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

[cavycavy]

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! :(

It looks like you stuck a bee on your foot [helpful]

It's quite realistic I think! But I see what you mean that it's not as elegant as the photo - I think because the wings are too perpendicular to the body, so you've not got the feeling of lightness & flight.

Uodate - looks even nicer in the photo where you have your foot visible

I quite like that and I don't like tattoos in general. The angle of the bee in the photo you took in is more appealing, if I'm honest. But yours is fine.

That bottom one looks very scabby and swollen right now, I wouldn't judge it and panic until it's healed. The pic of your foot it looks great, I love cute little bee tattoos

I've got lots of tats ,and that's lovely ,I'd be happy with that,I've got a very shit ladybird on my calf ,that I'm not happy with ,it's so tiny it blurs ,so I'd happily swap you x

I really like it too and I'm pretty sure it will look more like the original when all the scabs have healed.

Please don't regret it, it's cute.

Oh luv, please stop worrying!! I was expecting a disaster!! Honestly, it looks great!! I do think a flower would finish it off nicely though and apparently tattoos are addictive.....

I'm a bit confused and I'm sure I have re-read this twice. Didn't your original post say you have had a blue bird tattooed on your lower back?? That's not a blue bird and it's not your lower back (or am I missing the point?)

Thank you.

Seriously, this morning I hated it, by the afternoon I was convinced it was septic and I would end up having a skin graft....

But now I feel much more positive!

And feel guilty should the tattoo artist ever see this (as if a child free hipster covered in tattoos would go on mumsnet) and read my slagging off of his tattoo....! If you are reading this, sorry 😐

OMG!! I'm a jeweller and my main line is bees... I love it!!

It's a little different from the picture; but it isn't lacking in character because of that. It's lovely; it has the fuzzy look a new should have and the wings have that "sketched" look to them. Once it's healed, it will be lovely.

For a random, spontaneous act committed on a "fuck it" day I think you've done yourself proud!! Good choice!

I think it's really cute! If i saw that on someone, I would compliment it. It does look swollen and red, but that's totally normal for this stage in healing.

I thought you got a blue bird on the bottom of your back, not a bee on your foot? I must have missed something, very tired and skim reading!

*bee should have

Oh, I think it's lovely! I think you're disappointed because it doesn't look that much like the photo you took in (which it should do, really), but you forget that anyone looking at it won't be looking at your original picture first to see the difference. They'll just see a cute little bee.

Spontaneous and impulsive, eh? So not a case of to bee or not to bee?

Now I’ve logged in I can see your posts a lot easier and have re read......I said I was tired didn’t I?! I’m stupid!
The bee looks great, embrace it, there’s nothing wrong with it! 🐝🐝🐝

I think it’s really good! Not quite as delicate as the drawing you took in, but lovely all the same. I was expecting a right mess.

It will look quite different in a few weeks once it’s healed, and then over months/years changes again with fading. I love tattoos.

Ironmanrocks

In my original post I lied to protect my identity. Then when asked for photos I admitted the lie but didn’t reveal the picture.

Then I thought FUCK IT (again.... maybe it’s becoming a bad habit?) and just posted the picture.

It's a lovely little tattoo!

Ok it's not the same as the original but who would want a copy on them! Yours is one of a kind now.

I like it!

I love it! It looks really pretty. The Pinterest photo doesn’t look like a tattoo at all to me it looks like paint - I know some tattoos can look like that but it really doesn’t look like a tattoo. Yours is lovely.

In my experience (heavily tattooed) if someone has a space the next day then they are someone to steer clear of. Most reputable people will be booked up for weeks if not months.
Anyway I wouldn’t worry, let it heal first then decide. If it’s gone a bit scabby that will make it look distorted too!

That’s a beautiful tattoo!!

Thank you for all the kind replies. I feel much less worried now.

I think it’s made more difficult because I’m viewing it upside down.

I actually have neck ache from staring at it constantly...! 🤪