Woman Makes ‘Impulsive’ Decision to Get Tattooed Freckles, but Internet Says She ‘Ruined’ Her Face 

For years, Sierra Cannon dreamed of having freckles. The 26-year-old content creator from San Diego had experimented with everything from henna and fake tans to carefully dotted makeup in her quest for the perfect sun-kissed look.

In October 2025, she made what she calls an “impulsive” but liberating decision — to have freckles tattooed permanently on her face.

“Clearly, it’s something I love, so I thought, why not make it a little more permanent?” Cannon says. “I’ve always felt like my face was meant to have freckles.”

After finding a tattoo artist whose rates ranged between $185 and $350, Cannon immediately booked an appointment. “Considering all the time and money I’ve spent experimenting with other products to create freckles, I think it’s absolutely worth it,” she explains.

The procedure, she says, felt “like a cat aggressively licking my face,” though the discomfort was mild thanks to a numbing cream applied beforehand.

“For the first four to five days, it basically looks like you drew freckles on your face with a brown Sharpie,” Cannon recalls. “It’s really a ‘trust the process’ moment.” As her skin scabbed and peeled, the final results slowly emerged — usually after four to six weeks, once the skin fully heals. During this period, simple aftercare was key: applying soothing cream and letting the area heal naturally.

After sharing her experience online, Cannon’s posts quickly went viral and sparked mixed reactions. Some followers applauded her confidence and creativity, while others criticized the choice — even claiming she had “ruined” her face. “The reactions were all over the place,” she says. “Some people acted like I’d tattooed a lightning bolt across my forehead.” One commenter even compared her to Wendy’s red-haired mascot.

“Was I surprised? Not really. Social media is like that; you just have to have thick skin — in my case, thick skin that now has cute freckles,” she jokes.

A week later, as she posted updates, many early critics changed their minds. “Okay, so at first I was scared for you,” one commenter admitted. “Then day 4 and day 5 they already look so good and natural.” Others echoed the sentiment: “So cute! I think people were just overwhelmed because they were so dark at first but now they look amazing!!”

Even some people with natural freckles chimed in, amused by the trend of tattooing what they once tried to hide.

Despite the initial backlash, Cannon has stayed confident in her decision. For her, freckle tattoos represent more than just a beauty trend — they’re a statement of self-expression.

“People will always have opinions, whether good or bad, but that doesn’t mean you should let them dictate your choices,” she says. “My freckles are a small but meaningful way to express myself, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”