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When Jennifer Lopez shared shots of her and Ben Affleck’s matching tattoos on Valentine’s Day in 2023, she told us one thing: Bennifer 2.0 was forever. Fast forward 19 months and one rollercoaster of a divorce later and we (sadly) know better. And now, we can’t see Lopez’s infinity symbol “commitment” ribcage tattoo anywhere.
On September 6, the 55-year-old actor took to the Toronto International Film Festival in a slinky silver gown (read: revenge dress). But, not just any revenge dress – one with seemingly strategic side openings showcasing Lopez’s now-bare ribcage.
Yep, it appears J.Lo took no time to mull over her ink (she filed for divorce from Affleck on August 20). Whether Lopez removed her tattoo or used a tonne of concealer to cover it up is unknown, however, it’s not the first time an A-lister has expressed regret over a stick and poke.
Ryan Reynolds reportedly hates his tattoos while Angelina Jolie famously had her ink dedicated to her ex, Billy Bob Thornton, replaced with a tribute to her children.
So, how can we avoid rethinking the ink? Here, we speak to the experts about tattoo regret.
How common is it?
Per a survey by McCrindle one in four Aussies have at least one tattoo, and according to Removery Australia Director of Operations Jason Erwin regretting these bad boys is common.
“About one in three Australians with tattoos express a desire to remove at least one of them,” Erwin explains.
“While regret is a common reason, many simply feel that their tattoos no longer reflect who they are.”
So, how can I avoid tattoo regret?
In some bad news for Lopez and Affleck, Erwin advises two types of tattoos should be avoided altogether if you don’t want to regret them later: the trendy ones and those dedicated to a significant other.
“There’s always a chance they will not always be your significant other,” he says.
“And even if they are, there are plenty of other ways to commemorate your relationship.”
And while you can’t be 100 per cent certain of a tattoo until you’ve gone under the needle, semi-permanent tattoos can be a good way to test-drive a design beforehand.
“It gives people the chance to experiment and make sure their tattoo choices are right for them,” explains EasyTatt Owner Pascal Tolley.
“It’s about preventing tattoo regret by offering a trial run before making a lasting commitment.”
What to do if I regret my tattoo?
While we’ve long touted tattoos as a forever thing, according to The Guardian almost half of those with unwanted tattoos go on to have them removed or camouflaged with a new one.
Erwin notes he has seen a 30 per cent year-on-year increase in removal treatments across Australia.
“Our clients begin the treatment process with a free consultation where our laser specialists will measure the tattoo, analyse the skin and ink, and determine a customised plan to achieve the individual’s desired removal result,” Erwin says.
“Most tattoos require 8-12 sessions to achieve complete removal, with several variant factors impacting the timeline and results.”
These factors include skin type, ink density, tattoo location, and overall health. Erwin also notes that most removal sessions last less than five minutes and have minimal downtime. Our hypothesis? J.Lo may have managed to de-ink herself quickly after all.
