Red Flag Tattoos | Tattoo Artists React

On our Tiktok ( / inkedmagazine , you've heard endlessly about red flag tattoos from the perspective of the people. But have you ever wondered what tattoo artists themselves see as red flags? Let's hope none of our artists have to make an apology video after this one.
Directed & Edited by Sammy Martel
Producers - Sami Hajar, Sammy Martel
Associate Producers - Julia Cancilla, Mina Eren Ozgu
ARTISTS:
/ amandatoy
/ keithhernandez.nyc
/ diogonunestattoos
/ giarosetattoo
/ ivanpazart
/ jandadrawsstuff
/ jonmesatattoos
/ lizcooktattoo
/ madamartyr
/ matruletattoo
/ matttruiano
/ missvampira
/ priscilla.tattoos
/ babyrockstattoos
/ tattoosbyjoeyp
/ bonnieblue_tattoo
/ delvirus.tattoos
/ el_whyner
/ glyphomancer
/ dirtyoldbirkin
/ _mimicita_
/ bynatitattoo
/ penjoyment
/ lotusonyx
/ inkstigator
/ trishapaytastattoo
/ grim___weeper
WEBSITE: www.inkedmag.com/
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[@misswhovivian868]

I was genuinely surprised how long it took for someone to bring up swastikas, for the sake of my own sanity I'll assume that's because everyone thought that was a given

[@AcidPhos69]

Yeah, it's a given. There are other vids on this channel asking that same question and it's come up a lot.

[@angrybidoof847]

Assuming they where just overthinking it pol

[@jamesflames6987]

I think people normally get those in prison, rather than actual tattoo shops.

[@GrimmEnt.]

Swastikas were originally an Asian thing. Hitler adopted the Swastika and tainted it. I've seen several blacks, asians, and Native Americans with swastikas.

[@nitemareman1]

"Only god can judge me" I burst out laughing. So f'ing true. I was lucky enough to be tattooed by Liz Cook. Such a sweetheart!

[@Gingersnaps1978]

I love her!

[@Jafiveon]

As Kyle Kinane would say, "no, I'm judging you."

[@PermacultureHomestead]

My Chicano homie who just woke up was the only one to say Racist tattoos are a big red flag. That should have been answer no. 1.

[@Maialeen]

That's incredibly obvious, has been mentioned on the channel by tattooers over and over again and is not an interesting answer.

[@bunnerkins]

I think other artists alluded to it. Like the one chick who said no "dictators" or the guy who mentioned not tattooing things that go against their values.

[@stephaniecruvant9130]

Love his hat too!

[@pissapocalypse]

I think it wasn't said because everyone already knows that hate symbol tats are red flags. We want to hear what their specific red flags are

[@EM92401]

It’s the obvious answer, no one clicked on this video to hear someone say racist tattoos are bad

[@marie-lucillej.strano5194]

I can confirm that ‘Only God Can Judge Me’ is a red-flag tattoo 😂 a person I dated briefly had that tattooed across his chest, and it definitely indicated that he lived by his own rules…..not a good outcome for anyone 🤣

[@eliquate]

Right? Like… you can’t just say that as a justification to be an a-hole.

[@nexusobserve]

damn you dated someone like that you are wild

[@pissapocalypse]

​@@nexusobserveWell they said "briefly"

[@nexusobserve]

come on, if you've dated american girls you can read between the lines and know she was attracted at first@@pissapocalypse

[@hezmydaddyo2722]

I truly appreciate the gentleman who recognizes that tattoos can negatively impact your life and that most young minds just don’t grasp the concept of the future and having no idea where the path of life may lead.

[@zackfrm330]

yea i lost it with the lady saying "im not gonna do that to you" on that eyebrow tatt like much respect to you no doubt😂😂😂😂

[@tattoodude8946]

Yeah - that really jumped out at me because I saw a few videos today of people getting mad about the "gatekeeping" of "older" tattoo artists. But I love her phrasing - "I'm not doing the *TO* you." not " *FOR* you". A very distinct difference. She knew she would be inflicting something upon him and not truly giving him what he really wanted.

