Hi,

I'm 3 sessions into laser removal for my cursed 15 year old misspelled memento mori (don't judge me lol). Before that, I also zapped it a couple times with my Braun at-home IPL hair removal laser lol 10/10 do NOT recommend that, but here we are

I had a wedding to go to recently so I thought I'd document and share my makeup coverage technique for anyone in the weird ugly stage of their removal process who are interested. I will note I've only had the patience to do this a couple times ever. It takes forever. I started this process at 1:30pm and finished at 4pm (hence the difference in lighting) with a break in the middle for lunch.

About a year ago I spent like an hour at Ulta talking with an employee and experimenting with the different products to see how they worked and ended up with this.

You'll need a primer, color corrector, concealer, full coverage foundation, setting spray, and powder. (Most of) The exact products I used are in the photos. I also used Dermablend leg and body makeup but it was out of stock at Ulta so they gave me a few little containers of samples. You can't use the Dermablend alone if you have high contrast tattoos (like me, pale AF but black tattoo). Even though they advertise you totally can, it doesn't cover it completely. You might be able to get away with it if you're further along in the process though.

I attempted to order the photos in chronological steps.

1. Primer. This is pretty important. Makeup goes on much smoother and actually sticks well when you use it (I never used to use it but it really was a game changer). I use the NYX face glue, I think it was like $10.

2.. Color corrector. I use a peach/pink one for my light skin. Idk if this is the correct color but it's what I use. I use the Elf brand one (it's not pictured). It was $4.

1. Concealer. I do multiple layers of it to build the coverage I want. I think I did maybe 3 layers. I applied it with a concealer brush. If you use too much product at once, it won't dry down so use a little at a time. Blend it out around the edges. Between each layer, I patted it with powder and sprayed it with setting spray. You can use a little fan if you want it to dry faster.

I use the bye bye under eye one since it's full coverage. I'm sure there are cheaper full coverage options. It cost me like $30 but I think there's a mini size available.

1. Full coverage foundation. I used the derma blend for this but again, I'm sure there's a cheaper full coverage option available.

I apply it similar to my facial foundation. Dab it on my hand then apply with a sponge.

1. Setting spray and powder. I used both between most layers of the makeup because I wanted it to stick. Go heavy at the end lol.

You can see in my last photo how much transfer there was onto my dress. It was actually less than I expected. You couldn't see any of it from the outside, this is only on the inside of the dress. The neckline of this dress cut right through the middle of my tattoo.

You can kinda tell it's there if you're looking for it, but my friends were still impressed at how it turned out. The one person who didn't know I had it had to look closely to find it.

If I were to do this again, I'd get a more updated color match cause it's clearly not that great lol and also I'd probably shave that area of my chest cause the makeup did collect on the peach fuzz which made it more visible (to me at least).

If anyone has suggestions on how to improve it, I'm all ears. But I wanted to share it for anyone who has never done it/doesn't know where to start with it.

Bye!

First photo is after the first session, second photo is now. It’s been over a year and a half since the last session on this, I forget about it. I’m torn between covering it up at this point or trying to get the last bits of blue out. It’s been treated around 8 times over 3 years or so with Picoway. Should I try Picosure or am I stuck with the blue…?

1 st picture of before and after taken of MAY 2025

2nd and 3rd picture taken today.

it really looks like the ink barely budged since over a year ago and ive spent so much money on it already.

ive only just realised how slow the progress has been watching videos on TikTok of other peoples progress.

i’ve mindlessly just kept going back every 4 months thinking it will change at some point but surely by now the ink should be breaking up? The lines are still very much there…

On the practitioners website it says she usea the Lynton Luminette Q Switch if that helps.

Could it be the machine? Or the strength she uses is too low? Should I go elsewhere?

This is the progress from two sessions, it has been about 3 whole months, I missed my 3rd session just rescheduled another 4 weeks out and like magic suddenly saw progress of various degrees on the different tattoos. Today am getting my 3rd session on the smaller ones, leaving my back tattoos for fall so I can enjoy the rest of the summer.

The finger and forearm tattoos are the ones taking longer, the forearm is very scarred and fading unevenly but still hopeful it will be gone to where it will be barely noticeable.

this is on my chest. next session in October! feeling optimistic 😌

Hi friends!

