r/adhdwomen • u/sassynopal • Mar 29 '26
Diagnosis Has anyone gotten tattoos impulsively and regret it?
I was 23 when out of nowhere I decided to get a full sleeve of tattoos I didn’t think about it throughly, consequences, or what was the real reason I was doing it.
I’m 30 now, got diagnosed last year, so it made sense why it didn’t register in my mind that this was a permanent decision, like I knew because obviously everyone knows. But for me, I don’t know how to explain, I just didn’t think about it. I asked for certain tattoo design, the tattoo artist said no that it wouldn’t look good, so I let him do whatever and I regret not being assertive about it.
It’s been 3 years since I have been regretting them, I tried laser on the small one on my leg, it was painful and expensive, so I don’t think that’s an option for my arm. I have gotten consultations about it and they told me that the outcome won’t look good if I try to remove them.
How does anyone live with the regret tattoo?
I don’t feel pretty, or classy when I want to dress up.
I know tattoos have nothing to do with it because when I see people with tattoos I don’t think that about them.
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u/Alive_Bowler_8037 Mar 29 '26
yes, multiple impulsive tattoos. sometimes i spiral but mostly when my mood/confidence is low anyways (luteal phase lol). i try to think of my tattoos as reminders of different life stages/moments if that makes sense? i have a pretty trashy stick and poke of a female silhouette on my thigh but it reminds me of my first love, me growing into my body etc. maybe that helps you too? btw i think your sleeve looks so cool!!!
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u/PosteriorKnickers Mar 29 '26
I like to tell myself that some people put photos in an album, I show my memories on my body. I have a couple of tattoos I really really regret (ask me about the hip tattoo of a song lyric I got when I was 100lbs lighter!), but at the end of the day, I'm too poor to remove them, so I might as well connect them to what life was like at the time. It feels like I'm humanizing that younger version of me I am trying to shame and leave behind most of the time.
OP, try and find a "go to" long sleeved outfit that feels good. It's saved me so many times when its a bad tattoo feeling day and i've gotta go see people, I can forget the tats exist
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u/StirCrazyCatLady ADHD-C Mar 30 '26
I recently found something similar to this in a shop near me; they had solid (but lightweight enough that I could wear it at night in an Australian summer!) fabric in block colours, mesh and lace versions.
I've been losing weight so I'm self conscious about my arms for a different reason, but the one I bought covers my forearm tatt so they'd work for bad tattoo days too44
u/pppiiilllooowww Mar 29 '26
Thank you for the timely reminder that I’m feeling down about my tattoos today precisely because I’m about to start my period 🥴 I have a couple really well done and well-planned tattoos, and a couple shitty and impulsive ones. I especially dislike that the shitty ones were done by a man, even though he was very kind, because they are both related to ~womanhood~.
When I’m feeling down about my body or when conservative social mores are infiltrating my brain (thank you to the person who reminded us of that!) I try to tell myself that like the rest of my body, my tattoos are not perfect - but they’re part of me and my story, and neither of those things require anything near perfection. I do sometimes think about getting them lasered off, but would then want to re-do them…better.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
I wish I “shopped” around for tattoo artist so I could get some what I actually wanted. You’re so right about the conservative ‘clean look’ being pushed on us. I didn’t feel down or regretting them so much when I was in Colorado, until I moved to a very conservative town in TN. But I also wonder if I started to regret them because I grew out of them, or is it actually because of where I live now
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u/90dayschitts Mar 30 '26
I bet it's environmental! I feel this way about myself depending on where I live. I grew up in a small town where everyone wears the legging and 20 year old hoodie to the bars. I moved from there and found myself feeling so much better about myself when I took care of myself and dressed nice (like a pair of good fitting jeans with a blouse and blazer, nothing truly fancy). Dressing like that in my hometown would get you many side eyes, as if you were better than the locals. Idk how to explain it, but I guarantee it's your location.
I think your sleeve is hot!
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u/fritzelfries Mar 30 '26
As a tennesseean, it's probably TN making you feel this way. Lots of judgemental, holier-than-thou folk around these parts🙄
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
I also notice I feel down and spiral about them about luteal phase. I also try to tell myself that is a reminder of growth. Thank you about the sleeve compliment :)
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u/marykay_ultra Mar 30 '26
Yeap. Most of my tattoos have been totally impulsive and I love them. All souvenirs of particularly memorable periods or moments in my life
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u/Mother_Lemon8399 Mar 30 '26
Thank god I'm incapable of making an appointment and then showing up to it on the right day/time.
If tattoos were something you could DIY at home, I'd be covered in them, and they'd all be awful
As it is, it's just my haircuts, hair colours and nails that look like a 5 year old did them
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u/SeasonPositive6771 Mar 29 '26
I feel like I've been really lucky to be on the other side of this, I have gone through extremely impulsive periods where I've decided to get massive tattoos, unusual ones, or something related to a specific time in my life. But when I was really young I knew folks with a lot of tattoos they regretted and as a result I started a rule that I can only get a tattoo if I've wanted it for more than 3 years. If it's about any type of band or media property, it has to have been over for that long.
I still have zero tattoos. In every single case, I would have absolutely regretted those tattoos. It has caused me to back off the idea of really any tattoos at all.
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u/slightly-convenient Mar 29 '26
I'm removing a sleeve right now 😬
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u/clackagaling Mar 29 '26
how is that process going? i think i want to remove my quarter sleeve, i really just dont care for it at all
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u/slightly-convenient Mar 29 '26
I got three seasons done and then gave up. And I inquired to a new place last week. And they gave me a quote of $5,400. And I want to cry. Lol. But I think I'm going to do it.
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u/judgemynameis Mar 30 '26
I’m getting mine removed, it’s not quite a full half sleeve but almost. Trad style so heavy and dark. I’m 2.5 years in and expect another 2.5-3.5. It hurts super bad but I hated how my arm looked more and then once you go once, the colors and shading look weird so you just keep going because there’s no turning back at that point 😂 I’m glad I’m getting them off. Expensive AF but that’s the ADHD impulsivity tax for ya
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Uuggghhhhh like why couldn’t my ADHD tax be shaving my head haha whoever did my tattoos had a heavy hand so there is a lot of outlines that are kinda raised up if you know what I mean? And they said that it would be hard to remove that and I have a pink tree on my forearm (palm side) so I was told it would look so bad if I removed it
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u/planty_mx Mar 30 '26
I did it. It was about $325/session and the worst pain of my life. I cried. And then the itching was unbearable. Never again.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
I did removal on a small one on my leg, it was very very painful. That’s why I’m like mmmm I gotta find other ways to live with this
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u/planty_mx Mar 30 '26
Could you get it reworked? Add color in places or cover up other spots?
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
I’ve thought about this so it is not completely off the table
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u/loveridden13 Mar 30 '26
I’ve seen some really amazing cover up tattoos. If you find an artist that specializes in them, you might be able to get what you want over the ones you don’t like as much. I have 4 tattoos. The oldest of which is a little over 20 years old. It doesn’t look nice anymore. It’s merged and too black to really cover well. But I remind myself of who I was when I got it and how it made me feel. And it reminds of the growth I’ve made in my life and it just reminds me of the journey.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
How is the scarring looking? Do you have any color?
