Every time someone I know gets a tattoo and asks me what I think of it, I say I think it "looks brilliant". This is because the reality - that they have just spent hundreds of dollars on a regrettably permanent mistake - is simply too harsh to spell out.

It takes a lot for a tattoo to actually look cool, not least since you need to be a 'tattoo type of person' for any ink to work at all. Some people just don't look right with tattoos; all pasty, freckled skin coloured in with some tribal pattern of which they have no idea of the real meaning.

Perhaps my attitude towards ink is a little dictatorial, but there you have it, these are my feelings, friends.

Of late, though, a new type of tattoo has sprung up, and I have to say I think it's piggin' marvellous. 'Cover up' tattoos have become popular as they use scars, birthmarks and more as the basis for really bloody cool tattoo designs. Not only are these empowering if they help those who feel a little self-conscious about their bodies - but they are also incredibly creative and I could tell a friend who got one I thought it looked brilliant without having to lie to their face.

Here are some of the very best examples.

1. Beautiful

2. So clever 

3. Colourful and creative

4. An incredible design 

5. Quirky and cool 

6. Wow.

7. Flower design down the spine

8. This is so cool

9. Zippers are a popular theme 

10. A powerful image 

Which is your favourite? Personally I think they're all ridiculously cool, and a great way of embracing scars on one's body. Of course, there's nothing at all wrong with having a scar in the first place, so leaving them as they are with no tattoo embellishment is also very cool.

For some individuals, life has thrown some serious hurdles their way. Whether that's being involved in a life-altering car crash, or having to undergo major surgery, these kinds of experiences tend to leave lasting scars, that are physical as well as mental. And while these scars may not be the prettiest things to look at, they serve as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit, and affirm to their owners that they are survivors who have emerged more powerful and strong because of their struggles. While some people choose to wear their scars with pride, others opt to get beautiful tattoos to cover them up. Take a gander at these beautiful and creative tats:

1. How pretty 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/qrCbowqO3J/]]

2. This is so unique 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/n0pjzahnGM/]]

3. You can hardly even see the scar now 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/oC4hvGIaNk/]]

4. Ditto this 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/oB6snRqhLC/]]

5. This is an amazing transformation 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/cf4b8-MUWG/]]

6. This tattoo covers up a tummy-tuck scar 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/ml7Em_FA0K/]]

7. These patterns are strategically placed

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/RDafgjNK_B/]]

8. How colourful

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/1OZF1brDDt/]]

9. This tat is so unique 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/1JbmrOFzYT/]]

10. Beautiful 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/1EKZ3pLh0f/]]

11. This completely covered the scar 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/0EPUwwPRc1/]]

12. Lovely

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/yX7Fy3JOi4/]] Well, not only are these tattoos absolutely beautiful, but they also serve as a reminder of their owner's resilience, and that's even more breathtaking. In other news, an unconscious man with a "Do Not Resuscitate" tattoo has caused problems at a hospital.

Tattoos are a serious commitment. Once you've got one, you're pretty much stuck with it for life - from the wobbly line work to the misspelled lettering. Of course, there are some things you can get touched up, such as unsaturated colour, dodgy shading, and misshapen designs - if you're lucky, that is. For the biggest mistakes, however, a simple touch-up won't do, and you either need to get the artwork removed or covered-up. Fortunately, there are some talented artists out there who can turn any wreck into a piece to be proud of, and here are just some of them...

1. From eyesore to eye-catching

2. The original piece was simply un-bear-able

3. Tattoo from hell becomes stairway to heaven

4. This piece turned out a treat

5. Eggy bread? What a hoot!

6.  This one is pretty nice

7. This eagle found Nirvana

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba_YL7bBQpW/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

8. You'd be lion if you said this wasn't awesome

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba_XQ8zlxM5/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

9. Flower power goes a long way

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba_VHBCjaTt/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

10. Out with the old, in with the new

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba-_vbPDFd6/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

11. Sometimes a picture paints a thousand words

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba-729PjORv/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

12. Goodbye tribal rose, hello tri-rose

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba-wKrrhVAx/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

13. This deserves a round of a-paws

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba-mx1Ah-xw/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

14. Slain by the grim reaper himself

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba-R4HuANmZ/?tagged=coveruptattoo]]

15. Everything deserves a second chance

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba-Glj3jQUR/?tagged=coveruptattoo]] Of course, it's better to be happy with the first result than have to go back and get a completely new piece done, but it's good to know that - should you fall victim to a crappy tat - there are ways of fixing almost anything.    