[@3hristopher]

It’s good to see reasonable people working tattoos cause he’s right especially if it’s your first tattoo responsible 5:41

[@karakask5488]

For me... copying the Jared Leto Joker tattoos. Especially the HaHaHa one. Red flags everywhere

[@RoxxyKaosGG]

I am endlessly grateful for artists who communicate rarher than just doing the tattoo they're asked of. Forever thankful that a tattoo artist convinced me to get a tat on my shoulder that's easy to hide rather than on my neck. I was 16 and my mom (who took me to get it done) didn't even pushback on that.

[@Mustlovebooks15]

The biggest idiot and all around horrible person I know got “only god can judge me” while he was in prison. Got it on his neck. So yes, I agree with that one 😂

[@Sandrilyonaify]

The editor guy\gal, you did it again! Pure fire!)

[@nexusobserve]

gen z comment

[@Sandrilyonaify]

@@nexusobserve joke on you, I'm a millennial)

[@inked]

We'll let him know!

[@audryklein]

Xolo man is spitting pure facts

[@angrylilcheewawa]

I worked with someone in a home care job who had Minions tattoos. She was abusive to our clients and coworkers. She got fired but I've hated those yellow little bastards ever since.

[@The_Minotaur]

My tattoo artist refuses to do face and hand tattoos if you don't already have atleast a sleeve and even for my sleeves he didn't go past the wrist line

[@ej5677]

That’s pretty responsible, good on ‘em

[@loustorie2183]

My hands where my second n third tattoos

[@artisticalex1206]

For me it’s Only God Can Judge Me, serial killer tattoos, name tattoos and swastikas that are a red flag for me.

[@xx-hy4uy]

Gotta be the clock/rose/lion combination or really shittily filled in cursive script. Anything that says something like, 'Freedom Never Dies' in flowery writing is an instant no contact with that person lol

[@lyndsycarson8302]

I’ve seen some fudged up tattoos like the anime toddler crying on a girls stomach so it looked like if she was engaged in man and woman things it would be harming the very child looking tattoo🤢 and like graphic P tattoo with tears on the girls face🤢 people are messed up and i can’t unsee those tattoos and those are on them forever

[@narutowebby]

Was it like an anime Ahegao tattoo?? I think I’ve seen it before it’s fucked up.

[@Chillikilli]

Ewww

[@ejakaegypt]

Gosh hadn’t watched this in so long I forgot how good it is

[@dh7314]

A huge red flag would be an actual red flag

[@PapaRoachie]

Bruh. A swastika. … that’s a HUGE RED FLAG. Same with confederate flags. Anything like that is a HUGE red flag for me.

[@Akerfeldtfan]

I'm sorta shocked that there isn't much mention of hate symbols. That seems like the most obvious answer.

[@Invader19x]

I think maybe because its the obvious answer? Every time they do videos on worst tattoos hate tattoos always get brought up so maybe they asked artists for different answers

[@BOYVIRGO666]

Since its brought up. I have 2 red flags for tattoo artists that tells me im not going to do business with them. 1. They will not even attempt to give you a quote or an idea of cost after you tell them what you want done. This annoys the piss out of me. I dont want to waste your time if its outside budget and you should know now to waste my time. Its a super common problem though and its why i wont deal with some artists in general. I dont want to spend days dancing around prices. tell me how much you think it is. and we can figure it out. 2. Telling me what i want rather than expressing their view of how to do it better. iv had a few(this is fairly rare) artists go "oh well thats more filler" uh...you mean a band tattoo? why? or telling me the idea wont work without any concepts or ideas especially when im trying to work with them on ideas. If you cant do it thats fine. But dont try to change the entire thing because you just dont like the idea.

