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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Did something spontaneous... now regret and feel stupid!

244 replies

cavycavy · 26/09/2018 20:16

So I am a very sensible, professional, 39 year old mother. I’m not (totally) boring but I’ve never really done anything really spontaneous.

But at the weekend I decided to be spontaneous and get a TATTOO.... so I got a very small one on my lower back of a bluebird.

The picture I took in was a black line drawing, similar to that you would see in an old nature book. Kind of sketched but realistic.

Went to the best tattoo shop in town and checked out the artists work. All looked amazing with loads of nature pictures. On Facebook he had countless rave reviews and a few people a know who have tattoos confirmed his good rep. He appeared totally confident and I booked in to have it done the following day.

So in a go, and he does it. It’s very small (50p sized) and it hardly hurt at all.

He told me to keep it wrapped for 1 hour then uncovered or very loose clothing until fully healed. Wash/cream etc.

Firstly, I’m not that happy with it but it’s hard to know what it will look like when fully healed. The proportions of the bird look a bit off and very different to the picture I took in and the transfer he printed off. Also the skin behind the tattoo immediately become very red and sore and all the lines became really swollen so I couldn’t really tell what it really looked like even straight after.

Since then (4 days later) it has become even more red and swollen. It actually looks like it has been drawn by a child with black felt tip!

Looking at all his other tattoos the lines are so thin and precise! There’s a tiny spider (literally about the size of a 20p) and you can see the individual hairs!!

Anyway, have seen a practice nurse and a GP today who both confirmed it is definitely not infected or an allergic reaction, I just have delicate, pale skin which has effectively been injured by the tattoo.

However, I still totally regret having it done! I feel like MASSIVE wanker for thinking I’d be spontaneous, not doing any proper research etc, only for it turn out a bit shit.

The few people I have shown have said “oh that’s lovely” but I can tell they are just being nice bless em!

Anyhoo... my AIBU question is:

AIBU to go back and ask to have it corrected? Can it even be corrected? I have since learned of an amazing artist in a nearby shop who apparently can work magic so is it worth going somewhere else... ? The only problem is, I can see they are friends on Facebook....

The other thing is my tattoo artist posted pictures of all the other work he did that day but not mine!! He obviously wasn’t that proud of it! :(

OP posts:
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Verbena87 · 26/09/2018 20:59

I’m pale skinned and my tattoo is still slightly raised and blurred (3 years old) - I know it’s not the artist as my sister and I had the same ones done one after the other; her skin is different to mine and hers is still super crisp and detailed.

I don’t mind, because we deliberately went for a design that didn’t have lots of fine detail, but just to say that I think your skin type can affect the clarity.

HappyBumbleBee · 26/09/2018 21:01

You need to leave it a few weeks - you've said gp and nurse have said you have sensitive skin so it will probably look much different once it's hacked and it will take that bit longer to heal too. I'm not sure bepanthen is ideal to put on it.... Most tattooists recommend a natural balm or vaseline - fragrance free etc etc.
You could also give the tattooist a call and explain what's happening - he/she may have noticed your skin swelling as they are doing it so that could be why they seem to have given you the impression they're not quite happy with it either....There is nothing worse than hearing someone has a problem with their work yet have said nothing to them or given them a chance to refund or fix etc etc. And no I'm not a tattooist (I work in the beauty industry) and some of my clients are hairdressers who have told me this and I would feel the same x
I really hope you feel better about it once it's healed etc and good luck with it x
PS.... on the plus side, at least it's small so can easily be rectified, covered up or blended into something more along the lines of what you want - and don't beat yourself up about being spontaneous either.... Good on you for going for it Wink

HappyBumbleBee · 26/09/2018 21:03

Healed not hacked

Neenook · 26/09/2018 21:03

cavy I think mine looks dreadful in photos - it's actually fairly delicate and unobtrusive but in photos looks bigger, clumsier and quite 'masculine'. I don't think photos do them justice!
Oh bugger it. Look...

Did something spontaneous... now regret and feel stupid!
GreenMeerkat · 26/09/2018 21:04

Well for a start I'd echo what PPs have said and wait til it fully heals to make judgement.

What have you been putting on it? They don't recommend bepanthen anymore so don't use that. Any tattoo shop should sell proper aftercare balm.

If you still aren't happy with it once healed, it sounds easily fixable. Size of a 50p and just black outline there are many cover ups you could get, or you could consider laser removal.

