So, DIY tattoo removal kits are probably not a good idea

We love tattoos here at HelloGiggles. We’ve swooned over literary tattoos that remind us of our favorite books. We’ve coveted pixelated tattoos that are simple, but vibrant. And we’ve done a lot of talking about the messages tattoos can communicate. But tattoos can also be tricky business —they are permanent after-all.

Some of us get them on impulse while others mull over their piece(s) for months or even years, to be certain they wanted that tattoo on their arm. But one thing’s for sure: if you want to get rid of an old tatt, you’re better off going to a professional than using an at-home tattoo removal kit as using the latter could prove gruesome.

That’s just what happened to 23-year-old Jessica Hardy in the U.K. who bought a DIY removal kit online to finally say bygones to a tatt on her arm of her ex-boyfriend’s name. Now, you would hope that the worst result from an at-home kit is that it simply didn’t work. Unfortunately, no. Instead, Hardy’s arm suffered some exceptionally painful burns (in this video she likens it to having boiling water poured on her —it’s extremely graphic, so be warned) thanks to a corrosive chemical in the removal liquid called TCA.

“It felt like someone had poured something flammable on my arm, lit it and then poured a kettle on it,” Jess told the BBC.

And to add insult to severe injury, the tattoo didn’t even come off. While these do-it-yourself kits are still on the market, consumers are warned to be cautious and avoid them at all costs.

So what’s a gal to do when facing an unfortunate piece of ink on her body? Traditional methods like laser removal treatment (that can cost roughly $75 per inch according to one tattoo parlor) and standard cover-up tattoos are still the way to go.

(Image via Shutterstock)