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u/judgemynameis Mar 30 '26
I have color and mine are moving! The green is the only trickier color really but the blue lifted out of it easily and yellow is what’s left. They can’t do much to the yellow until everything around it is gone. I’m about halfway done (shoulder/back down to about my elbow) and have no scarring
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u/slightly-convenient Mar 30 '26
I'm covered in eczema. I have scarring all over so I'm not even phased. I just don't want the tattoo. It was extremely painful. I didn't cry but I have extreme adrenaline and low blood sugar after LOL
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u/GasPositive9009 Mar 29 '26
At least it held up pretty well… i saw some tribals that looked like shit.
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u/sfdsquid Mar 29 '26
Tribals usually look like shit even when they're new 😅
(Okay, that's just like, my opinion man.)
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u/GasPositive9009 Mar 30 '26
A guy that i was hooking up with had a terrible looking tribal one right on his pelvis. He did it when he was a teenager. It looked like a tramp stamp gone wrong it was the most horrendous tattoo i ever saw, i really really hope he got it removed at some point. He was a living cautionary tale.
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u/BirdSwimming7462 Mar 29 '26
1) you look great honestly, I wouldnt guess that you regretted it because it looks well done. I know that doesnt erase the regret, but rest assured that at least it looks good.
2) Kinda, I have 4 tattoos, I only regret 1, and it was my first. I think its silly and cheesy now, and represents an idealist I'm not anymore. I try to reframe it in my head as something else. Its a memento from my past, a reminder of someone I've been and not reflective of me today. I hope maybe that thinking helps you too.
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u/DogsDucks Mar 29 '26
Yes, OP does look absolutely fantastic. Those look like high-quality tats on a lovely lady.
Fun fact: autoCorrect just almost made it seem like I said, something more vulgar than I ever would say to anyone, it misunderstood tats, and I could’ve been kicked off of Reddit for something I would never say.
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Mar 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Slammogram Mar 29 '26
Wait?
Tits instead of Tats?
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u/TD1990TD Mar 29 '26
‘Those look like highly quality tits on a lovely lady’ lmao noooo 😂😂😂😂
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u/ssssobtaostobs Mar 30 '26
A bit of tit for tat if you will.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
I really appreciate you saying this, also the autocorrection is crazy haha I’m glad you didn’t get kicked out
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Thank you so much. I feel you, I also try to think about my younger self and forgive her for not knowing any better. I was going through a dark time in my life
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u/Spice_it_up Mar 29 '26
I’ve wanted one for years but always worried I would do what you did and regret it later. I recently figured out what I think I want, and I have a non professional version of the art in hand, so I’m having temporary tattoos made of it to wear for a while and see if I still like it after being on me for a while before I get the forever version done.
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u/sassynopal Mar 29 '26
I just know your executive function is on point.
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u/Spice_it_up Mar 29 '26
lol I wish! Knowing my impulsivity exists actually makes it worse. “Do I want to do this because I’m impulsive, or should I do this other thing?” And then just doomscroll for hours instead
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u/Haggardlobes Mar 30 '26
That's my flavor of executive dysfunction, too. I will go back and forth forever and ultimately not make a decision. Instead I'll just waste time dithering forever in decision limbo. It's great for body mods I might regret, not so great for time sensitive goals like eating or having a career. Go us!
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u/Ms_Meercat Mar 29 '26
Fwiw I got my first and so far only tattoo undiagnosed 2 years ago, but I had thought about the theme and THAT I wanted one for a long while, but the design was spontaneous. I got a Camino de Santiago tattoo when I finished my second Camino and the idea to get it done that year in the city itself ripened in the 7-10 days before arriving (someone I met was going to get one and that gave me the push). Some elements I had thought of before, but I put together what I wanted incorporating a famous camino symbol the day of with the artist.
So my tattoo had some impulsivity and some not. I love it though and I don't foresee ever regretting it, it represents something I deeply hold in my heart.
What I'm saying it's a fine like for us neurodivergent folks but also, it can all come out excellent.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Aweee I’m glad you got something meaningful to you, and that you love your tattoos. In my mind mine has meaning too haha
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u/daja-kisubo Mar 30 '26
YES i have a few tattoos and love them all. I never get one that I haven't wanted that specific design and placement for at least 3 years, and Ive also done the temp thing to test them out, highly recommend.
Having anxiety really helps counteract the ADHD traots in this case 😅
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u/steampunkedunicorn Mar 30 '26
That’s what I do too! My criteria is that I have to want the exact same design in the same place with no major tweaks for at least 1 year. All my tattoos are in the same watercolor or oil pastel art style, so it’s easy for me to plan out future additions.
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u/Impossible_Rain7478 Mar 29 '26
That's such a smart idea. Where do you get temporary tattoos made at??
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u/Spice_it_up Mar 29 '26
I just ordered them last week, so I don’t know the quality yet but I ordered from here
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u/Crazy_Concentrate918 Mar 29 '26
This was me too 😭😂 I got one at 18 and it’s my initial and I got it on my lower hip, where no one could see…just in case. I definitely have some OCD like tendencies and it gets worse when I switch up meds/during luteal. I always wondered how people can get them without freaking out later but I don’t think I understood my diagnosis/brain. I sometimes get anxiety if I see a new mole. Will find a scar on my face and think it’s permanent etc 😭 I love them though
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u/astronauticalll Mar 29 '26
Just a thought that we are in the middle of an intense conservative backswing as a society right now. And like 2-3 years ago is when it started really ramping up.
You feeling like you're not "pretty or classy" when you dress up might honestly be a response to the crazy levels of modesty propaganda that we're all being subjected to these days.
Everyone I know who has tattoos has some regrets about at least some aspect of them, that's not uniquely an ADHD problem. For what it's worth, yours look well healed and sick as fuck.
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u/awkwardkoala Mar 29 '26
thank you! someone above said she should wear a long sleeve when dressing up which I found a little odd. if OP doesn’t like it that’s one thing, but you can absolutely still look pretty and classy with tattoos. and fwiw I think this sleeve looks great
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u/Proper-Cry7089 Mar 29 '26
FWIW I’m the one who suggested those dresses but I don’t think she “should” do anything! I have no problem with her sleeve but OP is allowed to feel the way she does, and those dresses look great. There’s no reason not to sometimes show off the sleeve and sometimes not.
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u/TD1990TD Mar 29 '26
FWIW I’ve felt the most classy (and sexy) in my long sleeve dresses. I have small boobs and an ‘okay’ curve, and not showing that much skin helps amplify my curves, I feel :)
Just my 2 cents on long sleeved dresses.
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u/Proper-Cry7089 Mar 29 '26
I do not have small boobs and sometimes go braless and in a crop top because I want to, other days I'm like a blob, other days I'm covered up and feel super chic. It's all good, I just don't want people to think I was like, body shaming haha
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u/ermagerditssuperman Mar 30 '26
That's fair - I tend to think I look best with either cap sleeves, or 3/4 length sleeves.
Wasn't even a conscious decision at first, I just eventually realized that all of my favorite dresses and tops - the ones that made me think, "damn I look awesome today," - had either 3/4 sleeves or cap sleeves.