[@tonyedmisten5067]

Hello good sir/mam. I'm an artist and have something to say. On the #1 comment. The only time I (maybe not all artist) will not give a price is if it's over the phone. There is a lot of reasons for this. Or. if it's a custom piece that I need to draw. The concept art has to be complete to price it. I agree %100 on the #2. Now there has been a few times over the years that I just flat out said " no " to an idea because I didn't want my name on it.

[@BOYVIRGO666]

@@tonyedmisten5067 I understand not being able to give an estimate over the phone since you dont know body size and such. The problem is if the artist refuses to give a price at all up until like...the day of or until they are trying to press you to schedule. by that point youv already wasted a bunch of time.

[@jimklish8002]

Boyfriend/ girlfriend name

[@BHRoadStoriesBH]

Very nice video. Best regards from Bosnia 🇧🇦

[@narutowebby]

👏🏽ICARUS👏🏽 TATTOO👏🏽

[@thatoneguyfromthatoneplace9515]

What's wrong with Led Zeppelin...?

[@PowerLocsTV]

Calling a lower back tattoo a “tramp stamp” is a 🚩 🚩 🚩

[@thedayidied]

New word: "Harmonical." 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@brentmatheson4729]

Thank you! I thought the same thing. 😄

[@wonderwall935]

Trust no one , no regrets , preying hands and crosses . 😂😅

[@Spinkicksandrootbeer]

7:15. I work at a shop as counter staff every 2-3 hours we check in and see if a client needs anything; water, candy, temp ok

[@annieboookhall]

I just have a black and white sunflower on my thigh (rather high on my thigh). I swear it's there because of work lol

[@hannahhh32]

Ha, I have a Frankenweenie tattoo (Tim Burton AND Disney) and a Beetlejuice tattoo. I went to film school and admired Tim Burton as a director. I guess I'm just a HUUUUGE red flag of a person.

[@SamuelGBerman]

Nooo. Tim is THE SHIT. Everything he does. SHE is the 🚩

[@lanes0104]

I'm getting a big Miss Argentina new school tattoo on my leg... I have a Mickey shaped tattoo on my shoulder I feel you hahahaha

[@randallflagg3700]

She's probably a big movie buff, and sees Tim Burton as "baby's first favorite director" kinda thing? That's the only explanation I can come up with...

[@grantgilbert2822]

It could be worse, you could have a bunch of David Cronenburg tats, that’d be more of a red flag to me. Tim Burton is downright family friendly at this point. Even the older stuff most kids have seen nowadays

[@rsmobyrd]

Me with a nightmare before Christmas tattoo lol oh well 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@PuertoRicoChico]

Yeah I felt that pain too lol

[@rsmobyrd]

@@PuertoRicoChico lol like one said Tim Burton the other said Disney I got 2 red flags for the price of one.. I'm ✨ efficient ✨

[@joemomma2116]

“Only god can judge me” proceeds to sin more than non religious people 😭😭

[@vexumvii3559]

Watching this at 5am while they say its early at 1pm

[@annabethsmith-kingsley2079]

3:56 I thought she said, "...like a Jos Louis..." lmao

[@annabethsmith-kingsley2079]

I was a teen I had this beautiful classmate whose first tattoo was a snake wrapping around her index finger on her hand. She said, 'this is to make sure I never work at a bank'. She literally got it to be a job-stopper.

[@danithedoll]

Gia Rose!! ❤

[@wasumoto457]

I currently only have four and they’re all in scattered places, I have so many ideas it’s not funny and that’s why I haven’t done ANY of them yet because they keep chopping and changing, the core ideas stay the same but most of them don’t stay solid apart from one

[@UsorThem07]

Straight up want to be tattooed by that last person. I'm slightly scared that I'll get a great tattoo but it'll keep reminding me of a bad session lmao

[@ChascaSnow]

My very first tattoo was a finger tattoo

[@OwenRichardson-qu7zs]

The girl whose name popped up as “grim_weeper” IS SO CUTE AAAHHHH

[@lamoravicious2519]

I am surprised that not many of them mentioned a swastika. That would have been my first answer.