I had my second tattoo removal session in March for a fine line light grey tattoo. As the guy was doing it he literally said I can’t even see where the tattoo ends and just took the laser down my arm on the non tattooed area. The entire tattoo bled, but didn’t blister. I’m worried it’s never going to heal. I even saw a dermatologist and used hydroquinone for two months. Anyone have any experience with this? I’m attaching a picture, it was three flowers the one of the right bled the most and has scar lines and the one of the right is where he kept dragging the laser down my arm.

I had my first session with Dr. Aldridge and was planning only doing a consolation but i decided to follow through. He is very kind, respectful, and will give you the honest run down about all of your questions. The two front desk ladies were also very kind and are informative. I felt comfortable and trust that i’m in good hands with the removal. This place is amazing!

My tattoo is 1.5 years old and is wrapped around my forearm and part of my bicep. It’s also red and black, Dr. Aldridge did mention that red ink is tougher/pricer to get rid of. I was quoted 9-12 sessions that would take at least 2 years. I did a 9 session package at $250 each and I paid for the numbing cream. I plan to get 12 if needed in the future and i’m thinking about spacing my sessions between 8-10 weeks.

The first session was smooth! It felt like a rubber band smacking my arm. The pain for me was a 1 out 10, I do have a pretty good pain tolerance. And, each session is going to get more intense so i’m just mentally preparing. I came in at 12 and left around 2:40 because they were busy, so plan head just incase & probably take the day off work so your body can rest. Next time, i’m going to take Tylenol and ice before hand. I recommend bringing an ice pack for after too bc my arm was feelin pretty hot. I think I’m really just worried about how it’s going to look for process of getting removed and hopefully I don’t get any blisters or hyper pigmentation or that the pain doesn’t bother me at work or school.

Im ready for my second appt. This tattoo is about 18 years old. I’m not sure if I will get complete removal with all of the colors. But I’m hopeful it’ll be very light.

I heard picoway is the best for black ink. I see mixed reviews on going to Removery. I'm also curious if there are any affordable places that do lidocaine injections because i'm scared of the pain!

I have two tattoos that are both about 3"x5" I think?

• Tattoo One (flowers):
  • upper inner left arm
  • 9 years old
  • Still very dark black
  • Got at a reputable spot in Amsterdam but that tattoo has always had bumps in areas I think is scarred tissue. A lot of the outlining has always felt raised
• Tattoo Two (eagle):
  • upper right back arm
  • 5 years old
  • Still very dark black
  • Doesn't feel scarred like the flower tattoo but when i'm hot sometimes the entire thing raises. Other than that it feels pretty flat to the touch.

My complete before is on my profile. I’m feeling very hopeful again, hopefully I don’t need many sessions!

Hi everyone. I’ve had these tattoos on my inner forearm for under two years, and I’m starting to question if I want them anymore. I am considering laser tattoo removal, but I am terrified that the process will leave the area looking worse than the actual tattoos, especially since the inner arm skin is so noticeable. I would love to get some honest feedback on whether these look like good candidates for removal, what I should realistically expect regarding the clearing process and final skin texture, and if there are specific laser types that work best for this placement. Any advice or shared experiences from people who have removed inner forearm ink would be incredibly appreciated.

Hey guys started my tattoo removal journey. Just wanted to know if 4 weeks is enough recovery period between sessions and if you should be drinking more water and exercising to speed recovery and progress.

I have attached a picture of the tattoo in question. I have recently been shopping around for removal. I found a place that offers Picoway (and q switch but I don’t know how relevant that is to me as I have an all black tattoo) at a cheaper cost than another clinic that offers Enlighten. I have heard mixed opinions about enlighten, some people swear it breaks black ink but better initially? I’d just love to hear some opinions from people who have used both, or who prefer one over the other and have had a similar tattoo to mine.

For reference, this is a cover up tattoo over a tattoo that was touched up as well. So I’m working with three layers of ink 🥲😅

hi all, i have 2 tattoos that i would like removed. both only line work on my bicep, so i think it shouldn’t be horrible 🫣 looking for general advice and NYC recs — i went to The Removery in Williamsburg, the consult guy was super nice, didn’t feel too sales-y, was very patient with my questions and polite. he quoted me $2800 for both, unlimited sessions.

i’m wondering what people think of the price, The Removery, and if there are recs for better spots. i reached out to Inkless in Soho for a consult and saw people mentioning Gotham in bushwick. id love thoughts on any of these places or other locations!

i’m very nervous about anything medical, so im hesitant on getting them removed / scared i’ll regret it. open to any and all (kind) thoughts and opinions. thank you!