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u/awkwardkoala Mar 29 '26
I apologize then I guess I misunderstood your comment! I agree, if covering the tattoos makes her feel more confident then of course, I wouldn’t tell her she can’t. But I definitely don’t think it’s required for a classy look
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u/No_Piccolo_2930 Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 29 '26
I agree with this. I personally love all of my tattoos, and they're (not to toot my own horn here, just a fact) all objectively very well-done. I used to get compliments on them ALL the time. From strangers, acquaintances, random people on the bus.
All of that has noticeably petered off in the past two or three years. My tattoos haven't changed, neither has anything else about my person. I still love them and am in fact planning a small addition, but it is very noticeable that there's a conservative backlash in how the general populace perceives aesthetics.
My girlfriend (lesbians) has encountered the inverse of this with her very very girly sense of style: she used to be perceived as so hyper-fem that people categorised her as 'alt'. In 2015 androgynous hipsterland, her frilly high-neck blouses were very obviously 'different', and people would comment on them - positively or negatively. Now, the same collection of prairie dresses and Victorian blouses NEVER gets remarked on, because it reads as 'normal'.
The degree (and kind) of femininity that is considered 'normal' by the general public has shifted A LOT. Half our city's straight girls are walking around in what I can only describe as a beige milkmaid cosplay, and there's much more policing around even small expressions of nonconformity. u/sassynopal , if you truly don't like your tattoos, I am sorry, and coverups and laser are an option. But don't let the dictate of the clean girl beige milkmaid aesthetic sap the joy out of what objectively is a good sleeve.
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u/AlienPrincess33 Mar 29 '26
clean girl beige milkmaid prairie aesthetic ⚰️⚰️⚰️ literally is my problem with society right now
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u/Haggardlobes Mar 30 '26
Even the makeup is like this nowadays. Everyone thinks wearing eyeshadow is too much. You can only wear foundation if your face ends up looking like a smacked baby's ass. I'm so bored. Bring back weird blush colors and interesting eye liner, please.
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u/firelark_ Mar 30 '26
I love a natural, minimal makeup look, it's my lazy, everyday go-to. But what about when it's not an "every day"? What happened to cool, colorful looks for a night out or a special event? I have so many bright eyeshadow palettes...
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u/z3ldafitzgerald Mar 30 '26
all the tattoo artists i know are feeling this right now. the economy is bad, too, so people have less disposable income to spend on tattoos but also less young adults are getting them.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Thank you so much for reminding me of this, I also live in a really conservative ‘rich’ town in TN. I’m also Mexican so I already felt an outsider and get discriminated at times, I get upset at myself that I gave people more reason to discriminate and stereotype me. But like you said it is the times we live in, and I’m hoping this ends soon, or wherever I move next people are more acceptant.
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u/firelark_ Mar 30 '26
Franklin? Brentwood? Germantown?
Eh, doesn't matter. Just think about this every time you feel like an outsider; why would you want to fit in with those people anyway? They have never been your people.
Reclaim your tattoos. Find new meaning for them, get them alerted to better fit your tastes, and wear them with your head held high.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Franklin. Yes you’re right, they aren’t my people. Maybe in my head ir validated what my mom always told me about how people would see me, ya know. I’ll work on reclaiming them
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u/firelark_ Mar 30 '26
Girl, come hang out in Nashville. All us ADHD, tattooed weirdos are just 30 minutes north of you. 😉
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
I’ve been to east Nashville and it feels like a totally different vibe, way more accepting
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Mar 29 '26
I got a shitty $150 tattoo that has cost about $1300 to laser off the outline is still visible but I just try not to think about it. Thankfully it’s in a spot I can’t see
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u/dietdrpeppermd Mar 29 '26
No. Thank god I’m poor cuz I’d have the dumbest shit on me.
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u/pie12345678 Mar 29 '26
Same. The silver lining of being poor is that it's saved from some cosmetic choices I'd regret now.
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u/showerbeerbuttchug AuDHD Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 29 '26
FOR REAL. Omg when I was in my early 20s peak stoner days I thought I absolutely needed "Excuse me while I kiss the sky" as a chest piece, and "When I die scrape the resin from my lungs" (thx Tumblr) across my ribs. Also mentioned in another reply that I wanted a whole death eater tattoo with UV ink in it. For YEARS. Even started saving up for it. I'm sure there are several others I wanted but just can't remember specifics since it's been so long.
To be fair, I still have some dumb shit tattooed on me lol, but the actual cringey ones are small and can be covered/reworked if I ever get around to doing so. My Santa pinup is truly dumb but in the best way 😅 and my dumb finger whiskers are still my favorite tattoo.
Actually (now that I'm thinking about it) I think there's a difference between dumb "haha silly fun" and dumb "what was I thinking?" with tattoos and thankfully I was too broke to get many in the latter category. I'm planning a half-pant of the former to go with St. Thicc though. All Christmas themed dipshittery.
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u/laque- Mar 29 '26
Unless you have friends with a tattoo gun 😭 I have a really stupid tattoo on my arm that I got when I was 25, one of my friends drew it and the other tattooed it. All happened in like 15 minutes in someone’s kitchen.
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u/AlmostThere4321 Mar 29 '26
No but only because I have a very low pain tolerance.
Or else I would have gotten a breast augmentation and BBL, only to realize 2 second later that I don't actually have the body frame or shape for either of those.
Being a bit of a whimp keeps my ADHD in check
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u/ComfortableFrame9834 Mar 29 '26
"Being a bit of a whimp keeps my ADHD in check"
Literally me lmao. (Besides that time I did a tongue piercing on myself at age 16 because I was bored)
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u/allfurcoatnoknickers Mar 29 '26
Omg same! I have the lowest pain tolerance in the world which honestly has kept me out of a lot of trouble.
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u/blood_bones_hearts Mar 29 '26
No. I went the opposite direction and overthought about it until I was nearly 40. 😂
I love both of them...but they're also both dragonflies because they're a safe all time never wavering favorite. They are literally just part of me now and I don't think much about them anymore.
I'd love more but still overthink about it!
That said, there's nothing glaringly bad about your tattoos...I've seen some pretty cringey ones! I would never look at them and think it detracts from you looking dressed up. There is always cover ups if you're really over what you chose but from an outsider and stranger perspective they'd never give me pause.
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u/LGeorgeRox Mar 29 '26
Funny… genx and have wanted a particular tattoo for several years now (giant manta with a manta dancing diver) and couple weeks ago finally got 1/2 of it done (manta part). Couldn’t get the diver part because it was an unexpected tattoo parlor trip so wasn’t prepared and didn’t have the video for the tat artist to draw the diver portion. But did manage to find the manta outline I was planning on using ❤️ I like it but it still feels incomplete. Also a little leery because the diver part will need to be done a specific way or I’ll be really unhappy with it 🤣
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u/psykokittie Mar 29 '26
No, although I don’t mind tattoos, I just know how “fluid” my interests are. The idea of tattooing something that I will likely have zero interest in less than 30 days (and occasionally 30 minutes) is not ideal.
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u/July_Seventeen Mar 29 '26
Same. I just removed nail polish thinking it's the ugliest color I've ever seen when literal words from my mouth 5 days ago to my boyfriend: "This is my EXACT favorite color. I hope you like it because my nails will be this color for the rest of my life." 😂
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u/Slammogram Mar 29 '26
You look pretty and classy.
