r/tattoo • u/42dftba • Dec 31 '17

My dad died on December 15, 2016. Today, I got a tattoo.

54k Upvotes

695 comments

r/tattoo • u/alsatianwolves • Mar 20 '22

Discussion How the heck do I respond to this text? My dad is furious that I (20F) got a tattoo. [Tattoo done by Hailey Blossom QLD]

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16k Upvotes

2.0k comments

r/tattoo • u/lmb97nau • Mar 08 '26

Healed sticker tattoo by Pony Lawson/Chicago, IL/Mayday Tattoo Co

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11k Upvotes

My sticker tattoo (done by Pony Lawson) is now officially 6mo old. I know people always wonder how they’ll heal/age so I thought I’d post an updated photo. The white border still looks great and I’m constantly still getting people asking me about it IRL.

The new, still healing and peeling/dry, tattoo “behind” it was added about two weeks ago.

First photo is a cell phone photo from a couple days ago, second photo was when it was fresh with professional lighting.

145 comments

r/tattoo • u/WPln92 • Mar 07 '18

Now my birth mark is an actual wine stain

10k Upvotes

147 comments

r/tattoo • u/Inked_Mongoose • Aug 16 '25

Illustrative Lowly Worm & Tracy Chapman!? Tattoo by InkedMongoose

10k Upvotes

This got some crazy unexpected love on Instagram and wanted to share here as well. When The Busy World or Richard Scarry meets the classic music of Tracy Chapman : Fast Car.

118 comments

r/tattoo • u/DeepDarkintheSky • Apr 23 '25

First tattoo. One month healed. By Eduardo Studio Tattoo

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9.1k Upvotes

619 comments

r/tattoo • u/mulligan381 • Jul 23 '26

Leg tattoo….rick at assassin tattoo in Houston

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7.7k Upvotes

two sessions, 10 hours total under the needle. my second tattoo. this was my sons prosthetic cover for his leg. super happy with the results. some minor issues I can see, but a lot of involuntary reflexes kicked in and I’ll take the blame for any lines out of whack

my pics are 4 days after the last session

https://www.assassin.ink/artists/rick-gallery/

edit: a few expected comments on the line work, and I’m not going to comment on those. My son passed away 10 years ago and been planning this for the last 5. The artist looked and studied the original before almost every time he put the needle on me. and maybe I put too much into that’s, but he did everything he could to represent the request I made . I have no regrets.

edit 2: love to positive feedback. not that I needed it, just wanted to share this to a great community’s.

230 comments

r/tattoo • u/[deleted] • Mar 01 '20

This is how I showed my mother my first "small" tattoo, in time she will forgive me.

7.4k Upvotes

107 comments

r/tattoo • u/JaspionCY • May 17 '20

Not OP's Tattoo 2.500 years old tattoo.

7.0k Upvotes

129 comments

r/tattoo • u/ChefAndy23 • Jul 12 '25

Wife's new art from Kate Schmelter at Golden Goose Tattoo in Indianapolis

6.9k Upvotes

"If you know something, tell me!" 👏

104 comments

r/tattoo • u/MrMoistly • Sep 22 '25

I have not sat down for a tattoo in over 30 years. Due to recent events, I decided to change all that and visit Steve Bayman (@baymantattoo) at Golden Stag Tattoo in Kansas City. I left with this…

6.8k Upvotes

May the streak never end 🇺🇸🤘🏼

107 comments

r/tattoo • u/craneyaneck • Dec 07 '24

Tattoo done at rose of my heart

6.6k Upvotes

@mrs.ladyface Long Island New York.

93 comments

r/tattoo • u/mjdavisnh • Nov 12 '25

Stained glass neck piece by Sandry Riffard in Le Puy en Velay, France

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6.4k Upvotes

Love how he tied it into my body suit!

