themselves or promise things that aren’t possible.““They’ll have a clear idea of what works and what doesn’t, and even if you don’t book with them, they’ll still offer valuable advice.”

To lessen your chances of a fiasco in the first place, Nat Rita recommends people do their homework.

“Check studio reviews, see if the artist is reputable, look for recommendations, and review their portfolio,” she said. “Be cautious of AI-generated art or Photoshopped images—professional artists won’t oversell themselves or promise things that aren’t possible.”

“They’ll have a clear idea of what works and what doesn’t, and even if you don’t book with them, they’ll still offer valuable advice.”

Unusual tattoo of a fantasy figure with flowing hair on an arm, shared by a Facebook group showcasing questionable tattoos.

Unusual tattoo design resembling a sketched object with spiral and bands on skin, shared in a Facebook group.

Poorly drawn tattoo of a face with lines and swirls on arm, shared in Facebook group for bad tattoos.

Amateurish tattoo depicting a smiling person wearing a blue cap, featured in a Facebook group highlighting questionable tattoos.

“Many tattoos that end up being disappointing seem to have been done on a whim—rushed, poorly executed, and so on,” Nat Rita continued. “To avoid this, go to a studio, find an artist, and follow them on social media to see their work and how they interact with clients.”

Tattoo of two baseball players on a person’s back in a Facebook group featuring questionable tattoos.

Back tattoo with the words “Less is more and nothing is too much,” featured in a Facebook group about tattoos.

Tattoo on arm with “VIBES” crossed out, shared in a Facebook group highlighting questionable tattoos.

Tattoo of a distorted skull with blue flames on an arm, featured in a Facebook group for unusual tattoos.

Nat Rita also practices what she preaches. She has been getting inked since she was a teenager and hasn’t had any regrets. Again, the tattoo artist attributes this to not lying down in front of a needle impulsively and carefully choosing who’s holding it.“When I worked in walk-in studios, I often encountered people who wanted a tattoo but didn’t know what they wanted. Even after a brief conversation, they might still be unsure, yet they didn’t want to book for another day and would get upset if no artist was available immediately,” she recalled. “If you want a tattoo but don’t know what you want, you probably don’t truly want a tattoo—you might just be bored, and tattoos seem cool. I don’t disagree with that; it’s your body, your choice. If we can come up with a cool idea together, I’m happy to do it, but there’s always a risk you might regret it later.”

“When I worked in walk-in studios, I often encountered people who wanted a tattoo but didn’t know what they wanted. Even after a brief conversation, they might still be unsure, yet they didn’t want to book for another day and would get upset if no artist was available immediately,” she recalled. “If you want a tattoo but don’t know what you want, you probably don’t truly want a tattoo—you might just be bored, and tattoos seem cool. I don’t disagree with that; it’s your body, your choice. If we can come up with a cool idea together, I’m happy to do it, but there’s always a risk you might regret it later.”

Lion face tattoo on chest with uneven features, shared in Facebook group for tattoos to avoid.

Tattoo of abstract feet and square shape on skin, shared in a Facebook group for unusual tattoos.

Child’s portrait alongside an unusual tattoo depiction, as shared in a Facebook group for bad tattoos.

Abstract back tattoo with phrases and a flower, shared in a Facebook group for tattoos that shouldn’t exist.

“Do they really love it, or are they just ashamed that someone might point out how bad it is?” the tattoo artist said. “Maybe they admit something’s wrong because they don’t want to see themselves as being at fault. Usually, the fault lies somewhere in the middle. You could have the worst idea in the world, but a seasoned artist will always advise against it or suggest how to make it work. If you have a clear vision of what you want and how you want it, you’re less likely to choose the easiest or cheapest artist—you’ll seek out someone with the experience and skill to bring your idea to life.”

Unusual tattoo featuring a peach combined with spaceship elements on a person’s leg.