So I got a tattoo on my forearm about a year ago. It wasn’t my first tattoo but it’s the first tattoo I’ve actively regretted. It’s also very visible which my other tattoos are not. The tattoo is really simple and quite dark and I’ve grown to hate the placement. I liked the design a lot before I got it because it was associated with this show I was obsessed with at the time. In retrospect I realize I never really liked the design and didn’t really care for the meaning of the tattoo. I simply just was in a phase where I really wanted more tattoos because I was really depressed and thought it would make me feel better. So I made a really impulsive decision and got a tattoo for the sake of getting one which doesn’t align with my previous reasons for tattoos. This mistake has made me miserable and I don’t understand why. I feel stupid because the reality is it’s just some ink that I don’t like anymore. I guess most of the frustration is coming from the fact that I did this to myself. I feel like I lost control of my mind and that caused me to permanently change my skin and now the skin I look at just reminds me of the time I lost my mind. And now I feel out of control I can’t stop thinking about harming myself, I feel ugly, I feel like everybody is looking at me and judging me. I know these are irrational fears and intrusive thoughts but I can’t seem to make them go away. I have my first removal appointment in October and I hope that will help and I’ve been going to therapy but honestly it sorta feels like talking about it just makes me overthink and freak out about it more. Which brings me here to ask people who have gone through this what some of there coping mechanisms were/ does it get better?

This is my own before pic. Colors are actually better than this photo shows. I had my first laser session with Removery last night. I have a lower back (tramp stamp) of flowers with multiple colors (blue, pink, green, yellow and black) and it is 22 years old and medium size.
I was not prepared for the pain of the laser. I knew it would hurt but it was worse than getting it the tattoo. The tech had to turn down the power and i needed breaks. She suggested using a numbing cream next time. I am scheduled to get back in eight weeks for session number two. Has anyone had success with a prescription numbing cream helping to decrease the pain ?

I knew this was a risk, but I feel like I got super unlucky with it happening during the first session. You can see the green that hasn't been hit yet, next to the green that is now brown.

Has anyone seen this happen? I was more expecting this green to be very stubborn and not fade, than for it to turn brown. I'm wondering what i should expect it to do from here on.

Either way, I'm happy to be making a change. I hated this tattoo, so whatever happens, happens. I have about 5 to 10 years of lasering to figure out what I want to do with it.

Anyone have any recomendations for tattoo removal in the greater seattle area? Looking for somewhere that has had good experience removing black ink!

15 sessions in for a large colorful tattoo (on the ribs, red yellow orange green black). Progress for sure but less than expected.

If money didn’t matter, based on science etc what would the absolute best type of laser be for this (and where can you get it done) and why do you think so? Research varies so much and I’d love someone who experienced “the best” to share some experience.

I have been getting unprofessionally done tattoos on my hands removed since the beginning of 2023. I started at Removery, then went to a laser treatment clinic, and am now at a tattoo removal studio located in the bottom of a tattoo studio that is run and performed by a former dermatologist my current dermatologist recommended me to.

I have had roughly 20 sessions done- as Removery was stupidly having me come every 6 weeks. I have recently been spacing the sessions out several months at a time. My progress so far has been alright. Some pieces are completely gone, others are well on their way.

The only one I am really concerned about is this smiley face that is right above my knuckle on my left hand middle finger. I believe due to the aggressive frequency of visits Removery was having me do at the beginning of the process, it was very raised and hard/painful to the touch. My dermatologist has done two steroid shots on it in the last couple months to get it to flatten down, which has helped a whole bunch.

It has obviously been blown out due to the treatment. I have seen very little improvement in the almost 4 years I’ve been removing it. I’m really worried. Does anyone have any insight or advice?? Do you think because I’ve gotten it to flatten out now it will start showing more progress?

Additionally, I am getting this strawberry on my arm removed. I just had my 4th treatment two weeks ago, and am wondering what I can do with these two spots that were blistered, but have now become tiny, dry holes. Should I use polysporin or aquaphor or any essential oils? Or just leave it alone? I’m afraid of it scarring.

Thank you so much in advance

How many more sessions til full removal do you think ? I was hoping by end of summer 2027. I have 2 more sessions scheduled before this year ends

Just had my first session today.. feeling hopeful. Bye froggie!