A mum who jokes that she's " addicted " to getting tattoos has stunned with a photo of what she looked like before her extensive inkings - and the difference is staggering. Melissa Sloan, 45, says she "can't get a job" because of the designs that cover most of her body, including her face.
Over the years, she's spent countless hours under the needle and she's even started going over her old designs as she's run out of space - but while others might give up at this point, Melissa's not done yet.
She said that she gets funny looks in the street and people can be mean, but that won't stop her either and soon she's going to get another tattoo - this time of a crucifix, and it'll be just below her right eye.
And now she's shared a look at what she looked like before she covered her face in tattoos.
What do you think about face tattoos? Let us know in the comments...
The mum-of-two, from Wales, said that her inkings are mainly done "prison style" by her boyfriend at home these days, and she also does some of them herself.
She said: "I'm going to get another one done tomorrow.
"I'm getting a cross under my eye, it'll be a plain one - like a crucifix. I don't know if I'm religious, I just like crosses - I usually go for hearts or roses, but now I'll get crosses for a bit.
"I go with the flow, whatever I like I put on my face. I go with the inspiration, There's space left so I'll put it on. It's free, I do it myself - or my boyfriend does it, he's been trained to do it - he's been doing it for years.
"We have ort own machine and everything, it keeps the cost down.
"It's expensive now isn't it, I'm having the cross tomorrow - that would cost £60-70 at a tattooist but it will only cost me ink now, which is about £10 a bottle and a needle which is £10 a box, so I guess it will cost me about £1 I should think.
"I've got too many tattoos now, too many to count. I've gone over ones I've already had.
"I'll never stop, I tattooed over them because I'd ran out of space.
"I get adrenaline from it, I get a buzz, and I feel brilliant, then it wears off again in a couple of days' time and I do it again.
"People call me Crazy Melissa, but I just feel like Melissa - that's who I am. If they don't like it, they don't have to look at me - I take no notice. There are some judgemental people out there, they judge you whatever. People stare at me, you get used to it."
She has bold designs with flowers and an England flag on her face, and a big Kray twins piece inked on her leg, one dedicated to Playboy bunnies, and cartoon marijuana leaves on her head - and the collection continues to grow.
Speaking previously to the Daily Star, Melissa said: "I have three tattoos a week. It's like when you have a fag or a drink, you get addicted. I can't stop it now, it's addictive, for me anyway. I just can't stop it.
"I carry the [tattoo] gun around with me in the boot, I'll get one in the car or anywhere. My boyfriend does them, he does my tattoos prison style."
Melissa said that her love of tattoos has had an impact on her life as she gets funny looks and struggles to hold down a job because of her extensive inkings.
She continued: "I can't get a job. They won't have me. I applied for a job cleaning toilets where I live and they won’t have me because of my tattoos.
"The first job I had was cleaning ages ago, cleaning toilets. People have said I have never had a job in my life, I have had one once and it didn't last long.
"But, if someone offered me a job tomorrow I would go and work – I would take that offer.
"I expected this in life, I can't fit in with people as I like to be me and I'm always going to be myself.
"They don't have to listen to me. But I'm not going anywhere."
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