Everyone won’t agree on what defines a good tattoo and what defines a bad tattoo. Some people will want elaborate designs all across their bodies, while others will want a small symbol scrolled onto their wrist. It’s a subjective art form. But, some tattoo choices are riskier than others. If you don’t want to regret your body art, read this list of tattoos that you should never get.

White Ink Tattoos

White ink tattoos are the latest trend. While they look great right after they’re done, there are some unfortunate consequences of participating in the fad. Since the ink is so light, it fades faster than any other colour or shade. It doesn’t heal well, meaning that the image could warp or disappear soon after the appointment. And the ink can get distorted by your natural skin tone so that the stark white turns into an unpleasant yellow, faded beige or even a shade of gray.

Face Tattoos

Face tattoos are one of the few types of tattoos that artists refuse to do for their clients, especially when they don’t have many other tattoos. There are several reasons for this:

• They’re painful
• They’re highly visible and difficult to cover up
• They could negatively affect opportunities for work, dating and more
• They’re still associated with criminal activity

Artists will often refuse to do face tattoos for the sake of their reputation. They don’t want the client to come back and complain about their work. To avoid future conflict, they’ll turn away most clients who ask for them. They are likely to do the same with tattoos on the neck, feet and hands.

Partner’s Name

No matter how much you love your partner, you should not get their name tattooed on your body. You don’t know if the relationship will end and how you will feel to have a permanent reminder of them sitting on your bicep. It seems like this is common knowledge, but it’s still a popular mistake. Take a look at our article about horrible celebrity tattoos and you’ll see that even the rich and famous fall for this tattoo faux-pas.

It should go without saying that you should never get an ex-partner’s name tattooed on your body in an effort to impress them or win them back. The romantic gesture is not a wise choice.

Many tattoo artists recommend that clients follow their three-name rule to avoid any regrets or hurt feelings. Here are the three types of names that are safe to tattoo:

• The names of your pets
• The names of your children
• The names of relatives that have passed away

A Cheap Tattoo

When it comes to tattoos, you get what you pay for. Getting a $15 deal for a tattoo sounds like a great idea at the time, but it’s not worth the savings. Cheap tattoos tend to come with consequences like a higher risk of infection and shoddy line work. If the bargain sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Any Tattoo While Intoxicated

As a rule, you should never get intoxicated before getting a tattoo. It’s true that a few drinks can give you the courage to go through the painful process, but you won’t be fit to consent to the treatment. Your judgment is impaired. The artist can’t be sure whether you’ll feel differently about the tattoo once you sober up.

Plus, alcohol affects blood coagulation. So, you’re more likely to bleed during the session — this will affect the accuracy of the artist’s work and the ease of the healing process. You’re more likely to get bruises and scabbing after the experience.

An Offensive Tattoo

Getting something offensive permanently inked onto your body will likely have an impact on your life. Even doing so ironically is not a wise decision. Most people will not know your ironic intent at first glance. Depending on how visible it is, an offensive tattoo can affect your employment, your dating life and your everyday social interactions.

Some tattoos are offensive even without malicious intent. For instance, it’s insensitive to get tribal tattoos when you aren’t connected to the tribe. It’s why you shouldn’t get Tā moko tattoos if you aren’t Māori because they are culturally significant to the people and carry a lot of symbolic meaning.

When in doubt, do your research about the tattoo. If it has a sensitive history or meaning, you are better off leaving it off of your skin.

What to Do If You Don’t Like Your Tattoo

This list may be too late. You may already have a tattoo that you wish you never got. The good news is that you can get rid of your old tattoo with laser treatment and eventually clear off the evidence of the mistake. You don’t have to live with it forever.

Laser therapy is a safe and effective way to remove tattoos. Other methods like salabrasion, dermabrasion, and surgery have higher risks of scarring. And one of the biggest tattoo removal mistakes you need to avoid is buying tattoo removal cream and putting it on unsupervised. The creams are not regulated or approved by the FDA. They often have ingredients that can seriously damage your skin. On the other hand, we have conducted over 30,000 laser removal sessions and none of those patients have suffered from any scarring.

Book a consultation with one of our board-certified physicians. They will go over your medical history and see if laser treatment is the right option for you. If they agree that you’re a good candidate, they will let you know how to prepare for your appointment and how to practice after-care. Before the consultation, you can click here to read more facts about removing your tattoo and about what you can expect from your first session.

A big fear surrounding tattoos is that they’re permanent. With the help of laser therapy, they don’t have to be. It’s not a simple remedy for the problem, but it can feel like a miracle to anyone who just wants the art off of them. It’s nice to know that you can have a second chance with your skin.