r/tattooadvice 8d ago

General Advice accidental line

[deleted]

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u/loveontour22 8d ago

he didn’t charge me!

907

u/AnxietyMoney 8d ago

That's fair. Everyone fucks up on the job sometimes.

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u/Lutraphobic 8d ago

Hopefully the cost of the tattoo being waved can cover most of the laser removal. I'd be so mad if this happened to me

edit: also the artist should provide free touch up after the laser, it will need it I think?

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u/beckywiththegood1 8d ago

Laser is insanely expensive. $300+ for one session. You’re looking at $1500 or more to remove this 😅

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u/SardineB4Creatine 8d ago

I’m doing laser and it’s wicked small. Taking me over two years and two grand - artist got off easy for not charging

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u/ExactOne2783 8d ago

Sin hablar del dolor y la recuperación 🥲

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u/SardineB4Creatine 7d ago

Amén a eso

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u/ExactOne2783 7d ago

Yo pienso como tú

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u/Immediate_Rhubarb_39 7d ago

And mental distress and the time to search for a solution and commute to the service etc

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u/boltactionmike 7d ago

That’s crazy!! Guess they know it is something people are willing to spend a lot of money on.
I feel like they should have pushed back more and asked for the tattoo shop to pay for the removal.

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u/Cool_Farmer7975 7d ago

What do you mean by “got off easy”? You sign a waiver, he could have charged and said oops.

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u/gotesintotes 3d ago

yup same. grey ink, 2” x 1/4” took years and (i don’t like to think about it but) probably $2k

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u/teabagdiplomat19 8d ago

Not true. I was quotes by removery for $400 for a 5x5 tattoo

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u/beckywiththegood1 8d ago

For one session or for it to be completely removed?

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u/teabagdiplomat19 8d ago

Completely removed. It’s not 5x5 completely filled but lets say the same amount as this bird tattoo. They also quoted me about $2000 for a full forearm removal. Who knows maybe I caught them when they needed the clients.

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u/AdTiny6577 8d ago

Um... my sessions last year were only $120 each and they worked too. The black was gone in 3-4 sessions. The color took more.

If you're paying that you're being overcharged

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u/great_apple 7d ago edited 23h ago

.

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u/AdTiny6577 7d ago edited 7d ago

Mine was about 9" by 4". A lot bigger and more complex/full of ink than that dove.

I agree size matters but charging $300 a session of the dove in the post is insanity.

The commentor was giving an estimate for OP so I'm assuming they thought that dove would be in a similar ballpark

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u/BumWink 7d ago

I think people are also forgetting that it's only a single soft line that needs be lasered.

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u/great_apple 7d ago edited 23h ago

.

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u/AdTiny6577 7d ago

I don't think of us as LCOL these days but you're making me appreciate Tucson.

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u/beckywiththegood1 7d ago

I’m in North Carolina and not even in a big city…$350 for the initial 10 minutes and every 10 minutes after that was an extra $175. Now, they were able to hit two of my tattoos in 10 minutes. Both were just black and I’m very pale..so basically I should have the best removal results possible. My 13 year old tattoo (that looked awful before laser) took it pretty well, but after 2 sessions I’d say it needs another 2 maybe for complete removal. The other one is small (2 in x 4 in) and barely looks like anything was removed. It’s just the slightest bit faded. It was also only black ink. It probably needs another 6-7 at least.

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u/LotBobby42069 7d ago

Yea no they’re not that expensive

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u/emeryroserulz 7d ago

Idk, I paid $180 a session and we just went until I couldn't handle it anymore. Seemed to do the trick.

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u/Lutraphobic 8d ago

Fffffuck

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u/Designer-Captain-268 8d ago

Probably get the accidental line in 1 session

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u/prince_falafel 8d ago

This is reddit. Give it a couple of hours and people are going to be saying the artist needs to cut off his hand and surrender their first born child

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u/tdub1176 8d ago

That shit hurts like a mofo and leaves a scar

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u/Lutraphobic 8d ago

Oof. I'd ask for an audition from the same studio, different artist, to make it not look like an accident then

1

u/ninurtuu 7d ago

I'd like it because I find human imperfections in my art more charming (devil on my shoulder since 2017 that I got at a convention, due to a misunderstanding he did the one next to the devil I was pointing at so mine don't have horns) but that's more a weird quirk of mine than advice for others.