[@carlosbracho876]

Hate speech or swastikas are Big Red Flags for me. And I love tattoos by the way ( even the bad ones).

[@BrandonOfJapan]

No ragrets

[@stompy6667]

Rose tattoo on the hand

[@nexusobserve]

except for Remy

[@thestraydog]

My ex gf has that on one of her hands, damn you're right! Along with a jaguar face on the other and BABY DOLL across her knuckles in pink and black... I should have known, boys... 😂

[@burneraccounthandle]

@@nexusobservethat dude has some of the shittiest work i've ever seen

[@kornklone]

The big homie el_whyner gave a real af answer. He doesn't wanna fuck up someone's life or his own conscience over a few bucks. Respect to the OG.

[@julive565]

Diva central

[@absolutless]

lol "swazi" ... deff sus.

[@nickj12]

2:08-2:50 not sure why that's a "Red flag" unless they have too many broken heart tattoos on their body all for the same reason. LOL!

[@gaia7240]

Also pokemon or super Mario tattoo

[@oofie9932]

1:12 what is that creature

[@Mcfiddlydiddly]

Heart with a rolled up dollar bill sticking through it vertically as it bleeds onto some cards and coca leaves. Tattoo that represents cocaine, gambling, cheating and heartbreak.

[@Kaotiqua]

I feel like not being clear what you meant by the question just made the artists look bad. I also feel like most of this vid was just hammering down on the joke of how the artists didn't know what you meant. Huge red flag? Vids that waste both my time, and the artists'.

[@classmst89]

2 girls woke up so late the called 1:12pm the mornining and having eyebags. Someone got to explain how does that make anyone iconic? Surely they meant stupid

[@iamahuman2813]

Gojo satoru tattoo is a red flag unless there are other characters… do I need to explain??

[@sarahchaplin4833]

I am planning on getting a Disney tattoo lol

[@codenamehoneytattoos]

Nobody said ex’s name? 😩

[@z0m813]

Best part is in a few years every tattoo they have will also be red flags there are NO perfect tattoos everybody has their own style art is subjective.

[@SamuelGBerman]

The girl whining ajout how early it was and it was 1:12pm was the mist LA/California shit I’ve seen this week

[@r7calvin]

Dude, it's super common for tattoo artists to not start work until 1pm.

[@SamuelGBerman]

@@r7calvin absolutely….. but she isn’t tattooing. She is filming a show. Just saying in LIFE 1pm typically isn’t EARLY

[@meatisburger2]

What I call the PNW Fakie tattoos…. That’s when a person has only hands , neck, and face tattoos… so in a hoodie they appear slung back. But in the summer it all falls apart.

[@virginielekiwi]

PNW?

[@rossco54]

I liked these better when they didn't do the daft sounds and graphics

[@stevenf5902]

It’s mad cringey 😂

[@kassiopea127]

[@prestonpope625]

i mean i have a religious tattoo but it signifies the loss of a loved one instead of religion is that okay ?

[@jaycenott2247]

Getting a tattoo that signifies something religious isn't bad lol you don't have to listen to that person. 'only God can judge me' is a stupid tat tho

[@meatballsyes3854]

Why did no one say swastika?

[@hezmydaddyo2722]

They did.

[@broke602]

Man that last chick seemed kinda snooty but damn I would love to be tattooed by her because she changed my mind with the whole "good vibes" comment. Like ok yea she doesn't have a sense of humor but will make your tattoo experience great and memorable lol.

[@sheloveswilby]

I want a tim Burton tattoo. This question is confusing :)

[@terezacervenakova3512]

I'm thinking either corpse bride or Jack the pumpking king tattoo... And sometime in the future coraline:)

[@Thehappymasksalesman]

If you want it then get it. Don’t care what other people think.

[@narutowebby]

Stop being passive aggressive and just get the goddamn tattoo

[@narutowebby]

Stop being passive aggressive and just get the tattoo

[@fairlylocal7961]

What’s wrong with Tim Burton?

