Here’s the thing.
Since I wrote this article on military tattoo policies, I’ve been barraged with emails asking questions more or less like this: What do I do if I have a tattoo that would disqualify me from the military branch I want to join?
If that sounds like a similar question you’re asking, good news. I have some solid research for you below, that I think will help you make a well informed decision.
Of course, you may just want people to stop judging you for your crappy drunken tattoos.
Or you want to rid yourself once and for all of that horrific tattoo of your no longer significant other.
OR maybe you’re sick of covering up tattoos to appease your monkey suit wearing boss.
Either way, you need answers.
So I researched the subject. Inside out. Googled it, talked to doctors, prayed to the Hindu goddess of ritual body markings. (Kidding.)
These are the options I found.
- Makeup cover up. Yeah, I know. Not a great option for the military.
- Traditional tattoo removal. A great option, but also a quick way to go broke.
- Tattoo removal creams. Filthy garbage scam. That is, they suck and don’t work.
- DIY tattoo removal kits. Yes. Now we’re talking. That is, finally— something that works. And costs less than half an Xbox One.
After I found the answer, I decided to slap my research into this article so you can make an educated decision about what may or may not be the best DIY tattoo removal laser pen option: The Tattoo Removal Laser Pen Kit.
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What is the Tattoo Removal Laser Pen Kit?
We’ve nailed down the best way to get rid of your tattoo (unless you’re loaded and just don’t care about paying an arm and a leg for tattoo removal), let’s dig a little deeper.
So what exactly is it?
Well, the title tells us the obvious part — this is a laser pen that removes tattoos.
But here’s the tale beyond the title:
This laser pen doesn’t just remove your ink. It can remove unwanted freckles from your skin, and dark spots too. Or at least reduce them. It can even refine your skin in a way that gives it a natural, healthy glow.
Here’s what they pack inside the kit:
- A Charge Cable
- A Manual
- The Laser Pen
- A Repair Sticker
- Safety Goggles
How does it work?
Tattoos are permanent. Have you ever wondered how the ink gets stuck in your skin and stays there forever?
And how to reverse the process?
Here’s how. The ink used to create your tattoo is usually made of heavy metals. As each drop of ink enters the layers of your skin, your body responds by sending white blood cells to the area, to try to eliminate the intruder.
Problem is, the drops of ink are way bigger than your white blood cells, so they can’t fend it off.
The ink becomes permanent, lifelong whether you like it or not.
Unless you have a laser pen.
This Tattoo Removal Laser Pen heats the ink on your skin, which breaks it down into smaller fragments.
Your white blood cells are thrilled because they can finally kill off those pesky intruders.
And that’s exactly what they do.
When the ink gets broken down and processed, it disappears from the skin. And that’s that.
You may have to repeat the process a few times, but it beats having to visit an expensive treatment center.

With the laser pen, you’re erasing your ink from the couch in your living room.
What are people saying about the Tattoo Removal Laser Pen Kit?
Reviews for the Tattoo Removal Laser Pen Kit are overwhelmingly positive, although there aren’t many of them yet.
Here’s a few examples:
Is this safe?
If you’re like me and anyone else with common sense, you’re probably wondering if it’s safe.
As well you should — we’re talking about aiming a real-life laser gun at yourself and pulling the trigger, after all.
The good news is, the only thing this laser has in common with the lasers in Star Wars and Firefly is the fact that it’s called a laser.
Tattoo removal pens are nowhere near as glamorous as the appendage-dicing lasers of sci-fi, but hey, they get the job done.
So, yes — it’s considered very safe. But even laser removal under the care of a doctor puts you at risk of some minor side effects.
First, let’s get a professional opinion.
To get the inside scoop, I talked with D. Sushil Kakkar, a board certified dermatologist.
Here’s what he had to say:
“In general, it’s safer to go for an FDA approved laser for tattoo removal. With that said, I understand that cost can be a major factor.
I would suggest that you use a small test spot first at a low setting. Start off with 1 or 2 passes, and then wait 24 hours before you use it again.
The end point should be a formation of a white frost at the site of treatment.
