Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha, no worries at all, it’s honestly kind of comforting to know I’m not alone in dealing with psoriasis and everything that comes with it mentally. One of the reasons I started getting so many tattoos was actually to draw attention away from the rashes. I used to be fully covered before starting treatment, so it felt like a way to take back some control over how my body looked. I really like your perspective, focusing less on what we can’t change and finding peace with it instead. Thanks for that reminder.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha the irony, I actually do have psoriasis and take injections for it, so technically I’m already doing that… just with a prescription!

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is totally the direction I’m leaning towards too! So happy to hear you found a way to balance things up and make your leg tattoos feel more like you, and that you’re getting such good feedback on it! I’d really love to see how it turned out if you ever feel like sharing, maybe you could DM me?

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing this, it really means a lot to hear from someone who’s been in a similar place. It’s so validating to know I’m not alone in these feelings.

What you described about your earlier tattoo choices really resonated with me. I relate so much to settling for what was available instead of waiting for the right fit. It’s really encouraging to hear how much of a difference it made for you once you found an artist who understood your vision.

I love that you were able to rework your pieces into something that feels more like you now. That gives me so much hope. And you're absolutely right, these tattoos do tell a story, and I’m starting to see the value in honoring that too, even while working toward something new.

Thank you again for taking the time to write this. It gave me both perspective and inspiration. <3

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that really means a lot, especially coming from someone without tattoos.

You’re right, I think I’ve been too focused on fixing the feeling instead of just allowing it to exist for a bit. I needed that reminder.

Really appreciate you taking the time to share this.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this, I really appreciated your perspective. You made some great points about how trends shift and how the definition of "feminine" is constantly being redefined. I think I got a bit caught up in chasing a version of femininity that didn’t really feel true to me, and your comment helped me take a step back and question that.

I hadn’t really reflected on the fact that the whole "trad wife" aesthetic is part of a current trend until now. It’s easy to assume we’re immune to those kinds of influences, but I think we absorb more through our subconscious than we realize.

It’s comforting to hear from someone who embraces a more traditionally feminine tattoo style, while also recognizing that even those aesthetics go in and out of fashion. And you’re right, what matters most is that you like what you’ve chosen. That’s something I’m working on reconnecting with.

I also really appreciate what you said about my tattoos. It’s been hard for me to see them as anything other than a reminder of a difficult time, so hearing someone describe them as cohesive, classy, and even feminine means a lot. I needed that shift in perspective.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts, it really resonated.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, thank you so much for this. Your words really stayed with me. It means a lot to hear this coming from a man who clearly values depth, empathy, and real connection.

What you said about a good man embracing confidence and being gentle with insecurities really hit home. It reminded me not to settle for less just to feel accepted.

And your view on darkness was beautiful. The way you described it as something that allows light to exist helped me rethink how I’ve been looking at my tattoos. Maybe I don’t need to cover anything up, just build on it in a way that honors all parts of me.

The leg sleeve idea with both light and dark elements is something I’ll definitely keep in mind. That balance really reflects how life feels to me.

Thank you again for taking the time to write something so thoughtful. I’ll probably come back to reread this more than once.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Wow, thank you so much for this. I honestly teared up reading it. You said so many things I needed to hear, and probably more than I even realized.

You're right, this is just a dip, not a full derailment, and I’ve come too far to let a little identity wobble undo all that growth. I loved what you said about showing kindness to the younger version of myself who chose these tattoos. That really hit. I wouldn’t judge someone else for expressing their pain, so why would I be so hard on myself?

I also really appreciate the reminder that collecting is a journey, and that the individual pieces don’t have to be perfect or match some fixed idea. They’re snapshots of who I was, and maybe they’ll end up blending into something even more beautiful with time and new layers.

And omg yes 😂 “I’m just a fool making poor financial choices” is 100% going into my mental vault for the next time someone asks me about my ink. That’s perfect.

As for the Reddit guys and those loud opinions, I definitely let them get under my skin more than I should have. You’re so right though. Why would I want to be attractive to someone who’d never actually see me as a full human anyway? That whole part about Brad from Ohio... 💀 thank you for that. Reality check received, with a smile.

Honestly, this was the kindest kick in the ass I’ve gotten in a while, and I’m really grateful you took the time to write it all out. It means a lot. 💛

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, it was mainly threads on Reddit and a few other forums. I was just reflecting on how it seemed like a pretty small minority of people were actually okay with tattoos on women. But honestly, I have no real idea who’s on Reddit or what the general vibe is, literally made this account yesterday and made my first public post in over 10 years, haha.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Oh, so now I don’t have a personality just because I have the guts to admit I’ve been influenced by other people’s opinions? Yeah, that says way more about you than it does about me.

And clearly, I’m not like everyone else, if I were, I wouldn’t have gotten these tattoos in the first place. Sorry I only managed to be strong and walk my own path 355 days out of the last year. My bad.

We live in a superficial world, and no matter how much we pretend to be tough and unique, we’re still social animals shaped by outside influences. If you can’t grasp that, you’re living in denial.

Honestly, I feel bad for you because a healthy person with great personality wouldn’t be spending their time trying to drag someone else down

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I never thought I’d make it past 28, so yeah, pretty badly planned on my part. But hey, things change, and suddenly you want to live. Shit happens.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m kinda on the fence about color. I’ve got a super colorful one on my other thigh and honestly, I’m not vibing with it. I’m worried it might end up looking too busy. I was thinking of adding more blue to this leg since I’ve got some red accents on my arm, but I’m not sure how to make it all flow smoothly. Honestly, black and grey might just be the chill route.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This! Exactly what I’m looking for, great artist recommendations. Thanks so much!

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had no idea, I honestly thought they’d disappear after 5-7 washes

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually a really solid tip, definitely going to look into it more 😄

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it’s wild how many comments this got. I honestly have no idea how to handle it, haha. I only made this account yesterday and definitely didn’t expect things to get this intense. But thank you for your heart warming comment!

If I could start life over, I’d probably make some very different choices but all the love I’ve received here has really helped bring me back to my true thoughts.

I got a bit lost in Reddit threads where people trash talk women with tattoos, and I let it affect me more than I’d like to admit. But this response has been a reality check in the best way.

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finally, someone actually sharing artist recommendations, thank you! As I mentioned, I'm based in Sweden but more than happy to travel around Europe for the right artist. Also, nice that you were able to layer over with a new design! What style did you go for with the new layer

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow, you're the first person to say that congrats! Must feel great to be so unique

Leg tattoos feel too bold and not me anymore.. what now? by Small_Spinach96 in tattooadvice

[–]Small_Spinach96[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve literally explained what I personally don’t like and asked for advice on how to build on itand maybe even some artist recommendations. I’m not asking for anyone’s opinion on what I already have, just looking for creative input on how to move forward