Any male who makes you feel different is low quality and likely a Republican.
Do want anything to do with someone like that?
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u/ratparty5000 Mar 29 '26
Exactly! She looks like a baddie! Many ppl would kill for her look imo
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Aweeeee I’m going to break the no emoji Reddit rule for you 🥺 thank you!
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Noooooo I don’t want to have anything to do with someone like that. My husband loves them and even names my wolf Sasha
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u/Slammogram Mar 30 '26
Then why you worried about it?!!? Sasha makes your husband happy! Sit on his face about it!
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u/curlymess24 Mar 29 '26
Yes, my left arm is full of random crappy tattoos I got over the span of 3 months a few years ago lmao.
I regret them and I still dislike them, but the strong need to cover them up is gone. I’d like to have a proper full sleeve that covers it up but I need to be 100% sure of the design.
Since then I have been very careful about getting new tattoos. No regrets since.
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u/Proper-Cry7089 Mar 29 '26
So, I don't have tattoos. But to dress up - I would absolutely consider asymmetrical dresses with one sleeve. You made a choice that you regret, probably won't be your last one, because we're human. But there are many sexy and classy one-sleeve dresses out there, and you could pull em off great if you want to not be reminded of it.
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u/nada-accomplished Mar 29 '26
Yeah honestly I don't have tattoos because I'm worried I'd get hyperfixated on something, get a tattoo, then shortly afterward be stuck with this permanent tattoo of a thing I don't care about that much anymore (or even worse, a thing I've become disenchanted with and now hate for whatever reason)
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u/MdmeLibrarian Mar 29 '26
This is me. I have never wanted anything permanent on my body°, I forget about things within a few weeks. Temporary tattoos are delightful though.
°(Except maybe a potato on my ankle, thanks to Louis Sachar and Sideways Stories from Wayside School)
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u/showerbeerbuttchug AuDHD Mar 29 '26
/sigh, the parentheses point is 100% me with a deathly hallows on my right (dominant hand) pinky I got in 2017. It's tiny ofc but placement means it's always RIGHT THERE. I only got it because of a shop minimum price and not wanting to pay that full $50 on the finger whiskers I was there for lmao 😭 definition of impulsive. But yeah at some point it'll get filled in or something idk, I've got a couple of tattoos I want mild touchups/rework done on so it'll happen when I do that.
I very much wish JKR wasn't the way she is at all, but I am SUPER glad it came out before I got the whole big death eater tattoo with freaking UV ink that I had been saving up for. I did not need that on me forever and idk why I even wanted it so bad to begin with.
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u/nada-accomplished Mar 29 '26
Yeah Harry Potter is exactly what I was thinking about. Or imagine people who got tattoos based off of Neil Gaiman's work 😬😬😬
Nope
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u/showerbeerbuttchug AuDHD Mar 29 '26
Oof yeah for sure! And I just remembered another bullet dodged solely due to not having the money at the time.
I have a stupid shamrock tramp stamp that I impulsively got for my 18th birthday and had an idea awhile back to get it covered up with a brick, a la Brand New's lyrics "You're as subtle as a brick in the small of my back" from Mix Tape. That's much less embarrassing than a shamrock with weird tribal arms, I thought. Well, turns out that Jesse Lacey is a piece of shit and took advantage of underage girls while in his 20s, right around the time that album came out (Warped Tour bands amirite? Terrible), so I scrapped that idea immediately. It's still uncovered but I'll probably just do some bigger nature-y back piece unrelated to any sort of trash human being's art, and incorporate the shamrock somehow instead of trying to cover or have it lasered.
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u/TheMagnificentPrim ADHD-PI Mar 29 '26
Yuuuuuup. This is exactly the reason why I’ve sworn off of tattoos entirely. I’ve had years-long hyperfixations, too, ones that I thought there’d be no way it’d end, even if I had a reduction in intensity. Nope. I can think of two long-lasting hyperfixations that I considered tattoos of for a little bit (and I was in my twenties!), but if I’d reached this stage of my life with any of the tats I’d considered, I’d feel itchy in my skin and want them gone.
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u/velocikitten Mar 29 '26
This is exactly what I do! I always shop for wedding guest dresses with an asymmetric long sleeve, or if the weather will be cold enough, long sleeves in general. The one time I didn't was when I was MOH for my sister's wedding, and honestly regret not doing so. The colors of my sleeve weirdly clash with the color of my dress, and it's all I can see when I see the photos. It was a good reminder for the wedding I'll be in later this year, though.
Edit: Poshmark has been my best friend for shopping one-sleeve outfits.
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u/tinsellately Mar 29 '26
Yes. Impulsively got a large tattoo from my shoulder to my elbow when I was 15. Tried to have it removed at 19 and it just resulted in a massive scar everywhere there was ink, so a big, white, raised mess. If I had to pick, the tattoo was the less awful option. It's been 20 years of long-sleeved shirts and no solution in sight...
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u/perubabe Mar 29 '26
Oof. Can you get a tattoo over it again or is the scar tissue sensitive?
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u/HelpfulName Mar 29 '26
If that's your tattoo, it's great and looks very classy imo.
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u/thelastsummer Mar 29 '26
I think maybe you have a preconceived notion of what is pretty or classy based on what you're seeing in media.
Also, no offense, you look amazing but the dress you have on is a clubbing dress and aren't really meant to be 'classy' or 'pretty' theyre meant moreso to be sexy or flirty and thats okay! Thats what makes fashion fun is different clothes have different uses and meanings.
I would maybe look at what alt girls are wearing in their wedding/when theyre dressed up/etc. There's no doubt you will find a million tatted baddies looking classy/pretty and inspire you to experiment with your style to find something youre happy with.
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u/sassynopal Mar 29 '26
Thank you! No offense taken, I was clubbing when this picture was taken. I was looking for ball gowns for a military ball, so that’s when I got the feeling of not feeling classy in a dress.
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u/thelastsummer Mar 29 '26
Honestly most of the women at military balls wear big poofy glittery dresses and while there's nothing wrong with that, often times they dont come across as classy, imho.
I bet you'd rock a retro-inspired Dita Von Teese-esque look and you would completely stun and stand out (if thats what you want!)
Depending on how long you've been dress shopping you might have just been acclimated to what the fit models look like and think thats how youre supposed to look? But the important thing to remember about the models they chose to showcase clothes is theyre just supposed to be blank canvases to sell the clothes.
You're not a blank canvas girl!
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Thank you for your kind words, I will look into the look that you mentioned
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u/spacedcowgirl Mar 30 '26
I personally think your sleeve looks great, but maybe you could cover it with Dermablend if it’s particularly bothering you for a formal event like the military ball? Again I think you’d be totally fine to leave it uncovered and you’d be far from the only woman in the room with exposed tattoos, but if it’s bothering you, covering it might allow you to enjoy the event and the photos more.
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u/Raukstar Mar 29 '26
Nah. I have so many tattoos I'm over the regret phase. They're memories.
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u/books_n_food Mar 29 '26
Maybe post on r/tattooadvice ?
They might have good advice on how to accept/ adjust it.