Post treatment, I would recommend you use a topical antibiotic like Neosporin or Mupirocin ointment.
Some of the more common side effects you can experience with an at home tattoo removal pen such as this include things like redness, burning, scab formation, and scarring.
So be sure to use it at a low setting and don’t overdo it.
If all goes well (eg it works), you can then move up to a higher setting.”
Now, with that in mind, here are the side effects you should be aware of.
- If you don’t clean it properly, you can get an infection.
- There’s a small chance you could leave a scar.
- If you have a cosmetic tattoo, it’s possible for it to get darker (although they typically fade after multiple treatments).
- Another risk is hypopigmentation, a fancy word for a section of skin that gets paler than the rest of the skin surrounding it.
Before & after pictures
Let’s face it. Before and after pics are the fake-tanned, clip-on-tie-wearing car salesmen of the weight loss industry.
Okay, maybe not all of them, but I’ll be the first to say I don’t trust them.
So when I came across the laser pen tattoo removal before and after’s, I wasn’t buying it.
At first anyway. However, after looking through a few, I started realizing, this is actually legit.
Either that or someone spent waaaay too much time on photoshop, just to produce a combination of impressive tattoo removals and less than perfect removals as well.
Here’s some before and after pics of people who used the Tattoo Removal Laser Pen Kit.
Not too shabby! Wealth of before and after examples? That’s a pro — but what are the cons?
Pros & cons
Pretty much everything has both pros and cons. Laser pens are no exception. Here’s a list of the pros and cons for the Tattoo Removal Laser Pen Kit.
Pros
- It works.
- Doctors say it’s safe.
- Won’t break your bank account like laser tattoo removal.
- Guaranteed to remove all colors of ink.
- You can precisely remove specific parts of your tattoo.
- It’s not overly painful (most say it feels like a warming sensation, while others say it’s similar to getting splattered with bacon grease).
- Can remove your ink without leaving home.
- Backed by a 60 day money back guarantee.
Cons
- Some people report moderate discomfort, and it can be as painful as getting a tattoo for people with sensitive skin.
- It can take multiple treatments.
- There aren’t many reviews to judge the product by.
Where to buy
It costs $299 retail, but they always have the total cost reduced to $169.99 (at least every time I’ve visited over the last few days).
Shipping is also free, and they have a solid 30-day money back guarantee.
If you have sensitive skin (or just don’t feel like putting yourself into any kind of discomfort whatsoever), you might consider buying some numbing cream. Ideally one with lidocaine or benzocaine, which are both topical anesthetics.
Here’s a couple solid options if you go that route:
- Ebanel Numb520 ($15.68) – See on Amazon.
- Dr. Numb (This is incredibly strong stuff.) – See on Amazon.
Traditional vs DIY Laser Pen
Here’s a comparison chart I created to show the difference between traditional tattoo removal and this DIY option.
Traditional Tattoo Removal | DIY Laser Pen | |
---|---|---|
Effectiveness: | 10/10 | 9/10 |
How long: | 4 - 6 sessions | 6 - 8 sessions |
Pain potential: | Possible | Possible |
Cost: | $700+ | $169.99 |
I’d say the most glaring difference here is the price. And that feeds right into my recommendation. Speaking of…
My Recommendation
After weighing the various options out there, I came to a common sense driven conclusion:
A quality ink removing laser pen is the strongest option, if you don’t want to spend $700, sometimes even thousands on a dermatologist.
That’s not to say traditional laser tattoo removal is a poor option.
But it is an option that can make you poor. Spending practically any amount of time in a dermatologists office is going to be VERY expensive.
If you’re doing your best to keep expenses at bay, the laser pen is your friend.
So, my recommendation? Get the tattoo removal laser pen.
Try it for a couple weeks, see if it works for you. If it doesn’t, send it back within 60 days. Get your money back and put it toward the only other option that works.
Tattoo Policies For Each Military Branch
Navy Tattoo Policy Army Tattoo Policy Air Force Tattoo Policy | Marine Corps Tattoo Policy Coast Guard Tattoo Policy |
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