'I went big for my first ever tattoo - and everyone is now saying the same thing'

A lad has caused a stir online by showing off his controversial new .

Many folks have been there, waking up with that ill-advised "I heart Ibiza" tat after a raucous , or ignoring well-meaning advice against getting that cliché butterfly we later wish we hadn't. It's not so bad if your mishap is out of sight under a t-shirt or socks - and there's always the option to zap it off or get it covered up. But one bloke really dived into the deep end when he faced the tattoo gun for the very first time. Stateside tattooist Javi, who's been in the game since 2010, boasts an impressive following of 69,000 on social media.

He's famed for his standout black and white face portraits, intricate florals and life-like designs, reports . Javi's latest share reveals a youthful chap wanting to commemorate his big day permanently with bold Roman numerals etched from ear to jawline. "I believe this is the first time in my career I [have] done a face tatt as someone's first tattoo!" he declared in the post that's now blowing up on the net.

The ink barely had time to dry before thousands of viewers flooded the comments section to criticise the design, insisting Javi should have turned down the request until the client was older. "No self respecting tattoo artist would ever tattoo someone's face as their first tattoo," one wrote. Another expressed disapproval too, saying: "This is wrong on every level" while a third lamented: "Great way to ruin your life."

Yet, there were those who appreciated the design and craftsmanship, with one fan remarking: "Phenomenal work man. Those letters look like they were printed from a computer." And a second positive user applauded: "Perfection at its finest." "Why are so many of y'all mad over SOMEONE ELSE'S tattoo?" another asked.

"If he wants to get a face tat, let him get one," said another voice of support. "Plus it looks professional, it's a good tattoo itself, whether it looks nice to others or not is a different story." Inkings date back to the Neolithic period and indigenous tribes, when they were practised during religious ceremonies and as rights of passage. Explorer Captain James Cook is credited with coming up with the word "tattoo" after sailing to the Tahitian and Polynesian Islands where the practice was commonplace. But inkings weren't always used for positive reasons - during Japan's Edo Period, they were used to brand prisoners and the Nazis used them for "record keeping" on bodies. About 26 per cent of modern day Brits have tattoos, with 11 per cent of them visible.