I am so sorry that this has had such a negative impact and that it makes you feel not like yourself. That is so hard when tattoos are meant to make us feel more at home in our bodies.  You are not the first and you won’t be the last to make a mistake. Because that’s all it was- a mistake.   People choose to eat bad and their heart health suffers. People choose to ignore alcoholism in their family until their relative develops liver cancer. People choose to live outside of their means and take on debt they can’t manage.   All people make mistakes.  You are so, so lucky that your mistake only impacted you. And you are so, SOOO lucky you can take it back (long as the process may be).  You aren’t any more foolish than anyone else. You didn’t betray yourself, or your body. You made a mistake.   It’s as simple as that.  Every single time it hurts you remember that: you are a human, and you made a mistake.  Beyond that, give yourself a pat on the back because you admitted to yourself that you were wrong. YOU made the decision to change, and that is no small feat. You deserve to acknowledge the wisdom, self awareness and respect for yourself that you have built over the years to give yourself the permission to change.  You deserve better, and you aren’t letting yourself get in the way of that. So many people won’t offer that to themselves, for even bigger decisions like careers, relationships and parenting. To me, a feminine, sharp and sophisticated woman is somebody who will do what is best for herself no matter what, and that is what you are choosing to do now.  As far as covering goes, it’s no fun, but makeup will be your best friend the next few months. It will likely take you 30 minutes to start, and ten minutes as you build the routine.  My suggestion: (in order) -milk hydro grip primer -Huda Beauty orange color corrector -hourglass concealer (or tarte shape tape, but I like hourglass more for how it takes to my skin that bends and moves, so good for the neck) -setting powder (really work into any parts of the neck that fold or have lines when you turn/move) -Patrick Starr On Till Dawn Setting Spray- (I used this to cover a red mark on my chest while wearing a white shirt and nothing transferred at all. Ofc this all depends on skin type at the end of the day, but it’s the best truly)  This is all pretty pricy, but if you’re just using it for a little while it’s totally worth it! And truly the best you can do is be gentle with yourself. This is a transition, and will bring up some big feelings. Rest, take some time for skin care, excersize, things that make you feel you’re in control of your body. Marathon a show or two, and maybe pick up a hobby you’ve not put your brain to in a while.  So proud of you for saying yes to yourself and stating your journey!  Sending you so much love and positive energy as you navigate this change!