When it comes to getting something inked permanently on your body, there are definitely a few things you might want to avoid—especially after a new poll revealed people’s biggest tattoo regrets.
Some answers are predictable, while others are surprisingly revealing, so if you’re thinking about getting tattooed anytime soon, this might help you make a better decision. (As someone who’s dealt with tattoo regret more than once, I wish I’d seen this sooner.)
As reported by Marie Claire UK, the University of Portsmouth teamed up with Casino.org to ask tattoo lovers about their worst ink decisions. A thousand people across the United Kingdom took part in the survey, and the most common regret was clear:
31.34 percent of men and 24.33 percent of women said they wished they hadn’t gotten someone’s name tattooed on them. Not exactly shocking—but it does show that people are still getting partners’ or friends’ names inked despite better judgment, only to regret it later. Unfortunately, relationships don’t always last, and skin tends to.
The next statistic was the one I found most interesting—and surprising. When it came to the second most regretted tattoos by gender, 12.81 percent of men pointed to tribal designs, while 15.95 percent of women said star constellation ink. Who knew those styles were even common enough to land on a regret list?
Oof. We’ve probably all heard of someone who got an Asian symbol tattoo, only to discover its real meaning after it was already permanently on their skin. As it turns out, it’s a fairly common mistake—and a fairly common regret too: 12.53 percent of men and 12.64 percent of women said they wish they hadn’t made that choice.
In short, it’s worth choosing something you’re truly familiar with—something that will still mean something to you now and 50 years from now. Over a quarter of the women surveyed said they regretted their tattoos because they simply grew bored of the design. Overall, nearly a quarter of all respondents said their regret came from the tattoo no longer holding meaning. Yikes!
Placement also matters a lot when choosing new ink. As someone who has a finger tattoo and one on the ribcage right where a bra sits, I can say neither is ideal if you want your tattoo to stay sharp and well preserved.
The poll found that 15.17 percent of women most regretted lower back tattoos, while one in five men said they wished they hadn’t chosen their forearm. Both genders also pointed to shoulders, chest, and upper back as less favored spots.
Of course, tattoos are deeply personal choices and ultimately up to each individual. Avoid names and stars, and you’ll probably be fine.