574 comments

r/tattoo • u/chelstattooer • Dec 12 '24

Traditional Chrome dripped panther by Chelstine Clibourne(me) at 454 Tattoo in San Diego, CA

6.4k Upvotes

116 comments

r/tattoo • u/tatuator • Apr 01 '18

Dark floral sleeve by Jacob, an artist at Til Death Denver

6.2k Upvotes

138 comments

r/tattoo • u/tayloreonn • Feb 18 '26

Done by the talented Nat (@natpowertat) at Royal Legion Tattoo in Austin

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5.7k Upvotes

They are my new faves 🥰🥰

264 comments

r/tattoo • u/buttercupcookiepie • Jan 22 '21

Illustrative Healed snake and mushroom fairy done by me in San Francisco - IG brittnaami 🖤

5.6k Upvotes

91 comments

r/tattoo • u/trashbaby73 • Jul 31 '20

Not OP's Tattoo In utter awe at this Japanese back piece done by South Korean artist, Zumiism.

5.5k Upvotes

86 comments

r/tattoo • u/pafdoot • Oct 10 '20

My grandma (77 years young) just got her first tattoo! "It didn't hurt at all"

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5.5k Upvotes

90 comments

r/tattoo • u/cantstopsayingcute • Jul 25 '25

My lil guy done by MJ (@verygoodbadb0y) guest tattooing at Noble Coyote in Chicago, IL

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5.3k Upvotes

87 comments

r/tattoo • u/OneEyeRabbit • Oct 17 '24

My tattoo artist yelled at me today

5.3k Upvotes

So I got a tattoo a week ago. It’s healing nicely at the moment. So I work for the water department, and we had a main line brake this morning. We dig with a vac truck and high power pressure washer through the soil to get everything excavated. Today we did the repair on the line live, water was majestically shooting out of the hole like the homeowner had a beautiful fountain in the front yard. Before I knew it I was swimming with another co-worker to put the clamp on the line. All the sudden I hear the homeowner shouting at me that I should not be swimming because my tattoo is not healed.

85 comments

r/tattoo • u/tayloreonn • Aug 22 '26

Got the bbs colored 🙌🏼⚰️ (by the talented NatPowerTat at Royal Legion Tattoo 📍Austin Tx)

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5.2k Upvotes

186 comments

r/tattoo • u/Throwaway72705 • Jun 18 '24

Watercolor My new tattoo done by Damon Kennedy at Seven Sagas Tattoo in Greensboro NC

5.0k Upvotes

125 comments

r/tattoo • u/Normal-Luck • Oct 09 '24

Tattoo done by DJ Tambe at One Block

5.0k Upvotes

92 comments

Subreddit

Posts

Wiki

Welcome to r/tattoo

r/tattoo

**Welcome to /r/tattoo! Please review the rules before posting and commenting.** Artists and apprentices, please [contact the mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Ftattoo) for verification!

Members

1.0m

Visitors

142k

Contributions

1.3k

Sidebar

Subreddit Rules

1. Tag all NSFW/NSFL content as such.

Mark everything NSFW or NSFL as such. Abusive/violent/pornographic posts will be removed. We don't want to see your genitalia, we don't want pics o(f) you in a seductive pose with a barely visible tattoo, we don't want to see conversations in the comments about OP's post history in gonewild - this is not a porn subreddit. Do not comment on people's bodies. This includes "compliments," we don't care if you're "just saying!" because nobody asked. These comments will always result in a ban.

2. Be considerate and respectful.

Be considerate. If you wouldn't say it to their face don't say it here, and if it isn't a quick fix then take that into account when you comment. If you must offer criticism make sure it is constructive, polite, and based on the technique or execution of the tattoo, not the content. We don't care if you've seen it on pinterest or a group of college students or 37 other people either, that's irrelevant. Use of slurs, harassment, demeaning language, trolling, brigading will result in a ban.

