The 5 Times Post Malone Appeared Without His Iconic Facial Tattoos (Including The 2024 Cover-Up)

The image of Post Malone is inseparable from his extensive collection of body art, particularly the bold phrases and symbols inked across his face. The "Always Tired" script, the barbed wire, and the various other pieces have become a core part of the rapper’s global brand. This immediately sparks a question for millions of fans: What does Post Malone look like without tattoos? As of December 11, 2025, the answer is a fascinating mix of throwback photos, digital manipulation, and, most recently, a high-profile, professional cover-up that shocked the internet.

The curiosity about the artist's "natural look" is a constant topic of discussion, with fans often sharing photoshopped images or nostalgic throwbacks to his early career. While he has not undergone permanent tattoo removal, a major 2024 appearance gave the world a clear, recent glimpse of the man behind the ink, proving that the fascination with the untattooed Austin Richard Post is stronger than ever.

Austin Richard Post: A Brief Biography and Profile

Before he became the global superstar known as Post Malone, the artist was Austin Richard Post. His journey from a young musician in Texas to a multi-platinum, genre-blending icon is one of the most unique in modern music.

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• Full Name: Austin Richard Post
• Date of Birth: July 4, 1995
• Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, U.S.
• Hometown/Upbringing: Grapevine, Texas
• Parents: Rich Post (father) and Nicole Frazier Lake (mother)
• Genres: Hip-Hop, Pop, Pop-Rock, R&B
• Breakthrough Single: "White Iverson" (2015)
• Debut Album: Stoney (2016)
• Signature Look: Extensive body and facial tattoos, including the "Always Tired" script and the barbed wire line.
• Current Status: One of the world's best-selling music artists, known for his laid-back persona and successful blend of musical styles.

The Rare Glimpse: Post Malone's Untattooed Era and Cover-Ups

Post Malone has been open about his love for tattoos, even admitting that some of his facial ink comes from a place of insecurity, serving as a cool distraction from his appearance. However, the world has seen him without his signature markings in a few distinct, rare circumstances.

1. The Pre-Fame "Natural Look" Photos

The most common examples of a tattoo-less Post Malone are photos from his teenage years and early twenties, before his career exploded with "White Iverson." These images show Austin Richard Post with long, curly hair and a clean face, looking remarkably different from the image fans know today. These throwbacks, often shared by fans on platforms like Reddit and Lemon8-app, highlight his natural look and are a constant source of discussion about his transformation.

2. The "Fortnight" Music Video Cover-Up (2024)

The most recent and definitive sighting of a clean-faced Post Malone occurred in April 2024. He featured prominently in the music video for Taylor Swift's single "Fortnight," from her album The Tortured Poets Department. For a significant portion of the video, his iconic facial tattoos—including the "Stay Away" and "Always Tired" script—were completely covered up with professional makeup, giving the public a clear look at what he would look like today without the ink.

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This appearance was not a result of laser removal, but a testament to the skill of the video's makeup artists. The cover-up was so effective that it immediately reignited the debate about his look, with many fans noting how "clean" and "dreamy" he looked without the body art.

3. Fan-Created Digital Makeovers

Since the beginning of his rise to fame, fans and media outlets have frequently used Photoshop to digitally remove his facial tattoos. Groups like "Post Malone Brazil" are known for creating high-quality, edited images that showcase his face without the ink. These digital makeovers have become a viral phenomenon, driven purely by the public's intense curiosity about his appearance. While not a true representation, they fuel the "untattooed era" fantasy.

The Meaning Behind the Ink and the Tattoo Removal Debate

The reason Post Malone's look without tattoos is so sought after is because the ink is so integral to his current persona. He has over 70, potentially up to 100, tattoos across his body, and the facial pieces are among the most meaningful.

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• "Always Tired": Located under his eyes, this phrase is arguably his most famous. It reflects a literal exhaustion from his demanding career and a figurative weariness with life.
• "Stay Away": Inked above his right eyebrow, it serves as a warning to keep people at a distance.
• The Barbed Wire: Running along his hairline, the barbed wire is a powerful visual element.
• Insecurity: Malone has stated that he started getting the facial tattoos partly to cover his own insecurities about his appearance, wanting to put something "cool" on his face.
• Early Inspiration: He has credited his friend Justin Bieber as an early inspiration for getting his first tattoo.

The Rumors of Removal

Despite the occasional cover-up, there are no credible reports that Post Malone is undergoing laser tattoo removal. However, the topic is one he has been approached about. Actor Mark Wahlberg, who famously underwent a painful five-year process to remove his own extensive tattoos, publicly urged Post Malone to reconsider his face tattoos. Wahlberg described the laser removal process as "dreadfully painful," comparing it to "hot bacon grease getting flicked on you over and over."

For now, Post Malone continues to embrace his heavily inked look, occasionally adding new pieces to his collection. The "Fortnight" music video remains the most recent and definitive evidence that, with a little help from professional makeup, the world can still catch a glimpse of the clean-faced Austin Richard Post.