Tattoos are great…unless they aren’t. As someone who has three and likes them all – but had to have one “fixed” after the fact, I would give the following advice: think about what you want ahead of time, have it drawn, then think about it some more. Get recommendations for your artist. Stay sober.

All advice that these 15 women should have taken into consideration before sitting down in that chair. Here’s what they told Cafe Mom about their body art regrets.

#15. Not-so-memorable.

“I got an arrow on my middle finger I’ve had to get it touched up two times because of fading and I’m at the point where it’s just so ridiculous and I don’t even remember why I got it.” — Alyssa S.

#14. Ok, sure.

“I guess I don’t like the word ‘regret’ about my tattoos because they are something that I wanted. But I had a picture of what I wanted (custom design with hummingbirds and cute small flowers) and the tattoo artist drew something completely different. But me being the jump-the-gun kind of person I am, I said ‘OK, sure.’ So I’m definitely not happy with what I received, it is pretty still.” — Taylor M.

#13. Just say no to names.

“‘Daniel’ right-side up and ‘Sabrina’ upside down. Daniel is my ex.” — Sabrina W.

#12. Broke all my rules.

“I guess I wouldn’t say I regret it because it’s my first child’s name but I wish I would have waited to get it done and by someone else. Me and my friends knew the tattoo guy, it was my 21st so we went to the bar next door, got drunk and I got a tattoo from the drunk tattoo artist. It looks bad but it’s not horrible, a lot bigger then I wanted.” — Ashtan L.

#11. A chicken.

“Oh God, so much regret…When I was 25, I was really into this musician. I’d seen him in concert a few times, had his autograph, etc. So one time after a show, I got to talk to him, and since I already had his autograph, I asked him to draw a chicken on me…And he did. And it was awful. But in my 25-year-old mind, it was awesome, and I got the chicken tattooed.” — Roxanne W.

#10. Lettuce leaves.

“I have three clovers on my hip that I got when I was 17. Then I had kids. They’re lettuce leaves now.” — Kelly A.

#9. Young and stupid is the whole story sometimes.

“I got a butterfly flying onto a flower around my hip bone that I absolutely hate but don’t even notice it anymore. I got it when I was 19 laying on a kitchen table at a tattoo party. Young and stupid…YIKES!! The drawing was soooo much nicer than the tattoo. The tattoo has a meaning but horribly done. I’d love to cover it up but I don’t want to waste time and money on something else that I’ll regret.” — Tiffany R.

#8. Don’t be the guinea pig.

“My friend got a tattoo gun and he needed someone to practice on. Me being 18 and under the influence told him, ‘Go for it, ‘I’ll be your first tattoo EVER — ON THE TOP OF MY ARM WHERE EVERYONE SEES IT.’ While sitting at my kitchen table, two stars took him 1.5 hours. Never again.” — Becky V.

#7. Spell check!

“Misspelled word in my scripture tattoo. Ugh.” — Darci S.

#6. As soon as he was finished.

“I got a tattoo when I was 18 and I kid you NOT, I regretted it as soon as he was finished! Shortly after, I attempted to get it removed but the physician told me that there was not a tattoo removal process for African Americans at the time that would not leave scarring.

I would rather have the tattoo than scarring, so I kept it and figured I would try again to see if technology advanced. My tattoo is a ladybug with ‘Lady Sarah’ underneath. I got it because I love ladybugs and a little bit of peer pressure too. My friend at the time was like ‘let’s do it!’ and I gave in. I regret it because I believe my body is a temple.” — Sarah J.

#5. Parents know best.

“I have a tramp stamp I got when I was 18 that I wish I never got. It’s a flower and some tribal. Should have listened to my parents.” — Heather H.

#4. Meaningless.

“It is two Chinese symbols on my hip. I got it when I first moved into college … come to find out it doesn’t mean what it is supposed to. It was supposed to mean ‘brave girl.’ A Chinese friend of mine later confirmed that this doesn’t really mean anything.” — Tiffany S.

#3. Don’t cheap out.

“$13 Friday the 13th tattoo. Peer pressure sucks.” — Rachel S.

#2. Cringeworthy.

“I was so ready to get a tattoo when I turned 18 that I kind of just latched onto any design that was ‘meaningful.’ I ended up choosing a cheesy line from a poem I was obsessed with. It’s not a terrible quote but I cringe every time someone reads it.” — Marie W.

#1. Location, location, location.

“My tattoo is the Supergirl symbol (just like Superman but is pink and yellow) and it is right above my badonkadonk (aka the tramp stamp). It is my first and only tattoo that I had done as a birthday gift for myself on my 35th birthday.  At the time, I was enduring a neverending custody battle with my son’s father.

I was a single mom that held down a job, paid my rent and fed my son all on my own. It symbolized “S” for my first name and the strength of Supergirl…I regret it because of the location…Especially when I am wearing a bikini, or worse, at work bending down low to pick up something.” — Stefanie L.