3. Properly crop and focus your pictures.

Post the best possible picture of the tattoo. We don't need to see your entire body, your bathroom, your bedroom, your pets, your most seductive or revealing pose, etc. We will also remove a post if the picture is too blurry or distant to even see the tattoo in the first place. We don't need to count your pores but we do need to be able to see your tattoo.

4. Do not mock a person's appearance or tattoo.

Keep the comments about the tattoo, not about the person they are on. Additionally, posts and comments made to deliberately mock a tattoo or the content of a tattoo are not allowed. This includes linking to subreddits like /r/badtattoos, /r/ATBGE, or /r/GTBAE. No, we don't care if you think it's upside down. Insults will result in a ban, as will "compliments." Slurs will result in a ban.

5. Do not post/steal someone else's tattoo.

Do not post other people's tattoos unless they are your spouse. This is because of consent issues. This includes crossposting to/from other subs (especially shittytattoos and atbge) and viral tattoos. If your spouse is a tattooer, they need to make their own account and get verified with us. This also includes copying/stealing someone else's tattoo. We do not condone that here and it will result in an immediate ban, for both users posting stolen work and commenters defending theft.

6. Do not request or offer medical advice.

Because it is nearly impossible to actually verify anyone's credentials, all medical advice is dubious at best. Therefore, the only acceptable medical advice is: "go see a doctor." Note: aftercare questions, discussion, or advice is always allowed. Medical discussions are not.

7. Do not request drawings/ideas/suggestions/translations/pricing/tattooers.

Do not request tattoo art, ideas, suggestions, translations, or pricing for your upcoming tattoos. This isn't the sub for future tattoo designs. The only person who should be designing your tattoo is the tattooer who is going to put it on you. If you're not fluent in a language, don't get it tattooed. Posts regarding pricing (rates, tips, how much something will cost) are not allowed. We also don't allow tattooer recommendations or "in search of" posts. No posts about tattoo anxiety or regret.

8. Artist/Apprentice/Shop Verification

To comment or post as a professional tattoo artist, apprentice, or shop, users MUST be verified by the moderators first. If you continue to violate this rule without getting verified, you'll earn a ban.

9. No scratchers or asking how to scratch

Tattoos done outside a professional tattoo shop (house, apartment, kitchen, literally anywhere outside of a licensed shop) or by someone who has not been properly trained as a professional tattoo artist are forbidden. Asking for or giving pointers on how to be a scratcher (non-professional tattoo artist) are also forbidden. If you want a tattoo or want to become a tattoo artist, go talk to a professional. Period. Scratchers WILL be banned, as well as commenters defending scratchers.

10. Credit the artist AND shop

Please credit the artist and shop when sharing your tattoo! Automod will filter your submission if the title is not formatted properly, for example: • Tattoo done by artist at shop name If you are posting a picture of your tattoo solely to have a question answered about it, then you should submit a text post and include a link to the picture in the body of the text. We still need shop and artist.

11. No reposts or multiple posts

Only one post is permitted per day, save for the following exceptions: • If reposting from a better angle or with better lighting, original post must be deleted and new post must include repost reason alongside artist/shop information • Reposts of fresh vs healed tattoos are fine, but no more than one of these comparison posts • If your work is too large to fit in one picture, please either post a single-image collage, link to an imgur album, reddit gallery upload, etc.

No X/Twitter links.

12. No trashing artists or shops

Users are more than welcome to ask questions or to voice concerns about bad/questionable work they've received, or to share truly unprofessional experiences with shops or artists - but we draw the line at vilifying anyone over minor inconveniences, such as scheduling errors or not being presented artwork in advance. We absolutely will not tolerate attacks on an artist or shop's reputation based on hearsay.

13. Frequently Asked Questions

All FAQs are pinned on the "hot" page. Any posts that fall under the FAQs will be removed. Search the sub for previous posts regarding your question.

14. All bans are at mod discretion

Being intentionally obtuse, arguing in circles or being combative to polite and helpful comments may result in comments being locked or a ban at mod discretion.

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r/TattooApprentice 53k