Tattoos are never something you should rush into. You've got to consider your design, your artist, and (most importantly) whether it's actually a good idea to permanently etch something into your skin or not. Judging by some 'artwork' I've seen, I'm fairly certain that there are a number people out there who don't think about any of the above for more than a second... if at all. What's more, if getting these terrible tattoos wasn't a huge mistake on its own, some folks will go a step further by allowing photographic evidence of the monstrosities to enter into the world wide web. And, yes, you guessed it, there's a list of them right here. So grab a seat, get out your popcorn, and take a look at some of these awful choices.

1. 'DEATH BEFORE DISHOUNER'

I can only assume that this person had never seen a tattoo before they got this. Or a dictionary.

2. Gonna look good

No it isn't.

3. Why So Serious?(

Maybe if this person had taken their tattoo more seriously, it wouldn't have turned out so amazingly bad.

4. Superman

Or just a super big mistake.

5. Slam dunk

Ok, this one is actually pretty neat.

6. Tank body

I get it... but why?

7. Mowing The lawn

I respect this guy's commitment to the joke.

8. Never don't give up

Always do check your double negatives.

9. Rules

Shame God couldn't have given this person a hand with their spelling.

10. Portrait

Kill it with fire.

11. I love him...

Til death do us boil?

12. Never A Failure

I hate to break it to this person, but that apostrophe is, in fact, a failure.

13. "Heart With Wings"

This tattoo's only saving grace is that you might be able to cover it.

14. Handiwork

Fingers, sausages, or deflated modelling balloons?

There's some truly bad decisions here, so if you're considering getting a tattoo, just make sure it doesn't look anything like these.

Getting a tattoo is a pretty big decision to make. Like, it's going to be there forever, and you better know for sure that you want to get one well before you book your visit to the parlour.

Many people know right away what kind of tattoos they want to get, whether it be a quirky little symbol on the wrist or ankle, a full sleeve with incredible artistic detailing, or a memorable signifier of a loved one or a special date. Tattoos can be beautiful, inspiring and just plain cool, but some of them... let's just say some of them are more regrettable - especially if you get a tattoo on your face.

If you're bold enough to do so, you'd hope it's something you're willing to show the world for the rest of your life. Because unlike other tattoos that can be hidden by long sleeves, facial tattoos stare people who are looking at you right in the face.

While there are some pretty cool face tattoos (I'm thinking of traditional Mauri tats or the intricate design by Czech professor and music composer Vladimír Franz who randomly once ran for president), not all of them are as aesthetically pleasing. Here are 12 face tattoos people may well have regretted...

1. You've gotta give it to him - that's an impressive moustache

2. Wouldn't keeping your kid's face as your phone background be enough?

3. This guy isn't clowning around

4. "It doubles as a chess board!"

5. Is it a helmet? Is it a hairline?

6. This looks WAY too real

7. Finished off with a tactical piercing too I see

8. Are those penises? In the shape of a butterfly?

9. I wonder under which circumstances this tattoo came about...

10. I see what you did here but...

11. Oh man, this poor guy

12. Nope, nope, nope

Well, I really wonder how many of these people still have these tattoos. At least for the ones who have their tattoos on the back of their head, a good crop of hair or a beanie would be able to obscure it. But those Ray-Ban glasses? Or the huge spider drawn from that dude's nose? Those are impossible to cover up.

But it's likely that these tattoos are just part of their identity, and that they're the type of people who like expressing themselves in ways that might shock others. In any case, it is possible to remove tattoos, though I can imagine it would be quite a long and painful process to remove a large tattoo that covers your whole face.

Kudos to them for the bravery in the first place. I certainly wouldn't be game!