25+ True Tattoo Nightmares: Horrible Tattoos at Their Finest

WOAH. Is there anything worse than a sucky tattoo? Especially a big, gross one that is particularly prominent on the wearers body? We think not! The best thing to do to avoid a tattoo nightmare is to chose your artist wisely, and be very careful if you’re getting “lifelike” face tattoos – as they’re usually anything but.

The biggest fear of anyone that is looking to get a tattoo is the fact that the ink design may not come out exactly the way they wanted and they will be stuck with horrible tattoos forever. While it is an extremely valid fear to have, especially when getting your first tattoo, it is something that you can control if you know exactly how to prepare yourself. First and foremost, to avoid the concept of horrible tattoos, you should always have the design work drawn out for you before the session begins. This way you can see exactly how the tattoo will look once it in inked onto your body. Secondly, it is a good idea to put your tattoo artist through a sense of an interview before you actually book the session. don’t be afraid to look through their design book, peep in on a session so that you see firsthand how the ink will look and make sure that their style of ink matches that which you want on your body.

Horrible tattoos come in all shapes, sizes and colors. However, there are plenty of different aspects of what causes a tattoo to become a nightmare. Of course, an artist that is less than talented will play a vital role in how your ink comes out. However, the wrong coloring can also play an effect. Your tattoo designs should look as realistic as possible, even when using fantasy elements.

The line work of the tattoo will also play a vital role in the overall quality of the tattoo design. Most nightmare tattoos are ones that have uneven lines, faulty shading or blank spaces. Just because a person can draw and showcase their creativity and artistic talent, does not mean that they can create an amazing tattoo. While you need to be able to draw in order to tattoo, it is very possible to be able to draw and not be able to tattoo. It is harder than you would think to draw from the various angles of the surface area with a tattoo gun and on skin nevertheless.

Many horrible tattoos are also created due to the lack of attention to details. When using certain design elements, details are everything. For example, tattoos that incorporate statues or portraits will need to include details of the body, face, hands and shadowing that makes the design look real. If there is not enough detail or the line work is a bit off – you will be left with a horrible tattoo that is either too dark, not blended enough or at the worst case scenario, looks like it is just a blob of ink that is permanently placed on your skin.

Knowing exactly what you want can make all the difference. While it is okay to give your tattoo artist a bit of creative freedom when it comes to the details, you should always be as specific as possible to avoid any potential error that can occur. Many tattoo nightmares are ones that give too much freedom to the artists. Keep in mind that what you consider a small tattoo, may not be the artists’ definition of small. Knowing what colors go with your skin tone can also play a huge role. Using dark colors can run the risk of bleeding onto different areas. Using thick lines when thin should be used can also cause a horrible tattoo to be born!

When it comes to the actual design, you may want to keep in mind that some tattoo artists are better at a specific style than others. If you are looking for a new school type of tattoo, you should make sure that the artist you choose does not have an old fashion design style. This may pose a serious problem when it comes to adding the details you want. For example, many tattoo artists are amazing at what they do but may not be able to visualize certain design features. This can be a surefire way to get a horrible tattoo if the tattoo artist does not know what you want. This is where having the drawing done becomes vitally important.

Using pictures to show the tattoo artist what you want is always a good idea. Be a back up as well, this way you are able to show the tattoo artist exactly what you like and more importantly, exactly what you don’t like. Be as specific as possible. When having a portrait tattoo done, especially for a loved one or from a photograph, you should be very specific. This will ensure that the memorial tattoo you are looking to create does not become a horrible tattoo that you will regret. Portrait tattoos are one of the hardest tattoos to accomplish, especially because you will already have a pre-existing image of how you know that person or pet looks in real life.

Horrible tattoos can often fall into the simple category of “this is just not what I wanted.” In these situations, you may find that background elements were added that should not have been, the size of the tattoo should have been rearranged to look more realistic or in most cases, the tattoo is just in the wrong spot on your body. Horrible tattoos can and will be caused by a tattoo not matching the contour of your natural body. For women, this is often the case because the body experiences so many different life changes. When choosing your tattoo design, be sure to account for how the tattoo will stretch and modify when you gain or lose weight or become pregnant.

It is your body. When getting a tattoo you should always ensure that you build a relationship or good vibe with your tattoo artist. This will ensure that the creative juices between the two of you are constantly flowing and that you understand what each other is trying to do. It will also open up the opportunity to ensure you do not get a horrible tattoo just because there was some type of miscommunication between the two of you!

Here are some more horrible tattoos that will help you decide what to stay away from and how to tell your artist before you book your next tattoo session.