Tel: 01256 335511
12-14 Church Street, Basingstoke, RG21 7QH

If Tattoo Regrets Were People…

Let’s be honest—we’ve all got that one tattoo. The one we thought was a brilliant idea at the time (spoiler: it wasn’t). Whether it’s faded, misspelt, or tied to someone we’d now cross the street to avoid, tattoo regret is real. And at Studio 51, we like to think of it like this: if tattoo regrets were people, who would they be?

Here’s our lovingly savage list of the ink decisions that haunt people most reimagined as the mates you avoid at the pub. Spot anyone familiar?

1. The Ex’s Name

Backstory: You were young. You were in love. You were convinced Sharon was forever. Now Sharon’s blocked you and married someone called Gary.

Personality:
  • Still texting at 2am.
  • Mentions they’re “working on themselves” but never actually changes.
  • The human equivalent of a voice note you should never have sent.

Removal Vibe:
Full removal. Burn it with fire. Or just, y’know, laser it away professionally.

2. The Drunken Handpoke

Backstory: Created in a mate’s kitchen at 3am with a sewing needle, biro ink, and a can of Red Stripe.

Personality:
  • Brags about being “a vibe” while wearing mismatched socks.
  • Thinks healing means pouring vodka on it.
  • Never remembers their own postcode.

Removal Vibe:
We see these a lot. Sometimes they’re so shallow they fade in one or two sessions. Sometimes they’re so deep they need a full treatment plan. Always worth a look.

3. The Festival Flash-Ink

Backstory: A glorious weekend of music, sunburn, and poor decisions. It seemed like a great idea to get a stick figure sun on your ankle. You even queued.

Personality:

  • Lives in vintage fleece and a permanent state of dehydration.
  • Posts blurry Instagram Stories with no context.
  • Can’t remember if they saw Chemical Brothers or not.

Removal Vibe:

Small, light, and often easy to fade—perfect for a tidy cover-up or quick clean-up.

4. The Misspelt Quote

Backstory: “You Only Live Once” felt profound until you realised your tattoo says “You Only Lice Once.”

Personality:
  • Quotes obscure Tumblr blogs.
  • Still owns a Live Laugh Love sign.
  • Loudly insists it was “intentional”.

Removal Vibe:
Laser or part-removal + correction. We’ve got your back and your spelling.

5. The Impulse Walk-In

Backstory: You had a sudden craving—for ink, not pizza. You walked into a random studio and pointed at a flash sheet.

Personality:
  • Lives for last-minute decisions.
  • Booked a holiday during the tattoo healing phase.
  • Has a loyalty card for shots.

Removal Vibe:
Usually well done (technically), but not your style. Great candidate for fading and a new design.

6. The Trendy One

Backstory: Back in 2015, geometric wolves and mandalas were all over Pinterest. Now? They’re mostly on “what not to do” lists.

Personality:
  • Owns 12 pairs of identical joggers.
  • Refers to everything as “aesthetic”.
  • Can’t look at old Instagram posts without cringing.

Removal Vibe:
Great if you want to evolve your ink style. These usually respond well to fading and cover-up.

7. The Matching Tattoo Regret

Backstory: Nothing says commitment like matching infinity signs with someone from your first job. Except now you don’t speak. At all.

Personality:
  • Over-invests in everything.
  • Probably has a “friendship playlist” on Spotify.
  • Avoids the arm it’s on in all photos.

Removal Vibe:
Popular request. Full removal or reworking into a solo design works best.

8. The Overambitious Back Piece

Backstory: You wanted a full phoenix, but the artist started with the wings and never finished. Now you’ve got half a bird that looks perpetually confused.

Personality:
  • Thinks big, commits small.
  • Tells people it’s “a work in progress”.
  • Secretly Googling “phoenix cover-up ideas”.

Removal Vibe:
Usually faded, reshaped, or worked into something better. Requires planning—but we’ve got the team for it.

What to Do If You’re Living with One of These

First off: you’re not alone. Tattoo regret is more common than most people admit. And the good news is—you’ve got options.

At Area and Studio51, we offer:

No judgment. No awkward questions. Just honest advice and expert help.

FAQs About Tattoo Regret and Removal

Can I remove part of a tattoo?

Absolutely. We can target specific areas to reshape or fade parts of a design.

Will people know I had laser removal?

Only if you tell them. With proper care, your skin heals cleanly.

Can I laugh about it and get it removed?

100%. In fact, we encourage it. Tattoo regret is way more common than you’d think.

Is it weird to want a second chance at ink?

Nope. It’s brave. And actually, kind of cool.

Final Thoughts

Whether your tattoo regret is inspired by a stag weekend, or drawn by your mate with a biro, we’ve seen it—and we can help fix it.

Book a free consultation today and let’s turn that cringe into confidence.