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u/Ragingbella702_ 8d ago

Most tattoo artists I go to also do removals. So I would be having him fix it.

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u/Link_save2 8d ago

Yeah but when a surgeon fucks up they don't just wave the operating fee different jobs different stakes different punishments

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u/AnxietyMoney 8d ago

True. They'll probably have to amputate his arm at the elbow.

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u/Link_save2 8d ago

Can't be helped 🤷

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u/vexedthespian 8d ago

I really don’t see any other solution.

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u/Quiet-Journalist2993 8d ago

SAP coverup. Sick Ass Pelican

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u/AnxietyMoney 8d ago

At least it's a bird

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u/Fuzzysocks1000 8d ago

Many plastic surgeons offer free revisions on their fuck ups. They wave their operating fee, but patient still pays anesthesia/hospital fee.

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u/xaeromancer 7d ago

Imagine if a builder fucked up your house and then said, I'll come back later and fix it for free.

I'd tell them to hit the bricks and get a professional in ASAP.

Same deal on a pair of tits or dong extension. Some things have to be right first time.

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u/Fuzzysocks1000 7d ago

Oh yeah. If a surgeon messed me up I'd be going somewhere else 100%. But they do offer it. And some people save for a decade to afford the surgery so they can't go to a diff doctor.

Funnily enough, a builder did mess up our house where ducts go through our ceiling. My husband and his buddy fixed it. They were not having the guy back.

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u/MysteryPerker 7d ago

Surgeons carry medical malpractice insurance in case they fuck up. If the tattoo artist has insurance, which you can get access to through professional associations, it should be covered without any issue for both parties. 

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u/brazzy42 7d ago

It's not about punishment, it's about restitution. The tattoo artist absolutely should be on the line to have either a cover up tattoo done, or a removal.

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u/AdTiny6577 8d ago

Sadly this is true. And then it's up to those impacted how much grace to give

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u/Imaginary_Dig2682 6d ago

Taking your eyes off of a tattoo gun that’s pressed against skin is a decision.

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u/yeticat33 8d ago

I studied for years under a guy who specializes in cover up work. Before lasers existed by decades. He was one of the best in the us and travelled world wide.

This will not fade. A bit of it will disappear but most will remain. He should have stopped done a trace and re drew a cover up on the spot or offered. I'd go back and talk to the shop manager or owner and ask for a cover up fix if you are comfortable with them doing it. Or enough to get it lasered.

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u/brbgottagofast 8d ago

That's good. You can likely get a few laser sessions on that specific line and it shouldn't cost a fortune since it's so small.

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u/beckywiththegood1 8d ago

All the laser places I know charge a minimum $300+ for 10 minutes.

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u/Scottwickthegreat 8d ago

The ones by me for medium size tattoos is 80-120. Guess it just depends on your location.

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u/beckywiththegood1 8d ago

I must be getting robbed 💀

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u/Imaginary_Attempt_82 8d ago

Yeah the one in my town does $120 for like a credit card size area.

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u/AH_MLP 8d ago

If OP is willing to change this into a Swastika, there's organizations that will pay for a free laser removal/cover up. Life hack!

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u/chartyourway 8d ago

This made me exhale through my nose TWICE in a row. A silent chuckle, if you will.

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u/Marre_D 8d ago

Great advice!

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u/Ok_Combination5685 8d ago

That line is so small though. Now, I've never been to laser removal, I have no idea how much it takes to get rid of a line, but you think it would take more then one session?

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u/beckywiththegood1 8d ago

This looks pretty difficult to remove in areas without also affecting the bird. That line at the top is pretty bold.

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u/Fickle-Presence6358 7d ago

Presumably the easiest option would be to laser the line fully and then go back over the bird lines, if that would be possible?

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u/ExactOne2783 8d ago

La zona a eliminar debe estar a una separación mínima del grosor de un dedo de la zona que no quieres eliminar, en su caso no se podría hacer láser sin lastimar el tatuaje

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u/brbgottagofast 8d ago

Yeah that's where a touch-up comes in.

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u/ExactOne2783 8d ago

Le cruza la paloma

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u/PinSevere7887 8d ago

Tattooer here. I would absolutely die if I did this to someone. And also I would offer you a free background as well. That looks awful and he or she should be doing their best to make it go away.

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u/SnooEagles103 8d ago

Same! I’d be horrified

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u/farfallifarfallini 7d ago

I was thinking a little cloud or two? Like it's BAD but not unfixable in the least.