Harleypuppy · 26/09/2018 21:08

Bedpanthen contains lanolin. Are you sure you're not allergic to it? I used tattoo goo instead because I'm allergic to lanolin.

fishfingersandketchup · 26/09/2018 21:08

I like that @Neenook. I would have had more tattoos but my Dh hates them! (He never mentions my crap shoulder tattoo, its like an unspoken agreementGrin)

Lellochip · 26/09/2018 21:09

I think there's always a tiny element of "wtf have I done?!" when you're generally not too spontaneous hehe. My recent one is gorgeous but I still had regrets at first, thought it was too big, bad placement, can I live with it forever etc... All faded once I had time to get used to it! Love it now. So you might find it's not bad at all once you get over the shock Grin

If it's still not what you wanted when healed, there's always options to fix/cover/improve/remove

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 26/09/2018 21:13

Don't panic. Even if it's the worst tattoo in the world (which I'm sure it isn't), it's still just a tiny tattoo in a non-visible area.

I absolutely loathe tattoos, but even I couldn't get upset about that.

Annieanonimouse · 26/09/2018 21:14

Stop worrying about what others think. You won’t be able to properly see what’s it’s like for few weeks anyway.

Try to see it as a reminder of your ‘fuck it’ day and SMILE. Life is too short to stress about a very small tattoo that may or may not be perfect. You can get it touched up or another design to hide it if you still really don’t like it when it’s healed.

...I’m glad I’ve never wanted a tattoo, I’m a perfectionist and I just know mine would be the one that went badly! 😖

Original poster
cavycavy · 26/09/2018 21:19

OK! You are all being so nice about it..... Here it is.

A bumble bee in flight. The top one was about 4 hours after. The bottom one is now.

I’ve also attached the picture I took in...

What do you think?

(Eeeeeek!!)

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cavycavy · 26/09/2018 21:20

Oh and here is the size in relation to my foot.

I have huge size 9 feet btw

Did something spontaneous... now regret and feel stupid!
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cavycavy · 26/09/2018 21:22

HappyBumbleBee

Unlike your name, I don’t feel this is a happy bumble bee 🐝

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glagdy · 26/09/2018 21:23

I think it looks ok now! I bet it looks lovely in a few weeks.

AriadnePersephoneCloud · 26/09/2018 21:24

It's nice. I can see why you're feeling a bit isppoibted as it looks a bit sleepy compared to the photo you took in which has a bit more lively. Maybe if you don't like it when it's healed you could have a flower done around it, so it's collecting or something. I don't know. Honestly I think it will be fine.

glagdy · 26/09/2018 21:24

The legs look a bit squashed compared to the one you wanted but I think it'll be nice!

moneyquestions2405 · 26/09/2018 21:25

I think that looks lovely, and I don’t normally like tattoos! The photo with your foot; it looks 3D, like the photo of the one you brought in.

Scientistic · 26/09/2018 21:25

It is nice op. I've had laser removal, trust me you don't want that evil. Try not to worry as it definitely looks a bit angry but is likely healing. After every laser session I had mine took 2 weeks to heal!

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 26/09/2018 21:25

Awww I actually really like it! It’s a slightly different style to the picture right now but in a few weeks may look different.

But honestly I really like it!

GreenMeerkat · 26/09/2018 21:26

I like it!!

The wings are very good!

TheRealHousewife · 26/09/2018 21:26

Very pretty. Not what I was expecting from what you’d previous,y posted! Love the little fellow ..... and we do need more bees Grin

donajimena · 26/09/2018 21:27

I'm not a fan of tattoos but I think that is rather fabulous. Its very well done and I love bumble bees.

joanslegs · 26/09/2018 21:28

Love it, I have similar but a bird and had the same panic. Once the swelling and skin heal, it'll be gorgeous. Love a bee, me.

Original poster
cavycavy · 26/09/2018 21:29

Oh thank you!

I’m actually getting a bit emotional reading the nice things.

Thank you!!!

I think my husband is getting bored of my constant questions relating to my bee: “babe, can we stop taking a about your tattoo now?”

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serbska · 26/09/2018 21:29

Ok, it’s a bit of a different style to the right hand photo, and somehow that bee looks more annimalted.

But yours really really doesn’t look bad. I bet when you’ve healed it will look even better.

It’s a nice design.

Also, small and easily hidden so it’s not like you got your current love interest name tattooed on your forehead.