This guy got his first tattoo when he was just 20 years old. Back then, it was a simple decision — one piece of ink, one symbol of self-expression. But five years later, at 25, Tristan Weigelt’s body tells a very different story. Today, 95% of his skin is covered in tattoos. Arms, chest, legs, neck, even his face — almost every inch of him has become a living canvas. Only his palms, soles, ears, and intimate areas remain untouched.
Over time, Tristan has spent nearly $60,000 on his transformation. That’s not just money — it’s hundreds of hours of physical pain, planning, and commitment. He estimates he’s spent about 260 hours under the needle, enduring sessions that sometimes lasted 6–8 hours straight. Some areas, like his face and ribs, were especially painful, but he powered through with a calm focus and a clear vision. “Tattoos are part of my journey,” he says. “My self-expression. My way of showing who I really am.”
He only began tattooing his face two years ago, but that’s when people around him really started to react. The shift in his appearance was sudden and dramatic. Strangers stared, friends asked questions, and some relationships quietly faded. But Tristan wasn’t doing this for attention. He knew what he was getting into — and he knew why. “I look different, but inside I’m still the same Tristan,” he explains.
Originally from the United States, Tristan now lives in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he’s studying to become a tattoo artist himself. He’s taken his passion for body art to the next level — not just wearing tattoos but learning to create them. On social media, he openly shares his transformation journey, including rare before-and-after photos that leave followers stunned. The contrast is jaw-dropping. His younger self, clean-shaven with a soft, boyish face, looks nothing like the fierce, heavily inked man he is today. And yet, that same gentle personality shines through in every post.
But not everyone in his life supports the path he’s chosen. Tristan admits that his parents “hate” tattoos. As his transformation progressed, the tension between them grew. Eventually, they stopped talking altogether. “I wanted to show them my old face,” he says, “to remind them I’m still their son, just in a different form.” There’s sadness in his voice when he talks about it, but no anger. He understands their reaction — even if it hurts.
Despite the criticism and broken connections, Tristan doesn’t regret a thing. In fact, he feels more comfortable in his skin now than ever before. The tattoos gave him a sense of control, a way to shape his identity on his own terms. Each design has meaning. Each piece tells a story — of growth, of struggle, of freedom.
He’s not trying to encourage everyone to do the same, but he does offer advice to those considering a major transformation: “Be confident. Do it for yourself, not for someone else’s approval. It has to be a conscious decision, not a whim.” For him, the tattoos were never about rebellion or shock value — they were about becoming who he always felt he was inside.
This year, Tristan plans to finish the remaining sections of his face and continue refining his tattoo artistry. His story, once controversial, has begun to inspire others — not necessarily to cover themselves in ink, but to embrace who they are unapologetically.
Because under all that color, under the ink and the designs, is still the same person. Just bolder, freer, and finally, fully himself.