[@BabyJesus66]

The only way a Tim Burton tattoo is a red flag is if its any movie past the 90s. 😂😂

[@capt25252525]

Any religious tattoo. A cross or bible quotes. It's against their religion to get a tattoo but the love it enough to get it tattooed on them. Makes no sense to me

[@jvalot]

it's also against religion to wear jewelry, makeup, and two different material cloths of clothes..

[@Thehappymasksalesman]

Christianity doesn’t forbid Tattoos entirely. It forbids cutting yourself in honour of the dead which was a pagan practice and marking yourself in idolatry practices which again was done by the pagans of the time. It was about the Jews not being like the pagans. Early Christians would have Tattoos to identify each other without openly saying they were Christians because they were being persecuted by the Roman Empire. This also happens in Isaiah 44:5, a son of Jacob marks his arm with “of the LORD” so there is a Biblical example of what we’d now call “a religious Tattoo” as the Bible refers to them simply as markings. Modern bibles added the word tattoo but tattoo is a Māori word that didn’t enter the western language until the 1700’s. Also it was a commandment from the Old Testament and there are tons of commandments from the Old Testament that Christians don’t follow. Some Christians will bring up the whole Tattoo argument because it fits their dislike of Tattoos but they eat pork and aren’t circumcised and trim the sides of their beards etc etc etc

[@michaelmolloy3289]

Not actually against religion lmao, the modern translations of the Bible use the word tattoo but only very paraphrased translations, the original Greek text talks about scarrification for the dead which is a completely different thing if you look at the context of what was being done back then. That one passage is the only thing that even talks about anything related to tattooing...

[@TsukiNoInu93]

I think the clothes is old testiment so no longer a rule

[@LuLuRiveiro]

Im not a tatto artist, but if i were OMG the death eater from harry potter HUGE BRIGHT RED FLAG

[@Thehappymasksalesman]

Why?

[@burneraccounthandle]

lol what

[@bmphil3400]

One thing I noticed as a tattoo collector is the couple coming in and the man is getting the tattoo but the woman does all the talking......

[@Horror_N_M3tal]

I'm not a tattoo artist. But here's my red flag tattoos 1,Trend tattoos 2, Poorly done tattoos 3,Incomplete tattoos 4, quote tattoos are an indicator of an impatient person. And finally relationship tattoos as they are for those who are insecure.

[@Jonneymc420]

The Tim burton chick has daddy’s issues or something. That’s not a red flag tattoo 🤣

[@noonefromnowhere7945]

Nah I’m goth af and they do give kinda a like “Disney adult” vibe

[@JJ-um2dp]

Definitely Disney tattoos

[@greenrobot5]

I think a huge red flag is a blackout tattoo, cause it shows that whatever new tattoo they get they're gonna regret it sooner or later

[@richardelliott8352]

I would have expected more personal limits from those who represent as artists, but money talks and I am in no position to judge.

[@ladyabstinencelevain8696]

I avoid anyone with lost of those tiny home done ie ignorant tattoos

[@SageMerric]

Tim Burton I get but DISNEY is a red flag???? Everybody knows Disney adults got money

[@piotrdworowy183]

Well most religion forbides tattos ,so if a self-claimed "religious" person wants a tattoo it should be a red flag.

[@silverstarlight9395]

Sikhism doesn't forbid tattoos

[@piotrdworowy183]

@@silverstarlight9395as I said most

[@gaeldesmontagnesnoires1711]

I approve. ..And extra approval points on the editing, 😮the nipps of Bitcoin silk shirt lady🧡, the respossible moustache & the kali model volleyball girl(for moral support).

[@nrivera0717]

Tim burton movies are sick, she’s delusional lol

[@Jonneymc420]

I agree. He’s got such a huge body of work. To act like that’s a red flag is just strange.