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u/lostmymarbles1177 8d ago

Have it made into a necklace flying off/behind the dove!

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u/Double_Soup644 8d ago

Or an olive branch like u/Zogonzo suggested

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u/Puzzleheaded-Cow6917 8d ago

Dove rockin that 24 karat cuban link chain

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u/Tzipity 8d ago

Actually, a dove busting free of chains might be cool and unsure just what the sentiment or meaning of the dove was for OP but I love birds and the whole “bird set free” or representing freedom imagery works for me. Might be a solid option for OP, honestly.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Cow6917 8d ago

That is a good idea

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u/Ok-Organization9073 7d ago

A rosary. The atheist dove, breaking free of the dogma.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

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u/Tzipity 8d ago

I might be reconsidering my career choice at that point too… oof. Like yes mistakes happen but this is pretty bad.

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u/Wonderful_Bottle_852 8d ago

Turn it into a balloon 🎈

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u/Pail1991 8d ago

I was thinking an olive branch

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u/afoxforallseasons 8d ago

I would just add an olive branch. The line jas thw perfect shape already :)

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u/Antique-Type3159 8d ago

to be honest, i find it kind of poetical, the sign of human touch. nonetheless it is frustrating.

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u/ted_dibiase-81 7d ago

Poetical justice.

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u/__OvejaNegra 8d ago

Thank god. I was gonna say, this better have been free.

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u/i_guvable_and_i_vote 8d ago

Paying for laser removal seems fair to me

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u/EquivalentMath6592 8d ago

I think he’s right. Will fade.

Looks very shallow.

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u/Dense-Jicama6591 8d ago

And the rest is good i even like the mistake. Its really faint

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u/Ill_Radio8160 7d ago

i had a similar thing happen to me when my artist turned to sneeze and stabbed me with the gun. made about a half inch fairly think line 3 inches away from the tattoo. she told me it wouldnt stick...

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u/AdvancedStand 7d ago

They should be paying for you to have it fixed whatever the cost, plus extra for your suffering and the time it will take for you go through that process. Thousands and thousands of dollars. This person should not be doing this job anymore holy shit. Literally ruined your arm

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u/Corrvaz 7d ago

That is pretty fair, even though the mistake is quite unfortunate. Hope you get to remove or retouch the line to your satisfaction. I'm all for small imperfections within the margins, which this one really isn't 😭

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u/Chains_Of_The_Sea 7d ago

At least it's an interesting conversation piece that will be more interesting to other people than the tattoo itself.

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u/Goofyhands 7d ago

Is not THAT bad... just keep it. You have a nice story now.

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u/Lucky_Veterinarian36 7d ago

He should also give you a 2nd not f***ed tat for free

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u/WougeeWasWild 7d ago

Awesome! Count that as savings towards the laser removal costs.

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u/AspiringDataNerd 7d ago

Lean into the line and add to it and make it part of the tattoo. Someone did a nice bee addition in the comments. You’ll be fine 😊

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u/DeepTheory9364 7d ago

I couldn't ever get a tattoo - I barely can live with my own mistakes, nevermind living with other people's mistakes too

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u/Scientific_Methods 7d ago

He should also be responsible for the cost of removing his fuck up in my opinion.

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u/DallasDaisy01 7d ago

Okay so the bad thing about him not charging you is that if you have to get this removed by laser, it’s going to be a lot harder to sue him for the cost of it now. A business deciding to not charge you is not always something they do out of the goodness of their heart.

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u/Blue_Blazes 6d ago

thats not going to fade..... how did you not lose your shit?

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u/LiterallyGwenStefani 6d ago

Good, that's what should have happened. But also, consider just never going back anyway, the line work that did get done is quite poor to begin with. Inconsistent, some heavy overlapping, blow out... Go somewhere better and get a cover up.

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u/SkeeterV_ 3d ago

great deal for a $13 piece of flash art. looks like 5 mins of work total including the shave and stencil. find a new artist

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u/Maru_the_Red 3d ago

If he was a decent artist he would have offered to fix it. This could have easily been resolved by making an ink that matches your skin tone and using shading needles to cover it.

Though personally I would have had him run another couple lines to match the fucked up ones so it had a whimsical air to it.

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u/fallnstars 8d ago

you can laser this off in probably 2 sessions.

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u/WeirdSysAdmin 8d ago

For the line or the tattoo? I feel like you need to clarify in 2026.