We often look to A-listers on social media for tattoo inspiration.
But like the rest of us, even the biggest celebrities can regret their choice of ink.
This is especially true when their tattoos were born out of a whirlwind romance or a rebellious phase they would rather forget.
One of the earliest celebrity tattoo removal moments was when Johnny Depp transformed his “Winona Forever” into “Wino Forever “after his breakup with Winona Ryder in the 90’s.
Now, more and more stars are fading, removing, or covering up their unwanted tattoos with the help of laser tattoo removal.
Here’s a round-up of which celebrities have had their tattoos removed, sharing their stories in public interviews or on social media.
If you are interested in laser tattoo removal treatment, why not get in touch with our team to book an initial consultation.
12 celebrity tattoo removals
There is always speculation about which stars have removed or changed their tattoos.
Here are just a few famous faces who have gone public above removing unwanted tattoos, or who have faded them to get a cover up.
Pete Davidson tattoo removal
Pete Davidson is well-known for having over 100 tattoos, many of which were linked to his exes.
Apparently, he has already spent over $200,000 on laser tattoo removal because they took too long to cover up on film sets.
Most notably, he covered up his matching Ariana Grande tattoo “mille tendresse” with the word cursed after they broke up in 2018.
50 Cent Tattoo Removal
Rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) went through several sessions of laser tattoo removal to get rid of ink on his arms.
This was a decision to help support his move into acting because sitting in a make-up chair for hours every day to cover up his sleeves was becoming too time consuming.
Angelina Jolie tattoo removal
Following her divorce from actor Billy Bob Thornton in 2003, Angelina Jolie decided to have laser treatment to remove his name and a dragon tattoo for her upper left arm.
She eventually decided to cover up this area with a new tattoo of the geographical coordinates where her children were born.
Adrienne Bailon tattoo removal
If you have watched Keeping Up With The Kardashians over the years, you will know that Adrienne Bailon famously dated Rob Kardashian.
During their relationship she had his name tattooed on her bottom. After their break-up, Adrienne went through several sessions of tattoo removal to say goodbye to the ink and the memory of their time together.
Zlatan Ibrahimović tattoo removal
Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović shared footage on his Instagram profile of him undergoing Pico laser tattoo removal to erase his bold “Only God Can Judge Me” tattoo.
Pharrell Williams tattoo removal
Pharrell is another celebrity who has openly admitted that he regretted getting so many tattoos when he was younger.
In 2008, he went through an experimental procedure to remove his tattoos, instead of the more safe and effective option of laser tattoo removal.
It involved a specialised skin graft technique to cover up his old body art.
Justin Bieber tattoo removal
Bieber is famous for a lot of reasons, including his love of tattoos. But did you know he went through tattoo removal to get rid of a picture of his ex Selena Gomez on his wrist?
He told GQ magazine that he attempted to shade over her face, but people still know what it is.
Heidi Klum tattoo removal
Heidi Klum is another case where you find yourself regretting having a partner’s name tattooed on your body.
Following her split from ex-husband Seal, Heidi removed his name from her forearm in 2012. However, she kept the three accompanying stars that hold their three children’s initials.
Chrisean Rock tattoo removal
Chrisean Rock took to social media to share her emotional decision to have laser tattoo removal to erase several tattoos dedicated to her ex, Blueface.
This included a large portrait and lettering of Blueface on the side of her face.
Rob McElhenney tattoo removal
Co-creator and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rob McElhenney got several tattoos when he was in his early 20’s.
He later chose laser removal to erase a few from his arm. This was both a personal preference and it gave him more freedom professionally.
Demi Lovato tattoo removal
Demi Lovato got a tattoo on her wrist while she was drunk as a teenager. A regret many of us have.
She joked that it “looked like a vagina” and later faded it to cover it up with a new roe design tattoo.
Megan Fox tattoo removal
Megan Fox had multiple sessions of laser tattoo removal to get rid of a large tattoo of Marilyn Monroe on her forearm.
Her decision was based on not wanting to attract any of the “negative energy” linked to the icon’s personal struggles and to reduce the amount of time she spent in on-set make-up chairs.
Why are so many celebrities choosing laser tattoo removal?
Everyone can have regrets about a tattoo at some stage in their life, but with today’s advanced laser technology, removing tattoos has become simpler.
Laser tattoo removal is popular because:
- It is safe and effective method to remove most tattoos
- You can completely remove tattoos or fade them for a cover up
- Removing visible tattoos can bring more flexibility in your careers
- It helps to remove poor quality tattoos
- The tattoo design no longer reflects who you are
- It allows you to refresh your skin and start again
When a celebrity opens up about a tattoo removal journey, it helps remind us that unwanted ink does not have to be permanent. And that removing tattoos can also be empowering.
Book a consultation for laser tattoo removal
If you have a new or old tattoo that you want to remove, get in touch with our laser removal experts and book a consultation.
We use one of the most advanced laser treatments to safely remove all types of tattoos and colours on the spectrum – PicoSure laser.
This precise and effective way of removing tattoos also ensures that there is no damage to healthy surrounding skin, and that there is minimal risk of scarring.
Did you know we can also treat darker skin tones? Check out our PicoWay treatment at our London studio.