[@nrivera0717]

@@Jonneymc420 sounds like she has a personal vendetta because of an ex

[@SamuelGBerman]

Is it just these INKed videos or is the tattoo industry turning very weird and Hipster. This must be based out of CALIFORNIA

[@kristinwojtowich8902]

What's hipster about this one? I just started following this channel so I'm not sure what you mean 😅

[@SamuelGBerman]

@@kristinwojtowich8902 98% of these artists.

[@davidstorrs]

Why is this a hard question? Any Nazi stuff. Confederate flags. Too much Jesus or Allah stuff. "I killed six people" teardrop prison tattoos. A portrait of an ex. A portrait of an ex getting their brains blown out. I'm sure I could go on.

[@SamuelGBerman]

This horrible woman said TIM BURTON tats?? And the entire fanbase. She is a WALKING 🚩

[@Kolkholzkola]

These red flag videos and comments sections are such gross mixes of too-cool nonsense and paternalism. Get over yourself and let people decorate their body however seems best for them, you’re not their dad and you’re not some guardian of cool.

[@Keepin_The_Peace]

I have strictly religious tattoos. Sacred heart, michale the archangel, and Mary. I don’t understand how religious tattoos in general are “red flags” any more than getting pop culture or art being put on your body. It’s subjective

[@sd-kn1br]

‘Only God can Judge Me’ I would personally consider a red flag, but anything else besides that, if it’s respectful towards said religion, I dont see an issue with

[@Keepin_The_Peace]

@@sd-kn1br yeah I’d agree, I’ve seen enough douche bags who aren’t even religious with said tattoo

[@throughcolouredglasses9300]

Just to play devil's advocate here, the artist who said having all religious tattoos was a personal red flag also specified she doesn't have any religion in her life at all. That might have been a very deliberate choice out of dislike for christianity/organised religion (bad experiences, an environment that pressured her about religion, etc), or it's because she didn't grow up religious and knows she won't get along with people for whom religion is a big part of their life (or they won't get along with her) due to clashing world views so it's better for everyone if she just stays away. Red flags are usually pretty generalised, but also quite specific to the person who mentions them. If she says they are a red flag, and you feel upset by a statement like that because your religion is personal and important to you, then you both probably wouldn't get along that well - which means it kinda works out? Mutually dodging each other 😅

[@rickwrites2612]

​​@@throughcolouredglasses9300No she said that someone having alot of religious tattoos *indicates* THEY have no religion in their life. Ie they are externalizing it so much. Probably because in certain communities religious especially Catholic or Orthodox Christian tattoos are common among criminals/gangs/organized crime.

[@JLangl3y]

Why don’t you pick some tattooers on on the quality of their tattooing instead of how they look all these people that you pick to do these interviews I think you pick them because the way they look I’ve never seen you an interview a solid tattooer. Where are the Scott Sylvia‘s, the Tim Lehi‘s where are the Freddy Corbin‘s

[@mimakins]

big mad for no reason

[@jackystar5099]

Then don't watch the videos if you don't like the content

[@BabyJesus66]

Busy tattooing

[@darnarxz]

the have good tattoo artists on here all the time wtf? Most of the artists here are normal looking. This comments makes 0 sense.

[@narutowebby]

You’re so right. I’ve been to a few of the artists pages and a lot of them if you zoom in on their work have shaky lines and bad shading. They look like they’re still apprentices but they have ig fame so they get interviews

[@grammernotzi]

"I think as tattooers we have a responsibility to society" Bwaaaa ha ha ha 😆 This dude serious? You got to love the gatekeeping gaslighters....

[@Jaeno311]

Yea, get whatever tattoo you want. Stop gatekeeping.

[@nexusobserve]

a gate is a good idea for someone under 18 wanting a job stopper

[@Jaeno311]

@tomikemeny5774 I think you need to look up the definition of a gate my friend.

[@butterbagboy]

They are all red flags! Tattoos ARE red flags.

[@lauramessy]

no

[@ivannevarez8478]

Tattoos are kind of Stupid to me. Don’t have any and have seen far too many bad ones. When I go out with friends I am different cuz I don’t have any. Scares are way cooler and better.