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

For years, Sierra Cannon dreamed of having freckles. The 26-year-old had tried nearly every method she could think of – from henna and fake tans to carefully dotted makeup – in pursuit of the perfect sun-kissed look.

But in October 2025, the content creator from San Diego made what she describes as an “impulsive” decision to have freckles tattooed onto her face.

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

After deciding on a tattoo artist, whose prices ranged between $185 to $350, Cannon booked an appointment immediately. 

“Considering all the time and money I’ve spent experimenting with other products to create freckles, I think it’s absolutely worth it,” she says.

When describing the sensation of getting her freckles tattooed, Cannon compared it to “a cat aggressively licking my face.” Luckily, the discomfort was minimal, 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,” she explains. “It’s really a ‘trust the process’ moment.”

In the days following the procedure, the skin began to scab and gradually peel, uncovering the freckles beneath the surface. The final results typically emerge after four to six weeks, once the skin has completely settled. 

During this period, the aftercare is simple — a soothing cream is applied regularly, and the area is left to heal naturally.

After sharing the process on social media, however, Cannon’s posts quickly drew attention and divided opinions.

While some followers praised Cannon’s confidence, others accused her of going too far, with a few even claiming she had “ruined” her face.

“The reactions were all over the place, some positive, some negative and some people acting like I’d tattooed a lightning bolt across my forehead,” Cannon recalls, with one critic even comparing her to Wendy’s red-freckled 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.”

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Just a week after the procedure, Cannon shared an update on her freckle journey – and many of those same critics were surprised by how natural and flattering the results looked on her.

“Okay, so at first I was scared for you honestly,” one commenter wrote. “Then day 4 and day 5 they already look so good and natural.”

Others echoed the sentiment, with another follower adding, “So cute I think people were just overwhelmed because they were so dark at first but now they look amazing!!”

Some with natural freckles were also taken aback, pointing out the irony that what they once tried to conceal is now something others are choosing to permanently ink onto their faces.

Despite the initial backlash, Cannon has remained confident in her choice. For her, the freckle tattoos were a personal decision – a reminder that self-expression and happiness should always come first.

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