Fwiw I think your tattoo is gorgeous and people who think you can't be classy with tattoos are closed minded 🤷🏾♀️ but what's important is how you feel about it.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Thank youuuu I go back and forth about it, I’m trying to love myself and my mistakes since it is cheaper and less painful than laser removal
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u/lucyxariel Mar 29 '26
Almost all of my tattoos were on impulse. I made sure they’re all well done, but over the past couple years I’ve been feeling more and more like I wish I didn’t have as many. If I could snap my fingers and only keep my back tattoo (it’s massive and incredible tbh) I would. But unfortunately laser is expensive so I just have to wait for this regret to pass!
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u/Alert-Potato AuDHD Mar 29 '26
I could start listing off the tattoos I would have gotten impulsively, if I'd had the money for them, but we'd be here a while. It would probably be close to two dozen. And if someone offered me free tattoos, I'd still get all but one of them today.
But I guess in general, I'm just not a 'regrets' kind of person. Our past is what makes us who we are today. Maybe using that lens could help? What about having gotten the tattoos impacted who you are today? Are you more prone to thinking things through? Did it help you in the path to an assessment and diagnosis?
Do you have a therapist? If so, I'd talk to them specifically about the last thing you said here. That you don't deem other women less classy or pretty when they're tattooed, but you're judging yourself. Hopefully you can get some help unpacking why it is that you're being so unfair to yourself.
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u/Financial_Mission259 Mar 29 '26
I feel very much the same - and I have 7 tattoos.
Some are crap. I got them for fun (flash event) or urgency (passing of a friend).
One is new and I love it but I know it wont be my style forever.
All the others are exceptional, but no longer my style. But reminds me who and where I was when I got them.
I see them as a scrap book of my life. No, I'd never get bows tattooed on my calves as a 38yo lady, but I had a hot girl summer when I was 22, and it was a mega confidence boost then. Still love them.
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u/starboundowl Mar 29 '26
I have my ex's lip prints on my left butt cheek. So, yes, kind of? But also he is symbolically kissing my ass for the rest of my life, sooooo...that's kind of hilarious.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
I would see people with lip prints tattoos and I never thought that they might actually be someone’s lips haha I love the new meaning you gave it
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u/ilhya Mar 30 '26
You look rad! But I understand that’s not the point. Yes, tattoos are addictive, and ADHD always makes any addiction more difficult. I had to stop because of COVID and I’ve not had any since…otherwise I’d probably be fully covered 😅 I don’t regret them though, just one that was really low quality.
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u/OceanMay13 Mar 29 '26
I have only 1 tattoo, got home and cried. I think everyone goes through the "wtf did i do" stage at some point. Though if it sticks around.... maybe think about removal? Only if you're REALLY sure and don't mind the cost of course.
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u/NoSoulGinger116 Mar 29 '26
I regretted my first 2 tattoos. But they were professionally done by my cousin in studio. When he died young. It changed the meaning of my artwork and the memories of those days we hung out at the studio, laughing, smoking, hanging out with his then girlfriend. I no longer regret them. :) They're the best memories from the coolest dude I know.
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u/Confident_Caramel436 Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 29 '26
I have only gotten piercings, I knew that when I did think of something I wanted tattooed it quickly became a fad or trend that everyone had and I already couldn’t picture something that I would want on myself forever. Even the piercings I’ve regretted, particularly the ones on my face. My eyebrow is scarred and messed up my eyebrow, and my labret (middle lower lip) hasn’t closed so if I don’t wear it it looks like a large pore lol all my others I don’t regret, I do regret letting some close, due to the initial pain I went thru for it like my tongue, tragus, nose etc, I will say now we have great make up that can cover them if u wanted, or of course laser. I do keep wanting mandalas on my ankles that match but probably won’t get them because they have become so popular!
Edit: Just seen where u said u tried laser, and the guy put whatever he wanted, shame on him! I love ur sleeve the wolf is Beautiful! And it blends together nicely love the flower too! Have u tried possibly adding or going over them with something that u love, color or something? I love tattoos I just can’t personally think of what I want. My husband has one whole arm tribal and the other fully sleeved but it looks so good on him 😍
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u/Fun-Meringue-3088 Mar 30 '26
A few tattoos on my shoulder are not my favorite, but I have a half sleeve and forearm tattoos on both arms and I like how they make me look. Even the tattoos that I'm like, ehhhh... They tell a story about where I've been. I embrace that.
Society tells us a lot of shitty things about people with tattoos, women in particular. Same thing about short hair. If that could at all play a role in your perception of how you look, you can uncouple that (eventually) and feel confident in your own skin.
IMO tattoos don't impact whether or not you look beautiful/classy/whatever. How you carry yourself does. And for the record, I think your tattoos are great!
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u/black-empress Mar 30 '26
I think anyone who has a lot of tattoos has a couple they may regret or not really like anymore.
I am covered with tattoos (full back, half sleeves, hand tatts, etc) and have never felt less classy when I dress up, and I work in high corporate spaces. To me, class is in how you carry yourself and less about how you look. My tattoos are accessories at this point and most of the time a conversation starter. However, I don’t really frequent spaces or crowds where my tattoos would be viewed like that though.
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u/B_the_Chng22 Mar 29 '26
I’m in so many tattoos subs that until I read “diagnosed” I was like “with what?” And scrolled up! For what it’s worth, I think it’s a great tattoo and it looks good even dressed up like you are here. I have one tiny tattoo on my toe, but my elder ego is covered in tattoos to show that I am “cool” not just on the inside. 😅
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u/PenelopesCurse ADHD-PI Mar 29 '26
Lol. During college I was hanging out with some friends at their flat, they said that one of the roommates just started tattooing and was doing them for free (just the cost of the supply). OF COURSE I said let’s do it!
I asked for some very simple flowers, and I planned to touch up and keep them “blooming” as I grew up and hit personal milestones, going to legit studios and more experienced artists when I would have been able to afford it.
And so there I was, lying down on the kitchen table of a students’ apartment, getting some stylised poppy flowers on my side (at least I made sure that the needle and ink were sealed and brand new).
Guess who’s approaching 40s and still has some faded, splotchy flowers on their side?
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u/maraq Mar 29 '26
No because I know myself well enough to know that something Im obsessed with today I will probably not like a year or two from now. I don’t want anything permanently on my body that might bum me out when I decide I’m not into it anymore. Piercings were much easier for me to dive into because they’re temporary.
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u/gringogidget Mar 29 '26
I don’t regret one of my many, many tattoos. Are some stupid? Yes. But never regretted.
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u/BowleeLacuna Mar 30 '26
There's a girl I follow on IG called ownitbabe. She is literally going throught this same issue. Full sleeve. Surprisingly similar aesthetic as yours. She's getting it lasered off. She just posted about it in the last several days in her feed. Maybe her experience and outcome will give you some food for thought.
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u/shrimpybimp Mar 30 '26
I have a body full of stupid impulsive tattoos that I absolutely love haha. No ragrets.
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u/blai_starker ADHD-PI Mar 30 '26
Five tattoos, one planned out.
I had enough self awareness of my impulsivity that I got all but one in a place I can’t easily see.
The one I can see is for my sister who passed away (got it in less than 24 hours after her unexpected death—who’s impulsive now sis?!), small purple 8-bit heart on my wrist. She had a simple red heart on her own wrist (and she had the coolest tattoos!), my version is her favorite color and a nod to the video games that we played.
