California creator Kayla Stewart Erases a Painful Past by Removing 30 Tattoos Over Four Years in a Viral Healing Journey

3 August 2025

Kayla Stewart shares tattoo removal process. Credit : itskaylastewart/Tiktok

When a TikTok video of Kayla Stewart’s ink‑free arms began circulating in July 2025, she didn’t expect it to become a turning point not just for views but for viewers. The 28‑year‑old from California had recently completed a four‑year laser tattoo removal process spanning thirty markings that once felt like physical scars to her and symbolized a time of emotional vulnerability. At one point she explained in the video that “I truly felt like I was walking around with scars” which made her hide beneath long sleeves nearly every day until the ink was gone.

Stewart got her first 11 tattoos over time but added more than twenty during the pandemic while dating a man who was practicing tattooing in recovery. She later described herself as vulnerable and easily taken advantage of, saying that in that time she became “the person he practiced on.” The full removal journey began in May 2021 and continued through carefully scheduled laser sessions, especially targeting tattoos on her arms which had become a source of daily anxiety.

For Kayla this wasn’t about a change in aesthetic but a radical reclaiming of self. She had previously avoided significant healing work but after enrolling in EMDR therapy the same year, she began to address trauma tied to her ink. As sessions progressed she combined emotional work with each laser removal and embraced the reality that this was not a superficial makeover but an emotional and physical reset. The tattoos were no longer art to her but wounds she carried visible reminders of someone else’s control and her own misplaced trust.

The removal process itself was grueling. Stewart says that the week following each session was “the most brutal” part of the cycle. Her routine involved hydration, lymphatic care, exercise and limited alcohol intake to support her immune system in flushing ink particles during healing. She used vitamin E oil to prevent hyperpigmentation and insisted that each session moved her closer to clarity emotionally and physically.

Over the four‑year period, Stewart underwent laser treatments at intervals consistent with recommended protocols. People familiar with tattoo removal note that pigment age, ink density, skin tone, and depth matter all of which played into the process. Watson used Q‑switched lasers of varying wavelengths to break up the ink while avoiding scarring or pigmentation changes. She reports that the outcome exceeded prior expectations and that despite the length and cost it felt like currency well spent.

Once the ink faded, Stewart says she saw herself anew. “Emotionally I feel free and liberated now that they’re gone,” she reflected. She is now able to wear short sleeves and t‑shirts with confidence, something she hadn’t done without anxiety for years. Many viewers messaged to say her journey gave them hope that freedom is possible and recovery does not always look like hiding.

Her story hit people in different ways: some praised her for reclaiming her identity, others cautioned against oversimplifying a journey steeped in emotional nuance. Stewart herself has said she will “absolutely never” get another tattoo. Her experience now forms a part of her advocacy: she suggests therapy for trauma, transparency in relationships, and charities such as tattoo regret or mental health support groups.

As the video gained traction, influencers and tattoo culture insiders debated whether regret should be met with erasure or reclamation. Body positivity advocates welcomed Stewart’s move but emphasized choice rather than directive. Tattoo artists acknowledged that safe regret can foster trust in clients to engage thoughtfully about permanence. Stewart’s story asserts neither condemnation nor nostalgia, but a clear declaration: her body, once covered in ink and pain, is now a new canvas built on consent and clarity.

Today Stewart shares both raw before-and-after videos and candid commentary on how her journey affects her social life, career and sense of boundaries. She emphasizes that removal isn’t simple or quick and that emotional readiness was as important as physical readiness. Her community applauds that she did not try to monetize tragedy or oversell transformation with perfect visuals. This grounded approach helped the story resonate far beyond beauty or vanity it became a symbol of healing measured in sessions rather than spectacle.

Her journey also resonates with others who face unwanted permanence not just in ink but in trauma left unseen and unattended. Stewart’s experience suggests that the system around body modification should evolve to include recovery channels. She now advocates for mental health services connected to tattoo parlors or clinics, urging an understanding mindset for people marking (or un‑marking) themselves.

In the end Stewart’s story is not just about tattoos or regret it is about narrating her life on her own terms. Her willingness to erase a painful past carved out a different identity rooted in reclaiming choice, rebuilding trust and modeling transformation without shaming. If the ink was written in frailty, the erasure was written in freedom. And as social media scrolled on, one creator’s intimate undoing became a communal inspiration for anyone who has ever wondered what it might feel like to start fresh literally.