What should have been a fun and meaningful end to a family vacation in Spain turned into a permanent regret for 19-year-old Millie Nicholls — and a cautionary tale for others thinking of getting tattooed abroad.
The Huddersfield teen had been eager to mark the final day of her holiday in Andalusia on May 10 with a trendy tattoo. She opted for a cybersigilism design — a futuristic, spiky style popular among Gen Z for its aesthetic and supposed mystical symbolism. These designs often feature intricate linework inspired by ancient sigils and digital art.
But Millie’s dream design quickly became a disaster.
Miscommunication and a Costly Mistake
The trouble began when the Spanish tattoo artist misinterpreted the reference design she showed him on his iPad. Although Millie confirmed she liked the image he showed before starting, she soon realized — too late — that he had misunderstood its purpose.
As she looked away during the procedure, the artist traced not just the intended design but also the guidelines from the image — including the outline of the model’s hand and arm. These were never meant to be tattooed but served as a reference during sketching. The result? Faint, unintended lines running around her own hand and arm.
“It was ink all over my hand so I couldn’t really see when I did look,” Millie recalled. “My mum asked me, ‘Did you ask for that?’ and I said, ‘No, I didn’t ask for that, he’s just done it.’”
Though the design itself wasn’t completely off, the mistake left her shocked. The tattoo was completed in under an hour, and when Millie voiced her disappointment, the artist attempted to shade over the outline — but made it worse.
Pain, Regret, and the Cost of a Fix
“I was in shock until I got back to the UK,” Millie admitted. “The shading made it worse. And he could have gone a bit deeper in some places — it’s already fading.”
While a UK-based tattooist helped her improve the look slightly, Millie says she’ll eventually need laser removal, which is far more painful — and costly — than the original inking.
Adding insult to injury, she believes the artist blocked her sister on social media after they shared their experience in a TikTok video. “I made another video and blocked his face out because I didn’t want to be that kind of person,” she said. “But I think he blocked us because we complained.”
A Warning to Others
Millie now wants others to be wary of choosing tattoo artists while abroad. Though the man seemed professional on Instagram, she advises future travelers to do more than just check a portfolio — speak with locals, ask detailed questions, and be cautious of cheap prices.
“If the tattoo is €50 or less, that’s a big red flag,” she warned. “Just the cost of the tools and ink alone would be that much — so if they’re charging less, they’re probably cutting corners.”
Despite the pain and regret, Millie hopes that by sharing her story, others will think twice before getting inked overseas without thorough research.
“I’ve learned the hard way,” she said. “Now I just want to stop someone else from going through the same thing.”
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