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It takes a lot of trust to allow a tattoo artist to permanently etch something onto your body. What happens if they violate that trust?
That’s what TikToker Tiffany (@tiffany.is.real) says happened to her in a viral video with nearly 9 million views.
In the six-second clip, she makes confused faces as an on-screen caption reads, “I’ll never forget my second tattoo. The artist said ‘I added my own twist to it, I hope you like it!’ Without asking me first.”
What Was The Twist?
In a follow-up video, Tiffany shares what she wanted vs. what she got.
The design she wanted was a simple rose with a stem that curved almost into an infinity symbol and had three leaves attached. What she got was similar. But one of the petals on the rose looks more like a ring of Saturn, and there are only two leaves. And most importantly, there are small clusters of dots surrounding the rose, which weren’t present anywhere in the agreed-upon design.
In the caption, Tiffany writes, “It’s not bad it’s just not what I wanted.”
Art is subjective. Fortunately, Tiffany is OK with the tattoo. But viewers disagreed with her assessment. It’s a bad tattoo, they argued.
“Was the twist that this was their first tattoo?” one joked.
Several said the lines were “blown out,” meaning ink had spread below the surface of the skin, creating a blurred or “fuzzy” appearance, according to Kingpin Tattoo Supply.
At least one advised that since the lines were so delicate, she should’ve gone to an artist who specializes in fine-line tattoos.
‘I Added My Own Twist To The Final Cost Then What Are You Talking About’
Viewers in the comments section of the first video were incredulous. Some shared similar experiences.
“They do that when they mess up btw,” one boldly claimed.
“She changed my Medusa tattoo to have straight hair cause ‘it looks cool’ and now it doesn’t even look like Medusa so not only do I have the trauma to require a Medusa tattoo but I have a terrible tattoo that I’ve been saving to remove,” a second shared. Medusa tattoos commonly signify the bearer is a survivor of sexual violence.
Another recalled an episode of “Ink Master” that I vividly remember and also thought of in response to Tiffany’s story. They wrote, “I saw on an episode of ink master that a guy said everytime he tattooed a clock on someone, he put his own time of birth on the clock … without permission. the judges were horrified.” The episode is Season 1, Episode 5 and is available to view on Paramount+ for those interested.
Do Tattooists Say They Added A Twist To Cover Up Mistakes?
Tattooists online haven’t fessed up to using this excuse to cover up mistakes. Though they do admit that mistakes happen. Well, not mistakes, more like “happy accidents.”
In a Quora thread, artists agreed there are no real mistakes, as they can usually be corrected with shading or color. In their opinion, an artist who makes major, unfixable mistakes mid-tattoo is not a tattooist and should leave the profession.
So, Maybe It’s Not An Excuse, But Is It Normal For Artists To Do This?
In response to a Redditor who asked whether it was normal that their artist made changes to their tattoo without asking, users said no, it was not typical. While they noted that there may be reasons for slight changes, like making the design fit a client’s body better. But they agreed the tattooist should’ve informed the client of the changes beforehand, and not doing so was unprofessional. Since the client already had a good relationship with the artist, users advised them to preserve the relationship by simply informing the woman that they’d like to be consulted before any changes are made to their next tattoo.
What Do I Do If I Notice An Artist Making Changes To My Tattoo?
If you notice an artist messing up your tattoo, how you should proceed depends on what stage of the tattooing process you’re in.
If you’re mid-tattoo and you notice your artist making a mistake, Adrenaline Studios advises you to speak up immediately. Fortunately, what you’re seeing may be part of the process. For example, you may think they’re using the wrong color, not realizing the ink looks different when it dries and heals. Regardless of whether what you’re seeing is intentional, if it looks wrong, call it out. Your artist should be able to explain how it will end up like you discussed if it’s intentional. And if it’s a mistake, they should be able to make adjustments so that you get the result you want.
If you don’t notice until after the tattoo is finished, still say something. Again, the artist may be able to explain how what you’re seeing will match what you wanted when it heals. Or, if it’s a mistake and the artist admits to it, they can set up a correction appointment for when the tattoo heals. If you don’t want to deal with the same tattooist, talk to the shop to work something out. If the mistake was clearly the result of negligence, you’ll likely get a refund and an invitation for a correction appointment. Regardless, Adrenaline advises it’s best to leave with a clear head rather than angrily storming out ready to nuke the shop and artist with a scathing review.
Other Options
If you can’t rectify the situation with the shop in a manner that’s satisfactory to you, seek the help of a studio specializing in laser tattoo removal. Under the care of a professional, you can work to fade the tattoo so you can cover it up with something else, or you can remove it altogether.
The important thing to remember is to not let the experience turn you off tattoos. Adrenaline says the experience is positive 99.99% of the time when you’ve done your research. Here are its guides on how to pick a studio and artist to make sure your tattoo goes smoothly.
BroBible contacted Tiffany via TikTok comment and direct message.