The ‘tacky’ tattoos artists secretly hate… and it’s bad news if you’ve got a finger inking
TATTOOS are forever... which is probably why you should give it some thought before taking to your body with ink.
But while some people go for a meaningful design or phrase, there are some popular requests tattoo artists are sick of seeing, and beg people to stop getting - so do you have one of these tattoos?
You name it
Tom Abbott, Founder of , told Fabulous that names are a massive no-no, as so often people end up full of regret.
He said: "Tattoos of people’s names (especially old lovers’) are common and always have the potential to make people wince. Although we often see creative and even genius attempts of covering these up."
Similarly, many tattoo artists think parents should avoid getting their kids named inked on them because, while the sentiment is nice, the trend is also overdone.
And besides, it's unlikely you'll ever forgot what you named your kids at birth, right?
Can't put my finger on it
Stefan Dinu, tattoo artist at , previously told that he hates any doing any tattoos on fingers - mostly because they fade so quickly.
He said: “I would like all tattoo enthusiasts to stop requesting finger and hand tattoos as their first tattoo."
Elsewhere, another artists on Reddit agreed saying that finger tattoos are "tedious and they never last".
User tattoed_n_high said: "The hand heals differently and they always fade. Always! Touch ups are a must but even then it won’t look as good years later."
To infinity and beyond
For Avram Nikolic-Parry, a tattoo artist available through IYNK, the most common tattoo that makes him cringe is by far the infinity symbol.
But particularly infinity symbols with tiny bird silhouettes coming out of them on the wrist, he said.
Speaking to Fabulous, he revealed: "I don’t enjoy doing them because often people who have seen this design on Pinterest have no imagination and want it like-for-like. They always also seem to get it on their wrist."
Tota Volpe-Landi from in London agrees saying that infinity symbols are the new stars or arrows - and it's usually girls who get them on their ribs.
"They come in big groups, all wanting the same thing," she told, "I say to them, 'Why don't you get something different?' But they usually just look at me like I'm trying to sell them drugs or something."
Pointless fads
Including butterflies, stars and dream catchers
Tattoos are much like fashion trends - they're popular for a while but styles change, according to a couple of US based artists.
While small and pretty tattoos like butterflies and stars seem like a sweet idea, Dave 'Azma' Knauer, of Mythic Ink Tattoo and Nick Busher agree they are nothing more than "overdone fads" that will "wear out after 10 years".
Speaking to , Nick said that "kiss marks on the neck" is "probably the most irritating one for me".
And added: "Butterflies are a big one, nautical stars, Tasmanian devils — oh my god — those are the biggest ones."
As for Dave, he hates people asking for dream catchers because to him they aren't unique and finds it hard to get creative with such common designs.
Just wing it
Dave also admitted that angel wings have become so overused and that he never likes when people ask for them - and Tota Volpe-Landi from in London agrees.
Tota revealed that the worst tattoo she's ever done was a "tiny angel with pink wings on the inside of her wrist" and said it was "so tacky."
Time it well
It's not just girls who jump on board with tattoo trends, but blokes too, with clocks and pocket watches being a popular choice for guys in their 20s - but not so much for the artists.
Craig Hicks who works at in Manchester said that hundreds of blokes a week are getting the time-keeping ink so now lots of tattooists have stopped putting them in their portfolios because they're "so fed up with them."
He explained that they're often "really intricate" and can take "up to seven hours to complete" and said that doing three or more a week can "really send you under."
"Honestly, I am so fed up with them. Clocks in eyes, clocks in roses, clocks in bigger clocks. It's become insane," he told Vice.
What do people regret the most?
Fabulous spoke to Vanessa Charest, an Aesthetic Nurse at London Real Skin in Holborn, who revealed some of the most common tattoos people get removed and the body parts they regret getting inked the most.
"The tattoos that we are currently treating with Laser Tattoo Removal vary.
"Some of the common areas include the lower back on females, and for the men it's the sleeve of tattoos.
"We have seen a few on the wrists, as well as on the upper part of the back and back of shoulder.
"The most common tattoos include initials or letters that clients are looking to have removed, typically signifying a past relationship, and quotes and sayings are usually quite common.
"Stars and shapes are common amongst females. "
Vanessa Charest, an Aesthetic Nurse at in Holborn.
Put a pin in it
Many artists reckon that some of the most common tattoo requests come from "celebrity culture" or what we see online, particularly Pinterest - but some say they're ordinary and lack creativity.
And according to Naresh, a tattooer of 30 years and owner of in London, the internet "does tend to drive trends in what people think they want", the Independent reports.
With the artists at Good Times reportedly agreeing, saying that they would love for people to stop requesting “Pinterest-type tattoos which are sure to fall out of style.”
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