There are many reasons for people to get tattoos – some do it as a form of artistic expression, some do it to cover up scars, while some do it on a whim on a drunken night out with friends (YOLO, amirite?). However, not all tattoos are good tattoos – rather, there are many people who have gotten regrettable tattoos. From horrible design ideas to bad placements, we’ve made a list of the worst tattoos to get. If you know anything about tattoos, you know that they last a lifetime. So if you’re thinking about getting inked up, feel free to use this list as a reference so you’ll know which tattoos you should definitely NOT get!
Bows on calves
In 2013, every girl’s Pinterest board had this tattoo design: Two bows on the back of their calves, like the bows on ballet shoes. This might have been a cute idea then, but now it just seems tacky. One of the reasons why people liked getting them, asides from the design, was due to the bows, which represent female sexuality and women’s liberation. Look – we’re all for women’s empowerment, but maybe go for something more subtle?
Chinese characters with bad translations
We’ve all seen these kinds of tattoos at one point, and they’re either super good, or just straight up trash (all tea, all shade). So if you’re thinking of getting a tattoo in a language you don’t speak, try finding someone who speaks the language so they can give you accurate translations of some quote you found online, like ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ – or maybe just don’t get them at all.
Tramp stamps
You’ll either look super sexy or just, as the name suggests, trampy. The lower back is honestly a great place for a tattoo – it just depends on the design. Plus, now that the 2000s fashion trend is back, you can show off the tattoo with your low rise jeans. Just don’t get one that’s in a typical tribal design that has a triangle in the middle that points right down to your butt crack!
Skylines into heartbeats
Oooo… it was a skyline but then it turned into a heartbeat, symbolizing the the city where they feel safe and comfortable… how creative (not)! Like the infinity and moustache tattoo, this kind of tattoo was everywhere in 2013. However, like the other tattoos, it really depends on the design and execution.
Infinity symbol
Basic b*tch alert! But let’s be real: we’ve all wanted to get this tatted on our wrists at some point. However, it has since become a running joke for many people, and it’s popularly known as bad tattoo. So unless you want this cringy and outdated infinity symbol on your body for, well, infinity, definitely don’t go for this one.
Moustache
Speaking of tacky tattoos, the moustache tattoo on the finger is as tacky as it gets. The fingerstache ruled the 2000s hipster and tumblr pages. From t-shirts to jewelry to cups, the curly mustache could be seen EVERYWHERE. Though the trend has receded, many people still have to live with their ironic mustache tattoo. So whatever you do, don’t get moustache tattoos!
Your partner’s name
No matter how well your relationship is going, you should never get each other’s names tattooed on your body. For many tattoo artists, they’re considered a kiss of death, and they have associations with bad luck, divorce and painful tattoo removals. So if you really do love your partner, don’t jinx your relationship by tattooing their name across your chest – just stick to flowers!
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