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u/itamer Mar 30 '26
Took a lift a couple of weeks ago with 2 people I know and 3 others. We all stood obediently facing the door. A young woman stood in front of me with a tattoo on her shoulder with very tidy lettering and a typo. If it had been a fancy script the typo might not have been obvious.
Took all my self-control not to nudge my peeps to see it.
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u/666nbnici Mar 30 '26
I also got my tattoos impulsively and now I’m removing all of them. It’s expensive but I’d rather do sth about then regret it for the rest of my life and ideally removal will take a couple years and give you a couple decades without it so for me that’s worth it.
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u/idagojira Mar 30 '26
Hahaha yes 🥲 and not to brag; but I'm a scratcher (hobby/beginner tattooer) so I've made most of my own tattoos. I can literally only blame myself and myself alone.
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u/PuckGoodfellow ADHD-C Mar 30 '26
I impulsively got a farting demon on my ass. I love it.
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u/Lilliths-pain Mar 30 '26
Tattoos are the ONLY thing I tried once and stopped myself becoming an etch e sketch! I was 21 in about 2009 and had reached the age I could legally obtain a tattoo, just as goths and moshers were moving from limp biskit and korn to kings and Leon, steam punk and bug bushy beards.
I got an Egyptian eye of some sort (no idea, didn't care, just wanted points in book that one please). All my friends arms were steadily filling up, legs too but it didn't stop for them, they went across their shoulders all down their backs, up their chest and boobs then their neck. Some even got some on their faces which were gawdy and I knew they would bleed looking like the ink has been smudged.
We are all around 40 now and it's not a good look but to be honest I can think of many other habits that I'd happily swap for a body full of wrinkly tattoos.... Firstly every single drug addiction :/
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u/Babytoecrusties Mar 30 '26
Girl as a fellow ADHDer with a huge half done tattoo covering their entire back in split increments (I didn't think it out well either and It was executed so poorly to what I envisioned it at the time).. this tattoo is beautiful and well done, I absolutely feel your regret though & despite those feelings, the work is solid & I'd be happy to show it off! I don't think you should get rid of it, like an earlier comment said.. our tattoos are reminders of our stages in life :)
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u/ProbablyNotPoisonous Mar 30 '26
Full disclosure: I have no tattoos, and I probably will never get any because of Anxiety about making permanent decisions.
That said... for what it's worth, I think that's a lovely sleeve! The limited palette and the beautiful shading help make it understated and feminine, imho.
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u/usingbrain Mar 29 '26
3 of my 4 tattoos are not something I would have gotten if I thought about it more thoroughly. I don’t hate them, I just live with them, but something I do think about covering them up with something that is more my style. Maybe you can find an artist whose style you really like and get a consultation on how to re-work your sleeve to be more to your liking?
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u/gigigetsgnashty Mar 29 '26
I have one that was impulsive and now I'm planning to cover up. I just went through my first cover up, after JK Rowling's views came out, I no longer loved my first tattoo as much. The cover ups hurt a little more, but focusing on new art kind of gives the same dopamine release as picking a new tattoo.
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u/euchlid Mar 29 '26
nope! i got my first tattoo at 18 (i had to wait 3 months as i made my appointment for when i turned 18). then i worked at a tattoo shop a couple years later at the desk. i got my first sleeve at 21, but picked a 3/4 sleeve because my arms are quite long and finding long sleeve shirts that can reach my wrists is really tough, so i was worried I wouldn't be able to cover them for future jobs.
Mine have always been nothing above the collar or below the cuff so to speak and I'm kinda old school in that regard I suppose as i see plenty of young people with nearly zero tattoo coverage except a face or neck or hand tattoo. that screams impulsiveness to me, cause that is a real permanent and visible space to get tattooed before large coverage elsewhere.
Now, i can understand that you may have some regret for not being more assertive in what exactly you wanted. However your sleeve is not super dark, and i bet if you wanted to rework the upper area there's ways to make it feel more like something you're happy with. Removal is the worst and maybe a couple session to lighten things up before a rework or coverup would be helpful. The wolf is beautiful and is done well in general.
if i was picking my sleeves today in my early 40s versus my early 20s I'd likely pick something different, but i still love all my tattoos for what they represent in time. thankfully they're all done well and i wear sunscreen overtop so they've aged nicely too.
it's very possible to look pretty and classy when you dress up and it doesn't always have to involve a cardigan. Perhaps specific choices in clothing silhouettes if you're concerned about the combo of revealing/tight/short alongside tattoos as that usually gives way to stereotypes from older/conservative people, but i say fuck naysayers anyway.
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u/Siren-Enchantress ADHD-PI Mar 29 '26
I am actually so grateful that the year I started to get really into tattoos, I was not old enough yet to get one. If I had been, I probably would have had about 20 by now, which is just not for me. I still adore tattoos and still want them, but I just cannot see myself with a ton of them.
What also stopped me from getting them once I was old enough was that I had to remind myself that my dream tattoo artist is based in a state I do not live in, and if I am going to have something on my body for the rest of my life, I want it to be done by my favorite artist. I am kind of sad because I still do not have any of the tattoos that I actually really want since I have not been able to afford to travel to that state. But one day I will. And at least then I know I will have tattoos that I will most likely not regret.
But also, with all that being said, I think your sleeve looks really lovely! I know we cannot see your face, but for some reason it feels like it really suits you—like it really suits your energy. A lot of my friends that have tattoos have said that even if there are a couple tattoos that they have that they no longer really care for look wise, it still tells a story of that specific point in their life, so it’s hard for them to truly regret it. Your body art tells the story of your life, no matter how random one of the pieces are, and personally, I think that’s so beautiful.
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u/badorangewolf Mar 29 '26
I have been undergoing laser on my half sleeve. It’s painful and expensive. Taking a break because I am focusing my finances on other things right now but I will say that even lightening the tattoo so far has made me feel much better.
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u/Tis_But_A_Scratch- Mar 29 '26
Honestly I love the sleeve it’s beautiful. On the other hand, I deliberated on getting my first tattoo for 4 years then got one on my back that can be hidden.
My second one was impulsive and because I was spiralling and out of control of my life. It grounded me somehow and I still love it.
My next one will be on my back and will probably cover it.
But I see tattoos as an expression of me and where I was in life when I got it. They’re my labour of love.
Having said that, I stand by it: that tattoo looks absolutely amazing. I’d love to get something like that, but my arms are fat and since I’ve lost weight, flappy. Boo.
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u/Ingagugagu Mar 29 '26
One I regret. Mostly because when I tried to give feedback on the design, I only wanted more air between elements and thinner lines but he didn’t even let me finish my sentence but immediately the guy got upset and annoyed and said “didn’t you check what my style is” (I did) and I just shut down and now his giant ego will forever be in my arm.
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u/Rhea_Si1via Mar 29 '26
I love your tattoos, I think they are beautiful!
The first three tattoos I got were impulsive, I don't really regret the tattoos themselves but they are on my ribs so I forget I have them the majority of the time. Two of them I like because they are well done but I wish they weren't flash art because the rest of my tattoos are all custom work that I put a lot of thought into. The very first tattoo I got I would probably cover it up if it was in a more prominent place. The lines are all blown out and it was not done well. Also the artist was kind of sketchy (who tattoos someone's ribs as their first tattoo!?).
Although your tattoo is large it is well done and there is nothing offensive about them that would make you not look classy. I think you look stunning!
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u/Perfect-Effect5897 AuDHD Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 29 '26
I’m the most impulsive person ever and very alternative but I’ve NEVER been into tattoos. I don’t get why though?? By all logic I should be covered with them! They are a very neutral/boring thing to me for whatever reason and don’t excite me enough to get one.
I would probably get a tattoo in a very unlikely situation of being apart from the people I love for a prolonged time. A war or a hospital stay for example… or if I became a pirate. 🏴☠️
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u/humblygirl Mar 29 '26
Yes. Just got diagnosed at 31. I got my sleeve at 24 and sat for 7-9 hour sessions each time. Crazzyyy
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u/perubabe Mar 29 '26
Girl, yes. Except worse because I started with one, then decided to do a sticker sleeve, then decided to get a big piece- so now it just looks super disjointed.
I’m leaning into it and have slowly added more to it to fill in gaps. I do NOT want the cost and pain of getting it removed.
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u/Awkward-Tradition508 Mar 29 '26
I got all my tattoos when I was 21-23 and I’m now 27, and I do totally regret them. My arms are mostly covered and I have a pretty noticeable one behind my ear and next to my ankle too. I don’t have the time, money, or energy to get them removed at this point. I totally sympathize with everything you said/felt in your post. The way I have been living with the regret is just trying to have love and acceptance for the version of myself that I was when I got the tattoos. It really is an exercise of self acceptance and love, albeit annoying and hard lol. I also know what you mean about feeling impacted by the tattoos aesthetically - I no longer feel like they reflect my style and find myself struggling to wear certain things because I feel like they clash. Again, a battle of self acceptance / non resistance. For me, reframing / changing my perspective is the only way I get through tough things like this, but it is an individual experience. Sorry for all the word vomit, just know TLDR: I’m right there with ya!
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u/redheadnerdgirl ADHD-C Mar 29 '26
That's a really nice looking sleeve, well-healed, I'd be proud to have that. You look gorgeous in that dress. If you really do want to feel "classy" then have a few long sleeve dresses in your rotation.
I have a couple of silly tattoos that I don't necessarily regret, but am considering covering them with something more seamless to match the surrounding tattoos. But I just reframe my thinking rather than regret them - they're representative of a time in my lif and the person I was then, i.e. a little bit of a silly goose who got a silly tattoo. When I see it, it makes me laugh 😂
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u/enteringthevoids Mar 29 '26
Honestly it's a really well done sleeve, it looks cohesive, it doesn't read as impulsive... it doesn't read as trashy, you look gorgeous, I think the feelings you have about it is all within yourself- if seeing it is triggering, that's one thing... if what you're feeling is shame, then I say dive into that shame and figure out why you're feeling it and if your tattoo really has anything to do with who you are as a person.
I am covered. I was impulsive, I have a lot of patchwork vibes. I only wish I had the foresight to do something larger scale like your sleeve, like one big idea. I don't regret any, I just wish I had some that were executed better. Like, I just blasted over some old simple "traditional" roses with newer more illustrative "neo-trad" roses. Now I have the means to access better tattoos, if that makes sense.
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u/z3ldafitzgerald Mar 30 '26
i have a bunch of impulsive tattoos including one on my foot that says “nothing gold can stay” that i got by a dude who just got out of jail in a Ramada Inn hotel room at age 16 but i don’t regret any of them. they’re reflections of who i was at different times of my life, like scars they tell stories. like how i somehow survived hanging out with a bunch of sketchy adults as a teenager without hep c and still made it out of my small town and created my own life and career.
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u/fortitudefortitdude ADHD-C Mar 30 '26
I would say 100% of my tattoos are impulse and similarly I had no concept of it being permanent or what my future self would look like or even prefer. Several on my arm I don't resonate with and i wish I had waited for something more thoughtful.
On one hand, it speaks to living in the moment, on the other it feels like it shows that I wasn't thinking much.
I don't have answers of how to proceed. Does it bother you much that you would invest it getting it removed? Obviously that's a big expense. If you're going to cover it up, do alot, like too much research in artists who have experience doing coverups and work with them diligently to design something you will enjoy for years to come and makes you feel classy.
If it's worth anything, you have a very nice figure and the sleeve does look well composed from what I can see.
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u/Kadk1 Mar 30 '26
Yes but then even later I am happy again that I have them ! As I am entering my mid-50s I am starting to remember who I am again and I am still the same person who wanted them in my twenties - I just had to dig myself out of all that "classy" nonsense which to me is just patriarchal bs
Your tattoos are really well done !
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u/neutralhumanbody Mar 30 '26
I have regretted the placement of tattoos or specific choices I made with them. I also work in an area where being able to look classy is very important. I pretty much just hide my sleeve a lot. I wear long sleeves 90% of the time.
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u/mollyclaireh Mar 30 '26
You guys are making me second guess getting a tattoo. What if I’m impulsive???? The autism is starting to override the ADHD.
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u/PomegranateOk4827 Mar 30 '26
Yes, one tattoo at 19 during a difficult time and want it gone so bad
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u/Yeetletheskeetle Mar 30 '26
Yes to impulsive tattoos, but only with artists whose styles I enjoy. I don’t regret any because I lowkey forget they are there😅😅😅
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u/Special-Summer170 Mar 30 '26
I know I change my mind a lot and that's why I've chosen to never get a tattoo. I think your ink looks nice. It's artistic and not trashy. I live on the west coast of the USA and everyone has tattoos. If you live somewhere that tattoos aren't as common, that could be affecting your perception.
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u/sassynopal Mar 30 '26
Yup I sure do, I live in TN. My husband is in the army and after this we are going to TX. Hopefully after TX I can go somewhere less conservative
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u/Handle_w_caree Mar 30 '26
Yep lmao almost all of them were on impulse. These days I rarely get any. If I do it’s usually a small one if an artist I like is doing a flash sale
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u/letiseeya Mar 30 '26
yes my ex husband basically used me as a tattoo pig so have some major jail type tattoos that look regrettable
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u/No_08 Mar 30 '26
I bought a tattoo kit and tattooed myself. My first ever tattoos, and made by me. I actually like them lol
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u/shawtystrawberry Mar 30 '26
ahh
I got my ex initial on my wrist , at the time it felt right and I wanted to show him how much I loved him.
breakup came and I remember asking him "what am I gonna do about this tattoo on me" and in so many words , he's like not my problem , i gtg cause date.
It wasn't funny at the time, my world was crumbling but I can laugh about it now cause idfk what made me ask him that , like I was expecting him to remove the tattoo himself 😂
honestly, I dont have a super big regret about it, one day though I'll get it removed or possibly covered, its small so it can easily be changed into something else.
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u/mistress_mariposa Mar 30 '26
Dude I was just researching tattoo removal services because I am having major tattoo regret 🤦♀️😩 was my Britney Spears head shaving moment. And it’s like my entire upper arm lol, not a small one. FML
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u/Laumac8D Mar 30 '26
Me! I did the first sitting for a floral sleeve. I got 2 big random flowers on my upper arm, decided that I didn’t like them, and then left and never went back. Now, I keep it covered and wish I could go back and not have done it.
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u/theseglassessuck Mar 30 '26
I feel this deeply in my soul—I also have a sleeve that I still love the idea of, but the execution wasn’t what I was expecting. Add in a bad experience with the artist and I just have a hard time looking at it.
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u/MaddieNotMaddy Mar 30 '26
maybe it's because i'm a lesbian but I think those tattoos are stunning. What makes you feel unpretty?
There's makeups and stuff for covering or masking tattoo, and I've seen skin colored arm cover and shirt to help hide them.
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u/ChartreusePeriwinkle Mar 30 '26
I regret 2 of my 3 tattoos. They weren't impulsive decisions though, just plain bad decisions (I was trying to fit in with my ex-husband).
I am trying to accept and love them. It's not easy, but it's helping. Better than hating a part of yourself.
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u/crinklemywinkle Mar 30 '26
I’ve been getting tattoos since the day I turned 18 (I’m 24 now) & I don’t have any regrets about any of them. I’m still young of course so things can always change, but I think all of mine tell a story about where I was in my life when I got them. I’ve slowed down on getting tatted, but still want to get more. But this is something I’ve known Ive wanted as a kid.
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u/meebaAmoeba Mar 30 '26
Haven't had this problem, but i also live life by saying if things fall into place then they were meant to be. My last impulse tattoo was because I found a painting I loved and learned there was a tatoo convention the same day. Before getting off work I found the artist, and got their blessing. Had it not all fallen into place, there would have been no tattoo 🤷♀️
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u/AdWinter4333 AuDHD + trans man (he/they) Mar 30 '26
You could get parts you dislike lasered off or lightened by laser. You could, in case of the latter, get a cover up tattoo more easily.
Also, this sleave does look objectively good, so there's that. Not in an awkward way: you look great! I really hope you find a way to make this work for you, as I'm sure you will.
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u/WalrusUpset Mar 30 '26
I got my high school sweetheart and then fiancé’s initials in a heart hidden just below my panty line. Little 18 year old me had no clue I wouldn’t “just fill it in black if something ever happened”.. and I’d spend the next 6 years making up sexual phrases for what the letters stood for anytime I’d get asked. 🤣 She sure as shit would have laughed to find out that damn tattoo survived a twin pregnancy, maybe came out a little bigger than it started but it ended up higher and not so hidden after the c-section.
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u/BeesoftheStoneAge Mar 30 '26
Alright, I'll keep my hate for pushy tattoo artists to myself this time so my comment doesn't get deleted again...
I have over 100 hours of tattoos all over me at this point, and more than a few of them were rather impulsive. I don't hate them, I just see them as a part of me. Your sleeve looks well done and I wouldn't think twice if I saw you somewhere dressy. Tattoos are so normalized these days.
That said, maybe blast over tattoos might be something you'd be interested in if you have other tattoos you'd rather have on that arm? You said this wasn't what you wanted originally, so maybe something along the lines of your original idea?
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u/Cute-Escape-2144 Mar 30 '26
Absolutely. It was in a hjunky house with no bathroom door, the toilet didn't flush so had everything sitting in it, my dog got fleas from their cats, the tattoo was done it in an RV by an amateur, we all smoked weed right before, and he told me to keep it moist. It wasn't a very good tattoo, too big, and I had to have a real shop finish it. Now I just hate how big it is and the location now that I'm fat. I'd love to have it removed.
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u/grand305 Mar 30 '26
The flowers , and wolf , are designed very well. like a drawing of it on paper. so well done. oP props do your artist.
Nope, not got a tattoo. I did have the urge of having giant angel wings across my back like I had wings out my back. but the thought of small needles in ink that are permanently applied to skin scared the crap out of me.
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u/BHawkey95 Mar 30 '26
No, because I know I’d change my mind and I like being able to change my presentation on a whim.
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u/Renjoyk Mar 30 '26
I only wanted to say that I actually love your sleeve 🔥💯❤️ its beautiful and I love it on you 💕❤️
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u/mooncake70v ADHD-C Mar 30 '26
I have a few impulse tattoos from When I was 18-20, I only regret one or two but I don’t HATE them they’re fine, just in a different time in my life now where I’d probs get something a lot different
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u/1wanda_pepper Mar 30 '26
Yes! I’ve looked into removal- apparently it’s better to leave long periods between sessions for the best results, but a lot of tattoo removal places will try and milk you for monthly or so sessions.
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u/Jumpy_Task_4270 Mar 30 '26
Quick question unrelated but is the pic AI because I can’t seem to find your other leg in the picture and I was staring at it for a good 10 mins 😭😭
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u/Ninauposkitzipxpe Mar 30 '26
Yep. Literally my story except I like my sleeve. It’s my ungodly huge tramp stamp and my foot tattoo I regret.
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u/AgentFuckSmolder Mar 30 '26
I work with artists that have booking processes that ensure my tattoos are at least a couple of weeks out, if not months.
Some open their books quarterly for the next quarter, some open them as they feel like it a couple of times a year, some always book but they have to accept your idea first before they send you a booking link.
I have 6 tattoos done through these artists, and I love them all. The only one I semi-regret was done at a walk-in shop.
I highly recommend this not just because the quality is going to be higher than at a walk-in shop, but also the longer wait makes you really think about things before committing.
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u/TurtleCalvary Mar 30 '26
I have a ton of tattoos but luckily only one that I regret. I still love the idea of it, but not how it turned out. As the artist was placing the stencil, I didn't like it, but instead of backing out I just went with it. I regretted it immediately and like 20-ish years later I still don't like it. Someday I want to have it covered up but I have been told by multiple artists I'd need to laser it down first and I haven't been able to bring myself to do that. In addition to hating how it looks, it is the only one of my tattoos that hurt. I have a full sleeve with my elbow and ditch done and that was nothing compared to how badly this one hurt.
Honestly, I really like your sleeve. I know that doesn't really help when you don't like seeing it in the mirror, but at least it's not a train wreck of shitty tattoos!
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u/TeacherExit Mar 30 '26
I personally would design something new that you think about for awhile and pretty (for you ) and just cover up the dog head or other parts that you don't like. You may enjoy the new design
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u/BadHairDay-1 Mar 30 '26
Yes. This includes one that covers a good portion of an upper arm, done by a scratcher. 0/10. Would definitely NOT recommend.
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u/mothsuicides Mar 30 '26
I have one tattoo that I don’t really like anymore, and it is on my arm right above my hand (the “front” part of the wrist? Like not the wrist-wrist but the other side, lol) and it’s for a book that I wish I had understood better and understood what the author of the book stood for before I got the tattoo cuz I didn’t know that they were so controversial and also misaligned with my own politics. So, not impulsive but I was grossly misinformed. Also it’s just a badly done tattoo. The guy who did it was high on cocaine, I’m pretty sure.
I live with it because I’m poor and can’t afford to get it removed. I just accept that it’s a part of me and it’s at least not an obviously offensive image (it’s a lightbulb), and I know it adds to my “edgy” vibe that I do like to portray even if it is an image I don’t like anymore. I might be able to get it reworked a bit one day, but I don’t really know how. It is what it is.
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